Rick Wakeman Bowie's offer and played his final gig with Strawbs for a BBC recording for John Peel's radio show. Wakeman then reappeared on the front cover of "Melody Maker", his second in a year, regarding his move to Yes. His earnings increased from £18 to £50 per week. Towards the end of 1971, Wakeman signed a five album solo recording contract with A&M Records. Yes made "Fragile" in five weeks to help finance a new set of keyboards for Wakeman. Wakeman recorded "Cans and Brahms", an adaptation of the third movement of Symphony No. 4 in E minor by Johannes Brahms.
Wally (album) Wally (album) Wally is the 1974 eponymous first album by the band Wally. While the band fitted broadly into the progressive rock category, there was more than a hint of country / rock about the album, especially with Paul Middleton's steel guitar. The album is very much of its time, and shows influences of The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash and the like. "Wally", produced by Bob Harris and Rick Wakeman was not a huge commercial success, but has gained and maintained a loyal following, to the extent that the album has recently been re-released on CD. Roy Webber has