Jon Anderson's "Olias of Sunhillow": Qlassiq en Transic or Dud?

Always surprised by how many Wakeman albums are in the shops. I'm on White Rock right now and all the preceding albums are amazing (haven't heard his actual debut which was a covers albums).

I recall Anderson saying that one of his albums (In The City Of Angels?) was a big hit in one country and nowhere else. Looking through his discography I had no idea he was on so many Mike Oldfield albums and a Robert Downey Jr album!

He appears with so many bands I haven't heard of.

There was actually a RYM review where somebody said one of the Animation songs was stuck in their head for decades and I had that in mind for a long time.

I have to keep in mind that 3 Ships has an expanded track list on the reissue. Hope it doesn't get reissued again too soon because I'm just starting to get to an age where I'm buying better versions of things I already have.

The version of "Days" on Tormato bonus tracks is much better than the one on Song Of Seven. Shows you how good a singer he is that he can carry it so beautifully with just his voice.

Surely one of the best artwork-inspired albums ever.

I love “Olympia” off “Animation” (I think it’s thatvalbum. Sorry, not Googling cuz I’m being lazy) but Jon really shines for me best on most of the Vangelis collabs. I always felt that he sounds lost on most of his post-“Olias” solo records. Like no matter what great musicians he surrounds himself with the songs or arrangements just can’t gel with his vision(s).
As for Wakeman I can really only enjoy “Criminal Record” and “…Henry VIII” while the others are brought down by awful vocals or noodly, aimless playing. Something YES, up til “Drama” or 90125, was never guilty of for me.

One of the Animation bonus tracks I keep talking about is "The Spell" demo, which must actually be two songs, Anderson said he was obsessed with the concept but he could never explain or finish it. It seems like he has a ton of unfinished stuff (there are a few demo compilations and more to come possibly) and wikipedia says there was a sequel to Animation that was never released.

I've said a bunch of times that Wakeman's early vocalists are not an ideal fit but still do an admirable job on Journey To The Centre and No Earthly Connection. And Roger Daltrey is great on Lisztomania, who I guess is not that dissimilar in style but I imagine Ken Russell had him picked before Wakeman?
The speedy bits on King Arthur really knock my socks off.

Hard to find some of the Lost Tapes albums, I'm really intrigued by the idea of From Me To You (birdsong and loops), although some fans hate it.