David Bowie Cover of the Week: Rick Wakeman’s keyboard covers of “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars”

You would be forgiven if you thought Mike Garson played on “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars?” Garson was one of Bowie’s longest collaborators and continues Bowie’s legacy with an ongoing series of tribute shows. But it was Rick Wakeman, more well known as a member of Yes, who played Mellotron on “Space Oddity” and piano on “Life on Mars?” This week, an apparent bootleg video of him playing keyboard covers of both songs appeared on YouTube, and that video is this week’s “Cover of the Week.”

This week’s selection is different from the type of cover I usually select in many respects. I generally like to draw attention to performances from artists who visitors to this blog are less likely to be familiar with. The idea is that less prominent artists are keeping the music alive and adding something new to it. Also, I tend to avoid bootlegs and concert footage, often because the sound and visual quality is pretty bad. Here, they are good enough, and I really like Wakeman’s performance.

Additionally, this was recorded at a performance Wakeman gave at the Empire Center for the Performing Arts in Albany, which is not only near where I live but also right next to where I work. The “Egg,” as it’s called due to its shape, is connected to a series of state office buildings by an underground concourse. I did not attend this concert, but I could have gone from work to the show without needing to put on a coat. In fact, I had seen Yes play at this very venue, though I’m sorry to say that concert was terrible. The Egg hosts some great performances, often with little publicity—I’ve seen Pat Benatar, Peter Frampton, Aimee Mann, and many others, often performing in front of small crowds due to poor promotion. Anyway, the fact that this performance took place there was too much for me to pass up.

There’s a negative reason I selected this cover too, which is that most of the other covers I might have plausibly selected this week were of “Heroes,” “Space Oddity,” or “The Man Who Sold the World.” Some of these other covers were quite good, but this exercise leads me to hear those three songs over, and over, and over.

If you are not familiar with Rick Wakeman, he is a British keyboardist and composer best known for his work with Yes, a progressive rock band where his virtuosic use of synthesizers and classical influences became integral to their signature sound. Classically trained, Wakeman brought a grand, symphonic style to rock music, contributing to landmark Yes albums such as Fragile and Close to the Edge. Over his long career, Wakeman has released numerous solo albums and is regarded as one of the most influential keyboardists in rock history.

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It turns out Rick Wakeman will be coming back to the Albany area on October 6. If you want to see him, or for more information click HERE.