1984 (1981)

"One of his most well-rounded albums, combining the dexterity and mastery of keyboards with the richness and instrumental passion of a real orchestra. And it stays true to its conceptual purpose of perpetrating George Orwell's classic tale. The music is dark and cold in all the right places, capturing the despair and hopelessness of such tracks as "The Proles" and "Robot Man." The opposite is played out on "Julia," where Chaka Khan and an accompanying choir aptly describe the warmth and promise of the female heroine. Tim Rice, who wrote the lyrics, sings lead on "The Proles," while "No Name" is head-manned by Steve Harley. Although Wakeman's keyboards aren't hoarding the spotlight, they still remain an integral part of the album's futuristic motif, melded in with the percussion and woodwind instruments. This album, as do his first three classics, reveals Wakeman's prominence as a keyboard maestro while equally displaying his proficiency at creating a well-rounded thematic piece." (Mike DeGagne, Allmusic)