Yessongs

Classic live album! Too bad the wrong blokletters was added

With "Keys to Ascension", the Symphonic Tour and most recently the 35th Anniversary concert recordings, you can hear how Yes have mastered their back catalogue to give outstanding, mature renditions of their classic material from the 1970s; they're so on top of the songs that there's the kind of range of nuance and interpretation that you can only get from artists of their calibre. How amazing, then, to return to 1972 and hear how they delivered the songs when they were still in their twenties. The contemporary criticism of their music was often that they over-arranged, that there was posture, pretention and almost painfully meticulous production. "Yessongs" blasts this criticism out of the water. Not only does the complexity and breadth of the music shine through, but it's delivered with a blistering energy that never really came out in the studio albums. The main difference between these live versions and the originals is that this is the first time we hear Alan White on drums, and he drives the songs along with a kick (literally) that brings them right into the rock genre. You can't fault former drummer Bill Bruford's skill - he appears in this recording on "Perpetual Change", with a typically paradiddling top-kit solo - but it's White that lifts the rest of the material. Highlights are "Heart of the Sunrise", so powerfully rendered that it sometimes sounds as if it'll fly off into chaos; "And You and I", where the original's final theme is transplanted to the top of the song to give it a new roundedness; Rick Wakeman's showcase "Excerpts from the Six Wives of Henry VIII", incredible when you remember the limitations of 1970s technology; "The Fish", proving that Chris Squire is not only a great bass player but a pioneer of the instrument; and "Starship Trooper", which lifts off with a great roar from the crowd and never lets up.Moments to listen for: Steve Howe nearly messing up towards the end of "Heart of the Sunrise"; Wakeman clowning on the intro to "Perpetual Change"; Jon Anderson rendering the opening bassoon from Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" before Wakeman's solo; Squire's nod to "Friends" from "Led Zeppelin III" during "The Fish"; and the great piano riff that slides in to introduce "Yours is no Disgrace". OK, the production is almost as thin as a bootleg, but don't let that put you off. If you're a fan, then this is the album to play to Yes-haters.

Loved this album ever since I bought it in the mid seventies. All the way back then I had never seen a triple gatefold album before so really surprised this time round to unwrap the new re-mastered CD with its slim little jewel case)Very happy to report the sound quality is a bit better, clearer and with a touch more body/punch. I was relieved because even though the album is a classic the sound was originally terrible (Especially after many plays on your record player) so it's great to hear it cleaned up. I had no trouble with disc 2 as some reviewers have stated...All Yes fans will have there favorite parts from this recording. For me it is tracks like "Perpetual Change" "Long Distance Runaround" "Yours is No Disgrace" and "Starship Trooper" because the raw energy and sometimes savage power of the bands performance is simply breathtaking; plus the extended solos in theses tracks are wonderful and I feel in a way have never been bettered. Sometimes the power is a little too much for example "And You and I" is a little spoilt by the lack of subtlety, but it's only a small detail and indeed a matter of individual taste.Incidentally I found it interesting that both Wakemans solo offering and Howe's "Mood For A day" although listened to with pleasure on the first run through, I find now that I tend to skip theses tracks as older and wiser ears find them a wee bit more trivial and flowery. Contrary to this is Chris Squires bass solo on "Fish" Which I now find more impressive than ever: this powerful and stunning exhibition of virtuoso playing surely goes down in history as one of the most exciting bass solos ever. Chris for me was always the heart of "Yes".Jon Anderson's sometimes slight lack of confidence shows in his voice, and Bill Bruford's drum solo starts great but kinda loses steam in the middle, but overall this is an incredible live performance that is now a good 25 years old.So Yes all cleaned up and fresh faced ready to please your ears all over again. Well done those people) GET IT!

My triple LP had become worn and dull as I played it continuously on my record deck (what we used to use before CDs and MP3 downloads) and I had not played it for years. Now on 2 CDs the music is returned to it's full glory. Yes at their peak creatively prove what great musicians they are and Jon Anderson's vocals may vary from song to song but generally remain in tune and clear. As one of the most unique voices in rock his gentle rising and falling voice, somehow, suits the jangling guitar of Steve Howe, the rhythmic and resounding bass of Chris Squire and the superb drumming of the under-rated Alan White. Wakeman's keyboards both compliment and mimic Anderson's vocals. Tracks are taken from early Yes albums, primarily Close To The Edge, The Yes Album and Fragile. The sound recording is not brilliant compared to new digital recordings, but for the 1970's, compared to contemporary recordings by other bands, but it gives you a feel of being in a live concert. I still love this album and the versions recorded here are recognisable yet different enough (almost double the length/time for some tracks with solos added) to make this very good value for money and not just for completists. As an introduction to Yes, get the studio albums first, you'll appreciate the live album more, and if you like the studio albums as listed above, try the earlier ones first and chronologically listen to others. Although, 'Relayer' (with Patrick Moraz & not Wakeman) Tales From Topographic Oceans (a DLP originally and a 2 CD with pointless studio run-through tracks added to fill out the 2nd CD) may divide Yes fans, 'Going for the One' is worth getting to. Other later highlights by Yes are 90125 and Magnification but they somehow lack the energy of early Yes as highlighted in this live album.

This was the first YES album I ever bought in the early seventies and will probably be the last. I could only afford one and it had everything at that time. The live renditions are fantastic and I still listen to this after so many years!

Pour ma collection

Excelente CD do Show do Yes com sua formação clássica. Para quem gosta do Rock Progressivo não pode faltar na coleção.

Tra i live migliori del periodo, da avere è consumare

Otra obra maestra a la que nos tiene acostumbrado el conjunto Yes de rock progresivo. Lo tengo en vinilo ( es un triple ) pero no quiero gastarlo más de lo que ya he hecho. Es el disco con el que me inicié con Yes en los años 70 del siglo pasado, y aún sigo sin cansarme de escucharlo. Disco complejo como todos en Yes, pero si tienes la paciencia de escucharlo las suficientes veces te darás cuenta de la perfección instrumental de todos los componentes del grupo, así como su originalidad y belleza de su música.