YESTERDAYS

"Yesterdays" is a sampler from the band's first two records, plus "America" in all its 10- minute glory. Released while the band was on tour, the record actually charted better than the albums it drew from, and gave listeners unfamiliar with their earlier catalog a chance to see the seeds of greatness at work. Selections like "Astral Traveller" and "Survival" are not on a par with their subsequent masterworks, but they do reveal the shadows of majesty and intricate arrangements at play. For all the accolades offered to STEVE HOVE and RICK WAKEMAN, PETER BANKS and TONY KAYE were more than competent musicians, they were equal partners in the band's original vision (as "Looking Around" clearly illustrates). Somehow, this album strikes a balance between YES and "Time And A Word" that benefits both albums; by separating tracks like "Time And A Word" and "Then" from the sticky-sweet grip of their second album, they shine. Enjoyable as these early tracks are, however, the album's highlight is the unedited version of SIMON AND GARFUNKEL's "America", originally released in 1972 and arguably the best cover the band has ever done. This song contains all of the elements that YES fans had come to enjoy: acrobatic guitar leads from STEVE HOVE, intricate rhythms from CHRIS SQUIRE and BILL BRUFORD, JON ANDERSON's soaring vocals and RICK WAKEMAN's playful keyboards. Some of those elements are also in attendance on the surrounding tracks - notably the work of SQUIRE and BRUFORD - lest it seem that YES happened upon this style overnight.

"Yesterdays" is ultimately a better listen than their first two albums, and the inclusion of the otherwise hard-to-find, unedited version of "America" and "Dear Father" is enough of a carrot for serious fans.