YESSONGS

In the early 70's, many people's first purchase of an album by Yes album was "Yessongs". The reason: while "Yessongs" consisted of a triple albums set, it sold for little more than the price a single album. As such, it offered an appealing way of obtaining many of the tracks on the bands early albums, albeit performed live.

With the exception of Wakeman's solo spot from his "Six Wives of henry VIII" album, the tracks are all taken from "The Yes album", "Fragile", and "Close to the edge". The performances are excellent throughout, and while each member is afforded a solo slot (excepting Anderson), these fit in well within the album. There are numerous highlights, "Yours is no disgrace" benefits from an extended guitar solo by Howe, and "Close to the edge" is much sharper and more powerful than the studio version. "Perpetual change" is slightly spoiled for me by the inevitable drum solo, although the remainder of the track is probably superior to the "Yes album" original.

Most of the remaining tracks are reasonably faithful to their studio counterparts, although Squire's bass solo on "The fish" is enhanced and developed into a much longer piece.

When you consider that virtually all the material included here still forms the cornerstone of the band's live set today, you appreciate just how spoilt Yes fans of the early 70's actually were. Every track is an absolute classic.

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