YESTERDAYS

There seemed to be a rash of albums like this one in the mid-70s: progressive bands who had recently become household names, and whose labels were looking for a way to capitalize on their popularity by promoting their back catalogs. Jethro Tull did Living in the Past; King Crimson had their Young Person’s Guide; Pink Floyd’s was the blatantly commercial A Nice Pair package; Caravan had Canterbury Tales; Deep Purple launched 24 Carat Purple; Electric Light Orchestra had Olè ELO; and Traffic had their (not) Best of Traffic. It was a popular way at the time of making new fans aware of the artists’ early and less-known work, but it was also frankly a way for the labels to try and get back some of their investments in the bands’ early recording sessions, I suppose. Most of these records were simply collections of early songs with nothing new or unique to add any value.

In the case of Yes, their dredge-up-the-old-stuff album was Yesterdays. And for the most part the songs here are ones that have since become staples for fans of the band – “Time and a Word”, “Sweet Dreams”, “Astral Traveller”. Most are from the band’s debut album or from Time and a Word.

But for me the real meat comes at the beginning and at the end of the album. The opening track “America” is the Yes interpretation of the Simon & Garfunkel classic, done up Yes-style with some brilliant guitar work from Steve Howe and several extended instrumental passages. This is a great version of a huge song. Yes had covered David Crosby’s “I See You” and Lennon/McCartney’s “Every Little Thing” on their debut so this sort of thing wasn’t unheard-of, but neither of those approaches the grandiose arrangement of this one. Well worth the price just for that.

But “Dear Father” closes the album, and is the other song that is not readily available much of anywhere else, unless you can find some old single B-side or BBC recording. I’m not sure if this is an autobiographical song, but it is an interesting look at the band’s personal side as opposed to another mystic epic. An interesting curiosity at least, and a charming period piece at best.

This doesn’t rank among the better compilations from the band, but it can be had most anywhere for budget prices, so if you’re looking for an economical entry-point into the early works of Yes and/or you want to pick up a couple of really interesting and rather obscure pieces (especially “America”), this is probably for you. I’m not thrilled with the song selection, particularly “Then” and “Survival”, which I think could have been better replaced with “The Prophet” and “Harold Land”. But it gets an extra nod for the two non-album songs I’ve already mentioned, so three stars it is.

Worth picking up unless you already have the first two albums. If so, get The Best of Yes instead since "America" is on it and there is a more interesting assortment of later tracks there as well.

peace