Yes Bonus Tracks

I love Yes, but I really think their remastered CDs have some poor Bonus Tracks. "Early rough mixes" (on Fragile), "Studio run-throughs" (on CTTE) and "Tracking Sessions" (on Drama) ?? 

Not to compare (causes it's totally apples to oranges), but Geddy Lee always said Rush wouldn't release Bonus Tracks or Album Outakes because it waters down the quality of their catalog... and I kind of think that's what Yes has done. Don't get me wrong - I love the remastered CDs and the packaging - but their Bonus Tracks are messing up my image of Yes' utter perfection in the studio !

Anyone have any recomendations for classic prog with good re-masters and/or bonus tracks. OR any words of warning about gimmicks that I should not fall for ?

To make people buy them.

I agree, most of the bonus tracks suck.

Fragile does have 'America', which is a good addition to the album, and it has some excellent guitar from Howe.

Some of Uriah Heep's albums have good bonus tracks ('What's Within My Heart' from Look at Yourself' is one of my all-time favorite outtakes, and 'Why' is also good, there is a version on Look at Yourself, but the better one exists on Demons and Wizard - with some of the best bass soloing i've ever heard courtesy of Gary Thain).

Also, try 'Who's Next' from the Who.  The SACD version contains a disc and a half of bonus tracks and live performances most of which have never been released....all coming from the failed "Lifehouse" project that never materialized due to personal problems with Mr. Townshend.  (All of the newly remasterd Who discs have great bonus tracks, Tommy, My Generation, and Live at Leeds i think.)

The Marillion remasters have excellent bonus tracks. They have the typical studio run-through/alternate version songs, but they also have singles, unreleased tracks, and demos. Plus, they're all spectacular.

I love the new remasters, thought they sounded good and were VERY well packaged.

The bonus tracks ARE bonus tracks, they were not supposed to be released, also look at how fast they released albums in the 70's with the touring schedule they had! I can see why they had so little extra stuff around, if it had been any good, it would have already been released! I think the bonus bits are about what we could expect. Mariliion also did do singles, something Yes rarely did, what they did do it all on the new CDs. I do have to admit that I did not buy ALL of the remasters, the first four albums, I skipped. The first remasters of them were fine for me.

King of Loss wrote: Man With Hat wrote: To make people buy them. I agree, most of the bonus tracks suck. Yea, but what if they suck?

Yeah, but you wouldnt know that going in. Most poeple would be excited by the fact that there is bonus tracks that they buy the album right there. Granted bad decisions but what are you gonna do??

Bonus is good...

As far as I remember, my first encounter with outtakes/b-sides etc. were with Deep Purple things... Most of the B-sides, and even many outtakes from their '68-'73 period is simply mind-blowing. I never understood why they hadn't included (at least some of) them in their respective albums.

besides, I usually consider 35-40 minutes of running time for an album too short. With bonus tracks, this shortage is partly removed.

I did not listen to Yes' new remasters, and I hardly care about rough versions/ alternate takes of already existing songs, but I know some of the GftO outtakes (from Yesyears compilation), and they are superb! even "money"... It is evident that "money" and "amazing grace" wouldn't go with the album, maybe neither would "Montreux" and "Vevey" themes... After all, when listening to the CD, they all come after the regular tracklisting. It's up to you not to listen to the rest.

I don't know about Rush's outtakes, Geddy Lee might be right, the songs could really have sucked, but as for the other bands, like the already mentioned Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Yes, they have really shiny outtakes. Think about Genesis' outtakes released in the archive 1 box set... How many of you rated the album less than 4 star!? Besides, I would be happier if, for instance, Twilight Alehouse was released as a bonus in the album closest to its release date. I believe there's a connection between the songs written & first performed around the same date... Box Sets seem to me taking the individual tracks out of their original contexts and offering a patchy work...

Anyway, I'll go for the bonus tracks