All YES Appreciation Thread

Bitterblogger wrote: For both Anderson and Wakeman to quit, and Yes to decide to carry on, took courage.  For it to involve two practically unknown musicians more attuned to New Wave than progressive rock, was risky. The resulting Drama was not only a clever title, but actually delivered two great numbers to the Yes repertoire: Tempus Fugit and Machine Messiah (Into The Lens isn't bad either).  Can you think of other groups who've parted ways with two of their most popular members, including the main songwriter, that did as well? I can only think of disasters, like the J Geils Band, or "pushes", like with 10 cc.

I think it's amazing that they released an album that was so good in such a short time (seeing as they had to rush to release the album, as their next tour had been scheduled before the Buggles were even added to the band, and they had to have the album out the door). Even more amazing is the fact that there were actually two songs that didn't make the album, but that they performed live and were wonderful. (These can be heard in various bootlegs of the era, or if you get the Word is Live boxset). We Can Fly From Here, and Go Through This were both awesome, rocking tracks. If there had been a second album with this lienup between Drama and 90125, I wouldn't have complained.

Gillywibble wrote: About 15 years ago I decided to go on a diet and also to stop drinking alcohol. As a treat I purchased several albums, and one of them was a compilation album called 'Classic Yes'. Before then I had only heard a few tracks, the main one being Owner of a Lonely Heart which I found a little too commercial. However, I thought I would give it a go. I spent three very happy sober months playing this album over and over again, never once even becoming remotely bored with it. My favourite tracks from that album were Heart of the Sunrise (and still my overall favourite), Long Distance Runaround and Roundabout. Fantastic band

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Great to hear, Gillywibble

My dad bought me a copy of Classic Yes to help get me into the band, and it's a truly fantastic disc to introduce you to the band!

Of course, I understand. The only other way is to bribe Eddy Offord .

Oh, and the update for Time and a Word found on Keys to Ascension is really quiet different than the one on Yessongs. As a matter of fact I first heard the one on Keys, and when I heard the one on Yessongs was really dissapointed.

American Khatru wrote: My favorite live Yes record would have been any record with Bruford on the drums doing Close to the Edge and/or And You.  Since that doesn't exist... I have a special place in my heart for Yessongs, even though it doesn't have the greatest sound.  They kill on so many songs, especially Heart of the Sunrise, Perpetual Change.  Yesshows was very important to me back when it rolled out.  The update of Time and a Word adds to the song I think.  I like the live Parallels and Going better than the studio sometimes.  Gates is fantastic, out of this world, at a loss for words when I think of how great Howe and Moraz do on it.  Believe it or not, I don't have or know Symphonic Live (that's the one that just came out, right).  Who has it?  When are the performances from?  Is this legitimately good, or does it make one cringe inwardly, secretly wishing for older days?

ghost_of_morphy wrote: Moogtron III wrote: For me Bruford's drumming on Heart Of The Sunrise. And for Alan White: I quite like his drumming on Release Release (Tormato).   Yes, that's very good.  And his work on Ritual is outstanding and parts of GFTO (as mentioned by Bitterblogger) are also outstanding.  But I never felt that he REALLY lived up to Bruford's legacy until I heard That, That  Is.  Sure, it's a severely flawed epic, but some of the things White is doing in that are outstanding enough to punch him up to Bruford's level, given his historical output as well.   At least that's how I feel about it.  I realized that That, That Is doesn't get a whole lot of love from Yes fans, even though the 70% of it that isn't utter crap is pretty darn good.

Personally I didn't mind that White wasn't really stepping into Bruford's shoes. I have the feeling that White brought more rock to Yes and some other kind of subtleties. I think he does some great parts on Topographic Oceans as well.

That, That Is? I must listen to that one again! I'm curious about White's drumming on it now.

My favourites are Keys to Ascension and Yes Symphonic, they really add to the songs in this two albums (and they're available both on CD and DVD). I love the work done to Time and a Word, Awaken, and Starship Trooper on Keys: Time and a word with a beautiful piano added by Wakeman. The piano intro to Awaken is more beautiful here than on the original song, and the middle part is longer (and for me sounds better). And the added keyboard solos on Starship Trooper by Wakeman really enhance the song, no other version of this song sounds complete to me anymore without those solos. Onward's also got a pretty acoustic guitar intro by Howe. On Yes Symphonic, the orchestra really works great with the band: Killer version of Close to the Edge, Gates of Delirium, And you and I, Long distance runaround (with an orchestral intro), and ofcourse, In the Presence Of is a beautiful son too; I didn't like this version of Starship Trooper beacause of the lack of the keyboard solo I mentioned from Keys to ascension. I've only seen videos on Youtube from the Union Tour, but I'd really love them to release it on DVD and/or CD, there seems to have been some really cool moments there. Another song I like live a lot is Heart of the Sunrise performed by ABWH, I find this one stronger than the original and other live versions: stronger vocals and stronger drumming, it sounds awsome.

I heard the almost 30 minute version of "Ritual" on Yes's Symphonic Live yesterday (had the album two weeks and just now got around to it)...WOW...they even squeeze in some of "The Ancient."

Squire solos for like three freaking minutes on it too.

My first contribution (I think) here.