Remembering Chris Squire

 

The Yes Album that's been the subject of the most Talk and controversy over the years is of course the fabled Tales from Topographic Oceans album, recorded in 1973. During the ensuing Drama surrounding the recording of the album, Time and a Word has it that strained relations between the various Yes band members were in such a Fragile state that the band came Close to the Edge of splitting up. Rick Wakeman left the Yes line-up temporarily and Patrick Moraz was brought in as a replacement for the recording of the following Relayer album in 1974. Rick Wakeman had a re-Union with Yes for the Going for the One and Tormato albums in 1977 and 1978 respectively. It was decided after the rigours of recording and touring the Relayer album that each Yes member would record their own solo album to give the band members a much-needed break from the constant pressure of touring and recording with Yes. And so, the stage was set for Chris Squire to launch his solo career whilst still remaining with Yes.

 

Chris Squire may have been like a Fish Out of Water with the recording and release of his first solo album away from his Yes band-mates in 1975, but the album was generally well-received by Yes fans and was a Big Generator of album sales too, reaching No. 25 in the U.K albums chart. If you Open Your Eyes and ears and examine this wonderful album closely with some degree of Magnification, you'll realise it has the trademark Yes sound of Chris Squire's thunderous bass featuring prominently throughout the album, giving it the distinctive sound of a Yes album in all but name.

 

In the later stages of his solo career, he recorded the Chris Squire's Swiss Choir Christmas album in 2007 and formed a temporary musical Union with Steve Hackett of Genesis for the album A Life within a Day in 2012, under the cunningly-titled band-name, Squackett.

 

Although Chris Squire is now up amongst the Prog Gods in Heaven, the marvellous music of Yes transcends Heaven & Earth  and it'll live on forever in our hearts, attracting new generations of Yes fans who haven't yet been born. 

 

All album titles in Red Highlights by Chris Squire and Yes

 

Just before I Fly from Here,  here's Chris Squire's complete discography. 

 

Yes, I know what you mean exactly: the first two songs on the Fish Out of Water album are very bouncy and uplifting, much like the later Yes albums: Talk (1994) & The Ladder (1999).

 

You may recognise Patrick Moraz on keyboards and Bill Bruford on drums in the video below.

 

What I really appreciate about Chris Squire is that he proved himself BIG TIME with Fish Out of Water album.

He's had distinctive sound, advanced basslines and songwriter credits with Yes, but it was the solo album that convinced me 100% he's among the very best musicians of the genre. Fish is a very accomplished, beautiful work, easily up there with the best solo artists of Prog, be it Zappa, Oldfield, Wilson or Di Meola...

I wonder if he's recognized and revered in bassist circles as much as, say, Neil Peart among drummers... (?)

One of those great musicians that mark the music of a band and an era. Always loved his way of playing the bass: very powerful and very melodic. He is a very big part of what makes Yes music that great. I also like his singing; his second voice on many a Yes song and some of his lead vocals were really great. With Tony Levin he belongs to my all time favourite bass players!

(And nice intro text, again, Paul!)

 

 

And here it is: "South Side of the Sky" from the album "Fragile" (1971), performed Live at Montreux in 2003.

 

I wouldn't have harped on you, lol. Chris Squire's spirit lives on forever in his music and dynamic approach to bass guitar! Tempus Fugit indeed.

I wish there was a new generation of Yes fans. Unfortunately, these days they seem to mostly be a band who are appreciated mainly by those who are already fans and who have been for some time. Who knows if they will even put out another album. We'll see.