Yes: The Ladder (1999)
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123393
Printed Date: February 23 2025 at 10:38
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Topic: Yes: The Ladder (1999)
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: Yes: The Ladder (1999)
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 16:56
Yes, it's another Yes album thread, but I just wanted to show some love and give a well-deserved mention for my favourite Yes album "The Ladder" (1999). It's the only Yes album to feature the six-piece line-up of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, Billy Sherwood and Igor Khoroshev. It's the 18th Yes studio album and represents a real return to creative form for the band. I've only recently discovered this superb album after hearing some of the songs from the album on a 2-CD Live compilation:- "Yes: The Collection" (shown below), which also comes highly recommended. I hope all of the many Yes fans here enjoy "The Ladder" album just as much as I do, and if you haven't already had the opportunity to listen to the album before, you can check it out below.    YouTube videos to follow.....
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Replies:
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 16:59
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1. Homeworld (The Ladder) 2. It Will Be a Good Day (The River) 3. Lightning Strikes 4. Can I? 5. Face to Face 6. If Only You Knew 7. To Be Alive (Hep Yadda) 8. Finally 9. The Messenger 10. New Language 11. Nine Voices (Longwalker) |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 17:14
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When I think of The Ladder, Homeworld and New Language come to mind, but this is a solid Yes album overall. And whatever happened to Igor ?? Didn’t he do something unforgivably stupid ?? |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 17:42
Yes, I read somewhere that he got involved in an altercation with two female security guards during a Yes tour, which is probably the reason why his time with the band was short-lived.
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Tom Ozric wrote:Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 18:26
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His playing style and (most) choices of his sounds fit Yes well. I actually thought he hooked-up with some underage groupie ?? Should look that up... |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 19:05
No, Psych Paul is pretty close. I heard it was one female security guard and more like sexual harassment though. I don't know all the details but I do know it was the main reason(maybe only)that he was let go from the band. Hooking up with underage groupies was Andy Summers from the Police. Maybe you read his autobiography but forgot who wrote it.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 21:41
No, I haven’t read much about Andy Summers, but I guess many dudes in bands hook-up with young chicks (who probably look older than they are......) |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 22:27
| ^Actually, I just read that part on wikipedia and it turns out psych Paul was right about it being two female security guards. Here's what it says about that on wiki: "Khoroshev left Yes after their Masterworks Tour, following an incident involving two female security guards on that tour, Khoroshev was charged with assault and battery and sexual battery, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Khoroshev#cite_note-1" rel="nofollow - [1] although the matter was later settled out of court." |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 22:31
One of the most notorious was Jimmy Page and Lori Maddox who was 16 at the time he met her. Apparently he kidnapped her or something. I don't really know the whole story but what I read seemed rather weird if you ask me.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 03 2020 at 22:39
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 03:01
| The first time I saw Yes play live was on that tour. I remember them playing some of TFTO and thinking this was a lot better than I expected. It was a good line up. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 03:18
I was pleasantly surprised too. I never expected a Yes album from 1999 to sound just as good as - if not better than - some of their classic albums from the early 1970's era.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 03:27
I think richardh is talking about the line-up and Ladder tour, he's not praising the album. And no, The Ladder does not come close to any 70s albums. Not even the 80s ones.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:11
Oh well, I can't please everyone all of the time and you're perfectly entitled to your opinion. Thanks for your post anyway.  "The Ladder" is still my favourite Yes album (but only since yesterday) despite what anyone else says about the album. It's much better than the "Relayer" album (in my opinion).
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:17
Why are you even trying to please people, we all have different opinions and tastes, we can't agree on anything and it's fine. I've always been surprised how little love the Banks albums get here.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:21
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What's wrong with trying to please people? Talking of "Banks", I'll have a Tony Banks albums thread coming up just as soon as I've listened to all of his albums.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:23
I was talking about Peter Banks and early Yes. You're not paying attention.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:28
I knew you were talking about Peter Banks.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:33
why talk about Tony Banks in a Yes thread?
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:51
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^^ Because when you mentioned "Banks", you reminded me that I had a Tony Banks thread coming up soon.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:53
well, sorry about that ...
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:57
There's no need to apologise. Maybe I'll give Peter Banks a mention in my Tony Banks thread.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 04:59
off topic-ness does not bother you.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 05:11
Not at all. It's all good fun and not to be taken seriously. By the way, I think you just coined a new phrase: "off-topic-ness"
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 05:13
first rule of forum discussion is don't go off topic.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 05:17
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^^ Well, if you want to go off-topic on any of my threads, that's absolutely fine by me.
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 09:01
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Yeah, it's a good album but they've done loads better. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 09:07
Three songs from "The Ladder" are amongst my Yessongs Top 7.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 09:34
| I don't think the ladder is the best Yes album ever but I do think it's unique in their catalog and trust me this is Yes so that's really saying something! Lol. In my personal opinion it's probably the best album they ever did after Talk(chronologically speaking since I'm not trying to imply talk is their best album). I like parts of other albums and I think magnification is pretty strong but the ladder just has a special vibe to it even though others don't like it. It's similar to Tormato that way. The opening track homeworld(the ladder) is probably the standout for me but I think the whole album is pretty good(even if "If only you knew" is the kind of song you might here in a department store(in fact I think I did once)). |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 09:36
How long do you plan on keeping us in suspense?
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 09:54
My Top 7 Yessongs poll is already up-and-running.
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Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 13:07
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It’s a favourite Yes album for me I also enjoy Talk and Union too ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 13:42
I'm glad there's another prog fan here who agrees "The Ladder" is on the top rung of Yes albums. I'll give the "Talk" and "Union" albums a listen too on your recommendation. In the meantime, here's a Yes concert from the Union tour..... |
Posted By: Cosmiclawnmower
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 14:29
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I like 'the Ladder' too.. yes there's one or two slightly cheesy moments but I have always been able to forgive JA that.. its so irrepressibly positive and sunny in tone that it makes me smile and I find it a rather uplifting lp. That's something that JA has always been able to bring to the table and to me it always feels sincere; in a world of caustic cynicism, that particular element of the Yes Chemistry has always appealed to me. ------------- |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 15:39
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One of my favourite Yes albums. Anderson shines throughout. ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 04 2020 at 23:51
Yes, it was Jon Anderson's song-writing skills and buoyant optimism displayed on The Ladder album that really shone through for me too. Whenever I listen to the uplifting album, I feel as if I'm slipping the surly bonds of Earth and ascending the ladder to heaven where I can almost reach out and touch the face of the Prog Gods.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 05 2020 at 03:14
| ^ Psylocibin Paul - The Ladder is a good album, but not that good. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 05 2020 at 04:43
I borrowed that line from President Ronald Reagan.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 05 2020 at 23:53
| Yeah its a good album but Keystudio was a bit better ( The return of RW!) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 05 2020 at 23:56
That's the first time I've heard of the Keystudio album. I'll have to check it out.
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Posted By: thief
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 00:17
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The Ladder is in the "upper half" of Yes albums, imo. One of few highlights of post-Drama career. Actually, the last time I listened to it in its entirety (2017-ish), I liked it more than Magnification, but I'm not sure if such opinion is relevant today. Need to check! When it comes to weird (if not disgusting) relationship between Page and Lori Maddox, she was 14 when they started (1972) and no older than 16 when the relationship ended (1973-74). In older interviews she claimed that Page was very gallant towards her, keeping her away from drugs and other sort of filth, giving her roses, furs and stuff
 But she's no longer reliable because later she contradicted herself on many occasions (i.e. details of her relationship with Bowie, which may never have happened, contradicting timelines and all). |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 03:50
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House of Yes: Live from the House of Blues (2000) - A concert supporting "The Ladder" album..... 1. Intro & Yours is No Disgrace 2. Time and a Word 3. Homeworld 4. Perpetual Change 5. Lightning Strikes 6. The Messenger 7. Ritual 8. And You and I |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 03:55
| I listened to a few songs from it today, not bad, listenable, it's still better than the albums without Anderson (not Drama, obviously) and a vast improvement on the godawful Open Your Eyes. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 04:13
I haven't heard the Open Your Eyes album before. That's a Yes album I still have to look forward to, maybe. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be as "godawful" as you say.
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Posted By: Chaser
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 04:22
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I wouldn't put it up with, or ahead of, the classic 70's Yes albums - no way It is very good though, and one of my favourite of the post classic era albums ------------- Songs cast a light on you |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 06:08
Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones also famously became involved with the under-age groupie Mandy Smith, who was 16 at the time when the story was first splashed across the tabloids in 1986. They later got married in 1989 but broke up just two years later in 1991.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 06:16
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House of Yes: Live from the House of Blues (2000) - Part II 9. It Will Be a Good Day (The River) 10. Face to Face 11. Awaken (Part 1) 12. Awaken (Part 2) 13. I've Seen All Good People 14. Cinema & Owner of a Lonely Heart 15. Roundabout & End Credits |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 06:17
| ^ If any ‘regular jock’ these days hooked-up with a minor, they’d be incarcerated quicker than they could spell their name. |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 08:40
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I love The Ladder. A lot. ------------- The Prog Corner |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 06 2020 at 08:52
The Ladder has now ascended to the top rung of my favourite Yes albums, having heard it for the first time only three days ago on a Live Yes compilation. I've had the Live Yes compilation for some time now, but only just realised most of the songs on there are from The Ladder album. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 07 2020 at 23:15
| It's actually one of my least favourite albums from them. Both Sherwood / Korkhoshev albums don't do much for me. Actually, there's nothing particularly wrong with them, but there's nothing particularly goo either (just as my other least favourite albums). And as far as I understand, this is not their only album with that line-up, Open your Eyes has the same one as far as I remember, only one of Billy or Igor was an official member of the band on both, and the other was like an additional member on Open your Eyes. |
Posted By: felonafan
Date Posted: July 08 2020 at 10:37
| "The Ladder" is the very good album! |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 08 2020 at 11:32
Having listened to "The Ladder" album and loved it, I'm now inspired to listen to all of the more recent Yes albums, starting from the 1991 "Union" album, or the "Onion" album as Rick Wakeman calls it, because it makes him cry every time he hears it. It's the first time I've devoted a whole thread to just one single album, but it was worth it, so maybe I should do it more often.
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Posted By: thief
Date Posted: July 09 2020 at 00:15
Speaking of Union, I'm tempted to put my Oldfield reviews project aside and give it a few listens... TOP5 weirdest albums in Prog, if not musically than thematically, I'm still bummed it didn't pan out.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 09 2020 at 00:24
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who really likes it. I'm so used to seeing negative things about it from prog fans. There's a lot of prog fans who act like Yes hasn't done anything worthwhile after Drama. Go figure.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 09 2020 at 23:26
Yep although I like Talk and Keystudio better but Magnification and The Ladder are solid releases.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: July 10 2020 at 03:20
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Union suffered from an overhaul of studio intrusions and over-production for sure, but, had there not been all the detailed credits as such, the result is a solid album. There’s not much fluff on the album in my mind, it has many great songs to offer. The reason I don’t spin The Ladder often is that it’s all so bright and positive. It realy is a great ‘post-70’s Yes album, and Magnification fared much stronger for me. This is still the true, faithful Yes, without being mind-boggling. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 10 2020 at 05:22
The reason I really enjoy The Ladder album and find it so uplifting to listen to is precisely because it IS so bright and positive.
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 10 2020 at 19:20
I actually like Union much better than The Ladder (or Open your Eyes). Just Shock to the System and The More we Live are much better than anything on either of those other albums. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 10 2020 at 19:21
I, I do love a good deal of Yes after Drama... just, it's isolated songs for me, not whole albums. However, The Ladder doesn't feature any of those post 70's Yes songs that I love. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 11 2020 at 00:27
I might post a tribute to the Yes "Union" album too - especially after your recommendation - when I've had a listen to it. I remember the "Union" concert was one of the best Yes concerts I've ever seen, so I'm sure I'll love the album too.
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 12 2020 at 19:50
| Just have in mind that the concerts from the Union tour had just about nothing to do with the album. I think the only song they played from that album was Shock to the System, and besides that, mostly songs from the classic era and from the West line-up. And the Union album, of course, doesn't feature all the members at the same time, just some songs with the west line-up, and some with the ABWH line-up (though supposedly there was way too much involvement from session musicians). Just so that you have your expectations in the right place. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 12 2020 at 23:28
I heard that Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe were both understandably outraged when they discovered the producer of the Union album intended to overdub some of their parts with session musicians.
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Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 14:38
I heard this to ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 22:52
| It´s over a year I have listened the Ladder. What I remembered it´s better than Union, Talk or Heaven & Earth, but on the other hand Keys & Magnification are greater. I think it´s quite the same level to me as Open Your Eyes, which I think like Big Generator is much better than it´s reputation. |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 07:35
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Great album. I'll say it again: great album. ------------- The Prog Corner |
Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: July 15 2020 at 08:21
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Just listened to it and will now give my completely unwanted (I'm sure) thoughts Homeworld - Only gets interesting after about the 4 minute mark but then gets much better. Overall, a good track to kick off the album It Will Be A Good Day - What is this, soft jazz? Does nothing for me and those horns sound very out of place for me on a Yes record. Lightning Strikes - Has a nice galloping beat. Fun song. Sounds like it would fit on 90125 or Big Generator Can I? - I don't even know what to say "Can I" not listen to it please?Face To Face - Sounds good. Sounds like it would get better on repeated listens If Only You Knew -  I don't listen to Yes to hear sappy love songs (are there others? admittedly, I haven't heard the entire Yes catalogue)To Be Alive - Nothing objectionable here but also nothing that makes me even remotely interested in hearing it again. Finally - I kinda like this one. Nice change of pace at about 3:20 The Messenger - Not bad. Might be worth another listen or two New Language - Okay, now we're gettin' somewhere. This is more like it. Nine Voices - "I workshopped this one and...snoozers!"  I see that it has a 3.25 rating here. I'd give it 2.5 at best. I wasn't expecting classic 70s Yes here so it wasn't a case of being let down in that regard. It's just mostly, whatever, with a few bright spots. My opinion of it might improve on subsequent listens but not sure I care that much.
------------- We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain. My face IS a maserati |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 15 2020 at 10:06
| ^The horns are on "lightning strikes" not "it will be a good day." |
Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: July 15 2020 at 10:48
Well, what am I hearing It will be a good day then? Sounds like a "horn" of some kind. ------------- We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain. My face IS a maserati |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 10:11
As far as I know, he didn't intend to overdub some of their parts, but he actually did do so, and at least in the case of Howe, way too much of his parts  . And even more, not only the producer, but also Anderson was involved in such a thing.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 10:27
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^ That's probably the reason why producer Jonathan Elias only worked on that one Yes album. It's no wonder Rick Wakeman calls the "Union" album the "Onion" album, because it makes him cry every time he recalls recording it.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 10:50
| And Bruce Fairbairn only worked on the Ladder because he died during the mixing stages of the album. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 11:01
If you are talking about the instrument in the beginning it sounds like a percussion type of instrument to me. I'm not really sure but it's definitely not a horn(as in a brass instrument). There might be a pan pipe in there somewhere though. All it says on the wikipedia page is "world instruments."
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Posted By: ToANMusic
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 11:22
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Totally agree with you, man. I found The Ladder to be a pretty emotionally engaging album that's resonated with me pretty hard over the years. It's a shame that it's so underrated. My guess is the stigma around later Yes albums may keep people from giving it the chance it deserves. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 12:22
Welcome to ProgArchives! I see that you joined us just 1 hour and 43 minutes ago. Hopefully, this thread will give The Ladder album some of the recognition it deserves. It really is on the top rung of Yes albums.
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Posted By: ToANMusic
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 12:40
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Thank you! I've actually been a long time lurker of the site, but decided to make an account and get involved with the community. I sure hope so, it's deserving of all the love that Jon Anderson sings about |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 12:42
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Typical Yes fan: "I like the old Yes. The progressive rock version. The prog version. The ladder? No, that's too different and too new agey.It's too different than their older stuff. They took too many chances on that one. I'll take the keys albums. Now that's the old Yes. That's prog!" Does anyone see the irony here?
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 12:56
I was a lurker here too for nine years until I took the momentous decision to finally join this friendly PA community just last year.
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Posted By: ToANMusic
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 13:13
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Exactly! Sometimes people praise bands for being creatively open minded, but then latch on to a certain inspiration that the band had for a time and end up losing out on all this new potential inspiration that the band is finding along their way. |
Posted By: ToANMusic
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 13:14
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Right on! I think I first started frequenting around 2010 or so, so you and are probably pretty close in lurking age. Either way, a warm welcome to us both! How has your year been so far on here? |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 13:43
I've had an amazing year and joining ProgArchives is one of the best decisions I've ever made. Barely a day goes by when I don't discover an amazing "new" album here, just like the day I discovered The Ladder album for instance.
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Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 16:46
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It's a reasonable late-period album with some good tracks, but a touch inconsistent too. I saw them on that UK tour, but the classic period still dominated the set list. I read that Bruce Fairburn was trying to get the band to go back to their 70s style - but really it came up short (he sadly died during the mixing process, so not sure if that played a part or not). In hindsight it stands up better than other later albums (don't get me started on Heaven and Earth or Open Your Eyes!), but I think it was a missed opportunity. Both it and Magnification were on the verge of something greater, but didn't quite pull it off. ------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 16:57
I don't think that was Bruce's goal really especially since Yes already revisited their 70's sound on the two keys to ascension albums that came before it. Maybe he just wanted to move them away from the poppier open your eyes and so if that was the case he succeeded. I actually prefer the ladder to magnification. For one thing I don't see how the ladder could have been improved upon based on what they were obviously going for on this record. With magnification I think the orchestra could have been done differently. To me it sounds like the orchestra was recorded in another room. That's ok if it was as long as it doesn't sound that way but to me it sounds too distant. Rick said he wished he was involved and I agree he probably could have done something different with it.
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 17:59
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I remember when The Ladder first came out was around the same time I got my first computer and was definitely one of the first times I went on line. I seem to recall that I was listening to the Stanley Cup Finals on-line, quite possibly the game that went to triple overtime and ended on a controversial goal by Brett Hull...but I digress. I was definitely an internet n00b but I remember knowing that they were releasing Homeworld (The Ladder) that night so I was super excited when I was able to find it and listen to it. I pretty much like everything that Yes has done no matter which line up. There's is just a sound that I really enjoy. P.S. if you want to see a Yes live video that is super fun, you should check out Symphonic Live. They play with an orchestra and it just looks them and the orchestra are having a blast playing that night. ------------- 
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 18:04
Also, the poster on my office door. -------------
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2020 at 23:02
Thanks. Yes, I have Symphonic Live on DVD and it's a wonderful concert performance.
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Posted By: ToANMusic
Date Posted: July 17 2020 at 09:27
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Fantastic! I'm trying to remember what lead me to discovering The Ladder, I remember I had a tendency to dig into a band and listen to their discography in release order. Pretty sure that's how I wound up at The Ladder too. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 17 2020 at 09:53
I only came across The Ladder album purely by chance, because many of the tracks from the album were included in the 2-CD Live Yes compilation shown at the top of this thread.
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 18 2020 at 08:37
Great album artwork,,,,, ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 18 2020 at 09:08
Not for me, I just don't like the album, the songs. As far as I remember (it's been a long while), there wasn't anything particularly wrong with them... but neither was there anything particularly good. I do love, say, Endless Dream, which sounds different from anything else Yes had done, but it was a great song all the same. |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: July 19 2020 at 08:08
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This thread led me to listen again to The Ladder, I hadn't played it for a couple of years. I agree with squonk: with Magnification this album is the better of the later Yes, but it never captured me as much as everything they did before (before, say, 90125, although I also like Talk very much...). Great bass playing from Chris, overall. Some great melodies and songwriting. Maybe a bit too much up-tempo songs for me, but it remains a pleasant listen overall. @rushfan: I attended one of the two evenings in Amsterdam when they recorded what became the Symphonic Live DVD. The best Yes-concert I have seen (I brought my parents to it, their first rock concert ever, and they loved it too!). Gates of Delirium and Ritual live were awesome! ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 19 2020 at 08:53
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"Awaken", from Yes Symphonic (2003) |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: July 19 2020 at 08:56
-------------
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 19 2020 at 09:16
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^ Ideally, I'd like to have posted the entire Yes Symphonic concert right here on this thread, until I discovered it's split into 17 parts on YouTube, so I just picked my favourite song from the concert instead.
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Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: July 19 2020 at 10:00
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I imagine, but the "Awaken" version you put up here is not from the 2001 Magnification tour which led to the Symphonic live DVD. Rick Wakeman wasn't there in 2001 (Tom Brislin played the keys), and they played with the European Festival Orchestra (hence the "symphonic")... Nevertheless, a great rendition of Awaken !
------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 19 2020 at 11:50
^ You're right. I have Yes Symphonic on DVD, so I should have realised it doesn't include Rick Wakeman in the line-up. 
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 20:00
| ^ Nor does it include the song Awaken. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 22:39
That'll teach me not to believe every video description I see on YouTube.
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: July 22 2020 at 11:53
| Oh, but I would have loved to hear Awaken in a Symphonic version. This concert would have been the absolute definitive live album from Yes if only it had included Wakeman too, and the song Awaken (and kept Gates of Delirium, of couse, which Wekamn doesn't seem to have been keen on playing). And then, perhaps, if they had played The Revealing Science of Ritual. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 22 2020 at 12:19
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^ The performance of "Awaken" in the video above is the best Live version I've ever seen of "Awaken", even though it's not on the Yes Symphonic DVD.
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