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.

 

He's my favorite prog musician. My fiance will tell you I legit cried, in front of her, the day he passed. I made the entire family postpone dinner because I was pissed my hero died. The funny part? They totally understood and didn't judge me at all for it.

Chris Squire IS (not "was") a legend; his energy and bass playing are here with us forever. His playing on Close to The Edge, Relayer, and Drama inspired me to build my skill and really understand not only the bass guitar, but music in general on a much deeper level than before.

Chris was MY key to bass ascension! RIP "The Fish" Master!

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... (?)

Also, Chris's voice was so interesting. He never used any vibrato, but he could belt if he needed. His timbre was so... wide...? I guess that's the only word I can use to describe what I hear. But very pure. Yes had some of my favorite vocal harmonies/arrangements, and I always noticed a unique quality about them. It was only after I heard Squire's solo album that I realize his voice specifically was responsible for the interesting way they all blended together. Of course you've got the essential Jon as the leading vocalist, but those harmonies? Squire made them what they are. I can't even fully describe what I mean with words, but I could tell it was Chris that was responsible.

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.

 

At least I didn't make the mistake of saying Chris Squire "was" a legend in my intro.  Chris Squire Is, and always will be a legend, not only to us here on ProgArchives, but to new generations of Yes fans too.

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.

Bought a Rick, inspired by Sir Chris Squire?  You and me, mate!  1973 Rick 4001, recently set up & made super-playable, best there is! 

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.

There's certainly an argument to be made for that considering that at least three full albums had the same lineup minus Bruford and none of those are as well known or as revered. However, they changed their direction when Bill left also so that probably had something to do with it. Plus the most successful Yes album of all, 90125, didn't have Bruford on it. 

Stellar, man! I've been a semi-pro and session bass player for 10 years; only got to play one ONCE! Usually have my 5-string Fretless Ibanez 505 for everything. I LOVE the necks on the Ricks!

Chris

Keith

Neil

Greg

Jimi

Chris Squire • Days of Wonder / Hold Out Your Hand / You By My Side • Live 2004

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=miguel+bass" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=miguel+bass

Hi,

I think there are a lot of lessons that folks can take from some of the things that Chris shows us in this fine little bit of a special ... most "musicians" try to hide these things because they think it takes their edge about what they do ... but Chris knew that no one could think up stuff like this anyway ... 

One of the prettiest examples, is something that you can't teach anyone ... it's about what you hear, or find along the way ... and the different tuning on the last strings of that 8 string bass is totally amazing and insane ... you have to have a very tight and clean ear for the very sound you are putting out ... and too many bass players think it's all about the notes ... and here he shows easily enough ... how much of it was just a creative effort on his part to make the sound of the particular piece of music that much better.

There was, also, way back when a ditty about his playing and he said that in his early days he had a "stereo" electric design on his bass so he could get two simultaneous different sounds out of it ... and that kinda goes with the design later of using different tunings for various strings on his bass ... the lowering of the extra string on the 5 string bass is a total stroke of genius ... you have to have a very sharp ear for the effects and what you can get out of your instrument, and I'm pretty sure that we can see that on his work!

LOL!!  The Rick is my fretted option, my fretless is my hand-made Manson bass!  Hugh Manson is the luthier for Steve Howe & also builds all the electrics for John Paul Jones, mine is the "evil twin" of JPJ's "Eric the Red" bass. 

Squire's playing has provided so much bliss and happiness over the years. My favourite muso from my favourite band.

Thanks to everyone who posted links. You've all contributed to a fitting tribute.

 

Fish Out of Water (1975)

 

1. Hold Out Your Hand - You by My Side

 

 

2. Silently Falling

 

 

3. Lucky Seven

 

 

4. Safe (Canon Song)

 

But what I think is underrated in his playing was present in the 80's era and somewhat beyond. A more sutble but no less innovative appraoch. For example, State of Play off Talk isn't going to be as fondly remembered as Roundabout, but the big chrousy bit has these simple swooping tones that are really evocative. 

The playing on 90125 as well. That whole album is a tour de force of his styles and tones and is, from a bass pov, deeply underrated. 

 

Chris Squire's Swiss Choir (2007)

 

 

Thanks for pointing that out. I've now removed the ABWH album and concert from the YES playlist. 

The Syn - Flowerman: Rare Blooms from the Syn (2021 compilation of singles from 1965-1969) - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mAut_B_yCLasMwB9FUDaovaFy_9vv6CEM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mAut_B_yCLasMwB9FUDaovaFy_9vv6CEM

The Syn - Syndestructible (2005) - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mlSF7aa7QMFt9zMW7qyhOqfN7tsFS9PLw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mlSF7aa7QMFt9zMW7qyhOqfN7tsFS9PLw

The Syn - Armistice Day (2007) - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nOnFHadmcn9qYltOAh_ZQqpJw_ynny1GU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nOnFHadmcn9qYltOAh_ZQqpJw_ynny1GU

According to Wikipedia there's also one called Original Syn, from 2004, but I can't find it on YouTube.

Ah, somebody else has said it. Sorry about that.

...if not more so!  Admirers of Mssr. Squire's technique include Geddy Lee, Stanley Clarke, Tony Levin, and countless others (myself included).  

If anyone watched the "Master Class" videos, it would be hard to not see why Chris was such a good player and musician.

I liked, specially, the one about his warm up ... and he played one of his parts, I think it was the opening from CTTE, and then asked if that wasn't a good warmup ... which pretty much tells you, it's not about the scales, or the 10,000 times/practice that makes it ... it's your internal feel for the music and how to make it better and more attractive, up to and including it's own sound.

Seeing him talk about fiddling with the strings, is a master class that no one else can do, because they don't have the back up inventory to show how they used it, and it wasn't just for 5 seconds either ... sometimes a heck of a lot more.

Musicianship is an interesting topic and leave it to an original to make it even better. Chris Squire belongs in a class by himself, as very few "bass players" have the right attitude and touch to help music come alive in some way or another. Too many bass players are too worried about their "rhythm" duties and then the tiresome beat and timing. ... you can tell that stuff really bothered Chris and then some ... he used that to create even more!