SYMPHONIC MUSIC OF YES

This gets off to a good start with a lively version of Roundabout sung by Anderson himself. Rock instruments are mixed with the orchestra to good effect. We feel this might be a valuable addition to the Yes canon. Doubts creep in with the severely truncated CTTE (7minutes) and Wondrous Stories, both vocal-less and given what are to my ears rather 70-ish tv orchestral arrangements. All good people features a choir. They are content to sing the chorus over and over and again I am reminded of the 70s (not in a good way). Mood for a day features Steve Howe with some orchestral additions. TBH it adds little. A purely instrumental version of Owner of a lonely heart follows. The by now standard rock background has mainly high strings over the top. The less familiar "survival" has another easy listening arrangement. A choir sings the chorus. Heart of the sunrise is better, but only I suspect because the song itself is so good. Again no vocals. "Soon" begins with an embarrassing spoken word version of lines from the gates of delirium, but develops into one of the better tracks with genuine emotional kick. Starship trooper returns us to the ordinary orchestral arrangements.

In summary. Only three tracks feature vocals and only the first features Jon Anderson. The arrangements are workmanlike but uninspired. There is at least one better symphonic version of Yes out there.