RELAYER

One reviewer says that this would be the album to introduce Yes to others; I couldn't agree more! This album was barely two years old in 1976 when I first heard it. Growing up with mom playing classical albums and dad playing jazz albums in the house, I fell instantly in love with the 'fusion' of the two musical styles, not to mention the rock influences that make it characteristically "prog." Anderson's vocals were (and still are) amazing, and Squire's bass playing reminded me of Entwhistle's inspired playing with the Who. I was familiar with Alan White's drumming from his playing on George Harrison's solo album in the early 1970s. I did not know who Patrick Moraz was, but wanted to know more (at that time, I did not realize that Rick Wakeman had charted out the keyboard parts before he split from Yes the first time). And that guitar playing - who was this Steve Howe? He was simply amazing, especially with his bits on the slide electric guitar that soared into the heavens. 'Gates of Delirium' is one of my all-time favorite prog songs; it certainly is the one I have enjoyed for the longest time (30+ years). I agree with others about 'Sound Chaser' - phrenetic guitar riffs by Howe and some excellent drum fills and solo spots by White. 'To Be Over' again utilizes Howe's slide guitar skills in ways that country-western music never could. Though this album did not score the success of 'The Yes Album,' 'Fragile,' or even 'Going For the One' for the Yes of the 1970s, it is definitely the one album that shows their versatility musical styles and influences which have characterized the band through all of its 1980s and 1990s permutations. An inspiring version of 'Gates of Delirium' even appears on the Yes Symphonic DVD (2002). I cannot say enough about the excellence of musicianship on this one album!