Yes - Yes Album
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Free Music Notes for Yes Album
Free Music Review: The Yes Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
For a lot of fans, Yes truly began with 1971's "The Yes Album." While this is totally inaccurate (don't forget "Yes" & "Time And A Word" you guys), the band DID make it's first real splash in the world with this prog-rock beauty. With new guitarist Steve Howe (replacing Peter Banks), the band were in a real make-it-or-break-it situation. Their first pair of albums, terrific as they are, still didn't sell very well. So, for their third album, Jon Anderson & the boys had to come up with a commercial winner this time around, or they would've been dropped from their label. Thankfully, they came up with a beautiful, classic rock album that still sounds just as fresh today as it did 30 years ago, and the record buyers responded in droves. With "The Yes Album," Yes were finally on their way.Anchored by Chris Squire's amazing basslines, Yes are in peak performance here. "Yours Is No Disgrace" kicks it all off with a bang (and a riff that, according to drummer Bill Bruford, the band lifted from the TV show "Bonanza"!). After the galloping wonder of this song, Steve Howe comes in with his upbeat acoustic showcase, "Clap," which has since become Steve's signature piece. "Starship Trooper" is another winner, with one of the most rousing rock instrumental finales ever recorded. "I've Seen All Good People" is a lovely sing-along piece, and yet another Yes signature. Next up is "A Venture," easily the least-mentioned song on this album, and yet I don't know why, 'cause it's a truly great tune---featuring Tony Kaye's thumping piano, Jon Anderson's amazing vocal delivery and some fine drumming from Bill Bruford, "A Venture" is a true buried treasure. Finally there's "Perpetual Change," an amazing album closer that sees the band floating off into the aural heavens in great style.There's not a bad track anywhere, and the band's musical chemistry, captured in all it's glory by producer Eddie Offord, is supreme. "The Yes Album" paved the way for the later Yes classics "Fragile" and "Close To The Edge," and is arguably the band's finest work. Yes, poised for the big time in 1971, had creativity coming out of their ears at this point in time, and "The Yes Album" wonderfully captures this great moment in the band's history for all to hear. Buy, listen, and enjoy Yes at their very best.Free Music Review: Perpetual change brings us to the first great Yes album
Hit: 5 Stars
"The Yes Album" was actually the third album from the group spearheaded by singer John Anderson, but represented enough significant differences from its two predecessors to constitute a new and bigger beginning for the progressive rock group. Guitarist Steve Howe had replaced Peter Banks (who had gone off to join Blodwyn Pig), the album featured only original material, and the songs now tended to be much longer tracks. The four longer tracks--"Yours Is No Disgrace," "Starship Trooper," "I've Seen All Good People," and "Perpetual Change"--are structured similarly, although each allows for considerable instrumental freedom. Usually a melodic theme is introduced by one member of the band and then echoed by the others. Science fiction concepts are combined with folk melodies and transformed into soaring showpieces for vocal and musical instruments alike. On this particular album the stand out musician is, rather surprisingly, bassist Chris Squire. Sometimes I think they made a mistake on the mix and pumped up the volume on the bass, but then it becomes clear this is by design. Howe's guitar work as well as the organ played by Tony Kaye are given their moments to shine while Bill Bruford's drumming just stays out of the way. However, the defining element of Yes is probably the vocal harmonies, with Howe and Squire blending with Anderson in the falsetto range, highlighted on "All Good People." It was this that made Yes unique from their most obvious British progressive rock counterpart Emerson, Lake & Palmer. "All Good People" was also the group's second American single to crack the Top 40 and really became the song that introduced them to a larger listening audience. However, the best is yet to come, with the additional of Rick Wakeman as the keyboard player and Anderson's continued exploration of oblique lyrics. This is the second remastered CD version of the album and offers annotations by Yes scholar Bill Martin and a trio of bonus tracks: single edits of both "Your Move" and the "Life Seeker" segment of "Starship Trooper," and the studio version of the Steve Howe acoustic guitar solo "Clap." These are minor but welcome additions to what was already a five star album.
Free Music Review: Enter Steve Howe
Hit: 5 Stars
THE BAND: Jon Anderson (vocals & percussion), Steve Howe (guitars), Chris Squire (bass), Tony Kaye (piano/organ/moog), Bill Bruford (drums & percussion).
THE DISC: (1971) Originally 6 songs clocking in at approximately 42 minutes, this digitally remastered (2003) edition adds 3 bonus tracks and lasts just over 52 minutes. Included with the disc is a 14-page booklet containing song credits/titles, song lyrics, band photos, and singles released. This is the band's 3rd album. Recorded at Advision Studios, London. Originally released on Atlantic's label, this reissue released on Elektra by Rhino.
COMMENTS: Indicated in the liner notes - this album needed to attract a much larger audience, or their label (Atlantic) was going to drop them. I'd say YES responded to the challenge. Original guitarist Peter Banks was out. Enter the new - Steve Howe. What a difference one player can make. Where the first two YES albums took on a very experimental psychedelic feel, Howe's playing and writing led them into the progressive rock arena. Listen to Howe's solo on "Yours Is No Disgrace" and perhaps you'll see what I mean ("Can a song really rock and yet also be beautiful?"). I also have to note Kaye's Hammond B3 organ - a solid backbone in many of the songs here. Bruford's drumming, as always, is complex and varied, and proving in some spots that less IS more. Classic YES songs include the 9 minute opener "Yours Is No Disgrace", the 3-part "Starship Trooper" (the best song on the album and one of their finest in their entire catalog), and the 2-part "I've Seen All Good People"... all 3 of these songs featured on many of their compilation discs. The remaining 3 songs are deep album gems - including Steve Howe's acoustic live recording "Clap", "A Venture", and the heavily underrated 8 minute album closer "Perpetual Change" (this song never got its due). The bonus tracks are adequate fare - single version sections of longer songs here "Your Move" (from "I've Seen All Good People"), "Life Seeker" (from "Starship Trooper"), and the studio version of Howe's "Clap". The remastered sound is crisp. YES has many a classic album - and I rank "The Yes Album" 2nd - closely behind 1972's "Fragile" (and slightly ahead of "Close To The Edge"). Classic disc (5 stars).
Free Music Review: One of Yes' finest efforts
Hit: 5 Stars
Although my favorite Yes record will always be 'Close to the Edge,' 'The Yes Album' is definitely a close favorite. This record demonstrates the group at their finest. Released in 1971, this is the last record keyboardist Tony Kaye would make with the group until 1983. It was also guitarist Steve Howe's first record with the group.
Kaye would be replaced by former Strawbs keyboardist Rick Wakeman. Wakeman would be featured on the reworking of Simon & Garfunkel's 'America,' which would be recorded for a special record called 'The Golden Age Of Atlantic.'
This record, though, does feature some amazing keyboards by Kaye. 'Yours Is No Disgrace' is one of my all-time favorite Yes songs. This is an enjoyable track featuring heavy organ by Kaye.
'The Clap' features great guitar work from Howe. This was recorded live at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1970. This would become a concert favorite for years to come.
After 'The Clap,' the record rolls right into 'Starship Trooper,' which would become yet another concert classic. Chris Squire's bass is great, Jon Anderson's vocals are amazing, and this is, in my opinion, drummer Bill Bruford's best song behind the kit with the group.
'I've Seen All Good People' is played on classic rock radio stations all the time. And it's easy to see why. This song features great vocals from Anderson, and Kaye plays some mighty fine keyboards on this one.
'A Venture' is a nice deep cut that you never hear on the radio. In fact, you never hear it anywhere. It's a shorty, clocking in at 3:21, but it's an amazing song. It fits perfectly on this record.
'Perpetual Change' closes out the record. This song is 9 minutes of excellent music. The saying 'We saved the best for last' really goes in this case. What a way to close a Yes record!
The bonus tracks are great. You get single versions of 'Your Move' and 'Life Seeker' and the studio version of 'The Clap,' which features a part of 'Mood For A Day.' This is highly recommended for any progressive rock, classic rock or Yes fan. ENJOY!!!
Free Music Review: Excellent Remastering of Essential Yes Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Yes is arguably the best of not most well-known progessive rock band. Audiophiles and progressive rock fans especially appreciate the best sound possible on this complex music. This newly remastered (by Bill Inglot and Rhino) version of "The Yes Album" greatly improves upon the the original cd release of this set which I already owned. The biggest difference for me is the greater clarity of Bill Bruford's drumming and Steve Howe's adept guitar work. The harmony vocals are also more noticeable. The album itself one of the group's best is almost a greatest hits collection. I think every song except "A Venture" has remained in the group's concert set even to this day. This proved to be Tony Kaye's last album with the band for a long time but his organ playing is good on this set. He apparently left or was forced out because he resisted using some of the newer synthesizer technology which was becoming available at this time. With this set the band finally achieved their goal of playing complex arrangements but utilizing catchy and memorable harmonies which remain in your head long after the song is finished. Songs such as "Yours Is No Disgrace", "Starship Trooper" and "I've Seen All Good People" prove this point and the latter two were issued in edited form as single versions included here as bonus tracks. The other main reason for puchasing the set is the inclusion of the unissued studio version of "Clap" which is Steve Howe's acoustic guitar picking tour de force. The song appears of the album in an energetic live version but the studio version is not only longer but also clearer in sound. If you do not already have this album pick it up immediately especially considering the improvement in sound quality and the addition of three bonus tracks. Another plus is the detailed booklet included with great pictures, song lyrics and details about the album sessions. Great job Rhino! I can't wait for the next batch of remasters!