I have to say that I love the use of the Church organ on Awaken - the shear power is amazing. It sounds like the Organ and space the organ was in was used as a standalone recorded track in contrast with the other instruments/vocals. Anyway, I am an (amateur) organist - so probably a bit biased!..
Man, just looking at all the albums in the background along with this one makes me kind of sad. Going For The One, Technical Ecstasy, Presence, A Trick of the Tail. It’s all fine music, but it just feels like the end.
In the early 80s I was sent to a horrific boarding school (which has just been the subject of a police investigation) this kind of music helped me get through the nightmare of being there...and gave me a profession as I have been a professional guitarist and guitar teacher teacher for the last 35 years. Thanks Jon. I love you!
After watching this video countless times, I never noticed that you guys put all the songs from this album on the list at the end despite the lukewarm review...
I have always suspected that Awaken was originally supposed to fill the entire 2nd side of the album. There are loads of boots from this album's accompanying tour where Awaken is played with a 5 minute prelude, which includes short riffs taken from the rest of the song. It is usually listed as 'Flight Jam' and it segues straight into the piano intro to Awaken. Interesting stuff.
You guys should continue going through Yes’ discography as you did with Genesis and Jethro Tull. There’s more to be said about albums like Drama and ABWH and more modern stuff.
What happened was, Rick was also managed by Brian Lane and after his No Earthly Connection tour in August 1976, he was in big financial trouble. So that, coupled with Moraz's limitations that were recognised by the band, began talks to have Rick come back.
Wakeman rejoining the band was treated like the second coming by us Yes fans . Patrick Moraz ( very good keyboard player - I bought his first solo album ) was much less revered by the fans during his time in the band than Kev , our esteemed reviewer , gives him credit for . Wakeman had God like status among the fans - in fact , he was the favourite member of the band among the majority of fans back then . Yes actually appeared on Top Of The Pops performing their single , Wonderous Stories .
Good, I would suspect. But with a different singer. Plant would never have done it & I don't think it would have worked. Probably wouldn't have been all that different to 90125.
Of definitely, I think people were probably pleased they managed to squeeze out one last 'classic' album. I'd bet more people prefer Fragile, CTTE and Relayer, though. Probably even Tales for some people given it's reassessment.
MrLtia1234. Now that they're all artifacts it's different. Back then every YES album was percieved as 4 soloists making cool albeit strange music. Going for the One was not considered strange. Yes tickets were A list. Steve Howe was in the middle of his Guitar Player Best of run. Going for the One was huge. In context, Relayer and Topographic were not liked. Yes' amazing stage abilities carried their popularity through those years. How I know is having been at all tours from '73 onward. Tales and Relayer....fans boo'd the new stuff. Going for the One, The new album was cheered. As was Tormato the year after. Even Drama was positive. In retrospect it seems the stranger albums are getting more praise from those who werent there. Anyway, keep up the good work. I enjoy your reviews mate.
Timothy Franz The trouble with that is that it contradicts all account of the time as well as the stats - the Tales era was huge, and with Relayer they were a massive band playing the biggest venues - bigger than they were with Wakeman. I’ve never heard a single account of Relayer being ‘booed’, and all accounts of the Drama period (even though it’s a great album in retrospect) are negative - people saying that going home after the concert was like having seen a football team who’d lost a match. Are you are about all of this?
MrLtia1234 Not in America im afraid. Statistics actually show that in States , YES were at their peak popularity from 77 to 79. Going for the one and Tormato. The '77 tour was the biggest to date, Yes played MSG 3 nights besting the Tales tour by a night and Relayer tour by 2. Tbe '78 Tour (Tormato) was bigger still YES played MSG 5 nights, Wembley 6, then added an additional leg in which they came back to NYC for 3 more at MSG and 1 at neighboring Nassau Coliseum. NYC is the most densely populated and MSG its most coveted venue in the States. Because of this its a fair barometer of a tours popularity. Again thats only in the biggest country's, biggest city. Its only Madison Square Garden. 5 night sell out with 3+1 additional added in 78-79 made YES completely unique as the only band to do that many. So your accounts although well intentioned I'M sure are an inaccurate portrayal, at least in The biggest city they visited.
Timothy Franz I suppose I would question the number of nights as a metric, tbh. Especially as it means tickets are more geographically concentrated. We need to look at the actual stats, methinks. Unfortunately, I can’t be arsed! :-) Oh well. Drama is an awesome album.
Your top ten Yes songs lays out a series of revelations about God and the universe:) It struck me when you named "The fish" at #10. I won't elaborate further
The big 'american' guitar sound at the beginning is very reflective of the big 'american' guitar sound on Yours is No Disgrace, which was lifted from Bonanza, so maybe a call back to that. The production of the record I always found unique in tat it sounds like water or glass it has a crystalline quality which has always enchanted me about the record. Lastly, the lyrics are awesomely direct messages of positivity and ambition. Great record, the last great Yes record.
So.... on account of us liking it, you needed to call us 'wannabes' (and then edit it out), but in fact you yourself like it and are therefore glad you didn't listen to the fact that we liked it? In fact, you are thrilled.
I don't see any Queen Reviews. Lets hope you review Queen on Fire and Live killers. This will be a challenge for you because I will be critiquing your review. Don't wimp out and do a studio album! Now we will see what you chaps are made of and all that Jazz.
I have to say that I love the use of the Church organ on Awaken - the shear power is amazing. It sounds like the Organ and space the organ was in was used as a standalone recorded track in contrast with the other instruments/vocals. Anyway, I am an (amateur) organist - so probably a bit biased!..
Man, just looking at all the albums in the background along with this one makes me kind of sad. Going For The One, Technical Ecstasy, Presence, A Trick of the Tail. It’s all fine music, but it just feels like the end.
In the early 80s I was sent to a horrific boarding school (which has just been the subject of a police investigation) this kind of music helped me get through the nightmare of being there...and gave me a profession as I have been a professional guitarist and guitar teacher teacher for the last 35 years. Thanks Jon. I love you!
After watching this video countless times, I never noticed that you guys put all the songs from this album on the list at the end despite the lukewarm review...
2003Cpayne That was Sam’s rejection of Yes!
MrLtia1234 - I figured that haha! He did have a bit of a sneaky look on his face while doing it...
one of yes best albums ever
I have always suspected that Awaken was originally supposed to fill the entire 2nd side of the album. There are loads of boots from this album's accompanying tour where Awaken is played with a 5 minute prelude, which includes short riffs taken from the rest of the song. It is usually listed as 'Flight Jam' and it segues straight into the piano intro to Awaken. Interesting stuff.
You guys should continue going through Yes’ discography as you did with Genesis and Jethro Tull. There’s more to be said about albums like Drama and ABWH and more modern stuff.
David Brandes maybe some yes solo albums too. Olias and Fish out of water are definitely review worthy
What happened was, Rick was also managed by Brian Lane and after his No Earthly Connection tour in August 1976, he was in big financial trouble. So that, coupled with Moraz's limitations that were recognised by the band, began talks to have Rick come back.
Wakeman rejoining the band was treated like the second coming by us Yes fans . Patrick Moraz ( very good keyboard player - I bought his first solo album ) was much less revered by the fans during his time in the band than Kev , our esteemed reviewer , gives him credit for . Wakeman had God like status among the fans - in fact , he was the favourite member of the band among the majority of fans back then . Yes actually appeared on Top Of The Pops performing their single , Wonderous Stories .
How do you think XYZ( that group with Page, White, and Squire) would have been if it had worked out?
Good, I would suspect. But with a different singer. Plant would never have done it & I don't think it would have worked. Probably wouldn't have been all that different to 90125.
MrLtia1234 yeah, I always thought Jimmy Page going prog would be interesting
This album was considered their best at one time, at least in my hometown (NYC). Every YES fan was pleased with this.
Of definitely, I think people were probably pleased they managed to squeeze out one last 'classic' album. I'd bet more people prefer Fragile, CTTE and Relayer, though. Probably even Tales for some people given it's reassessment.
MrLtia1234. Now that they're all artifacts it's different. Back then every YES album was percieved as 4 soloists making cool albeit strange music. Going for the One was not considered strange. Yes tickets were A list. Steve Howe was in the middle of his Guitar Player Best of run. Going for the One was huge. In context, Relayer and Topographic were not liked. Yes' amazing stage abilities carried their popularity through those years. How I know is having been at all tours from '73 onward. Tales and Relayer....fans boo'd the new stuff. Going for the One, The new album was cheered. As was Tormato the year after. Even Drama was positive. In retrospect it seems the stranger albums are getting more praise from those who werent there.
Anyway, keep up the good work. I enjoy your reviews mate.
Timothy Franz The trouble with that is that it contradicts all account of the time as well as the stats - the Tales era was huge, and with Relayer they were a massive band playing the biggest venues - bigger than they were with Wakeman. I’ve never heard a single account of Relayer being ‘booed’, and all accounts of the Drama period (even though it’s a great album in retrospect) are negative - people saying that going home after the concert was like having seen a football team who’d lost a match. Are you are about all of this?
MrLtia1234 Not in America im afraid. Statistics actually show that in States ,
YES were at their peak popularity from 77 to 79. Going for the one and Tormato. The '77 tour was the biggest to date, Yes played MSG 3 nights besting the Tales tour by a night and Relayer tour by 2. Tbe '78 Tour (Tormato) was bigger still YES played MSG 5 nights, Wembley 6, then added an additional leg in which they came back to NYC for 3 more at MSG and 1 at neighboring Nassau Coliseum.
NYC is the most densely populated and MSG its most coveted venue in the States. Because of this its a fair barometer of a tours popularity. Again thats only in the biggest country's, biggest city. Its only Madison Square Garden. 5 night sell out with 3+1 additional added in 78-79 made YES completely unique as the only band to do that many. So your accounts although well intentioned I'M sure are an inaccurate portrayal, at least in The biggest city they visited.
Timothy Franz I suppose I would question the number of nights as a metric, tbh. Especially as it means tickets are more geographically concentrated. We need to look at the actual stats, methinks. Unfortunately, I can’t be arsed! :-) Oh well. Drama is an awesome album.
How many eggs for Relayer and Going for the one?
Your top ten Yes songs lays out a series of revelations about God and the universe:) It struck me when you named "The fish" at #10. I won't elaborate further
Chris Squire liked a bath? Maybe Chris Squire is god?
The big 'american' guitar sound at the beginning is very reflective of the big 'american' guitar sound on Yours is No Disgrace, which was lifted from Bonanza, so maybe a call back to that. The production of the record I always found unique in tat it sounds like water or glass it has a crystalline quality which has always enchanted me about the record. Lastly, the lyrics are awesomely direct messages of positivity and ambition. Great record, the last great Yes record.
Does it sound like Metallica?
metallica sucks !!
Absolutely, NOT!
Tormato is definitely forgettable, but Drama was excellent!
+Brad Bridges Definitely.
there were some good bits on Tormato, though
Other way around imo
The CD display is so distracting.only got 5 on this one.
I'm glad I didn't listen to these two guys. I bought it and I love it! You'll love it too!
So.... on account of us liking it, you needed to call us 'wannabes' (and then edit it out), but in fact you yourself like it and are therefore glad you didn't listen to the fact that we liked it? In fact, you are thrilled.
Ken Motley commented: "I bought it and I'm thrilled I didn't listen to these two wannabes. It's outstanding....buy it, you'll love it!"
I don't see any Queen Reviews. Lets hope you review Queen on Fire and Live killers. This will be a challenge for you because I will be critiquing your review. Don't wimp out and do a studio album! Now we will see what you chaps are made of and all that Jazz.
Guys, take a moment and go and eat something before your videos.
Are you sure your blood pressure is ok?
wtf?
Great album. But the review is not very interesting. Actually not interesting at all.
soz
Yes is KIddie Music; art rock for teenagers.