The Yes Album recorded in 1970 changed everything. The combination of production quality and musicianship, nothing like it had ever been done before. The Yes Album will never get the credit it deserves, but producers and a great many of the young musicians who soon came after Yes knew The Yes Album was a landmark. It's still a great listen.
This was it. Record company geniuses said, “Third album makes it or you’re through.” They were given a gift of Steve Howe on guitar and retreated to a quiet farmhouse and made music. It’s mature, confident and feels like they all have been playing together for a decade. It kicked open the door for the next 2 albums, Fragile and Close To The Edge. As consumers, Yes fans of the day got these 3 albums within 572 days. When you work through these albums keep this in mind. Don’t dig deep into the lyrics as they were stoned to the bejeesus. The words suit the music perfectly but are there for emotional impact and how they sound as much as any logical structure or story. Consummate musicians who together would make some beautiful music. They rarely all got along but they were a superb live act and in the ‘70s created a discography to be proud of.
Most talented, creative guys ever. I ve been listening to them for 50 ish years and they still interest me to no end. Much hard work and thought put into this music.
❤ the never ending baffling extroadinary YES. I cant wait to view how much more YES is going to blow your fkn mind with their even more intense brilliance.
You nailed it. And this song was talking about the Vietnam War. It’s seems ironic that the song would have a very happy vibe but given the song’s meaning it makes sense. Even if you don’t take away the intended meaning you can apply it to yourself in the sense of “stop beating up on yourself.” And that’s pretty uplifting in and of itself.
For me, most Yes songs are like going on an epic journey from one unique place, through a bunch of interesting or bizarre locations, and then back again.
For "And You and I", please go with the symphonic version. There's a live performance on UA-cam with the band merged with a symphony and it is glorious.
Listening to Yes always reminds me of having an absolutely insane mate come pick you up in a car, take you on a wild journey to a bunch of crazy places, and then drop you back at your place at the end. If you're looking for another Yes song to react to, there is the obvious popular choice of Roundabout (which is amazing), or the more challenging and wild choice of Heart of the Sunrise (which is bizarre and double astounding).
These guys make me believe in aliens. Their music was so ahead of their time and the individual talent was stellar. Yes always brought a lot to the table.
You now know the best prog band in the history of prog. Also Geddy’s quote is - without YES there would have been no RUSH. He said YES was the only band he would stand in line to see. Chris Squire the bassist- look him up. He was the best and to this day- nearly 10 years after his death, continues to inspire new blood. The 70’s albums are their best though there are some pieces beyond still brilliant. Glad to see another YES fan. And you will be the deeper you dig.
Bill Bruford is indeed one of the great drummers in rock. A founding member of Yes and U.K., longtime King Crimson mainstay, a great solo artist - simply an amazing instrumental force. You were certainly right to point him out.
YES. Best...band...ever. For about 50 of my 70 years. They have about 23 studio albums, so you can grow old listening to their musical genius. Thanks !!! for the reaction. Next song? How about "Starship Trooper"??
Man, this took me back to the early 80’s… not He-Man but when I first discovered YES and Progressive music. In a recliner in the backyard. In the sunshine. 8 miles high, lol.
👋, great reaction to my favorite band. Next? You've gotten a bunch of excellent suggestions -- Starship Trooper, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky. And some good advice to go chronologically; studio versions first... I'm here for whatever comes next!
Yes was a very experimental Progressive Rock band who created music few people could even imagine. One of the things I loved about their early "Sound" was the emphasis the bass player got in the mix. You always heard Chris Squire's contributions which were usually melodic while holding down the bottom end groove. He was the reason YES' music during their Uber-Classic Period (their 3rd, 4th, & 5th albums: *The Yes Album, Fragile, & Close To The Edge* ) would sound seriously funky in stretches. Together with his jazz-fusion drummer, Bill Bruford, the YES Sound featured the most incredible 'rhythm section' in the history of Progressive Rock. Chris' bass play absolutely dominated the band's sound during that period & it was wonderful. YES is definitely not background music. There's always "a lot going on." That's why YES was always first & foremost a _musician's band,_ making music that musicians will listen closely to. Because they spent so much time at the sound board perfecting the mix, their *studio versions* of their several masterpieces during this period are _Must Listen._ With rare exceptions, the studio recordings of their masterpieces are vastly superior to the live recordings in terms of sound quality. I agree with you re: Rush. While always one of my favorite bands, they became much more Pop Rock than Progressive Rock over time. YES was always the trailblazing phenomenon that inspired Rush & many others...
"Roundabout" is their most popular. "Heart of a Sunrise", Starship Trooper", "Long Distance Runaround", "Close to the Edge", "And you and I", "Yours is no Disgrace"
Now you know why my generation thinks we had the best Prog/Psychedelic/Rock music ever. Amusing anecdote. This track was one of the first we encountered where the guitar solo jumped from speaker to speaker. You really needed headphones to appreciate it properly, but at that time you didn't get headphone sockets on record players. So you had to buy kits which you wired in before the speakers which gave you a headphone socket. Everybody did this and suddenly there was a headphone shortage in Glasgow, you couldn't find one for a while for love nor money! We were poor back then, but we were happy!
'Siberian Khatru' from the 1972 album Close To The Edge. I kind of see it as a natural successor to Yours Is No Disgrace. It's got the same kind of energy, even though its more intricate, and it kicks arse. The live version from the 1973 Yessongs album is even better and shows that Yes in the 70s were even better live. But it's always better to hear the original studio versions first. Happy New Year too 🥳
Why can't we love both Yes AND Rush? Deciding if one is "better" than the other largely depends on personal taste and what you value in music. Both Yes and Rush excel in their respective niches within progressive rock, and each brings something unique to the genre. Ultimately, it's not about one being "better" than the other... in my opinion, they both embody different sides of progressive rock. If you appreciate epic, ethereal beauty, Yes might resonate more. If you’re drawn to intensity, intellect, and precision, Rush could be your favorite. Many fans - including myself - love both, seeing them as complementary rather than competitive.
I think of YES as what the Beatles might have been had they stayed together through the 1970's. I would recommend "Roundabout" or "Heart of the Sunrise" for your next YES adventure. You're not quite ready for "Close To The Edge" yet.
Paved the way for bands like Rush. Jon Anderson one of the best voices in prog. Squire, Bruford, Howe all among the best ever. And next album they added Rick Wakeman to their lineup. "Close to the Edge" and "Gates of Delirium" both masterpieces of prog music.
YES is the greatest progressive rock band in my opinion. I just subscribed. I subscribe to anyone who reacts to them as will many other YES fans so keep them coming. Loads of greats including "Roundabout", "Awaken", "The Gates of Delirium", "Close to the Edge", "And You and I", "Turn of the Century", "Starship Trooper", "Perpetual Change", "The Revealing Science of God", lots more.
loved this breakdown. Totally accurate description of what the fuck is going on. Yes was the soundtrack (well, one of them) to my 20's - took me places i had never been before. Masterpiece. Muchas Gracias amigo
For me, "Yours Is No Disgrace" is one of the songs that you should definitely listen to from the live album "Yessongs" (despite the poor sound quality). Much smoother, more lively and also a bit more developed. For anyone who is interested, here is the link: ua-cam.com/video/ErNewJSjL48/v-deo.html
Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Squire and YES, the greatest show on earth. Wonderful reaction! Enjoy your YES journey. Finnish the album, and us siver tops will ride shotgun. FYI, I used to chat with Geddy and Alex on their afternoon walks ✨️🎶👑🎶✨️
It's almost weird that such brilliant musicians came together in one band in the late 60s. I vote for 'Roundabout', 'Heart of the Sunrise' and 'South Side of the Sky'. Once you've heard those you'll be ready for 'Close to the Edge'.
Here we go down the rabbit hole of YES… Sacred music. Try Heart of the Sunrise next and of course Close to the edge. A fellow Scot. Love, Light and Peace💛
If you're walking down this path, you'll probably end up getting lost down the Steely Dan rabbit hole, at least briefly, and maybe you'll be able to decide whether you think Black Cow or Peg is the best song on the Aja album (an album where no song falls below the standard of really good). EDIT: If you want to do another Yes song, anything from the Close to the Edge album is worth listening to, with the title song being a good place to start.
I always find it weird to see something like someone hearing Yes for the first time, and contrasting it with prog. How can someone know what prog is without knowing Yes. Prog was primarily a British movement from 1969-1974 and Yes was by far its most popular band. I doubt Yes is being compared with the other prog bands like Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, King Crimson, Genesis. Camel. etc. It seems the model of prog here is Rush, which always struck me as more of a prog influences hard rock band. This was a fun reaction. It is good to see somebody appreciate a quality band. But it is hard to tell if he likes this unlike other prog, or if he just hasn't heard much real prog.
I disagree with that assessment because there are still bands today doing what could be considered prog music. Tool are basically a prog metal band, the Mars Volta are prog, Coheed and Cambria have a lot of prog elements. I haven’t listened to any of the original prog bands, but the bands that they then influenced, I’ve heard.
@@markabusireactions Prog at its peak lasted about 5 years. But it clearly had a lasting impact on rock. Many people here have quote Geddy Lee as saying that without Yes there would be no Rush. Maynard Keenan said something similar about King Crimson commenting on the absurdity of having King Crimson open for Tool. Steve Harris explained a distinctive feature of Iron Maiden as a result of their growing up listening to Genesis (that would be early Genesis and not the stadium filling rock band Genesis later became). But these bands were influenced by prog, but also by other things. In Iron Maiden's case they clearly also grew up listening to Black Sabbath. Mars Volta evolved from a band my son likes, which is to say more punk. And Tool is reasonably considered primarily an experimental (or avant-garde) metal band. The result is that all of these later bands mixed distinctive elements of prog with elements of things that were not prog. And your sense of prog seems to be dependent on these other things. (I am not saying there is anything wrong with combining influences, that is the natural thing to do, but it makes it hard to make generalities about a style based on bands for whom that style is just one of their influences). There were neo-prog bands, bands that tried to just capture the prog spirit. The only one that had any real success was Marillion. The result is that some of the insightful things you said about Yes distinguish Yes from these later bands, but not necessarily from their contemporaries in the movement. The drummer you heard above quit Yes because he thought they were not going far enough in this direction and joined King Crimson instead. It seems that while it is possible to make great progressive rock, if you are not capable of making great prog rock, then it is hard to make even good prog rock. By contrast while it is hard to make great progressive metal, it doesn't seem that hard to make good or even very good prog metal. So there are a lot of prog metal bands I listen to regularly and few progressive rock bands that I do, even though I think prog rock at its best is better than prog metal. I get the sense that a lot of your sense of prog comes from the non-prog elements of prog metal, and related acts. Yes is a great band, but if you hear the other bands that were part of their movement they become much less unique. They were actually taking stuff that other people were doing and making a more accessible version. if you don't hear those other bands then they do seem to be unique.
@@lonbecker113 I agree generally with what you are saying but would argue that Yes’s singing, in particular the emphasis they gave to intricate vocal harmonies, made them unique even among that first wave of British prog. Crimson, Tull, Genesis, Floyd, ELP, none of them had harmony singing like Yes. Great vocals were just as important as instrumental virtuosity to the Yes sound.
@@CanAlternateLostTape Gentle Giant would be another original prog band that relied on harmonies, in fact probably more than Yes. Yes is also distinctive in that the Fragile line up is the only band of that era I can think of with a virtuoso singer, guitarist, keyboard player, bass player, and drummer. King Crimson was guitar focused with nod dedicated keyboard player, ELP was keyboard centered with guitars played by the bass player. And I don't think I ever heard Mike Rutherford described as a virtuoso bass player, although I could be wrong about that. The only prog band I can think of that has that kind of virtuosity at every instrument is Dream Theater at their peak. So I didn't mean to suggest there was nothing unique about Yes, just that they stand out less in the context of their contemporaries than they do in comparison to the bands that were influenced by them.
Dude! Geddy thinks Yes is better than Rush!! Yes are his idols. There would be no Rush without Yes. He said that to me, and many times, to the world. I’ve only missed Yes live once in 50 years here in Dallas Texas. ☮️❤️😎🎼 One more thing…MORE YES!!
At you didn't even hear Close to The Edge. That will be interesting, trust me. But before that one i'd recommend to listen to Starship Trooper, Roundabout, I've Seen All Good People, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky, Siberian Khatru, And You and I. These are essential Yes songs. but actually they have a lot of those. Even i didn't listen all their albums yet and enjoy it so much.
Sí, yes are alright 😆 For next song I'm going to vote for Roundabout, it's a very cool well known one and not way too long for prog. I enjoyed this one a lot, ty!
The progression here is listen to more of their pop-rock compatible repertoire (Roundabout, Parallels, Survival, Siberian Khatru, Going for the One) then move to the 20ish minute epics (Close to the Edge, Awaken, Gates of Delirium) with maybe some intermediate step like Starship Trroper or South Side of the Sky or Hesrt of the Sunrise
Heart of the Sunrise, it goes to many different places within it's ten minutes. Yes' bassist Chris Squire says he thinks it's the track that most represents the band.
This is pristine as the studio version, but, the YESSONGS Live version from the album is INSANE a must listen, my favorite extended guitar solo of all time
I was 25 years old before I took any notice of yes, 1994, They’re a different level from the rest, The bonus with Yes Is the Artist Roger Dean, who illustrated the Album Art collaboration with the Album thyme, His art inspired Avatar movie, Tales from Topographic ocean, music and the Art, with its mystical hidden story, The Album is a double one thyme on the 4 sides, I will drop a link with the Art as its intended It’s about time a I found a good Scottish channel ✌️🏴
There’s a wee introduction video to tales from topographic ocean, it’s under 3 minutes, it will help set the tone ua-cam.com/play/PLhdOd70LYUvHf7l4tg02WrlB1x6Bn0uKK.html&si=OpyRrsTYtjiE04ki
Great reaction. Love the band, love the song. Your delight at the intricacy of the basslines is spot on. Bass player Chris Squire played it as a lead instrument basically. Subscribed. Next? Jump in the deep end and do Close to the Edge. Your life will probably change. No exaggeration ❤
I am often perplexed by the comparison of Rush and Yes. When I sat with a high school buddy in the mid and late 70’s, we usually smoked a joint and he often put on Rush records and also Yes records. So here’s the main difference for me: THE FEELING. Rush had the shrill singer and some cool licks but left me feeling distant and drained. Yes has this quality of drawing you in to a kind of sonic universe they have created. It opens my heart and consistently feels positive. Atmospheric - not heavy. I just never tire of their music.
There's a good chance Chris wouldn't have gotten anywhere without his band mate's equal musicianship and writing. They all created a unique platform for one another to flourish. Yes were on their last leg and about to fold when guitarist Steve How joined. He organized them into a direction, The Yes Album.
@@Chuckles.. indeed, Yes were a five-man democracy. But that means Steve Howe was no more (and no less) important than the others. He was new blood on the Yes Album, but at that point Chris and Jon were still the main writers, and they invited Steve to join their band. So to suggest the new direction came only from Steve seems a little false.
Recommmended order of songs from Yes's best albums: Yours is No Disgrace (done), Starship Trooper, Perpetual Change, Roundabout, 5% of Nothing through to the Fish, Southside of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise, And You and I, Siberian Khatru, culminating with the genius of Close to the Edge.
Yes, especially early Yes, were brilliant. Jon Anderson would write stream of consciousness, disjointed lyrics on a lot of songs. Lyrics that carried the mood, emotion of the music. There was enough there you could could create your own meaning for it. This song hangs together lyrically better than others. Musically they were amazing. I’m new to your channel and need a little bit of a Scots (or Irish?) Accent Translator 😂. My bad hearing has a lot to do with it. Enjoying your channel so far.
The band admitted they ripped off the opening riff from a TV cowboy show but what they did with it is awesome. The whole album is full of great riffs. After hearing King Crimson, the band realised they would have to raise their game and boy did they succeed.
From the same album, check out Starship Trouper and I've Seen All Good People, two of their most popularized singles. From the Close to the Edge Album, check out And You and I. I also love the experimental work they did with Tales from Topographic Oceans, which is a double album with one song on each side for a deep dive into some fantastic prog rock creativity. Yes was the best prog rock band--everyone holds them up as the GOATs in the genre. Their musicianship is world class. They do not get the group recognition they deserve, though individually guitarist Steve Howe has won awards several years in a row as the best rock guitarist, bassist Chris Squire is all-time legendary and keyboardist Rick Wakeman appears on all-time great rock keyboard player lists.
Yes were far more sophisticated than Rush. Like you said, better singing, better writing, cooler guitar, more tasteful drumming, just more . I get that these days many people come to Yes through Rush….but when people say that Yes sounds like Rush I get so mad. Yes had already completed their initial run of classic prog albums up to Relayer before Rush had even released Fly by Night, their first album with Neil Peart. Yes were the originators and Rush the students. I think you should hear Starship Trooper next. And see how Yes could even make repeating the same 3 chord riff for 3 minutes glorious!
I'm totally with you. I don't like repetition. And Yes is my favorite band. One of the main reasons I like them is because of the small amount of repetition in their music. Check out any of their songs from the '70s and the year 1980 and you'll be very happy with the lack of repetitious, boring music!
Good review. A bit of info, interesting from a Scottish point of view is that part of this piece was used as the intro music to BBC Scotland's "Reporting Scotland" news programme back in the mid 1970's (The bit from ua-cam.com/video/ipF-glyFoyk/v-deo.html). Showing my age here eh ? ;) A the best, John.
Suggestions: Roundabout;Starship Trooper; South Side of the Sky( early Yes and working out their sound); Heart of the Sunrise; Perpetual Change, the whole Close to the Edge albumn.; then LongDistance Riunaround/Fish; I've Seen All Good People, The Revealing Science of God.
Since you are loving what you're hearing so far, I'll recommend that you stick with The Yes Album, which doesn't have a bad song on it, but also another of their masterpieces, *Starship Trooper* as well as several near-masterpieces. *Roundabout* is on their next album after this, *Fragile,* & it is definitely rather jaw-dropping. You'll get there...
Great reaction bud! Welcome to the 1970s where first class musicians were given pretty much free rein. These guys are top notch and I'm not even a Yes fan really. Squire's meaty bass sound often saves Yes from being too insipid, so because I prefer heavier stuff I gravitate more to Rush. Now Emerson Lake and Palmer will give you heavy keyboard based prog, but I don't think you can handle that 😀. You asked in another video what ELP you may know, that would be Fanfare for the Common Man, but nevermind that 'pop' prog, try this 3 minutes of energy ua-cam.com/video/xrIZGre2KmA/v-deo.html. Goodness knows what sort of prog you listened to that was repetitive, that's the antitheses of prog. Baffled by prog? Yes, I'm not sure we're meant to understand it, ha. Instead luxuriate in its splendour!
YES! The # 1 Progressive Rock band! Geddy states how much Chris’s Bass influenced him(Geddy filled in for Chris when Yes was inducted to the RRHOF!❤ Stick with all studio versions first! Then there are some great live concerts out there! Yes Album Fragile Close to the Edge Going For The One RELAYER!!❤ Tales of Topographic Oceans There’s more albums before The Yes album! If you like YIND-you’re gonna love hearing the Yes Library! Don’t forget-this album came out in 1971✌️
New to this channel. I can see you dig Otoboke Beaver and now you've got Yes with no trouble, but I can't see a Cardiacs reaction. If you want Otoboke Beaver and Yes at the same time, that's the next place to go (try 'Tarred and Feathered' first). And yes, Yes-wise, you have to listen to 'Heart of the Sunrise' and 'Roundabout'.
Yes is absolutely the best Prog Band, Rush, Queen, ELO all came after Yes. This song is from their 3rd album released in 1971. Next, please react to Starship Trooper and Ive seen all good people from the same album. Then you can listen to Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise, and Southside of the Sky from their 4th album also released in 1971, then you will be ready to listen to Close to the Edge their Epic 1972 release. The album that inspired Geddy Lee to form Rush.
From a fellow 70 year old Scot I didn't think at first that you would like the greatest band on the planet imo. Stick to the Yes album and Fragile and listen to Roundabout next. They were at their peak 1970 -1977 untouchable even by their peers. Their 3 rd album in the 70's is Close to the Edge voted the top prog album of them all. It may be too much and takes a lot of listening too, but the way you got Yours is no Disgrace might just lend you to getting it. Jon Anderson has the most unique incredible voice in music again imho.
I have never liked the term "progressive" when referring to Yes. This is the most dynamic, multi-genre band I have listened to in my 65 years here on earth. Jon Anderson (vocals+) and Chris Squire (bass/vocals) got together in 1968, and put together a band that featured Chris's bass and Jons' vocals/harmonies. After a couple of years, Steve Howe (guitar+), Bill Bruford (percussions) and Rick Wakeman (keyboards) joined the band. And the rest (as they say) is history. You absolutely MUST do a deep dive on this band. You will be amazed at what music can be. Suggestion: "Starship Trooper". Listen to the studio version first, but many of their live versions are even more impressive. I'll be watching for more Yes.
Yes does repeat lines and themes within the same song, but they change it up each round. Good album to start with this one The Yes Album. Starship Trooper. I've Seen All Good People. Then move on to the next album Fragile. With Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise, Long Distance Runaround. Then you are ready for the albums, Close to the Edge, and Relayer. Then the last great album before they started the breakup, Going for the One, With the title song, Wondrous Stories, Awaken,
Great reaction! Geddy Lee, a long time Yes admirerer, played bass on "Roundabout" since (the great) Chris Squire had passed away, live at the hall of fame induction ceremony - remastered audio: ua-cam.com/video/uWqMX854V8o/v-deo.html
Thanks! Great reaction Say "yes!" to Yes!
Oh my god, thank you so much! I really appreciate that!
Yes were Rush's idols. And Bill Bruford is an absolute legend. Heart of the Sunrise mate. Brufird and Squire absolutely killing it.
The Yes Album recorded in 1970 changed everything. The combination of production quality and musicianship, nothing like it had ever been done before. The Yes Album will never get the credit it deserves, but producers and a great many of the young musicians who soon came after Yes knew The Yes Album was a landmark. It's still a great listen.
So true though I was too young when it was released. First I appreciated YES was The Fragile and YESSONGS album!Genius. Blew my mind at the age of 12!
Hilarious honest reaction, mate, spot on. Loved it, thanks.
I agree that Starship Trooper should be next before moving on to the Fragile album
Squire on Bass is just a driving force on this song. What a beast.
First guy I ever heard admit that Rush takes a back seat to Yes
Having been a fan of Rush and Yes I prefer the 1971 to 1979 Yes.
Sad it’s so rare since it’s true 😎😀
This was it. Record company geniuses said, “Third album makes it or you’re through.”
They were given a gift of Steve Howe on guitar and retreated to a quiet farmhouse and made music. It’s mature, confident and feels like they all have been playing together for a decade. It kicked open the door for the next 2 albums, Fragile and Close To The Edge. As consumers, Yes fans of the day got these 3 albums within 572 days. When you work through these albums keep this in mind.
Don’t dig deep into the lyrics as they were stoned to the bejeesus. The words suit the music perfectly but are there for emotional impact and how they sound as much as any logical structure or story.
Consummate musicians who together would make some beautiful music. They rarely all got along but they were a superb live act and in the ‘70s created a discography to be proud of.
Most talented, creative guys ever. I ve been listening to them for 50 ish years and they still interest me to no end. Much hard work and thought put into this music.
❤ the never ending baffling extroadinary YES. I cant wait to view how much more YES is going to blow your fkn mind with their even more intense brilliance.
Yes, as a soldier you have to do some disgusting things but the disgrace isn't yours it's the people who send you to war.
You nailed it. And this song was talking about the Vietnam War.
It’s seems ironic that the song would have a very happy vibe but given the song’s meaning it makes sense.
Even if you don’t take away the intended meaning you can apply it to yourself in the sense of “stop beating up on yourself.” And that’s pretty uplifting in and of itself.
Nah, you're still responsible. Going to jail isn't worse than burning children alive.
Although "Roundabout" is their most famous song, "Heart of the Sunrise" is the total eargasm.
I'd give the ultimate award to 'Awaken'.
..the bass, the basssssssss...
Starship Trooper and then the their grand achievement, Close to the Edge
For me, most Yes songs are like going on an epic journey from one unique place, through a bunch of interesting or bizarre locations, and then back again.
That was fun, you obviously get it. Siberian Khatru, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side Of The Sky, And You and I, Gates of Delirium, Close to the Edge,
For "And You and I", please go with the symphonic version. There's a live performance on UA-cam with the band merged with a symphony and it is glorious.
Excellent reaction. "Close to the Edge" and "And You and I" are absolute Yes gems. Large catalog.
Starship Trooper from the same album is equally awesome
Listening to Yes always reminds me of having an absolutely insane mate come pick you up in a car, take you on a wild journey to a bunch of crazy places, and then drop you back at your place at the end. If you're looking for another Yes song to react to, there is the obvious popular choice of Roundabout (which is amazing), or the more challenging and wild choice of Heart of the Sunrise (which is bizarre and double astounding).
These guys make me believe in aliens. Their music was so ahead of their time and the individual talent was stellar. Yes always brought a lot to the table.
The Band From Another Planet
(my pet name for Yes in the early ‘70’s)
Im a massive Rush fan and Yes fan . This is my fave Yes album by far . Tripped to it to a few times . Super talented musicians .
I wore this album out 😅
"Close to the Edge" is THE prog masterpeice!!
FACT^^^
I love Yes more now than ever, and it's been more than 40 years of listening
5:15 did he just drop a C bomb??? Lmao 🤣😲😳🤯🤣
Your's is No Disgrace 🎶🔥😂
Mate, the C bomb is littered all the way through every video lol
You now know the best prog band in the history of prog.
Also Geddy’s quote is - without YES there would have been no RUSH.
He said YES was the only band he would stand in line to see.
Chris Squire the bassist- look him up. He was the best and to this day- nearly 10 years after his death, continues to inspire new blood.
The 70’s albums are their best though there are some pieces beyond still brilliant.
Glad to see another YES fan. And you will be the deeper you dig.
Bill Bruford is indeed one of the great drummers in rock. A founding member of Yes and U.K., longtime King Crimson mainstay, a great solo artist - simply an amazing instrumental force. You were certainly right to point him out.
You've got a jazz drummer and the best bassist in rock music holding down the bottom
YES. Best...band...ever. For about 50 of my 70 years. They have about 23 studio albums, so you can grow old listening to their musical genius. Thanks !!! for the reaction. Next song? How about "Starship Trooper"??
Perpetual Change from the same album is even better.
Fantastic song ^^^
Man, this took me back to the early 80’s… not He-Man but when I first discovered YES and Progressive music. In a recliner in the backyard. In the sunshine. 8 miles high, lol.
Like Obi-Wan said, you have just taken your first step into a larger world...
👋, great reaction to my favorite band.
Next? You've gotten a bunch of excellent suggestions -- Starship Trooper, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky. And some good advice to go chronologically; studio versions first...
I'm here for whatever comes next!
Yes was a very experimental Progressive Rock band who created music few people could even imagine. One of the things I loved about their early "Sound" was the emphasis the bass player got in the mix. You always heard Chris Squire's contributions which were usually melodic while holding down the bottom end groove. He was the reason YES' music during their Uber-Classic Period (their 3rd, 4th, & 5th albums: *The Yes Album, Fragile, & Close To The Edge* ) would sound seriously funky in stretches. Together with his jazz-fusion drummer, Bill Bruford, the YES Sound featured the most incredible 'rhythm section' in the history of Progressive Rock. Chris' bass play absolutely dominated the band's sound during that period & it was wonderful.
YES is definitely not background music. There's always "a lot going on." That's why YES was always first & foremost a _musician's band,_ making music that musicians will listen closely to. Because they spent so much time at the sound board perfecting the mix, their *studio versions* of their several masterpieces during this period are _Must Listen._ With rare exceptions, the studio recordings of their masterpieces are vastly superior to the live recordings in terms of sound quality. I agree with you re: Rush. While always one of my favorite bands, they became much more Pop Rock than Progressive Rock over time. YES was always the trailblazing phenomenon that inspired Rush & many others...
"Roundabout" is their most popular. "Heart of a Sunrise", Starship Trooper", "Long Distance Runaround", "Close to the Edge", "And you and I", "Yours is no Disgrace"
Best band ever!!!!
Now you know why my generation thinks we had the best Prog/Psychedelic/Rock music ever. Amusing anecdote. This track was one of the first we encountered where the guitar solo jumped from speaker to speaker. You really needed headphones to appreciate it properly, but at that time you didn't get headphone sockets on record players. So you had to buy kits which you wired in before the speakers which gave you a headphone socket. Everybody did this and suddenly there was a headphone shortage in Glasgow, you couldn't find one for a while for love nor money! We were poor back then, but we were happy!
A fellow Scot! Welcome to the channel!!
'Siberian Khatru' from the 1972 album Close To The Edge. I kind of see it as a natural successor to Yours Is No Disgrace. It's got the same kind of energy, even though its more intricate, and it kicks arse. The live version from the 1973 Yessongs album is even better and shows that Yes in the 70s were even better live. But it's always better to hear the original studio versions first. Happy New Year too 🥳
Yes, the best band ever. Thx 👌👍💪
Besides The Beatles of course.
"Siberian Khatru" by them, it's their best IMHO
CTTE and AYAI are better
One of my favourites too.
Why can't we love both Yes AND Rush? Deciding if one is "better" than the other largely depends on personal taste and what you value in music. Both Yes and Rush excel in their respective niches within progressive rock, and each brings something unique to the genre.
Ultimately, it's not about one being "better" than the other... in my opinion, they both embody different sides of progressive rock. If you appreciate epic, ethereal beauty, Yes might resonate more. If you’re drawn to intensity, intellect, and precision, Rush could be your favorite. Many fans - including myself - love both, seeing them as complementary rather than competitive.
BUT WHO IS BETTER??
Yes by far
@@markabusireactionsno comparison, yes..
@@dav147 Yes DOMINATES Rush, and most mortal bands. Floyd, Zeppelin or ELP are the only ones even in the bracket.
its down to whether you prefer music(yes) or random noise(rush)
Eric Jam. Truly Legendary. Literally heard by millions over 6 decades, still hits!!!
🎶🎶🎵🎶🔥💯✌️☮️🕊️🎧
This came out when I was in high school. My friends and I went crazy over this album. I only listen to YES albums, start to finish. Great reaction.
I think of YES as what the Beatles might have been had they stayed together through the 1970's. I would recommend "Roundabout" or "Heart of the Sunrise" for your next YES adventure. You're not quite ready for "Close To The Edge" yet.
I would say, keep to this album and go chronologically. So next up should be Starship Trooper. It only gets better till you hit 1976.
Starship Trooper is my favorite YES song.
Paved the way for bands like Rush. Jon Anderson one of the best voices in prog. Squire, Bruford, Howe all among the best ever. And next album they added Rick Wakeman to their lineup. "Close to the Edge" and "Gates of Delirium" both masterpieces of prog music.
YES is the greatest progressive rock band in my opinion. I just subscribed. I subscribe to anyone who reacts to them as will many other YES fans so keep them coming. Loads of greats including "Roundabout", "Awaken", "The Gates of Delirium", "Close to the Edge", "And You and I", "Turn of the Century", "Starship Trooper", "Perpetual Change", "The Revealing Science of God", lots more.
loved this breakdown. Totally accurate description of what the fuck is going on. Yes was the soundtrack (well, one of them) to my 20's - took me places i had never been before. Masterpiece. Muchas Gracias amigo
next one should be 'Close To The Edge' for sure
Not sure he is ready for that one Ed
@@Chefmac114 I think he'll be ok, he'll find his way back @johnmcmullen4586 😃
@@Chefmac114 I think he would get back ok 😃. Out of interest what would you pick?
Heart of the Sunrise before Close to the Edge
For me, "Yours Is No Disgrace" is one of the songs that you should definitely listen to from the live album "Yessongs" (despite the poor sound quality). Much smoother, more lively and also a bit more developed. For anyone who is interested, here is the link:
ua-cam.com/video/ErNewJSjL48/v-deo.html
It’s a good one. Perpetual Change also ❤
You haven't heard anything from Yes until you listen to 'Awaken'.
Their masterpeice - even as Close To The Edge gets more attention.
@@anahatatutu I agree. And Roundabout, too!
Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Squire and YES, the greatest show on earth. Wonderful reaction! Enjoy your YES journey. Finnish the album, and us siver tops will ride shotgun. FYI, I used to chat with Geddy and Alex on their afternoon walks
✨️🎶👑🎶✨️
It's almost weird that such brilliant musicians came together in one band in the late 60s. I vote for 'Roundabout', 'Heart of the Sunrise' and 'South Side of the Sky'. Once you've heard those you'll be ready for 'Close to the Edge'.
Here we go down the rabbit hole of YES… Sacred music. Try Heart of the Sunrise next and of course Close to the edge. A fellow Scot. Love, Light and Peace💛
If you're walking down this path, you'll probably end up getting lost down the Steely Dan rabbit hole, at least briefly, and maybe you'll be able to decide whether you think Black Cow or Peg is the best song on the Aja album (an album where no song falls below the standard of really good).
EDIT: If you want to do another Yes song, anything from the Close to the Edge album is worth listening to, with the title song being a good place to start.
Aja is the best musical expression on the album. Peg and Black Cow are great, accessible radio songs.
Deacon Blues is the best song on the Aja album.
Chris Squire (bass) was in a league all his own (in my view). This is but one example.
More! More! Might as well do "Roundabout" next. I'm subscribed now
I always find it weird to see something like someone hearing Yes for the first time, and contrasting it with prog. How can someone know what prog is without knowing Yes. Prog was primarily a British movement from 1969-1974 and Yes was by far its most popular band. I doubt Yes is being compared with the other prog bands like Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, King Crimson, Genesis. Camel. etc. It seems the model of prog here is Rush, which always struck me as more of a prog influences hard rock band.
This was a fun reaction. It is good to see somebody appreciate a quality band. But it is hard to tell if he likes this unlike other prog, or if he just hasn't heard much real prog.
I disagree with that assessment because there are still bands today doing what could be considered prog music. Tool are basically a prog metal band, the Mars Volta are prog, Coheed and Cambria have a lot of prog elements. I haven’t listened to any of the original prog bands, but the bands that they then influenced, I’ve heard.
@@markabusireactions Prog at its peak lasted about 5 years. But it clearly had a lasting impact on rock. Many people here have quote Geddy Lee as saying that without Yes there would be no Rush. Maynard Keenan said something similar about King Crimson commenting on the absurdity of having King Crimson open for Tool. Steve Harris explained a distinctive feature of Iron Maiden as a result of their growing up listening to Genesis (that would be early Genesis and not the stadium filling rock band Genesis later became). But these bands were influenced by prog, but also by other things. In Iron Maiden's case they clearly also grew up listening to Black Sabbath. Mars Volta evolved from a band my son likes, which is to say more punk. And Tool is reasonably considered primarily an experimental (or avant-garde) metal band. The result is that all of these later bands mixed distinctive elements of prog with elements of things that were not prog. And your sense of prog seems to be dependent on these other things. (I am not saying there is anything wrong with combining influences, that is the natural thing to do, but it makes it hard to make generalities about a style based on bands for whom that style is just one of their influences). There were neo-prog bands, bands that tried to just capture the prog spirit. The only one that had any real success was Marillion.
The result is that some of the insightful things you said about Yes distinguish Yes from these later bands, but not necessarily from their contemporaries in the movement. The drummer you heard above quit Yes because he thought they were not going far enough in this direction and joined King Crimson instead.
It seems that while it is possible to make great progressive rock, if you are not capable of making great prog rock, then it is hard to make even good prog rock. By contrast while it is hard to make great progressive metal, it doesn't seem that hard to make good or even very good prog metal. So there are a lot of prog metal bands I listen to regularly and few progressive rock bands that I do, even though I think prog rock at its best is better than prog metal. I get the sense that a lot of your sense of prog comes from the non-prog elements of prog metal, and related acts.
Yes is a great band, but if you hear the other bands that were part of their movement they become much less unique. They were actually taking stuff that other people were doing and making a more accessible version. if you don't hear those other bands then they do seem to be unique.
@@lonbecker113 I agree generally with what you are saying but would argue that Yes’s singing, in particular the emphasis they gave to intricate vocal harmonies, made them unique even among that first wave of British prog. Crimson, Tull, Genesis, Floyd, ELP, none of them had harmony singing like Yes. Great vocals were just as important as instrumental virtuosity to the Yes sound.
@@CanAlternateLostTape Gentle Giant would be another original prog band that relied on harmonies, in fact probably more than Yes. Yes is also distinctive in that the Fragile line up is the only band of that era I can think of with a virtuoso singer, guitarist, keyboard player, bass player, and drummer. King Crimson was guitar focused with nod dedicated keyboard player, ELP was keyboard centered with guitars played by the bass player. And I don't think I ever heard Mike Rutherford described as a virtuoso bass player, although I could be wrong about that. The only prog band I can think of that has that kind of virtuosity at every instrument is Dream Theater at their peak.
So I didn't mean to suggest there was nothing unique about Yes, just that they stand out less in the context of their contemporaries than they do in comparison to the bands that were influenced by them.
Dude! Geddy thinks Yes is better than Rush!! Yes are his idols. There would be no Rush without Yes. He said that to me, and many times, to the world.
I’ve only missed Yes live once in 50 years here in Dallas Texas. ☮️❤️😎🎼
One more thing…MORE YES!!
At you didn't even hear Close to The Edge. That will be interesting, trust me.
But before that one i'd recommend to listen to Starship Trooper, Roundabout, I've Seen All Good People, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky, Siberian Khatru, And You and I. These are essential Yes songs. but actually they have a lot of those. Even i didn't listen all their albums yet and enjoy it so much.
Sí, yes are alright 😆
For next song I'm going to vote for Roundabout, it's a very cool well known one and not way too long for prog.
I enjoyed this one a lot, ty!
How has a man got to your advanced age and not heard Yes?
ADVANCED?!
@@markabusireactions You look all of 23.....
The progression here is listen to more of their pop-rock compatible repertoire (Roundabout, Parallels, Survival, Siberian Khatru, Going for the One) then move to the 20ish minute epics (Close to the Edge, Awaken, Gates of Delirium) with maybe some intermediate step like Starship Trroper or South Side of the Sky or Hesrt of the Sunrise
Heart of the Sunrise, it goes to many different places within it's ten minutes. Yes' bassist Chris Squire says he thinks it's the track that most represents the band.
This is pristine as the studio version, but, the YESSONGS Live version from the album is INSANE a must listen, my favorite extended guitar solo of all time
I was 25 years old before I took any notice of yes, 1994, They’re a different level from the rest,
The bonus with Yes Is the Artist Roger Dean, who illustrated the Album Art collaboration with the Album thyme, His art inspired Avatar movie,
Tales from Topographic ocean, music and the Art, with its mystical hidden story,
The Album is a double one thyme on the 4 sides,
I will drop a link with the Art as its intended
It’s about time a I found a good Scottish channel ✌️🏴
There’s a wee introduction video to tales from topographic ocean, it’s under 3 minutes, it will help set the tone
ua-cam.com/play/PLhdOd70LYUvHf7l4tg02WrlB1x6Bn0uKK.html&si=OpyRrsTYtjiE04ki
Yes was simply amazing. Every musician is wicked. Rush is good.. Yes is great.
Great reaction. Love the band, love the song. Your delight at the intricacy of the basslines is spot on. Bass player Chris Squire played it as a lead instrument basically.
Subscribed. Next? Jump in the deep end and do Close to the Edge. Your life will probably change. No exaggeration ❤
Thanks!
Oh wow, thank you so much!! 😳😳
Hey mark how you doing mate? Love to see you’re still doing what you love, always here man, keep up the good work 🙏❤️
I highly recommend for any Yes song react first the studio version, then find a live version so your jaw will drop to see they do it even better live.
I am often perplexed by the comparison of Rush and Yes.
When I sat with a high school buddy in the mid and late 70’s, we usually smoked a joint and he often put on Rush records and also Yes records.
So here’s the main difference for me:
THE FEELING. Rush had the shrill singer and some cool licks but left me feeling distant and drained. Yes has this quality of drawing you in to a kind of sonic universe they have created. It opens my heart and consistently feels positive. Atmospheric - not heavy. I just never tire of their music.
The real star is Yes is Chris Squire, the bassist. Until he died, he was the only member that played on EVERY album.
And those were his harmonies.
There's a good chance Chris wouldn't have gotten anywhere without his band mate's equal musicianship and writing. They all created a unique platform for one another to flourish. Yes were on their last leg and about to fold when guitarist Steve How joined. He organized them into a direction, The Yes Album.
@@Chuckles.. indeed, Yes were a five-man democracy. But that means Steve Howe was no more (and no less) important than the others. He was new blood on the Yes Album, but at that point Chris and Jon were still the main writers, and they invited Steve to join their band. So to suggest the new direction came only from Steve seems a little false.
Recommmended order of songs from Yes's best albums: Yours is No Disgrace (done), Starship Trooper, Perpetual Change, Roundabout, 5% of Nothing through to the Fish, Southside of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise, And You and I, Siberian Khatru, culminating with the genius of Close to the Edge.
Yes, especially early Yes, were brilliant. Jon Anderson would write stream of consciousness, disjointed lyrics on a lot of songs. Lyrics that carried the mood, emotion of the music. There was enough there you could could create your own meaning for it. This song hangs together lyrically better than others. Musically they were amazing. I’m new to your channel and need a little bit of a Scots (or Irish?) Accent Translator 😂. My bad hearing has a lot to do with it. Enjoying your channel so far.
Yeah I mean we can call it prog rock or whatever, but it's really just creative music beautifully composed and executed
If you love the bass…Heart of the Sunrise. Best rhythm section ever at the start of the track.
What I missed the most about the later Yes, though I loved it, was the loss of Chris's dominant bass lines of the earlier recordings.
The band admitted they ripped off the opening riff from a TV cowboy show but what they did with it is awesome. The whole album is full of great riffs. After hearing King Crimson, the band realised they would have to raise their game and boy did they succeed.
I'll never unhear it now!
Loved your reaction. Time for "Close To The Edge", I think!
Ooh my favorite Yes album. Steve Howe was a monster guitarist
If you dont know, Geddy played bass when YES was inducted into HOF. Great video of Roundabout.
he ruined it
@ a one off performance standing in for a dead guy? And he ruined it? Dude… you an asshole.
From the same album, check out Starship Trouper and I've Seen All Good People, two of their most popularized singles. From the Close to the Edge Album, check out And You and I. I also love the experimental work they did with Tales from Topographic Oceans, which is a double album with one song on each side for a deep dive into some fantastic prog rock creativity. Yes was the best prog rock band--everyone holds them up as the GOATs in the genre. Their musicianship is world class. They do not get the group recognition they deserve, though individually guitarist Steve Howe has won awards several years in a row as the best rock guitarist, bassist Chris Squire is all-time legendary and keyboardist Rick Wakeman appears on all-time great rock keyboard player lists.
Yes were far more sophisticated than Rush. Like you said, better singing, better writing, cooler guitar, more tasteful drumming, just more . I get that these days many people come to Yes through Rush….but when people say that Yes sounds like Rush I get so mad. Yes had already completed their initial run of classic prog albums up to Relayer before Rush had even released Fly by Night, their first album with Neil Peart. Yes were the originators and Rush the students.
I think you should hear Starship Trooper next. And see how Yes could even make repeating the same 3 chord riff for 3 minutes glorious!
I'm totally with you. I don't like repetition. And Yes is my favorite band. One of the main reasons I like them is because of the small amount of repetition in their music. Check out any of their songs from the '70s and the year 1980 and you'll be very happy with the lack of repetitious, boring music!
Good review. A bit of info, interesting from a Scottish point of view is that part of this piece was used as the intro music to BBC Scotland's "Reporting Scotland" news programme back in the mid 1970's (The bit from ua-cam.com/video/ipF-glyFoyk/v-deo.html). Showing my age here eh ? ;) A the best, John.
Rush is Zeppelin meets Yes /Yes is just Yes Amazing band All 3 are the very best at what they do.
Suggestions: Roundabout;Starship Trooper; South Side of the Sky( early Yes and working out their sound); Heart of the Sunrise; Perpetual Change, the whole Close to the Edge albumn.; then LongDistance Riunaround/Fish; I've Seen All Good People, The Revealing Science of God.
Since you are loving what you're hearing so far, I'll recommend that you stick with The Yes Album, which doesn't have a bad song on it, but also another of their masterpieces, *Starship Trooper* as well as several near-masterpieces. *Roundabout* is on their next album after this, *Fragile,* & it is definitely rather jaw-dropping. You'll get there...
Smoking Flowers > Vaping
Great reaction bud! Welcome to the 1970s where first class musicians were given pretty much free rein. These guys are top notch and I'm not even a Yes fan really. Squire's meaty bass sound often saves Yes from being too insipid, so because I prefer heavier stuff I gravitate more to Rush. Now Emerson Lake and Palmer will give you heavy keyboard based prog, but I don't think you can handle that 😀. You asked in another video what ELP you may know, that would be Fanfare for the Common Man, but nevermind that 'pop' prog, try this 3 minutes of energy ua-cam.com/video/xrIZGre2KmA/v-deo.html. Goodness knows what sort of prog you listened to that was repetitive, that's the antitheses of prog. Baffled by prog? Yes, I'm not sure we're meant to understand it, ha. Instead luxuriate in its splendour!
The audio quality of your video is superb. Many thanks.
Thank you!!
I noticed the same thing!
YES! The # 1 Progressive Rock band!
Geddy states how much Chris’s Bass influenced him(Geddy filled in for Chris when Yes was inducted to the RRHOF!❤
Stick with all studio versions first! Then there are some great live concerts out there!
Yes Album
Fragile
Close to the Edge
Going For The One
RELAYER!!❤
Tales of Topographic Oceans
There’s more albums before The Yes album!
If you like YIND-you’re gonna love hearing the Yes Library! Don’t forget-this album came out in 1971✌️
Chris Squire. The only bassist equal to Misa but in different genres.
YEs! 😊
New to this channel. I can see you dig Otoboke Beaver and now you've got Yes with no trouble, but I can't see a Cardiacs reaction. If you want Otoboke Beaver and Yes at the same time, that's the next place to go (try 'Tarred and Feathered' first). And yes, Yes-wise, you have to listen to 'Heart of the Sunrise' and 'Roundabout'.
Yes is absolutely the best Prog Band, Rush, Queen, ELO all came after Yes. This song is from their 3rd album released in 1971. Next, please react to Starship Trooper and Ive seen all good people from the same album. Then you can listen to Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise, and Southside of the Sky from their 4th album also released in 1971, then you will be ready to listen to Close to the Edge their Epic 1972 release. The album that inspired Geddy Lee to form Rush.
I love your headphones. What are they?
You are correct, after the drums, Yes > Rush
Thought you only listened to wee Swifty 😂
From a fellow 70 year old Scot I didn't think at first that you would like the greatest band on the planet imo. Stick to the Yes album and Fragile and listen to Roundabout next. They were at their peak 1970 -1977 untouchable even by their peers. Their 3 rd album in the 70's is Close to the Edge voted the top prog album of them all. It may be too much and takes a lot of listening too, but the way you got Yours is no Disgrace might just lend you to getting it. Jon Anderson has the most unique incredible voice in music again imho.
I have never liked the term "progressive" when referring to Yes. This is the most dynamic, multi-genre band I have listened to in my 65 years here on earth. Jon Anderson (vocals+) and Chris Squire (bass/vocals) got together in 1968, and put together a band that featured Chris's bass and Jons' vocals/harmonies. After a couple of years, Steve Howe (guitar+), Bill Bruford (percussions) and Rick Wakeman (keyboards) joined the band. And the rest (as they say) is history. You absolutely MUST do a deep dive on this band. You will be amazed at what music can be. Suggestion: "Starship Trooper". Listen to the studio version first, but many of their live versions are even more impressive. I'll be watching for more Yes.
Yes does repeat lines and themes within the same song, but they change it up each round. Good album to start with this one The Yes Album. Starship Trooper. I've Seen All Good People. Then move on to the next album Fragile. With Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise, Long Distance Runaround. Then you are ready for the albums, Close to the Edge, and Relayer. Then the last great album before they started the breakup, Going for the One, With the title song, Wondrous Stories, Awaken,
Great reaction! Geddy Lee, a long time Yes admirerer, played bass on "Roundabout" since (the great) Chris Squire had passed away, live at the hall of fame induction ceremony - remastered audio: ua-cam.com/video/uWqMX854V8o/v-deo.html