Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Yes


7-7-09 Yes


Tonight, I am going to go see Yes perform. No idea who is in the band. Been an on and off Yes fan for decades now. For tonight, I have no idea who is singing, who is the guitarist, who is the keyboard player…bassist must be Chris Squire, I bet!


LP YES ATLANTIC UK 588 190

1969 8 TRKS 1st, insert

LP TIME AND A WORD, A ATLANTIC US SD 8273

1970 8 TRKS 2nd

LP YES ALBUM, THE ATLANTIC UK K 40106

1970 6 TRKS 3rd, UK 2nd edition

CD YES ALBUM, THE RHINO US R2 73788

1971 9 TRKS ('03 issue) (3 x bonus tracks)

LP CLOSE TO THE EDGE ATLANTIC US SD 7244

1972 3 TRKS original issue

CD CLOSE TO THE EDGE ATLANTIC US 82666.2

1972 3 TRKS re-mastered

LP FRAGILE ATLANTIC UK K 50009

1972 9 TRKS booklet

CD FRAGILE ATLANTIC US 82667.2

1972 9 TRKS re-mastered

CDx2 YESSONGS ATLANTIC US SD 100.2

1973 13 TRKS Live

LP GOING FOR THE ONE ATLANTIC US SD 19106

1977 6 TRKS triple-fold cover

LP TORMATO ATLANTIC AUS SD 19202

1978 8 TRKS Australian pressing

CD DRAMA RHINO US R2 73795

1980 16 TRKS (10 x bonus tracks) ('04 issue)

LP DRAMA ATLANTIC US SD 16019

1980 6 TRKS original issue

CD 90125 RHINO US R2 73796

1983 15 TRKS (6 x bonus tracks) ('04 issue)

LP 90125 ATCO US 90125.1

1983 9 TRKS original issue

LP 9012LIVE - THE SOLOS ATCO US 90474.1

1985 7 TRKS Live

CD BIG GENERATOR ATCO US 90522.2

1987 8 TRKS original issue

LP BIG GENERATOR ATCO US 90522.1

1987 8 TRKS original issue


The packaging was always very good on Yes LP’s. All those Roger Dean covers! “Fragile” had a cool booklet, “Going For The One” was a triple-gatefold. The LP version of “Yessongs” was a massive triple-gatefold with a big booklet.


All these years later, I still have little interest in “Tales Of Topographic Oceans”, originally a double LP. I just could never wrap my head around it.


I have two very good friends (Ken and Warren) who are both very into Yes (and it’s incarnations). I’ve been to a number of Yes events with Warren – he’s who I’m going with tonight.


And “Big Generator” is being re-issued in Japan soon!


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not too much of a Yes fan, apart from "Drama" and a lot of it has to do with Jon Anderson's vocals. But oddly enough, I have and enjoy the debut Jon & Vangelis album quite a bit. I agree 100% with "Topographic Oceans!" I suppose the "classic" Yes is my second fave of their work: "Fragile" and "Close To The Edge." But I'd like to hear "Going For The One" again. I think it would hold up really well. I remember liking "Parallels" a lot, back in the day.

Some instrumental parts of "Fragile" & "Close To The Edge" really go for the throat in an almost Crimson sort of way, but the presence of Anderson tended to defang the band quite a bit. You jokingly refer to Roxy Music as the "gay King Crimson" and along those lines I would typify Yes as the "sissy King Crimson." One of the things I like about "Drama" is the aggressive sound sans Anderson. "Machine Messiah" is almost NWOBHM, innit?

Ron Kane said...

"Drama is wonderful...

Never thought to assign a gender to Yes / King Crimson, Jim-san. I was always amused when Jon Anderson turned up on KC's "Lizard" LP. Or when Fripp turned up on VDGG "H To He". All about the 'connections', I suppose.

Jon & Vangelis? Never 'ad any time for it at the time, but I can listen to it now.