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Album Details

• Artist: Yes
• Album: Time And A Word
• Label: Atlantic
• Year of Release: 1970
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2012-11-21

For years I thought that the orchestral strings on the second Yes album were the producer’s idea, but more recently in talking with Jon Anderson, I’ve gotten the impression that the band were at least part of the decision. Indeed, it was something that would be repeated by them years later on the album Magnification. Whatever the reasoning, though, the strings in the mix changed the sound, sometimes for the better, sometimes not, making the second Yes album quite different from the first.

The album featured the same lineup as the first (a lineup only found on those two Yes albums). Like the debut, the disc included two cover songs. The first of those was Richie Havens’ “No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed,” and it opened the disc. Chris Squire’s bass dominated much of the early parts of the song, but the arrangement was quite similar to the type of jazz meets psychedelic explorations that had been heard on the first Yes album. Buffalo Springfield’s “Every Days” was the other cover, and it was mostly forgettable.  The jazzy arrangement on the main song just didn’t really standout, but frantic jam in the middle of the song saved the cut.

Looking to the original material that was presented on the disc, we find kind of a mixed bag. “Then” at times feels a lot like Vanilla Fudge and has some great moments. In addition, some of the lyrical themes (for instance, "Love is the only answer, Hate is the root of cancer, then.”) fit in well with lyrical concepts found in the bulk of Yes’ career. “The Prophet” was another strong piece, and another which did a great job of balancing jazz and psychedelia into a mix that was decidedly Yes.  “Astral Traveller” was perhaps more fully psychedelic. It was also the other highlight of the set.

At the other end of the spectrum, the title track was a ballad that really wasn’t all that special. “Clear Days” was another ballad that just paled in comparison to the rest of the album. “Sweet Dreams” was a Beatles-like number that wasn’t bad, but just seemed a little pedestrian in comparison to much of the music on the disc.

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