Yes - Yessongs

Album Details

Artist: Yes
Album: Yessongs
Label: Atlantic
Year of Release: 1973
ME Rating: Indie Classic
Reviewed by: gwhill on 2013-02-11

Recommend

At the time that Yessongs was released, the critics were calling Yes a studio phenomenon, and saying that they could not reproduce their complex arrangements live. This release, at least partially, was meant to dispel that rumour -- and it worked. The performances are great. The lineup on this album is Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White, although Bill Bruford plays on a couple of the tracks.

When originally released the set was a three record album, but when done on CD it was fleshed out to just two CDs. That was accomplished via the extended duration of the CD format, not by leaving out any of the music. One small oddity comes in the form of the titling of the disc. There is a concert film of Yes that bears the same title. One might assume that this would be the audio of the show. It’s not true. Generally, this is from the same period of time, but assembled with audio from a number of different concerts. While quite similar in sound and track listing to the film, this is definitely not the same thing.

These live recordings are essential and for its time period, it was really one of the best live albums out there. The material presented here has since (for the most part) been released in more recent performances, but this is the one that started it all. The band was really at an artistic peak at the time, soloing on the epic Close to the Edge album and this really presents a killer Yes live sound. I would consider this essential for any Yes collection and any progressive rock collection. Even for people who just like great live albums, this one is a “must have.” It includes epics like the title track to Close to the Edge, classics like “Heart of the Sunrise,” “Starship Trooper” and “Roundabout” and several solo sections. Rick Wakeman’s is perhaps the most impressive of this. This is really a great live disc.

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on 2013-04-13 SolitaryMan Said:

It can be overbearing, and honestly without an ear for their penchant for jerking off musically (which has worn considerably in myself with age), this is going to equate to aural torture.

Unfortunately, they could have cut half of these tracks out and been left with a far more accessible and enjoyable single disc. And you'd still need to overlook a fair amount of pretension and wankery regardless, haha.
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on 2013-04-12 CharlesMartel Said:

I have to say, if I was told I had to listen to a triple album of Yes at one sitting I would probably throw myself under a bus
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on 2013-04-12 SolitaryMan Said:

Occasionally, Yes were able to cultivate their overflowing combination of technical wizardry into songs that left a lasting impression. Not surprisingly, most of these early successes can be found across these two discs. The sound quality is about on par for the time, and it's obvious that the band had a very dedicated niche fanbase that lapped this stuff up.

I wouldn't quite put it in the vault, but it certainly is a rare highlight from a band who too often veered into pure pretentiousness.
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