The Yes Album

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Yes

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Yes is arguably the best of not most well-known progessive rock band. Audiophiles and progressive rock fans especially appreciate the best sound possible on this complex music. This newly remastered (by Bill Inglot and Rhino) version of "The Yes Album" greatly improves upon the the original cd release of this set which I already owned. The biggest difference for me is the greater clarity of Bill Bruford's drumming and Steve Howe's adept guitar work. The harmony vocals are also more noticeable. The album itself one of the group's best is almost a greatest hits collection. I think every song except "A Venture" has remained in the group's concert set even to this day. This proved to be Tony Kaye's last album with the band for a long time but his organ playing is good on this set. He apparently left or was forced out because he resisted using some of the newer synthesizer technology which was becoming available at this time. With this set the band finally achieved their goal of playing complex arrangements but utilizing catchy and memorable harmonies which remain in your head long after the song is finished. Songs such as "Yours Is No Disgrace", "Starship Trooper" and "I've Seen All Good People" prove this point and the latter two were issued in edited form as single versions included here as bonus tracks. The other main reason for puchasing the set is the inclusion of the unissued studio version of "Clap" which is Steve Howe's acoustic guitar picking tour de force. The song appears of the album in an energetic live version but the studio version is not only longer but also clearer in sound. If you do not already have this album pick it up immediately especially considering the improvement in sound quality and the addition of three bonus tracks. Another plus is the detailed booklet included with great pictures, song lyrics and details about the album sessions. Great job Rhino! I can't wait for the next batch of remasters!

Does this music have any relevance to today?

This was the first album which contained entirely Yes compositions. The cosmic vision thing was beginning, as exemplified in the impenetrable lyrics of 'Starship Trooper'. The classical structures were taking shape. Yes were never going to make 'Top of the Pops' with this stuff. They didn't write catchy tunes. You had to listen to their albums several times to get into them. People (mainly male teenagers) would wander around with Yes-logoed t-shirts proudly declaring that not for them were the likes of Hot Chocolate, T Rex or Dawn. They were serious music listeners.

But this was a very different era. The spirit of the 60s (Altamont aside) was still around. Popular music wasn't quite the cynical business it is today. There was still the whiff of liberation in the air. The music/lyrics/vision of Yes hinted at a gentle, non-aggressive form of liberation which campuses around the world could take to.

I came to Yes just after this album -- I bought 'Close to the Edge' for my mono Philips 'compact-cassette' player in '72. I played it to death, and my brother bought 'Fragile' soon after.

I like 'The Yes Album', but I cannot imagine how it sounds to someone coming to Yes for the first time. (Let's face it -- most of the reviews written here were written by people who have been familiar with it for over twenty years.) My children won't give it a minute of their time. When they grow out of Eminem, could they turn to Yes for aural relief?