July 25, 1969 did not chart US or UK (would later make the US catalogue charts)
Side one
1."Beyond and Before" (Squire/Clive Bailey) – 4:58 2."I See You" (Jim McGuinn/David Crosby; Essex Music Ltd.) – 6:54 3."Yesterday and Today" (Anderson) – 2:53 4."Looking Around" (Anderson/Squire) – 4:05 Side two
I'm a Yes fanatic, but this album isn't very good IMO. They're clearly finding their way, and the musical chops are in evidence from the go, but a lot of the writing is weak. The only songs I like are the Beatles cover "Every Little Thing" (this was great to hear on the 35th ann. tour) and the Byrds cover of "I See You". After that, yuck. Peter Banks was a pretty good guitar player though-he's not doing any simple things-shame he let his ego get in the way.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
I actually like this album a lot. Even though it's not in the same class as some of their later albums, the musicianship is still top-notch (with Bruford playing like his life depended on it). The two cover songs are excellent, and I really like "Beyond And Before," "Sweetness" and "Survival." Peter Banks is no Steve Howe, but he's still an underrated & sadly forgotten guitarist.
Not a fan of this one either, but it's much better than the debut. Three genuine classics in the beautiful "Time And A Word", the fantastic "Sweet Dreams" and the driving Prog of "Astral Traveller". The latter track features incredible playing from everyone and tricky time signatures. I've seen all 3 of these songs live over the years and when they brought back "Astral Traveller" in 2008 I was stunned. Great to hear it again. As for the rest of the album I don't care for it, and I think the covers stink especially the Richie Havens song. Orchestration was obviously dubbed on later for some songs and Banks began complaining about the mix and his role. He would leave during the tour (he says he was fired they say he quit), and one Steve Howe was rescued from obscurity and would replace him and the brilliance and excitement would begin.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Steve Howe was part of a really good (but not successful) psychedelic group called Tomorrow. I have their album....think it's almost on par with Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd. "My White Bicycle" was an underground hit...and a great song. They do a nice hard garagey cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever" too.
Steve Howe was part of a really good (but not successful) psychedelic group called Tomorrow. I have their album....think it's almost on par with Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd. "My White Bicycle" was an underground hit...and a great song. They do a nice hard garagey cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever" too.
My White Bicycle.....
I know all that, but he was not well known and was making no money whatsoever-hence, obscurity. (Except for Hank's Steve Howe of course). And I do like that Tomorrow song and they became Bodast even less known then Tomorrow. I just didn't want to get too far off the Yes tangent, but now that it's happened there we go!
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
The merging of Yes & the orchestra was an interesting idea, but would be better realized on 2001's Magnification. Still, "Time And A Word" and "Sweet Dreams" are great tracks and the band is one step closer to finally realizing the true Yes sound.
I like alot of the songs on this one. Many were found on an early greatest hits album called Yesterdays. That's probably your best bet for this era.
but "yesterdays" was essential back in the day, because it contained "america", which only could be found on an atlantic sampler LP of which i cannot recall the name. i think the same sampler had "hey, hey, what can i say" by led zeppelin.
_________________ Incorrectly is the only word that when spelled correctly is still spelled incorrectly.
I like alot of the songs on this one. Many were found on an early greatest hits album called Yesterdays. That's probably your best bet for this era.
but "yesterdays" was essential back in the day, because it contained "america", which only could be found on an atlantic sampler LP of which i cannot recall the name. i think the same sampler had "hey, hey, what can i say" by led zeppelin.
Ah yes, I think that album was called The Age Of Atlantic. Can't remember who else was on besides Yes and Zep.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Album #3-crappy album cover #3, but the music? A masterpiece. This album still holds up no problem 4 decades later. The addition of Howe meant everything to the band with his playing, writing and adding another harmony vocal into the mix. Every track is a bonafide classic aside from "A Venture", a song rarely discussed. It's not bad, but more of a b-side quality. But what I remember so much growing up, was hearing songs like "Yours Is No Disgrace" (is there a better, more colorful guitar fill than this?), "Starship Trooper" and "I've Seen All Good People" constantly on the radio despite how long they all were. I'd also hear the excellent "Perpetual Change" on the radio to a lesser extent. Then there's Howe's guitar piece "Clap" which shows his Country influences and still is a wonderful piece of music despite how sick I am of hearing it (especially live having seen them 20 times with #21 this summer). I still love "Starship Trooper", especially that menacing "Wurm" section, and this album was a commercial, artistic and critical breakthrough and a Platinum album as well. Yes were able to make very complex music universally appealing-no easy task at all.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
This is where Yes truly begins for me. Essential, absolutely essential.
Not a bad track in the bunch and Steve Howe's guitar really helps take things to the next level.
End of the line for Tony Kaye, but his keyboards provide a nice aural backdrop for the newfound Yes sounds and it's one hell of a swan song for the man who was called "The great gentleman of rock."
the first time i heard "all good people" was in a college rec room on a juke box! (those were the days) and it knocked my socks off.
the beginning of a three album run that been equaled by very few. 9 1/2 stars out of 10: 1/2 star deduction for the crappy cover (roger dean is coming) and "a venture" which isn't bad, but doesn't even touch the rest of this wonderful record.
_________________ Incorrectly is the only word that when spelled correctly is still spelled incorrectly.
the first time i heard "all good people" was in a college rec room on a juke box! (those were the days) and it knocked my socks off.
the beginning of a three album run that been equaled by very few. 9 1/2 stars out of 10: 1/2 star deduction for the crappy cover (roger dean is coming) and "a venture" which isn't bad, but doesn't even touch the rest of this wonderful record.
Renny: We're 100% in agreement on this one (cover and music)! can't let that happen again!
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot] and 2 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
