Backstory......I graduated High School in 1973. This album came out May 18, 1973. I told my parents "forget the luggage as my graduation present....please buy me YesSongs". They did, and I still love them to this day for the best graduation present, ever. Love every song. Enjoy, Justin !!!!!
This live track really gives you the sense that they were (at least in part) a jam band in their early days. This album (after I mowed enough lawns to afford it in 1975) showed me that you can have music where basically the entire band can play different things, then come together, then blast apart again, and somehow it all makes sense.
Howe: I listened to the way Bill Bruford played drums - he could do jazz and rock, and really weird-out. I used to love it when he’d say, “Tonight I’m going to play all my drum breaks differently.” Although sometimes I didn’t. I’d be like, “No, Bill, please don’t.” And he’d say, “No, I’m going to.” And he did. [laughs] That’s the kind of band Yes were ... Bill was very adventurous, as evidenced by his decision to go and join King Crimson after 'Close to the Edge.' He followed his heart. I’m not quoting him, but I think he thought Yes had gotten as commercial as he wanted us to be... It sort of made no sense, but to him it did. I respected his view ... The biggest shock I ever took in Yes was when Bill left. We were all pretty close at that time and what Bill was doing for Yes, no other drummer could do. He was saying no to things - 'I'm not gonna play that! Don't ask me to play 4/4.' That was the trait in him that I liked. Let's steer away from every cliché. That was my philosophy on the guitar too. I knew all the clichés. I wanted to play the alternative.
The great thing about Steve and Bill was, yeah -- they knew all the cliches and avoided them whenever possible. But they also knew when to use them for effect. In some ways, Steve's long jamming solo on "America" is a laundry list of every early 70's guitar cliche, which he knew would go down well with American audiences.
I’ve always loved that the band included a few songs with Bruford even though he had left the band. This version of Perpetual Change is so killer! Way better live! Thx for this reaction!
So, they’re all over this album. The things I like to emphasize about this wonderful band. I remember my early listens thinking there is no way these guys can play this material live. Then Yessongs came out. One of the great joys of my entire life has been finding out just how wrong I was. Not only could they play the music on stage, but astonishingly, they were - better - !!! Yes forever.❤
I'm so glad you reacted to Yessongs. This was the album that totally got me into Yes during the summer of 1984, right after I turned 15. This song is really, really good. Steve Howe's extended solo at the end, right before the drum solo, is probably my all time favorite solo of his, at least live solos.
AS TRUTH IS GATHERED,, I somehow invited myself to join the older bro`s hippie gang & hopped in the van to check`m out for this gig (Bruford`s last)... every day that solo was my mission in my warmup routine.. Yea man when well schooled Steve Howe & classically trained Wakeman joined and the art work of Roger Dean entered the world of Yes it really made them even more popular in art class, even with the glitter twins... So Keep on Rockin and giddyup JUSTIN PANARIELLO
SO HAVING FUN YET?! At 15, This extended embellished version was the first song of YES I'd ever heard while seeing them LIVE during their first US Tour in 1971 at "my weekly" Roller Skating Rink venue for $5, Opening for JETHRO TULL! We were dropped off for Skating but unknown to us they'd booked the Rink. You can imagine how our young minds were completely blown & "Perpetually Changed" FOREVER ! LOL! Hear Bruford! WOW! so cool but so different!
Chris more than anyone else inspired me to play bass. As a teen my mother didn't understand why anyone wanted to play bass since 'that guy stood in the back and you couldn't hear what he was doing'. Different generations.
My first Yes concert was in 1972 at a place called Gaelic Park in the Bronx. It was an outdoor venue with a few hundred people in the audience. They were finishing up the Close To The Edge album and it wasn't released yet. The next time I saw them was in the beginning of 1974 at Madison Square Garden. It was the Close to The Edge tour. This is what and how they were playing in front of 20,000 fans. To this day it was one of the greatest concerts I've ever experienced.
This was the gateway drug for me. At age 17 in the early 80s, I knew some Yes music - whatever the local rock radio station played, but I did not know enough to even know what progressive rock was. This live recording of Perpetual Change had an energy the studio track didn't and it helped transform a previous metal kid into something more.
That instrumental run, from Jon's ad-lib vocal call until Bill's drum solo, is just MAGNIFICENT!!!!! One of my favorite moments in YES History!!! WAIT, There's more Glorious music to come with this live release yet!!!
As a drummer when I was young, I tried to emulate John Bonham and Neil Peart. And after a lot of practice, I was pretty much able to do that. Every time I tried to emulate Bill Buford, I ended up throwing down my sticks and giving up.
@richierich398 No matter how many times I've given YESSONGS a deep listen (hundreds), and as well as I know the original recordings, I can NOT follow Bill Bruford on that recording of Perpetual Change.
Yes' songs back then really came alive on stage. Sometimes the studio versions feel just a little stilted, but when they let loose their jamming and improvisation skills they were unbeatable.
I had the pleasure of seeing these guys 3 times in the mid to late 70s. All we could say was WOW! Steve Howe made me want to reach for the stars on guitar! Somehow, I've never been satisfied w pentatonic blues based players of the time since. Still listening after all these years. Really cool to find a reactor who "gets' him musically. Thanks little brother. No. 1 Yes reactor in my book.
Everyone hated me back in high school, and whatever latest guitarist of the moment would be getting all the buzz amongst my crowd. "Oh, Keith Richards is so awesome"... "Oh, Jimmy Page is so great..." I'd just roll my eyes. 😄
Mater Musicians that could take complex arrangements, perfected in the studio, and "improve" on them live. I saw them in '77, and ;79, just incomparable musicianship.
@@joelliebler5690 May 31, 1979 in Fort Worth (weird that Dallas did not have a venue for them, Reunion Arena was under construction). My first ever concert and wasn't even old enough to drive to the venue.
Steve howe is a world-class Chet Atkins hybrid finger picker. With his jazz, early rockabilly, classical influences, Steve knew the guitar neck upside down inside out which allowed unlimited creativity. He drops Chet Atkins licks, or variations thereof, all over the place. On close to the edge, with squires Bass booming, listen to some of the licks howe drops. He was a very unique player, with unique skills. Look up Tommy Emmanuel, maybe the best Chet Atkins picker right now. When he covers a popular song, watch how he structures his chords and chord progressions. These guys are Masters of their knowledge and understanding of the guitar neck-three-dimensional chess, when everybody else is playing two.
I just find it fascinating and not in a bad way that you as a bass player spend more time talking about the other players and not Chris. Maybe its just a given he's fantastic or he's just not your style. Great tune. I did a pre listen yesterday to remind myself. I wore this out in the 70's but still need a reminder of what's coming. 45, 50 years is a long time lol. Cheers
So glad Justin brought up Howe's repertoire and approach. That's a huge part of his allure! BTW, re: comment below...no, Howe doesn't shy away from blues, rock, country, jazz nor classical phrasing/styles, he simply knows when to reach into each bag. I'm elated that there's a "Jimmy Page," "Keith Richards," Eddie Van Halen, Andres Segovia, Stanley Jordan, Allan Holdsworth, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc. etc....and of course, Steve Howe....you will never learn from those you dismiss! Any"Howe" mind-blowing performance!
Definitely one of my favorite Yes deep cuts. A few things stand out for me on this live version. As you mentioned Howe’s playing is incredible. But also Bruford’s playing. Alan White just doesn’t play the same way as him. Also you can clearly hear Wakeman’s distinctive playing. Also very different from Tony Kaye. No slight against White or Kaye. Both are great. Just noting that their differences are obvious from their counterparts.
Dublin Ireland - The Guinness companies would like to award the new World Record for lengthiest "stank face" in a single video to.... Justin Panariello for YES Perpetual Change YESSONGS | REACTION.
Top of the hill, the best. This music tends to put me into a trance, so damn good. Seems to be a lot of tempo changes and vocal changes, not major, but it's all very cool.
Justin, that Steve-led jam right before Bill's (admittedly slightly tedious) solo -- that's sort of what you missed by listening to the radio edit of "America". Just sayin'. 😉 But I'll say it again -- "Perpetual Change" easily wins the 'Most Improved Over The Studio Version' of any song in Yessongs, which is high praise considering how ridiculous "Yours Is No Disgrace" is! "This whole thing felt more like a jazz band." Justin, if you want a video to watch from this period check out the 'Sounding Out" program from '72. In it Bill says "Yes are a head band -- things are *remembered*". He was also referring to the jam sections, although he and Steve were the biggest improvisers. They used to put a ton of work into these long, jamming instrumental sections (there's more to come on Yessongs), which was sort of their trademark at the time. As they got more successful and had more albums to promote the set lists got more restrictive, and I think the last example of this kind of thing was the 'Big Medley' from the 1979 tour. Bill was definitely missed when he quit Yes, but prog fans got the best of both worlds by picking his career up mere months after he left Yes with the release of King Crimson's 'Lark's Tongues In Aspic' (a very awesome album to react to if you ever find a way to beat the Fripp-block).
I was upset when Bruford left Yes and was replaced by White. The Band completely changed sonically and dynamically. Suddenly Yes sounded muddy with rock and roll feel. If I wanted r+r, I could listen to AC/DC. I was a young drummer and not to disrespect Alan, who was fine playing with John Lennon but I don't think he was ready for Yes, but by Relayer he found his groove.
Agree, much better sounding song live. Why were the other songs not sounding as good? Not a musical tech person. Be interesting if someone could explain why some songs sound better than others.
Backstory......I graduated High School in 1973. This album came out May 18, 1973. I told my parents "forget the luggage as my graduation present....please buy me YesSongs". They did, and I still love them to this day for the best graduation present, ever. Love every song. Enjoy, Justin !!!!!
I remember this story from somewhere else!👍😎
@@jeffschielka7845 ...I guess I'm unforgettable. Ha ha.
@@YESFan1971 Lol!👍😎
What a great present indeed!
@@krisdoggett483 ...still the best gift, 51 years later.
YES! 😊 STEVE F'ing HOWE, everybody! One of the best live performances of this epic song, for sure! Thanks for reviewing this!
This is hands down the best on the album for me ❤
i still remember walking by the pond jamming out to the studio version of this song for the first time.
The best song on Yessongs. Thanks for the reaction.
This live track really gives you the sense that they were (at least in part) a jam band in their early days. This album (after I mowed enough lawns to afford it in 1975) showed me that you can have music where basically the entire band can play different things, then come together, then blast apart again, and somehow it all makes sense.
Steve Howe's finest moment on Yessongs
Thanks God I was found Yes Album in my older brother collections back in 1985 when I was 13.
Howe: I listened to the way Bill Bruford played drums - he could do jazz and rock, and really weird-out. I used to love it when he’d say, “Tonight I’m going to play all my drum breaks differently.” Although sometimes I didn’t. I’d be like, “No, Bill, please don’t.” And he’d say, “No, I’m going to.” And he did. [laughs] That’s the kind of band Yes were ... Bill was very adventurous, as evidenced by his decision to go and join King Crimson after 'Close to the Edge.' He followed his heart. I’m not quoting him, but I think he thought Yes had gotten as commercial as he wanted us to be... It sort of made no sense, but to him it did. I respected his view ... The biggest shock I ever took in Yes was when Bill left. We were all pretty close at that time and what Bill was doing for Yes, no other drummer could do. He was saying no to things - 'I'm not gonna play that! Don't ask me to play 4/4.' That was the trait in him that I liked. Let's steer away from every cliché. That was my philosophy on the guitar too. I knew all the clichés. I wanted to play the alternative.
The great thing about Steve and Bill was, yeah -- they knew all the cliches and avoided them whenever possible. But they also knew when to use them for effect. In some ways, Steve's long jamming solo on "America" is a laundry list of every early 70's guitar cliche, which he knew would go down well with American audiences.
Steve Howe's guitar work in this song is superb. Seamless. Thousands of notes - and all correct ones. The middle crescendo is sheer brilliance.
I’ve always loved that the band included a few songs with Bruford even though he had left the band. This version of Perpetual Change is so killer! Way better live! Thx for this reaction!
This is a great performance by the band. Singing was good, playing was great. Love Steve Howe's jazzy guitar in the first half..
It's nice to see you warming up to some of these long songs, Justin. 👏👌
👍😎
So, they’re all over this album. The things I like to emphasize about this wonderful band.
I remember my early listens thinking there is no way these guys can play this material live. Then Yessongs came out.
One of the great joys of my entire life has been finding out just how wrong I was. Not only could they play the music on stage, but astonishingly, they were - better - !!!
Yes forever.❤
The ultimate in progressive rock with Bill showing off his best work with YES!They were so amazing live at MSG in NYC in 1979.Best concert ever!!
I'm so glad you reacted to Yessongs. This was the album that totally got me into Yes during the summer of 1984, right after I turned 15. This song is really, really good. Steve Howe's extended solo at the end, right before the drum solo, is probably my all time favorite solo of his, at least live solos.
AS TRUTH IS GATHERED,, I somehow invited myself to join the older bro`s hippie gang & hopped in the van to check`m out for this gig (Bruford`s last)... every day that solo was my mission in my warmup routine.. Yea man when well schooled Steve Howe & classically trained Wakeman joined and the art work of Roger Dean entered the world of Yes it really made them even more popular in art class, even with the glitter twins... So Keep on Rockin and giddyup JUSTIN PANARIELLO
SO HAVING FUN YET?! At 15, This extended embellished version was the first song of YES I'd ever heard while seeing them LIVE during their first US Tour in 1971 at "my weekly" Roller Skating Rink venue for $5, Opening for JETHRO TULL! We were dropped off for Skating but unknown to us they'd booked the Rink. You can imagine how our young minds were completely blown & "Perpetually Changed" FOREVER ! LOL! Hear Bruford! WOW! so cool but so different!
Wow. This one is so much cleaner and better balanced. Great performance.
Chris more than anyone else inspired me to play bass. As a teen my mother didn't understand why anyone wanted to play bass since 'that guy stood in the back and you couldn't hear what he was doing'. Different generations.
Probably my favorite song by Yes, this version rocks.
My god what kind of musicians..great
Thank you for reaction sir. Love it. Love your insights, and sometimes uncontrollable appreciation! 😊
Wow! a great version
My first Yes concert was in 1972 at a place called Gaelic Park in the Bronx. It was an outdoor venue with a few hundred people in the audience. They were finishing up the Close To The Edge album and it wasn't released yet. The next time I saw them was in the beginning of 1974 at Madison Square Garden. It was the Close to The Edge tour. This is what and how they were playing in front of 20,000 fans. To this day it was one of the greatest concerts I've ever experienced.
Best example of Steve Howe's country blues licks IM0 is their cover of Simon and Garfunkel's America.
This was the gateway drug for me. At age 17 in the early 80s, I knew some Yes music - whatever the local rock radio station played, but I did not know enough to even know what progressive rock was. This live recording of Perpetual Change had an energy the studio track didn't and it helped transform a previous metal kid into something more.
That instrumental run, from Jon's ad-lib vocal call until Bill's drum solo, is just MAGNIFICENT!!!!! One of my favorite moments in YES History!!! WAIT, There's more Glorious music to come with this live release yet!!!
As a drummer when I was young, I tried to emulate John Bonham and Neil Peart. And after a lot of practice, I was pretty much able to do that. Every time I tried to emulate Bill Buford, I ended up throwing down my sticks and giving up.
@richierich398 No matter how many times I've given YESSONGS a deep listen (hundreds), and as well as I know the original recordings, I can NOT follow Bill Bruford on that recording of Perpetual Change.
Excuse me while I wipe the tears from my eyes. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Squire and YES, the greatest show on earth ✨️🎶✨️
Enjoying it again with you Justin👍 What great music they made in the early 70's, that's great😘
Yes' songs back then really came alive on stage. Sometimes the studio versions feel just a little stilted, but when they let loose their jamming and improvisation skills they were unbeatable.
killer work Justin! I'm subscribed!!
I had the pleasure of seeing these guys 3 times in the mid to late 70s. All we could say was WOW! Steve Howe made me want to reach for the stars on guitar! Somehow, I've never been satisfied w pentatonic blues based players of the time since. Still listening after all these years. Really cool to find a reactor who "gets' him musically. Thanks little brother. No. 1 Yes reactor in my book.
Everyone hated me back in high school, and whatever latest guitarist of the moment would be getting all the buzz amongst my crowd. "Oh, Keith Richards is so awesome"... "Oh, Jimmy Page is so great..." I'd just roll my eyes. 😄
Mater Musicians that could take complex arrangements, perfected in the studio, and "improve" on them live. I saw them in '77, and ;79, just incomparable musicianship.
YES I was there at MSG, June of 1979. The most incredible concert. ever!
@@joelliebler5690 May 31, 1979 in Fort Worth (weird that Dallas did not have a venue for them, Reunion Arena was under construction). My first ever concert and wasn't even old enough to drive to the venue.
Steve howe is a world-class Chet Atkins hybrid finger picker. With his jazz, early rockabilly, classical influences, Steve knew the guitar neck upside down inside out which allowed unlimited creativity. He drops Chet Atkins licks, or variations thereof, all over the place. On close to the edge, with squires Bass booming, listen to some of the licks howe drops. He was a very unique player, with unique skills. Look up Tommy Emmanuel, maybe the best Chet Atkins picker right now. When he covers a popular song, watch how he structures his chords and chord progressions. These guys are Masters of their knowledge and understanding of the guitar neck-three-dimensional chess, when everybody else is playing two.
I just find it fascinating and not in a bad way that you as a bass player spend more time talking about the other players and not Chris. Maybe its just a given he's fantastic or he's just not your style. Great tune. I did a pre listen yesterday to remind myself. I wore this out in the 70's but still need a reminder of what's coming. 45, 50 years is a long time lol. Cheers
👍😎
So glad Justin brought up Howe's repertoire and approach. That's a huge part of his allure! BTW, re: comment below...no, Howe doesn't shy away from blues, rock, country, jazz nor classical phrasing/styles, he simply knows when to reach into each bag. I'm elated that there's a "Jimmy Page," "Keith Richards," Eddie Van Halen, Andres Segovia, Stanley Jordan, Allan Holdsworth, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc. etc....and of course, Steve Howe....you will never learn from those you dismiss! Any"Howe" mind-blowing performance!
Definitely one of my favorite Yes deep cuts. A few things stand out for me on this live version. As you mentioned Howe’s playing is incredible. But also Bruford’s playing. Alan White just doesn’t play the same way as him. Also you can clearly hear Wakeman’s distinctive playing. Also very different from Tony Kaye. No slight against White or Kaye. Both are great. Just noting that their differences are obvious from their counterparts.
Well stated
“Yessongs” captured the band at the height of their powers. I don’t think they ever sounded better than on this triple live album.
Thanks again,
YES!!!🤩
Thanks man. This is pinnacle of prog music
Dublin Ireland - The Guinness companies would like to award the new World Record for lengthiest "stank face" in a single video to.... Justin Panariello for YES Perpetual Change YESSONGS | REACTION.
😃💙🎵🎶🎶
Yes at the height of their power. Howe dominates but listen to what Squire is doing during the jams!
Top of the hill, the best. This music tends to put me into a trance, so damn good. Seems to be a lot of tempo changes and vocal changes, not major, but it's all very cool.
Been way too long since I’ve listened to this version.
Justin, that Steve-led jam right before Bill's (admittedly slightly tedious) solo -- that's sort of what you missed by listening to the radio edit of "America". Just sayin'. 😉 But I'll say it again -- "Perpetual Change" easily wins the 'Most Improved Over The Studio Version' of any song in Yessongs, which is high praise considering how ridiculous "Yours Is No Disgrace" is! "This whole thing felt more like a jazz band." Justin, if you want a video to watch from this period check out the 'Sounding Out" program from '72. In it Bill says "Yes are a head band -- things are *remembered*". He was also referring to the jam sections, although he and Steve were the biggest improvisers. They used to put a ton of work into these long, jamming instrumental sections (there's more to come on Yessongs), which was sort of their trademark at the time. As they got more successful and had more albums to promote the set lists got more restrictive, and I think the last example of this kind of thing was the 'Big Medley' from the 1979 tour. Bill was definitely missed when he quit Yes, but prog fans got the best of both worlds by picking his career up mere months after he left Yes with the release of King Crimson's 'Lark's Tongues In Aspic' (a very awesome album to react to if you ever find a way to beat the Fripp-block).
Hey Yeshead, My bad re: guitarists...drilled into my head by guitar teachers...keep the great info coming
I was upset when Bruford left Yes and was replaced by White. The Band completely changed sonically and dynamically. Suddenly Yes sounded muddy with rock and roll feel. If I wanted r+r, I could listen to AC/DC. I was a young drummer and not to disrespect Alan, who was fine playing with John Lennon but I don't think he was ready for Yes, but by Relayer he found his groove.
Is Relayer before or after Going for the One?
@@scottzappa9314 Before
@@johnyarusso4953 OK because I think he's good on that one.
I think that not having Eddie Offord on sound mixing also resulted in later albums sounding more muddy and tinny
Have about 17 albums
Guitar uses wes montgomery octaving technique
Agree, much better sounding song live. Why were the other songs not sounding as good? Not a musical tech person. Be interesting if someone could explain why some songs sound better than others.
Musical comedy interlude, muse ,no clue.
Steve Howe was influenced a lot by Chet Atkins and Bob Dylan. I'm so glad I got to see these guys live at least once in my life!