Sadly it no longer has the same effect, but when I was in my teens when that was released, that solo strum/pick of the acoustic guitar would just collapse me into shivers - incredible. I still love it but the potency isn’t the same. And the lyrics of that track are overwhelming. A masterpiece.
I agree. That song is a masterpiece. One of the few narrative lyrics that Anderson composed. Also, Annie Haslam's (ex renaissance) is also worth listening to.
I remember hearing Roundabout for the first time and being blown away. Chris Squire's bass part was like some growling beast that drove the band. And Steve Howe was the most melodic guitarist in Rock playing over changes like a jazz player with classical chops as well and still maintaining a Rock and Roll attitude. I was hooked and bought all their albums. I guess my favorite was "Close to the Edge" and of course "Yessongs" because it was live with Eddie Offerd engineering that incredible sound in a live setting. Astounding musicianship.
I think that Eddie was as much a part of their sound as any of the players. Capturing the virtuosity of those musicians and highlighting their unique skills was sheer genius.
@@larrybrown1597 Come to think about it yes he was. Remember now how he took a complete mess of the song The Remembering, & patched & quilted it together into the masterwork it became. Yes members were spell-bound, took 2 wks to rehearse Eddie's version & went on tour.
I do not think it is underrated; almost everyone who knows that album know it is great. It is rather under-known! Too many people just have never heard it, or even heard about it.
Well , ya gotta , if you want to "hear the Total Mass Retain" I still jam on Fragile , Yes Album and Yessongs , TFTO. Relayer , fairly regular also . Got all my original vinyl , still , and after 40 years a fan , I never tire of that early stuff . Their other stuff is good music , too , just not my thing as much .
Without Yes, there would probably not have been Rush, or Dream Theater, and a number of others. At the very least they certainly wouldn't sound like the same bands we know today.
@@aylbdrmadison1051orrect. Look at metal today, ie, and it’s various complexities in terms of tempo, odd time signatures, harmonic experimentation etc. All that, in an overall rock format, can be linked back to Crimson and Yes, as much as Sabbath and Zeppelin.
Favourite Yes track. 'Awaken' The last few minutes where any other band would have stopped it just builds and builds with key change, guitar solo and choir all pushing the sound to stratospheric levels followed by the wistful coda.
Yes. I would hardly call Going for the One their move into pop. "Awaken" is their grandest musical statement, a Platonic-demiurgical song about the crafting of the universe! By the end, we've narrowed the cosmos down to a single mind experiencing a blissful reflection.
My Yes playlist is mostly albums in the original order and when I usually play Yes, I play Awaken, then the revealing science of god. That's just the way that I prefer to listen to it. I'm surprised that "Turn of the Century" never became popular, it's so moving that every time I listen to it, I can't hold back the tears.
To me Relayer was the high point of Yes. Not just songs but an immense sonic landscape that could transport and energize the listener. The name says it all.
Right!. First time i've Heard Yes when i was 12, It was " Soon"... Later, i bougth the album and i was caught. I'm 60 now, and "Relayer" is, for me, the best Yes album . Thanks and cheers!!
I have to agree, there are no other YT channels that give the in depth behind the scenes for an entire band like Produce Like a Pro! I always feel "this is the best band or song documentary I have ever seen" then Warren outdoes himself again. I agree with his analysis of Yes- I love all of the genres- there is a special place for me for 90125 since I was in High School during that time and that album became one of my soundtracks for graduating. I have seen Yes a few times- memorable was at the BackYard in Austin Texas latter 90's where they played "Close to the Edge" in it's entirety in Surround sound. An amazing band and an amazing YT channel
Indeed--it could be one of their greatest epics, and more easily performed live than CTTE. That the discussion of Going for the One didn't highlight it seems to me a lapse.
I can't believe you skipped "Awaken" on Going for the One. Awaken is Wakeman's and Anderson's favorite Yes track, and mine, and countless others. It was still long and very proggy!
Right? Awaken is simple the top. Owner Of A Lonely Heart, really? This video seems to have the perspective of the technician, or producer (whatever that means), manager, agent, label owner, the charts... historian? Great, great information in those domains, but, well, musical taste has no place there. In terms of albums, Awaken alone would make Going For The One the best.
The best performance of Awaken is Jon performing with the ICELANDIC band Todmobile and a symphony orchestra. The album version is great, but the Iceland version is beyond great……It’s the music of heaven on earth!
@@Gizathecat2 Jon with Todmobile is super, but for my money hearing it live in 77 was beyond comparison. Usually I can't get into a song without hearing it first a couple of times, but this time I instantly entered into it Big Time!
I remember a tv interview with Queen where they asked the four of them who their major influences were. One of them said "Yes" and the others nodded along. Makes sense when you think about it.
@@CarlDraper Indeed. Prior to their mid 70s hiatus, ELP were the most successful prog rock act, playing arenas and stadiums with the biggest quadraphonic PA system around. Emerson had the most advanced keyboard setup (including first polyphonic synth) and Palmer had the most advanced drum kit, the first with electronic percussion and rotating platform.
YES & GENESIS! AGREED! ELP were f..g awesome no doubt about it! Big fan! For some reason I personally kept being drawn to the spirituality and humanity of early Yes & Genesis. Apples & Oranges. As a former musician I have some understanding of the human drama of ego's...which gives me cause to have been amazed and inspired at Yes' passionate perseverance in their "revolving door" of changes with a consistent integrity to quality that is rare these days!
Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks 2 month U.S. tour in 2023 stands out as one of my favorite live yes experiences. VERY close to the Offord engineered and produced sound of the original recordings. I saw Yes in the early 70's live at the height of Close to the Edge, and again in 2023 and feel the 2023 Anderson, Band Geeks concert to be a much better rendition of the Offord engineered albums. The Anderson voice, musicianship at the very same level as the originals, with 2 keyboardists and everyone on stage a vocalist. What a treat. 2 hours of solid Yes with the same beautiful Jon Anderson vocal in the original keys and with all the high notes ... at 79 years old. Wow!
Thank you for dedicating a video to the mighty Yes! This video is expertly composed, and I love how you not only cover their progresive material but also make not of 90125 and that era of the group. Also the inclusion of Yessongs! What a great crash course of Yes for someone who may not be too familiar with them. Also loved your inclusion of ABWH, UK, Asia, GTR, ARW, and how the band formed. Thank you so much for this detailed history and legacy of Yes. Much love ❤
I just took this "crash course". I'm 65 and didn't get much into progressive rock back in the day. But I'm seeing Yes in two weeks and only now trying to catch up.
This was an absolute joy to watch. I've been a Yes fan since 1971 and the release of the Yes Album, and it was great to see someone just geek out over this band (I mean that as a compliment) and just include so many details throughout their history. Very well done and much appreciated!
I analyzed Close to the Edge as a symphonic piece for a music composition class. The piece still amazes me. Watch all the rockers, rappers, and classical musicians who listen to it for the first time in videos online. That song stands the test of time and transforms musical boundaries and crosses genres.
Yes has always been one of my favorite bands. Saw them live 6 times back in the hey days, always was blown away. Let's all not forget Gentle Giant. Another great prog band.
I was introduced to Yes with 90125 and knew nothing of their previous catalogue. 10 years later a friend introduced me to The Yes Album and I couldn't get enough. Brilliant. Relayer blew my mind (and several syluses - stylii, whatever). My favourite by far is Drama. In the early 2000s I saw a tribute band called "Fragile" and to my surprise and delight they played the whole of Drama. It was fabulous.
I saw Steve Howe's Yes (AWR were around at the time too) do the whole of Drama a few years back. Trevor Horn came on as special guest to perform Tempus Fugit. Drama is the bridge between Going for the One and 90125 for me
@@TRANZEURO Not an album that I rate at all which is why I didn't include it. It's just not the same quality as the others I mentioned for me. I'd rather just forget it ;-)
YES❗️The greatest band on this or any other planet❗️Excellent job on this mini doc. I've been a fan for over 50 years with 214 shows seen. R.I.P. Chris and Alan. My brothers you are SO missed❗️🎸🥁😎
Your so blessed to have the opportunity to experience so many shows. I could pick your brain for days. My favorite band for all time and I've only been to two concerts
Same here but not quite as early as you. My first Yes concert was the famous one at JFK stadium in Phila. Maybe the best was one of the "in the round" concerts from the fourth row.
Those early concerts were absolutely incredible musicianship with Anderson Bruford Squire Wakeman Howe in the Seventies at the Spectrum in South Philadelphia were some of the best YES shows ever, you were transported to another planet with Close to the Edge, The Fragile album and back then they would play for close to 3 hours, if you were there you totally get it, and it sounds like you were there!
I was having a bit of a crap day when I saw you’d posted this. After sitting down with a cup of tea to watch, the day is much improved. Thanks Warren! Not too long ago I pulled out 90125 after not having heard it in many years. Even though I’m more of an old-school Yes fan, I must say, it has aged extremely well.
Hey, yall, I'm sorry but I have to say this, it's wearing me not to, but after hearing 90q25 for the first time, I lived in Baton Rouge Louisiana for college, I was driving down Plank Road and came across a flea market with a collection of 8-track tapes, and saw Close To The Edge, bought it, played the heck out of it, then I think my next was Fragile, then Toronto, then Going For The One. I was kind of uncomfortable with that particular album cover though. All respectively....
All of the classic era Yes has withstood the tests of time extremely well. I get the feeling that people will be saying this for centuries to come. Millennia. ❤
In the year 2023, I became aware that Yes worked through great personal tensions as a band. Knowing what I know now, though exhausting, sometimes tension accompanies great accomplishments. Once I became aware of Yes, in particular Close to the Edge, I was hooked. Yes is my favorite band in no small part because of their musical sophistication. They used way more than 3 chords with considerable vocal and instrumental texture.
Wonderful job, Warren. Been listening to this band and Fragile since a was a mere 6yr old in 1975; I thank the older siblings (and the people they dated) for bringing YES & ELO & Manfred Mann into my young life!
"And You And I". Is still and always will be my favorite song from Yes!!! Also I still think close to the edge is their best album which of course is my opinion and I guess I should also say my favorite album of theirs!!
Warren, what a delight! Yes is right up there at the top of the tops for me. Thanks a bunch for doing this! Masterfully done, and narrated as only you can do!
Tales is one of the most deeply personal records for me, represents an era in my youth and musical development that is beyond profound. Probably my favorite Yes album
I've been waiting for this one. Meeting Jon Anderson briefly after he did a solo show at my local pub was one of the many great memories I have with Yes and their music over the course of my lifetime. When Trevor Rabin joined it was like Yes was totally reinvented and he instantly became my guitar idol. Jon still has "the voice" all these years later - do check him out with The Band Geeks if you have the chance. Thanks for the awesome vid, Warren!
I got to see Asia at a club in OKC up close and personal years ago. I was standing 10 feet from the PA, feeling every beat and bass note, thankful for earplugs. I got to chat with Steve Howe after the show, he just hung around meeting people and signing autographs. Great memories!!
I've been a Yes fan boy for 30 years, and a casual fan since the '80s. This video told me lots of tidbits I didn't know. Extremely entertaining and informative. Well done!
Trevor Rabin, Alan White, and Tony Kaye are the most under appreciated musicians of all time. What they contributed to Yes was massive and they remain essential members of the band’s history to this day…
Thank you so much for this! I have said for years that Yes does NOT get the recognition they clearly deserve! You wanted to know favorite albums? Well for me there are three that are sort of tied for first and it depends on my mood as to which is top dog…lol. They are The Yes Album, Fragile and Drama. All were masterpieces! And each one yields one of my top three favorite Yes songs…Starship Trooper, off the Yes Album (which is my favorite song OF ALL TIME, by any artist) South Side of the Sky, off Fragile and Machine Messiah off Drama. Although I love all their albums (more on that later) these are my favorites. I will be honest. To me, Chris Squire was the beating heart and the soul of Yes, and I have listened to none of their new music since his death. I agree with Rick Wakeman, the Yes name should have been retired after he died. He WAS Yes and Sherwood is a pale replacement for him. To all of those fans who disagree with me, well sorry. My opinion on that will NEVER change.
Yeah, Chris was the man, may be others can follow the band without him, I can't. Please note, I love AWBH, but that's not Yes. Especially since Levin did some things, Squire never could and would, which makes this album so special.
No disagreement from me. Chris Squire gave the Band it's unique sound. I love all the players including Jon, but Chris' sound on that Rick Bass was the trademark for YES.
I love Rick Wakeman but there was so much going on with the other musicians that I really appreciated the basic organ playing of Tony Kaye. Wakeman's arrival meant another guy had to be featured and a broader sound. But I certainly understand your's and other people's admiration for a more basic kickass Yes. their cover of Paul Simon's America showed how kickass they could be.
I saw Yes for the first time in June of 1972. The Edgar Winter Group was also on the bill and the opening band was...the Eagles! That was a bit of everything all in one night!
So happy 90125 and Owner of a Lonely Heart getting the recognition in this video. Much like when Rush transitioned to shorter songs, or the success of Asia, Yes created an all time classic with this 1983 release that sounds so great from a production standpoint to this day. Great video and channel!
What stood the test of time for Rush? They reverted to their classic stuff live, the pop audience they tried appealing to are fair weather friends. Success of Asia, seriously? Who remembers them? Few people, I do have an album, not a patch on Relayer or Topographic, nevermind CTTE. The fact is the key Yes period produced innovative music and it was backed up. Even the albums that divided opinion fair well now, you wonder what the fuss was about.
Rushed and downloaded 'owner of a lonley heart' immediately I heard it in the beginning of this video before coming back to watch the rest of this video, never heard of it before..
Great video. I would have included Going For The One in your list of classic groundbreaking albums. I consider it their best work. Very nicely done video! ❤
Love this presentation regarding my favorite band of all time! Started following and buying all their albums in '71. I went to many of their concerts in the seventies. While I could listen to the early/mid-seventies classic YES albums all day, every day; I also love their other albums since that period of time as well. I remember being utterly surprised by the Drama release and loving it. Later the drastic change with 90125 was another major shift that I adapted to and loved. Then, later on, Magnification became another favorite, even without Wakeman and having some orchestra instead. Along came Fly From Here and I loved that with yet another different sound and singer. Lastly, I'm now listening to Mirror To The Sky and absolutely love it. In fact, it's quickly become one of my all-time favorites of theirs. And it's so remarkable that after all these years, Howe, now at 76 years old is still going strong and doing so well!
Hello ! Really good resumé of the Yes story ! I'd like to say that I discovered Yes in 1983 with "Owner of a lonely heart", I was 11. Later, in the 90's, we heard "Fragile", and we were amazed (as a young band playing). In 1991 came "Union", and I still love this album. It's a really great companion for energy
I won't say "best" about anything, ever. But my favorite YES album is Relayer, and my favorite YES track is The Gates of Delerium. Steve Howe is just astounding on this record. Squire and White conspire brilliantly here, like twin brothers with ESP. But then there's And You and I. Awaken. Close To The Edge. South Side Of The Sky. The Ancient. Heart Of The Sunrise. Sound Chaser. Parallels. Into The Lens. On The Silent Wings of Freedom. Leave It...
A knowledgeable appraisal of the whole Yes thing. Now, nothing impacted me more than the rehearsal picture for the Yes Album on the farm... Superb, I wouldn't mind being the fly over the dung then...
Relayer 🤘 s a perennial favourite of mine. The Jazz Rock Fusion flavour appeals to me. Going for the One has the wonderful Awaken, of course. 90125, also a favourite, kinda Techno-Funk under a veneer of power riffing, and a little 'Avant-Garde' sounding because of it (a good thing). I played Tales from Topographic Oceans all the way through for the first time in a long time, and I'm warming to it. *Might need to factor in a toilet break next time 🤭😆... it's long.
I have listened to the catalog of Yes music from Yes to Big Generator 1970-late 90's 90125 still fits perfectly in all of the transformations of the band! Cinema,All good people, City of Love , Hearts and many others. There will never be another like them. RIP to it's fallen members. Farewell to One of the greatest bands in History!!
Steve Howe's Sketches In the Sun from the GTR album is amazing. I thought is was two guitars when I first heard it. newer versions he plays it on a 6 string but it sounds huge with the original 12 string.
That was terrific Warren 😎👌 Much like you, I find treasure aplenty in most periods of Yes, but if I had to choose, then Close To The Edge and Siberian Khatru, the Würm section of Starship Trooper, The Gates of Delirium and Going For The One would all be going to my desert island 😉 If we’re talking side projects, I always loved ABWH’s opener Themes and listening to it again recently, was astounded at how well it has aged - still an incredible production! Anyone who loves music but doesn’t know Yes owes it to themself to dive in head first. You obviously love your Prog, Warren - how about Tull next? 🙏
Once again, you knocked it out of the park, Warren! Even though I’m one of those crusty old progers who feel that they should have called it quits after Relayer, I think you gave an even-handed history of this essential band.
I agree, the period from Yes Album to Relayer (71-74) were their best years. I kinda lost interest in the years after Relayer, because I feel their style had changed a bit too much.
Chris Squire is Paul McCartney on steroids + he was so funky. Siberian Khatru is the funkyest prog song ever. Heart of the sunrise, Hold out your hand, have the funkiest bass lines as well.
This was a great history. Quite a trip down memory lane. I was 16 years old when I first heard the Yes album in 197 1 or so. And I went back and searched for the earlier two albums and still have the discs. Of course, I learned the clap and mood for a day, since I had begun studying classical guitar at the time. And I'm still a professional classical guitarist. Guitarist. But I have always loved. Yes
I really really love the love will find a way riff. Always gets me on a fun mood. Although I'm not that into the general modern era of the band. Sound Chaser is perfection to me. The Moraz solo hits me deep. Love playing it on guitar, full with attitude and fire. Great video as always Warren!!! Regards!!
Great review, interesting depth of detail which I appreciated. For me Close to Edge is just perfect, as is Awaken and the very moving Gates of Delirium... still there's the epic Machine Messiah, and the catchy Owner of a Lonely Heart. Such great music spanning decades, the members may slowly leave us, but to my mind the legacy of their work will live on... Thanks for reminding me of such things.
Thank you Warren for putting together such a detailed history of this incredible band. I used to bug all the bands that played at my high school "can you play any Yes?" Yes is one of the bands that defines my musical development from The Yes Album onward, any track can transport me. Kudos pal!
Great video! Thank you for acknowledging Yes, they really don't get the recognition they deserve. Just one small issue, the picture you displayed for Chris Welch, is not Chris Welch, but is Neil Innes of The Ruttles fame! Thank you once again for the great video!
What I liked about Yes was when you first listened to any track, you could never know the direction the music was going. They never followed conventional composition and were never afraid to experiment. So some tracks might take a few listens before you could understand what they were expressing. Never dull or predictable. Guess CTTE is my ongoing favourite, with Awaken being one of the most spiritually uplifting tracks in my music library. I first heard roundabout at the laserium in the Planetarium in Baker st London that was an experience in of itself being a quadraphonic setup in an acoustically amazing dome.
I learned more about Yes in this one "session" than through all of the years I've been listening to them. I don't know how the narrator kept all of these band members coming to and fro, to mixers and tracks and studios, etc. It makes me very sad, on one hand, and glad on the other about where they now stand. How can you pick one song or album. They were all great and different. Okay, I am going to choose "Awaken." Thanks again for putting this together, much obliged!
My introduction to Yes happened one day while I was sitting in my room doing homework and Roundabout came on the radio. I freaked! Then I found it a few minutes later playing on another station. I'm a classically trained pianist and I had never ever heard anything like this way back then. I've been a fan ever since that day and I've worn out 3 copies of Fragile on vinyl.
I couldn't pick a favorite song , but Roundabout would be TIED for first place with , well , all the other Tied-For-First ones ! Lol. I mean , what's NOT to love ? The bass line alone would purchase the very Souls of three prominent bassists ! Then there's that classical guitar lead in , and later guitar solo , and you have the mid song change up which is....I mean , .... like , ... And , of course , awesome vocals on cool lyrics , all roundabouted off by killer keyboards , drums and some great Yes harmonizing , and you have , well , you have "Roundabout" ! An uncommonly fantastic tune by an uncommonly fantastic band , the likes of which only exist , alas ! , uncommonly .
Drama was my first Yes album, although I had heard Roundabout and Long distance runaround on the radio quite a bit, the departure for Drama with a heavier rock edge, caught my attention, and drew me in, with songs like Tempus Fugit and Machine Messiah. I love close to the edge and fragile. Tales of topographic oceans is an epic recording that has so many twists and turns with moments where you feel like chaos has taken over, and then gradually the most melodic moments are revealed. I love the conceptual nature of these albums, and the risk taking.
The year 90125 came out, I got that album and a new set of Pioneer Speakers for Christmas. I remember being very excited by the sound of that record and it had quite a few good songs. I was 15 at the time so I was very open to the new direction. Great stuff!
@@ProducelikeaproRight on buddy, I learned a lot from this, with many surprises, and loved it so much I watched it twice and told my prog fan buds about it too and they also loved it.
Thanks Warren for another in-depth documentary of some of the greatest moments in music history and how they came about. You had me do a double-take at around 9:13 or so where you threw Tony Banks name up on the screen for a moment. I knew Yes had the revolving door thing going with it's musicians, but didn't think members of Genesis were ever involved! Easy typo to make when mentioning so many great musicians across all of these amazing videos. 😊
Nicely Done Warren. YES came on to my radar in 1983 with “Owner” when I was 17. I consider 90125 a masterpiece as much as I consider Fragile its 70’s counterpart. In both cases, the “fire” to create something new and exciting was present within the band.
Fantastic work, Warren, and much appreciated. Always fascinating to learn the chaos (and un-sanitary conditions?) behind the making of the world's greatest sausage! I think Roger Dean should have gotten an even bigger mention; Yes had been the thing that kept me sane through 4 long, hard years of military service, and I only became aware of them because of him. I was visiting the HMV store in London in the summer of 1975, on a brief excursion before going back home to enlist, and I saw this unbelievably beautiful cover of an album by a band I've never heard of. I bought it because of the cover alone. A week later I was back home, I put it on the turntable, was hit with the most amazing note I've heard in my life up to that moment - and I was in love... btw, Fragile might have gotten me hooked, but the TFTO cover is indeed one of the greatest of all times, and to this day I have 5 t-shirts with variations of the various parts. the album itself is pretty fucking great, too.
Nicely done. Probably my all-time favorite band. It oscillates, but some of that early work is astonishing to this day, and 90125 and Big Generator were my own gateway into the band, so those albums sound like youth, to me.
They and all the subsequent albums through Fly From Here were full of strong melodies. Most non musical fans will take joy in proclaiming the old stuff is better, but it's all equally good, just ask the people that made it, or learn to play it all on all instruments and one can see its all from the same place for the same reason.
Came here after watching the King Crimson (part 1) video, what an incredible channel! Absolutely fantastic work, great to learn about some of my favourite artists who made it big almost 20 years before I was even born! I'm very excited to explore your channel further!
I love several Yes albums across incarnations. The Yes Album, Fragile, 90125, Big Generator, Talk, and the ABWH album…even if it isn’t “officially” Yes. Fragile is probably my favorite, though. Favorite song is much more difficult. Maybe Starship Trooper or Wonderous Stories.
Big Generator may be "too poppy" for prog snobs but it's high-level pop rock with hooks. A good deal more proggy and rocking than what Genesis was delivering. More emotion too, IMO.
I saw 90125 tour back then. I remember it well. They were excellent. Chris Squires low end was thunderous. Also remember it was sponsored by Sparkomatic car stereos .
Tales From Topographic Oceans is one of the best albums of all time, it is a meditative masterpiece that sends you on a journey of sonic landscapes and melodic noodley wonder, it is amazing, no matter what anyone says.
I’ve yet to manage to listen to it in its entirety, I’ve tried many times but no, it physically irritates me. Prior Tales yes albums I love, and post Tales yes albums I love upto and including ‘going for the one’. Perhaps I should try listening to Tales yet again, I haven’t been irritated for too long 😮😂
@amnril what did it for me was listening to it throughout the school day everyday, almost all year. It's harder to appreciate double albums when you focus all of your attention on them. I can just sit down and listen to Tales now, but I listened to it many a times in the background to appreciate its nuances. The lyrics and the music speaks to me in such a beautiful way nothing really matches it for me.
@@jaydogstephens7388 That's exactly right... listen in the background at low volume. I draw and paint pictures, and music is always playing in the background. If a song or album is new to my ears, I find it is better not to 'concentrate' at first on the listening or paying close attention, because music is sort of subliminal. Either you are moved by a song, or not, or somewhere in-between (I hope this makes sense)
"Topographic Oceans" is a phenomenal album, I agree with Steve Wilson, over time, I think the album got more love, though I think "Ritual" was always a fan-favourite. It's a challenge to listen to in one sitting, which is part of the appeal for me. Prog Rock excess? Yes! More of that please!
Another excellent presentation, Warren. I saw Yes touring the Closer To The Edge album in a university gymnasium that sounded remarkable once filled to capacity with the crowd. Amazing performance.
It's almost impossible for me to pick a favourite album from Yes as there's nothing of theirs that I dislike, really. They are absolutely one of my all time faves... but today I feel like saying that Drama is my number one album. It just kicks along brilliantly. Tomorrow it'll probably be CTTE or Relayer. Gotta give a shout out to Chris Squire's Fish out of Water solo album too - an essential album for anyone looking to discover more music of from these guys.
Excellent presentation as always Warren. The very first album I bought was Close to the Edge and it still sounds as fresh as the day I first listened to it. Relayer and TOTO also rank amongst my favorite albums. Every time I listen to these albums I discover something new. The 80's material does not grab me so much, but I think you make a very valid point that Yes's sound was still innovative within the context of that musical era.
The Yes Album is a personal favourite but honestly with their body of work any band would kill to be able to write a record half as good as their back catalogue.
This was a fab summary of their career which filled in many of the spaces most of us didn’t realise were there. I can’t suggest a favourite album or song because these change every time their music plays in our home. Top stuff.
Relayer, IMO, is one of their top three studio albums and easily the point where they were the most ahead of their time. Musically, technically and emotionally it made a bold leap into the future - practically no other 1970s album sounds like it and it foreshadowed bands far outside of prog rock, such as Die Krupps, early Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (their 1984 debut album), Metallica and Einstúrzende Neubauten. It's also one of Eddie Offords greatest moments as a producer/engineer - it's totally amazing that tjhey were able to create Gates of Delirium before the age of modern samplers, sequencers and the changed concepts of how to record drujms and rhythm tracks that came along later in the seventies with albums like "Low" and "Off the Wall" - and that they were able to play these epic pieces live on tour! The sound image of Relayer is very distinctive...and they recorded it in Squire's basement!! ;)
To Be Over is my favourite Yes song. The choral bit in the middle is just sublime "childlike soul dreamer...." then the guitar solo and the pedal steel stuff. Amazing.
I’m a Prof Rock junkie. Your King Crimson documentaries were fabulous. Yes is another great band. Any interest in doing one on Emerson, Lake and Palmer??
Great documentary. Being 61 years old, I'm an old timer and LOVE the old stuff, but I just adore Tormato. On the Silent Wings of Freedom ranks right up with Yours is no Disgrace as two of my favorites. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Well....I love Tormato AND Drama....lol, just as well as all the rest, some more, some less, but still. The Trevors era is so awesome also and when ABWH came out I got that too and when I first heard it I was like... what?? Heard it millions of times...
Great Video! Really enjoyed it. Yes was my very first concert. It was at the L.A. Forum in 1978. Basically they played the whole yessongs album plus one or two tracks from Tormato. It was at the time the greatest thing i had ever experienced I think I was in shock by the end lol. I was 15 my best friend Bob talked me into going, I had no idea who they were. Very soon after I became the biggest Yes fan in the neighborhood. Fabulous time to be alive:D
Who do you feel are some of the most influential artists that we should feature? Share below!
Trevor Rabin was essential to Yes' success in the 80s. Phenomenal player and has some awesome solo albums
Kraftwerk are essential to electronic music
Rush
Another prog rock band on this show! I'm super excited to watch the video!
Please do a feature on Michael Hedges, he does not get the attention his influence deserves. Thank you and cheers!
Turn of the century, one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.
Thanks ever so much
Great tune.
@@proto-geek248 yes! Indeed
Sadly it no longer has the same effect, but when I was in my teens when that was released, that solo strum/pick of the acoustic guitar would just collapse me into shivers - incredible. I still love it but the potency isn’t the same. And the lyrics of that track are overwhelming. A masterpiece.
I agree. That song is a masterpiece. One of the few narrative lyrics that Anderson composed. Also, Annie Haslam's (ex renaissance) is also worth listening to.
I remember hearing Roundabout for the first time and being blown away. Chris Squire's bass part was like some growling beast that drove the band. And Steve Howe was the most melodic guitarist in Rock playing over changes like a jazz player with classical chops as well and still maintaining a Rock and Roll attitude. I was hooked and bought all their albums. I guess my favorite was "Close to the Edge" and of course "Yessongs" because it was live with Eddie Offerd engineering that incredible sound in a live setting. Astounding musicianship.
Fragile & CTTE are pinnacles of musicianship and Eddie’s engineering/production is FLAWLESS. Warm, epic, intense, soaring… the height of prog.
Yes indeed, yet I regard Eddie’s engineering/production always as a unique bonus.
@@urthondurdie I guess Eddie was great, but I don't know much about that end, only the awesome music played by Yes!
I think that Eddie was as much a part of their sound as any of the players. Capturing the virtuosity of those musicians and highlighting their unique skills was sheer genius.
@@larrybrown1597 Come to think about it yes he was. Remember now how he took a complete mess of the song The Remembering, & patched & quilted it together into the masterwork it became. Yes members were spell-bound, took 2 wks to rehearse Eddie's version & went on tour.
Chris Squire’s “Fish Out of Water” is an incredibly underrated album.
Lucky Seven is one of his best bass lines, and a wonderful song
There are moments, when he sounds almost like Sting solo.
Underrated and no lange available
I do not think it is underrated; almost everyone who knows that album know it is great. It is rather under-known! Too many people just have never heard it, or even heard about it.
@@ElNoymark_MusicalWorksnot underrated. We all know it’s a gem!
Close to the Edge is an amazing album. I still sit and listen to it beginning to end several times a year.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
The best of the best... Something unreachable
Well , ya gotta , if you want to "hear the Total Mass Retain"
I still jam on Fragile , Yes Album and Yessongs , TFTO. Relayer , fairly regular also . Got all my original vinyl , still , and after 40 years a fan , I never tire of that early stuff . Their other stuff is good music , too , just not my thing as much .
My mother must've known close to the edge by heart because I played it every night at bed time all through high school. My all time prog
From Yes to 90125 every one of these albums is connected with different moments in my life. Yes music is very special and unique.
Thanks ever so much for sharing your experience
An absolute stepping stone for progressive music as a whole. Can't imagine prog history without them! Cheers
Without Yes, there would probably not have been Rush, or Dream Theater, and a number of others.
At the very least they certainly wouldn't sound like the same bands we know today.
@@aylbdrmadison1051orrect. Look at metal today, ie, and it’s various complexities in terms of tempo, odd time signatures, harmonic experimentation etc. All that, in an overall rock format, can be linked back to Crimson and Yes, as much as Sabbath and Zeppelin.
I saw Jon live on stage yesterday, and he still sounds as good as he did in the seventies. Awsome!
Favourite Yes track. 'Awaken' The last few minutes where any other band would have stopped it just builds and builds with key change, guitar solo and choir all pushing the sound to stratospheric levels followed by the wistful coda.
Yes. I would hardly call Going for the One their move into pop. "Awaken" is their grandest musical statement, a Platonic-demiurgical song about the crafting of the universe! By the end, we've narrowed the cosmos down to a single mind experiencing a blissful reflection.
Awaken is their masterpiece. You have a very insightful take on it in this comment! ❤
I was surprised Awaken wasn’t mentioned when this guy in the video was talking about the album. Turn of the Century is badass, too.
By the end of Awaken the listener is left breathless from being caught in a sonic downpour of incredible musical mastery of sound.
My Yes playlist is mostly albums in the original order and when I usually play Yes, I play Awaken, then the revealing science of god. That's just the way that I prefer to listen to it. I'm surprised that "Turn of the Century" never became popular, it's so moving that every time I listen to it, I can't hold back the tears.
To me Relayer was the high point of Yes. Not just songs but an immense sonic landscape that could transport and energize the listener. The name says it all.
Right!. First time i've Heard Yes when i was 12, It was " Soon"... Later, i bougth the album and i was caught. I'm 60 now, and "Relayer" is, for me, the best Yes album . Thanks and cheers!!
Moraz was so good Wakeman came running back....!
Spot on...Relayer was a masterpiece.
Agreed. Relayer was my gateway to Yes. You never forget the first time.....😅
"immense sonic landscape" is a good way to describe this album!
What an amazing job on this massive video! Wow. I'm blown away by the depth of the research and Warren's delivery on this mini-documentary.
Thank you! We really appreciate it. We have Caitlin and Paul to thank too for their incredible research for the scripts. Paul Tingen wrote this one
I have to agree, there are no other YT channels that give the in depth behind the scenes for an entire band like Produce Like a Pro! I always feel "this is the best band or song documentary I have ever seen" then Warren outdoes himself again. I agree with his analysis of Yes- I love all of the genres- there is a special place for me for 90125 since I was in High School during that time and that album became one of my soundtracks for graduating. I have seen Yes a few times- memorable was at the BackYard in Austin Texas latter 90's where they played "Close to the Edge" in it's entirety in Surround sound. An amazing band and an amazing YT channel
@@cozmicpfunk wow! Thanks ever so much for sharing! That means a lot
For me Awaken, is a masterpiece - long live YES
Indeed--it could be one of their greatest epics, and more easily performed live than CTTE. That the discussion of Going for the One didn't highlight it seems to me a lapse.
I agree. I read somewhere that Jon Anderson himself felt it was their greatest masterpiece. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in this video.
Absolutely
That one and Gates of Delirium are definitely masterpieces to me
I regard Awaken as their greatest stand-alone song, and Close To The Edge as their greatest LP.
I can't believe you skipped "Awaken" on Going for the One. Awaken is Wakeman's and Anderson's favorite Yes track, and mine, and countless others. It was still long and very proggy!
I think that Awaken may be played and revered hundreds of years from now.
Right? Awaken is simple the top. Owner Of A Lonely Heart, really? This video seems to have the perspective of the technician, or producer (whatever that means), manager, agent, label owner, the charts... historian? Great, great information in those domains, but, well, musical taste has no place there.
In terms of albums, Awaken alone would make Going For The One the best.
@@amadoalves First heard it live, & the first heard the band live too. I was blown away!
The best performance of Awaken is Jon performing with the ICELANDIC band Todmobile and a symphony orchestra. The album version is great, but the Iceland version is beyond great……It’s the music of heaven on earth!
@@Gizathecat2 Jon with Todmobile is super, but for my money hearing it live in 77 was beyond comparison. Usually I can't get into a song without hearing it first a couple of times, but this time I instantly entered into it Big Time!
I remember a tv interview with Queen where they asked the four of them who their major influences were. One of them said "Yes" and the others nodded along. Makes sense when you think about it.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
My first proper gig was Yes at Wembley Arena in 78... Wow, what a first gig 👍
Awaken is one of their best songs. Epic and very emotional.
Heard it cold at the concert. It was indeed epic upon first listen! And still is!
YES and GENESIS, GENESIS and YES: The whole history of progressive rock. Thanks Warren!
whole history lol. ELP should be high on the list
@@CarlDraper Indeed. Prior to their mid 70s hiatus, ELP were the most successful prog rock act, playing arenas and stadiums with the biggest quadraphonic PA system around. Emerson had the most advanced keyboard setup (including first polyphonic synth) and Palmer had the most advanced drum kit, the first with electronic percussion and rotating platform.
YES & GENESIS! AGREED! ELP were f..g awesome no doubt about it! Big fan! For some reason I personally kept being drawn to the spirituality and humanity of early Yes & Genesis. Apples & Oranges. As a former musician I have some understanding of the human drama of ego's...which gives me cause to have been amazed and inspired at Yes' passionate perseverance in their "revolving door" of changes with a consistent integrity to quality that is rare these days!
Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks 2 month U.S. tour in 2023 stands out as one of my favorite live yes experiences. VERY close to the Offord engineered and produced sound of the original recordings. I saw Yes in the early 70's live at the height of Close to the Edge, and again in 2023 and feel the 2023 Anderson, Band Geeks concert to be a much better rendition of the Offord engineered albums. The Anderson voice, musicianship at the very same level as the originals, with 2 keyboardists and everyone on stage a vocalist. What a treat. 2 hours of solid Yes with the same beautiful Jon Anderson vocal in the original keys and with all the high notes ... at 79 years old. Wow!
Jon Anderson must have made a deal with the devil to keep his voice at that advanced age.
I agree! They are a fantastic YES experience.
Thank you for dedicating a video to the mighty Yes! This video is expertly composed, and I love how you not only cover their progresive material but also make not of 90125 and that era of the group. Also the inclusion of Yessongs! What a great crash course of Yes for someone who may not be too familiar with them. Also loved your inclusion of ABWH, UK, Asia, GTR, ARW, and how the band formed. Thank you so much for this detailed history and legacy of Yes. Much love ❤
Thank you so much for watching! It means a lot
I just took this "crash course". I'm 65 and didn't get much into progressive rock back in the day. But I'm seeing Yes in two weeks and only now trying to catch up.
This was an absolute joy to watch. I've been a Yes fan since 1971 and the release of the Yes Album, and it was great to see someone just geek out over this band (I mean that as a compliment) and just include so many details throughout their history. Very well done and much appreciated!
I agree !!
I analyzed Close to the Edge as a symphonic piece for a music composition class. The piece still amazes me. Watch all the rockers, rappers, and classical musicians who listen to it for the first time in videos online. That song stands the test of time and transforms musical boundaries and crosses genres.
I'm listening to it now! Thanks for the great comment!
Yes has always been one of my favorite bands. Saw them live 6 times back in the hey days, always was blown away. Let's all not forget Gentle Giant. Another great prog band.
six times! wow
I love Gentle Giant!
ELP, Jethro Tull, Camel
Gentle Giant are better than great. They go toe to toe with all the bands mentioned in the video
Gentle Giant, probably the most eclectic group whichhad any commertial success
RIP Ray Schulman
I was introduced to Yes with 90125 and knew nothing of their previous catalogue. 10 years later a friend introduced me to The Yes Album and I couldn't get enough. Brilliant. Relayer blew my mind (and several syluses - stylii, whatever). My favourite by far is Drama. In the early 2000s I saw a tribute band called "Fragile" and to my surprise and delight they played the whole of Drama. It was fabulous.
I saw Steve Howe's Yes (AWR were around at the time too) do the whole of Drama a few years back. Trevor Horn came on as special guest to perform Tempus Fugit. Drama is the bridge between Going for the One and 90125 for me
@@HaydnMowbray .....Not 'Tormato' ? 😄
@@TRANZEURO Not an album that I rate at all which is why I didn't include it. It's just not the same quality as the others I mentioned for me. I'd rather just forget it ;-)
@@HaydnMowbray LOL a lot of people seem to want to forget that one.... but I like some of it.😉
YES❗️The greatest band on this or any other planet❗️Excellent job on this mini doc. I've been a fan for over 50 years with 214 shows seen. R.I.P. Chris and Alan. My brothers you are SO missed❗️🎸🥁😎
Your so blessed to have the opportunity to experience so many shows. I could pick your brain for days. My favorite band for all time and I've only been to two concerts
Earth, yes. Other planets, we're not sure ... yet.
@@mainzergirl9610 I've been sure for over 49 years!!!😎
An amazing amount of work has obviously gone into this documentary. Well done to the whole team!
I've seen Yes live more than any other band. In the early 70s I saw them 7 times!
That’s amazing!
Same here but not quite as early as you. My first Yes concert was the famous one at JFK stadium in Phila. Maybe the best was one of the "in the round" concerts from the fourth row.
Those early concerts were absolutely incredible musicianship with Anderson Bruford Squire Wakeman Howe in the Seventies at the Spectrum in South Philadelphia were some of the best YES shows ever, you were transported to another planet with Close to the Edge, The Fragile album and back then they would play for close to 3 hours, if you were there you totally get it, and it sounds like you were there!
Never clicked a link faster! :) I LOVE YES!!!
Hope you enjoy!
Love the classics but also absolutely love “Talk” and “Big Generator”.
I'm in with those two. Also love "Brother of mine" from ABWH team.
I was having a bit of a crap day when I saw you’d posted this. After sitting down with a cup of tea to watch, the day is much improved. Thanks Warren! Not too long ago I pulled out 90125 after not having heard it in many years. Even though I’m more of an old-school Yes fan, I must say, it has aged extremely well.
I hope you have a better day tomorrow. Thank you for watching
Hey, yall, I'm sorry but I have to say this, it's wearing me not to, but after hearing 90q25 for the first time, I lived in Baton Rouge Louisiana for college, I was driving down Plank Road and came across a flea market with a collection of 8-track tapes, and saw Close To The Edge, bought it, played the heck out of it, then I think my next was Fragile, then Toronto, then Going For The One. I was kind of uncomfortable with that particular album cover though. All respectively....
All of the classic era Yes has withstood the tests of time extremely well. I get the feeling that people will be saying this for centuries to come. Millennia. ❤
I agree!@@frankhoulihanfh4972
In the year 2023, I became aware that Yes worked through great personal tensions as a band. Knowing what I know now, though exhausting, sometimes tension accompanies great accomplishments. Once I became aware of Yes, in particular Close to the Edge, I was hooked. Yes is my favorite band in no small part because of their musical sophistication. They used way more than 3 chords with considerable vocal and instrumental texture.
Wonderful job, Warren. Been listening to this band and Fragile since a was a mere 6yr old in 1975; I thank the older siblings (and the people they dated) for bringing YES & ELO & Manfred Mann into my young life!
"And You And I". Is still and always will be my favorite song from Yes!!! Also I still think close to the edge is their best album which of course is my opinion and I guess I should also say my favorite album of theirs!!
Ditto. I like And You and I better than Close to the Edge! The Teacher and the Preacher section makes the song one of the best of Yes.
Could not figure out the lyrics. But then, who can? Great songs anyway!
I don't think CttE is their best album.
I know it is.
Warren, what a delight! Yes is right up there at the top of the tops for me. Thanks a bunch for doing this! Masterfully done, and narrated as only you can do!
Thanks so much! We appreciate it
Simply one of the greatest bands EVER! Saw them twice live (90125 and Union tours), both shows were unforgettable!
Tales is one of the most deeply personal records for me, represents an era in my youth and musical development that is beyond profound. Probably my favorite Yes album
Tormato too, love that record. there is so much amazing stuff on there, particularly Release, Release.
if i were to pic my top 5 that i tend to listen to
1 Tales,
2 The Yes Album
3 Relayer
4 Tormato
5 Drama
Tales probably saved my life, more than once. That I know of! lol ❤
I've been waiting for this one. Meeting Jon Anderson briefly after he did a solo show at my local pub was one of the many great memories I have with Yes and their music over the course of my lifetime. When Trevor Rabin joined it was like Yes was totally reinvented and he instantly became my guitar idol. Jon still has "the voice" all these years later - do check him out with The Band Geeks if you have the chance. Thanks for the awesome vid, Warren!
Thank you for watching. I'll check it out!
I got to see Asia at a club in OKC up close and personal years ago. I was standing 10 feet from the PA, feeling every beat and bass note, thankful for earplugs.
I got to chat with Steve Howe after the show, he just hung around meeting people and signing autographs. Great memories!!
I've been a Yes fan boy for 30 years, and a casual fan since the '80s. This video told me lots of tidbits I didn't know. Extremely entertaining and informative. Well done!
Trevor Rabin, Alan White, and Tony Kaye are the most under appreciated musicians of all time. What they contributed to Yes was massive and they remain essential members of the band’s history to this day…
Agreed.
Let's not forget Patrick Moraz!
@@usaturnuranus- or Igor Khoroshev 🎹
@@carlyellison8498 Yeah, he was really good as well!
@@usaturnuranus 🤔😊
Thank you so much for this! I have said for years that Yes does NOT get the recognition they clearly deserve! You wanted to know favorite albums? Well for me there are three that are sort of tied for first and it depends on my mood as to which is top dog…lol. They are The Yes Album, Fragile and Drama. All were masterpieces! And each one yields one of my top three favorite Yes songs…Starship Trooper, off the Yes Album (which is my favorite song OF ALL TIME, by any artist) South Side of the Sky, off Fragile and Machine Messiah off Drama. Although I love all their albums (more on that later) these are my favorites. I will be honest. To me, Chris Squire was the beating heart and the soul of Yes, and I have listened to none of their new music since his death. I agree with Rick Wakeman, the Yes name should have been retired after he died. He WAS Yes and Sherwood is a pale replacement for him. To all of those fans who disagree with me, well sorry. My opinion on that will NEVER change.
Yeah, Chris was the man, may be others can follow the band without him, I can't. Please note, I love AWBH, but that's not Yes. Especially since Levin did some things, Squire never could and would, which makes this album so special.
No disagreement from me. Chris Squire gave the Band it's unique sound. I love all the players including Jon, but Chris' sound on that Rick Bass was the trademark for YES.
Seeing Yes with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl was righteous. One of my favorite bands of all time.
For me, The Yes Album IS the definitive Yes album. All killer, no filler.
I LOVE that album!!
I love Rick Wakeman but there was so much going on with the other musicians that I really appreciated the basic organ playing of Tony Kaye. Wakeman's arrival meant another guy had to be featured and a broader sound. But I certainly understand your's and other people's admiration for a more basic kickass Yes. their cover of Paul Simon's America showed how kickass they could be.
Yup
@@kevhead1525Yes indeed. Oddly, Mike Rutherford said the same in a 1974 interview. He really liked The Yes Album.
I bought Tales in 1974 and it is a great album. It is the Yes album that I play the most. It has grown on me over the years.
Me too.. It is the Yes album that I play the most
I saw Yes for the first time in June of 1972. The Edgar Winter Group was also on the bill and the opening band was...the Eagles! That was a bit of everything all in one night!
So happy 90125 and Owner of a Lonely Heart getting the recognition in this video. Much like when Rush transitioned to shorter songs, or the success of Asia, Yes created an all time classic with this 1983 release that sounds so great from a production standpoint to this day. Great video and channel!
Thank you so much!
What stood the test of time for Rush? They reverted to their classic stuff live, the pop audience they tried appealing to are fair weather friends. Success of Asia, seriously? Who remembers them? Few people, I do have an album, not a patch on Relayer or Topographic, nevermind CTTE.
The fact is the key Yes period produced innovative music and it was backed up. Even the albums that divided opinion fair well now, you wonder what the fuss was about.
Rushed and downloaded 'owner of a lonley heart' immediately I heard it in the beginning of this video before coming back to watch the rest of this video, never heard of it before..
Wow! That's great to hear!
Saw them 8 times live through the years, and Jon solo. Supreme!! Unparalleled - Thanks Warren!
Thanks forwatching!
Great video. I would have included Going For The One in your list of classic groundbreaking albums. I consider it their best work. Very nicely done video! ❤
Absolute agree. GFTO is extraordinary.
The Gates Of Delirium is my very favourite Yes songs. I've seen them live at least 5 times since the '80's.
Love this presentation regarding my favorite band of all time! Started following and buying all their albums in '71. I went to many of their concerts in the seventies.
While I could listen to the early/mid-seventies classic YES albums all day, every day; I also love their other albums since that period of time as well.
I remember being utterly surprised by the Drama release and loving it. Later the drastic change with 90125 was another major shift that I adapted to and loved. Then, later on, Magnification became another favorite, even without Wakeman and having some orchestra instead. Along came Fly From Here and I loved that with yet another different sound and singer. Lastly, I'm now listening to Mirror To The Sky and absolutely love it. In fact, it's quickly become one of my all-time favorites of theirs.
And it's so remarkable that after all these years, Howe, now at 76 years old is still going strong and doing so well!
I am so proud of what great music this so cold rainy island has given the world
Best rock/hardrock/prog rock bands ever are all english 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Hello ! Really good resumé of the Yes story ! I'd like to say that I discovered Yes in 1983 with "Owner of a lonely heart", I was 11. Later, in the 90's, we heard "Fragile", and we were amazed (as a young band playing). In 1991 came "Union", and I still love this album. It's a really great companion for energy
I won't say "best" about anything, ever. But my favorite YES album is Relayer, and my favorite YES track is The Gates of Delerium. Steve Howe is just astounding on this record. Squire and White conspire brilliantly here, like twin brothers with ESP. But then there's And You and I. Awaken. Close To The Edge. South Side Of The Sky. The Ancient. Heart Of The Sunrise. Sound Chaser. Parallels. Into The Lens. On The Silent Wings of Freedom. Leave It...
I love the 1976 live version of Gates too, on YesShows. Kind of wish they'd included the 1978 Awaken and a few others on that album.
A knowledgeable appraisal of the whole Yes thing. Now, nothing impacted me more than the rehearsal picture for the Yes Album on the farm... Superb, I wouldn't mind being the fly over the dung then...
Relayer 🤘 s a perennial favourite of mine. The Jazz Rock Fusion flavour appeals to me. Going for the One has the wonderful Awaken, of course. 90125, also a favourite, kinda Techno-Funk under a veneer of power riffing, and a little 'Avant-Garde' sounding because of it (a good thing).
I played Tales from Topographic Oceans all the way through for the first time in a long time, and I'm warming to it.
*Might need to factor in a toilet break next time 🤭😆... it's long.
I have listened to the catalog of Yes music from Yes to Big Generator 1970-late 90's 90125 still fits perfectly in all of the transformations of the band! Cinema,All good people, City of Love , Hearts and many others. There will never be another like them. RIP to it's fallen members. Farewell to One of the greatest bands in History!!
Steve Howe's Sketches In the Sun from the GTR album is amazing. I thought is was two guitars when I first heard it. newer versions he plays it on a 6 string but it sounds huge with the original 12 string.
I also love Toe the Line... I saw that tour.
Yet another exceptional video, Warren!
top 5
1 Close to the Edge
2 The Yes Album
3 Fragile
4 TOTO
5 Drama
That was terrific Warren 😎👌 Much like you, I find treasure aplenty in most periods of Yes, but if I had to choose, then Close To The Edge and Siberian Khatru, the Würm section of Starship Trooper, The Gates of Delirium and Going For The One would all be going to my desert island 😉 If we’re talking side projects, I always loved ABWH’s opener Themes and listening to it again recently, was astounded at how well it has aged - still an incredible production! Anyone who loves music but doesn’t know Yes owes it to themself to dive in head first. You obviously love your Prog, Warren - how about Tull next? 🙏
Once again, you knocked it out of the park, Warren! Even though I’m one of those crusty old progers who feel that they should have called it quits after Relayer, I think you gave an even-handed history of this essential band.
Thanks so much for watching!
I agree, the period from Yes Album to Relayer (71-74) were their best years. I kinda lost interest in the years after Relayer, because I feel their style had changed a bit too much.
Chris Squire is Paul McCartney on steroids + he was so funky. Siberian Khatru is the funkyest prog song ever. Heart of the sunrise, Hold out your hand, have the funkiest bass lines as well.
This was a great history. Quite a trip down memory lane. I was 16 years old when I first heard the Yes album in 197 1 or so. And I went back and searched for the earlier two albums and still have the discs. Of course, I learned the clap and mood for a day, since I had begun studying classical guitar at the time. And I'm still a professional classical guitarist. Guitarist. But I have always loved. Yes
I really really love the love will find a way riff. Always gets me on a fun mood. Although I'm not that into the general modern era of the band. Sound Chaser is perfection to me. The Moraz solo hits me deep. Love playing it on guitar, full with attitude and fire. Great video as always Warren!!! Regards!!
That intro to Morning Has Broken by Wakeman is absolutely genius and amazing! (and I've heard he still hasnt been paid?)
Great job! I personally LOVE the studio cuts on both Keys To Ascension albums!
Severely underestimated tracks. “That, that is”… true YES in every way
Great review, interesting depth of detail which I appreciated. For me Close to Edge is just perfect, as is Awaken and the very moving Gates of Delirium... still there's the epic Machine Messiah, and the catchy Owner of a Lonely Heart. Such great music spanning decades, the members may slowly leave us, but to my mind the legacy of their work will live on... Thanks for reminding me of such things.
Peter Banks is my Guitar Idol.. I even had a replica of his Yes Rickenbacker made... Banks and Howe are my gods
Thank you Warren for putting together such a detailed history of this incredible band. I used to bug all the bands that played at my high school "can you play any Yes?" Yes is one of the bands that defines my musical development from The Yes Album onward, any track can transport me. Kudos pal!
Great video! Thank you for acknowledging Yes, they really don't get the recognition they deserve. Just one small issue, the picture you displayed for Chris Welch, is not Chris Welch, but is Neil Innes of The Ruttles fame! Thank you once again for the great video!
Release Release, one of the singles from Tormato may just be the most underrated song of all time. Truly a hidden gem.
What I liked about Yes was when you first listened to any track, you could never know the direction the music was going. They never followed conventional composition and were never afraid to experiment. So some tracks might take a few listens before you could understand what they were expressing. Never dull or predictable. Guess CTTE is my ongoing favourite, with Awaken being one of the most spiritually uplifting tracks in my music library. I first heard roundabout at the laserium in the Planetarium in Baker st London that was an experience in of itself being a quadraphonic setup in an acoustically amazing dome.
I learned more about Yes in this one "session" than through all of the years I've been listening to them. I don't know how the narrator kept all of these band members coming to and fro, to mixers and tracks and studios, etc. It makes me very sad, on one hand, and glad on the other about where they now stand. How can you pick one song or album. They were all great and different. Okay, I am going to choose "Awaken." Thanks again for putting this together, much obliged!
My introduction to Yes happened one day while I was sitting in my room doing homework and Roundabout came on the radio. I freaked! Then I found it a few minutes later playing on another station. I'm a classically trained pianist and I had never ever heard anything like this way back then. I've been a fan ever since that day and I've worn out 3 copies of Fragile on vinyl.
I couldn't pick a favorite song , but Roundabout would be TIED for first place with , well , all the other Tied-For-First ones ! Lol. I mean , what's NOT to love ? The bass line alone would purchase the very Souls of three prominent bassists ! Then there's that classical guitar lead in , and later guitar solo , and you have the mid song change up which is....I mean , .... like , ...
And , of course , awesome vocals on cool lyrics , all roundabouted off by killer keyboards , drums and some great Yes harmonizing , and you have , well , you have "Roundabout" ! An uncommonly fantastic tune by an uncommonly fantastic band , the likes of which only exist , alas ! , uncommonly .
The organ solo, right?
Heart of the Sunrise... great piano work
Drama was my first Yes album, although I had heard Roundabout and Long distance runaround on the radio quite a bit, the departure for Drama with a heavier rock edge, caught my attention, and drew me in, with songs like Tempus Fugit and Machine Messiah. I love close to the edge and fragile. Tales of topographic oceans is an epic recording that has so many twists and turns with moments where you feel like chaos has taken over, and then gradually the most melodic moments are revealed. I love the conceptual nature of these albums, and the risk taking.
Drama is gorgeous, masterpiece
The year 90125 came out, I got that album and a new set of Pioneer Speakers for Christmas. I remember being very excited by the sound of that record and it had quite a few good songs. I was 15 at the time so I was very open to the new direction. Great stuff!
I got my 90125 as CD...one of my few first CDs
Love this, great job, bravo!
Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate it!
@@ProducelikeaproRight on buddy, I learned a lot from this, with many surprises, and loved it so much I watched it twice and told my prog fan buds about it too and they also loved it.
The level of musicianship w this band is unrivaled by ANY unless you count Steely Dan's stable of studio musicians.
Thanks Warren for another in-depth documentary of some of the greatest moments in music history and how they came about. You had me do a double-take at around 9:13 or so where you threw Tony Banks name up on the screen for a moment. I knew Yes had the revolving door thing going with it's musicians, but didn't think members of Genesis were ever involved! Easy typo to make when mentioning so many great musicians across all of these amazing videos. 😊
Nicely Done Warren. YES came on to my radar in 1983 with “Owner” when I was 17. I consider 90125 a masterpiece as much as I consider Fragile its 70’s counterpart. In both cases, the “fire” to create something new and exciting was present within the band.
I'd been a fan since I was 13. When 90125 came out I was so excited this band I so loved had reformed and continuing to explore musically
Fantastic work, Warren, and much appreciated. Always fascinating to learn the chaos (and un-sanitary conditions?) behind the making of the world's greatest sausage!
I think Roger Dean should have gotten an even bigger mention; Yes had been the thing that kept me sane through 4 long, hard years of military service, and I only became aware of them because of him. I was visiting the HMV store in London in the summer of 1975, on a brief excursion before going back home to enlist, and I saw this unbelievably beautiful cover of an album by a band I've never heard of. I bought it because of the cover alone. A week later I was back home, I put it on the turntable, was hit with the most amazing note I've heard in my life up to that moment - and I was in love...
btw, Fragile might have gotten me hooked, but the TFTO cover is indeed one of the greatest of all times, and to this day I have 5 t-shirts with variations of the various parts.
the album itself is pretty fucking great, too.
Nicely done. Probably my all-time favorite band. It oscillates, but some of that early work is astonishing to this day, and 90125 and Big Generator were my own gateway into the band, so those albums sound like youth, to me.
They and all the subsequent albums through Fly From Here were full of strong melodies. Most non musical fans will take joy in proclaiming the old stuff is better, but it's all equally good, just ask the people that made it, or learn to play it all on all instruments and one can see its all from the same place for the same reason.
Came here after watching the King Crimson (part 1) video, what an incredible channel! Absolutely fantastic work, great to learn about some of my favourite artists who made it big almost 20 years before I was even born! I'm very excited to explore your channel further!
I love several Yes albums across incarnations. The Yes Album, Fragile, 90125, Big Generator, Talk, and the ABWH album…even if it isn’t “officially” Yes. Fragile is probably my favorite, though. Favorite song is much more difficult. Maybe Starship Trooper or Wonderous Stories.
Big Generator may be "too poppy" for prog snobs but it's high-level pop rock with hooks. A good deal more proggy and rocking than what Genesis was delivering. More emotion too, IMO.
This is the tightest and most comprehensive covering of Yes history ever. Thank you for compiling this.
I saw 90125 tour back then.
I remember it well. They were excellent.
Chris Squires low end was thunderous.
Also remember it was sponsored by Sparkomatic car stereos .
Fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
When I saw them back - Trevor's solo on Hold On... he did a 1 note bending for few bars. It just made me wow. And I am a guitarist.
Awaken is my favorite piece of music of all time. I can listen to it a dozen times a day and still be swept away.....
Thanks for sharing
Tales From Topographic Oceans is one of the best albums of all time, it is a meditative masterpiece that sends you on a journey of sonic landscapes and melodic noodley wonder, it is amazing, no matter what anyone says.
I’ve yet to manage to listen to it in its entirety, I’ve tried many times but no, it physically irritates me. Prior Tales yes albums I love, and post Tales yes albums I love upto and including ‘going for the one’. Perhaps I should try listening to Tales yet again, I haven’t been irritated for too long 😮😂
@amnril what did it for me was listening to it throughout the school day everyday, almost all year. It's harder to appreciate double albums when you focus all of your attention on them. I can just sit down and listen to Tales now, but I listened to it many a times in the background to appreciate its nuances. The lyrics and the music speaks to me in such a beautiful way nothing really matches it for me.
@@jaydogstephens7388 That might be the answer…. Play it in the background. I might try that, thanks 😊
@@jaydogstephens7388 That's exactly right... listen in the background at low volume. I draw and paint pictures, and music is always playing in the background. If a song or album is new to my ears, I find it is better not to 'concentrate' at first on the listening or paying close attention, because music is sort of subliminal. Either you are moved by a song, or not, or somewhere in-between (I hope this makes sense)
@John-jd7mm yes, and with an album as dense as topographic oceans you pick up on a new astounding thing every time its listened to
Excellent video. Thank you for posting it here.
"Topographic Oceans" is a phenomenal album, I agree with Steve Wilson, over time, I think the album got more love, though I think "Ritual" was always a fan-favourite. It's a challenge to listen to in one sitting, which is part of the appeal for me. Prog Rock excess? Yes! More of that please!
Right? La beauté sera excessive, ou elle ne sera pas.
Another excellent presentation, Warren. I saw Yes touring the Closer To The Edge album in a university gymnasium that sounded remarkable once filled to capacity with the crowd. Amazing performance.
It's almost impossible for me to pick a favourite album from Yes as there's nothing of theirs that I dislike, really. They are absolutely one of my all time faves... but today I feel like saying that Drama is my number one album. It just kicks along brilliantly. Tomorrow it'll probably be CTTE or Relayer. Gotta give a shout out to Chris Squire's Fish out of Water solo album too - an essential album for anyone looking to discover more music of from these guys.
Excellent presentation as always Warren. The very first album I bought was Close to the Edge and it still sounds as fresh as the day I first listened to it. Relayer and TOTO also rank amongst my favorite albums. Every time I listen to these albums I discover something new. The 80's material does not grab me so much, but I think you make a very valid point that Yes's sound was still innovative within the context of that musical era.
I personally consider Magnification to be an essential Yes album...
Yep. Possibly the last Yessential.
Criminally overlooked recording!
Biggest oversight was missing the ABWH album that even got catalog number 91026. The band members aside from Squire consider it a Yes album.
The Yes Album is a personal favourite but honestly with their body of work any band would kill to be able to write a record half as good as their back catalogue.
This was a fab summary of their career which filled in many of the spaces most of us didn’t realise were there. I can’t suggest a favourite album or song because these change every time their music plays in our home. Top stuff.
Relayer and Drama are very underrated. If it weren’t for the band’s better known masterpieces, I think they’d be better known.
I really like Drama!
@@Producelikeapro It would have been interesting if that lineup would have continued into the '80s.
Relayer, IMO, is one of their top three studio albums and easily the point where they were the most ahead of their time. Musically, technically and emotionally it made a bold leap into the future - practically no other 1970s album sounds like it and it foreshadowed bands far outside of prog rock, such as Die Krupps, early Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (their 1984 debut album), Metallica and Einstúrzende Neubauten.
It's also one of Eddie Offords greatest moments as a producer/engineer - it's totally amazing that tjhey were able to create Gates of Delirium before the age of modern samplers, sequencers and the changed concepts of how to record drujms and rhythm tracks that came along later in the seventies with albums like "Low" and "Off the Wall" - and that they were able to play these epic pieces live on tour! The sound image of Relayer is very distinctive...and they recorded it in Squire's basement!! ;)
To Be Over is my favourite Yes song. The choral bit in the middle is just sublime "childlike soul dreamer...." then the guitar solo and the pedal steel stuff. Amazing.
@@theoriginalheartstrummer Beautifully conceived song, a majestic and uplifting one (also, Squire's bass on that one is just amazing!)
I’m a Prof Rock junkie. Your King Crimson documentaries were fabulous. Yes is another great band.
Any interest in doing one on Emerson, Lake and Palmer??
Yes! On the list! Stay tuned! Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Great documentary. Being 61 years old, I'm an old timer and LOVE the old stuff, but I just adore Tormato. On the Silent Wings of Freedom ranks right up with Yours is no Disgrace as two of my favorites. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Well....I love Tormato AND Drama....lol, just as well as all the rest, some more, some less, but still. The Trevors era is so awesome also and when ABWH came out I got that too and when I first heard it I was like... what?? Heard it millions of times...
Great Video! Really enjoyed it. Yes was my very first concert. It was at the L.A. Forum in 1978. Basically they played the whole yessongs album plus one or two tracks from Tormato. It was at the time the greatest thing i had ever experienced I think I was in shock by the end lol. I was 15 my best friend Bob talked me into going, I had no idea who they were. Very soon after I became the biggest Yes fan in the neighborhood. Fabulous time to be alive:D