Yes: The only super solid Prog Rock also open to incorporating Country licks, and/or Brian Wilson/Beach Boys-styled multi-part harmonies. They were great live back when they all dressed like they were wizards, or like one of Robin's band of merry men.
I wish I could give that statement 100 likes! As a 12-year old, I listened to it over and over and tried to play air bass. No clue how since I only played piano but somehow that riff makes your fingers want to move.
1974, a college friend of my husband and I was working with Rick Wakeman on one of the first synthesizers, when they came to Connecticut. We were invited to the concert and back stage after the performance. They made such trippy music-- I mean Wakeman wore a cape on stage--for such down to earth guys. And they couldn't have been lovelier to me (the only woman in a room full of rowdy men). Even made me a cup of tea...the following year, when they returned to The Palace, my youngest was sick, so I stayed home. My husband returned with a plate full of little cakes and crumpets, and the band's regards. I joked, for years, that I was the woman YES let get away. Haven't thought about that in decades. Thanks for that. ❤❤
Great suggestions. I'd add Heart of the Sunrise and Siberian Khatru but they should be the Yessongs live versions as they're all much better than the studio ones.
And add "Awaken" to the list, more towards the end. Although, "Close To The Edge" is my personal favorite. Yes is a very deep and twisting rabbit hole, but the trip is so worth it.
@@DandyLion662a I love the "yessongs", concert album. Especially the interplay between epic Guitar Hero Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman in full Keyboard Wizard mode on 'Wurm' at the conclusion of "Starship Trooper". It is worth the price of admission all by itself. I have both the triple LP and the double CD releases (viva physical media!). The one exception would be for the studio version of "Close To The Edge" This one could be kind of tricky to find as I believe it was only on the remastered SACD from Audio Fidelity (AFZ 147), but Steve Hoffman absolutely nailed the church pipe organ. That whole disk is creme de la creme.
I agree with the above list whole-heartedly, and in the order, CTTE should come a little later so it can be fully appreciated. It's so much fun to see 1st timer reactions to one of the greatest bands to ever come out of the 60/70s. You guys are great!
@@stephensmith3111 I agree, but the real star of that album is Alan White on the drums. He joined Yes for that tour with only three days to prepare a full concert of some of the trickiest rock music ever recorded. By the time the performances on the album were recorded, he had still only been with the band about nine or ten months, and had already made his stamp on their sound. As much as I love Bill Bruford's drumming, when he left for King Crimson and Alan White joined Yes, both bands ended up with the drummers they should have had the whole time.
In a Songfacts interview with Yes frontman Jon Anderson, he explained: "The song is about initiation of yourself into the idea that there is more to life than war and fighting within religions and things like that. So when we were singing 'see all good people,' it's like, 'we can see you all in the audience because you're good people no matter what, and when you're with music you're enlightened, you're good, you're happy, you're excited.' And music is the kingpin of it all. It's not just Yes, it's music that brings people together like no other energy on such a level."
Just a few YES requests include, “Close to the Edge”, “Awaken” and “Round About” are just a few of their many unbelievable tracks. I also highly recommend watching some of their 1970 live performances.
@@deborahstrickland9845 Those are definitely some of my favorites, however Jay & Amber don't have a background in prog so I would suggest going a little slower with songs like 'Changes', 'Starship Trooper', and 'Yours Is No Disgrace' before tackling the long masterpieces of 'Roudabout', 'Awaken' and 'Close To The Edge'. Just my 2 cents.
Fun Facts: There are 2 references to Lennon songs: Instant Karma(“Send an instant karma to me”) and the backing vocals singing the chorus to Give Peace a Chance, under the main melody. 🙂
One of the pioneers of prog rock. This is more their style ,more than Owner of a Lonely Heart that you did previously. Drummer Alan White just recently passed away. Roundabout, Yours Is No Disgrace, And You and I, or Close to the Edge for more.
Yes on this song is Jon Anderson: vocals, Chris Squire: bass, Steve Howe: guitar, Bill Buford: Drums, and Tony Kaye: Piano and organ. The wind instrument on this was a recorder played by guest musician Colin Goldring.
The video they are watching shows Wakeman & White even though the personnel is Kaye & Bruford. I got to see the Union tour that had both line ups together. Trevor Rabin and Steve Howe on guitar, Bill Bruford and Alan White on drums, and Tony Kaye and Rick Wakeman on keys. Of course Jon Anderson singing and the great Chris Squire on bass.
I'll be the hundredth person to recommend "Roundabout," probably their best known song, also from 1971 like this one. And I'll add that, if you like Bach-ish organ sounds like this, you've got to listen to Boston's 1976 "Foreplay/Long Time." On that flute-ish sound, it's probably a flute, like you said, but it also sounds like a recorder, an even simpler woodwind instrument, or it could be a synthesizer set to a woodwind sound. I always thought Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" had a flute or recorder in it until I saw it performed live and they made the sound with a keyboard/synthesizer.
I was wondering if a keyboard was involved but according to wikipedia it was dual recorders for this song... I wasn't sure until I looked it up en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ve_Seen_All_Good_People
I strongly suspect that the flutes were played on a Mellotron, despite what Wikipedia says. That was the instrument that John Paul Jones plays during the intro to “Stairway to Heaven”. Incidentally, it was also used on the Beatles track “Strawberry Fields Forever” and many, many other famous tracks. The Mellotron was the earliest form of sampling. It employed audio tape strips played with a standard keyboard. The stock instrument came with typically 3 sets of tapes installed - orchestral strings, human voices and flutes. The choral voices were particularly popular, especially with prog rock bands. Generally speaking, if you hear a single flute, it’s probably an actual flute being played. If you hear multiple flutes, it’s probably a Mellotron or some similar keyboard.
Tony Kaye didn't pay any synthesizers during his time with the band. Piano and organ were what he brought to the Yes table. Tony Kaye's fat organ was a distinctive sound for the band in the early days.
@@benjaminrupe5930 the Mellotron wasn’t technically a synthesizer. More like an elaborate tape deck. And it was quite established during the time period this album was recorded. That’s why I had suspicions about it being keyboard flutes. I’m probably wrong, but I stick by my theory.
One of the many "Art Rock" bands of the seventies. They were classically trained musicians that formed pop bands. There is a whole rabbit hole that is well worth chasing. Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues, Gentle Giant, Emerson Lake & Palmer and quite a more.
What glory days for rock. The bands you mention introduced rock fans to a sound that here to fore had few progressive bands. Bands like Vanilla Fudge, Music Machine and Procol Harum were few and far between. Sure, the Beatles, the Doors, and Rolling Stones also broke new ground, but the sheer musical virtuosity of the of the groups here reached new levels. I think that YES was the most talented of all prog groups because of the intricacy of some of their songs...the ability of the group to change tempo in the middle of a song is unmatched in rock history...in my opinion. Their harmonies almost matched the best of Crosby, Stills and Nash. The innovations they brought to the genre were immense. As Steely Dan, Van Morrison, and Traffic made jazz palatablle in rock, YES took it to a new level and most listeners never picked up on that...Steve Howe, Bill Bruford ans Chris Squires all had jazz backrounds. Anyway, I ramble here. But in my opinion, YES was in the top 5 rock bands of all time. Thanks for listening.
"Art Rock" is a difficult concept to pin down, invented by music journalists describing everything from Phil Spector's early work in the '60s to The Beatles, to The Beach Boys, especially as it evolved through the '70s (Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, King Crimson, to a degree.) The '80s saw a very different inflection, with the digital revolution. "Progressive Rock," a much more forgiving term (also invented by music journalists) is a much-more agreed upon genre to describe a band like Yes, as I've seen it. Like, I could see calling early Genesis performances with Peter Gabriel in various "outrageous" costumes/masks "Art Rock," (the bat-wings headdress, the flower, the whole nightmare of his "Slippermen" costume . . . all the stuff that contributed to his departure from the band) but Yes were more "organic." Just a bunch of guys with whimsical stage-design concepts who kept their terrible, futuristic-hippie fashion sense for far too long into the late '70s (watch the making of Going For The One BTS for a really good laugh), but in the words of even punk-rock-label SST's (and terrible person) Joe Carducci, could always "rock the house, even if that house was a Château."
Yes. As well as one of my faves, "Long Distance Runaround .". Some of the other epic stuff like Close to the Edge is quite long. They could make it the equivalent of two or three reactions and call it a day. .
Just so you both know, because I was around when this masterpiece was being played on FM radio, that's not a flute or piccolo - it's a Recorder. Also during the "diddit, diddit, diddit, diddit" verse, did you hear what was sung in the background? It was: "All we are saying/Is give peace a chance." In honor of one of John Lennon's greatest songs. You should check it out😊
Had to go back. Right after Rob says " the organ behind it." Faint, but it's there. Amazing. I learned something new today. Cool. Edit: After listening again, they also sing in the background " Are we ourselves, then give peace a chance." Still in awe of this info. Thanks.
If you're doing Yes, you have to hear "And You And I" and "Roundabout". And You and I is a very complex song with four different sections (Cord of Life, Eclipse, The Preacher The Teacher, and Apocalypse). You'll love keyboardist Rick Wakeman on the Mellotron and Minimoog (synthesizer).
This is, hands down, my favorite Jon Anderson song. It spoke to me as a kid...I've always remembered the lyrics. God but I was lucky growing up! So much fabulous music!
Wonderous Stories is my wife's favorite Yes song, but that makes sense since she is an author. Excellent choice. I sometimes just play an acoustic piano cover of it for her and she loves it.
@@rsw1227 I get it Rick, I just like to whine;);) I’ve been a fan for 50 years. Relayer is 48, it’s been my go to when I need a fix for 25 years, Sound Chaser is in my opinion maybe Howes best guitar work of his career.
The members of the band at this time were Jon Anderson on lead vocals, Chris Squire on bass & background vocals, Bill Bruford on drums, Tony Kaye on organ/keyboards and Steve Howe on guitars & background vocals
Nobody ever talks about guitarist Steve Howe. He is so original, and no other rock guitarist sounded anything like him back in those days. I was never a big YES fan, but their talent as musicians is unmatched. What a GREAT decade of music the 70's were! So many original sounding bands, from Yes, to Black Sabbath, to Pink Floyd, to Led Zeppelin. The list goes on. Glad I got to live through the 70's and experience it as it happened!
If you want to be even more impressed with the keyboards in Yes, start with Roundabout. The use of Hammond Organ, Mellatron, Moog Synthesizers, RMI electric piano, and grand piano will blow you away. Rick Wakeman on keys took Yes to a new unfathomable level.
@@rmac8008 I know Tony Kaye played on this album. However, in interviews it was also revealed that Chris Squire played some of the keyboard parts too, eventhough he wasn't credited. If you read my comment carefully, I was talking about Roundabout from Fragile. Wakeman played on Fragile.
@@francisseidel8014 On Roundabout, Wakeman basically copied Kaye's organ and piano from demos compiled during Fragile rehearsals prior to Kaye's firing. Wakeman then added other keyboard parts.
@@sirbobloblaws Source please? I have never heard that from anyone. Kaye was fired before they went into the studio to record Fragile. Kaye has only said that he was in on rehearsals for Fragile and that Wakeman recorded parts written by Kaye for Heart of the Sunrise. Never heard that about the organ for Roundabout.
Hell yeah. I love me some Yes. They have some of the best instrumentation, some of the best vocal harmonies, some of the craziest sounds of any band this side of Pink Floyd. I've loved Jon Anderson's voice pretty much my whole life. Check out "I'm Running", "Roundabout", "Love Will Find a Way", and "Shoot High Aim Low".
Eno and Roxy Music were more artsy back then. Yes was prog, which includes stellar musicianship and eclectic mix of influences including classical, jazz, folk, blues etc. Prog bands were about showing off also, which may or may not be artsy.
I think of this as symphonic rock, which somewhat morphed to the electronic/synthesizer stuff like Thomas Dolby and Alan Parsons Project that came a few years later. You might enjoy Procol Harum's performance with the Danish Philharmonic, you can find clips here on youtube. Brilliant.
On this, though, the drummer was Bill Bruford. Bruford was not in the band NEARLY as long as Alan White, obviously, but he was the drummer in the "classic lineup" up through Close to the Edge (and part of the live Yessongs), before leaving for King Crimson.
One really fun Yes song is "Leave It" from the 90125 album. It has a decent music video attached to it too. When I was a teenager back in the '80s, that was actually one of my favorite songs. But I'd also agree that the '70s classic "Roundabout'" is essential Yes listening at some point.
When you were referencing a brotherhood feel during the 1st part of the song, I wonder if you were subconsciously picking up on the subtle Beatles references ' send an instant karma to me' and in the background of the last chorus 'give peace a chance'.. such a great song !!!
wow you hit yes again. great song. This is way different than owner of a lonely heart (from 1983) this is from 1971, their progressive area. i love this song and how progressive it it. Yes is great. But you got to do roundabout next. Its a prog masterpiece to start your prog journey. They also have many other hits like "Yours is no disgrace", "starship trooper", "Long distance runaround", "heat of the sunrise" etc.
I saw them in Denver CO, probably 1982 for 90125 album tour. I know this makes me old, but dammit, I'm going to say it. That's back when we had good music!
Yes is my all time favorite and I'm 62. The Masters of the 'Row Row Row Your Boat' singing technique. Chris Squire is the absolute best bass player. In almost every song, the power comes through. The instrumentation of these songs is art in itself. Layers that beg you yo listen again and again. And it never gets boring! Try the later stuff too, It Cab Happen, Hold On, Changes. . .
P.S. It's actually not the flute, but recorder (by someone outside the band, Colin Goldring). Also, there are some John Lennon references in there ("send an instant karma to me..." and in the final chant you can here in the background "All we are saying...is give peace a chance").
You guys have found a cousin of Pink Floyd, you like Pink Floyd so much these guys come from the same otherworldly Galaxy as Floyd. Songs from "Yes" such as "And You And I", and "Close To the Edge" are similar in their uniqueness to "Echoes" by Floyd with the storytelling and sudden changes! Pink Floyd is my favorite but "Yes" is in the same group of favorites when it comes to incredible Progressive groups from the late 60s into the seventies!!
I like the fact that in the beginning, you were talking about the laid back, easy feeling of the song, knowing little of what was to come: some kick ass rock. Yes, will send you through all kinds of feelings, moods, and modes. They are diverse, spectacular, and one of a kind.
Awesome reaction! I would recommend "Roundabout" by this band next. Yes plays what is considered "Progressive Rock", or "Prog Rock" for short. One of the pioneers of the genre.
I've seen Yes twice - the first time was in Columbus, Ohio for their 90125 tour. That one was the tour opener, and they had no opening act. Echo and the Bunnymen were supposed to open, but they never showed. The second time was in 1995-ish for their Talk tour. Kansas opened for them then. Aside from Rush, Yes are the only band I've seen live more than once. The singer, Jon Anderson, was a huge admirer of John Lennon, and so this song contains references to two Lennon songs: Instant Karma and Give Peace a Chance. You've gotten the rundown of the band members for this album, but over the years, many have come and gone. Until he died a couple years ago, Chris Squire was the only band member to be in all iterations. Other people who have been with the group are: Alan White ((R.I.P) drums), Patrick Moraz (keyboards), Trevor Rabin (guitar), Trevor Horn (vocals), Tony Kaye (keyboards), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (current singer), Geddy Lee (yes, Geddy lee from Rush - bass - filled in for Chris as he had died before the Rock Hall induction of Yes). I know I'm forgetting at least four or five others. As for my song suggestions, I'll start with the two that go back and forth in my top spot for favorite yessongs. Starship Trooper, which has already been mentioned several times, and Siberian Khatru, which as far as I can tell, hasn't been mentioned by anyone else. If you ever listen to the latter, don't try to get any real meaning out of the lyrics. Siberian Khatru is a perfect example of using the vocals as just another instrument, using words that fit the sound, rather than to have any real meaning.
Want to take more journeys with them? Heart Of The Sunrise, Close To The Edge and Starship Trooper ... are among the many more must listens this band has... hehe
Yes is a band that inspired many bands that came after them (Including RUSH). Good choice! You might want to listen to "Starship Trooper" or later albums with Trevor Rabin like 90125 or Big Generator.
@@bobbyverne9714 their back up band didn't show up so they played a Bugs Bunny cartoon on a huge screen, lol 🤣, it was the one where Bugs had a bull fight. Whole thing was hilarious 😂
Jon Anderson (the group's singer and lyricist) wrote beautiful songs, but don't try to understand them literally. You'll only make yourself crazy. Jon's songs are poetic in their expression, and he rarely ever says what he means straight out. You have to listen _between_ the words, let his images flow through your mind, _look_ as much as you listen, in order to get where he's going - and even then it'll be your interpretation of his words rather than a literal meaning handed to you on a platter. It's one of the things I love most about Yes, their rejection of literal meaning in favor of imagery, metaphor, and poetry. :)
Great reaction! Every member of this band is a virtuoso musician. Yes is one of the few bands whose live performances are as good as the studio recordings for first reactions. Of course, do the studio version of Roundabout next, but then please listen to/watch the live version of Perpetual Change from the album Yessongs from 1972. Yes is among the deepest of rabbit holes, with lots of great solo albums. Enjoy!
Great reaction---You two are getting SUPER "Prog Cultured" by appreciating YES. The musicianship is Incredible. The next song to listen to is "Starship Trooper",,,It is another EPIC Song that will make you feel magical. I can listen to Starship Trooper over and over and over and over and over and over...Go for it. Peace to both of you--Stay safe. 🙂
This is a great intro song for Yes. From 1971's "The Yes Album," their third album release. Later in 1971 they released "Fragile" -- one of the best progressive rock albums ever recorded, even 50 years later. From that record, the next Yes song you guys hear should be "Roundabout." I see from a search that you've reacted to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" which is from the 80's and a totally different lineup in the band and quite a different feel, given that times changed a lot from 1971 to 1983 or so when 90125 album was released. But back to the point -- Roundabout is the most logical next Yes reaction, but there are several other great choices from Yes's heydays in the early 1970's, up to about 1978. The record after Fragile, 1972's Close to the Edge, is considered even better than Fragile. But Fragile is a little more "accessible" for those not quite used to the complexity of Yes's music.
Their line up tended to change over the years but for this song it was Jon Anderson - lead vocals, percussion: Chris Squire - bass guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals: Steve Howe - vachalia (Portuguese guitar), electric guitars, backing vocals: Tony Kaye - Hammond organ, piano: Bill Bruford - drums, percussion. With guest musician Colin Goldring - recorders
This version of Yes included: Jon Anderson/vocals, Chris Squire/bass & backing vocals, Steve Howe/guitars & backing vocals, Tony Kaye/keyboards, and Bill Buford/drums & percussion. "Close To The Edge" and "Awaken" - both very long songs - are required hearing for any Yes fan. Keep up the good work - always enjoy seeing both of you reacting to the music I grew up with.😀
@Karen Manemeit, only saw them twice, 34 years apart, both times with Peter Frampton. Once in 1976 in DC and again in 2010 in Baltimore. Flew in to Maryland for the second concert and went with the same person I'd seen the first concert with.😎😎😎😎
Hahahaha....lol.....hahaha......Thank you Amber and J for doing my request!!!! Glad you guys enjoy the song!!! Yes.....J and Amber ..... you guys need to go down this Rabbit Hole and what a great Rabbit Hole it is from one of the greatest Progressive Rock n' Roll band EVER!!!! Jon Anderson is The lead singer, frontman, and percussionist. Steve Howe is the lead electric and acoustic guitars, vachalia player and vocals. Chris Squire is the Bass guitarist and background vocals. Tony Kaye is piano, organ, Moog synthesizer player. Bill Bruford is the drummer and percussionist. It's a large group. You guys do not take too long to react to this Rock group. Their message is always deep and Spiritual......so you guys don't want to miss out. "I've Seen All Good People" is a good introduction song which was released in 1971 to Yes. The next songs to react to would be "Yours is No Disgrace/Yes" by Yes...... the first song on The Yes Album by Yes or "Roundabout" from "Fragile" their second album by Yes. It is your choice!!!😁😁😁😁
Adding to the chorus: "Roundabout" is absolutely essential (and alongside this one, my favorite Yes). It has also turned out that either "And You and I" or "Yours Is No Disgrace" has been living rent-free in my head for decades and I just forgot where the riff came from. XD "Starship Trooper" is also fantastic.
Oh good - When you did OWNER OF A LONELY HEART, many of us feared you'd never get to hear something more representative of Yes from the '70s, as that was more of a new sound you heard. My picks; AND YOU AND I, THE REVEALING SCIENCE OF GOD:(DANCE OF THE DAWN), CLOSE TO THE EDGE, HEART OF THE SUNRISE, ROUNDABOUT, LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND, etc.
About 1973?, rural Kansas... Me, about fifteen. I remember going out in the yard and listening to this blasting through my open bedroom windows. I knew it was something "Big & Important!", but I didn't realize it would change my whole outlook on life. Almost fifty years later It's really great to see Yes' music still has that same effect on young proportions living in a world so different from when this song came into being. Yay, you guys! Thanks for this! Okay, Yes songs - gotta hear Roundabout and Close to the Edge. And Owner of a Lonely Heart. Heard any Little Feat? Another important band, but completely different from Yes.
No matter how many times I hear this song, I will always love the outro as they modulate into different keys. By the way, a number of YES songs are in "movements," which is why there are sometimes changes in style and tempo. This song, for example, is in two movements. The first part (the slower part) is called "Your Move." The second more rollicking part is called "All Good People."
YES!! I requested this one awhile back :) Amazing song! Next one should absolutely be Roundabout, with the most meme-able bassline ever from the great Chris Squire (RIP).
"YES " you do. LOL Turn their heads each day so satisfied I am on my way. "This was portrayed in the Movie Almost Famous ( you guys should watch it . ) have always loved this song and melody .JOhn Anderson is your lead vocals
I have to agree with so many of the others….. Roundabout is must hear YES! Yours Is No Disgrace after that…. I would have been friends with y’all back in the 70s.
To make an off the wall suggestion... you commented on the song making Chess references... Another 80s song (1984) that has chess references is by Murray Head - "One Night In Bangkok". It has a great beat. The song was part of a concept album called Chess that was meant to be used in a Musical that was being released after the release of the album.
The "flutes" is a keyboard called a Mellotron. It used tape loops of real instruments like flutes. You had to load the tape loops. The flute loops were great, and were used in "Stairway To Heaven".
I have always loved "Wonderous stories", "And you and I"...all their music really. 🎶 I was fortunate enough to see them live when I was 16. Down town Chicago 4th row. It was an experience I will never forget. Absolutely mind blowing 🤯
Great reaction! I remember first hearing Yes back when I was a young man in the early 70s. The music was so much different than other popular artists at the time and I was amazed at the sound. They actually played at a local high school here in 1972 and I was fortunate to see them play this song. It was just before they really hit it big. Along with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes was one of the great progressive rock bands of the early 70s. I spent many hours in my VW Beetle listening to these groups on my 8 track player.
Yes was a fun group. Their music was happy. We always felt better after it was played. Never failed to "switch it up" for us. Thanks for checking them out!
I love how Amber gets into the music. You can see it in her face when she closes her eyes and in her body language. She lets the music grab hold of her.
My favorite progressive rock and rock and roll bands of all time. The quality of musicianship is unmatched that each band member can stand on their own. The drummer was Bill Bruford as an original member way back in 1969 though this tune was done a year or 2 later. Dozens of great songs. You can close your eyes to their songs and dream your dreams. Roundabout , And You And I, Siberian Khatru, and The Unique epic Close To The Edge, are just a few of many legendary tunes.
Yes' lead singer Jon Anderson once disclosed in an interview that, however complex many of their songs seem, every single one that he wrote was based on just two chords -- and the band fleshed them out by bringing their own instincts into play.
You could give some of their longer pieces a try, 20 minutes or so, "Awaken" is astonishing as is "Close to the Edge", a shorter piece called "Sound Chaser" feels like 10 years of music compressed into 10 minutes, quite mind blowing...they were so adventurous that they couldn't ask anyone for help on how to do this stuff because no one was!
OMG. I was just thrown back to my Sophmore year in high school. This is the music that was rattling round in my head while walking from class to class. SO good. Love Jon Anderson & Yes. And I still have the vinyl LP!
Off the beaten path just a bit, "Wonderous Stories" is one of my favorites. Of course the Close to the Edge album is a masterpiece, but if you really want to indulge, Yessongs, the live album, was a sampler of their best, and one of the best live albums ever.
Nothing like singing this with Yes in concert...All we are saying...is give p[eace a chance! You would like "And You and I" from the album Fragile. I was fortunate to have seen this band seven times in concert. Try some of their truly epic songs (Close to the Edge, or Awaken). It takes patience, BUT worth it. Monumental group.
Thanks for this Yes Classic and I hope you get to experience Close to the Edge soon, once you do, You will be another of the very good people. Prog at its finest, nothing else musically like it (prog metal as well) and you have barely touched it, I hope it becomes a nice slice of your reactions going forward. Echoes, In the Court of the Crimson King, Tarkus and 2112 amongst other epic gems should be on your to do list. You really don't know how far Rock truly went until you hear stuff such as this. I can only imagine Amber's surprise. 😊 You are doing a great job reacting to all rock genres, please more of this one. Rock On and Enjoy! 🎵🎹🎸🎶
You guys should definitely check out “Roundabout “. In my opinion the bass performance is top 10 of all time!
I agree!!!!
Easily.
Yes: The only super solid Prog Rock also open to incorporating Country licks, and/or Brian Wilson/Beach Boys-styled multi-part harmonies. They were great live back when they all dressed like they were wizards, or like one of Robin's band of merry men.
I wish I could give that statement 100 likes! As a 12-year old, I listened to it over and over and tried to play air bass. No clue how since I only played piano but somehow that riff makes your fingers want to move.
Also Long Distance Runaround.
1974, a college friend of my husband and I was working with Rick Wakeman on one of the first synthesizers, when they came to Connecticut. We were invited to the concert and back stage after the performance. They made such trippy music-- I mean Wakeman wore a cape on stage--for such down to earth guys. And they couldn't have been lovelier to me (the only woman in a room full of rowdy men). Even made me a cup of tea...the following year, when they returned to The Palace, my youngest was sick, so I stayed home. My husband returned with a plate full of little cakes and crumpets, and the band's regards. I joked, for years, that I was the woman YES let get away. Haven't thought about that in decades. Thanks for that. ❤❤
“Yours is no Disgrace” “Starship Trooper” “Perpetual Change” “And You And I” and “Close to the Edge” are all MUST listens.
Great suggestions. I'd add Heart of the Sunrise and Siberian Khatru but they should be the Yessongs live versions as they're all much better than the studio ones.
And add "Awaken" to the list, more towards the end. Although, "Close To The Edge" is my personal favorite. Yes is a very deep and twisting rabbit hole, but the trip is so worth it.
@@DandyLion662a I love the "yessongs", concert album. Especially the interplay between epic Guitar Hero Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman in full Keyboard Wizard mode on 'Wurm' at the conclusion of "Starship Trooper". It is worth the price of admission all by itself. I have both the triple LP and the double CD releases (viva physical media!).
The one exception would be for the studio version of "Close To The Edge" This one could be kind of tricky to find as I believe it was only on the remastered SACD from Audio Fidelity (AFZ 147), but Steve Hoffman absolutely nailed the church pipe organ. That whole disk is creme de la creme.
I agree with the above list whole-heartedly, and in the order, CTTE should come a little later so it can be fully appreciated.
It's so much fun to see 1st timer reactions to one of the greatest bands to ever come out of the 60/70s. You guys are great!
@@stephensmith3111 I agree, but the real star of that album is Alan White on the drums. He joined Yes for that tour with only three days to prepare a full concert of some of the trickiest rock music ever recorded. By the time the performances on the album were recorded, he had still only been with the band about nine or ten months, and had already made his stamp on their sound.
As much as I love Bill Bruford's drumming, when he left for King Crimson and Alan White joined Yes, both bands ended up with the drummers they should have had the whole time.
Some of the best musicians ever gathered in one band. They are all virtuoso's
In a Songfacts interview with Yes frontman Jon Anderson, he explained: "The song is about initiation of yourself into the idea that there is more to life than war and fighting within religions and things like that. So when we were singing 'see all good people,' it's like, 'we can see you all in the audience because you're good people no matter what, and when you're with music you're enlightened, you're good, you're happy, you're excited.' And music is the kingpin of it all. It's not just Yes, it's music that brings people together like no other energy on such a level."
Thanks for this!
Just a few YES requests include, “Close to the Edge”, “Awaken” and “Round About” are just a few of their many unbelievable tracks. I also highly recommend watching some of their 1970 live performances.
@@deborahstrickland9845 Those are definitely some of my favorites, however Jay & Amber don't have a background in prog so I would suggest going a little slower with songs like 'Changes', 'Starship Trooper', and 'Yours Is No Disgrace' before tackling the long masterpieces of 'Roudabout', 'Awaken' and 'Close To The Edge'. Just my 2 cents.
Fun Facts: There are 2 references to Lennon songs: Instant Karma(“Send an instant karma to me”) and the backing vocals singing the chorus to Give Peace a Chance, under the main melody. 🙂
@@RobSquadReactions And the first half was inspired by chess as well.
The vocalist Jon Anderson has the voice of an angel. It is just so soothing listening to him.
He also was amazing and Tangerine Dream
Never see an angel and never hear one but if you say so.
Its a pity he's lyrics are a load of gobshite.
The single most affecting and emotional, gorgeous voice of my time. For me, at least, anyway.❤
One of the pioneers of prog rock. This is more their style ,more than Owner of a Lonely Heart that you did previously.
Drummer Alan White just recently passed away.
Roundabout, Yours Is No Disgrace, And You and I, or Close to the Edge for more.
Roundabout is a good one. All that you said are good.
😎
@@jeffschielka7845 Hey Jeff. 😎
@@chriso6719 Hey now!😎
@kimmo mäki Correct.
I have never seen anyone melt into the music as Amber does ‼️
She is the music....no matter the generation ❣️❣️❣️
I love watching you groove
I love watching amber learn
She needs Jerry Garcia! Stat!
"Roundabout " is their absolute classic song for the ages !!
Yes on this song is Jon Anderson: vocals, Chris Squire: bass, Steve Howe: guitar, Bill Buford: Drums, and Tony Kaye: Piano and organ. The wind instrument on this was a recorder played by guest musician Colin Goldring.
Holy crap, the dude from Gnidrolog? That's pretty cool, never knew that, thanks!
And don't forget Rick Wakeman on organ too. He was with Yes when I saw them in 1974.
@@dianesmith1837 not on this recording. This was before Wakeman joined. This song is Tony Kaye.
And in concert, the recorder parts were played by Rick Wakeman on a mellotron.
The video they are watching shows Wakeman & White even though the personnel is Kaye & Bruford.
I got to see the Union tour that had both line ups together. Trevor Rabin and Steve Howe on guitar, Bill Bruford and Alan White on drums, and Tony Kaye and Rick Wakeman on keys. Of course Jon Anderson singing and the great Chris Squire on bass.
I'll be the hundredth person to recommend "Roundabout," probably their best known song, also from 1971 like this one. And I'll add that, if you like Bach-ish organ sounds like this, you've got to listen to Boston's 1976 "Foreplay/Long Time."
On that flute-ish sound, it's probably a flute, like you said, but it also sounds like a recorder, an even simpler woodwind instrument, or it could be a synthesizer set to a woodwind sound. I always thought Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" had a flute or recorder in it until I saw it performed live and they made the sound with a keyboard/synthesizer.
I was wondering if a keyboard was involved but according to wikipedia it was dual recorders for this song... I wasn't sure until I looked it up en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ve_Seen_All_Good_People
I strongly suspect that the flutes were played on a Mellotron, despite what Wikipedia says.
That was the instrument that John Paul Jones plays during the intro to “Stairway to Heaven”. Incidentally, it was also used on the Beatles track “Strawberry Fields Forever” and many, many other famous tracks.
The Mellotron was the earliest form of sampling. It employed audio tape strips played with a standard keyboard. The stock instrument came with typically 3 sets of tapes installed - orchestral strings, human voices and flutes. The choral voices were particularly popular, especially with prog rock bands.
Generally speaking, if you hear a single flute, it’s probably an actual flute being played. If you hear multiple flutes, it’s probably a Mellotron or some similar keyboard.
Tony Kaye didn't pay any synthesizers during his time with the band. Piano and organ were what he brought to the Yes table. Tony Kaye's fat organ was a distinctive sound for the band in the early days.
@@benjaminrupe5930 the Mellotron wasn’t technically a synthesizer. More like an elaborate tape deck. And it was quite established during the time period this album was recorded. That’s why I had suspicions about it being keyboard flutes. I’m probably wrong, but I stick by my theory.
Boston as Bach-ish? Not in my world. ☮️
One of the many "Art Rock" bands of the seventies. They were classically trained musicians that formed pop bands. There is a whole rabbit hole that is well worth chasing. Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues, Gentle Giant, Emerson Lake & Palmer and quite a more.
What glory days for rock. The bands you mention introduced rock fans to a sound that here to fore had few progressive bands. Bands like Vanilla Fudge, Music Machine and Procol Harum were few and far between. Sure, the Beatles, the Doors, and Rolling Stones also broke new ground, but the sheer musical virtuosity of the of the groups here reached new levels. I think that YES was the most talented of all prog groups because of the intricacy of some of their songs...the ability of the group to change tempo in the middle of a song is unmatched in rock history...in my opinion. Their harmonies almost matched the best of Crosby, Stills and Nash. The innovations they brought to the genre were immense. As Steely Dan, Van Morrison, and Traffic made jazz palatablle in rock, YES took it to a new level and most listeners never picked up on that...Steve Howe, Bill Bruford ans Chris Squires all had jazz backrounds. Anyway, I ramble here. But in my opinion, YES was in the top 5 rock bands of all time. Thanks for listening.
"Art Rock" is a difficult concept to pin down, invented by music journalists describing everything from Phil Spector's early work in the '60s to The Beatles, to The Beach Boys, especially as it evolved through the '70s (Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, King Crimson, to a degree.) The '80s saw a very different inflection, with the digital revolution.
"Progressive Rock," a much more forgiving term (also invented by music journalists) is a much-more agreed upon genre to describe a band like Yes, as I've seen it.
Like, I could see calling early Genesis performances with Peter Gabriel in various "outrageous" costumes/masks "Art Rock," (the bat-wings headdress, the flower, the whole nightmare of his "Slippermen" costume . . . all the stuff that contributed to his departure from the band) but Yes were more "organic." Just a bunch of guys with whimsical stage-design concepts who kept their terrible, futuristic-hippie fashion sense for far too long into the late '70s (watch the making of Going For The One BTS for a really good laugh), but in the words of even punk-rock-label SST's (and terrible person) Joe Carducci, could always "rock the house, even if that house was a Château."
Yes was Symphonic Progressive Rock. Art-rock was reserved for bands like Be-Bop Deluxe and Roxy Music.
@@synthonaplinth5980 Not in my neighborhood. Roxy Music was later as the world was transitioning into Disco and Punk.
@@cjinasia9266 Yet they formed in 1970.
J&A, You'll love their song "Roundabout" and "Yours Is No Disgrace"!!!
Yes. As well as one of my faves, "Long Distance Runaround .". Some of the other epic stuff like Close to the Edge is quite long. They could make it the equivalent of two or three reactions and call it a day. .
@@markdraine3571 agreed!
And perpetual change
"Roundabout" should be mandatory reaction fodder. It blows them all away.
Jon Anderson's voice is EVERYTHING. One of my favorite songs of all time.
Long Distance Runaround/The Fish is a great song by YES. Surprised no one else has mentioned it.
I was going to, but you beat me to it :) Long Distance Runaround is one of their finest.
i did :D
I love all their songs. ✌🌻🌻
Just so you both know, because I was around when this masterpiece was being played on FM radio, that's not a flute or piccolo - it's a Recorder. Also during the "diddit, diddit, diddit, diddit" verse, did you hear what was sung in the background? It was: "All we are saying/Is give peace a chance." In honor of one of John Lennon's greatest songs. You should check it out😊
Wow I never knew that!
Had to go back. Right after Rob says " the organ behind it." Faint, but it's there. Amazing. I learned something new today. Cool.
Edit: After listening again, they also sing in the background " Are we ourselves, then give peace a chance." Still in awe of this info. Thanks.
If you're doing Yes, you have to hear "And You And I" and "Roundabout". And You and I is a very complex song with four different sections (Cord of Life, Eclipse, The Preacher The Teacher, and Apocalypse). You'll love keyboardist Rick Wakeman on the Mellotron and Minimoog (synthesizer).
Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Enter of the Earth.
While the Minimoog and Mellatron are exceptional, the standout keyboard part of Roundabout is Wakeman Hammond Organ solo. IMO
@@francisseidel8014 I agree.
Agree as well. The two of them need that song in their lives. ❤ Really, everyone needs more Yes in their lives. ☺️
@@philipbutler6608 The six wives of henry the eighth
Every Yes song is a total journey. All absolute monster musicians who love exploring outside the box. A real treat for music fans.
Emerson,, Lake & Palmer "From The Beginning"...A MUST HEAR Classic.
This is, hands down, my favorite Jon Anderson song. It spoke to me as a kid...I've always remembered the lyrics. God but I was lucky growing up! So much fabulous music!
This is YES's third album which introduced us to Steve Howe on guitar. One of the greatest guitar players of all time.
There are guitar players and there are guitar virtuosos. Steve Howe is a guitar virtuoso.
Yes is a rabbit hole you don't think about jumping into. You just do it!!! No regrets!
Jon Anderson, The Most Unique Male Voice out of the Seventies!!!
YES:
"Wonderous Stories"
"Heart Of The Sunrise"
"Your's Is No Disgrace"
"And You And I"
"Close To The Edge"
"Perpetual Change"
Wonderous Stories is my wife's favorite Yes song, but that makes sense since she is an author. Excellent choice. I sometimes just play an acoustic piano cover of it for her and she loves it.
You left out “Sound Chaser”, and so many others!
@@kevinmcconnell9426 I'm sorry I didn't list EVERY song for you! Make your own list then.
@@rsw1227 I get it Rick, I just like to whine;);) I’ve been a fan for 50 years. Relayer is 48, it’s been my go to when I need a fix for 25 years, Sound Chaser is in my opinion maybe Howes best guitar work of his career.
@@rsw1227 Hey there. "Don't Kill the Whale," "Homeworld," "Awaken," "Close to the Edge" ... are OFF THE CHARTS! (So to speak)
YES!!! ROUNDABOUT!
The members of the band at this time were Jon Anderson on lead vocals, Chris Squire on bass & background vocals, Bill Bruford on drums, Tony Kaye on organ/keyboards and Steve Howe on guitars & background vocals
Thank you Alan White for your awesome contribution to YES Music over the decades. May you live on in our memories.
Best percussionist I've seen
Yes. But the drummer here is Bill Bruford.
Nobody ever talks about guitarist Steve Howe. He is so original, and no other rock guitarist sounded anything like him back in those days. I was never a big YES fan, but their talent as musicians is unmatched. What a GREAT decade of music the 70's were! So many original sounding bands, from Yes, to Black Sabbath, to Pink Floyd, to Led Zeppelin. The list goes on. Glad I got to live through the 70's and experience it as it happened!
If you want to be even more impressed with the keyboards in Yes, start with Roundabout. The use of Hammond Organ, Mellatron, Moog Synthesizers, RMI electric piano, and grand piano will blow you away. Rick Wakeman on keys took Yes to a new unfathomable level.
Tony Kaye played keyboards on this album
Wakeman came later
@@rmac8008 I know Tony Kaye played on this album. However, in interviews it was also revealed that Chris Squire played some of the keyboard parts too, eventhough he wasn't credited. If you read my comment carefully, I was talking about Roundabout from Fragile. Wakeman played on Fragile.
Wakeman was amazing. No one else came close.
@@francisseidel8014 On Roundabout, Wakeman basically copied Kaye's organ and piano from demos compiled during Fragile rehearsals prior to Kaye's firing. Wakeman then added other keyboard parts.
@@sirbobloblaws Source please? I have never heard that from anyone. Kaye was fired before they went into the studio to record Fragile. Kaye has only said that he was in on rehearsals for Fragile and that Wakeman recorded parts written by Kaye for Heart of the Sunrise. Never heard that about the organ for Roundabout.
From the hip.
One of my fave bands in high school. Unique creative.
Hell yeah. I love me some Yes. They have some of the best instrumentation, some of the best vocal harmonies, some of the craziest sounds of any band this side of Pink Floyd. I've loved Jon Anderson's voice pretty much my whole life. Check out "I'm Running", "Roundabout", "Love Will Find a Way", and "Shoot High Aim Low".
Listen in your left ear
“All we are saying is give peace a chance.” An ode to the Beatles. A little “sampling” from an old song. I love Yes.
It's an ode to John Lennon, as in the lyrics there is also "Send an Instant Karma to me" too, as well as the "..Give Peace A Chance" background.
Wow! I’ve heard this song hundreds of times and never caught that. Thanks 😊
Yes "Roundabout"...Nuff Said.
You love YES!!!!!~ HOORAY! I grew up on this Wonderfully positive and talented band!
Along with Emerson, Lake and Palmer they defined "artsy" music.
Had the opportunity to see both groups in concert years ago. Separate concerts, of course.
Eno and Roxy Music were more artsy back then. Yes was prog, which includes stellar musicianship and eclectic mix of influences including classical, jazz, folk, blues etc. Prog bands were about showing off also, which may or may not be artsy.
@@sachaput ME ALSO!!
EMERSON AND WAKEMAN HAVING KEYBOARD BATTLES TO SEE WHO'S WAS BIGGER!!😝😝😝
GREAT BANDS THO!!!
I think of this as symphonic rock, which somewhat morphed to the electronic/synthesizer stuff like Thomas Dolby and Alan Parsons Project that came a few years later. You might enjoy Procol Harum's performance with the Danish Philharmonic, you can find clips here on youtube. Brilliant.
Prog rock.
My favorite all time band....seen them 3 times. I have every album they put out since 1968
Some of these musicians were in Asia and Alan White, the drummer, just recently passed away. "Long Distance Runaround" is a great song of theirs...
On this, though, the drummer was Bill Bruford. Bruford was not in the band NEARLY as long as Alan White, obviously, but he was the drummer in the "classic lineup" up through Close to the Edge (and part of the live Yessongs), before leaving for King Crimson.
One really fun Yes song is "Leave It" from the 90125 album. It has a decent music video attached to it too. When I was a teenager back in the '80s, that was actually one of my favorite songs. But I'd also agree that the '70s classic "Roundabout'" is essential Yes listening at some point.
One of my all-time favorites is "Heart Of The Sunrise".
When you were referencing a brotherhood feel during the 1st part of the song, I wonder if you were subconsciously picking up on the subtle Beatles references ' send an instant karma to me' and in the background of the last chorus 'give peace a chance'.. such a great song !!!
wow you hit yes again. great song. This is way different than owner of a lonely heart (from 1983) this is from 1971, their progressive area. i love this song and how progressive it it. Yes is great. But you got to do roundabout next. Its a prog masterpiece to start your prog journey. They also have many other hits like "Yours is no disgrace", "starship trooper", "Long distance runaround", "heat of the sunrise" etc.
"Owner of a Lonely Heart" is really more a Cinema song than Yes proper, IMO. Not that that's a bad thing, just different.
@@Jessica_Roth yeah
I saw them in Denver CO, probably 1982 for 90125 album tour. I know this makes me old, but dammit, I'm going to say it. That's back when we had good music!
Yes is my all time favorite and I'm 62. The Masters of the 'Row Row Row Your Boat' singing technique. Chris Squire is the absolute best bass player. In almost every song, the power comes through. The instrumentation of these songs is art in itself. Layers that beg you yo listen again and again. And it never gets boring! Try the later stuff too, It Cab Happen, Hold On, Changes. . .
P.S. It's actually not the flute, but recorder (by someone outside the band, Colin Goldring). Also, there are some John Lennon references in there ("send an instant karma to me..." and in the final chant you can here in the background "All we are saying...is give peace a chance").
That is SO cool! I had no idea! Big Beatles and Lennon fan here! Thank you for the information!😃🙏😺🍀
You guys have found a cousin of Pink Floyd, you like Pink Floyd so much these guys come from the same otherworldly Galaxy as Floyd. Songs from "Yes" such as "And You And I", and "Close To the Edge" are similar in their uniqueness to "Echoes" by Floyd with the storytelling and sudden changes! Pink Floyd is my favorite but "Yes" is in the same group of favorites when it comes to incredible Progressive groups from the late 60s into the seventies!!
I highly recommend checking out their song Starship Trooper. It's honestly their best song in my opinion.
I concur!
Ditto!
Word. The finale is just sublime.
I agree
I like the fact that in the beginning, you were talking about the laid back, easy feeling of the song, knowing little of what was to come: some kick ass rock. Yes, will send you through all kinds of feelings, moods, and modes. They are diverse, spectacular, and one of a kind.
Awesome reaction! I would recommend "Roundabout" by this band next. Yes plays what is considered "Progressive Rock", or "Prog Rock" for short. One of the pioneers of the genre.
I've seen Yes twice - the first time was in Columbus, Ohio for their 90125 tour. That one was the tour opener, and they had no opening act. Echo and the Bunnymen were supposed to open, but they never showed. The second time was in 1995-ish for their Talk tour. Kansas opened for them then. Aside from Rush, Yes are the only band I've seen live more than once.
The singer, Jon Anderson, was a huge admirer of John Lennon, and so this song contains references to two Lennon songs: Instant Karma and Give Peace a Chance.
You've gotten the rundown of the band members for this album, but over the years, many have come and gone. Until he died a couple years ago, Chris Squire was the only band member to be in all iterations. Other people who have been with the group are: Alan White ((R.I.P) drums), Patrick Moraz (keyboards), Trevor Rabin (guitar), Trevor Horn (vocals), Tony Kaye (keyboards), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (current singer), Geddy Lee (yes, Geddy lee from Rush - bass - filled in for Chris as he had died before the Rock Hall induction of Yes). I know I'm forgetting at least four or five others.
As for my song suggestions, I'll start with the two that go back and forth in my top spot for favorite yessongs. Starship Trooper, which has already been mentioned several times, and Siberian Khatru, which as far as I can tell, hasn't been mentioned by anyone else. If you ever listen to the latter, don't try to get any real meaning out of the lyrics. Siberian Khatru is a perfect example of using the vocals as just another instrument, using words that fit the sound, rather than to have any real meaning.
Want to take more journeys with them? Heart Of The Sunrise, Close To The Edge and Starship Trooper ... are among the many more must listens this band has... hehe
The harmonies of YES rarely get mention , such a beautiful tone between Jon Anderson and Chris Squire
I totally agree ……. Just lovely !!!! 🥰
Yes is a band that inspired many bands that came after them (Including RUSH). Good choice! You might want to listen to "Starship Trooper" or later albums with Trevor Rabin like 90125 or Big Generator.
Yes! I grew up with these bands! Welcome to the great music of our youth!
Awesome band! So lucky to have grown up with the greatest music ever!
Me, too! Watching these reaction videos gives me renewed appreciation for the music of my youth.
These guys put on a fantastic concert, I'll never forget it
I saw them in Germany 🇩🇪
@@bobbyverne9714 their back up band didn't show up so they played a Bugs Bunny cartoon on a huge screen, lol 🤣, it was the one where Bugs had a bull fight. Whole thing was hilarious 😂
Jon Anderson (the group's singer and lyricist) wrote beautiful songs, but don't try to understand them literally. You'll only make yourself crazy. Jon's songs are poetic in their expression, and he rarely ever says what he means straight out. You have to listen _between_ the words, let his images flow through your mind, _look_ as much as you listen, in order to get where he's going - and even then it'll be your interpretation of his words rather than a literal meaning handed to you on a platter. It's one of the things I love most about Yes, their rejection of literal meaning in favor of imagery, metaphor, and poetry. :)
You described them perfectly!👊🎶
Jon also used lyrics tonally. He viewed his voice as an instrument and used words to best convey the melody.
Exactly the lyrics aren't straightforward but they definitely aren't nonsense either. They are more like an impressionistic painting.
Great reaction! Every member of this band is a virtuoso musician. Yes is one of the few bands whose live performances are as good as the studio recordings for first reactions. Of course, do the studio version of Roundabout next, but then please listen to/watch the live version of Perpetual Change from the album Yessongs from 1972. Yes is among the deepest of rabbit holes, with lots of great solo albums. Enjoy!
Great reaction---You two are getting SUPER "Prog Cultured" by appreciating YES. The musicianship is Incredible. The next song to listen to is "Starship Trooper",,,It is another EPIC Song that will make you feel magical. I can listen to Starship Trooper over and over and over and over and over and over...Go for it. Peace to both of you--Stay safe. 🙂
I love “Don’t surround yourself with yourself. Move on back two squares.” Words of wisdom to live by. Thanks for making me smile today. ✌️❤️
This is a great intro song for Yes. From 1971's "The Yes Album," their third album release. Later in 1971 they released "Fragile" -- one of the best progressive rock albums ever recorded, even 50 years later. From that record, the next Yes song you guys hear should be "Roundabout." I see from a search that you've reacted to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" which is from the 80's and a totally different lineup in the band and quite a different feel, given that times changed a lot from 1971 to 1983 or so when 90125 album was released. But back to the point -- Roundabout is the most logical next Yes reaction, but there are several other great choices from Yes's heydays in the early 1970's, up to about 1978. The record after Fragile, 1972's Close to the Edge, is considered even better than Fragile. But Fragile is a little more "accessible" for those not quite used to the complexity of Yes's music.
Yes, indeed! That was a awesome song. You folks are having fun, too!
You MUST do Yours Is No Disgrace, and try to do the live tv version from early ‘70s. It’ll knock your socks off.
The vocalist is Jon Anderson, one of the greatest. Yes' talent is second to none.
One of my closest friend’s husbands passed away and she gave me his Yes albums. I treasure them. Love this song and Roundabout.
My brother in law John passed of cancer,and Yes was his favorite as well! Rock on in their memory!👊💞
Starship Trooper is one of Yes's best. Its like several songs within one total song. A real BANGER!
Their line up tended to change over the years but for this song it was
Jon Anderson - lead vocals, percussion:
Chris Squire - bass guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals:
Steve Howe - vachalia (Portuguese guitar), electric guitars, backing vocals:
Tony Kaye - Hammond organ, piano:
Bill Bruford - drums, percussion.
With guest musician
Colin Goldring - recorders
This version of Yes included: Jon Anderson/vocals, Chris Squire/bass & backing vocals, Steve Howe/guitars & backing vocals, Tony Kaye/keyboards, and Bill Buford/drums & percussion. "Close To The Edge" and "Awaken" - both very long songs - are required hearing for any Yes fan. Keep up the good work - always enjoy seeing both of you reacting to the music I grew up with.😀
A favorite band of mine, saw them many many times ❤️❤️❤️
@Karen Manemeit, only saw them twice, 34 years apart, both times with Peter Frampton. Once in 1976 in DC and again in 2010 in Baltimore. Flew in to Maryland for the second concert and went with the same person I'd seen the first concert with.😎😎😎😎
Hahahaha....lol.....hahaha......Thank you Amber and J for doing my request!!!! Glad you guys enjoy the song!!! Yes.....J and Amber ..... you guys need to go down this Rabbit Hole and what a great Rabbit Hole it is from one of the greatest Progressive Rock n' Roll band EVER!!!! Jon Anderson is The lead singer, frontman, and percussionist. Steve Howe is the lead electric and acoustic guitars, vachalia player and vocals. Chris Squire is the Bass guitarist and background vocals. Tony Kaye is piano, organ, Moog synthesizer player. Bill Bruford is the drummer and percussionist. It's a large group. You guys do not take too long to react to this Rock group. Their message is always deep and Spiritual......so you guys don't want to miss out. "I've Seen All Good People" is a good introduction song which was released in 1971 to Yes. The next songs to react to would be "Yours is No Disgrace/Yes" by Yes...... the first song on The Yes Album by Yes or "Roundabout" from "Fragile" their second album by Yes. It is your choice!!!😁😁😁😁
A solid YES for Yes! One of the pioneers of the Progressive Rock era. You've got to do "Roundabout" next.
Every band member is an absolute virtuoso at their instruments and Jon Anderson is an amazing and unparalleled vocalist
Adding to the chorus: "Roundabout" is absolutely essential (and alongside this one, my favorite Yes). It has also turned out that either "And You and I" or "Yours Is No Disgrace" has been living rent-free in my head for decades and I just forgot where the riff came from. XD "Starship Trooper" is also fantastic.
"Don't surround yourself with yourself...". That lyric became an important reminder during my journey to sobriety in the early 80's. Great stuff!!!!
Oh good - When you did OWNER OF A LONELY HEART, many of us feared you'd never get to hear something more representative of Yes from the '70s, as that was more of a new sound you heard. My picks; AND YOU AND I, THE REVEALING SCIENCE OF GOD:(DANCE OF THE DAWN), CLOSE TO THE EDGE, HEART OF THE SUNRISE, ROUNDABOUT, LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND, etc.
About 1973?, rural Kansas... Me, about fifteen. I remember going out in the yard and listening to this blasting through my open bedroom windows. I knew it was something "Big & Important!", but I didn't realize it would change my whole outlook on life. Almost fifty years later It's really great to see Yes' music still has that same effect on young proportions living in a world so different from when this song came into being. Yay, you guys! Thanks for this!
Okay, Yes songs - gotta hear Roundabout and Close to the Edge.
And Owner of a Lonely Heart.
Heard any Little Feat? Another important band, but completely different from Yes.
No matter how many times I hear this song, I will always love the outro as they modulate into different keys. By the way, a number of YES songs are in "movements," which is why there are sometimes changes in style and tempo. This song, for example, is in two movements. The first part (the slower part) is called "Your Move." The second more rollicking part is called "All Good People."
YES!! I requested this one awhile back :) Amazing song!
Next one should absolutely be Roundabout, with the most meme-able bassline ever from the great Chris Squire (RIP).
"YES " you do. LOL Turn their heads each day so satisfied I am on my way. "This was portrayed in the Movie Almost Famous ( you guys should watch it . ) have always loved this song and melody .JOhn Anderson is your lead vocals
Such a beautiful movie - based on a true story.
Almost Famous is a great movie suggestion!
Yes has some of the finest musicians you will ever see. They are simply amazing.
I have to agree with so many of the others…..
Roundabout is must hear YES!
Yours Is No Disgrace after that….
I would have been friends with y’all back in the 70s.
To make an off the wall suggestion... you commented on the song making Chess references... Another 80s song (1984) that has chess references is by Murray Head - "One Night In Bangkok". It has a great beat. The song was part of a concept album called Chess that was meant to be used in a Musical that was being released after the release of the album.
The "flutes" is a keyboard called a Mellotron. It used tape loops of real instruments like flutes. You had to load the tape loops. The flute loops were great, and were used in "Stairway To Heaven".
That was my initial guess, but it seems it's wrong. It's a recorder (as in woodwind, not as in tape!)
I have always loved "Wonderous stories", "And you and I"...all their music really. 🎶 I was fortunate enough to see them live when I was 16. Down town Chicago 4th row. It was an experience I will never forget. Absolutely mind blowing 🤯
Close to the edge is their opus masterpiece... A sublime listening experience whether the first or hundredth time hearing it..
AGREED!!
Great reaction! I remember first hearing Yes back when I was a young man in the early 70s. The music was so much different than other popular artists at the time and I was amazed at the sound. They actually played at a local high school here in 1972 and I was fortunate to see them play this song. It was just before they really hit it big.
Along with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes was one of the great progressive rock bands of the early 70s. I spent many hours in my VW Beetle listening to these groups on my 8 track player.
You guys would love Bad Company,-(Shooting Star). Keep bringing the memories back for us. Keep up the good work 😎👍
Yes was a fun group. Their music was happy. We always felt better after it was played. Never failed to "switch it up" for us. Thanks for checking them out!
I love how Amber gets into the music. You can see it in her face when she closes her eyes and in her body language. She lets the music grab hold of her.
My favorite progressive rock and rock and roll bands of all time. The quality of musicianship is unmatched that each band member can stand on their own. The drummer was Bill Bruford as an original member way back in 1969 though this tune was done a year or 2 later. Dozens of great songs. You can close your eyes to their songs and dream your dreams. Roundabout , And You And I, Siberian Khatru, and The Unique epic Close To The Edge, are just a few of many legendary tunes.
Yes' lead singer Jon Anderson once disclosed in an interview that, however complex many of their songs seem, every single one that he wrote was based on just two chords -- and the band fleshed them out by bringing their own instincts into play.
At the end, each repetition modulated one whole step down, and combined with the fadeout, that gave you your melting feeling.
"Roundabout" is your definitely your next Yes song.
The first outdoor concert I been to..Was yes at Colt Park .One of many outdoor concerts afterwards..I probably seen Yes at least 5 times..
You could give some of their longer pieces a try, 20 minutes or so, "Awaken" is astonishing as is "Close to the Edge", a shorter piece called "Sound Chaser" feels like 10 years of music compressed into 10 minutes, quite mind blowing...they were so adventurous that they couldn't ask anyone for help on how to do this stuff because no one was!
OMG. I was just thrown back to my Sophmore year in high school. This is the music that was rattling round in my head while walking from class to class. SO good. Love Jon Anderson & Yes. And I still have the vinyl LP!
Off the beaten path just a bit, "Wonderous Stories" is one of my favorites. Of course the Close to the Edge album is a masterpiece, but if you really want to indulge, Yessongs, the live album, was a sampler of their best, and one of the best live albums ever.
every musician is very accomplished. they could play with any band. This is truly an all-star cast!
"Yours Is No Disgrace" "Roundabout" "Close To The Edge" And later after YES has rewired your brain, listen to "Awaken"
Nothing like singing this with Yes in concert...All we are saying...is give p[eace a chance! You would like "And You and I" from the album Fragile. I was fortunate to have seen this band seven times in concert. Try some of their truly epic songs (Close to the Edge, or Awaken). It takes patience, BUT worth it. Monumental group.
I’ve always loved this song! Next should be “Roundabout” or “Yours Is No Disgrace”.
Thanks for this Yes Classic and I hope you get to experience Close to the Edge soon, once you do, You will be another of the very good people. Prog at its finest, nothing else musically like it (prog metal as well) and you have barely touched it, I hope it becomes a nice slice of your reactions going forward. Echoes, In the Court of the Crimson King, Tarkus and 2112 amongst other epic gems should be on your to do list. You really don't know how far Rock truly went until you hear stuff such as this. I can only imagine Amber's surprise. 😊 You are doing a great job reacting to all rock genres, please more of this one. Rock On and Enjoy! 🎵🎹🎸🎶