The Official Yes Thread

[pg1067]

Wow.  I'm bummed.  He's the drummer on my favorite album of all time, ever.

I am sorry if this is well known, but I am curious. Could it be Tales or Relayer?

Sad news indeed. I need to spin Relayer.

Stads is regularly effusive for his love of Going for the One.  While I don't hold that album in the same regard, Alan White had a knack for making Yes's complexity sound effortless.  Unfortunately, and even though he appeared on one of the most iconic songs in the history of rock music, he's an unknown to mainstream music fans.

Somewhere, he and Chris are jamming again on Whitefish.

[romdrums]

In his honor I will spend the next few days running through the discography.

On any given day, Awaken could be my favorite song of all time.

Doing that right now, and I echo the sentiment about Awaken.  There are times when I feel that it is their greatest achievement.

[Orbert]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

[Stadler]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

He actually said something similar to me when I met him.

EDIT:

[Max Kuehnau]

Gave Drama a runthrough yesterday (which I love, believe it or not, my favourite White era Yes album). It hurt. Lots.

[Lupton]

To quote from the YesStories book: "Anyone who says anything bad about Alan is lying!" - Trevor Rabin

  :'(  RIP Alan

[Stadler]

Gave Drama a runthrough yesterday (which I love, believe it or not, my favourite White era Yes album). It hurt. Lots.

Don't qualify it; Drama is an excellent album and one of the "gateway" records for me and Yes.

[Architeuthis]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream. 

[SoundscapeMN]

I consider Drama a perfect, 5-star record.

#2 on my Yes album rankings.

"Into the Lens" is among the best songs Yes ever wrote/recorded.

[KevShmev]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream. 

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default.

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle. 

[Architeuthis]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream. 

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default.

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle. 

It was around that time when he said that on a very long live radio interview.  I also saw them on that tour and he said it again right before they played Endless Dream.  In fact he specifically said that this song represents and is the epitome of what Yes is all about..

[Orbert]

He's such a flake.

[Zydar]

In and around the flake.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I consider Drama a perfect, 5-star record.

Agreed! Drama is amazing.

[frogprog]

Love me some Drama! Also, probably my favorite YES album

[ProfessorPeart]

Jon is also doing a 50th Close To The Edge tour. Why can't these old farts just make up, get back together and do a farewell tour? I know, never gonna happen.

https://bravewords.com/news/yes-legend-jon-anderson-with-the-paul-green-rock-academy-to-launch-close-to-the-edge-50th-anniversary-summer-tour-video-trailer

July
7 - Plymouth, NH - The Flying Monkey Performing Arts Center
8 - Beverly, MA - The Cabot
13 - Huntingdon, NY - The Paramount
14 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
16 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
17 - Sugar Loaf, NY - Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
20 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
22 - Kent, OH - The Kent Stage
23 - Des Plaines, IL - Des Plaines Theatre
27 - Greensburg, PA - The Palace Theatre
30 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater

August
3 - State College, PA - The State Theatre
6 - Albany, NY - The Egg

[KevShmev]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream. 

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default.

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle. 

It was around that time when he said that on a very long live radio interview.  I also saw them on that tour and he said it again right before they played Endless Dream.  In fact he specifically said that this song represents and is the epitome of what Yes is all about..

Okay, so that kind of backs up what I alluded to the other day. 

Sadly, there will always be a percentage of Yes fans who refuse to give props to anything the band did with Trevor Rabin, so Endless Dream will never get the credit for being as great as it is from the fanbase as a whole.

[Orbert]

I think Endless Dream is a cool song, certainly one of the best from the Rabin era.  I still spin 90125 once in a while, and have given Talk a good number of spins.  It's good stuff, but if I'm going to listen to Yes, there are a dozen Yes albums I'd reach for before Talk.  I'm not a Rabin hater; I just happen to prefer Steve Howe as a guitarist, and as guitarist for Yes.  Similarly, I prefer Jon Anderson on vocals, but Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.  No hating, just stronger preferences here and there.

[KevShmev]

Yes is on my list of retired favorites now, meaning a band that will always be a favorite, just not one I ever listen to regularly anymore, but when I do, I am just as likely to reach for the Rabin era as the 70s stuff.  Granted, if you ask me what the best Yes albums and best Yes songs are, the vast majority in both categories will come from the 70s, but I grew up listening to 80s Yes and then Talk blew my mind when that came out, so the nostalgia factor is strong with the Rabin material. 

[Architeuthis]

Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream. 

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default.

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle. 

It was around that time when he said that on a very long live radio interview.  I also saw them on that tour and he said it again right before they played Endless Dream.  In fact he specifically said that this song represents and is the epitome of what Yes is all about..

Okay, so that kind of backs up what I alluded to the other day. 

Sadly, there will always be a percentage of Yes fans who refuse to give props to anything the band did with Trevor Rabin, so Endless Dream will never get the credit for being as great as it is from the fanbase as a whole.

Spot on!   
Endless Dream is one of my favorite songs of all time by anybody!  It deserves to be heard around the world ..

[Stadler]

Yes is on my list of retired favorites now, meaning a band that will always be a favorite, just not one I ever listen to regularly anymore, but when I do, I am just as likely to reach for the Rabin era as the 70s stuff.  Granted, if you ask me what the best Yes albums and best Yes songs are, the vast majority in both categories will come from the 70s, but I grew up listening to 80s Yes and then Talk blew my mind when that came out, so the nostalgia factor is strong with the Rabin material. 

So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

[Max Kuehnau]

I do hope you love CTTE too though

[romdrums]

Yes is on my list of retired favorites now, meaning a band that will always be a favorite, just not one I ever listen to regularly anymore, but when I do, I am just as likely to reach for the Rabin era as the 70s stuff.  Granted, if you ask me what the best Yes albums and best Yes songs are, the vast majority in both categories will come from the 70s, but I grew up listening to 80s Yes and then Talk blew my mind when that came out, so the nostalgia factor is strong with the Rabin material. 

So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

Well, Saving My Heart could be the one clunker in the YesWest catalog.  Otherwise, I agree completely.

[Stadler]

I do hope you love CTTE too though

Oh, I do.  "And You And I" is a top 10 track, and I used to listen to the title track on my way to hockey back in the day; it would take almost exactly 20 minutes to get to the rink. 

[pg1067]

I think Endless Dream is a cool song, certainly one of the best from the Rabin era.  I still spin 90125 once in a while, and have given Talk a good number of spins.  It's good stuff, but if I'm going to listen to Yes, there are a dozen Yes albums I'd reach for before Talk.  I'm not a Rabin hater; I just happen to prefer Steve Howe as a guitarist, and as guitarist for Yes.  Similarly, I prefer Jon Anderson on vocals, but Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.  No hating, just stronger preferences here and there.

Every time someone shouts about how great Talk is, I put it on and struggle to get through it.  Maybe I'll START with Endless Dream next time.

[Architeuthis]

Trevor Rabin did a great job with the production on the TALK album. The only thing that is weird,  is the sound of the kick drum.  I know it was on purpose,  but it has this strange boomy sound that works but it's quite peculiar.  I still to this day haven't made up my mind whether I like it or not. 🤔

[Stadler]

I LOVE "The Calling".

[KevShmev]

So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

Agreed.  I think Big Generator gets a bad rap, but I really like that record a lot, although it is kind of thin-sounding, so I can some not digging the production. 

Yes has had flashes of greatness since Talk IMO, but they have been just that: flashes.  I loved The Ladder when it came out, save for a song or two, but while I still like the album, there are only a few songs I'd go out of my way to hear on their own anymore.   For me, The Yes Album through Talk will always be where it's at with me and Yes, so long as I can discard Tormato in the dumpster. 

[Stadler]

So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

Agreed.  I think Big Generator gets a bad rap, but I really like that record a lot, although it is kind of thin-sounding, so I can some not digging the production. 

Yes has had flashes of greatness since Talk IMO, but they have been just that: flashes.  I loved The Ladder when it came out, save for a song or two, but while I still like the album, there are only a few songs I'd go out of my way to hear on their own anymore.   For me, The Yes Album through Talk will always be where it's at with me and Yes, so long as I can discard Tormato in the dumpster. 

Tormato is confounding.  It's a half of a great album.

1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
3.   "Madrigal"
4.   "Release, Release"

1.   "Arriving UFO"
2.   "Circus of Heaven"
3.   "Onward"
4.   "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is great:
1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Madrigal"
3.   "Release, Release"
4.     "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is not so great (though DKTW and Onward are a step above the other two embarrassments):
1.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
2.      "Arriving UFO"
3.   "Circus of Heaven"
4.   "Onward"   

[romdrums]

I've always wondered how they could put out such a clunker in Tomato so soon after Going For the One, which is such a fantastic record. 

[HOF]

Tormato is confounding.  It's a half of a great album.

1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
3.   "Madrigal"
4.   "Release, Release"

1.   "Arriving UFO"
2.   "Circus of Heaven"
3.   "Onward"
4.   "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is great:
1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Madrigal"
3.   "Release, Release"
4.     "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is not so great (though DKTW and Onward are a step above the other two embarrassments):
1.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
2.      "Arriving UFO"
3.   "Circus of Heaven"
4.   "Onward"

Woah, wait. Onward is the standout track on Tormato IMO. I also like Don’t Kill the Whale.

[HOF]

I've always wondered how they could put out such a clunker in Tomato so soon after Going For the One, which is such a fantastic record.

I prefer Tormato to Going For The One. The only track on GFTO that really connects for me is Awaken.

[Kwyjibo]

I think Tormato is much better than most Yes fans are ready to admit. It isn't as progressive as its predecessor but it's really rocking and I like that.

The only real clunker is Circus Of Heaven, and yes, that's really cringeworthy bad.

[pg1067]

Tormato is confounding.  It's a half of a great album.

1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
3.   "Madrigal"
4.   "Release, Release"

1.   "Arriving UFO"
2.   "Circus of Heaven"
3.   "Onward"
4.   "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is great:
1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Madrigal"
3.   "Release, Release"
4.     "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is not so great (though DKTW and Onward are a step above the other two embarrassments):
1.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
2.      "Arriving UFO"
3.   "Circus of Heaven"
4.   "Onward"

Woah, wait. Onward is the standout track on Tormato IMO. I also like Don’t Kill the Whale.

Right?!  Onward is awesome -- particularly the more acoustic versions they played in Squire's later years -- and Whale is just a cool little track.  It was the first song from the album I heard, as a result of Yesshows.  And Madrigal on the "great" side?  It's fine, but it's nothing special (sorta like Rush's song of the same name).  The video with Wakeman dressed like a Georgian era fop and playing a harpsichord is kinda hilarious.

I think Tormato is much better than most Yes fans are ready to admit. It isn't as progressive as its predecessor but it's really rocking and I like that.

The only real clunker is Circus Of Heaven, and yes, that's really cringeworthy bad.

I agree, except that Arriving UFO also belongs in the clunker category.

[Stadler]

I'd be willing to switch out "Madrigal" for either "Onward" or "...Whale".  My point was, I think they just lost focus midway through.  There are the bones of a really GREAT record there.  The only two real duds are Circus of Arriving UFOs from Heaven.