Composer Reacts to Yes - Perpetual Change (REACTION & ANALYSIS) 

Yes songs are best listened to several times before you really "get" each song fully, because it's so unusual and complex. Try Awaken from 77'.

One of the best bands ever

You might know this, but the guitarist Steve Howe won Guitar Player magazine's Guitarist of the Year 5 years straight, they had to put him in a hall of fame to give other guitarists a chance. It was a big deal back then, now not so much.

A great example of why I always say that Bill Bruford was a jazz drummer in a rock band.

Its cool how you compared them to the Mars Volta. Yes was a huge influence on Volta (and most prog bands.) You should definitely do more Yes. Not because it gets you views, but because they are legitimately one of the greatest bands of all time. Ive never heard another band that does EVERYTHING well. Also, the bass player is Chris Squire (RIP). He was Geddy Lee’s hero, and a hero to millions of other musicians.

masterpiece...dont expect Yes to conform to the ideas of music you learned in school

I love yes so much.

"Their dynamic work! They can go from (hah!) loud, to quiet - from thin, to wide - from sparse to layered... It's just ALL over the place. They're trying EVERYthing... Every 32 bars we're going somewhere new! But it all ties together so neatly." WELL put, man! THAT is Yes for me. (And to see you smile while you relive particular stretches. LOVED this!)

One of their most underrated tracks . You are the first I've seen do a reactions to it. Let the music play.

I’ve been listening to Yes ever since I was a teenager and at 66, I never tire of the mastery and sophistication of what I regards as the best band ever….and their live performances are simply sensational….every sound and expression are as rich and tight as the recording. Yes please.

For multiple vocalists, check out “Knots” by Gentle Giant.

The hard panning during the 'chaotic' middle part of the song is indeed part of the original album's mix released in 1971.

Listen to Close to the Edge, Gates of Delirium, and Awaken. But listen 5 times before commenting. You’ll get so much more that way. Chris Squire was one of the best bass players of all time. He’s right up there with Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Kinga Glyk…

You may want to check out their second offering, Time and a Word. They use an orchestra on most of the tracks.

Another masterpiece from YES!!!

You're doing great as usual Bryan! Maybe the style you mentioned during, but that slipped away from you after, was waltz? To me, the "chaotic section" isn't chaotic in a dissonant way. Maybe it was once (so long time ago) but I think you'd probably only need to hear it a couple of more times to get into what they were doing. It's very melodic, but with parts struggling to intertwine. The moment of some deliberate "chaos" to me would be when the guitar and keyboard joins in at the end of the section by the time the two melodies have intertwined (in my listening experience at least). Also, there is at least a second harmony vocal at some other parts. Bassist Chris Squire sings in a high pitched voice as well and the "double voice" can be mistaken to be all overdubs by Jon Anderson (main singer). Check out the "Inside out - outside in" parts (e g. at 1:39) and listen carefully - their voices are in perfect harmony❤ (Also, it strikes me, "Inside Out" - that is the biggest modern "all prog" label - might most likely have taken their label name from that(?)😊)

The section with the panning was in the original. It was designed as part of the song when they wrote it.

You really have to listen to Yes live, that's where they absolutely shine. Listen to the power of how they play this live on the Yessongs album. There you will hear the most amazing guitar solo. Plus a Bill Bruford drum solo. You also have to remember that there was only a certain amount of information that could be put on a vinyl album. The more music you put on the album, the worse the quality got. So there are good reasons for fade outs on albums back then. Do remember that no one was playing music like this before YES came along, we're so used to the prog sound these days. But, there was a time when this kind of music had never really been heard before. If you want to understand YES music - learn how to play it, and then you will be truly amazed at what they are doing. Enjoy - listen to them live from the 70's

The chaotic section introduces a new section and brings in a prior slower section along side it (same chord backing ?) it's interesting how drummer Bill Bruford transitions to accenting one to the other)

One of my favorite songs of theirs. I was fortunate enough to see them live several times and was always impressed by how their live performances were so much like their studio recordings. They were always fantastic and never disappointing. 👍🏼

being this was done in 71, it wouldnt surprise me the fadeout was because back then they could only fit so much on a side of vinyl.

Yes has always hit me emotionally on songs like this.

If you want an great example of multiple vocalists from Yes I would suggest to listen to 'Leave It' from their album 90125. The first 8 bars or so are acapella. This song is from their less proggy later stage...

I like that 'out of place' section because it's them messin with our heads for fun. It's out of place and works at the same time.

first heard this in the early '70's. [Bought it]. I was 'whUHt are they doing?!?' the first decade of listening to it. Now I've returned to it and it is indeed marvelous.

Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. Just as great today as the first time I heard it 51 yrs ago.

Listen to the live version of Perpetual Change on Yessongs if you want to hear the full guitar solo from the fade out.

You liked the wipe but not the fade out? What if you reimagine the fade out as the equivalent of a receding box screen (in a movie)?

As an old school prog nerd - I was in school when Yes came on the scene - I find the remasters kind of jar on the musical memory. Chris Squire was the focus of the band for me. Along with John Wetton of King Crimson, he made me a bass nerd. You need to hear his later work with the band. Awesome. This is early Yes. They went on to greater things. I clearly remember the panning. I'm pretty sure all the vocals are Jon Anderson.

You have to listen to the entire album! These are masterpieces.

This song on the live YESSONGS set blows this version out of the water, and there certainly ain't a fade-out on it.

Songs goated. Long live Yes.

Yeah the Perpetual Change fade out is kinda strange, but thematically I feel like the song represents perpetual change of course and so an "ending" would indicate that the changing has stopped, so the fade out is about giving you the feeling as if they never stopped playing... at least that's my take. It's also the last song on the album now that I think of it, which also makes it a bit odd, but I can't really complain too much!

Gentle Giant for lovely vocal experimentations, "Knots" is a very good example.

Brian, in the the live Yessongs version of this song Steve Howe fleshes out that guitar solo spectacularly. It is REALLY sweet. Like, it brings tears to my eyes, sweet. It's both beautiful and melancholy at the same time. Really goes with the theme of perpetual change. Check it out! Vic W

I saw Yes about 10 years ago. They were doing this album, CttE, and Gft1. This was my favorite album, but as I'm watching them, I thinking that I just watching a bunch of old men relive their glory years. When they came to the big change in the middle of this song, I suddenly felt it. I was loving the music again. I needed the jolt. When it stops being a jolt, you're done with this piece.

YES! You make me happy! ;-)

the song that made me an instant fan after seeing their first Live US 71 tour at 15. When they ever did it LIve they did fade by adding a sudden but perfect dramatic end!

YES. Cannot be touched. I’ve listened to the same songs since they came out and still listen daily. Like other bands too, Alice In Chains, The Cult, Tull, U2, Zep...but my ❤️ belongs to YES. Have their logo tattooed on my shoulder. ☮️💜🦋

Most of the songs of Yes you'll apreciate it more in the live album Yessongs! All the songs are better there than the studio versions! Trust me on this

If you want some multi vocalist stuff from Yes listen to "Leave it" from the album "90125". Panning was on the original recording.

You may like Yours is No Disgrace, Siberin Khatru, Heart of the Sunrise for more varied yes rockers.

One thing to mention about the hard panning: keep in mind this was still relatively early in the days of stereo music, so many bands/artists were still experimenting with what could be done with it. In the mid-late 60s it was common for bands to release albums in both mono and stereo, and the stereo mixes often had each instrument hard panned except for the vocals that would be center. I think the hard panning here was Yes having some fun with that recent tradition.

In 94 I went to see Yes as I always do, not yet quite familiar with this song. They opened with it and I was never really sure what the hell was going on as it gets towards the end, and I was already a prog musician, but to have it introduced live like that kind of hurt my mind.

Yes! That's the name of the band. Lol

If we're doing multiple vocalists I'm going to suggest SeeYouSpaceCowboy / If I Die First - bloodstainedeyes It features members of From First To Last and The Human Abstract so I'm sure you'll be interested in that

Bryan, watch the live version. It will answer many of your questions about panning, solo on fade out, etc.

If music might be said to be the art of creating and building up tension and then releasing or resolving it (intentional use of the word "resolve"), Yes were masters of their art. And if the ending left you wanting to hear more, that's them delivering on the classic showbiz saying "Leave 'em wanting more". Yes crammed more talent and creativity into one song than many modern bands in their entire repertoire....

in fact when the album came out and we first heard it, for us it was the opening in music that came in phase with many other values. Peoples under 20ths. by definition are waiting for some kind of fire starter, révélation. For me and some others, that was it. The original version had all those pan exp. as well and more.

Fun fact: Thumbs down meant "spare the losing gladiator" to the Romans. It's a sign to throw down your weapon. Hollywood never got that right. Also, Steve Howe expands on that guitar solo in the live version (Yessongs album), but in the middle of the song because they added a cool drum solo (common in those days) at the end.

Bryan, the live version from YesSongs has a longer guitar solo at the end and does not fade out (it's also generally a more dynamic version). Remember, the music had to fit the limitations of the vinyl LP format at that time (20 minutes); therefore, many longer studio jams were sadly cut short so as to fit on to the record. The chaotic section that you mentioned is typical Yes. With a lot of Yes you'll get chaotic sections that resolve in to order. The music always finds order out of chaos, a path out of darkness in to light. I think you've listened to the song Close to the Edge already. The opening chaotic section in that song is a case in point. Best wishes.

The latest listen is always the best.

I appreciate your honesty although I may not agree with some of your interpretations. But I love your interpretations. I wonder how you may interpret this song when listened to the transition from one song to the next. What would your ear hear following that flow? Transitions between songs adds an element that is not always noted. Thank you so much for your reactions.

The hard pan was done by lots of bands, Yes, Rush, Pink Floyd to name a few. I think it was because stereo was fairly new & the bands were trying to train listeners to hear it

The panning was in the original recording

Putting this out there to all the shows that I watch. Band- Ozric Tentacles, Album - The Floor's Too Far Away, Song- Splat. Just saying!!!!!

Is the multivocals thing an étiquette that has any sens at all? well, perhaps in regard of context in time, maybe.

For an example of multiple vocals in Yes, I’d highly recommend ‘Siberian Kathru’,

If you want multiple vocalists listen to The Free Design "Kites Are Fun" LP: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F_OXAOILYq0.html

Steve Howe is in fact a jazz guitarist at heart being one of his influences is Wes Montgomery among others.

This is the pedestrian version. Check-out the live album Yessongs.; the version is amazing. You'll love the guitar solo on it and the drum solo of Bill Bruford's is pretty damn good too.

This remaster is quite different from the original and live versions. Have a listen to Perpetual Change on Yessongs. Bruford still on the drums for that, definitely more emphatic, and Wakeman on the keys is so much better.

Is the 03 remix of this song any good?

if you can do this you can do the Van Der Graaf Generator one soon.

Yes didn’t start feeling their Oates until Wakeman came on board with Fragile. Listen to in the round with said lineup, you’ll hear a much better rendition.

Why not the Steven Wilson remix?

as to be able to perpetualy change as times change, just look inside as Heisenberg imagened

Man! If you were bummed by the fadeout, wait until you hear Siberian Khatru.

Holy shit. I'm a long haired Brian with similar facial hair. Brian's unite!

Find yourself an old copy vinyle of the original in your local pawn shop.

hello. in the way that you take this music perhaps is good if you listen the same song of yessong live album.

Yes is one of the only Bands that sounds EVEN BETTER Alive. Should try "Yessongs" video ( maybe 1974 , not shure) 😊👍

I've Seen All Good People from the same album would have been a better choice. It is constant harmony vocals throughout, and with actual counterpoint.

He seems to be noticing the “perpetual change” in the song. Funny about that.

The best version of this song is on Yessongs.

I don’t consider this a masterpiece, but it is a stepping stone on Yes’ path to greatness. This laid the foundations for their later later masterworks.

As good as this studio version is, this is one of those songs that every live version released is better. Check out the YesSongs version, which is amazing. I've seen Yes do this 3 or 4 times and it's always a highlight. Be sure to react to Yours Is No Disgrace soon.

There are so many Yes songs with multiple vocalists singing more throughout the song. You just happen to pick one where that is not an element.

With Rick wakerman is the best

If you are examining vocal harmonies why not broaden your horizons beyond Rock? R&B, for example, used vocal harmonies as a standard feature throughout the sixties and the seventies. Try an original version of Ball of Confusion, by the Temptations (who were masters at harmony), for example. Or Let Love Use Me, by Ashford and Simpson. In the Rock genre, try Under Pressure from Queen and David Bowie (studio version) or Queen's Masterpiece Somebody to Love, from the A Day at the Races album. Duos like Simon and Garfunkel (try Scarborough Fair/Canticle) or the Everly Brothers are also key. Finally, you absolutely should react to the Live version of The Band doing The Weight, featuring the Staples Singers. It is from the live concert movie The Last Waltz and is directed by no less a master than Martin Scorsese. Quite brilliant!

The best is 1973 of yesongs álbum more t powerful

1973 the best

I saw a homeless person on the street, for a second I thought it was you.

Yes are a top 10 band for me. This is a great track that's really underrated: there's three other tracks from this album alone that are all more popular (Yours Is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, I've Seen All Good People). This track closes the album, which was basically their first truly great album. Their next 4 would all be masterpieces, though for sheer enjoyment I don't think they ever made a more fun album. You should really check out the three tracks I mentioned above too, especially I've Seen All Good People.

Yessongs version and original ‘71 version are better…

I dislike this so called composer but the track is a masterpiece...

there's at least 4 better songs on this album. And many more on the albums Relayer, Tales from topographic oceans and Going for the one

Not your fault but this is a terrible version of this song. See if you can find the original. This recording is nothing like the original