Lex, I will never get tired of hearing you say you’re ‘a huge Yes fan’. Makes me smile, makes me happy. Nick, I know you’re a big fan too and this channel is where I most enjoy watching Yes reactions! All of it! What a treat it was to rediscover Everydays with you guys. And just a note while you’re diving into the early version of Yes; they were like so many other bands, influenced by the Beatles and others and did some really nice covers. Check out Every Little Thing (Beatles) and of course America (Simon and Garfunkel)
The bassline on "No Opportunity" is soo amazing. The first two Yes albums that preceded "The Yes Album" and "Fragile" are not to be overlooked! Thanks for the reaction!
The theatrical theme music in No op. None Necessary is their arr. of the theme music from the film “The Big Country”, a western from that time period. Thanks for reacting to it you two.
I once had the pleasure to speak to Pete Banks on the phone for a few seconds. I was on the phone to a friend about a Yes gathering we were organising and he said "I have someone here you will want to talk to" I asked who it was and the said "I'm Pete Banks." "My reaction was "On Wow!" So I said to him "Pete you really laid down the benchmark standard for Yes guitar sound for the future" He politely replied "Thank you very much".
I could talk for hours about yes. I saw them many times in the 70s and 80s. Thank you guys for all you do. Especially YES. It's awesome to see both of your reactions to YES music. YES I'm a fanitic😍
Great selections Greybeard hadn’t heard that first one. That interlude in the first song was lifted from the main title of a classic western film from the 60s. The film is called The Big Country. Starring Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston it’s a classic you should watch it. Fun to see it incorporated into the song. Great to see both of you back again smiling and reacting together. Made my week. ❤️👍😎😄
One of my favorite westerns lots of iconic sciences Blanco Canyon and Burl Ives shooting his psychotic son Chuck Connors set to great music integrated into a song by YES and reacted to 50 some odd years later by NicknLex. Hard to beat! Thanks Dave👍😃
There's a time and the time is now and it's right for me it's right for me and the time is now There's a word and the word is love and it's right for me it's right for me and the word is love High School days, discovering Yes and prog rock was just so enlightening, waiting for the next album....the flood of memories that come with those songs......
I saw Circa in NYC, which is a Yes offshoot. Tony Kaye did the intro to No Opp Nec as part of a Yes Medley. I never thought I'd get to see/hear that, and I'll never forget it.
The first two songs were *covers* of other artists: Richie Havens & *Stephen Stills* when he was with the Buffalo Springfield. Their first two albums had at least two covers on them each, which one presumes was because they had not yet put together enough original material to fill an album. By the way, I'll mention again that the _last_ cover they did 1) did not appear on any of their studio albums, and 2) was their greatest cover of all: *America,* a Paul Simon specialty. In their early years, YES would do covers in concerts that they would turn into _jams._ YES' version of America was almost unrecognizable compared to the original, but it was so fantastic, I include it in my favorite Top Six YES songs of all time. It is filled with Squire/Bruford ear candy. I guarantee you will be as infatuated with it as I have always been...😉
This is their 2nd album. Original members here! Tony Kaye comes back throughout the years. Bruford leaves shortly and so does Peter Banks. The Yes album(3rd) album has more popular songs on it!❤️ They remind me of Beatniks here!💕
I'm glad you guys are doing a little research. I know it will help with your enjoyment of the tracks. When you guys listened to turn-of-the-century I so wanted you to know before that the song was about a Sculptor who sculpted his wife and before he finished she died. Knowing that beforehand could have deepen your understanding of the poignancy and emotion of the song. Love you guys💞
I'm go glad you mentioned the church organ part of Close to the Edge. I rememeber VERY clearly when that part came on in the song in your reaction that you were paying attention to Marley RIGHT at that moment and you seemed to miss one of the greatest moments in recorded music history. I was waiting for that part, and you guys got distracted at exactly the wrong moment. So nice to hear that you've revisited that song and are able to now appreciate that section newly!
For early Yes you must check out their version of America, it is astounding. I'm also quite surprised no one has mentioned Yessongs. You have not heard Yes until you've heard it live! Every thing on that double album is fantastic but I recommend starting with Your's is no Disgrace. You will not be disappointed!
The 2nd side of Drama: Into the Lens, Run Through the Light, and Tempis Fugit are EPIC. Squire and How are en fuego! on Drama. Adding the writing production of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes was genius.
Thanks Greybeard for requesting this marathon. I suppose it's just me, but I prefer to ration my listenings of the first album and Time and a Word. I enjoy them so much more when I haven’t heard them for a while. Maybe it's because I heard The Yes Album first and it made such an impression on me. I then rushed out and bought albums 1 and 2 and although I liked them, the development in their music between this album and The Yes Album was, to my ears, startling. Anyway enough of all that.. hearing these great tracks again after a few months off was great fun. Thanks Nick and uber-Yes fan Lex, wonderful stuff xx
"Time And A Word" is Tony Kaye's master class on how to play the Hammond organ. Amazing work there. The best song on the album is 'The Prophet', so be sure to hit that one some time. Also, the German pressing had a song that didn't make the UK and N American pressings called 'Dear Father', which is another great track. You'll miss it if nobody points it out to you! You need to watch the 'Everydays' video! It's hilarious and a trip. Also, ALL of the videos the band did for this album had Steve Howe in them, because Peter Banks hated what the band were doing, and so he was fired right after it was released and they got Steve Howe to replace him. Nonetheless, the first two albums with Peter Banks on guitar are awesome albums. His playing was groundbreaking and he is often referred to as the Architect Of Progressing Rock Guitar.
Their earlier stuff is very soft and makes you feel good imo. A great song is Sweetness idk if you guys have heard it before from their “Yes” album not to be mistaken with “the Yes album” and yes these are with bruford, he was an original member and lasted till Close to the Edge and came back in Union and left and then idk
One thing to note, On Astral Travelers Jon Anderson's voice was routed through the organ's Leslie speaker to give it that wavey sound. Yes used that effect in a couple of songs.
Hey Nick, here's one for you. Back in the early 90's, Peter Banks came to my apartment and I turned him on to Soft Machine's Bundles album. He kept asking me to back it up and relisten. He said Allan Holdsworth reminded him of John Coltrane.
"Everydays" is a cover of a Buffalo Springfield song (Stephen Stills and Neil Young were in Buffalo Springfield), who were folk rock rivals of the Byrds. Jon Anderson was very influenced by the folk rock of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. The Byrds are covered on the first Yes album. Yes basically began as a band doing 'heavy' covers of 60s pop fare, throwing in the jazz and classical elements. The heady days of the beginning of 'progressive rock'. Tony Kaye is a vastly underrated rock organist. His overdriven Hammond organ playing is essential on Yes, Time and a Word, The Yes Album. The band wanted Moogs and Mellotrons in addition to piano and organ. Tony Kaye wasn't keen on it, so they moved on (for the better. Rick Wakeman took them to a whole new level).
Their first two albums are usually overlooked but I love em. There are videos for all three of these songs you guys should check out. Fun stuff. This is a great birthday surprise for me today! Thanks NicknLex😃
Hi NicknLex, glad you have got to listen to this early gem of a Yes album! Three of the four best tracks on it, as someone mentioned Then is a must listen, probably my favourite after Astral Traveler from this album.
I love the first 2 Yes albums and was alway psyched to hear songs or pieces of songs from them included in the live set lists at the Yes shows I got to attend. There are brilliant covers on these albums. I really don’t hear them as set apart from the rest of their latter albums. What an OUTSTANDING MARATHON Greybeard ! Thank you for putting it together. YES has always been a continuous work in progress throughout their career and you two have heard enough YES to appreciate the greatness of those early works. Thanks for another GREAT video you two… Cheers 🎉!
Been my favourite Yes album for as long as I can remember - so great watching you discovering the joy of this. I still find myself playing air bass, like you, after thousands of listens! I use 'No Opportunity' as a test track, whenever I buy and set up new equipment. If the Rick' doesn't sound right, it's no sale. Thanks for posting this!
I noticed Jon Anderson's voice has gotten higher over the years. Which is weird because most male singers, their voices deepen the older they get. You can especially notice this phenomenon between the time period of _Relayer_ to _Going for the One._
Next time your out on the open road, “Astral Traveler”, crank up the volume and let it blast, you have to do it, it’s required. Been doin it for over 50 years, like a lot of YES fans, some of us are getting old but not getting tired of listening to the BEST. Great stuff Guys. x
Moving forward on your Yes Tour, may I recommend from 1978's Tormato album, the opening (Yea) track, "Future Times / Rejoice". It was a eye opener when first released. Thanks.
great FINALLY got to hear the roots of how YES became YES to better understand the basic elements and unique collaboration between the early members that produced such great intense music later. They decided to add an orchestra for this their 2nd album. The song NONNE is a reimagined cover by Richie Haven who was the first performer at Woodstock. They did hijack the theme from the TV show "The Big Country". EVERYDAYS is a revamp written by Stephen Stills of CSNY. ASTRAL is an original song which demonstrates all the trademark elements still to come. The rest of the album is wonderful too ! I also ask WHY it doesn't get as much attention but this was the early classic lineup before Steve. Bill playing is always a wonderfully distinct and prevalent. Most divide YES's career up into this era then the Steve era and the without Jon phase.
Man I need to get back to listening to this album again(and the first album too) but man so trippy! The virtuosity was obviously evident here. Squire is a beast. Bruford just so so smooth. What can you say about Anderson? Unparalleled. I remember seeing some funny (official) music videos of these early songs. They're pretty hilarious!
It’s actually the opening music from the movie The Big Country. It’s a pretty good western starring Gregory Peck. I think the movie came out in 1958. Loved that Yes sampled this in their song.
Very, very long time Yes fan (from picking up Close to the Edge as a youth back in the 1970s UK) and first time caller!! :) Been watching your reactions for a few weeks now and you've inspired me to go right back (again) to the early Yes songs. Some great material which still sounds fantastic today. 'Survival' from the self titled Yes album (their first) is very worthy of a reaction from you guys. Chris' bass alone makes it worthy but add Tony's hammond, Peter's guitar work, Bill's early drums and, of course, Jon's lyrics and singing and you have a real sign of things to come !!! There's a live version from 1969 via the Beat Club which is fabulous too.
This was the album that got me hooked on Yes way back then! they were the start og Prog Rock for me, and perhaps for most people Yes was the band that introduced them to the Rock Sound.
The first two albums are usually overlooked and underappreciated. The first two songs you played were covers; No Opportunity, No . . . (Richie Havens) and Everydays (Buffalo Springfield w/Stephen Stills and Neil Young). I think the best cover they did is; America (Simon & Garfunkel). The opening song of the first album, Beyond and Before is a must listen. What a great way to introduce the world to their music with that opening song. Looking Around, Survival and Sweetness are cool too. Now that you have cracked open Time and Word, don't skip Then and The Prophet. The album cover you showed was banned in the USA--too risque for Americans.
Oh man. Here we go again. Greybeard is doing stuff I always wish folks would see. Peter Banks went on to Flash, and y'all did a tune by them. Love to hear Nick react to Flash's song "Lifetime" which shows Banks' amazing guitar chops. Thanks again, Eric. Oh, and Lex...I want that green guitar of yours...mmmwhaaaahaaa! Okay, I'll find my own. Peace y'all. Oh, BTW, Greybeard, you're up to 3 subscribers. Keep on keepin' on my brother. 😇
You should check out the music videos for these songs. They are pretty good. They were a part of a French TV showcase on the band that came out in 1970 to promote the Time and a Word album. The videos show Steve Howe instead of Peter Banks who played guitar originally on the album. Time and a Word is a very underrated album.
Nick if you are curious about Peter Banks that Flash album is really incredible beyond Small Beginnings and his solo album Two Sides Of Peter Banks. Wait till you see who he invited to play on that.
NONNEN is one of Chris alltime best bass lines and Bruford has said this is favorite album.I bought this when it came out and was absolutely floored. Love this album!
The first track was written by Richie Havens and Jerome Moross. Everydays was surprisingly written by Stephen Stills and Jon Anderson wrote Astral Traveller, which definitely has a more of a Yes feel to it.
Wow!! You guys are going way back now! So glad you both really seem to like Yes, Its so nice to see!! I love everything from them!! Here's a little tidbit for you, back in the very early years of Yes Jon made a conscious effort to make his voice sound deeper. He thought it was too high. Of course we all know now there's was no need to do that Jon! Thanks for bringing back all these wonderful memories for me and enjoying this music again!! 🙂
I can't believe I've ignored the first 2 Yes albums all these years! I'm going to try to get my hands on them now (I prefer to have CDs.) Thank you Greybeard, Alexia and Nick for opening my eyes and ears!! Lex, the pipe organ on CTTE NEVER fails to bring me to tears! I love it so much! Great reaction and marathon! 🎵❤️🎵 Debbie
Jon Anderson was ambitious and had an orchestra playing on most of the album to embellish their sound. Chris Squire’s bass is overly high in the mix because the producer had faulty headphones that were lacking the lower tones so he kept upping the bass in the mix.
Chris always liked to tell that story, but I don't buy it. His bass on the debut is just as loud and precocious. Hell, even back in the Syn and Mabel Greer's Toyshop days his bass playing was in your face. I'll bet as a teenager he saw John Entwistle play with The Who at the Marquee and promptly went home, looked at his amp, and wondered how he could turn it up to 11. 😃
"No Opportunity..." was a song by Richie Havens, and the orchestral bits were a direct steal (they've admitted it!) from the "Big Country" (a Western movie). "Astral Traveler" is still one of my favourite Yes songs.
YESYESYES! A great marathon! I always liked Time and a Word a lot and I'm sure you will to. The whole album is a rewarding listen. The title track is one of my faves and Jon Anderson played it acoustically on his solo tour a few years ago, sounding great. You can hear their growth from the psychedelic era approach melded with some high level folk and stirring in some orchestrations (now THAT is prog). Anderson has said that Simon and Garfunkle were a huge influence on their early work too (hear their version of America from the Fragile sessions). They were definitely going places, you can tell from their eclectic approach. Btw, I put in a request in that last batch (last year jajajaja) but I forgot to put in the song name. If/when you get to it, I would like a reaction to "Brazilia (wish you were here)" by Godley & Creme. 😉
Its hard to understand how the band's sound changed so much during only a few years. From Time and a Word....The Yes Album.....Fragile.....Close to the Edge. All different. And in about a 3 year window! Amazing. How much they used orchestral arrangements in this album to completely dropping it for The Yes Album. From jazz and orchestra to anthematic and more creative/progressive rock.
"Tell Your Mama -- The Times They are a changin' !" Yes has two sides -- the prog side and the psychedelic hippy protest side. The early stuff is a picture of the late 60s and the hope and challenge of the young against the corruption and the stubborn dug-in older generation, especially the class system in England, that looked down on anything musical that was out of the classical or 1940s eras. Yes members came from the high traditions of "great music" and added their own ultra-current ideas in the rock format. They really didn't give up on the radical hippy stuff, even on the later "Tormato" album there are some great protest songs "Don't Kill The Whale", "On the Silent Wings of Freedom". Bill Bruford absolutely kills it on "Astral Traveler" -- he is a whole percussion section to himself.
The first two are underrated. I think some people think Steve Howe and maybe even Rick Wakeman are original members. I think The Yes Album and was the first one with Howe and Wakeman came on with Fragile if I am not mistaken. My firs experience with early Yes was the compilation album called Yesterdays which I still have on vinyl and and had songs from the first two albums plus the full length cover of Simon and Garfunkel's America.
Great selection. Good to see a reaction to early Yes. And to hear something of Peter Banks and Tony Kaye's contribution to the bands development. The album 'Time and a Word' was recorded with an orchestra. This led to Peter Banks leaving and to Steve Howe taking things in a different direction. Their first album is also worth a listen; particularly the song 'I See You'. There is a compilation album called Yesterdays that captures some of the best tracks from the first two albums. Really enjoyed this reaction.
One thing about these albums and song when they came before "fragile" is that I could here how fragile was a Masterpiece of music of these albums and songs.....and I was totally into YES!!! Fragile made since to me and my friends spiritually or at the time.....Cosmicly...if that's a word.....because we knew as their music left the Earthly realm of music.....now they were taking us on a "Roundabout or Tour from Earth to the Cosmos or Heavens or Cosmic Heavenly music!!!!! And it was very Cool because we knew no one would understand it but Us!!!!
Themes from this album turn up virtually throughout the subsequent YES repertoire, maybe in minute moments, but they are there..particularly from Chris.
Hi guys, nice selection from very early Yes. That intro on track 1 which then runs a little more during, is indeed from a 60's tv show. I do know it was from a Western, but I can't remember what it was called. The 2nd track sounds like it should have been sung by someone like Ella Fitzgerald or Nina Simone with it's heavy jazz influence, that could be played by a jazz trio or quartet. Track 3 was a bit of a mixture for me with touches of Deep Purple & ELP. What's extraordinary is the massive difference new musicians made for the album that followed this, with "The Yes Album". Byeee Jim X
This is the final album release from the original lineup (although the single "Dear Father" wasn't heard by most Americans until it appeared on the Yesterdays comp in '75.) Two of these songs are covers, actually the only two covers on the album. Although they do showcase what early Yes was known for -- supercharged covers. ""No Opportunity..." is from Richie Havens (an early lyrical influence on Jon). "Everydays" was a Buffalo Springfield song by Steven Stills, and Yes' earlier versions were closer to the source as compared to the orchestral treatment here (which I've seen described as "icy" 🙂.) Nick, if you want to hear some jazzier early Yes check out "I See You" from the debut. "Astral Traveller" is considered by many the best song on the album, and points the way to the future. Peter Banks is even foreshadowing Steve Howe's ability to mix jazz and rock guitar styles. But Peter disagreed with Jon on the direction of Time and a Word, complaining that the orchestra butted in on his turf. But you can already see the wheels turning and Jon's ambition to give Yes a much larger soundscape. And as far as he was concerned you were either on board with his (and Chris') vision or you were out. Poor Tony Kaye would suffer the same verdict an album later. You just have to remember that King Crimson's debut had come out a year earlier and everyone -- Yes included -- were realizing they had to up their game to compete.
Another thought... 'Everydays' as many people have commented, was written by Stephen Stills. Surely one of the most gifted yet underrated songwriter/musicians ever. I feel a marathon must be in the pipeline somewhere?
The Piece of music you thought was from a TV show was actually from the film The Big Country. They were all Jazz musicians and on Astral Traveler Jon was singing through an early Vocoda. One of there most underrated Albums. But i still loved it as you can see the groups pathway to the future.
No Opportunity ... not a Yes song. It was written by Richie Havens and Jerome Moross who composed for film and television, so your TV/film music idea was correct.
You haven't heard this album before because there are so many great albums by them early on it got lost in the shuffle. It's almost weird that these brilliant young guys got together in one band. This lineup was as brilliant and creative as you will find. Bruford and Kaye would come back to tour and record with them at times throughout the years.
In terms of band recognition the sales of the first two albums were poor and hence don't get the credit they deserve in the overall mix of things. Yes as a new band got a contract for 10 albums from Atlantic which Jon was ecstatic about until later he realised as a new band the royalties they got were low. I also heard that the band were told by Atlantic if they didn't creat a success on their third album (regarding sales) the band would be dropped. Fortunately, The Yes Album was a big success.
Now you have to listen to their first album! Their first two albums are underrated. There are glimpses of the extended prog that will come with their later albums. It's what I call "Garage Prog" - garage rock with prog hints. Yes, Bill is much more the jazz drummer than Alan.
In early 70’s I discovered a fantastic album…There was / is an album Released ‘ Yesterdays’ which included the best early Songs… Tremendous as it included the Magnificent ‘America’ I was stunned how Yes Chris Squire Bass sounded to be Yes’s watermark!
Fixing to listen to Greybeard's excellent marathon, but wanted to mention that it is Tony Kaye, who's my fb chum, and would want you to get that right. The title cut from this album is basically an anthem for the age. Also...Close to the Edge always gives me horripilation or goosebumps, from that organ swell, to the final climax of climaxes. Best song of all. Gonna listen now...
YES=Satisfacción garantizada!! Es un gran álbum!! El tema "Time And A Word" es una belleza!! Y ya que hicieron "Everyday", les recomiendo,si no lo escucharon, el tema homónimo de STEVE HACKETT!! Saludos 🇦🇷
