Yes - Starship Trooper - First Time Reaction 

You're a new podcaster but you're playing Yes the greatest band that has graced this planet. Start with the early albums Yes will blow your mind.

Yes bass player Chris Squire is considered among the best there has ever been. Legendary. Plays the bass as a lead instrument ❤

Howe’s transcendent skills as a player and songwriter ignited a creative fire in the group, and they kicked off 1971 in grand style, starting with 'The Yes Album.' The album was brimming with expansive, energetic, and hook-filled rockers like “Yours Is No Disgrace,” “Starship Trooper,” and “I’ve Seen All Good People,” each of which made full use of Howe’s wide-ranging repertoire of guitar styles. 'The Yes Album' turned the heads of critics and record buyers alike, hitting number four in the U.K. and cracking the U.S. Top 40. - Excerpt from Guitar Player

Yes is a deep rabbit hole. You have no idea 😊

1) Perpetual Change 2) Yours Is No Disgrace 3) Five Percent to Nothing/Long Distance Runaround/The Fish > (3 shortest consecutive songs YES ever made) 4) Heart of the Sunrise By the time you get through those 4, you'll be a hard core YES fan & will be able to appreciate YES' next groundbreaking big leap & Masterpiece: CLOSE TO THE EDGE track/album w/ And You & I & Siberian Khatru. Then deeper into unknown depths YES dived into the unprecedented TALES from TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS (Dbl Album/4 songs and once you finally return to earth, there is the full album/song GATES of DELIRIUM which again goes beyond all previous concepts of what modern music can be. Finally, you'll reach the epic AWAKEN & what many consider to be their greatest song ever. (which is true & a bold statement since 70's YES specifically were a genre within a genre! THANKS FOR THE SHOUT OUT!

Best...band...ever. Thanks!! for the reaction. Always enjoyable to see reactions to this band.

I've been following Yes since 1973... I've probably been to every show in the NYC area, it was never just a concert, it was an experience you felt very connected. Their concert sound was always so clear and you knew that these were real musicians, and masterful ones at that. It was always a great time from the early days and the light shows and the lasers in the smoke to a much more laid-back yet still incredible band.

An Introduction to YES' Greatest Masterpieces, in order: 1) Roundabout 2) Yours Is No Disgrace 3) Starship Trooper 4) Siberian Khatru By the time you get through those 4, you'll be a hard core YES fan & will be able to appreciate YES' all-time Epic Masterpiece: Close To The Edge & then their other Epic Masterpiece: The Gates of Delirium. Even after those, there are a dozen other 'near-masterpieces' that are must listen for anyone who's come to appreciate their brilliance, including And You And I, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of The Sky, America. The list goes on...

The last part of this song shows the tension and release mastery of Chris Squire. Gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. The crescendo is unreal and unmatched.

Stick with the studio versions for a bit. They are a great headphone band. Enjoy these chaps!

Maybe one of the best endings ever..

Thank you for reaction. And, yes, the warbling is partially why here. 😊 Have heard these beautiful tunes. Ty for listening sir! Yes is the very best band for a wonderful journey, lyrics like Rumi. Best bassist ever. Guitar, vox, drums and keys for days. Compositions more than song I feel.

The live version of this from "Yessongs" is absolutely epic and even better, if that can be believed.

Steve Howe the guitar GOAT!! Welcome to a magical journey…. It takes u on a ride all over the Universe ❤ magistic is the perfect word! Welcome the brilliance!❤

The amazing Steve Howe on guitar!

53 years old this song... I used to listen this at Uni with the help of one or two certain substances - the sensation of floating on the lyrical bass line will linger for ever.

Great reaction, and if you listen to Awaken please listen to the studio version, it's infinitely better than any live version.

Your reactions to Yes so far have been really fun to watch because your enthusiasm for the music matches the same things we felt back in the late 60s and early 70s when their first albums were released and they were just getting both a.m. and FM air play here in the states. Matchless compositions and musicianship that makes these songs still relevant in 2024. Thank you for discovering them and sharing your reactions with all of us.

The live versions of a lot of their songs, on record or live in concert on video, are a must. On The Yes Album, this song and Yours Is No Disgrace should be seen/heard live in addition to the studio recordings, the extended jams are so cool. Their longer epics (around 16-22 minutes long) will blow your mind, but you might want to ease into those and hear some of the shorter, slightly less wild and proggy ones first.

So much fun watching you discover Yes. 👍

The best prog rock songs - and that was particularly true in the early years - characteristically have all the band members playing their hearts out, often simultaneously. Everyone gets their chance to shine. And Yes is certainly no exception.

The guitarist is Steve Howe, 77. He's still around, and still making Yes music, as the only member of the band from the classic days. Bassist Chris Squire died in 2015, drummer Alan White in 2022. Singer Jon Anderson and Steve have been at odds for a-well, they have a long history of working/not working together. Anyway, if you want to experience what Yes could do in terms of _majesty,_ start with *_And You and I,_* thank me later. (There are others, but they can wait.)

Yes is a great band, and this is my favorite song by them. Musically just mesmerizing.

You'll have to listen to "Starship Trooper" live, if you feel (and I always do) like you could listen to that ending all day long.

Yes songs are similar to classical music, movements- songs within songs. Masters of transitions- make everything fit together.

Masterpiece.

Steve Howe...if it can be plucked, he can play it. Wait till you hear him on the lap steel/slide guitar (i.e. "And You and I", "Awaken", "Going for the One"). But don't miss the bassist (Chris Squire). Probably the best in history. Some of the sounds you hear coming from him, might be mistaken for other instruments. Jon Anderson (vocals extraordinaire) ...what can I say. Jon and Chris Squire started the band and molded it into "something else". Bill Bruford, drums... until Allen White after the "Close to the Edge" album. Rick Wakeman on keyboards...just amazing! The "Close to the Edge" album and "Awaken" are great examples. A band of 5 that sounds like an orchestra. Still my favorite after 65 years.

Stopping by for the first time as a Huge Yes fan. Following them for 50+ years and have seen them live 50+times. (Some have been solo tours) YES is the #1 Prog Band! Members Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Rick Wakeman have been voted #1 in the world on their instruments-truly Masters! Jon Anderson’s voice is unique and uses his Falsetto voice as His instrument! He’s Incredible! As said above Yes’s library is an adventure! They Do take you places! It has been said that Yes is Mature music. It can be complicated with the multi time changes and complex musicianship! Also said that it takes at least 3 listens to a song to take it all in(I still hear things I may have not caught beforeAnd absolutely listen with headphones! Jon’s Lyrics…there have been college courses designed to study and interpret his meaning. Imho- sometimes he’s literate and a lot of times not. Yes lyrics have different meanings to many people. And may resonate with you differently at different times in your life. So don’t try to make perfect sense out of them. Just enjoy the experience and absorb what you can. Yes makes you feel good! After a concert your “high” for days! Just from the energy they give! I hope you decide to check out more Yes! You’ll have a following from Yes fans because we are a loyal and appreciative bunch of fans-spanning 5 decades. Suggestions: yours is No Disgrace Ive seen All Good People Heart of the Sunrise Roundabout South side of the Sky Siberian Khatru And You and I Wonderous Stories Going for the One Machine Messiah Awaken ***** Gates of Delerium!!!! Sound Chaser!!! Also may have heard of their 80’s album 90125- Owner of a Lonely Heart Changes, Leave It They had quite a few member changes but All their music is High quality and Memorable! ❤ I’ll be back if you explore more!!😊

Absolutely love this song/ album! Masterpieces 🎶

Ladies and gentlemen YES the greatest show on earth. That smile is the divinity of music performed brilliantly. I've Seen All Good People is a concert favourite that makes you wanna get up and boogie ✨️🎶🙏🎶✨️

One of the best songs ever made by mortals

Anything from the 70’s is my recommendation. The best of the best decade of the best rock ever created and performed.

Glad to see you're enjoying this amazing band. To add to what others have been saying about Steve Howe's masterful guitar playing, he was voted in Guitar Player magazine as the Best Overall Guitarist FIVE years in a row, beating out legends like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen and Jeff Beck. The bassist Chris Squire is highly regarded as one of the best bass players in any genre - Getty Lee of Rush is a huge fan. Bill Bruford on drums is of that caliber too, he went on to play with the legendary art rock / prog band King Crimson. Also as others have mentioned, there are a few other tracks from The Yes Album you should check out -- Yours is No Disgrace and I've Seen All Good People, before moving on to the next album. Enjoy the epic journey / adventure that is Yes!

Prog Rock at its best. I still remember buying the original vinyl album! Steve Howe and Chris Squire (RIP) are such virtuosos of their instruments. The bass line from Chris on this is very impressive.

You must absolutely listen to Close to the Edge, Yes's most complex and perfect work of art.

Incredible band, you should hear there live versions .saw them at the Boston gardens in 72

Yeah, continue the Yes journey. All the best to you. And don't forget to try other prog bands. We, old prog nerds will follow you !

February 76 UNBELIEVABLE

Dude, Wurm was on my trippin tape in the 70's. Imagine listening to it over and over while driving through lightening storms at 80 mph - while on acid... Awesome!

As you love the last third (Würm) there are some great live versions out there once Rick Wakeman replaced the original keyboard player and put down some great solos to match Steve Howe's guitar (e.g. on YESSONGS, or my favourite done 25 years later, on RU-vid as " Yes - Starship Trooper (Live at SLO) Part 2 - Wurm ").

You're getting into an era of music which was so diverse and inventive it can make your head spin. " YES" we're just one tiny part of a plethora of individuality. " Led Zeppelin" "Deep Purple" Black Sabbath" " Uriah Heep" " Caravan"" Groundhogs" " Alice Cooper" the immortal " King Crimson" ( Bill Buford left " Yes" to play with Crimson for many years). " Hawkwind", " Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come" " Atomic Rooster". So many solo artists, you couldn't move for talent and then there was all the stuff coming out of Europe like "Can" and "Ange" ........ then there were" American bands like " The Birds" " Frank Zappa" " Captain Beefheart" " Grateful Dead". The period from ( say) 1967 to about 1977 was magical for music. Mainly for the variety of genre and styles. Everything had a place and everything had respect. From psychedelic rock ( Beatles, Cream, Hendrix) to hard core blues and modern Jazz. Folky Canterbury sound to Reggae. Soul music to beat poets. Everything was up for grabs and most people ( like me) had a bit of everything that could be listened to. Synth music was also coming round the corner with bands like TONTO'S EXPANDING HEAD BAND and Terry Riley ( best known for his all night concerts). It's a very wide and eclectic field you've chosen to explore. I wish you well on your journey. It'll be long and it will meander all over the place but, essentially, it will be so very rewarding and interesting. I'm 71 now and I can't think of another period of musical history that was so " packed out" with really great sounds. " We are all Time Captives" from " In The Court Of............"

I love this song…. So complex

With the first money I earned as a student I bought the triple live album Yessongs (George Harrison's All Things Must Pass was also released as a triple, it was probably bankrupt for two months), which contained the "prog music trips" from Yes III and Fragile, as well as the entire album CTTE, only later did I buy studio albums for comparison. I immediately couldn't get I've Seen Good People out of my ear from the III. Yours Is No Disgrace is brilliant (would definitely touch you), not forgetting Perpetual Change, as well as the short, brilliant live guitar intermezzo Clap by Steve Howe. Yes in the 70s was fantastic, I also have a lot of respect for them, some of them are still on the road.

Mr squire the bass GOAT!! Miss him!!😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Welcome to my musical world dear boy, ❤from about 1972😊

Timeless.

These guys are still touring!!! Catch them live if you can.

I recommend Awaken from the going for the one album by Yes incredible

YES! 😊

I watched several of your videos…I have to thank you not stopping the tracks… love your body reactions 😂 keep digging in prog rock… gems are somewhere out there😅

Oh yes. I subscribed based on this. Nice to hear a British accent too. Yes are a staggeringly good band. Among the best ever if not the best 😊

Wait til you hear Heart of the Sunrise or Wonderous Stories.

Your reaction was perfect. You seemed to really feel the music authentically. Loved that it put a pep in your step!😂 I see others have listed the personnel of the band in this album, but it’s not until the next album that Rick Wakeman joins the band on keys. His addition set the band up for some of their best music even though this was a stellar album without him.

Based on some things you said in your review here, I think you might like to hear the details of the instrumentation a lot. And you seem to be a fan of headphones. If those characteristics truly do fit you, then I highly recommend that you stick to the studio tracks at least for your first listenings. Most live recordings suck big time if one wants to hear the intricacies of Yes' work. And, wow, is it ever intricate! Many, many people will recommend live tracks, and say they're "so much better". Well, it depends on why you like to listen to Yes music. There are VERY FEW live recordings that sound as good as the studio recordings as far as audio quality goes.

There is only one YES. Your journey has only just begun and you haven’t heard nothing yet.

Sister bluebird flying high above Shine your wings forward to the sun Hide the mysteries of life on your way Though you've seen them, please don't say a word What you don't know, I have never heard Starship trooper, go sailing on by Catch my soul, catch the very light Hide the moment from my eager eye Though you've seen them, please don't tell a soul What you can't see, can't be very whole Speak to me of summer Long winters longer than time can remember The setting up of other roads To travel on in old accustomed ways I still remember the talks by the water The proud sons and daughter That knew the knowledge of the land Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways Mother life, hold firmly on to me Catch my knowledge higher than the day Lose as much as only you can show Though you've seen me, please don't say a word What I don't know, I have never shared Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever All I know can be shown by your acceptance of the facts there shown before you Take what I say in a different way and it's easy to say that this is all confusion As I see a new day in me, I can also show it you and you may follow Speak to me of summer Long winters longer than time can remember The setting up of other roads To travel on in old accustomed ways I still remember the talks by the water The proud sons and daughter That knew the knowledge of the land Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways

Your favourite part of the song reminds me of the Ride of the Rohirim in Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. Imagine thousands of horsemen charging down to engage the Orcs, filmed in slow motion with this as the background music - "And then all the host of Rohan burst inot song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the city."

Don’t think you should do awaken to soon ,just start with the yes album ,where this track comes from then onto the fragile album.all fantastic stuff!

Check out one of the live versions of this song with Rick Wakeman on keyboards. They do an extended version of the Wurm section. You will want to get on the Starship with them.

welcome to the light 😀

Often used in live performances , when played live the end section is usually extended and a showstopper. Good reaction now try the band Big Big Train with a blend of Yes , Genesis and a brass ensemble for added pathos you will enjoy hopefully. Try the song Master James Of St George before launching into longer epics East Coast Racer or Victorian Brickwork.

I’ve listened to this for 54 years…and I never once impersonated a pigeon

Wurm is INCREDIBLE

Check out the live version on Yessongs (not the movie but the album) - you'll be blown away!

The band was called Yes. Not too negative...

Steve Howe: Guitar. Jon Anderson:lead singer. Chris Squire:Bass. Bill Bruford: Drum. Tony Kaye: Keyboard Good reaction. Jon Anderson - lead vocals. Chris Squire - bass guitar, backing vocals. Steve Howe - electric & acoustic guitars. Tony Kaye - Hammond organ, Moog. Bill Bruford - drums, percussion.....written by Chris.Jon.Steve.

Nice!!

300👍. The Yes Hole is nearly infinite.

Don't put too much effort into the lyrics. At times they just sound right but don't make sense. Wonderfully.

Check out Yours is No Disgrace, , And You and I, A Venture, Long Distance Runaround/the Fish,

Great reaction. I suggest you do "Awaken" next. It takes you on an uplifting spiritual journey. Here's a great live version: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nDXccU0xgNo.html or the studio version. But it's amazing how close the live version is to the studio version.

And you and I please 😊😊

You’ve heard the term a 1 hit wonder well YES is a 100+ wonder. YES IS BEST!!!