Vol. 6, No. 11 - November 1999
I happened to be lucky enough to have seen Trevor Rabin accompanied by a number of people at a fund raiser...it took time for me to gain access to him,..but evevtually he spoke to me briefly. He mentioned that he has been working on the best album he has ever done. He's taking it quite slow and creating it during breaks in his busy film composing schedule. he is at the point now where he pretty much chooses the films he does and turns down films he doesn't connect with. It's tremendously inspiring working with 1 of the best orchestras' in theU.S.A.
I asked him what his favorite songs were that he had written for Yes. Here they are; Owner, Changes, Hearts, Endless dream, Shoot high Aim low, Miracle of life, Lift me up Owner, Changes, and Hearts were written before even meeting the band. Hearts was written on moving to LA....he remembers playing Hearts to Manfred Mann(a close friend of his) in 1980. When I told him that the band plays Owner, Hearts &Cinema....he smiled but found it perculiar that they would play songs written by someone outside and who brought a very different style to the band. but said he's sure they do it fine.
Owner didn't change much from Trevor's 1st demo. he felt that Trevor Horns' production respected the integrity of the demo which made TR happy. Same goes for Changes. Tony Kaye added a nice vibe to the verse while John changed some of the lyrics. The reason Trevor sings quite a lot of lead vocals on 90125 is that a lot of it was done by the time Jon joined...and everyone really liked how it sounded. EG. Chorus on Owner, Lead on Changes.2 verses on Leave it and much more. He says he loved his time with YES and has a healthy relationship with them.
Rockers Yes jam on new, old tunes at Auditorium
By Nick Carter
of the Journal Sentinel staff
We all know a demand for live shows by the biggest of classic-era rock acts still thrives, evidenced by recent tours ranging from Bruce Springsteen to the Rolling Stones.
But is there a niche for less-gilded classic rock acts from the '70s?
An answer came Saturday night at the Milwaukee Auditorium: Yes.
The ethereal rockers dug out the old gold and mixed it among more recent and similar strains of wispy jam rock for about 1,700 or so faithful.
Unlike many ancient rock acts, the late 1990s version of the '70s-spawned Yes fields several original or long-standing members.
Though founding keyboardist Rick Wakeman and drummer Bill Bruford are long gone, bassist Chris Squire, vocalist Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe are still in the fold. (Also in the current lineup are guitarist Billy Sherwood, keyboardist Igor Khoroshev and drummer Alan White, who's been in the band since '72).
Playing before a colorful backdrop of psychedelic projections, the band started the night off with an oldie: a drawn-out take of "Yours Is No Disgrace," with Howe and Khoroshev playing lengthy solos. It and many other numbers - particularly those from the group's new album, "The Ladder" - mix elements of classic-style jam rock with occasionally tacky keyboard sounds and new-age lyrics.
The crowd seemed to be a near-even mix of younger and older adults. Songs that generated the most fan reaction included "Perpetual Change," "And You and I," "All Good People" and a tune from the new album, "Lightning Strikes."
Early in the show, Anderson explained that he was suffering from a nasty bout with the flu and asked the audience to help him out with the vocals. Still, he managed to maintain his fey, gossamer-sounding whir throughout, not as much as quivering on a single note throughout. He even seemed to raise his trebly pitch a notch on the ballad "Hearts," and on the band's well-known medley, "All Good People."
Though the group made it a point to spread out the hits, the three-song encore focused on a pair of the band's best-known signatures: "Owner of a Lonely Heart," from the '83 album "90125," and "Roundabout," from the band's breakthrough '72 album, "Fragile." The encore began with "Cinema," also from "90125."
Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Nov. 15, 1999.
Run....don't walk and buy the newest issue of Guitar World magazine !! Jan 2000. They have a HUGE featured article complete with pics on Yes' 30 year history titled "Perpetual Change". The first full page photo inside alone is worth the $4.95 price!!
iIt's from June 1973 of Steve, (who is pointing and laughing profusely at something off to the corner), Rick (who is pruning some shurbbery) Alan, (who is laughing at what Steve is laughing at) Jon,(who is banging himself in the forehead with some magazine) and Chris (who is laughing at something else in his own little world [G])
Oh...did I mention that Steve has a lovely PURSE over his shoulder..and wearing cool clogs to boot!! Hehehehe! Also is the common pic of the 1972 studio rehearsal...an awful photo of Billy..:P,, and a few other small color concert shots from 1973!!
Cherie
Summer Tor's Home Page
Here's a really positive review from the Cincinnati Enquirer about this past Sunday's Yesshow!! http://enquirer.com/editions/1999/11/23/loc_yes_comes_back.html
Channel 103 on my DirecTV has been showing this 5 minute trailer for their upcoming concert non-stop for the past couple of dayz! It is quite funny! One channel for the weather. One channel for Yes.
http://www.onwis.com/enter/music/nov99/yes15111499.asp
I just finished Conan's monologue on Late Night when I changed rooms and tvs. As I came I heard Conan say that they'd all gone to the Yes concert while the show was in L.A. last week. Some quip was made, in a light-hearted manner, about the Yes concert. Then Conan apologized to the effect "now I've gone and made a Yes concert sound bad' - then his sidekick Andy Richter chimed in "Now IAN Anderson is mad at you" or words to that effect! NOTE: this show will be repeated next Tuesday night after the rebroadcast of Leno's Tonight Show (so glad NBC does this now!) So, I suggest everyone watch it next week (remember - right after the monologue so you won't have to stay awake through the whole
rebroadcast). Tape & download a clip for us or else transcribe. Just a thought.
*********************************
From: Andrew Embler [aembler@gladstone.uoregon.edu]
I watched the show and it was a bit different than this. Conan was talking about going to Los Angeles to do his show. Then he remarked about the craziness of his audience while in his audience. This is as much as I can recall.
Conan: The audience was great and crazy. The show was like a Yes concert.
(laughs)
Conan: (laughs) No...no. It was _much_ better than a Yes concert.
(more laughs)
Conan: (laughs) Oh no...I didn't make it better, did I?
Andy: Now you've got Ian Anderson mad at you!
Conan: Can't have that...
A pretty funny moment, actually. But I think most of what transpires on that show is pretty damn funny.
You know you are attending a truly great concert when after only
one song you feel as though you have received your money's worth.
Sunday evening at the Taft Theatre saw the return of quintessential progressive rockers Yes and their epic, show-opening "Yours is No Disgrace." Hardly satisfied with 15 minutes' work, Yes proceeded to wow their enthusiastic audience for a rousing and exhausting 135 minutes.
At Yes' 1998 Riverbend appearance, a tour marking its 30th
anniversary, lead singer Jon Anderson claimed Yes was "not making a comeback (but) moving forward."
Their Ladder Tour '99 is a testament to the band's ability to do
just that. Slipping seamlessly into the show among the Yes standards, with several staking their own claim to future classic status, were five selections from the new album, The Ladder.
Of those new selections, "Homeworld (The Ladder)" is the finest. A nine-minute-plus piece in the Yes tradition, "Homeworld" recalls the band at its creative best, changing tempos and dynamics so drastically as to be completely unpredictable.
Watching often-underrated lead guitarist Steve Howe's seemingly
effortless handiwork Sunday impressed even more than his studio work. At times Mr. Howe could be found switching among three guitars: He had an acoustic on a stand, set up in such a way as to allow him to play without putting down the electric he was wearing, all the while keeping his slide guitar at arm's length.
Though at times some of Igor Khoroshev's newest work recalled
Disney's Electric Light Parade, his efforts on "Awaken" and "Cinema" show him to be a worthy heir to Rick Wakeman as Yes keyboardist.
Chris Squire's bass, always a strength, sounded better than ever in the new material, particularly in "Lightning Strikes." At one point Sunday night he donned what was described by one concertgoer as a three-headed monster, a contraption that appeared to be three different bass guitars built into one.
The evening wasn't just about The Ladder, though. "Owner of a
Lonely Heart," "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People" were all selected, as well as the seldom-heard "Hearts." The ethereal "Awaken," a musical journey featuring a lengthy solo by Mr. Anderson on harp and a sea of confetti falling onto the audience, tied the evening together.
From: Peter Michael Reid [timelapse@btinternet.com]
Just received the following dealer advice note from Voiceprint about the latest Peter Banks album/project. I will be getting copies in when the album comes out...
---------------------------------------------------
Peter Banks
Can I Play You Something ? (The Pre - Yes Years ::1964 -1968)
BP301CD
Blueprint
0604388114320
29/11/99
This is a compilation of tracks featuring original Yes guitarist Peter Banks,the recordings are taken from from the period between1964 up until 1968,when Peter became an original founder member of Yes. With his stylistic guitar playing, he helped define their sound on their first releases Yes ( 1968 ) and Time And A Word ( 1969 ). The collection includes unreleased recordings and rare tracks by Mabel Greer's Toyshop ( 6 ), and Syn ( 5 ).Both legendary sixties outfits featured guitar and vocals by Peter Banks and bass guitar and vocals by Chris Squire,who continues to fulfill this position with Yes. Syn lasted less than a year between 1967 and 1968 and were very influenced by The Who,The Action and The Move.
14 Hour Technicolour Dream was the b - side of Flowerman.It was inspired by a "happening" at Alexandra Palace,London in 1967.John Lennon was in the audience,with Pink Floyd and Soft Machine headlining. Similar in style to Cream's I Feel Free. ( featured on Rubble Vol.3 - BAMVP1009CD )
Grounded was the b - side of Created By Clive.
Flowerman / Flowerman (unreleased demo version) was a single and title track from their Rock Opera.During this number, the band used to stage a mock fight using gardening tools ! With horns and harpsichord,it is a poppy influenced Beatles track.
Created By Clive was a single that the band hated because it was too poppy, they refused to perform the track live.
Mabel Greer's Toyshop were formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1968.They were influenced by The Who,The Misunderstood and The Action
Beyond And Before / Beyond And Before (demo) was an unreleased Decca single from 1968,the other version was recorded for a John Peel Session.This was a set opener for the band,it was also used by Yes as their opening number.
Electric Funeral /Electric Funeral (demo) was an unreleased Decca single from 1968,the other version was recorded for a John Peel Session,with very influenced Hendrix guitar.
Get Your Self Together was an unreleased Decca single from 1968.
Images Of You And Me was recorded for a John Peel Session.
Track Listing
1.Can I Play You Something ?
2.Bang / Crash
3.Peter Gunn - Peter Banks Band
4.Hippie Loop - Banks
5.14 Hour Technicolour Dream - Syn
6.You Better Move On - The Devil's Disciples
7.Beyond And Before ( demo ) - Mabel Greer's Toyshop
8.Beyond And Before - Mabel Greer's Toyshop
9.Lima Loop - Banks
10.Grounded - Syn
11.For Your Love - The Devil's Disciples
12.Flowerman ( demo ) - Syn
13.Flowerman - Syn
14.Yesterdays - Banks
15.Electric Funeral ( demo ) - Mabel Greer's Toyshop
16.Electric Funeral ( radio mix) - Mabel Greer's Toyshop
17.Cinnamon - Banks
18.Get Yourself Together (demo) - Mabel Greer's Toyshop
19.Created By Clive - Syn
20.Images Of You And Me - Mabel Greer's Toyshop
21.I Saw You (Bang / Crash) - Affirmative Duo
22.No Time - Banks
Key Sales Points
1.This selection was compiled by original Yes guitarist Peter Banks,it includes unreleased and rare recordings from Syn and Mabel Greer's Toyshop,who also included Yes bassist Chris Squire. For Yes fans it offers a fascinating insight into the pre - Yes years of two of the key members of the ultimate prog rock act. Yes ( with Chris Squire ) have just released a new album and are embarking on a world tour.
2.Press mailout by Frontline ( Wishbone Ash , Fish ) targetting Mojo,Q,Record Collector,Record Mart and Yes fanzines.
Best Regards
Peter M.Reid
Timelapse Records
Specialists of "classic" and progressive rock music
Website: www.btinternet.com/~timelapse/index.htm
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Veteran progressive rockers Yes can these days be counted on for solid live appearances that feature the best of their classic '70s compositions along with a generous helping of their occasionally engaging new material, and at the first of three sold-out House of Blues shows on Tuesday, the band nearly gave fans their money's worth.
Having finally settled on one personnel lineup (anchored by four, key long-time members) for consecutive albums for the first time since the mid 1980s, the band is once again finding a pleasant balance between nostalgia and creativity.
The six-piece band opened to loud cheers with their elaborate l971 workout "Yours Is No Disgrace," and quickly established that this 1999 version of Yes can, at times, be as invigorating a concert attraction as in their arena heyday.
At the end of that first song, bassist Chris Squire swung his instrument up and held it the way a victorious warrior might wield his sword following a battle.
Tracks from the band's new album "The Ladder" (Beyond/BMG) were inconsistent, and often came across as filler when following more exciting older tunes: The otherwise charming "It Will Be a Good Day" fell flat after a majestic read of 1972's "And You and I." The latter song was highlighted by the work of guitarist Steve Howe, who dashed between table slide and acoustic guitars.
Best of the new bunch was the beautiful "The Messenger," a song that praises Bob Marley. "We're all climbing the ladder of hope," singer Jon Anderson would later say.
The numerous video screens in and around the club, which usually monitor the musicians as they play, instead came alive with elaborate and often distracting psychedelic images. Many were courtesy of longtime band artist Roger Dean, whose striking work combined prehistoric interpretation with futuristic visuals.
After such a zealous show, the encore was a bit of a disappointment. It started with a brief 4-piece instrumental jam, then followed with anti-climatic takes on two over-played tracks, the group's big 1984 hit "Owner Of a Lonely Heart" (the only '80s title offered) and moldie oldie "Roundabout."
The band closed the long evening (a rather efficient 2 hour and 15 minute show, actually) with a light-hearted and customized version of the classic "Good Rocking Tonight" which paid tribute to the House of Blues.
Much talk after the show centered on the steep $65 ticket price in light of the set list, which favored songs from the new album as opposed to more of the oldies many fans thought they were paying to hear.
Presented in-house Band: Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Alan White, Chris Squire, Billy Sherwood, Igor Koroshev. Opened and reviewed Nov. 2, 1999, closed Nov. 4.
Reuters/Variety
The Dutch Progressive Rock Page, http://www.dprp.vuurwerk.nl/, has a section called "Counting Out Time" (named after an old Genesis song) that covers the history of prog. In honor of ABWH's 10th anniversary, they have a great page available at http://www.dprp.vuurwerk.nl/proghistory/1989.html
Southland CDs has the promo singles of "Lightning Strikes" and "Homeworld" for sale, $10 each. They also have the advance promo CD of "The Ladder" for $15 plus some other Yes promo items. The following link will take you directly to their Yes page: http://www.slcd.com/cgi-bin/sls916.pl?sid=7378366400YES. I have used them a few times, they're pretty reliable.
Winston.Arntz@worldonline.nl wrote
"And when are those new Jon Anderson projects coming out? We NEED
>more music."
See http://www.bondegezou.demon.co.uk/wnyesm.htm#anderson. He has a
number of projects in development and his album with Khoroshev, "True You True Me", is expected soon.
The Minneapolis newspaper published a review of Homeworld on 11/20/99. It appeared in the "TechToday" a regular feature in the paper. www.startribune.com/technology.Here's an excerpt from the review:
"I'm not a hardcore strategy game fan. And the learning curve required to become proficient at navigating space and controlling the fleet has been daunting. So far, though I've been spell bound by the unique feel and look of the game - as well as its soundtrack, which includes not only evocative outer space music but the original song "Homeworld" from the new Yes CD, "The Ladder."
In case you guys haven't seen this yet, check it out. What an evening this guy must have had! http://www.execpc.com/~tom/yes/yestory.html
I've just received the latest update list from a CD mail order outlet in Japan called Lost Horizons. They have 3 Ships listed (catalogue number Elektra WMC5-568) as a new release for Yen 2750 (about USD 25) plus Yen 600 shipping. I have ordered dozens of CDs/DVDs from them and can vouch for their reliability. You can browse their web site at www.lost-horizons.com.
"The lyrics might sound embarrassingly geeky in their blissful idealism, and keyboardist Igor Khoroshev is a tad obsessive about replacing Rick Wakeman's arpeggios to the T, but Yes still manages to concoct some of the prettiest Rock n Roll hymns around. In it's new incarnation, the now America-based sextet takes an honest stab of finding the missing link between an album like the metallic tinged Relayer and the reality of Yes as a group of middle-aged musicians with limited following but still artistic room to grow.
With absurd 80's hits like "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" buried in the past, the group has concentrated its energy into the creation of unusual popular music, rich in tricky time signatures, layered vocal harmonies and Chris Squire's thunderous bass lines. Jumping from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again in a nanosecond, The Ladder is a study in contrasts and one of this year's most enigmatic releases."
***1/2 Ernesto Lechner
There is also a full page ad for the album in the magazine.
Just a quickie to let all you YESHEADS out there know that I have started up a new YES site. www.homestead.com/thegoldencatyes/yes.html. It's still under construction in parts but check it out. If you can think of anything that you would like to see on the site then please drop me a line.
For anyone interested, I put Mike LaFave's Milwaukee pictures
up on my website. Enjoy. http://www.geocities.com/eddiej_yessucker/
Amazon, CD Now, and Tower all now have the Musikladen DVD @ $13.99 reduced from $19.99. That seems a more reasonable price for 3 songs. ;~)
Regards, Brian
Supporting SYN - Scottish YES Network
There is a 4 plus minute edit of Homeworld on a Joyous Noise sampler. You can get it by buying one of several CD's at any Musicland, Sam Goody or Media Play. The CD's include Motley Crue's new one, Blondie's new one, and of course, The Ladder. Other artists on the sampler disc include Blondie and The Violent Femmes. Just thought you guys might want to know.