The Breakthrough Album

[dyingpoet]

Ahhh! What an honour to break in the new forum for this album, the first to produce a hit and send what has become a furious source of musical creativity into full burn!

Every track is a joy to hear, every arrangement imaginitive, every performance strong.

The best track: "Yours is No Disgrace"

The best moment: Steve's jazz guitar transition into the "slow" instrumental section of "Perpetual Change."

The best lyric: "Speak to me of summer, long winters longer than time can remember..."

What do you guys like about this album? What do you hate?


- d.p.

[Original_Shifty]

Originally posted by dyingpoet
What do you guys like about this album?


Two words.....


Starship Trooper

[dyingpoet]

Great track! One of the most classic portions of YES music ever is the section coming out of "Disillusion" and into the final chorus, with the decending lead guitar and bass, and the stacking vocal harmonies coming together at the end, right before the lyrics start in again....ahhhh, beautiful.

- d.p.

[Purple Wolfhound]

There is very little that I don’t love about this album. It’s the one that set me upon the ever-changing road of a long Yes musical journey that has lasted for over thirty years (almost as long as the band). I still remember constantly stealing this album, along with King Crimson’s In The Wake Of Poseidon and Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Tarkus, from my sister’s record collection. Those three lps formed the basis for my introduction to progressive rock. I guess my one gripe would be that A Venture is too short – the band sounds like they were just getting into an interesting and offbeat jam at the end of it. Out of all the albums that I have owned, though, this is one of the precious few that I can come back to time and again to enjoy like the first time that I heard it. Like sitting down with an old friend over a few pints, recalling the laughter and tears of days gone by…

“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.”

Peace,

Phil

[Yes Oz]

I love the lot. It was my introduction to Yes back in 70 (or was it 71????). IMO nothing they ever do will surpass it. Sure when new albums come out I flog it to death and then put it aside and go back to "old" favorites and sure enough TYA is one that remains a constant on my play list. There is no weak parts. it was just groundbreaking stuff when first released and I thought "S**t how did these guys do it and then when you saw them replicate it live I was just left in awe of their talents. I mean I was also a fan of ELP, Pink Floyd, and Led Zep and went to see them at every opportunity, but for live performance (not showmanship such as ELP) they were second to none. Hopefully I'll be able to witness them live again, if and when they come to Oz.

[bjm0rwo]

Starship Trooper.I couldn't get enough of this track in my youth.I still think it is one of the songs that best exemplify the Yes sound.Great alblum,not a missed mark on it.

[gatesofdelirium]

Originally posted by dyingpoet


What do you guys like about this album?


- d.p.



Everything!

[RobAdams]

I started listening to YES in 1977, so for me THE YES ALBUM likely has less impact on me than if I had experienced it as a new release. For me, TYA was where to find the slightly less exciting versions of YOURS, TROOPER, ALL GOOD PEOPLE and PERPETUAL. TYA was, however, the only place to get CLAP and A VENTURE.
Everything except CLAP & VENTURE have been issued in much more exciting live versions. Still, I enjoy the economy sized studio versions now and then. Also, TONY KAYE is by no means untalented. He is great on TYA.

I'm not too crazy about I'VE SEEN ALL GOOD PEOPLE here. For some odd reason it doesn't sound right to have silence between YOUR MOVE and ALL GOOD PEOPLE. One think I like on PERPETUAL CHANGE on TYA is the instrumental section leading to the last verse.

[Robert Shupe]

I think iot is very fair to say that this was a make it or break it album for Yes.

I would love to hear impressions of this album from people who were Yes fans before this one came out. I really do wonder what their perspective was.

This third offering had to be important to the band. It as we all know the first perpetual change for the band in regards to membership. I also think the record company was looking at this album very seriously. It is truly interesting to think where Yes would be without this album or if there would even be a Yes outside of the Where Are They Now files.

But alas, success graced the band with this release and we have all enjoyed this precious gift beyond measure.

Turning points are most like;ly inevitable for each band and low and behold The Yes Album must be looked at a a turning point.

Each member certainly contributed in unique ways to give a sum that seemed to only look forward. I think that Tony Kaye shines on this work and that it is his best work with Yes.

The fans have routinely enjoyed five of the six pieces on a regular basis when seeing them live. This is surely a testemonial to the strength of this landmark work. I wonder if any of them knew it would grow to the height it has.


Yours Is No Disgrace - This may be the the strongest opening of any Yes record. Steve opening guitar seems to chip away at the statue of doubt. Chris bass booms with a foundation delving its roots into the ground as if tho say that Yes is not going to go away but rather dealt with as a musical challenge. Bill's drumming certainly gives proof that jazz drumming can suceed in this genre. Jon gives us a strong lyrical piece here. His observation of Vietnam is certainly an encouraging one especially for the folks who were there. It is subtle lyrical reference but effective and could be applied to any armed conflict. One could say that it was prequel to Gates of Dellirium. Steve's solos kick. (Loved in the surround sound during the 30th anniversary tour.)

Clap (aka- The Clap) - You can't but smile during this one folks. It works and certainly establishes that this new kid on the block has the chops to make it with Yes.

Starship Trooper - As YIND, this one is nicely composed as a group effort. Great buildup. A individual seeking of truth is lyrically represented by Sister Bluebird and the Starship Trooper.
Superb acoustic work and Yes harmony in the middle section. A song about seeking searching and growing.

I've Seen All Good People -
This one has a special fondness in my heart as it truly brought me into the Yesfold. Little is discussed about the chess references. Yes, even love and life has and requires strategy and pupose of movement. I love to sing along with this one doing the Chris harmony. All we are saying is give peace a chance is almost lost in the music as the phrase itself is often lost on deaf ears. Great jam ending and the second of silence between the movements is a surprising transition that works. Simple but beautiful work from Tony on this one. Personally, I've also got to love this one as this is one Yes tune that my beautiful wife can really get into. Lots of radio play tends to warp our view of this one but it works.

A Venture -
The lost Yes Album song. A great lesson from the father song here. Interesting that the father drank and that his warnings led one of the sons to do the same. "Alone is no a venture" just like "Don't surround yourself with yourself" lyrically encourages relationships whether spose, family, or friendship. Our relationships is where living occurs and Jon nicely has this theme on this album. Sadly, like so many recordings the song fades sooner than it could have.

Perpetual Change -
A moto for Yes should we say. If this Yes foretelling their own future. Strong bass work and drumming on this one. It ebbs and flows and moves into some great solo jams at the end. (Funny sidenote: I originally thought Jon was saying 'control the dead'. Ahh youth.) This song is certainly about life and the growth journey. Yet change is one thing that so many resist. Musically I think we would all agree that this one jams. For me, it is impossible to resist the Yessongs rocking version of this one. However, here it is in it's humble beginnings. Quite nice ending Yes quite nice. Once again the sum is greater than it's parts here.

I have been listening to this one in heavy rotation lately and it holds up beautifully to repeat listneing. The goals were met on this one and we have all benefited. They were operating on all cylinders for this one. YES!

Bizarre cover. Green tint for growth maybe. Makes you very glad they found Dean after this one.

Robert Shupe

[Thoughtbecontact]

Robert,
I also happen to sing along with the Chris harmony on All Good People. Interesting what you observed that not much has been said about the chess imagery. Don't forget the song also has the Lennon lyrics, "All we are saying is give peace a chance," mixed in low toward the end---another Vietnam reference here.