Fave song poll

[Roman]

What is your favourite song on Yes?
Multiple choices are allowed.

[ANTIOCH]

Great song from this 'new' english sensation.
Actually , I like the whole LP ; it's the one that hooked me!

[vad]

Survival is the song that demonstrated the band's potential, I think. I really like that song. I'd love to hear a live version, with all the refinement a modern Yes incarnation would bring to it. Now that I think of it, with this song alone, this album is up there for me.

[bjm0rwo]

I always liked the interplay between Kaye,Banks & Squire in this song.I agree it is a precursor of things to come.Just a thought,I wonder what was the first song by a group to be labeled Progressive?

[Yes Oz]

Harold Land and I see You for me. I must admit I haven't listen tothem for years. My turntable is stuffed and I haven't got CD versions yet.

[Flo]

Survival and Harold Land are great ones. Interesting to listen to I see You and compare it with The Byrds'original version (fabulous too). It really shows the influence Yes had from them. Since the Yessymphonic Tour I am playing all Yes CD's in permanent rotation from the first to the last and I am re-discovering wonders in the old materials (Yes and Time and a Word)

[Robert Shupe]

I voted for Looking Around as my favorite even though Survival is a better song.

Looking Around has full energy and is a great Tony Kaye show piece. A strong band effort.

Robert Shupe

[hypatiamarshall]

I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve Harold Land! I was always impressed by the message - after war your heart is dead.

Jan in Erie CO

[Westmont272]

I always like PC, because it sounds like everything comes together in a change at the end. I heard that song live and they pulled it off, i couldn't believe it, but hey this YES. Cool song. I also like sweetness, it reminded me of my girlfriend who i thought of while i was training to go to the Marines.

[Westmont272]

I goofed about the PC, slip of the keyboard i guess. sorry guys, but this group still rocks!!!!!!

[Jackaranda]

Re-record some of the best of the very early material, with a modern sound. There is some potentially great material there, but it seems to just fall short. Of course, by the time they got to The Yes Album, they were there.

My vote was for Survival....Jack.

[arrel]

I picked this disc up a couple of weeks ago by accident. I had actually ordered "The Yes Album" from my little CD store, and they mixed up the order. But, I said it was all right, because, eventually, I would be getting this one anyway.

I found, to my surprise, that I really enjoyed this CD. It is, as Bill Martin said, more "pop" sounding than their later material (except for, perhaps, "Survival", which I had already become familiar with from the "Highlights" disc), but I found some of the tracks to be really engaging and fun.

Unlike Martin, I enjoyed BOTH covers a lot. And "Looking Around" has quickly become one of my favorite Yes songs. "Harold Land" and "Beyond and Before" are very listenable, too.

Personally, I found both "quiet" songs, "Yesterday and Today" and "Sweetness" to be not my cup of tea. I'd love to hear more quiet songs from Yes, but these particular ones just didn't have the professional sureness of most of their material. (Neither did "Beyond and Before", but the energy level helped to make that a little less noticeable.)

(Oh, by the way, I voted for "Every Little Thing". I know that's not a very popular choice. Bill Martin, for one, hated it. But, I thought it did what a good cover should do - make me forget the original. ;) )

[Dances w/PURPLE]

but there are so many more! I like Sweetness but have to agree with Survival. I have other favs.

[Nautilus]

I hope that Yes closes their last concert as a band by playing Survival.

[Bo Locks]

I've stolen Jack Gowen's idea re. early material. I agree: it's more than just worth rerecording, it has to be done - YES need freshness from somewhere!

Imagine a full on Looking Around???

[October '70]

I first heard Survival on the Age of Atlantic sampler album - wonderful, evocative song. The production of the first album is less than subtle and doesn't do the songs justice. One wonders what Harold Land and Beyond and Before would have sounded like with a more sympathetic producer.

[eri-chan]

I know this forum hasn't been very active latel,y but I just got this album and The Yes Album so I felt the need for some commentary.

I definitely think that "I See You" is my favorite track, which is funny since its a cover. Its just such a great melody and I love the harmonies on the chorus. I'm not sure how I feel about the instrumental section in the middle, but I certainly don't think its bad, and I think it fits well with the rest of the track.

I love "Beyond and Before", but it has a few spots where I could swear I was listening to the Beatles (again, kind of funny since they covered a Beatles track on the album too). The vocal harmonies in a few spots sound just like the Beatles in their Sgt. Pepper days. I also really like "Every Little Thing", but I didn't want to vote for 2 cover songs as my favorite tracks, heh

I also really like "Sweetness".....its so genuine and, well, sweet. And so relaxing. It makes me feel better to listen to that song (I think its on my list of feel good songs right next to "To Be Alive (Hep Yadda)")

I've only listened to it a few times since I got it, and I think its gonna take another few good listens before I can form an opinion on the album as a whole, but overall I'm happy. The sound is very different on this first album, a bit more psychadelic than progressive, but still some pretty damn good music.

[bender]

Well I was going to choose Looking Around but a couple of days ago I picked up the new release with the extra tracks and if i count them then I'm choosing "Somethings Coming" - what a cover!

[eri-chan]

Originally posted by bender
Well I was going to choose Looking Around but a couple of days ago I picked up the new release with the extra tracks and if i count them then I'm choosing "Somethings Coming" - what a cover!

*nodnod* i agree with ya on that - that was a huge surprise when I first heard it, and what a pleasant surprise it was! I mean we all know how good West Side Story is, but who would have guessed that Yes would do such a great version of that song? Its so cool and different - most bands would never even TOUCH broadway music.

[eri-chan]

and now that's got me thinking....could you imagine Jon's voice on "Someday" from that musical? that would be gorgeous.....

[SonicDeath10]

beyond and before. it was really hard this album is so amazingly good. one of hte best debuts ever.

[Marco78]

For Me Survival Is A Splendid Song: After That,
Looking Around, Harold Land, Beyond And Before.

[SonicDeath10]

survival has a great intro keyboard line but the main melody's a bit weak for me.

[Faceintheplace]

Same as Yes Oz: I See You and Harold Land.

[Amy]

Just got this one this week.
Another one I haven't heard for 30 years.
My two favorites are Beyond and Before and Looking Around.
They both SCREAM CTTE and I can't seem to choose between the two.

[SonicDeath10]

beyond and before for me usually. i love that bass riff chris plays and i can play it too!!!!!!

[Gabriel]

I like Beyond and Before, Sweetness and Survival the best although all of the album is fantastic for a debut!

[Mario1970]

"Survival". Absolutely my favourite from this album.

[umgekehrt]

Beyond And Before is a great opener, but my favorite is still Looking Around

[SonicDeath10]

it is itself an opener though, it opens side two or am i wrong?

[The Prchr The Trchr]

It's all about Sweetness. Perfect song. This album, and their 2nd, although it's more string orientated are the psychedelic Yes. Big "Tomorrow" influence on both records, even though Howe wasn't in until the Time and a Word - or did Howe join after Time was recorded??

[The Whale]

Howe joined ater time and a word, but he was on the cover of the amarican version even though he didn't play on the album.

[SonicDeath10]

harold land, beyond and before.

[IDOLIZEYES]

Survival is wonderful, but Looking around reminds me more of my days riding around in my car listening to YES, back in highschool.

[SonicDeath10]

SonicDeath: yeah and she's just about finished
SonicDeath: it took her three days
begen22: that a girl

[starship_trooper]

I really like Something's Coming, but thats on the bonus tracks. This whole album is good IMO, but my favs are Looking Around, B&B and Survival. I like the organ part on Looking Around.

[Trooper]

"Survival"...The hint of things to come, although "Beyond and Before" runs a close second...

[scootwhoman]

I didn't listen to this album for almost 20 years, as I did not have a turntable, and I didn't feel like investing in 'Yes' just to say that I have it. 'Survival' is on YesYears, so I felt that I was covered as far as having the music I really liked from the album. Then, I got the CD for YuleTide a couple of years ago, and discovered that I had completely forgotten about 'Looking Around'! Even though I have not changed my rating of 'Survival', 'Looking Around' comes in a very close second. The song is so upbeat, with a strong tempo, excellent rythym, and superb instrumentation.

But 'Survival' is one of my all-time favorite Yes songs, mostly because of the powerful message about the LifeForce never dying, and the sacrifices that make life possible. I got into Witchcraft long after I started listening to Yes, and suddenly realized that this 60's rock and roll band was singing about one of the fundamental principles of ancient beliefs. It helped me to understand Death, and the part that Death plays in Life, which is amazing, I think.

Beyond that, 'Survival' is an excellent showcase for Jon's vocal skills, as well as a potent indicator of what the future would bring from the band. For a first album, from that era, I am constantly amazed. The whole album is daring, pushing the envelope for the time, yet it would be almost completely eclipsed when 'The Yes Album' came out.

If I had known I could vote for more than one song, I would have voted for 'Looking Around' as well as 'Survival', but I didn't realize that until I read the first post in the thread. No matter.

[KPatrick]

I love "Survival." Analog to the Beatles: this, to me, is Yes' "Tomorrow Never Knows." The last song on the album, sounding unlike anything else on the album, executed beautifully, foretelling things to come. i think it's head and shoulders above everything else on the album, although "Looking Around" and "I See You" are b***s-out rock and roll fun.

[SonicDeath10]

Beyond and Before? Sweetness? HAROLD LAND?! This album is Yes's perfect prog/pop/psychadelic album.

[yesscl]

My favorite is Looking Around. I really like whole album.

[RABARKS]

For me Yes started with The Yes Album. The first two i don't like very much. One reason is Tony's playing which never appealed to me. Another is a certain "crackle" in Jon's voice, that I think I hear. The ballads are a little too sweet and mushy. Having said that, I do like Bill & Chris who display their talents from the word go. Favourite songs Harold Land, Beyond & Before and
Looking around. :headset:

[SonicDeath10]

see, me I LOVE peter's guitar style as much as Steve's. He has a lot of style, and a satisfyingly thick CRUNCH that howe normally lacks. And his jazz noodling is really high caliber; he has techinque, just not like Steve.

[MikePike]

Yesterday, and today.

[ToBeOver]

Beyond and Before with Chris on the bass riff---yeahhhhhh!

:keyboard:

[yestor23]

LOOKING AROUND has always been a FAV, followed by SURVIVAL, and SWEETNESS.
Probobaly in th top 3-5 albumns created by YES

[abwh63]

I would have to pick Survival and Looking Around.

[francoyo]

Don´t forget the great cover of that simple but nice song of The Beatles. "Every Little Thing" The intro made by the group is great. At the end it has all the strenght. With that song I knew Yes.
Also Survival is the best, not forgetting Beyond... This album is one of my faves of Yes, for sure.... It is unrepeatable that it was made in the 69, beautiful year for the young music.

[Sad Preacher]

my vote has to be survival

[Close to Loch Ness]

I voted for Looking around - i'd like to hear that one live.
Following closely behind would be I see you and survival.

[Olias of BurryPort]

I cannot decide between Looking Around or Beyond and Before. survival is great too.

[YesForSure.]

Yesterday and Today.

[Mr_Monkey]

Harold Land, something about thats song that really apeals to me. I love the bit where it goes 'In the mud, in coldness dark, he shivered out his fear' the way Jon sings that is brilliant. He 'shivers' the word 'shivered' Top song. I must say that this is the most catch album out of all the yes albums (that i have heard from)

[James]

My vote is for Looking Around. What a GREAT Organ part Tony Kaye plays there.

James

[tsardaniel]

I like Beyond and Before quite a bit on this CD...I really like the BBC version too

[KPatrick]

Kind of a shame we don't get to choose "Something's Coming" or "For Everyone."

[Purple Wolfhound]

Beyond And Before - and I think it would make a great concert opener. Love that video version on the Before And Beyond vcd as well!

[Starless]

Survival - certanly the best !!! But Beyond And Before as an opener and Then with specific jazz-tone are too really great !

[Starless]

Sorry ! Then isn't from this album . Stupied mistake !!!

[sirlespaul]

I like Survival, I See You, and Beyond and Before. I also like the bonus track Dear father on the remastered version. I like survival the best though.

[Hex]

Survival.

There was a television series of the same name a long, long time ago (a nature programme, long before that bushcraft t*t Ray Mears was even thought of) and the two are linked in my imagination. Inspiration perhaps, who knows?

[Olorin]

Hard choice! I like every song on this album. That the songs are all so good is especially impressive considering it's a debut album. I chose Survival. B&B and Looking Around are great too. As are...ok, I'm going to stop and not list every single song!

Many people think Yes began with Howe and The Yes Album, but they really need to find and listen to the first two. Banks isn't as flashy as Howe, but that's a matter of style--he's still quite a good guitarist. And the interplay between all the musicians is wonderful.

[Whitefish]

"Beyond And Before". The song that started it all. Survival is a close second or a tie. I also love "Yesterday And Today" and "Sweetness". You listen to that music and you can just feel 1968!

[Scooty]

Beyond and Before for me..

That bassline..oh crickey...

[allpurechance]

Beyond And Before!Yes!

...what's the line there at the end when the song gets "all sparkly"(as Dustin Hoffman in Rainman said...:lmao:..."She's all sparkly!")?

...."time like gold dust brings mine down"...

Yeah!Gurrrrr-eat stuff!

[flep]

Sweetness for me.

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

from this choice: Sweetness, Survival, Yesterday and Today (sooo sweet):hearts:

[Senor Mono]

Looking Around!

It is so amazing to see how far Yes traveled from this record...Amazing!

I just listened to In the Presence Of...Wow...

Really hoping for some new Yes music!!