Fave song poll

[Roman]

What's your fave song on Tormato?

[Rogo]

The first Yes track I ever heard! It's still what I think is the truest Yes sound, even though I appreciate that they've done other things just as good. To me this is the Yes norm, all else is so-and-so many degrees off the true north!!!

[1yesfan]

To this day I have NEVER been able to get into Don't Kill The Whale.
I would LOVE to hear On the Silent wings.............
That tune would be killer live I would think. The bass lines are baaaad!

[bjm0rwo]

I picked Onward.I really didn't like most of this alblum at all.But I do like this track.

[yesskater]

"On The Silent Wings Of Freedom" completely floors the listener, even to this day. Chris and Alan's late 70s rhythmic tour de force, and the way Steve and Rick lock in with each other in the last few bars is a level of musicianship seldom heard these days.

[Balrog]

I have always liked the song "Onward". It's a relatively simple song, but it seems to have come from the heart.

[vad]

My favorites on this album are Madrigal, Release, Release, and On the Silent Wings of Freedom. It's a pity Yes nevger officially released live versions of the last two; they have so much energy. Tormato isn't one of my favorites, but I think these are good songs. I like the keyboards on Don't Kill the Whale; I know a lot of people don't.

[ANTIOCH]

As superb as "Madrigal" and "Onward" are , and I love the energy of "Release , Release" ; I'm choosing "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" for it contains ALL the YES ingredients.

[Flo]

I like very much Release Release for its energy and On the Silent Wings of Freedom, with its beautiful intro so Yes as a whole. Although the rest of the album is a bit strange, I also have fun listening to Circus of Heaven. I think people need to be real Yes fans to understand and appreciate that album...

[Original_Shifty]

Originally posted by Balrog
I have always liked the song "Onward". It's a relatively simple song, but it seems to have come from the heart.

Balrog, have you heard the version of Onward on KTA? Steve's work is beautiful. Rick's keys leave a bitter taste in my mouth however.

[Balrog]

Thanks Shifty for reminding me about the "Keys" live version of "Onward". I can't decide which version I like better! One of the great things about a live Yes show is the vast catalog of wonderful songs from which they can pull material from. Its never a question of whether they will play many masterpieces, but whether they will play your particular favorite on any given night. It is always exciting when they pull out a relatively obscure song and give it new life!

[Flo]

Your 're right Genevive, Circus of Heaven is often despised but I think it is very interesting and I like the intricate lyrics. Like you, I know all the words by heart and can sing it along with Jon. I think the problem with Tormato is it lacks unity and songs are so different they don't seem to fit together. But if you consider them separately they are all excellent and/or very original.

[RobAdams]

Ah, the underappreciated TORMATO. FUTURE TIMES / REJOICE, CIRCUS OF HEAVEN, MADRIGAL, ONWARD and ON THE SILENT WINGS OF FREEDOM are this one's redeeming tracks. At the time I remember how weird it was to have so many short songs on a Yes album. SILENT WINGS seemed more like 'the old Yes' than the rest of the album. 1978 was a very strange time for progressive rock. TORMATO seems to have Yes struggling to find a new direction at a time when disco and new wave were the trend. In retrospect, I enjoy TORMATO more now than I did at the time it was new. I like the overall sound of DON'T KILL THE WHALE, especially Steve's guitar parts; but it's the lyrics that hurt the song. I always have wondered what sort of WHALE song they would have written if it were more of a Yes epic than a 4 minute attempted hit single. On a 1 to 10 scale I rate TORMATO at about 7.25 . p e a c e

[RobAdams]

While I can't sing it, I do like CIRCUS OF HEAVEN a lot, and I'm a guy. The lyrics are fun, and they remind me of going to circuses and fairs as a child. I also like the song's bass guitar parts. A Yes classic in my book...a very long book with many pages. What I think TORMATO lacks is a major epic. If AWAKEN were issued a year later, perhaps TORMATO would be up there with CTTE. The album has the feel of a collection of leftovers, however, these leftovers still taste pretty good if you know how to serve them!

[Flo]

I never went to the circus but I feel like going now, just to check if Jon (and Damion) were right !

[Rogo]

... all you get at a REAL circus is candy floss, bears, clowns and toffee apples...

[theoden king]

this was the first tour i saw,went to both dates in chicago, don't kill the whale did not seem to get many votes,but if you think about when it came out it was quite a statement.

theoden.

[BrianD]

Originally posted by Flo
Your 're right Genevive, Circus of Heaven is often despised but I think it is very interesting and I like the intricate lyrics. Like you, I know all the words by heart and can sing it along with Jon. I think the problem with Tormato is it lacks unity and songs are so different they don't seem to fit together. But if you consider them separately they are all excellent and/or very original.

I think you have hit the nail on its head - the album is as disjointed as Union but like Union has many individual tracks that are good. My personal favourites are Future Times/Rejoice, Release Release and On the Silent Wings...

I remember enjoying the album when it was released but being surprised with a couple of tracks - Circus of Heaven, Don't kill the whale - that didn't fit the usual Yes mold. I have always been surprised about the degree of negativity some Yes Fans have about it.

[mrgone3]

Originally posted by i-and-i
What I think TORMATO lacks is a major epic. The album has the feel of a collection of leftovers, however, these leftovers still taste pretty good if you know how to serve them! You know I threw this album out many years ago.I never got into it like previous works.My friend had a copy some years ago.I listened again of course.The intro to Future Times was great,but it fell apart by Rejoice.Maybe I'm weird,but I liked Don't kill the whale.Rick's interpretation of whale song was interesting.Madrigal was very nice,but seemed to miss something.Release,Release rocked steady,but seemed to be a bit overbaked leftovers.I did not like Arriving UFO,sorry Rick.Circus of Heaven was impossible to listen to until Damion chirped in at the end.I love Onward.And I loved hearing it again on Keys.And Silent Wings could have been the epic song.That's Chris' best YES song.Save the pieces,but throw out the limp broccoli.This may be The White album for YES.Excluding UNION. JOE

[Jackaranda]

I used to have a radio concert of the In-The Round concerts, and every song from Tormato was better than the studio version, although it still wasn't what I'd call a Yes Highlight.

I voted for Don't Kill the Whale. That's not saying much, though.

[YesNY]

It has been a while since I listened to this album. I still haven't replaced my LP copy with the CD , which I really should do provided I can find a store with it in stock. (Is this thing still in print?)

I best remember liking Don't Kill the Whale, Onward, Rejoice and On the Silent Wings of Freedom. The distinguishing feature, which strung the songs together on this album for me, was the unique bass sound Chris Squire used for that album, but has rarely used before or since.

[taineer]

Onward is a beautiful piece. I liked it so much I insisted to my wife that we play it at our wedding. She is now almost as much of a Yes-freak as I am.

[RobAdams]

SILENT WINGS is sure kickin butt here. Thought it would.

S C H I N D L E R I A P R A E A T O R M A T O U S

[Purple Wolfhound]

Lord, help me – I might be starting to like this album! After years – er - more like decades of relegating it to the dusty old “play it once and forget it” shelf, I rediscovered it when I bought the remastered cd used over the weekend. It was played immediately in my auto through a portable cd player. The suv is wired for maximum bass response (a concession to the young “boom car” generation) and the cd player also has a mega bass switch, which to me benefits this album greatly. That was always my biggest gripe about this album – the rather “tinny” production as compared to, say Drama. The remastering seems to have improved it sonically over the vinyl version, also.

There’s still a few songs on it I could do without (or at least have them be reworked), and the KTA version of “Onward” is better, imo. Yet if they played a song or two from Tormato on this tour, I don’t think I would be disappointed in the least. After all, it is that lineup. It just goes to show you what age can do to a person’s taste buds. There was a time when lima beans would take hours to get down my throat. Now, with a little help from butter and salt, they don’t taste so bad.

Birotron, anyone?
http://www.8trackheaven.com/birotron.html

Peace,

Phil

[gt76yesman]

...other than the stupid cover!

I reminds me of my first year at UC Santa Barbara. I would come home every day and put it on.

Hard choice, but I go with Silent Wings.

[Earl Grey]

"I have the box set: Silent Wings Of Freedom and Don't Kill The Whale are on it: I can ignore Tormato... ...it put me off YES for a while when it came out..."

Years and the altered taste buds...

I bought this CD for a birthday present to myself... After all, I have everything else!

I am pleasantly surprised! Release Release is like YES playing in Queen's Sheer Heart Attack speed! I could have done without the dubbed-in audience on Release though (Milli Vanilli backwards! ...real performance, fake audience!).
Tormato is Looking more and more to me like Chris's best effort to date! I was a Howe-Snob at the time this album came out (Well, ...still sort of am: but not quite SO precious about it now); Tormato isn't quite a Howe showcase like some YES, but Chris shines here... I appreciate Squire more now than back when... Some amazing Squire work here!

I want to hear Gen and Flo sing 'Circus' as a duet!

I love Steve's classical guitar on Madrigal: I seem to remember it being lost in the harpsichord on the LP: this may be a better mix: how could I have missed those guitar runs? Nice!

The continuity of the album seems stronger to me now than when it first came out: the songs all fit. For some reason they didn't before. Must have been me.

More later...

Earlmato :ele:

[Flo]

Originally posted by Earl Grey

I want to hear Gen and Flo sing 'Circus' as a duet!


Well, Earl Grey, if I happen to be in the States and if Genevive agrees... Why not ? I'll start practising, and you accompany us with the guitar.

And it's never too late to appreciate old Yes albums. I've just rediscovered Talk which I had dismissed at the time of its release, thanks to the comments of all of you, Yesfans.

[RobAdams]

I think TORMATO has aged well. It was a bit hard to accept in 1978. I loved it though, and still do. The fake audience in RELEASE RELEASE always struck me as a joke, like a parody of the fake crowd sounds on BENNIE AND THE JETS or even (gasp) SGT PEPPER.

[HighTheMemory]

My favorite track off of Tormato is probably Madrigal. I just love that song, and I love how they utilized it on the Tormato 78 and 79 tours even more, how they segued it into "on the silent wings of freedom". I am surprized I could even have a favorite song off of Tormato. hearing that album kills me every time. The "Dig it"'s on "dont kill the whale" I thought were rather unnecessary and make me cringe every time I hear it, and that bass effect on Chris Squires bass was really cool, especially on his "silent wings" solo, but was it really necessary to incorporate it on the WHOLE ALBUM "well, with the exception of madrigal". Rick said that if there was any yes album he would want to take and overhaul, it would be Tormato (quote from the Perpetual change book), and I strongly agree with him. I do love that album, but it could have been so much better. But with Madrigal, I just love how uplifting it is, and Ricks Thomas goff harpsichord and Steves spanish guitar were a match MADE IN HEAVEN!! It is so heavenly, I love it.

oh by the way, on "YES greatest video hits", there are promo videos for "dont kill the whale" and madrigal", and for anybody has seen the one for "whale", how bout those happenin shades Jon is wearing, and that "SLICK" tux chris is wearing? LOL!!!

[Earl Grey]

I still blame the punk movement for the lackluster elements on Tormato.

It was as if YES were saying, "So you want rough? OK! Here ya go!"

A GREAT album just crying to be let out there. Now that I'm older and can see what is what I realize this, and have come to LOVE poor 'ol Tormato: the album even YES loves to pick on.

With a bit of digital 'knob turning', and perhaps a couple of latent overdubs, Tormato could easily stand up to Fragile. The songs are interesting and ROCKED the World LIVE!

I thought that way back in 1978. Live, Tormato rocked!

On the album, the songs work. Just.
But I still love the thing. A weird time, and it was YES against the world.

Now it's YES, You, Me... all of us against the paltry thing called 'popular music' as such.

Could you have ever imagined a thing worse than punk or disco? Well, here we are. Still tasteful after all these years!

:yesbird:

[David Momberg]

TORMATO is classic YES cause it is disjointed and all over the map. That is what is so Beautiful about it! From the haunting Madrigal and Onward to the frantic Release,Release and OTSWOF! Rejoice is vintage YES that recalls the Fragile period, Arriving UFO is a little spacy-but totally unique. No it's not quite Going For the One, but it's not Drama either-Thank God! If you call yourself a true blue die hard YES fan-give this album a chance-it's the classic YES line-up at the pinnacle of their careers.

[Earl Grey]

I agree with you David...
I hope no one misconstrued my last post as a diss on Tormato!

When Tormato came out it wasn't Close To The Edge part 2, so I was hyper-critical of it back when... and I allowed my old feelings to color my view of this oft maligned album... up till last year.

A Quandry: I had all the YES albums but for Tormato, I needed completion! So I went out and bought the thing again...

And you know: I DO like green eggs and ham! Tormato sounds much better all these years later. Uncolored by expectations and context, it's been playing many repeated spins on the stereo ever since.

Earl:yesbird:

[David Momberg]

Thanks Earl for the kind reply-I know that there are lots of true blue fans that appreciate TORMATO. I don't know why I have such a need to defend it more than any other album that might be under-appreciated. I think it might be due to the fact that it has special memories for me-at the time it came out. I was introduced to the greatest band in the world in '75 but was only 13, and didn't really start to understand and experience the music on my own level til '77 or '78. I saw both of the "GFTO" and "Tormato" tours, but there's something about the intimacy of the "Tormato" show-with them walking into the arena right next to us-and plus I had the best seats that I ever had for a YES show. I guess it's a lot of those memories coming back. But you know what's so funny-I remember even back then defending the album against "Drama", with a friend-who liked "Drama" a lot more. It's funny how some things just stick with you from your childhood.And one more note-I will never, ever grow tired of "Release,Release." To me, it's there most underrated song-I just love it!!!! Thanks again for your kind words. Peace, David.

[yarstruly]

I think Tormato is an album I had to grow into...looking at the track listing now, I am thinking "wow, that sounds great!" I will have to pick OTSWOF, or Onward as my fav track. I used to dislike DKTW but it is growing on me. As Rick says on the Yes Video Hits tape..."Fish writes some good songs!"

[Earl Grey]

"Future Times/Rejoice" is in my top 5 YES favorites. "Release Release" is up there too! I'm so happy I gave Tormato another chance! See ya Dave!

Earl:yesbird:

[Dragonfly]

I can’t help but to be biased toward TORMATO. It was one of my first two YesAlbums.

My understanding is that for many YesFans, one of their first YesAlbums (usually the very first) remains their life-long favorite - regardless of which one it was. I had heard many Troopers make that claim and was surprised when I first heard a Generator make the same claim. They knew all of the albums back to the first and still favored their first album. Then I heard some guy who’d discovered Yes on THE LADDER(!) say the same thing!

As such, TORMATO (and RELAYER, my first and favorite) remain well above many others on the "personal satisfaction" scale. I know there are "better" albums, but these are an important part of my early music-listening years and satisfy like others can’t. I still remember playing them on my big sister’s stereo. I was a dancin’, air-guitarin’ fool through most of them and would get completely absorbed. What fun and what great music.

"Future Times / Rejoice"
I’ve always wanted to hear these as two separate songs. I know they’d be incomplete each (many people think that even combined they’re incomplete.) I wish there were a clean way to separate them without making them sound too chopped up. I like hearing things out of context and try to mix it up when I record compilations and such. It adds new degrees of understanding, or at least makes the songs sound a bit different.

"Don’t Kill the Whale"
This one was never a favorite - except for the closing, "Cetacei" section - but when I heard the heavy metal-ish version on the tribute album TALES FROM YESTERDAY - which I really liked - I had to go back to the original and hear it again. (I used to skip over it all the time.) I’m enjoy it more.

"Madrigal"
I’ve always liked this better than GOING FOR THE ONE’s "Wonderous Stories", though good, too. "Madrigal" almost sounds like authentic Chamber Music. It would go well with MAGNIFCATION’s "Soft as a Dove".

"Release Release"
I’m sorry, but I can’t abide any complaints about this one. It’s one of the most jamming pieces Yes ever did. The fact that they couldn’t play it live (because it wiped them out) is sad as a live version (except for any rare bootleg) is unlikely to every become available.
"Milli Vanilli backwards! ...real performance, fake audience!", Earl Gray, you one funny guy! Ha ha ha ha.

"Arriving UFO"
This songs remains a major highlight of the album for me. Way back when it was new I was a huge fan of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, STAR TREK, STAR WARS, etc., so I always thought that this song was really cool. I still love it today.

"Circus of Heaven"
I’ve always liked Yes’s "smaller" songs - "A Venture", "We Have Heaven", "Holy Lamb", "Quartet", "Time is Time" - and this one has always been a favorite. The Fantasy references on this one - unicorns, centaurs and elves - remind me of "The Pastoral Symphony" as animated in Disney’s FANTASIA. Jon’s singing about all of those colors - jade, silver, indigo, gold, violet, red, emerald - made for great atmosphere in this stoner’s bedroom full of prisms shooting rainbows across the walls. (At first I thought he was singing "indica" not "indigo" so I thought it was a bit of a drug song. ) And the townspeople flocked inside a giant tent rising one thousand feet high from the floor "with their eyes all amazed" just added an element of wonder and intrigue.

"Onward"
What a treat to get this one live on KEYS TO ASCENSION. I never expected that one. It’s such a beautiful piece. I’ve always like the vocal lines and Steve’s acoustic work is great.

"On the Silent Wings of Freedom"
Wow. What I can I say that hasn’t been said? It’s very close to the top of my Favorite YesSongs list (which also contains "Release Release"). The mid-section with "your forty-second screamdown" always sends chills up my spine.

I knew TORMATO backwards and forwards and loved it to death before I first heard GOING FOR THE ONE. It may sound strange but that one’s always sounded weaker to me. When I first heard "Awaken" I remember thinking it was "just another epic, but not as cool as the others ("Close to the Edge" and "Gates of Delirium"). Now, of course, I love it. And I really disliked "Turn of the Century" altogether. It wasn’t until KEYS TO ASCENSION that I learned to like that one.

So it was with great frustration that I discovered fan forums like Notes From the Edge and YesFans only to learn that one of my favorite albums was generally reviled by most fans and under constant attack. Nowadays it gets more of the support it deserves.

Much of this album was played on it’s debut tour so I’m hoping that they’ll include tracks from it (other than those already released live) on the rumored, upcoming, live collection. Of the one’s never released I know they played "Future Times / Rejoice", "Arriving UFO" and "On the Silent Wings of Freedom". (I strongly doubt there’s a recording anywhere with one of the two or three live performances "Release, Release" ever had that’s of good enough quality to release commercially. That’s why Yes needs to follow King Crimson’s lead on their Collectors’ Club series. I’d be happy to pay for even a crappy version!)

Dragonfly :fly:

"Such a pure delight. The coming of outer space."

[Jim Mikolay]

On The Silent Wings... gets my vote, with Future Times/Rejoice coming in a close second. Actually, I like all the tracks on this, the very first album I ever purchased. Yes has always expressed mild displeasure concerning Tormato and how it finally came out, but aside from MAYBE one or two weak spots, it is a fun and spirit-lifting piece of art.
I was just enjoying this album the other evening, volume way up with nobody else home, kicked back in the recliner chair. Am I an old fart now because I'm listening to twenty-something year old Yes albums in a recliner? Speaking of age, I guess little Damion would now be well into his twenties?... maybe ALL of us are getting old. At least with some good ole Yes to listen to, we can get old gracefully... and graciously.

[Nautilus]

Arriving UFO!!! Yeah! :D

[Mr. Holland]

OTSWOF is defenetly my favorite track of this album. Chris an Alan prove here that they are such a great rhythm section. Release, Release would be my second choice. Those are two songs I wouldn't mind hearing live, next time they tour Europe!

[Earl Grey]

I love Tormato. I couldn't live without it. I notice when it's been off of the stereo for longer than two weeks... I have to put it back in the cradle...

Tormato wasn't my first Yes album. I despised Tormato the first time I'd heard it. No lie.

Tormato was the YES album that grew on me... the one that wooed me back from the years... always in the back of my mind, but not quite connected-to... the album I wished was a 'Close To The Edge'... Haha! Youth.

Anyway, when I became mature enough for Tormato... I loved it.

Great, indespensible album!

:yesbird:

[Dances w/PURPLE]

I can't say that Whale is one of my preferred ones but On the Silent Wings...oh yeah. I see I wasn't alone.

[S.praematurus]

And doesn't. From OTSWOF (which will be the name of my next cat!) to Onward (Squire has a lot of love for someone!), I like it. All of it. Yes, even Arriving UFO!!! I think every song has its Moment. Again, I can't pick a favorite. I hate these polls!!!

Tormato, GFT1, and FooW are in my disc changer right now. I might exchange GFT1 for Drama soon though.

[Silent_wings]

Picking only one is too hard but if I must choose OTSWOF is my pick;) Followed closely by Don't kill the Whale and Onward. Great Chris tunes.
I just love thewhole album, I can't explain it. It may not be the best yes has put out but I love to listen to it. It always makes me happy.

[Nautilus]

Now that I think about it, what you said triggered something in me so that I understand what's good about Tormato:
In Yes's catalog it's the equivalent of the And You & I to Close to the Edge, South Side in the Sky to Heart of the Sunrise, or Sound Chaser to Gates.


You start out thinking "yeah, that's good... but this other stuff, wow, this is better. So I'll listen to this." That's how most people feel anyway, because on most albums there are some songs that are supposed to be better than the rest. Usually they pretty much are, but the other stuff isn't bad either.

I recently have come to appreciate And You & I, which I once thought of as weird filler, as almost as good as Close to the Edge.
My point in all this is that Tormato doesn't have a "best track" that dwarfs the rest of the stuff. Tormato was probably the first album since The Yes Album that doesn't have one track (at least one per person in most cases) that's better than the others.

And so you can psychologically appreciate it all individually better.

[Earl Grey]

The difference between CTTE and Tormato is the difference between the Tajma Hall and Guinness Draught.
You don't see the connection?

There you go!

Haha! :ele:

[hippieinacloset]

I'm not too crazy about these kind of polls either since you can only choose one song. Even if i could choose three songs it would still not be enough since I like this whole album with the exception of Whale.
I truly don't understand how anyone can put down Circus of Heaven (which should have been called Cirques du Soleil). It's one of the few YES songs I try to sing along by reading the lyrics. It's so difficult to follow and yet so enjoyable.
But the whole album is enjoyable although like the rest of YES' albums it took me a few listens to get into it.
In the end, it's YES' attention to detail and melody that makes everyone of their albums a pleasure for me to hear.

[rpicking]

Hi All

Just had the pleasure of hearing DKTW live in London a couple of nights ago. Wow, this was a really energising piece of music that the band really enjoyed playing.

In the Chris and Alan "solo" the opening of OTSWOF was played by Chris like I have never heard it before. Already a favorite track of mine from the period, this was just fantastic. How someone manages to get those sounds from five bass strings is amazing.

I don't understand why this album is knocked so often. It is representative of Yes at that point in time, just like the Rabin years. Each period contributes to the continuation of the most lifting band in the world.

[SonicDeath10]

i voted don't kill the whale....

i love that song.

[Marco78]

Don't Kill the Whale is the most representative and one of the best; my favourites, Release Release & Onward.

[SonicDeath10]

YES somebody else who likes that song.

[donk.bars]

I really wonder why Arriving UFO is so easily overlooked...

(I am writing this, because I just voted for it, of course.)

IMHO it is among those songs that have everything in it within a few minutes and the proof that you can do an epic as a single. Whatever the lyrics are about, the song is highly experimental and has an amazing instrumental section that hails back to Relayer times. I Love this one.

[SonicDeath10]

i agree. the weird ass instrumental part with wakeman going balistic is great. even his crap synth tones can't ruin it.

[soulsearcher]

don't kill the whale is an awesome song!
listen to the lyrics...
one of the reasons i love yes is the messages they want us to hear.
this is a great one...

[SonicDeath10]

most people hate it though. :(

[soulsearcher]

as posted by sonicdeath..
most people hate it though. :(
MOST people HATE it?
i beg to differ.. strong words, dude.

[SonicDeath10]

most people i've asked do. a lot of yes fans don't though.

[soulsearcher]

ok.. who HATES don't kill the whale? everyone who hates this song ( or loves this song or any feelings at all)post on my new thread..." who hates don't kill the whale?"

[SonicDeath10]

on the three major review sites that i read "george starostin, mark prindle, and john mcferrin" they all had negative view points of the song. i strongly disagree with them, however.

[soulsearcher]

i'm glad you disagree with them sonic..check your pm.

[SonicDeath10]

i don't have any private messages.

[moonchild]

I loved this album..don't know why, but even most my friends who loved Yes..didn't care for this album, but its always been one of my favorites. Its one of the few I actually went out and bought the cd too..since I still prefer vinyl..and have a great turntable...but I did break down and get this cd. I love the rhythm of the vocals...and I enjoy every song..except for maybe "Circus of Heaven"...that one I'm a little cool on...

[Scooty]

I have a real soft spot for this one. I still enjoy Tormato a lot. I will never forget..(if y'all don't mind a story) I stole this album from a cousin about '84 when I saw YES my first time...and for some reason I wasn't happy with just having the vinyl...and then I found out it was out of print here in the US (SO stupid) so anyway I wrote to a relative in the UK..and 2 weeks later he mailed mea used copy of Tormato on cassette...I swear that was the coolest thing..still have it..just for sentimental value. This album gets a bad rap..cause its pertty damn good. Not great, great moments, 2 of my favs (OTSWOF, FT)..anyway....still like this album and want them to play OTSWOF live on forthcoming tour..please.

[DaveJB]

I voted for On the Silent Wings of Freedom. I've always really enjoyed Chris' playing on the intro. My second choice is Madrigal. Over all, not one of my top Yes favorites, but it does have some good tracks.

Has anyone here heard the Rhino re-release? Are the added tracks worth picking this up? I'd like to hear from you all.

[SonicDeath10]

i didn't think they were out yet. the re-release will have half the paris sessions on it though from what i've heard

[yesleo]

I can't believe the poll allowed me to vote for two at once, but it did! I love this album. Had to buy a Japanese import CD way back when, because it didn't get Release, Released as it should have. Cost almost $30. lol

[Gabriel]

My favourite songs from this album are Future Times/Rejoice and Silent Wings Of Freedom; both fantastic songs that I find very interesting musically. This album is my least favourite Yes album, mind. Don't Kill The Whale is also a nice, fun tune!

[SonicDeath10]

silent wings of freedom is great but it's not up to past yes epics.

[TrevorHowe]

Future Times/Rejoice I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!IN FACT I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! WHY OH WHY DONT MORE PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT!!! I love this song!I love this song!I love this song! SEE IT ALL SEE IT ALL TIL TOMORROW!!

[Timmo]

Future Times/Rejoice I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!I love this song!IN FACT I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! WHY OH WHY DONT MORE PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT!!! I love this song!I love this song!I love this song! SEE IT ALL SEE IT ALL TIL TOMORROW!!LOL! Howe do you REALLY feel?

I'd have to vote for "OTSWoF," followed closely by "Release, Release."

I HATE "Circus of Heaven."

"Don't Kill the Whale" is great live.

On the fence about "FT/R,"Onward" and "Madrigal."

What a schitzo album! A few rockers, a few sleepers...and then there's "Arriving UFO!"

LOVE the bonus material on the Rhino reissue.

TIM
Venice, CA

[SonicDeath10]

i've said it about a thousand times but i agree with you so much tim. circus of heaven is without a doubt the stupidest song yes ever did. no melody, not even goood lyrics, no good singing.... bad bad bad. not even insanely great group ensemble playing can save it like it saves some weaker Yessongs: the group playing is dumb. bad song.

[Gabriel]

I have to agree with you there Sonicdeath; Circus of heaven is probably my least favourite yessong ever...I mean, I still listen to it when its on but I think its terrible compared to anything else they did...and that little kid at the end? Man he gets on my nerves!

[SonicDeath10]

yeah. worst of all it's jon's son. shouldn't have dragged him into that jon!

[Amy]

I'm still not crazy about this album, but I can pick Release, release as a favorite.

[Timmo]

I'm still not crazy about this album, but I can pick Release, release as a favorite.Listen to OtSWoF about 12 times.

I love "Release, Release", but "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" is up there with the big guns from TYA, Fragile, CTTE, TFTO and GFTO.

Last great Yes song until "Keys."

Especially that building, wailing guitar riff from Master Howe at the end of the intro. SUBLIME!

TIM
Venice, CA

[Ryan]

oh man. looking back i noticed i voted for Release Release. But that was when i first got the album. Now it is for sure Future times/Rejoice.

oh yeah and i still don't like Cirrcus of Heaven

[gleeman]

I voted for the proto prog-punk of Release Release, though I also love the weird tribal disco of Don't Kill the Whale. In fact I think the In a Word box got the track selection from Tormato just right, as Arriving UFO is definitely the other high point of the album for me.

I'm gonna go against the crowd here and say that I think the weakest track on the album is OTSWOF. It has all the worst elements of Tormato amplified: Steve's playing is at its muddled, squiggly worst (why play one note when 15,000 will do?); Jon's vocals sound pinched and screechy, Wakeman noodly and tinny. Most days, I'd rather hear Circus of Heaven!

And PS for SonicDeath 10: is yr moniker a Sonic Youth reference? I'd be shocked to find another SY fan on this board!

[SonicDeath10]

I voted for the proto prog-punk of Release Release, though I also love the wierd tribal disco of Don't Kill the Whale. In fact I think the In a Word box got the track selection from Tormato just right, as Arriving UFO is definitely the other high point of the album for me.

I'm gonna go against the crowd here and say that I think the weakest track on the album is OTSWOF. It has all the worst elements of Tormato amplified: Steve's playing is at its muddled, squiggly worst (why play one note when 15,000 will do?); Jon's vocals sound pinched and screechy, Wakeman noodly and tinny. Most days, I'd rather hear Circus of Heaven!

And PS for SonicDeath 10: is yr moniker a Sonic Youth reference? I'd be shocked to find another SY fan on this board!
actually yeah it is. they were my first "band" you know: had to have everything and all that, obsessed or whatever. i still love them.

and on the silent wings of freedom isn't as good as everyone says, i agree.

[umgekehrt]

Release Release is one of my all-time favorite YesTunes.
Silent Wings is also great, especially that intro.
Onward has something in it that reminds me of Awaken somewhat.

[SonicDeath10]

on the silent wings of freedom i don't know it doesn't click with me either. second least favorite song on that album.

[mattquarterstein]

Don't Kill the Whale is my favourite.

CEDACEI! I love that bit, the chanting.

Release, Release comes a close second. It has an infectious energy.

[SonicDeath10]

arriving ufo has the best keyboard arrangement and it's just so goofy i can't not love i. :popcorn:

[soul warrior]

i'm gonna go with "onward", the keys arrangement

[Ryan]

Oh my gosh! i just listened to Tormato last night and i absoulutly loved it! (of course i skipped Circus of Heaven. lol) anyways, i don't know why i haven't liked it this much before. I also really dug Arriving UFO for the first time. The middle section of it actually kind of reminded me of some parts of GOD. The song that is.

[SonicDeath10]

haha i do'nt know if i'd go so far as to compare the two of those songs... but i understand you're point htat kind of "tight anarchy" in the playing.

[n2cbo]

arriving ufo has the best keyboard arrangement and it's just so goofy i can't not love i. :popcorn:
At first I didn't like UFO, but it kind of grows on you. It's not my favorite, but it does rank in the top ten for me, and I am going to use it as bump music on a special radio program that I am putting together about UFO's (It's about 6 - 9 months away from being ready to air. I'll post an announcement when it will air and where.)

[Mostly Harmless]

I went with Future Times/Rejoice, but I really like Release Release too. I was surprised to see On the Silent...doing so well in the poll as it may be my very least favorite YES track ever. I just can't get past al the "la la la la la" lyrics.
It's pretty good musically though. Oh well, what do I know?!!!!!

[SonicDeath10]

yeah on the silent isn't my favorite either...

[RABARKS]

I know I'm alone on this one, but I voted for them all. Maybe it's because Tormato is the first one I bought. (I got Relayer from my sister)
I just love it from A to Z. (Yep, that's including Circus of Heaven and Arriving UFO). Sure, there's a lot of weird music on it, but isn't that what Yes is all about? :headset:

[SonicDeath10]

Sure, there's a lot of weird music on it, but isn't that what Yes is all about? :headset:
:D yes!

[witheredleaves]

TORMATO was always one of my favorate yes albums, my favorites are future times/ rejoice, madrigal, release, and silent wings, to me it was the album where the band used new sounds, like the birotron wich rick uses alot, and how bout the harmonized bass on almost every song, yes it was alot different than previous yes albums, and i would still like to see more from it live, when they played dont kill the whale the last tour, i thought it was awsome , it sounded so good, its so much more powerfull live, and it was great to hear some of silent in ricks bass solo, does anyone remember abwh live??? remember ricks piano solo, he played madrigal, but was called { gone but not forgotten} that is so powerfull!! i like every song on tormato, and hope to hear more cuts on upcomong tours. REJOICE, FOWARD OUT THIS FEELING!!

[dtrose]

it is a bit hit and miss though isn't it?

arriving ufo is the most interesting track for me.

it's an album you have to be in the mood for. That's me being polite.

[SonicDeath10]

i think it's consistent, besides from two stinker tracks; Circus of Heaven and On The Silent Wings Of Freedom. On The Silent Wings has moments, but is weak generally; and circus of heaven is an embarassment.

[dtrose]

even though i don't love it i seem to come back to it a lot. just hoping i'll love it one day perhaps?

i never go back to big generator or time and a word for example.

i WANT tormato to be better than it is i guess.

hope i'm not disapppointed

[MoonGateClimber]

I voted for Future Times/Rejoice. It was a close tie between FT/R & Release, Release. I like them both very much, but FT/R is much more diverse - much like CttE. ;)

[JustSayYES]

(I know, I know... it's been a while since anyone posted in here :) )

Listening to Tormato for the first time nearly 30 years after it was released to the public provides me with an interesting viewpoint on the album itself. I don't have the benefit of expansive Yes knowledge as many of you on this site have (I've only known the band existed for maybe four months... Because of that, I've only heard a hand full of their albums and bits and pieces of other works), so perhaps I'm not quite as biased in my opinion of this album's inferior quality. I concede that it is definitely not on the level of anything from The Yes Album to Relayer, nor is it necessarily as good as Going For The One, but it certainly has its qualities. I believe that this album is best appreciated in pieces, which is of course its biggest flaw. It lacks cohesiveness. Future Times was a great way to begin the album, and Don't Kill The Whale is a catchy song (suprising for Yes to have a song that is catchy in THIS fashion, but I absolutely love Wakeman's work on what I suppose could be considered the bridging section), but Madrigal has tended to let me down. Release, Release is another Fantastic song, and again Wakeman's contribution entice me for Arriving UFO, but Circus of Heaven seems to drop me back down a bit. (Though, it is a quite melodic song in sections, and is appealing in its tenderness)

Overall, the album is good, but not necessarily up to snuff by Yes standards. But this shouldn't detract any of us from enjoying it for what it is. I know I won't let it prevent me from enjoying it.

(Oh, my favorite song from this album is probably "Release, Release". It was shockingly different from them, and even more shocking in its excellent execution. Dumbfounded as to why a live audience was added to this song. The falsehood of it tends to detract from my appreciation of the track)

[Olias of BurryPort]

Just for a change I have gone for the two songs where The Fish's Bass sound is just sooooooo incredible OTSWF and Future Times for me.

[decoman48]

There's a lot of good material on this cd (or album, depending on how old you are). My problem with it is that no matter what kind of music system you play it through, it still sounds like your using very cheap, tinny sounding speakers. Being a long time bass player, I guess I would have like it to sound a little, oh, I don't know, BASSIER.

Also, a lot of the material sounds like the band was in a hurry.

Still like the music though.

[heishere]

future times... its comforting to know how it all will unfold, step by step
1 one the word will enter all our hearts
2
3...

[Basil123]

Hi Ya'll,

I'm new.

Love Tormato, always have. I think Release is awesome. SO MUCH energy.

[Roadkill]

I haven't heard this album in such a long time, I had to really think about how some of the tunes went! For me, though, even though I love On The Silent Wings Of Freedom, Release Release is my top tune. I love the drum break.

[Yesed]

Future times/(especially with Rejoice) is the best Tormato pc. and DKTWhale, I love Chris's bass in it, very melodic. Madrigal is great too. OTSWF is disappointing. Ed

[SonicDeath10]

OTSWF is dull, but it has good parts.

[tsardaniel]

I don't find OTSWOF dull, maybe not as classic and epic as earlier (and later) Yes, but near a classic anyhow...IMHO

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Future Times/Rejoice. If I had to seperate them I might go with Rejoice.

But then again, I named myself after Future Times ...

OTSWOF is my least favorite Tormato track. It's got some neat progressions, some cool atmosphere. Good playing by Squire/White. But it's weak, songwriting-wise.

I love Circus of Heaven though, so take that, CoH haters. :silly:

[kelly campbell]

Although I love the whole album I have to say that my favorite has always been and will always be......Circus Of Heaven

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Although I love the whole album I have to say that my favorite has always been and will always be......Circus Of Heaven
your favorite?? Cool.

I love that about Yes, that one man's treasure is another man's Talk. Trash. I mean trash. Most of Yes's stuff draws radically different responses from within the ranks of their biggest fans. I find it pretty interesting & unusual.

[Andrea YouAndI]

I have three favorites here: "Future Times/Rejoice" because it's optimistic, well-structured, and has some great keyboards. "Release Release" because that song ROCKS, is a lot of fun, and has some of Steve's best guitar work. And I can't forget the drum solo--probably THE song that made me a fan of Alan White.
:drummer:

My third favorite song is "Onward" because it is simply beautiful, following the orchestral tradition of Fish out of Water. I also love the Keys version with the flamenco guitar intro. I was so inspired by this tune that I even wrote a third verse to it:

And on the darkest night I see
That the sun still shines for me
If ever I cry out in fear
You appear
To hold me near
Onward through the night
Onward through the night of my life

[cinderella]

Future Times/Rejoice and Release Release.

[Yes2Yes]

I always enjoyed Onward.

[Purple Wolfhound]

Geez, I commented in this thread a few years back but never voted! Future Times/Rejoice and Arriving UFO are my favourites... :D

[REEDC1]

A very underrated album, release release especially :rightG:

[Whitefish]

"Onward" for me. But I actually like the extra tracks on the reissue.

[flep]

Onward

I want the Keys version of this song played at my funeral as a tribute to my beautiful wife Carol. The lyrics are truly beautiful and describe my undying love for her perfectly.

[luckyseven]

There is something beautiful and unique about Madrigal. Gets my vote for sure.

[Dragonfly]

Geez, I commented in this thread a few years back but never voted! Future Times/Rejoice and Arriving UFO are my favourites... :DAccording to the band Arriving UFO was a great song to perform live. It became something bigger than what appeared on the album.

Would love to have seen it!

Dragonfly :fly:

[Bradders]

I voted Release Release........I had to think about it though.......funny album Tormato, dont listen to it very often.

[somissound]

According to the band Arriving UFO was a great song to perform live. It became something bigger than what appeared on the album.

Would love to have seen it!

Dragonfly :fly:


:appl[1]:

Really diggin the unreleased songs:headset:

[antennaria]

Tormato is a most interesting album. I find myself always going back to a 4-song line-up, almost occuring in my line-up from most favorite...
1. Arriving UFO - pure Yes fun, this song is ear candy
2. Circus of Heaven - my favorite, Howe's effervescent guitar work is fab.
3. Onward - a close second for fav song.. absolutely beautiful.
4. On The Silent Wings of Freedom - I like this a lot, even others think it's just okay. I like the song title too.

All in all, a really good Yes album, even though much maligned.

I'm surprised by the survey results, with "Release, Release" tops. I find this song overly frantic, starting to give me a headache. On the CD, I often skip this song, as it's my least favorite.

[Purple Wolfhound]

According to the band Arriving UFO was a great song to perform live. It became something bigger than what appeared on the album.

Would love to have seen it!

Dragonfly :fly:

Actually, I saw the Tormato tour at the Olympia in Detroit '78 - but I don't think they did it on that leg of the tour. My memory of the show is rather fuzzy and there is no setlist or concert notes of it on Forgotten Yesterdays.

I would love to see it played live - it does have a cinematic quality to it that would translate well to the stage, I think.

[Suzy]

this is a very difficult question as it depends what mood I'm in. This is actually one of my fav Yes albums and I listen to the songs and one day it is Silent Wings, another day it is UFO and another it is Future Times/Rejoice.................. but after all this choice, there are still no bears, no lions, no toffee apples, candie floss and no clowns!!!!!

[cjreyes]

I love the whole album, but I chose:

Silent Wings
Future Times/Rejoice
Arriving UFO

in that order.

[Doctor Flang]

1. On the Silent Wings of Freedom
2. Onward
3. Future Times/Rejoice
4. Don't Kill the Whale

"Richard" would certainly be on top of my list, had it been on the album...

[Enoch]

I've liked the entire album from the first. I could care less about disjointedness. If I had to complain about something it would be that the album could have been mixed/recorded better.

This album may have to be taken as a standalone group so-to-speak. It reminds me of when U2's Joshua Tree came out and all my U2 worshiping friends were dismayed at its blasphemous deviation from the "pure" U2 into commercialism. For them to enjoy it, I had to explain to them and get them to look at it as a completely seperate work from a completely different group. Looked at from that perspective, it was a genious album in a dry time of hum-drum pop charts. I think the same goes with Tormato.

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

On the Silent Wing of Freedom is my favourite, Release, Release and Don't kill the Whale are close behind. Release, Release really rocks! I love to play it on parties...(even though the most of my guests are my age and doesn't like prog...)

[Glass House]

Gotta go with Don't Kill the Whale.

Great song and really fun to sing



Dig it Dig it

[Enoch]

Gotta go with Don't Kill the Whale.

Great song and really fun to sing



Dig it Dig it
I do! Dig it!!

[Daney Pancake]

Hard to choose... Onward?

[Senor Mono]

Future Times is Yes in full effect.

Arriving UFO is Yes in adventurous mode.

Onward is Yes at its most beautiful.

Too bad Andrew Jackman only worked on FOOW and Onward..
He was a very special musician!

[MirokuLuvstheGirls]

Future Times\Rejoice. I was going to choose Silent Wings (does it not have the best bass line ever????), however. But I realized that I liked the first track the best.

[hailhail]

Selected Release Release and Silent Wings

A bit of both sides of the music on that album

Still feckin hate Circus
the only YES song I can say that about and truly mean

Gonna have to go & listen to Future Times to cheer myself up

Future Times.......doooooohhhhh

[JaneEyre]

"Don't Kill the Whale" because I lurve saying, "Dig it! Dig it!"

[CDink]

My Vote goes to don't kill the whale, how they fit so many solo's into 3 and a half minutes astounds me.

[RobAdams]

I always liked "Circus Of Heaven". I like Chris Squire's bass lines on that one. I forget which show it was, but I remember hearing a Yes show from 78 or 79 where the pre-recorded tape of Damian's spoken part misfunctions. Kind of a Yes blooper!

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

I'm sure I voted on this somewhere before.
Anyway,current preferences are....

1. Future Times/Rejoice
2. OTSWOF
3. Release Release
4. Don't Kill The Whale
5. Arriving UFO
6. Madrigal

A very distant 7 and 8... COH and Onward.

[90125yes]

future times /rejoice

it is so fresh

getsyou out of bed in a morning

[90125yes]

I see that On the silent wings of freedom is winning

how come they never play it live ?

[90125yes]

I see that On the silent wings of freedom is winning

how come they never play it live ?


any ideas ???

[90125yes]

on the silent wings of freedom would be great performed live on the current tour

[90125yes]

[quote=Enoch;1276407]I've liked the entire album from the first. I could care less about disjointedness. If I had to complain about something it would be that the album could have been mixed/recorded better.

____

:appl[1]:

i did a thread about remixing it !!

agreed

and the album cover - well it needed roger dean !!!

[kingfisher1031]

Arriving UFO and some of the outtakes too...like Abilene, Money, Picasso, You Can Be Saved, Countryside and Everybody's Song.

[90125yes]

future times / rejoice is fantastic

[90125yes]

Originally posted by i-and-i
What I think TORMATO lacks is a major epic. The album has the feel of a collection of leftovers, however, these leftovers still taste pretty good if you know how to serve them

_____

On the silent wings of freedom - much underated and should be played live next time YES tour

[SonicDeath10]

I actually think that Silent Wings is one of their worst attempts at a mini-epic. It has some good playing, and some good moments, I'll admit that. It's not like it's from Union or anything. But, as Mark Prindle put it, it "...succeeds in hitting about... oh... zero of the ten million different moods it aims for."

[90125yes]

I actually think that Silent Wings is one of their worst attempts at a mini-epic. It has some good playing, and some good moments, I'll admit that. It's not like it's from Union or anything. But, as Mark Prindle put it, it "...succeeds in hitting about... oh... zero of the ten million different moods it aims for."

---

eh ?? - disagree there

silent wings is an epic

great song

it should be played live by the present lineup

[lrs]

I think ft/rejoice is a perfect example of what is really excellent about Tormato, short songs that pack so much variety into so little time. The keyboard slipping in and out of notice is one such thing.

[lrs]

I voted for Future times/rejoice, I will say no more than there is alot of interesting things going on in that song.

[the greenman]

---

silent wings is an epic

great song

it should be played live by the present lineup

agree with you, there, Mike! In fact, although this is probably my least favourite yes 'record' there's a few tracks on there I wouldnt mind hearing live again (Release, release being one - Howe gets almost 'relayer-ish' in the middle there. But not CoH, please.. )

But the rear cover says it all, really - everyone looking in different directions...

[90125yes]

agree with you, there, Mike! In fact, although this is probably my least favourite yes 'record' there's a few tracks on there I wouldnt mind hearing live again (Release, release being one - Howe gets almost 'relayer-ish' in the middle there. But not CoH, please.. )

But the rear cover says it all, really - everyone looking in different directions...

---

know what you mean

i remember on the drama tour i sat at the front near chris squire and i was wearing a tormato teeshirt and chris came over and asked me why i was wearing it

as i have previously posted it would benefit from a remix


the sound quality could be better

:beerchugr:

[jsb779]

I have always owned a copy of Tormato, but I never REALLY got into it until last year and I have to say it is a really good record. I always just kinda fluffed it off, now I put it on every few weeks to revisit.

[tidewater]

As superb as "Madrigal" and "Onward" are , and I love the energy of "Release , Release" ; I'm choosing "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" for it contains ALL the YES ingredients.

I agree....although I have voted for Madrigal:headset:

C