Olias Of Sunhillow

[RobAdams]

What are your favorite tracks on Jon's OLIAS album?

[Flo]

Solid Space : that one makes me soar and fly in open spaces. I like the melody and atmosphere of it. When I listen to it at work I can do nothing else.

[RobAdams]

Am I the only one who gets obsessed with this one from time to time? I think OLIAS is brilliant....

Flo - I get this very funny image of you 'soaring and flying' around the office with your co-workers trying to get you to come down, since you "can do nothing else". :)

[bjm0rwo]

The Meeting/Sound Out the Galleon.I'll never forget the first time I listened to this alblum and when these melodies started,I knew I was in for a wonderful ride.It remains my favorite solo alblum of all the members at that time.Fish Out of Water a close second.

[RobAdams]

Okay, WHO fell for my little joke and voted for THE POPE WAS AN IRISH MOOSE NAMED KATHY ?

Gotcha!!!!

[Squireaholic]

I vote for the whole album! Olias is, for my experience, the best solo Jon as well as the best Prog rock concept album. A great story, along with music that proves Jon and Yes are really the Godfathers of New Age.

Originally posted by Squireaholic
I music that proves Jon and Yes are really the Godfathers of New Age.

And the magnet to our souls.

[RobAdams]

What was the first album to really be considered "new age"? I tend to think OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW just might be the first 'new age' album ever.

[Flo]

Nice attachment I-and-I, although it nearly gave me a headache !

[Squireaholic]

I&I: Olias was not 'considered' New Age by the music critics of the time; the phrase had not yet been coined, and on still remains somewhat beyond any particular pigeonhole. One listen to Olias and you can hear where Kitaro, Vangelis, Tesh, Yanni and most of the Narada label's musicians got their inital inspirations.
Repeat after me: Jon: The Godfather of New Age.
Yes: The Gaodfathers of Music from the Hearts of Space.

[RobAdams]

I realize OLIAS pre-dates the term 'new age'. I'm curious to know if there is any music that could be considered 'new age' which pre-dates OLIAS.

If OLIAS can somehow be proved to be the first 'new age' album, perhaps an award is owed to Jon.

[Squireaholic]

I always thought the 'musique concrete' at the start and end of CTTE was new-age-y. So CTTE could be the first of the eventual evolution towards New Age music. Non Yes examples? Maybe some Moody Blues stuff; some could make a credible agrument for pieces of the Beatles' late 60s output. I maintain that Olias is the first complete, comprehensive example of a work that influenced prseent New Age composers, consciously or otherwise.

[RobAdams]

Too funny, ANOTHER vote for the non existant song THE POPE WAS AN IRISH MOOSE NAMED KATHY. I'm just a prankster!!!

[Ormando]

I've often wondered if Jon ever considered Olias as a theatrical stage production. Cirque du Soliel -- like stuff. // O

[mrgone3]

I voted for chords because John Had To be very patient overdubbing his vocals over and over until it achieved the climax.I would sit there and blast it at high volume till the other dorm rats got sick!HA!HA! But it is not fair to pick a track,because it is a Whole concept.A whole story from beginning to end.And Jon is very limited to what he can do as a musician.I found his mastery of the mixing console put this effort over the top. JOE

[RobAdams]

A theatrical production of Olias? A bit much maybe... One thing I really would love to see is an arrangement for YES to perform the entire OLIAS album as if it were one long song. I'd also be interested to hear if someone's made a midi version of the album on the internet somewhere.

If OLIAS went on the theatrical stage, perhaps a movie would be next? Then the animated cartoon series, action figures, etc...
Certainly would cheapen the original in a way...

[mrgone3]

WHOA There!Marketing YES products?Even their label gave up on them.It's us diehards that keep wanting these guys to return.I thought for sure Jon would do something for Lord Of The Rings.I thought there was a middle earth parallel.As if Naon and Frodo lived in the Shire.I thought they would be inspired to go back to that.JOE

[RobAdams]

I actually knew a bar room in Schylurville NY that had a single of TO THE RUNNER in the jukebox, way back when...

Originally posted by mrgone3
I thought for sure Jon would do something for Lord Of The Rings.

I heard that Jon wrote a song for Lord of the Rings but did not get it in on time. Talk about disappointing! Can you just imagine Jon being nominated for an Oscar and being on stage and performing in front of a billion people? How cool would that have been! It just kills me to think that an opportunity like that did not materialize.

Well, there are 2 more. Perhaps the scores for those two have not yet been completed. If they want to win the Oscar for best score next time, they better call Our Jon!

[Jackaranda]

I voted for the Pope song. I can't remember a thing about the album so why not??

As you requested, I'm holding my thoughts on this one Jack. But you know what I want to say.....

hahaha

[ELLIS]

This is one of my fave all time albums. I wonder what it would sound like now if Yes re-recorded it?

[Andersonic]

I didn't vote because all of Olias is magic...

[stevepenn]

I'm with you Andersonic. Although I really do love the siren call-like quality of Sound Out The Galleon. It's so angelic and anthemic all at the same time. I LOVE this album. Many an old stoned night listening to this gem. *sigh*

[Scooty]

Its sorta a work of its own...cant really pick one bit BUT if I had to I love To The Runner

[Ridvan]

I've always loved this album. So many of the tracks are so moving I voted for "Cathy". Beside's...........I like moose.

Second choice if I had to choose would be "To the Runner". :moose:

[Moorglade]

The Flight of the Moorglade.....naturlich!

[scootwhoman]

My vote went to "The Song Of Search." To me, it epitomizes Jon's strongest ability, to write music which is ethereal, without being aimless. The center section of 'Close To The Edge', much of 'The Revealing Science Of God', the transition from the war music on 'Gates Of Delirium' to the 'Soon' segment are examples of that style of writing.

To me, one of the most fascinating things about Olias is that it was inspired by Roger Dean's artwork.

The Fragile cover started the process, with the image of a planet blowing up, and then another with a ship-like creature in the foreground as pieces of the planet go flying away.

The progression is continued on the Yessongs cover, with pieces of the planet being sheperded through space, and then landing on another planet, taking root, and new life flourishing on the pieces.

I still consider Olias to be the best solo album I have ever heard, especially considering that Jon did the majority of the album by himself. Compare that with Rabin's 'The Story Of I', which probably has over a 100 performers, or Wakeman's 'Journey To The Center Of The Earth', which probably has over 200 performers. The only true solo albums that I am aware of from that era are Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells', 'Ommadawn', and Hergest Ridge'.

[allpurechance]

... I will not vote,for as scooty said,the album would be a lesser thing if anything were left off of it.Listening to it again,though,many years later,I'm struck by how much it sounds like the 1st Jon & Vangelis album.Which diminishes it not one singe iota!An entirely lovely,original,captivating album is this...& as for Yes playing any of this live,haven't we who know this album well already heard Alan thumping along with it,or places where Steve's pedal steel slide would fit perfectly?...again my mind wanders...!

[raz]

I love 'sound out the galleon' but it has to be 'to the runner' for me as it sums up the whole wonderful masterpiece...

[crotale2112]

olias is one big song.you must listen to it as a whole.it is one of the most powerful albums ever made.thank god the tape was rolling when it did.i love qoquaq en transic and song of search.what does gan matta sha pa mean?

[raz]

it means: " Steak - medium rare, egg, fries with mushrooms and tomatoes"

[Timmo]

Motu mantu!

It is one flowing song.

It is my second favorite Yes solo, after "Fish Out of Water."

[DaveJB]

I love this album. I think it's one of the strongest of the Yesmen solo's. There are so many good parts to this album, I couldn't pick out just one.

[justyes]

Just everything. I think this is the best album I've ever heard. BTW is there anybody that knows who did the cover painting on this album?

[brotherofmine]

'To The Runner' just about edges it for me but there are many good tracks to choose from.

[scootwhoman]

BTW is there anybody that knows who did the cover painting on this album?

According to the vinyl album cover, his name is Dave Roe. I have never seen any other work by him, probably because it isn't finished yet.

[Ralf Eigl]

The Meeting/Sound Out the Galleon.I'll never forget the first time I listened to this alblum and when these melodies started,I knew I was in for a wonderful ride.It remains my favorite solo alblum of all the members at that time.Fish Out of Water a close second.

Experienced exactly the same and still remember every tiny detail of those minutes I first listened to The Meeting/Sound Out the Galleon. First 20 seconds and I knew that that was IT. Has remained my most favorite of all albums even after so many years and I have been watching out for a continuation or something similar by whoever all the time and it never happens...........

[Yes2Yes]

I remember when I bought the album and thought it sounded so much like something YES would do. I also remember thinking will Jon leave YES and go solo! Glad he didn't and happy to say it's was a wonderful solo project.

[Frosted Sun]

This is a difficut one to make and a good question. But I voted for 'Moon Ra,' second song on side two of the album. A 3 part song which takes care of the song 'Chords' and 'Song of Search.' Which makes it at 12:48 min. long. A beautiful collection of Songs and Album cover art.

[Enoch]

I have never heard this album.

[milestownyes]

I still have my original vinyl from all those years ago and it's still in very playable condition. You've got to have all the original artwork too to fully appreciate it.

[CybrKhatru]

That "Irish Moose" song sounds familiar...anyone remind me of how it goes? :lmao:

[CybrKhatru]

Seriously, I voted for "To The Runner" as well.

[Lifeseeker66]

I voted for Sound Out the Galleon. That has to be my favorite on this album. After I clicked vote, I realized I could have voted for more... Transic To, Flight of the Moorglade, and To THe Runner get honorable mention

[LJG]

This album is a grower... but I love it.

[oliasdoug]

What was the first album to really be considered "new age"? I tend to think OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW just might be the first 'new age' album ever.

A question like this could be answered in a million different ways, but since I'm a lover of ELECTRONIC new age music, for me it would either be Terry Riley's RAINBOW IN CURVED AIR or, more to my taste, the classic PHAEDRA by Tangerine Dream.

On this poll, I voted for "Moon Ra" because of its powerful way of building to such an emotional climax....but my favorite passages are "Qoquaq en Transic" and "Transic To." I would love to hear Jon do an electronic new age album with expansive meditation pieces that incorporate that kind of floating, dreamy, ethereal, hypnotic synthesizer music.

....and SPEAKING of Jon doing electronic new age music, how many of you have heard Jon's mid-90's solo meditation CD called ANGELS EMBRACE? It is my humble opinion that all Olias lovers such as moi should listen to it ASAP....there's a good chance you'll love it.

[oliasdoug]

I have never heard this album.

"SURELY you JEST!"

"No, I don't jest. And don't call me Shirley."

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

This is my favourite of all the Yesmen solo albums.
I love it to bits and found it almost impossible to choose a particular track as I always play this album from start to finish and consider it as one long epic.In the end though I went for Sound Out The Galleon.
I also still have this on vinyl with the fantastic original artwork and booklet.

[kenlamb]

Have Olias on my MP3 player and still listen to it almost every day one of the best solo albums by any of Yes. Even after all these years it still stands the test of time.

:Wow:

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Yes, this album rules!

My favorite has got to be "Flight of the Moorglade". It stands on its own really well - that song and "To The Runner" close their respective album sides in such a mesmerizingly perfect way.

[90125yes]

sound out the jon for returning to yes