An introduction to America

[BrianD]

I bought this album when it was released largely because I didn't have 'Time and a Word' or 'Yes' and couldn't afford to buy both. So it was a kind of compromise. The pleasant surprise was 'America' - the first I had heard of Yes doing this track. I had always enjoyed the Simon & Garfunkel version but this interpretatrion was amazing. Steve's guitars were particularly the highlight. And Jon's vocals were outstanding as usual. What a disappointment it was to find only an edited version (without Steve's solo) on Yesyears!

[Rogo]

This was my second Yes Album. I had just got Tormato, which blew me away. I was then determined to get some more of this, so I went to a record store, looked at all the other Yes albums that were there, and was a bit bewildered about what to buy.

So I asked the record shop guy what he thought, and he suggested I buy Yesterdays. So I'm two albums into the Yes catalogue, and I STILL had no idea about CttE, Tales, Gates, Heart of the Sunrise, Starship Trooper, Awaken etc... I think it was good for me though, starting with various shorter songs before moving on to bigger and better. I was hooked anyway, and the rest is history.

I like this compilation. I later moved on to the original albums as well, but I still normally prefer to listen to Yesterdays, as a sufficient dose of early period Yes. I actually haven't listened to the first two regular albums more than once or twice, I always put on Yesterdays instead.

[ANTIOCH]

I had bought the import " Age of Atlantic" which featured 'America' , but I bought "Yesterdays" for
'Dear Father'.
Nevertheless , a wonderful compilation of early YES
tunes.

[RobAdams]

Seems to me some of the YESTERDAYS tracks were different mixes than on their first two albums. I'm going by memory from the old vinyl days, but I seem to remember they were mixed differently, especially ASTRAL TRAVELLER.

I actually didn't know YESTERDAYS was a compilation at first. I was new to YES collecting then.

AMERICA is a great cover by YES. Recently I noticed that Jon doesn't sing the verse about the cigarettes. So if anyone wants to hear AMERICA, I could ask "Smoking or not smoking?".

DEAR FATHER isn't an especially terrific track. It's on my list of songs I'd put on a WORST OF YES cd. At least in my opinion.