Relayer

[sherriff_johnbrown]

An overrated album? An underrated album? Too flashy? A fluffy album? What do you think?

3A

[Alex]

to me it's a great album.. to the rock world it's a really underrated album.

[Jackaranda]

Definitely great. Maybe the best.

[Stever]

Echoing 1553a, I think it's a great album, in fact it's my personal favorite, but I went with underrated because I think in the grand scope of the music world, it IS underrated. I remember reading terrible reviews for it when it came out, and it never really got it's due in the rock world. It was written off as the very worst of pretentious prog excess. Pity.

[Dantalion Rides Again]

An overrated album? An underrated album? Too flashy? A fluffy album? What do you think?
Perhaps the least fluffy album of all time.

I'd be curious to see if anyone thinks Relayer is actually fluffy.

:D

I think this album will always perplex me . . . it's amazingly complex and brilliant; so much detail. They practically invented a new kind of music with Sound Chaser. Not my favorite Yes album, but certainly one of the most unique and impressive.

[Nut]

Soon has a bit of fluff, but not too much. This is my first Yes album, a pink cassette really. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Sort of in honor of this I made this my first reissue too. Nice, but Soon three times on the same album is a bit much.

[Timmo]

I went with great, although it IS underrated in the Yes lexicon, both by casual yes fans and critics.

I remember reading the Barnes and Noble blurb on Yes where they say something like "while TFTO is bad enough with its pretentious bombast, they followed it up with the truly awful "Relayer."

Some people just don't get it! "Relayer" remains my favorite Yes album, and some of the best music from the 20th Century.

[pianozach]

Great.

Gates is a masterpiece, and the best example of progressive rock at it's finest.

Sound Chaser is unique, flashy, and practically(?) unplayable live.

And Steve can be extraordinarily proud of his work on To Be Over. The ending still amazes me . . . just try to work out the timings (as if you had to notate them for some reason) of the three different motifs going on at the same time! And the vocal line has an extra beat in it making it come in just slightly later every go-round. OK . . . just what ARE the lyrics after ". . . ready to be loved."?

[Andy56]

Some guy on Amazon reviewed this as: "Yes at their chaotic best".
Totally agree - one of their best albums, certainly the most unique. Much as I love Rick's keyboards I think Patrick Moraz adds a real jazz influence that isn't on any other of their albums.
Fantastic stuff.

BTW Does anybody else think that 'Soon' sounds like 'The Way We Were'? :-)

[pianozach]

. . . I think Patrick Moraz adds a real jazz influence that isn't on any other of their albums.
Fantastic stuff.



Agreed. Moraz was a definate asset to the group.

I think I actually would have preferred for him to stay on rather than Rick re-joining for two albums and leaving again. Not that Rick isn't a great player, it's just that I feel that Moraz made a such a great contribution on his one Yes album. His soloing was top-notch, and he was very subtle when he the textures needed him to be. Had he continued with the group, there would have been less goofy synth sounds on Tormato, and perhaps Jon wouldn't have felt the need to leave before Drama. But then again, Chris wouldn't have been the leader of some of the edgiest Yes music (Drama) had things worked out differently. And perhaps there would have been no need or possibility) for Cinema (and 90125, etc.) and the inclusion of either of the Trevors . . .

Oops, does this post belong in the Time travel thread and the consequences of changing one event in the past?

[custom55]

A great piece of music and a fantastic tour supporting the album. Also, Steve's greatest work.

Jim

[Braniff92]

Except for Tales it is the finest progressive Yes album around (IMO). I remember waiting for Relayer to hit the stores thinking "I hope it's even half as good as Tales. Well, I bought the very first copy on the first day available in Levittown, NY (Imagination records on Hempstead Turnpike). I got home, pout it on and was knocked off my butt! I loved it. I listened to nothing else for days.

[1097]

Misunderstood is a good way of putting it...Yes pushed the envelope and hit a homer.

To Al K. Got mine at the Recod Collection, Merrick Road, Massapequa.

So there.

Take care!

Al K (the other one)

[Braniff92]

Yeah Alan, the good ole days, the 70's on Long Island, YES, girls, more Yes, ah, those were the days. Darn, I miss Long Island.

[mattquarterstein]

Hmm, I have a love-hate relationship with Relayer, though it usually stays more on the love side.

Underrated by the public, overrated by the fans. Hows that?

[PO]

OK . . . just what ARE the lyrics after ". . . ready to be loved."?

Supposedly, they just used the sounds of the words below. Anderson described them as "good vibes".

du sah du lay, sah du rah
sah du lay, tu sah rah
du sah du lay, sah du rah
tey tu santeh.

[mattquarterstein]

Is that what they are! I always heard it as

Sun ray, sun flower
Sun ray, two sun
Sun ray, sun flower
All on a sunday

I was way off then. Some fine singing there, whatever the words.

[slazman]

Great cover design

[Alex]

Echoing 1553a, I think it's a great album, in fact it's my personal favorite, but I went with underrated because I think in the grand scope of the music world, it IS underrated. I remember reading terrible reviews for it when it came out, and it never really got it's due in the rock world. It was written off as the very worst of pretentious prog excess. Pity.
WHO KNOWS BETTER, US OR THE so called, rock world??

[Jackaranda]

Thanks to a really wonderful person here, I have the Relayer tour. Although it was recorded in 1974, it's awesome. Probably my favorite weed. (that's another thread isn't it?).

We have a great official live version of Gates (Yesshows) but none of Sound Chaser or TBO. Having those is priceless. Now maybe on the live box set they'll include the whole album. Who knows?

[sherriff_johnbrown]

[QUOTE=Dantalion Rides Again]Perhaps the least fluffy album of all time.

I'd be curious to see if anyone thinks Relayer is actually fluffy.

I'm reading a review right now that says it's 'Yes running out of ideas'.
It's just a bit too..
Out there. Great instrumentation. Great writing. The Gates of Delirium is just Awesome. But after CTTE and TFTO, the really-long-song format for albums (like Hemispheres) is really getting tiring. And I don't like To Be Over.

[Timmo]

Listen to Steve's guitar solo a few more times on "To Be Over" before you REALLY decide you don't like it!

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Listen to Steve's guitar solo a few more times on "To Be Over" before you REALLY decide you don't like it!

I love Steve Howe's guitar playing, the song just doesn't click with me.

[Amdusias]

OK . . . just what ARE the lyrics after ". . . ready to be loved."?

From the recent MSN chats:

manfred_plank in Onstage_1 asks: Jon, what is the band chanting at the end of “To be Over” on “Relayer.” I've been wondering this for years.

Jon Anderson says: It's something I made up a that time. Opio means young in Hawaiian and I call it Opionion. I use that for words that don't have a meaning.

The song has a bit of a Hawaiian feel at times too, so it makes sense :)

[Timmo]

God, that song just rules.

[PO]

God, that song just rules.

I was just a bit lukewarm on To Be Over when it came out. BUT,...

...it just got me at one point. I don't know how or why, but it just clicked, I guess. It may have happened because I was beginning to learn to play it. Steve Howe even thinks of this as the quintessential Yes tune.

I just love To Be Over. I want to hear them play it just one more time.

[pianozach]

Is that what they are! I always heard it as

Sun ray, sun flower
Sun ray, two sun
Sun ray, sun flower
All on a sunday

I was way off then. Some fine singing there, whatever the words.

that's quite all right, I thought they were words as well, something along the lines of

Some one, summer days
Some one to some one
Some one, summer days
Maybe some day

But I was never quite sure . . . .

[Stever]

While I voted that it is underrated (it is!), It is also my favorite Yes album, and I think it's Great too! Imagine another vote up there for great. I could only pick one, and I think it's pitifully underrated by the rock world.

[JL]

I voted great. You could make a case for underrated among the non-Yesfreaks, but that's true of Yes in general. I believe that Yes were on a major roll from CTTE to Tormato, and Relayer is my favorite of the bunch on the days that GFTO is not.

[wolfhound]

I also voted great. My introduction to Gates Of Delirium was in concert
(whatever year that was :) That part where Alan started hitting his drums slower and slower, I was an 18 yo gasping for air. At the time I was yanked off about a musician having control over my breathing. They don't seem to pound that part as they once did. Maybe, people were collapsing in the aisles.

[justyes]

Great! What can I say more.

[Sonoacustico]

I voted GREAT but I would have voted GREATEST ;)

greetings

Claudio

[tardistraveler]

I voted GREAT!

It's not my favorite, but it's right up there . . .

[cinderella]

I voted Great also.

To Be Over won me over! To me it's such an inspirational song.

The meshing/interplay of Patrick's keyboards and Steve's guitar is fabulous.

Great cover too.

It's one of my favorite non-Trevor albums. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Cinderella528/N99/cheekygrin.gif

[Ryan]

Relayer has become my favourite album of all time. So of course i voted for great.

[cactus jon]

I voted Great also.

To Be Over won me over! Such an inspirational song.

The meshing of Patrick's keyboards and Steve's guitars (yes Steve's guitars) is fabulous.
Cindy, you keep thinking like this and soon you will realize that Steve might possibly be better than Trevor!!! :bncy:

Just kidding!!! CJ

[cinderella]

Cindy, you keep thinking like this and soon you will realize that Steve might possibly be better than Trevor!!! :bncy:

Just kidding!!! CJ

I know you're kidding. Hey I think Steve is brilliant.
He and Trevor are two comletely different guitarists.
Both great in what they do.


But only one is tied up in my basement.;)

[rickweber]

I decided back when it first came out it was my favorite album. Only Yes could come up with music like that & produce it & perform it like they do. For the longest time even the people I used to hang out with never liked it. I felt like Relayer was my secret. Like I was one of very few who could really appreciate it. It finally did catch on a bit more over the years. Relayer is a great album if there ever was one. It's great to hear the fans love this masterpiece.

[SonicDeath10]

amazing. i just listened to this today. i couldn't get over the playing. i was thinking "i'd like to learn these on bass someday" and then just realized i never could. this is noisy, and chaotic, and i think it's exactly what Yes was trying to do with the album. in some ways, it's the absolute essential breaking point of what prog is and what prog could do, this and tales. beautiful albums.

[Hill St.]

It has Gates!Enough said!

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Funny, I listened to Relayer again, and Sound Chaser is one of my favorite tunes from Yes now. That 'cha cha cha' thing with a sdample of Jon's voice goes a bit over the top. Since I got into fusion my definition of wierd (B*tches Brew) has completely changed. To Be Over is still a sleepy song to me, at this point I think it's way, way overrated (by YesFans anyway) but that could change as well. Love Moraz's keys! Very reminiscent tpo me of Chick Corea, especially the electric piano stuff in the beginning of SC.

[SonicDeath10]

i love the cha cha cha part. it comes out of nowhere and is so ridiculous.

[Vic W.]

Funny, I listened to Relayer again, and Sound Chaser is one of my favorite tunes from Yes now. That 'cha cha cha' thing with a sdample of Jon's voice goes a bit over the top. Since I got into fusion my definition of wierd (B*tches Brew) has completely changed. To Be Over is still a sleepy song to me, at this point I think it's way, way overrated (by YesFans anyway) but that could change as well. Love Moraz's keys! Very reminiscent tpo me of Chick Corea, especially the electric piano stuff in the beginning of SC.

Chick Corea is exactly what I thought about it back when it was first released. After knowing only Wakeman as the Yes keyboardist, Relayer definitely struck the ears as moving Yes in a more jazzy direction.

As for To Be Over, way back then I didn't really appreciate the song. Revisited 2 1/2 decades later, I was astonished at how great it is.

Sleepy? Well it starts of sort of dreamlike, but builds and then explodes dramatically with Howe's guitar solo coming off of the steel part. It's Yes at it's inspiring best.

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Sleepy? Well it starts of sort of dreamlike, but builds and then explodes dramatically with Howe's guitar solo coming off of the steel part. It's Yes at it's inspiring best.

Sleepy as in :sleeping:. Boring, etc. Note that in years I may turn around and hate Sound Chaser and love TBO. I may not even like prog in 5 years. Who knows? Last year (year before last I guess), I wouldn't have imagined that I'd have shoved prog aside for jazz. Two years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of having 250 CDs (I had 15 CDs 2 years ago).

[Topographic][Sardaukar]

Great.

Gates is a masterpiece, and the best example of progressive rock at it's finest.

Sound Chaser is unique, flashy, and practically(?) unplayable live.

And Steve can be extraordinarily proud of his work on To Be Over. The ending still amazes me . . . just try to work out the timings (as if you had to notate them for some reason) of the three different motifs going on at the same time! And the vocal line has an extra beat in it making it come in just slightly later every go-round. OK . . . just what ARE the lyrics after ". . . ready to be loved."?

I believe both the vocals and guitar are in 4/4, but the guitar melody has an extra 2/4 measure thrown in so it is offset by two beats every time through. Oh yeah, and sound chaser is great live, let me tell you. If only I could have experienced it instead of just listening to recordings.

[Timmo]

Steve's guitar work so completely redeems "To Be Over" as to almost not being up for disucssion.

Sleepy? Listen to all of it. It's like Steve's work on "The Ancient," particularly the "Leaves of Green" section. It's beyond reproach. And it ends with a perfect "handoff" to "Ritual."

I'm spinning "Tales" as we speak, btw.

And btw, his guitar so perfectly sets up Ritual as to be also beyond reproach.

[Scooty]

To be Over is a beautiful song..dreamy..

Ive always loved this track...

The lyrics are sublime.

[Timmo]

Steve's solo is even better.

And nothin' dreamy about it. HOT GOOD GUITAR.

[allpurechance]

...Great...isn't even a good adjective-
...no album besides Tales has weathered the test of time so well..

...Does anyone remember a science fiction tale from the 1970's which wound up winning the Hugo &/or Nebula award?-The story(as best as I can recall)concerned a synthesizer which could recreate the 'resonant frequency' of the universe,allowing it to move the universe about itself,thus creating the 1st ever faster than light drive...

...Whoever penned this story(wish I could remember...)wrote a dedication to Jon Anderson,Steve Howe,Chris Squire,Patrick Moraz and Alan White who created the amazing music on an album called "Relayer" which inspired the story,& the author & his/her colleagues...

[Scooty]

Steve's solo is even better.

And nothin' dreamy about it. HOT GOOD GUITAR.

Um..ok Timmo..no one is disagreeing with you...drink more..;)

[Timmo]

Like I need encouragement....

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Steve's guitar work so completely redeems "To Be Over" as to almost not being up for disucssion.

Sleepy? Listen to all of it. It's like Steve's work on "The Ancient," particularly the "Leaves of Green" section. It's beyond reproach. And it ends with a perfect "handoff" to "Ritual."

I'm spinning "Tales" as we speak, btw.

And btw, his guitar so perfectly sets up Ritual as to be also beyond reproach.

The beginning of TBO is a complete lack of energy. It's like Yes running out of gas. The end is great. But not so great that its energy accounts for the lack of energy in the beginning.

Lots of songs can be slow without boring. Take 'Dogs' for example. Or even 'Crazy Diamond'.

[Vic W.]

Um..ok Timmo..no one is disagreeing with you...drink more..;)

http://eagles.hosttown.com/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

[Vic W.]

The beginning of TBO is a complete lack of energy. It's like Yes running out of gas. The end is great. But not so great that its energy accounts for the lack of energy in the beginning.

Lots of songs can be slow without boring. Take 'Dogs' for example. Or even 'Crazy Diamond'.

Actually, from the very first note I find the guitar work thrilling. The two competing guitar lines are brilliant, and I'm guessing it's the reason they don't do this song live. Jon played one part back on the Relayer tour but he can't really pull it off and capture the beauty of the melody like Steve does.

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Actually, from the very first note I find the guitar work thrilling. The two competing guitar lines are brilliant, and I'm guessing it's the reason they don't do this song live. Jon played one part back on the Relayer tour but he can't really pull it off and capture the beauty of the melody like Steve does.

Never said anything against the guitar work. Guitar work is great. Awesome in fact.

[tardistraveler]

...Great...isn't even a good adjective-
...no album besides Tales has weathered the test of time so well..

...Does anyone remember a science fiction tale from the 1970's which wound up winning the Hugo &/or Nebula award?-The story(as best as I can recall)concerned a synthesizer which could recreate the 'resonant frequency' of the universe,allowing it to move the universe about itself,thus creating the 1st ever faster than light drive...

...Whoever penned this story(wish I could remember...)wrote a dedication to Jon Anderson,Steve Howe,Chris Squire,Patrick Moraz and Alan White who created the amazing music on an album called "Relayer" which inspired the story,& the author & his/her colleagues...


Well, this intrigued me, so I looked around and found this link to the Hugo winners . . .

http://worldcon.org/hy.html#70

The short story winner in 1970 was "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones" - could that be the one you're remembering?

[SonicDeath10]

weird story idea. sounds interesting any ways.

[BrianD]

Well, this intrigued me, so I looked around and found this link to the Hugo winners . . .

http://worldcon.org/hy.html#70

The short story winner in 1970 was "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones" - could that be the one you're remembering?

Unlikely as Relayer wasn't released until late 1974

[Scaramouche]

This Album is one of the best...it was the climax to the trilogy of albums Yes made that showed of their ability to write and perform extended pieces of music based on a single theme, the first being CTTE and the second being Tales.

Though I don't agree that it was their last great album, it was their swan song in the period that became the first generation of prog.

Scaramouche xx

[Yes2Yes]

In my opinion Relayer is a wonderful album. I wish Rick would swallow his pride and play it, but I can live with the fact that it will never happen.

[Mr Kite]

Relayer is great, one of the best Dean covers too. Too Be Over is classic Yes at its best. I just want to float down that stream forever!

[sparky]

Relayer is great, one of the best Dean covers too. Too Be Over is classic Yes at its best. I just want to float down that stream forever!
Me too! I find the album very impressing, but it´s not one I play that often. To be over, on the other hand, always ends up on the Yes compilations I make to friends - it´s a real classic to my ears.

[slazman]

It followed Tales, and it follows Tales as my no. 2 favourite Yes Album (and cover)

[Mike Watkins]

Well it seems that practically everyone loves it, and with many it's their favorite. And that's all that really matters. For me it's where Yes began to lose me though. I loved all of their releases up to that point, even the first LP (well ok I only LIKED the first).

But every time I listened to it I would get into it, but after a bit I couldn't wait for each song to end. And I could sit through all four sides of Tales and not even move. Even the Ancient. And I tried. For months. It just leaves me cold. Musical gymnastics with no heart to me. Even the cover is icy.

But obviously I'm missing something. But I did have fun playing Sound Chaser at volume 11 back in the day when I wanted to clear out the frat house!

[SonicDeath10]

in some ways, you're right mike. but that's what's impressive about it, to me: that cold musicality: it's intense, and complex, like few other works in prog rock. it is as complex as tales, yet rocks as hard as anything else.

[Olias of Sunhillow]

To be over one of my all time YES favourites. Steve at his best!

[SonicDeath10]

steve is nuts in that song. one minute, he's softly strumming on an acoustic, then he kicks it out with his steel guitar for two seconds, then starts going balistic on his electric. and that's in a five second span.

[Scooty]

In my opinion Relayer is a wonderful album. I wish Rick would swallow his pride and play it, but I can live with the fact that it will never happen.


I can't live with that fact.
I wish that Yes could and or would play Relayer material.."Soon"?? that just doesnt cut the mustard in my book...

Yes rehearsed Gates (full!) for the last tour and it didnt stick...

So sad....Rick, as far as I can tell, was the crux in the biscuit in that SNAFU..

I would have loved to have heard GoD on the 2004 Yes tour...

Maybe next time ;)

[Earl Grey]

I can't live with that fact.
I wish that Yes could and or would play Realyer material..Soon?? that just doesnt cut the mustard in my book...

Yes rehearsed Gates (full!) for the last tour and it didnt stick...

So sad....Rick, as far as I can tell, was the crux in the buscuit in that SNAFU..

I would have loved to have heard GoD on the 2004 Yes tour...

Maybe next time ;)

Hey Scootie!

I'm not sure if they DID practice 'GATES' in full last year... I know that we are referring to the same source here: 'GATES' was written on somebody's practice set-list, but I wonder if 'GATES' wasn't just 'shorthand' for 'Soon Oh Soon'.

Now There's a question for The Big Guy!

Did YES in fact actually practice the entirety of GATES with Wakeman in tow? Ponder ponder...

My bet is that they never did a complete run-through with Wakey, but it would be the bollocks if they did! Wish wish wish I was a fly in the rehearsal studio... A fly with an MP3 recorder! ;)

Brutha Erl:ele:

[Scooty]

Hey Scootie!

Now There's a question for The Big Guy!

Did YES in fact actually practice the entirety of GATES with Wakeman in tow? Ponder ponder...


Brutha Erl:ele:

True EG...A very valid and good question for the Big Guy next time I talk to him!!

I am now pondering....

[Earl Grey]

I wish I'd thunk thunk thunk of it when he was taking our questions (HARHAR! Whatalyfe!) in 'chat' the other day, but you know... You can never think of what to ask when the time comes.

:rolleyes: So it goes! Good question...

[PO]

... Even the cover is icy...

I stopped looking at covers or listening to anyone until I heard the music, just the music, in a darkened room. All other trappings, distractions, and comparisons disappear and only the music stands.

I found that preconceived notions colored my opinions.

All of the heart of Tales is on Relayer. Create an unbiased, but musically open, atmosphere and approach it with innocence. Accept that Yes felt this was Yes when it was done. It's there.

[Earl Grey]

I stopped looking at covers or listening to anyone until I heard the music, just the music, in a darkened room. All other trappings, distractions, and comparisons disappear and only the music stands.

I found that preconceived notions colored my opinions.

All of the heart of Tales is on Relayer. Create an unbiased, but musically open, atmosphere and approach it with innocence. Accept that Yes felt this was Yes when it was done. It's there.

That was blotty brilliant Poastby.

Yer feet R Longfellower than mi'own! Got a bunyun, Paul Bunyan. Hurts when I stumble on my dangling participle.

Cool post dude! :ele:

url:yesbird:

[PO]

Thanks, Earl. Let's get Mike "on our turf" and in the right mood. We'll listen to it with him. Mike, you'll love Relayer when we're through.

Paul

[Earl Grey]

I was honored to meet Patrick Moraz this year.

Patrick Moraz is a sage.

RELAYER was the first YES album that I ever called my own.

I loved it more than TALES when I heard it (Though later, I learned to love TALES as much and beyond and much and beyond and much... beyon... sorry!).

It's all good. Really.

Moraz. A Sage.

uRL :yesbird:

[SonicDeath10]

Wakeman doesn't like the material.

[remembering]

Wakeman doesn't like the material.

Yeah, Rick doesn't like Tales either. I think Relayer is a great progression from Tales - Remembering (High The Memory) first introduced us to Relayer. It would have been the third or fourth album I purchased. Played Gates till death (I even used some of the words for English homework and made out I wrote them myself!)

I find it heartening to hear other people talk about Sound Chaser and To Be Over and not just Gates.

Relayer - fantastic stuff
__________________________________________________ _____________
We Dream as we dream dream as one
And I do think very well

[SonicDeath10]

i agree with you on that one. but rick probably wouldn't want to play relayer stuff now that he's in the band because a) he didn't play on it. that's not that important: he plays owner, and the stuff from the first three yes albums right and fine but that leads to b) he just didn't like that sort of music. He'll probably play Tales stuff, as he did play on it, and he likes a lot of the music, stating that 50 minutes of it was great.

i can understand why he wouldn't want to play it, given what he thinks about it, but it's a shame that he won't. Relayer is number two best yes album, after close to the edge.

[PO]

It's odd. Any non A-list musician or ANY session player that had inconsistent likes and dislikes that limited a musical organization (i.e. a band) that paid him would be considered very unprofessional.

Tom Brislin came up with a great solo for Owner on the Symphonic DVD. He made it sound true to the original, yet played it on the keyboards. He may not care for the song, but look at the work he put into it.

Brislin also added a harmony line that duplicated an overdub of Steve's on Ritual. Very meticulous care and musicianship went into that. Wakey never did it.

Now THAT is a pro.

A pro may not care for a particular tune, but when the band decides to do it, it should be your favorite song in the world when it's being played. That's what pro's do.

The writers have much more leeway since they are the originators. In that context it's the individual's choice (and that of the audience!).

[Vic W.]

It's odd. Any non A-list musician or ANY session player that had inconsistent likes and dislikes that limited a musical organization (i.e. a band) that paid him would be considered very unprofessional.

Well, supposedly Squire is the one who nixed To Be Over. And they did do Soon, so obviously Wakeman is not boycotting the whole album for whatever reason.

The problem with Yes is they have so much material to choose from. They can't represent every album in a single tour. Relayer definitely deserves to be played.

Soundchaser would make an excellent opening number. And I'd LOVE to hear To Be Over, which coincidentally would be an excellent song to follow Gates, as Gates winds down on a cathartic note, and TBO begins on that gentle plane and builds back up to an explosion of energy...

[Topographic][Sardaukar]

It's odd. Any non A-list musician or ANY session player that had inconsistent likes and dislikes that limited a musical organization (i.e. a band) that paid him would be considered very unprofessional.

Tom Brislin came up with a great solo for Owner on the Symphonic DVD. He made it sound true to the original, yet played it on the keyboards. He may not care for the song, but look at the work he put into it.

Brislin also added a harmony line that duplicated an overdub of Steve's on Ritual. Very meticulous care and musicianship went into that. Wakey never did it.

Now THAT is a pro.

A pro may not care for a particular tune, but when the band decides to do it, it should be your favorite song in the world when it's being played. That's what pro's do.

The writers have much more leeway since they are the originators. In that context it's the individual's choice (and that of the audience!).

Hear, hear! Brislin was quite the pro and a joy to watch and listen to. Unfortunately, the members of Yes can pretty much do as they please... I know I'll be around for as long as these guys are doing stuff, no matter what it is and I think most of their fans will, too.

[Mike Watkins]

Well, any album that is thought so highly of by Paul, Tim & Earl (among many others) deserves a fresh chance by me.

I look forward to it.

[SonicDeath10]

Relaaaayeeeeeer!

[jaynote1]

im really surprised that 'anyone' thot that the Relayer album was pretentious.....a lot of my friends didnt understand it, and a few of them didnt like or didnt get the 'cha cha cha' of Soundchaser....but no one really mentioned the word pretentious when discussing it....When everyone else was writing and performing anti-war songs, here comes Yes with a song exploring the emotions and revelations of the warrior....and while Soundchaser may not be exactly straight-forward rock and roll, i can think of very few songs that rock harder....To Be Over ranks among my least-favorite Yes songs, but I still like it(except for the Queenspark tour video cut, sheesh).....but all in all, I think Relayer is an excellent example of the virtuosity of the musicians, and incredibly underrated across the board...............

[allgoodyes]

Relayer is a great album. Yes was really "in the zone" when they served up this tasty and complex offering. "Gates of Delerium" is a powerful epic, "Sound Chaser" is a jazz/rock solar fusion and "To Be Over" is a celestial triumph.

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Wow. This thread has grown.

Relayer rocks :violin: :band: :drummer:

[Vic W.]

Relayer is a great album. Yes was really "in the zone" when they served up this tasty and complex offering. "Gates of Delerium" is a powerful epic, "Sound Chaser" is a jazz/rock solar fusion and "To Be Over" is a celestial triumph.

Great one sentence synopsis.

I also like jaynote1's boildown of Gates - "exploring the emotions and revelations of the warrior...."

[Garbs]

I have recently acquired a copy of Relayer and I agree with a lot of comments on this thread that it is indeed an excellent piece of work. I have always been a fan of progressive music and this album plays a big part of that world - I think Sound Chaser if fantastic, the bass rocks ! It's not too long in length but has that meaningful vibe to it - just switch off the lights and turn up the volume.

There's a guy who I work with who is older than me and was fortunate enough to "grow up" with Yes until Tales From Topographic Oceans came out. The album was released the same day as Yes played a gig at Newcastle City Hall and it was played in its enitirety !! - the guy was basically bored to tears with the gig and has hardly ever played TFTO or Yes in general for that matter since. I was amazed by this to be quite honest so I thought I'd lend him Relayer all these years later to see if the Yes bug would return. His verdict on it - "absolute drivel".

I find it hard to believe how :-

a) you like prog

b) you love Yes (from Yes to Close to the Edge)

c) you listen to Tales from Topographic Oceans once and then kapow !!! Yes are history

He also said because bands like Yes were releasing albums like TFTO and Relayer prog died and punk came in. I whole heartedly disagreed with his comments and re-iterated TFTO and Relayer were very important 1970s prog albums.

Has anyone else heard similar stories to these ?

[SonicDeath10]

punk didn't happen to "fix" prog that's just silly i hate when people say that. Punk happened because kids just wanted to play some rock and roll music that they loved, it really honestly had little to do with prog. Some people say they were reacting against it, in retrospect, but really that was really rather small. Punk would have happened any ways, and punk didn't really "happen". Bands like that played all over the world since the beginning of time. IT is really rather silly to think of it as "something that spontaneously happened in response to prog." Those bands just became famous around that time, having been around forever.

[YESMAN90125]

it seems to me that punk was around
3-4 power chords
a few catchy antisocial lyrics and teenage angst
just really it was a return to simple rock and roll

there's room for lots of kinds of music


and making teenagers depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel(bart simpson)

:music-smi

I dont think anything Yes or the popular bands of the 70s prog golden age
Did influenced the downfall of the Golden age

but you have to admit that it must be cheaper to record and produce a punk band
than a prog band requiring lots mor technical skill and often using many many instuments and multi tracks over dubs space sounds
new synth tecniques
certinly the cost factor
from the record company standpoint has allways played a role in shaping popular music
and like any business if you can do it cheaper and easier and still make money .........................you figure it out
I heard Union cost over 10 million to make
I bet Combat rock by the clash was cheaper

[SonicDeath10]

:homer:

[YESMAN90125]

When everyone else was writing and performing anti-war songs, here comes Yes with a song exploring the emotions and revelations of the warrior....and while board...............
"Vic@Huuu"I also like jaynote1's boildown of Gates - "exploring the emotions and revelations of the warrior...."


the warrior Arjuna -inspired by the Bhagavad gita
doesnt want to fight
and stands to consider what he's about to do
(as the leader of an army about to do battle with another army containing many of his relatives and teachers)
He rides to the field of battle in a chariot
to defend the honor of his father -the king.

Stand and fight we do consider
Reminded of an inner pact between us
That's seen as we go
And ride there
In motion
To fields in debts of honor
Defending

Arjuna has his Chariot driven to a high place to observe the battlefield
seeing both armies prepared to start the battle
with all their great weapons at the ready

Arjuna knows his cause is just
and he sees no other course of action
but to battle as is his duty
however he is very conflicted
because he believes killing is evil
and he admires many of the people in the opposing army
his Generals look to him to begin the battle


Stand the marchers soaring talons,
Peaceful lives will not deliver freedom,
Fighting we know,
Destroy oppression
The point to reaction
As leaders look to you
Attacking


But Arjuna is so overcome
his nature is peacefull
he feels unable to begin the battle
he drops his weapons to the ground
and says "I will not Fight"
it would be better for me to be killed than to kill others!
the commanders and members of his army
are flabbergasted Ajuna is known for his bravery
and they wonder about the Dejection of their leader


Choose and renounce throwing chains to the floor.
Kill or be killing faster sins correct the flow.
Casting giant shadows off vast penetrating force
To alter via the war that seen
As friction spans the spirits wrath ascending (slowly) to redeem.

Wars that shout in screams of anguish,
Power spent passion bespoils our soul receiver,
Surely we know.
In glory
We rise to offer,
Create our freedom,
A word we utter,
A word.

Arjuna's Chariot driver is his friend and a person of high honor in his society

he is Lord Sri Bhagavan Krishna

and Krishna see's the reaction his friend is having
Krishna consoles lectures and has a dialoge with
Arjuna
and in this dialoge
Krishna reveals himself to be an incarnation of God
Krishna informs Arjuna that he is in the position he is in
because it is his duty and karmic place to be there
that ,like it or not, Arjuna is the leader of this group about to do battle
he can embrace his destiny or falter and Krishna advises him to Pick up his weapons and embrce his destiny as a great warrior in a riteous battle.
Krishna explains that the battles outcome has already been decided
by him and all the actual -actions taking place -are of krishnas design.

Words cause our banner, victorious our day.
Will silence be promised as violence display?
The curse increased we fight the power
And live by it by day.
Our gods awake in thunderous roars,
And guide the leaders' hand in paths of glory to the cause.


Arjuna is not convinced though he respects Krishnas council
and he continues to ask if the killing is morally right
desiring Krishna to dispell his confusion and fear


Listen, should we fight forever
Knowing as we do know fear destroys?
Listen, should we leave our children?
Listen, our lives stare in silence;
Help us now.


Krishna reveals himself in his true form
as GOD creating -sustaining -and devouring universes
this overwhelms arjuna
who basicly says "Turn It OFF"!!!!!!!!!!!
but it also convinces Arjuna of Krishnas divinity
and he resolves to follow krishnas advice
and fight the battle with all his might
having been instructed on the true nature of the soul
indestructable
and undying -infinate
Krishna reveals that even the battle is part of an illusion
that he himself is creating
and that Arjuna has been reincarnated many times
and will be again though he doesnt remember


Listen, your friends have been broken,
They tell us of your poison; now we know.
Kill them, give them as they give us.
Slay them, burn their childrens' laughter
On to hell.

The fist will run, grasp metal to gun.
The spirit sings in crashing tones,
We gain the battle drum.
Our cries will shrill, the air will moan and crash into the dawn.

Krishna explains that the "enemy" has fallen from the path of good
and turned to evil and that his destruction will be the destruction of the evil
which will set things on the proper course again
further affirming that arjuna must take action
and fight even though he is a peacefull person
in order to maintain peace -he must become a mighty warrior.

The pen won't stay the demon's wings,
The hour approaches pounding out the Devil's sermon.


in the End
it is revealed that the battle was all within Arjunas Heart-Mind
that he had to kill off ideas of self and selfishness
to infact undo his egoic personality
and realize his own connection to the Divine
or thAT HE IN FACT IS PART OF "THE LIGHT"
which "SOON" he will follow
having destroyed the ego
and won the battle
A battle that goes on within us all

Soon, oh soon the light,
Pass within and soothe this endless night
And wait here for you,
Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the time,
All we move to gain will reach and calm;
Our heart is open,
Our reason to be here.

Long ago, set into rhyme.
Soon, oh soon the light,
Ours to shape for all time,
Ours the right;
The sun will lead us,
Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the light,
Ours to shape for all time,
Ours the right;
The sun will lead us,
Our reason to be here.

[Vic W.]

"Long ago, set into rhyme."

Nice, YESMAN90125!

[Timmo]

Yesman90125, great analysis of Gates and the Bhagavad Gita (which, if anyone hasn't read it, is one of the most stunningly gorgeous religious writings ever).

I myself have thought of the dialogs of Arjuna and Krishna while listening to Gates.

Well done!

[Mike Watkins]

There's a guy who I work with who is older than me and was fortunate enough to "grow up" with Yes until Tales From Topographic Oceans came out. The album was released the same day as Yes played a gig at Newcastle City Hall and it was played in its enitirety !! - the guy was basically bored to tears with the gig and has hardly ever played TFTO or Yes in general for that matter since. I was amazed by this to be quite honest so I thought I'd lend him Relayer all these years later to see if the Yes bug would return. His verdict on it - "absolute drivel".

I find it hard to believe how :-

a) you like prog

b) you love Yes (from Yes to Close to the Edge)

c) you listen to Tales from Topographic Oceans once and then kapow !!! Yes are history

He also said because bands like Yes were releasing albums like TFTO and Relayer prog died and punk came in. I whole heartedly disagreed with his comments and re-iterated TFTO and Relayer were very important 1970s prog albums.

Has anyone else heard similar stories to these ?Eliminate "drivel" and (c) from the list and I'm pretty much "that guy" as well. I love TFTO and that tour was my first Yes concert. And I can't comment about the history of prog or punk since I really don't know or care. But Yes pretty much lost me after Tales. I never cared for Relayer, though I tried it again recently but felt the same. I like parts of some later releases, but you get the idea.

But here I am at the site because their first 6 or so albums had SUCH an impact on me. And anything else is gravy. But hey, it's all good. Something great to listen to from time to time. And some fine folks to meet and greet at this site!

[Deliriumyes]

I love Relayer...I love it, I love it, I love it. I have listened to it twice today. I feel the need to defend To Be Over...the lyrics should say it all:

"We go sailing down the calming streams, drifting endlessly by a bridge.
To be over, we will see, to be over.
Do not suffer through the game of chance that plays; always doors to lock away your dreams.
Think it over, time will heal your fear, think it over.
Balance the thoughts that release within you.

Childlike soul dreamer.
One journey, one to seek and see in every light to open true pathways a way.
Carrying closer, go gently, holding doors will open every way you wander true pathways a way.
After all your soul will still surrender.
After all. Don't doubt your part, be ready to be loved.


Oh, and then there's Steve!!!! 'Nuf said!

[allpurechance]

I love Relayer...I love it, I love it, I love it. I have listened to it twice today. I feel the need to defend To Be Over...the lyrics should say it all:

"We go sailing down the calming streams, drifting endlessly by a bridge.
To be over, we will see, to be over.
Do not suffer through the game of chance that plays; always doors to lock away your dreams.
Think it over, time will heal your fear, think it over.
Balance the thoughts that release within you.

Childlike soul dreamer.
One journey, one to seek and see in every light to open true pathways a way.
Carrying closer, go gently, holding doors will open every way you wander true pathways a way.
After all your soul will still surrender.
After all. Don't doubt your part, be ready to be loved.


Oh, and then there's Steve!!!! 'Nuf said!

You don't have to defend To Be Over to me!!...lol-

One of those Yessongs,and I think you know whereof I speak,which has weathered the test of time so well,so amazingly.This song,The Remembering,and anything they choose to play live that's not on the usual setlists(correction-anything Yes chooses to play live.Period.)...

Yeah,To be Over.A coupla hundred years from now,there will be great wonderment at the general lack of appreciation for this piece from us,the present day listeners,or from us back then,when it was released.

This is just one reason why Relayer only gets better over time,as time passes(Topographic,too...so much of Yes' work!).Twenty-plus minutes of the monumental Gates Of Delirium,another ten or so minutes of the unbelievably frantic and marvellous(my brother says that this is their best work,ever!)Sound Chaser,all this,and To Be Over,too!

In another age I used to feel that this was an anticlimactic conclusion to Relayer.I was so much younger,then.Dumber(I know,I know-hard to believe!lmaoOOOOOOOoo)!

In it's own sweet,beautiful way,To Be Over is the perfect ending,maybe the only possible ending to a classic on a par with Relayer.

Who knew,way back then?I didn't!

I suspect they did,though(Yes).Steve did!(my appreciation of Steve's work continues to evolve...I may never fully understand it or appreciate it,but I'm never going to stop trying!Such has been the reward of the effort thus far!)

And Yes,indeed,Jon's lyrics,too!And the wonderful vocalizing all over the track!

Geeze,now I wish I could cue it up and give it a listen,right this minute!And you got to listen to it twice,today!


That's it!lmaoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo----Relayer,tomorrow!Gotta be done!!!

[Earl Grey]

"Vic@Huuu"I also like jaynote1's boildown of Gates - "exploring the emotions and revelations of the warrior...."


the warrior Arjuna -inspired by the Bhagavad gita
doesnt want to fight
and stands to consider what he's about to do
(as the leader of an army about to do battle with another army containing many of his relatives and teachers)
He rides to the field of battle in a chariot
to defend the honor of his father -the king.

Stand and fight we do consider
Reminded of an inner pact between us
That's seen as we go
And ride there
In motion
To fields in debts of honor
Defending

Arjuna has his Chariot driven to a high place to observe the battlefield
seeing both armies prepared to start the battle
with all their great weapons at the ready

Arjuna knows his cause is just
and he sees no other course of action
but to battle as is his duty
however he is very conflicted
because he believes killing is evil
and he admires many of the people in the opposing army
his Generals look to him to begin the battle


Stand the marchers soaring talons,
Peaceful lives will not deliver freedom,
Fighting we know,
Destroy oppression
The point to reaction
As leaders look to you
Attacking


But Arjuna is so overcome
his nature is peacefull
he feels unable to begin the battle
he drops his weapons to the ground
and says "I will not Fight"
it would be better for me to be killed than to kill others!
the commanders and members of his army
are flabbergasted Ajuna is known for his bravery
and they wonder about the Dejection of their leader


Choose and renounce throwing chains to the floor.
Kill or be killing faster sins correct the flow.
Casting giant shadows off vast penetrating force
To alter via the war that seen
As friction spans the spirits wrath ascending (slowly) to redeem.

Wars that shout in screams of anguish,
Power spent passion bespoils our soul receiver,
Surely we know.
In glory
We rise to offer,
Create our freedom,
A word we utter,
A word.

Arjuna's Chariot driver is his friend and a person of high honor in his society

he is Lord Sri Bhagavan Krishna

and Krishna see's the reaction his friend is having
Krishna consoles lectures and has a dialoge with
Arjuna
and in this dialoge
Krishna reveals himself to be an incarnation of God
Krishna informs Arjuna that he is in the position he is in
because it is his duty and karmic place to be there
that ,like it or not, Arjuna is the leader of this group about to do battle
he can embrace his destiny or falter and Krishna advises him to Pick up his weapons and embrce his destiny as a great warrior in a riteous battle.
Krishna explains that the battles outcome has already been decided
by him and all the actual -actions taking place -are of krishnas design.

Words cause our banner, victorious our day.
Will silence be promised as violence display?
The curse increased we fight the power
And live by it by day.
Our gods awake in thunderous roars,
And guide the leaders' hand in paths of glory to the cause.


Arjuna is not convinced though he respects Krishnas council
and he continues to ask if the killing is morally right
desiring Krishna to dispell his confusion and fear


Listen, should we fight forever
Knowing as we do know fear destroys?
Listen, should we leave our children?
Listen, our lives stare in silence;
Help us now.


Krishna reveals himself in his true form
as GOD creating -sustaining -and devouring universes
this overwhelms arjuna
who basicly says "Turn It OFF"!!!!!!!!!!!
but it also convinces Arjuna of Krishnas divinity
and he resolves to follow krishnas advice
and fight the battle with all his might
having been instructed on the true nature of the soul
indestructable
and undying -infinate
Krishna reveals that even the battle is part of an illusion
that he himself is creating
and that Arjuna has been reincarnated many times
and will be again though he doesnt remember


Listen, your friends have been broken,
They tell us of your poison; now we know.
Kill them, give them as they give us.
Slay them, burn their childrens' laughter
On to hell.

The fist will run, grasp metal to gun.
The spirit sings in crashing tones,
We gain the battle drum.
Our cries will shrill, the air will moan and crash into the dawn.

Krishna explains that the "enemy" has fallen from the path of good
and turned to evil and that his destruction will be the destruction of the evil
which will set things on the proper course again
further affirming that arjuna must take action
and fight even though he is a peacefull person
in order to maintain peace -he must become a mighty warrior.

The pen won't stay the demon's wings,
The hour approaches pounding out the Devil's sermon.


in the End
it is revealed that the battle was all within Arjunas Heart-Mind
that he had to kill off ideas of self and selfishness
to infact undo his egoic personality
and realize his own connection to the Divine
or thAT HE IN FACT IS PART OF "THE LIGHT"
which "SOON" he will follow
having destroyed the ego
and won the battle
A battle that goes on within us all

Soon, oh soon the light,
Pass within and soothe this endless night
And wait here for you,
Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the time,
All we move to gain will reach and calm;
Our heart is open,
Our reason to be here.

Long ago, set into rhyme.
Soon, oh soon the light,
Ours to shape for all time,
Ours the right;
The sun will lead us,
Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the light,
Ours to shape for all time,
Ours the right;
The sun will lead us,
Our reason to be here.

This was a brilliant post. My favorite this month. Your grasp of the subtext of GATES is original, fresh, and thought-provoking. You hit the thing on the head there Compadre!

My favorite post this month. Well done!

Yours,
Earl Grey:yesbird:

[YESMAN90125]

does that mean I have to do to be over and sound chaser too? LOL

thank you all!

[Deliriumyes]

You don't have to defend To Be Over to me!!...lol-

One of those Yessongs,and I think you know whereof I speak,which has weathered the test of time so well,so amazingly.This song,The Remembering,and anything they choose to play live that's not on the usual setlists(correction-anything Yes chooses to play live.Period.)...

Yeah,To be Over.A coupla hundred years from now,there will be great wonderment at the general lack of appreciation for this piece from us,the present day listeners,or from us back then,when it was released.

This is just one reason why Relayer only gets better over time,as time passes(Topographic,too...so much of Yes' work!).Twenty-plus minutes of the monumental Gates Of Delirium,another ten or so minutes of the unbelievably frantic and marvellous(my brother says that this is their best work,ever!)Sound Chaser,all this,and To Be Over,too!

In another age I used to feel that this was an anticlimactic conclusion to Relayer.I was so much younger,then.Dumber(I know,I know-hard to believe!lmaoOOOOOOOoo)!

In it's own sweet,beautiful way,To Be Over is the perfect ending,maybe the only possible ending to a classic on a par with Relayer.

Who knew,way back then?I didn't!

I suspect they did,though(Yes).Steve did!(my appreciation of Steve's work continues to evolve...I may never fully understand it or appreciate it,but I'm never going to stop trying!Such has been the reward of the effort thus far!)

And Yes,indeed,Jon's lyrics,too!And the wonderful vocalizing all over the track!

Geeze,now I wish I could cue it up and give it a listen,right this minute!And you got to listen to it twice,today!


That's it!lmaoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo----Relayer,tomorrow!Gotta be done!!!


Thanks, AllPureChance. I tried to rep you, but apparently, I "Must spread it around" Ah Well, time to go on a repping spree. I'm glad so many of you out there concur with my passion for Relayer. It's nice to be understood!

[SonicDeath10]

To Be Over floats hauntingly by, beautiful, but you must pay close attention to notice this. The Beauty of the track lies in the drifing nature: nothing else does this in the Yes catalog the way To Be Over does, and it's haunting in it's apparently simplicity.

But paying close attention to steve's playing, and you'll notice the strange complexity of the track. He's alternating between a lot of different guitars: one minute there's a beautiful acoustic melody, then wham a slide guitar: two seconds later a trademark steve howe electric guitar solo. in it's own relaxed way, it's as spastic as the rest of Relayer.

[Deliriumyes]

Well Said, SonicDeath10!

[allpurechance]

Well, this intrigued me, so I looked around and found this link to the Hugo winners . . .

http://worldcon.org/hy.html#70

The short story winner in 1970 was "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones" - could that be the one you're remembering?

Looked up the link,Dianne...

All I could figure was the story Stardance by Spider & Jeanne Robinson(1978,Short Story category).Somehow these names stuck in my head even before I embarked on this odd mnemonic quest(lol!).

I do remember this,I'm tellin' ya!

Maybe it was a Nebula award winner?...I dunno.

Something doesn't sound right about Stardance,yet the Spider & Jeanne pairing is ringing(albeit faint,lmao)bells...

[geddy]

Best album they have ever done,Moraz brought new life into the group.

[Jackaranda]

Have I said this here? Can't remember. Anyway, I'm going to get Relayer for my oldest son. That'll turn him into a classic Yes fan (he's a YesWest fan now) because I know he's gonna really get into it.

[geddy]

The best lp,cd,tape,8 track they have ever done

[Timmo]

I'd say the people have spoken.

11 call it "Overrated" or "Terrible" or "It's OK."

164 think it's "Underrated" or "Great!"

[PO]

We won, Timmo !!!

[SonicDeath10]

It's okay but it's no "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"

[Timmo]

We won, Timmo !!!YAY FOR US!

I just listened to Relayer in its entirety.

I still think that Gates is one of the best pieces of music written in the 20th Century. And the rest is just as good.

WE WANT RELAYER MUSIC ON THE NEXT TOUR.

In our conversation, Chris indicated that "To Be Over" wasn't out of the question. So at least there's hope!

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Yeah, looking back now, I would've voted "great."

But I still think TBO is a bit overrated.

[Timmo]

Listen again to Steve's telecaster solo, grasshopper.

:git[1]: :lmao:

[sherriff_johnbrown]

I'VE HEARD IT.

Verdict is over-rated!

[Scooty]

I'VE HEARD IT.

Verdict is over-rated!


Bah!!
Overated my butt!!

TBO is killer stuff


Now let me continue my boozing in peace ;)

[Amy]

In our conversation, Chris indicated that "To Be Over" wasn't out of the question. So at least there's hope!
OH! HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE??!!

[raz]

I voted Great.

It's such a smooth album of true to Yes form at the time, 3 individual pieces of music which can be listened as a single entity!

I loved reading the post earlier which explains 'Gates' and the meaning behind it.
The vision of that song is so strong in me right now.

Peace

[Rocksurfer]

I could be biased on this one since I road my sting-ray bicycle all the way from Santa Monica to the Hollywood Bowl to see my first ever Yes concert!!! So this album and tour bring back some memories beyond just the album itself.

[francoyo]

Is that what they are! I always heard it as

Sun ray, sun flower
Sun ray, two sun
Sun ray, sun flower
All on a sunday

I was way off then. Some fine singing there, whatever the words.

And heard it like

someday, somehow....

i´m really crazy. it´s a beautiful end to the song. as soon, it touched my soul.

[relayerjim]

Great Great Great Great!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rhayader]

I'm no expert on Yes cuz i only discovered them recently. The only albums i have are from their 'classic' period starting from the Yes album through Fragile, CTTE, Tales and finally Relayer. I would say it's a bit overrated compared to the others in this list. To be over is a great track but i prefer the long compostions on Tales to the Gates of Delirium except for maybe the 'Soon' section. Go on tell me i'm crazy...

[GoD57]

I'm no expert on Yes cuz i only discovered them recently. The only albums i have are from their 'classic' period starting from the Yes album through Fragile, CTTE, Tales and finally Relayer. I would say it's a bit overrated compared to the others in this list. To be over is a great track but i prefer the long compostions on Tales to the Gates of Delirium except for maybe the 'Soon' section. Go on tell me i'm crazy...



You're crazy!



Bill

[Amy]

Looks like I voted "Underrated" way back when and never posted it.
So...posting it now.
Not too many albums beat Relayer. Great doesn't even describe it.
It really goes beyond that. Awesome...for sure.

[Jackaranda]

Looks like I voted "Underrated" way back when and never posted it.
So...posting it now.
Not too many albums beat Relayer. Great doesn't even describe it.
It really goes beyond that. Awesome...for sure.

:ele: :smksml: :dance: :heydude: :yesbird:


I believe she has SEEN THE LIGHT!!

[Whitefish]

I can't say enough great things about it! An A+!

[harrisongs]

This is, by far, my favorite YES Album. Musically, the boys were at a creative high. I find it a more cohesive and accessable piece than TFTO (and how I love TFTO). The only problem I have with it is sonically. The sound quality is aweful. And, no matter how they remix it, it cannot capture what is not there.

[Mostly Harmless]

Relayer is not my favorite Yes album, but it's right up there. It is, however, the Yes album that surprised me the most at the time of it's release. I remember thinking, "Holy Sh**!, where did they get this sound!" I fell in love with Soon instantly.

[Jon08]

Gates of Delirium made me love Yes. It's my favorite song ever. And will probably remain so for a long time.

[Starless]

It was hard to expect from band to do something like TFTO or CTTE after Wakeman's departure. I should even say that it wasn't possible, but Moraz !!! No words ... iT WAS GREAT ! Another one significant group's output ! And it's all after Rick and Bill left the band !

[rmig68]

To me, Relayer was the peak of Yes' confidence in themselves. This album stretches the boundaries of imagination and concept. Even the lyrics are fully realized. The boys playing at their best. One doesn't need to have anything explained on this album.

Gates of Delirium is about War & Peace and the lyrics and music convey that awful/ beautiful message, carried on the wings of that violent attack and then the realization that peace and love and togetherness must win out. Sound Chaser, taking you on that "electric freeedom" trip, waves of psychedelic energy coursing through your mind, body and soul. And who hasn't thought about drifting down that hazy, summery river of dreamy consiousness, twig in mouth, imagination open, when listening to To Be Over?

Relayer truly is a masterpiece...

[YYY]

To me, Relayer was the peak of Yes' confidence in themselves. This album stretches the boundaries of imagination and concept. Even the lyrics are fully realized. The boys playing at their best. One doesn't need to have anything explained on this album.

Gates of Delirium is about War & Peace and the lyrics and music convey that awful/ beautiful message, carried on the wings of that violent attack and then the realization that peace and love and togetherness must win out. Sound Chaser, taking you on that "electric freedom" trip, waves of psychedelic energy coursing through your mind, body and soul. And who hasn't thought about drifting down that hazy, summery river of dreamy consiousness, twig in mouth, imagination open, when listening to To Be Over?

Relayer truly is a masterpiece...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

electric freedom is the key 'word'

The whole albums flows like One complete burst of pure imagination and inspiration. No hitches, glitches or filler. Complex yet perfectly clear in its intent. The journey begins and ends exactly where it should

[relayeire]

it depends on who is doing the rating, I guess... Yesfans like me seem to rate it qite highly... I imagine the critics wouldn't, though...

[rmig68]

I must admit to missing something. Twice in the last week I heard how sonically awful Relayer is. Is this the prevailing thought? I always thought that it sounded great. Not just for it's time but even now. I hear clear seperation and clarity in each instrument. The drums are full and crisp where they need to be and warm and deep in other places. Compared to the paper-tinny drum sound of most of the 70's, Relayer was light years ahead.

I admit to not liking the sound of Topographic Oceans (muddy and soft) and Tormato (rubbery, electro-mush), but I especially like Steve's Telecaster sound on Relayer. The more orchestral parts are deep and symphonic.

I will say that in a couple of spots the "editing" could have been better and there are noticable breaks in areas, but again, only a couple of spots, but still, I love the sound.

[SonicDeath10]

I always loved Steve's guitar sound; thick and vicious, without being overly metallic like on Drama (though I like that tone too.) Thought it made the whole album. I've never liked live versions of "Gates of Delirum" because of that.

But I actually think people are talking about the remastered version of the album. I've heard a lot of complaints about it; I've never noticed, but people can be very fickle sometimes. I'm very irritated by the fact that I have the first two The Nice albums in very beautiful sound while the third is really muddy. Makes me sad.

[luckeydoug1]

As hard as I try, this album still doesn't do anything positive for me. I even bought the piano songbook to see if that would help me better understand the music, but it hasn't helped. This album remains my least favorite Yes album, by a long distance. Had this been my first exposure to Yes music, I probably wouldn't be a Yes fan today.

[YESOLA]

I never feel this great album gets enough credit - so I'll say underrated

[CybrKhatru]

Underrated---by the public at large....definitely not by Yes fans!

Regarding the sound quality....to me the remastered versions have increased clarity, but are also harsher in tone; so far if I don't listen to the vinyl, I like the original Atlantic CD.

--Matt

[zoran]

My favorite Yesalbum!

Patrick Moraz jazzy style completed a whole Yes-sound picture.

[YESYOUANDI]

REAL as it gets....
Soon o' soon the light,
Our reason to be here!
Cheers fans...

[allpurechance]

Underrated---by the public at large....definitely not by Yes fans!

Regarding the sound quality....to me the remastered versions have increased clarity, but are also harsher in tone; so far if I don't listen to the vinyl, I like the original Atlantic CD.

--Matt

The same old friend I mentioned just a little while ago and I used to debate this very point, Matt.

He used the word "compressed" to describe what Offord had done to/with Relayer.Offord as we all know was a very accomplished producer and renowned for 'sound'.

Certainly he knew that there was something 'going on' with this album, that he had to deal with it as a special case.

And, so he did!

My friend and I would always wind up the discussion agreeing that Offord had made the right choices on the album.Difficult thing it had to be to try to come to grips with...all the things...EVERYthing that's going on with Relayer!

[Timmo]

Underrated---by the public at large....definitely not by Yes fans!

Regarding the sound quality....to me the remastered versions have increased clarity, but are also harsher in tone; so far if I don't listen to the vinyl, I like the original Atlantic CD.

--MattCoughvinyldeuchecough

[milestownyes]

The only thing better than the Relayer album is to hear the pieces performed live. From the first day I heard it I thought Soundchaser summed up everything Yes is, was and ever could be. It's incredible.

[Roan's Lady]

Relayer is Yes at the very top of their game. Best album of theirs, and easily one of the best albums in the history of progressive r 'n' r....

Hey, old thread here! :headset:

[allen toth]

I would love to see, the 6 People who voted "Terrible", to Band together, and ATTEMPT to perform this piece of Music. Freakin' Morons. To call this Album "Terrible", is pure Musical Ignorance.

[yesyadda]

I'd certainly rate some Yes songs as "terrible" and would draw criticism for it. Relayer is a very unique complicated work. I love it to death do us part!

[siberian bruford]

An overrated album? An underrated album? Too flashy? A fluffy album? What do you think?

3A

For me "The Gates of Delirium" (from Relayer) is a musical masterpiece (after Close to The Edge) with so many shifts in time signatures which instill such atmospherics that seem to "transport" you to some other place and the catastrophic middle bit (some call it the messy bit) depicts an armageddon end of the world type scenario that calms at the end with ....."Soon oh soon......." is so peaceful and thought provoking.

Yeh ! Brilliant !

SB

[mageestout]

As I said in another thread, when I bought the RELAYER album as a teenager in the 1980's I wasn't really sold on it. Then again I was a naive 14 year old kid. I still listened to it becaues YES was my band and they could do no wrong.

As I've gotten older, and broader in my listening choices RELAYER really opened up my eyes and ears. It's always tough to say what is your "favourite" LP, song, moment, etc. but I could say RELAYER rates up at the top for me.

GATES - this one took the longest to hit me, now I rate it as one of my 5 favourite YES songs. I really enjoy the YESSONGS version too. They take something great and make it better.

SOUND CHASER - Being a guitarist I must say thet Steve MUST have some fingers on his hand that we, the public, are unaware of.

TO BE OVER - I loved this from the start. Such a great song. Steve's version on NATURAL TIMBRE is great too.

The thing that amazes me with RELAYER is that there are folks out there who love it but don't care for other YES music (I've seen this with DRAMA too). And although I'd like those people to embrace all of YES's music to have them enjoy 10% instead of 0% is alright with me.