How I got here

[earthskyduality]

Okay this is my first thread. I just wanted to say hi and tell you a litte about me.

Music was a huge part of my life when I was a kid. I remember when Abbey road was first released and debating in at recess in elementary school who was better the Beatles or the Monkees. LOL The first bands I remember liking were the Doors, Black Sabbath, Led Zep and Bowie. When I was about 14, a friend turned me on to an album by a band I had never heard of before. The album was called the Yes Album.

I loved it right away. The music was fantasitic - symphonic in a way but with an organic quality I really liked. Even back then I was into astronomy and sci-fi and the whole Starship Trooper, Yours is no disgrace (still one of my faves) hooked me on to this new band. So, yes became one of my favorite bands during my teens.

The first concert I ever went to was Yes in Vancouver in 75 or 75. I can remember me and my friends right up front just tripping out to the great tunes: Perpetual change, Heart of the Sunrise, Roundabout ect...sigh. Such fun days. Yes came the next year as well, and I can still remember the stage set design with three great huge dragons rising from the stage shooting lasers from thier nostrils and eyes. Very impressive!!!

With Yes it was more than the music. The story on the album covers really fascinated me as well. I loved the concept of spores from a dying planet traveling through space to colonize another world and the little ship that followed them from Fragile. My best friend bought me Roger Dean's book, Views, for my birthday when I was about 17. Very cool.

Well, then I got older life happened. I got into more punkish music in the eighties and became jaded with the whole rock scene by the end of the ninties. The only bands I really listened to regularly were U2, Counting Crows and INXS.(very sad) The only time I even thought of Yes and how much I used to love that style of music was listening to classic rock radio stations. I often heard the single, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and was very impressed at the evolution of Yes's sound from prog rock to a more modern beat. Still had that incredible musicianship and Jon's angelic voice but with a cleaner rythym and sharper changes. It was still Yes though.

Then, just last year, Iwent through some serious life changes with broken relationships and losses (sob) It was a weird time for me and there was probably more than a little desperation as I was looking to fill a bit of a void or having some kind of strange change of life experience. Anyway...

One day I was in a second hand music shop and I saw a CD by Yes that I had never heard of before. I was called Union and it was only a dollar so I thought, "what the hell, Yes were great..so many good times and memories. So I bought it and popped Union in the CD machine and gave a listen. I was so impressed. It was a more mature version of Yes with such a positive, affirmative tone but still spectacular, inspiring musicianship and Jon's familiar singing. To make a long story short, Union kind of became the soundtrack of my life for about six months. I went out and bought a few more Yes CD's and now I 'm a fan again. Weird after all these years. They're still a such a good band even with all the changes- tighly woven tunes and life-affirming lyrics - I really like listening to music again. Now I hear that Union was considered a bit of a debacle by the band but I'm not sure why. I don't care. I really like it. The lyrics are strangely parallel to what is happening in my life at this particular moment in a strange new millenium.

So, I was looking around for reviews of other Yes albums because I've probably missed some 20 years of their musical evolution and stumbled upon your site by accident. I'm happy to be a retro, fossil yes fan and looking forward to catching up with some of what I've missed. Speaking of which, perhaps some of you could give me tell me what you're favorite songs or albums are from the later Yes period so I can give them a listen. It's like discovering a brand new band all over again for me.

Boy, this was long-winded wasn't it. Enough of this thinking out loud. Thanks for listening.

Yours with love,
ESD

[yesyadda]

Great post. Thanks for sharing that. Ain't nothin' wrong with U2, Counting Crows, or INXS. But glad to hear you made it back to your "roots".

[BrianD]

Your description is very evocative. Though I never really left Yes like you, I did have long periods in the 80s and early 90s where my interest was much less. But now its as strong as ever - full circle as the 2003 tour was so aptly named.

[deelovesyes]

Welcome Esd, great story
Glad you us

Dee

[Earl Grey]

Excellent post there EarthSkyDuality!

I was a huge Yeshead from 1973 or so, until the 1980s... I had a bit of a tough time with Trevor replacing Howe back then (All is forgiven now, I actually love the 80's YES now, but I guess I was suffering from Howe-loss for a while!).

Like Brian, I would listen to Relayer or CTTE from time to time, and pine a bit for the good old days...

In 1996 I became refanaticized with the release of Keys To Ascension, and haven't looked back! And thar I be. ;)

Anyhow, I'm thorougly enjoying your posts, post often and have fun!

Yours,
Earl:yesbird:

[Sheerah]

Welcome to Yesfans, ESD!

Your first post and I was already drawn in! I look forward to hearing more from you.

Two very good Yes albums that you probably missed, that I highly recommend are The Ladder and Tormato. Give 'em a whirl if you havn't already.

[Bugeyes]

Incoming! Look out: Load up on Talk and get the Conspiracy's (Squire & Sherwood's) The Unknown too. I'm stuck on both of them for the moment.

Your YES past is the root, your YES future awaits your bloom.

Welcome aboard. Get ready to be addicted.

[brotherofmine]

With Yes it was more than the music. The story on the album covers really fascinated me as well. I loved the concept of spores from a dying planet traveling through space to colonize another world and the little ship that followed them from Fragile. My best friend bought me Roger Dean's book, Views, for my birthday when I was about 17. Very cool.

ESD
ESD thanks for your story, This is the first time i heard this idea of Fragile about escaping from a dying planet..wow! Thanks for that. I am also glad what you said about Union, it is one of my favourite albums, it seems to get a lot of unfair criticism, like you I don't care how it was put together..I love the final product.
Welcome to the site and have fun here.

[allgoodyes]

Excellent post, earthskyduality.

If you enjoy the symphonic quality of Yes, then Magnification, an album released in 2001, may be of interest to you. There are many fine songs on that album and each song is supported by a full orchestra. My favourite song from that album is "In The Presence Of".

[Original_Shifty]

Excellent post, earthskyduality.

If you enjoy the symphonic quality of Yes, then Magnification, an album released in 2001, may be of interest to you. There are many fine songs on that album and each song is supported by a full orchestra. My favourite song from that album is "In The Presence Of".

I was thinking the same the AGY. The Ladder and Magnification are truly fine albums. The Ladder is more thunderous, and Magnification is literally more symphonic. In The Presence Of is my fav song since Awaken (not sure where you left off with Yes, ESD, but if you don't have it, also pick up the Rhino release of Going For The One).

[Nut]

Just check out the whole catalog. Not a stinker in the bunch. But then again, as I have said before, If Yes made a bad album I don’t think I would know. They progress verry much the same as I. And So It Goes.

[1yesfan]

Welcome to the site. Glad you found us.

[earthskyduality]

Thanks for all your advice on Yes albums. I am definately running our to check these out as time permits. Maybe I can try to review some of these as they will all be new to me. I'll probably try ladder or Keys first but I am sure I'll get around to all of them. This is the first time i heard this idea of Fragile about escaping from a dying planet..wow! Thanks for that.
Hey Brother. The story starts out on Frigile with the planet breaking up and then continues on the inside sleeve of the live album Yessongs with the spores landing in an ocean on a new world. AS time goes on they start to terraform with plants and life and then in the final frame there are signs of human habitation. I think the story ends on the inside sleeve of Close to the Edge and the story was the inspiration for Olias though this is another album I have never heard LOL. Maybe I'll have to pick that up as well.

Silent talking, in the system....

ESD

Thank

[Scott Vincent]

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=105

Dear ESD,
This website (above) will help you with the YES discography and some interesting reviews of YES, and other progressive music.
Lost on a Wave,
Scott

[scootwhoman]

Welcome to Yesfans! I am glad that you found us, and I am glad that Yes has returned to your life.

You mentioned enjoying 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' when hearing it on the radio. '90125' is one of the definitive Yes albums, representing the start of a new era for the band, and a new level of quality in the recording and mixing process. There are several good songs from that album which never got any airplay, such as 'Changes' and 'Hearts'.

Personally, I consider 'The Ladder' to be one of the best Yes albums ever, with an energy and vitality which is simply amazing from a group which released its first album 30 years previously. 'It Will Be A Good Day' and 'To Be Alive' are two of my favorites from that album.

I look forward to seeing your posts in the future.

[Scott Vincent]

Dear Yakama,
The Ladder, especially when listened to very loud on a good system, is simply one of the best. I love the opening notes, and of course, Jon's voice. God do I love him.
On a sailing ship.............
Scott.

[earthskyduality]

Hi there. Thanks so much for all your great ideas. It's hard to know which CD to get first..so, here is what happened. I started out with Relayer and then went to the little second had music shop here in town. They had an old Emerson, Lake and Powell CD so I grabbed that and a Jon solo tape that only cost a buck. It's called City of Angels. Anyone heard of it" I bet not. Anyway, I will give them all a listen and tell you what I think. I already love Soon from Gates.

ESD

[Hill St.]

Hey,ESD your history with Yes is similar to mine.A zealot in youth then punk/new wave...Now,I can't get enough!I call it my mid-life crisYes.Anyway, I suggest you get remasters of any album you don't already have.I concur with Original Shifty "The Ladder" and "Magnification" are great(ITPO is also my fave).If you don't have "Tales From Topographic Oceans" get it!

[Bugeyes]

...and a Jon solo tape that only cost a buck. It's called City of Angels. Anyone heard of it" I bet not. ...
ESDYou lost if you bet!

[brotherofmine]

I grabbed that and a Jon solo tape that only cost a buck. It's called City of Angels. Anyone heard of it" I bet not. Anyway, I will give them all a listen and tell you what I think. I already love Soon from Gates.

ESD
Not only heard of it but have it..although it is now unplayable...I bought the tape and over the years and many plays the tape got stretched and it is no longer playable. For those that don't know it..it's a mixed album imo ..some poppy/soul stuff that I'm not keen on...such as 'Hold Onto Love' but then there are some great songs like 'Hurry Home' and 'Glass Bead Song' .
BTW 'Olias' is definately worth a listen.

[earthskyduality]

Anyone heard of it" I bet not. Anyway, I will give them all a listen and tell you what I think. I already love Soon from Gates.

I forgot with whom I'm dealing here. That was one bet I was doomed to lose from the beginning. I picked up 90125 today so I wll give the rest of that a listen.

I'm hitting a definate midlife Crisyes too. Thats funny, because the more I get into retro yes the more I like it though :music-smi

I definately want to give olias a listen as I've heard it's excellent in a mellow new ageish way. This suits my temperment these days. I read somewhere that it is Jon's version of the story on fragile and yessongs of the dying planet releasing spores into space and the fish ship that follows them to a new planet. I guess he was inspired to set the Dean artwork to music. I am totally into trying this out though I'm not sure what to expect. thanks again for all the imput.

Go where you're heart tells you to...

ESD

[Skyward]

Ah, yet another Canadian files into the honorable ranks! Glad to have you join us here, neighbor! I too, find THE LADDER to be a magnificent effort and hope that the 'boys' have at least one more in them like it, well, not so that it is redundant mind you, but no worries. This is what YES is all about; musical evolution. To stand back and listen to this marvelous evolutionary process, should you have the time, is a wonder to behold. It's all good though some are far better than others. RELAYER, TFTO and THE LADDER rate as mine. It never gets old and though I may, it's good to know that this legendary band will forever defy decay.

[Jm Sin]

Here i'm want to talk very much about this idea, but before this, I always wants to priorize the quality of the music, and the lirics. So then, what it's the principal idea in the Yes music, otherwise the the existance of life, the qualities of life, ( see "Open your eyes"_), the mother earth, the sattelites, (think about "the man in the moon") the possibility to travel in some "custom" ways, to another planet.

I'm new to the site too, welcome you...
Jm Sin

[Dakini]

Welcome to the site! Treat yourself to a YES dvd for a real treat! House of Blues or Symphonic YES are great! And don't forget to keep in touch here at yesfans for tour info
so you can be sure to catch the band live! Well worth it....I hope your life is better now.
Much love and light to you! It's amazing how YES music and lyrics can be so healing!

[earthskyduality]

Hi jm sin. Welcome from another newbie.

Nice to meet you Dakini. As hokey as this sounds, it's true. Listening to old Yes helped me through some dark days. My life is much better now- thanks for Asking. I think the positivity of yes's lyrics are mind-blowing - A message the world could use!!!!

I bought yessongs after discovering Union and I used to just go tripping about on long walks getting right into it. I loved the opening for Your's is no Disgrace. What power!!!


We hold the ket to all the answers
Let go

[semi artificial]

Hi. Similar history - The Yes Album was my first listen, interest started drifting off with Topographic Oceans, and was killed off by punk, although I did pick up GFT1 cheap on cassette. Still liked a sneaky listen in the 80's to the 70s stuff, but nothing really until … last week! I was in HMV, needing to make a decision fast on the fourth CD in their 4 for £20 offer - gave in to nostalgia and got Ultimate Yes. Just got a new car with decent CD player and have really enjoyed listening to it - very surprised by how much I've enjoyed the music and by the sound quality of TYA/Fragile/CTTE.

Bit of a change from the 70's. We didn't have a record player in the house until I bought a music centre in '77, and I got by with a little cassette tape recorder I saved up for in 1970, aged 12. One of the cool kids (I wasn't) invited me round to hear the Yes Album and I was so taken with it, I dashed home and fetched back the tape deck. Put the mike near one of his speakers and taped it. Had to put up with that until I saved up enough to buy a tape, by which time Fragile was released, so I got that instead. It was one of the many tapes the player later chewed up.

Your forum is one of the few that haven't been blocked by my company, so I'll probably pop in while I'm rediscovering the classics (sorry, have to say I was disappointed by the lack of good newer stuff on the comp, but my boss has kept the faith so I'll have a listen to as much as he'll lend me).

TTFN.

[Flo]

Welcome to you Semi Artificial ! I'm glad to hear that Yesfans.com was not blocked by your company. You'll see that it is one of the best forum !
Come back and post often !

[Earl Grey]

Welcome to Yesfans semiartificial!

[wolfhound]

Hi Semi artificial and welcome ! ! !
Hope you find time to post.