Why Relayer?

[betterdeadthanred]

I love Rick, but Relayer has the best keyboard work in the whole yes catalogue.
I love Close to the Edge and Tales, but it also has Steve's best guitar work.

But one question: Why the title? Its a good word, as far as Jon's semi-made up words go, but isn't it a lyric from The Remembering?

[yesyadda]

Relayer. Beats me as to the title. I remember thinking how cool the recurrence and carryover of the theme Relayer from Tales to the Relayer album itself. As to the best keyboard work- I dunno. It sure was different. It's exactly what that album needed and what Yes needed to accomplish the task at hand. God bless that Patty O'Moraz. I always figured he was a wee bit Irish. These guys are a team and they work with the players at hand to achieve their goals. I do know an avid Moody Blues fan who thinks Moraz ruined that group's sound. So maybe it has something to do with the coach. Coach Anderson- now there's a winner. A number one seed if there ever was one.

Semi-made up words? The dude's voice is an instrument just like Howe's guitar, Squire's bass, etc. Words have cadence and rythm, form and function. I don't remember how many times I listened to Relayer before reading the lyrics because they were secondary to the whole experience. But when I did- wow. The lyrics punctuated the songs and added such force and direction that it blew me away.

Betterdead, this is a betterthread than I've seen in a while. Thanks for bringing it up.

[Jackaranda]

I think Relayer was meant to be different from Tales in several ways. The short and direct title (reminicent of the Beatles "Revolver"), the grey album cover, and the sharpness of the music, as opposed to the spaciness of Tales.

They're both great. I personally prefer Relayer, but some days I'd rather listen to Tales. Relayer is my favorite Yes studio album.

[pianozach]

I think Relayer was meant to be different from Tales in several ways. The short and direct title (reminicent of the Beatles "Revolver"), the grey album cover, and the sharpness of the music, as opposed to the spaciness of Tales.
Two things:

One:
I seem to remember reading that Roger Dean never listened to the music on an album before he would paint the cover. It's possible that there was some input from the band on content of the cover: They most certainly had something to say about the cover of "Tales: evidently each band member got to choose one thing each on the cover. For instance, guess who chose to have a fish on the cover?

Two:
Relayer (Remastered) is available for download from iTunes for $2.97! How about that?

[SoundChaser72]

The word relayer appear in the lyrics on Tales -- this from The Remembering:

Relayer, all the dying cried before you
Relayer, we've rejoiced in all their meaning
Relayer, we advance, we retrace our stories

And again later:

Relayer, all the passion spent on one cross
Relayer, sail the futile wars they suffer
Relayer, we advance, we retrace our story
Fail safe now

[Rob.E]

I was reading that some people believe the song GFTO, to be quite chaotic and some people dont like it because of that. But I think the first three or so minuites of Sound Chaser are more chaotic than GFTO. Of course I love them both, and am only saying what I have heard elsewhere, but the best track on that album is definitely Gates. By the way, I love the way Steve Howe has transcribed To Be Over for the guitar on Yesspeak.

[Timmo]

Relayer - one who relays.

The Tales lyric suggest that the "Relayer" is the conduit through which comes Divine knowledge and understanding. Jesus was a relayer. So were Mohammed, Krishna, the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, pre-Columbian shamans, etc.

God made flesh, literally, figuratively, metaphorically, probably all of the above.

To me, the title of the album was saying that MUSIC is a relayer. Soundchaser is a song about making music, and giving it to the listener. Gates are the band's (mostly Jon's) feelings about the horrible inevitability of war, and in Soon, the hope that we can get beyond it, pass within, and soothe this endless night. To Be Over could be read as a song about death and what happens when we die, surrendering our souls into endless love.

Deep stuff. Which is why I think this albun is not only the best studio album the band has ever done, but is one of the best recordings of the 20th Century.

[BrianD]

Two things:

One:
I seem to remember reading that Roger Dean never listened to the music on an album before he would paint the cover. It's possible that there was some input from the band on content of the cover: They most certainly had something to say about the cover of "Tales: evidently each band member got to choose one thing each on the cover. For instance, guess who chose to have a fish on the cover?

?

I do not believe the band contributed to the Relayer cover in that way. Dean says in Views 'My intention was to produce a giant 'gothic' cave. A sort of fortified city for military monks; a secret stronghold for a fantasy Knight's Templar'.

Seeing the original of this cover in San Francisco last year was an amazing experience. I was struck by the salmon pink hues on the snakes that are just not captured on the album or other reproductions.

[The Whale]

muscla 1 hits it on the head. the band and its music relays in a much needed way if only more would listen.

Soon... oh soon the light...............peace

[YYY]

muscla 1. I often agree that Relayer is their best studio album. Of course CTTE is the other. But Relayer is perfectly flawless form start to finish. This opinion fluctuates but I have have often felt (at times) that CTTE drags a bit during the 2 verses of 'I Get Up'. This minor detail removes a half of a half of 1/2% point from my CTTE scoreboard and leaves RELAYER as the winner.

[allpurechance]

I do not believe the band contributed to the Relayer cover in that way. Dean says in Views 'My intention was to produce a giant 'gothic' cave. A sort of fortified city for military monks; a secret stronghold for a fantasy Knight's Templar'.

Seeing the original of this cover in San Francisco last year was an amazing experience. I was struck by the salmon pink hues on the snakes that are just not captured on the album or other reproductions.

lmaoOOOOOOOOOOOOoo,Brian---I gotta tellya...I SAW those salmon hues on my old album cover!...

Just can't tellya much....IN the current forum -- HOW!---(but if you read some of my past posts,betcha can figger it out...)...

I saw 'em tho;still do if I look closely,and this is without the benefit of seeing that original...man,I wish I could have had THAT experience,must've been wonderful!

Suffice to say regarding this strange sense of sight I might at times possess,that perpetual flashback can be a wondrous thing...

As far as Relayer goes...here goes nuthin'---

Paired with Tales From Topographic Oceans The Remembering,and the entire album,in fact,I think Jon wanted to provide 'linkage',a certain continuity,or continuation of that same thought/concept...in spite of the failure of continuity of personnel within the group itself...

These two albums,and Close To The Edge...to me represent the greatest achievement by any group of musicians from the era of electrified music,starting in the mid fifties of the 20th Century.

Ignoramus though I be...!

Especially considering the manner in which the later two have aged!Close To The Edge 'hit' me virtually immediately---but Tales & Relayer continue to develop and change in the manner I percieve them over time.To put it another way,the brilliance of Close To The Edge was immediately perceptible,even by a lugnut such as I!Although nuances have emerged from there as well,not so much,not as many,not with such(stunning!)persistence as those contained within the later two works.

These feelings about these very works have been expressed by others more capable with noun,verb and adjective on this wonderful site(thank you so much,Mr.Lutterbie!).Recurringly!As we read,we find that our feelings have developed similarly(strikingly so!),yet independently(mostly).Which,kind of serves as confirmation,validation.The other day I sent 'rep' to someone who had written(& here I must paraphrase,and weakly,for their words were much more effective and communicative)that their current perception of Tales was so far removed from their original perception that it served to make them fail to trust that initial impression EVER after...!

This is EXACTLY what I'm talkin' about!Relayer---spiritual connotations aside(about which I must profess even more ignorance than virtually anything else,and THAT's saying something!),we who have been exposed to this music in this way,who have experienced this music in this manner,are compelled to share it with anyone for whom we feel love,for whom we care.

Hoping that it's considerable joys,wonder and beauty will reach them too.In the same manner with which we feel it.That is all we wish.We wish to Relay.

I'm probably taking the meaning all too literally.

I don't care!...hee-hee...(ya know I could go on forever about this,but already I've gone on way too long,so I shall spare you all further ramblings on this subject,as well as these others,for at least a few hours,anyway...lmaoOOOOOOOOOooo...).....(but,thank s for reading,anyone who's made it this far....intrepid souls that you are...!lmaoOOOOOOOOo)

Frank(sure can run off at the mouth....)

[Buglunch]

I love Rick, but Relayer has the best keyboard work in the whole yes catalogue.
I love Close to the Edge and Tales, but it also has Steve's best guitar work.

But one question: Why the title? Its a good word, as far as Jon's semi-made up words go, but isn't it a lyric from The Remembering?
Patrick Moraz composes on the fly at hyperspeed; Soundchaser came from his audition (which Vangelis also attended! ) for Yes; Rick composes as needed when able to: Yes and many other guitar bands hire keys/orchestras/sequencer techs and tell them what has bem composed.
"Relayer- all the passion(s) spent on one cross --- relayer..."
It's obvious, also the band/Jon or anyone- all of us can be intermediaries for peace and ecstasy and understanding here and now.
no need to force the narrow organized on anyone: Jon and Rick explained the two massive pipe-organ dimished-seventh parts over the pedal tones, middle of Close to the Edge,
were about the dissolution of the organized church and hence the priesthood standing in the way. Eastern ways do not approach the cosmos through earthly power-/gate-keepers.
The cover represents scouts and desert prophets returning to the wilderness in time of war in general anywhere. Or on the fragile Yes Planet begun in
1970 and extended in many Yes albums including Olias of Sunhillow.

[YepMan]

Ah, it just trips off the tongue nicely.

[Deliriumyes]

Relayer - one who relays.

The Tales lyric suggest that the "Relayer" is the conduit through which comes Divine knowledge and understanding. Jesus was a relayer. So were Mohammed, Krishna, the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, pre-Columbian shamans, etc.

God made flesh, literally, figuratively, metaphorically, probably all of the above.

To me, the title of the album was saying that MUSIC is a relayer. Soundchaser is a song about making music, and giving it to the listener. Gates are the band's (mostly Jon's) feelings about the horrible inevitability of war, and in Soon, the hope that we can get beyond it, pass within, and soothe this endless night. To Be Over could be read as a song about death and what happens when we die, surrendering our souls into endless love.

Deep stuff. Which is why I think this albun is not only the best studio album the band has ever done, but is one of the best recordings of the 20th Century.

Very well said, Tim.

[TTT]

Once I'd read the lyrics, I had assumed some implied continuity from TFTO, but with different personnel, the musical end result doesn't fit quite as nicely as perhaps originally envisioned. But, yeah, I figured these were sides 5 and 6.

[yarstruly]

This is one of my favorites as well...thanks for the insight into the title....

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Two:
Relayer (Remastered) is available for download from iTunes for $2.97! How about that?

Without the bonus tracks (but who cares?). It's because it only has three songs. I personally got Genesis' Trespass there for like 4 or 5 bucks. Great price :thumbup:.

[yarstruly]

Try www.half.com .... dio a search for "yes" under music, & check out the deals...

[Roan's Lady]

This is quite a fascinating thread - thanks to all who posted re the album and the significance of its title. I've had questions too, and this helped to answer many - plus giving me some cool info I hadn't even thought of. So smart and insightful you people are! I've been enjoying Relayer a lot lately, especially appreciating some of Steve's finest guitar playing. What an amazing recording!

[Earl Grey]

Relayer - one who relays.

The Tales lyric suggest that the "Relayer" is the conduit through which comes Divine knowledge and understanding. Jesus was a relayer. So were Mohammed, Krishna, the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, pre-Columbian shamans, etc.

God made flesh, literally, figuratively, metaphorically, probably all of the above.

To me, the title of the album was saying that MUSIC is a relayer. Soundchaser is a song about making music, and giving it to the listener. Gates are the band's (mostly Jon's) feelings about the horrible inevitability of war, and in Soon, the hope that we can get beyond it, pass within, and soothe this endless night. To Be Over could be read as a song about death and what happens when we die, surrendering our souls into endless love.

Deep stuff. Which is why I think this albun is not only the best studio album the band has ever done, but is one of the best recordings of the 20th Century.

That was bloody astute Timmo!

That has been my personal interpretation of the meaning behind the word as well Tim... The 'Relayer' as conduit of spiritual light...

The idea of the ancient long-distance runner relaying information comes to mind for me as well.

Anyhow, great post there Mi Compadre!

url:yesbird:

[Jackaranda]

That was bloody astute Timmo!

That has been my personal interpretation of the meaning behind the word as well Tim... The 'Relayer' as conduit of spiritual light...

The idea of the ancient long-distance runner relaying information comes to mind for me as well.

Anyhow, great post there Mi Compadre!

url:yesbird:

It sure was a great post!

My favorite Yes album, and the best lyrics I think I've ever seen. They aren't as lengthy as CTTE or Tales, but they just appeal to me in a way no lyrics ever have by anyone. And that's not a knock on any Yes lyrics, they're all great (AYAI, for example). And the music....unbelievable.

Alan talks in Yesyears how people weren't happy about them making Relayer. Why not? It was magnificent and the band's biggest seller ever until 90125.

[witheredleaves]

imn pretty sure its called relayer because of the lyrical intent,the band is trying to relay a message on this album, where as the other albums seem to be a mix of more personal stories, or made up fantasies, from the first song ,{gates} there relaying the message that war is wrong and love is more powerfull,{quoting jon on symphonic live}on sound chaser it seems thier saying how powerfull music is, how its so important to the world, how it reaches every generation, how it changed thier lives,__ on to be over the message is clear, dont take bad gambles with your life, think before you jump,take your time , choose good over bad and the doors will open, so compared to other albums this one is all about the light. LONG AGO SET INTO RYME