Some are Born & Days

[BrianD]

In the past week I've been listening to the Tormato bonus tracks and Jon's Song of Seven album. I have been struck by these two songs that were first tried out as group songs but didn't 'make it'.

The more I listen to the version of Some are Born on the Tormato remaster, the more I can see a potentially outstanding Yes song starting to take shape. It certainly needed a lot more work but it had an imaginative bridge and was truly progressive. In contrast, jon's solo version seems rather limp - still a good song but lacking anything that is outstanding.

As for Days - the beautiful a capella version on Tormato- obviously just a demo - is extraordinarily beautiful.

In contrast, the version on Song of Seven seems overproduced with the instrumentation and harmonies really not adding much.

Any thoughts?

[BredYes]

The a capella version of Days on the Tormato remaster is one of my favorite Jon moments. It is not really a song but it is just a beautiful melody. The version on Song of Seven did not add too much and did not make the song any better.
Some are born on Song of Seven is really a great song, it makes me happy. On Tormato remaster it has a more darker sound. I think it fits better on a Jon album than on a Yes album.
I love all these bonus tracks on Tormato (the best I've heard of all Rhino remasters). It is from a musical point of view interesting as well. You can see Jon moving into the direction of Song of Seven and Steve and Chris towards the Drama sound. Some are born is an effort to combine these styles.

[yesyadda]

Brian I really like those two songs. Never heard the Song of Seven version. Some are born gets me all choked up for some reason. Kinda emotional.

[BrianD]

Brian I really like those two songs. Never heard the Song of Seven version. Some are born gets me all choked up for some reason. Kinda emotional.

Song of Seven is a good album - not my favourite Jon solo - but full of songs in this genre.

just the more I listen to it, the more I think the production and arrangements didn't do the songs justice.

[Timmo]

I love pretty much all of the songs on the Rhino reissue.

For once, I really felt that they added value other than curiosities or for the sake of completists.

Usually I listen to the added tracks a few times, then don't bother.

With the Rhino Tormato, sometimes I find myself JUST listening to the bonus tracks.

What a superb release.

[mikepietrini]

hi brian - for me.... those 9 bonus tracks were like having a new yes album -
there's always something special about first takes (or run throughs) of new
material - usually the vibe is never captured the same again - mp

[BrianD]

I fully agree - the Tormato bonus tracks are a revelation - probably indicative of the troubles they were having in the studio at that time when they appeared incapable of polishing up good quality raw material in the way they had done in the early 70s.

[CybrKhatru]

Now I'm going to upload all the bonus tracks to the iPod. Thanks for the reminder, folks!

Picasso WAS my favorite unreleased Yessong...until it got released. :) I too like Some Are Born and Days very much!

---Matt

[Earl Grey]

Hi Matt! How're ya doing Brotha?

I LOVE 'Some Are Born', as Brian mentioned, it has all the armarks of a great Yessong, it just wasn't brought to fruition. Ah, the tracks that should have been.

'Days' was perfect in Jon's demo from Tormato... The version from Song Of Seven was overproduced for me...

Following the idea of form following function, DAYS stands best in it's simple form.

The bonus material on Tormato is the most entriguing of the bonus tracks so-far!

It is, in fact, like having another album...
Man, would I love to have the masters from those sessions, a mixing board to fiddle with...
And YES in the studio to embellish the original tracks.
~~~~~~~~

Back a few years ago, I didn't think the band would EVER put these out, we complained quite vocally on this very board, concerning YES being 'stingy' with their outtakes...

So I am particularly grateful to the band for finally giving us these gems of what could have been.

uRlIe:yesbird:

[CybrKhatru]

Hi Matt! How're ya doing Brotha?

The bonus material on Tormato is the most entriguing of the bonus tracks so-far!

It is, in fact, like having another album...

Back a few years ago, I didn't think the band would EVER put these out, we complained quite vocally on this very board, concerning YES being 'stingy' with their outtakes...

So I am particularly grateful to the band for finally giving us these gems of what could have been.

uRlIe:yesbird:

Hey Earl! Doing alright, how YOU doin'? :)

Couldn't agree more---some of the bonus tracks (especially the early versions or "run-throughs") are very interesting. Really makes you appreciate all the work that went into the arrangements!

Now if only Genesis would follow suit and let out some of the "Lamb Sessions" and such.... a fella can dream!

---Matt

[Earl Grey]

...Now if only Genesis would follow suit and let out some of the "Lamb Sessions" and such.... a fella can dream!

---Matt

Now THAT would be cool!

Another artist who's been stingy as all HELL with his outtakes is Todd Rundgren.

You know, the amount of stuff that guy has recorded in home studios from 1970 on... Todd could fill fifty box-sets.
No joy so-far. :crybby:

[IDOLIZEYES]

Earl,
reading you notes has made me want to go out and purchase the Re-release of Tormato. Funny thing, when that album was put out, it pretty much marked the end of Yes, as we knew it in the 70's. Boy, if we only knew then what we know now!! Also, how are the art work doing that our mutal friend Pat gave you some years ago? I was just curious, because I wish you could see what I have made since then!!!

Tom

[SuperTrooper]

I thought Some are Born was among the best tracks on the album. Should have been included on the original. Replacing maybe Arriving UFO.

[Faceintheplace]

As much as I like those songs (and I do, especially the parts of Some are Born where it's just Chris' bass and Rick's keyboards and Jon singig extended notes) the ones that really stand out on the Tormato remaster for me are You Can Be Saved and Countryside. They sound like nearly completed songs to me and I think they should have taken the place of Circus of Heaven and Arriving UFO.