Why is Going for The One so under rated?

[The Whale]

When posting my thought for if Awaken is an epic or not I was realy bumd out to see that GFTO gets not nearly the respect it should. what do you think? Where does this album stand in your mind? I put it up there with CTTE, FRAG, TFTGO, and Relayer but I would love two know what all of you think.

[crotale2112]

`Parallels is one of the all time kick ass yes tunes of all time.And howe's about that live moog solo in yesshow's parallels...fantastic. Going for the one is an amazing album.

[True Believer]

Going For The One is awesome! It's definitely up there with the best.

[MoonGateClimber]

I agree with you whale, GFTO is definitly in my top 5.
HEY!!! I realized that today is my 100th day on Yesfans!!!
:thewave:

[Roundabout2004]

Good question--I have NO idea! This was the first Yes album I was introduced to; I was 17 or so. Personally, it still reigns as my favorable studio recording. I had some awesome psychic-spiritual experiences listening to "Awaken" at college one night, lying down and meditating--something profound I will never forget. Some phenomenal compositions on that album that transport me everytime. "Turn of the Century" has come to have unexpected, special significance to me, starting about 8 years ago.

[PO]

Anyone need a differing opinion? I didn't think so. ;)

I like 3 of the 5 songs.

Awaken
Turn of the Century
Wonrous Stories (only because it's a nice transistion. It never hurts to have a nice "jon" ditty, and this is probably his best).

The title track and Parallels are weak.

Combining GFTO with Tormato would have been a better album:

Future Times/Rejoice
Turn of the Century
Release, Release
Wondrous Stories
Awaken

[Roundabout2004]

HEY!!! I realized that today is my 100th day on Yesfans!!!
:thewave:
Congrats! 100 down, a gazillion (or more) to go! :)

[allgoodyes]

Going For The One is definitely one of the best Yes albums of all time. "Awaken" and "Turn Of The Century" are two of the deepest and most brilliant songs ever written by Yes. "Wonderous Stories" is also a beautiful song.

Yes can also play pure rock as well as any other band on the planet. "Parallels" is an outstanding rock song. Had the production of "Parallels" been clearer on the album, particularly during Steve Howe's blistering solo at the end of the song, this tune could have become a Yes rock anthem. "Going For The One" is also a very good rock song.

I agree with the whale that Going For The One is up there with The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans, and Relayer and deserves more respect than it gets. Actually, I would also rank Tormato and Magnification closely behind the top six, but that's for another day and another thread.

[TTT]

GFTO is one I routinely pull out and play. Perhaps it is underrated in part because of its original production quality? Or too many "shorter" songs? The album cover? I realize I'm stretching here but packaging counts for impressions. Or because YES top 5 lists are too short by definition?

[Jackaranda]

GFTO is one I routinely pull out and play. Perhaps it is underrated in part because of its original production quality? Or too many "shorter" songs? The album cover? I realize I'm stretching here but packaging counts for impressions. Or because YES top 5 lists are too short by definition?

An old friend reappears!

GFTO is great. I think most Yes fans consider it either good or great.

[Mostly Harmless]

[QUOTE=allgoodyes]Going For The One is definitely one of the best Yes albums of all time. "Awaken" and "Turn Of The Century" are two of the deepest and most brilliant songs ever written by Yes. "Wonderous Stories" is also a beautiful song.

I completely agree. GFTO is my second favorite YES studio recording, (right behind CTTE).

I know that some believe that some tracks are not "prog" enough, but for me a good tune is a good tune and they're ALL good on this album.

[Dr.Bass]

This a great album, maybe the most coherent. I can't imagine why it's under valued (is it really though?) Perhaps there's little contoversy about it to make it a talking point, except the weird-ass cover. (pun intended!)

[Vic Anderson]

i think awaken is the best piece of music i ever heard so how can i not like thealbum

going for the one and parallels are very prog they're not long but still

[stevie]

Going For The One is definately in my top 5, right near the top.
Every track is brilliant IMO and yet they're all so different. Going For The One itself has an opener on the last tour was a barnstormer.

[ANTIOCH]

I was never in doubt how GREAT this LP was (and is).
"GFTO" and "Parallels" certainly seem to be stronger 'live' than on disc.
Also a wonderful tour from a stage and lighting perspective.

[yarstruly]

In my top 5 Yes (studio)albums...:

CTTE
TYA
Fragile
Going For the One
Relayer

[CybrKhatru]

Going For The One has never been underrated 'round my house. It's just under Close to the Edge as my favorite Yes record.

Really, for me, 1971-77 Yes is all tops...just like Genesis 1971-77. Coincidence? I think not....:)

---Matt

[Original_Shifty]

I don't know, I love the opening track. For me, Parallels is my least fav.

[Deliriumyes]

I happen to love GFTO. I will never forget my dad's face during Awaken at his first yes show, Union tour. He turned to me after the magical moment, and said, "That was incredible!"

[John Khatru]

GFTO.. for me.. is my favorite YES album.. eeking past CTTE

All five songs really do encapsulate everything I love about the band

The title track & Parallels are flat out soaring rockers, Turn Of The Century.. an ethereal ballad, Wonderous Stories.. a folk song at it's heart and Awaken, a majestic song that really can take you to another place

[The Whale]

hey now! its good to see so many people diggin' GFTO, I know we all love it but why can we debate CTTE vs RELAYER or FRAGE vs TFTTGO and GFTO never seems to sneek in There like the Atlanta Braves in Base Ball they always get in but never win the whole thing. Does any one put GFTO on the top shelf? it seems to be slowly working its way up for me.



PS cyberkhatru- what do you think is Genisis' GFTO(master piece that seems to fall short of proper credit?) I think Foxtrot

[Awaken'd]

I think that Going for the One is my favourite, as funnily enough Awaken is on this album. This is the best 15mins 38 seconds of music I have ever heard. I have yet to hear another YES song that I love as much, fantastic keyboards. As for the rest of the album wonderous stories and parallels are great, I have also bonus tracks on my album which included Vevey(revisited) which I love.

Awaken'd

P.S Foxtrot is great album - a flower!!

[Bill Mocarsky]

I think "Going For the One" is a Quintessential Yes album. "Relayer" (one of my favs) is at one end of the Yes spectrum while "90125" may be at the other extreme.
When I first heard that the upcoming Yes album was called "Going For the One", I thought it was a little pretentious. When it hit the stores, the album cover hit me for a loop. After looking at the cover for a while, I thought "Parallels" would have been a better name for the album.
I love "Turn of the Century", "Wonderous Stories", and "Awaken". Wonderous Stories may be a short tune with commercial appeal but is pure Yes.

[slazman]

Not underated by me - some fine tracks on this one AND concert numbers

[Skyward]

For me, the least appealing number on the effort is the title track. Everything else is sheer brilliance, IMHO.

Why it is that its muscial mastery misses the acclaim mark is beyond me.

I'm listening to "Parallels" as we speak...very loudly I might add!

[PrimeMover]

One reason I think could be the musicclimate that was going on when the album came out in 1977. If it would have been released like five years earlier it maybe would have been as well respected as Fragile and Close to the edge is today. But 1977 other things were going on in the musicbusiness, the punkmusic started to come for instance. I love GFTO, and I consider it one of my absolute favorites both among yesalbums and albums in general.

[drummedup]

I do like most of GFTO very much, but in my mind it doesn't even come close to TYA, Fragile, or CTTE. 3 main reasons: 1) lackluster production (the beginnimg of that kind of overblown "instruments fighting with each other" kind of thing that they became totally guilty of on Tormato. I mean, the last 32 bars of GFTO are practically torture in terms of keys and guitars battling for space... The clarity and clearness of production and arrangement in the earlier records is what makes them still the best things they ever did. 2) Alan White....sorry guys, he's a nice enough fellow, but his leaden feel and lack of rhythmic interplay and subtlety took them in a direction that I still to this day can't embrace. His drum sound and feel, have bothered me since the first time I heard him, and that includes All Things Must Pass, and Imagine...great guy...luckiest drummer in rock and roll. He makes Squire lazy, and Howe too. Listen how "ON" those guys are with Bruford. Bill kept them on their toes. 3) The times: punk was coming in full force...Yes were out of fashion to a degree..that record and every record they made since then, never had the commercial impact that the earlier stuff did...so people tend to forget it.

[BrianD]

GFTO is a brilliant album. I'm not sure if it is underrated or simply left out of the loop.

The timing of its release is a factor - 1977 - nearly 3 years after Relayer, solo albums that had a mixed reception, the music scene in the meantime had changed a lot. A lot of fans that liked the Yes Album to CTTE trilogy were put off by Tales and Relayer (though of course many were converted as well).

So though it put Yes back onto the music map - it was not anywhere near as mainstream as the early 70s. Remember in the 60s & 70s, groups were NOT supposed to take 3 year breaks from recording - quite different to now when that is almost the norm.

[Timmo]

2) Alan White....sorry guys, he's a nice enough fellow, but his leaden feel and lack of rhythmic interplay and subtlety took them in a direction that I still to this day can't embrace. His drum sound and feel, have bothered me since the first time I heard him, and that includes All Things Must Pass, and Imagine...great guy...luckiest drummer in rock and roll. He makes Squire lazy, and Howe too.Um, so Squire and Howe were "lazy" on Relayer?

I think not.

[PO]

Seems to me Squire and Howe both improved throughout the 1970's. I think both of them won their "Best ..." awards in the Guitar/Bass Player's of the music publishing world during the mid to late 1970's.

[Skyward]

One does not have to be a drummer to appreciate the power that Alan White has brought to YES. Personally, I prefer his style over Bruford's and that of many other drummers for that matter. I find it curious to state that his style of playing had a negative impact on Chris' playing. In fact, it would seem that thanks to their combined skills, we have been witnessed to one of the best ( if not the best ) rythym section ever to perform in the world of progressive rock music.

[Andy56]

I love GFTO, can't fault it - I even like the title track and Parallels too.
I waited for years, wearing out Relayer and CCTE until this album was released and when I first heard the Rock 'n Roll slide guitar intro, I thought - "my God - Yes have gone mainstream!", but 'twas not to be, the old magic was still there. GFTO is a great tune and still sounds great live.

Parallels is first rate -the church organ is superb and it's got one of the tightest endings of any Yes track.

I also love the way 'Turn of the Century' seems to disintegrate in the middle in cacophony of guitar and piano only to emerge into a really beautiful final passage (it's like having to climb a really tough hill only to find a great view on the other side) - what's amazing is that they can still do this live as witnessed last year.

[JL]

Going For the One is the best album of the 1970s.

It's in Abbey Road territory in terms of its greatness.

I cannot comprehend how this could be in dispute.

[wolfhound]

Going For the One is the best album of the 1970s.

It's in Abbey Road territory in terms of its greatness.

I cannot comprehend how this could be in dispute.
I couldn't have said it better. :thumbs:

[PO]

...
I cannot comprehend how this could be in dispute.

Post #6 explained it brilliantly. :winknudge

[drummedup]

Going For the One is the best album of the 1970s.

It's in Abbey Road territory in terms of its greatness.

Ouch....

[Roundabout2004]

Post #6 explained it brilliantly. :winknudge
Nice one--LOL!

C :)

[Roundabout2004]

One does not have to be a drummer to appreciate the power that Alan White has brought to YES. Personally, I prefer his style over Bruford's and that of many other drummers for that matter. I find it curious to state that his style of playing had a negative impact on Chris' playing. In fact, it would seem that thanks to their combined skills, we have been witnessed to one of the best ( if not the best ) rythym section ever to perform in the world of progressive rock music.
I'm a drummer myself, and I underscore the above. I like Bruford's distinctive, crisp style, yet over the years, I have definitely come to prefer Alan's "fit" with the rest of the Yes musicians. It's like good, powerful chemistry. His energy, presence and musical contributions are integral to what makes Yes the all that it is.

[CybrKhatru]

hey now! its good to see so many people diggin' GFTO, I know we all love it but why can we debate CTTE vs RELAYER or FRAGE vs TFTTGO and GFTO never seems to sneek in There like the Atlanta Braves in Base Ball they always get in but never win the whole thing. Does any one put GFTO on the top shelf? it seems to be slowly working its way up for me.



PS cyberkhatru- what do you think is Genisis' GFTO(master piece that seems to fall short of proper credit?) I think Foxtrot


wow...good question Whale...I'd probably say Foxtrot too! My personal fave is the Lamb, but I have always heard more talk about the Lamb than Foxtrot.

Supper's Ready and Awaken are similar to me in this one way: after they finish, I have to take a break from listening to music, even if it's just a short interval. It's hard to hear anything else after they have both faded away!

---Matt

[sparky]

I´ve never percieved the album GFTO as under rated by either media or fans. Always thought it was considered a return to form. Although I must say that after reading the posts here it seems like the actual title track is a bit under rated by Yesfans which is a bit of a surprise to me as I always considered the song one of the more original Yessongs. I´d say only Awaken is more progressive on the album and at the same time GFTO manages to be a great rock´n roll number as well. I find it truly amazing how many ideas they manage to cram into the song and still make it ooze of rock´n roll. It must have one of the best basslines Squire ever made and the vocal harmonies in the climax after "talk about sending love..." must be some of the sweetest the band ever made (not to mention Howe´s slide lines over the mentioned vocal harmonies - just beautiful...)

[Bill Mocarsky]

I´ve never percieved the album GFTO as under rated by either media or fans. Always thought it was considered a return to form.
I agree. I recall it being one of the top albums of 1977.

[The Whale]

I am a drummer as well and the last thing i thought I would hear when starting this thread was that Allen made chrise a lesser bass player??? I would dust off DRAMA and rethink that one.. but as for GFTO maybee in 77 it was one of the top albums but these days it just dosent seemed to be put up there with the "classics" hopefully im wrong!

[PO]

I haven't ever noticed that, Whale.

It generally came off as a bit of a letdown when it came out. But hardly to the point of being inferior. It was the first departure from the Concept Albums that they had been doing (CTTE, Tales, Relayer). So, the "song" format seemed less of a head-trip. At least Turn of the Century and Awaken are two of their best-ever pieces.

[wolfhound]

I really thought Tales was the biggest let down for the new Yes fans of the time. I remember their careers were off and running with Fragile and CTTE. They were, for better or worse, already on the road to becoming a popular sensation. Watching interest wane after Tales' release was a tough thing. I guess Yes were never meant to go the route of "superstars". As for the true prog fans, I can't see any better way that they could've done it. All of their music in the '70s was solid. GFTO is a extraordinary album. I felt a concept album feeling from it, but it was different than the previous ones.

[PO]

Yes got "Grand Funk'd" by the critics during Tales.

Grand Funk (earlier in the 70's) sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles, yet the critics panned them. With so few outlets of information at the time, it seemed like things were going bad. But, people knew to ignore critics then.

The Tales tour and the following Relayer tour were great successes.

[brotherofmine]

I don't think that GFTO is underated I think it gets the respect it deserves...certainly on this site. The only song on the album I don't like is the title track.

[allpurechance]

I´ve never percieved the album GFTO as under rated by either media or fans. Always thought it was considered a return to form. Although I must say that after reading the posts here it seems like the actual title track is a bit under rated by Yesfans which is a bit of a surprise to me as I always considered the song one of the more original Yessongs. I´d say only Awaken is more progressive on the album and at the same time GFTO manages to be a great rock´n roll number as well. I find it truly amazing how many ideas they manage to cram into the song and still make it ooze of rock´n roll. It must have one of the best basslines Squire ever made and the vocal harmonies in the climax after "talk about sending love..." must be some of the sweetest the band ever made (not to mention Howe´s slide lines over the mentioned vocal harmonies - just beautiful...)

I,as usual,agree with most of the positive sentiments and opinions expressed in this thread;both with regard to this album,and also Genesis/Foxtrot(see the Related Bands/Genesis/Foxtrot thread...).

Yet it has also been occurring to me lately(too!)that the title track gets short shrift,often.It seems as though sparky's mind has also been in this mental locality!Amazing,when this happens!

Sparky correctly points out those harmonies...& Chris Squire's basswork,too..so many good things taking place here,on this song,the entire album...!

However,my mind has been on the 'rests' between!As positively adrenal a usage of the rest in not only rock music,but any music,ever.Period!

"Talk about sending - LOOOOOOOO-ooooo-ooo-ove!!!! --- LOOOO-OOO-OOO-ooooo-ooo-ove!!!! --- LOOOO-"....well,hopefully you get the idea.Am I right?Don't they go right to the adrenal gland!?

The years pass by.We listen.We hear.

We realize how special,how unique this music is.

Sparky points out to me,to you,to all of us how marvellous the bass playing is,how fantastic the harmonies are,just AFTER the rests that have been amazing me,in my own little world.

Amazing!The power in and of music...!...

(Talk about sending...!------------ !.......)

Yes "sends love" through music better than any band I have ever had the pure pleasure of experiencing.....

[Scooty]

"Ooooooopen Windows..."

"After seeing all your sense of fear diminish...."

Squire's harmonies on this song alone should prove to anyone that he is a brilliant harmonizer.

[About The Round]

GFTO is among the most split-up albums that Yes made. There are music for everybody's taste, but perhaps the album whole does not fully apply to each and one of us. Going for the One and Paralells are a 6 and a 7 by my regards while the other songs are "classic" 10.

CTTE and Relayer contains only "classic" songs for instance. I have always regarded GFTO among the best though. Awaken pull mutch weight I guess.

ATR

[JL]

It seems to be a recurring theme that some people are not digging GFTO and Parallels.

I don't get this. GFTO is an incredibly moving piece of music. It makes me happy.

Chris and Steve really step up the intensity on Parallels. It also moves me greatly.

My $.02, free of charge.

[PO]

... and it's all subjective.

Following up CTTE, Tales, and Relayer is a tough thing to do! Those albums had a cohesive theme.

Certainly GFTO's 1st and 3rd songs had good parts. Most all Yes songs do. The three previous albums didn't need a thing changed. It took a lot of time to wrap my head around them. It took much less time to "get" GFTO.

I would have preferred GFTO and Tormato melded together; the best of both. But, I still wouldn't know what to title it. It's that "theme" thing.

[cinderella]

The only song on the album I don't like is the title track.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Cinderella528/N99%20Smileys/ecditto.gif

[The Whale]

just to check in this pole has GFTO at #33 after 5 other yes albums!!!!

http://www.progarchives.com

[rememberer]

... and it's all subjective.

Following up CTTE, Tales, and Relayer is a tough thing to do! Those albums had a cohesive theme...

I would have preferred GFTO and Tormato melded together; the best of both. But, I still wouldn't know what to title it. It's that "theme" thing.

I think this may be getting to it, I think it was just hard for me to re-adjust after songs that took up a whole album side. After that, even a ten minute song tries to seem like a pop single. Maybe this is why it doesn't rank as amongst my most favorite Yes albums, but if yet if you name any song off it by itself, I think they're VERY good songs - it seems to almost work better as songs, than as an album, in some ways.

And I think it did probably suffer a little lack of cohesion, because of how the tracks were arranged. Thematically I think Turn Of The Century should not only come right before Awaken, it should be part of it. I think that probably keeps it from sinking in so well that they continued to do "epic" works on GFTO.

'Course, I dunno. It's so easy to get spoiled and set in your ways by Yes, that if Roger Dean had done the cover, that might have been all it would take for me to rank it much differently than I would otherwise. :-)

[BrianD]

Its all relative. GFTO was the start of Yes moving back to the mainstream with songs like GFTO, Parallels and Wonderous Stories. This was the first time they had ventured in that direction since The Yes Album. But by 1977 it was not far enough back to really win new fans, and yet it wasn't as progressive as its predecessors.

As I posted earlier, we also need to remember that this was their first studio album for nearly 3 years - a long time in those days - and life had moved on musically. Wakeman's return and the greater accessibility of the music to the mainstream certainly resulted in more positive reviews than either Tales or Relayer had. But not enough to hit the mark outside of the full blown Yes fan. By this time in the 70s they were not oicking up many new fans, just fighting to kreep the ones they had.

[sparky]

...and I DO love the cover!

[IDOLIZEYES]

I agree with the opinion(s) that some of us have expressed. I think the song itself was such a far-off song at that time (1977) for Yes, compared to previous albums. Also, think about the fact that GFTO (the album itself) was the 1st album the band put out where the title track was actually the name of the album! Maybe we had high expectations, but were let down...?

Funny thing, here in 2005 I personally look at the album as one of their best all time- with Awaken, and Turn of the Century being now such "Yes Classics".
Then after that came "Tormato", which ironically I viewed the same way, but now look back and love the music.

Happy weekend to you all!

[jaynote1]

while I like the album, I cant really rank it as among the best, although it is Yes being Yes......While I consider Awaken and Turn of the Century as examples of brilliance, its Steves pedal steel that saves GFTO from being a second class bit.....I know, I know, its good, and I think its good too, but composition-wise, its not really quite up to the standards that I had come to expect...and im a bit surprised at the number of people that froth over Parallels......I think the album was supposed to be Awaken, Gfto, and Totc, but was too short to press, so they 'just kinda made up' the rest of the album as filler...(not that its not good, i mean, its Yes, and if these talented people put ANY effort into it at all, then you know its going to be good).........




(all opinions are written at spur of the moment, and are subject to change at any time without prior notice)...............

[IDOLIZEYES]

I Just Want Another New Studio Yes Album...........(a.s.a.p.)

[The Whale]

2nd that.

[Slim]

In the top 4; they were slightly past their best by then though. I'd say on a par with Relayer, but not as strong as The Yes Album or Close To The Edge.

[capnkrk]

I,as usual,agree with most of the positive sentiments and opinions expressed in this thread;both with regard to this album,and also Genesis/Foxtrot(see the Related Bands/Genesis/Foxtrot thread...).

Yet it has also been occurring to me lately(too!)that the title track gets short shrift,often.It seems as though sparky's mind has also been in this mental locality!Amazing,when this happens!

Sparky correctly points out those harmonies...& Chris Squire's basswork,too..so many good things taking place here,on this song,the entire album...!

However,my mind has been on the 'rests' between!As positively adrenal a usage of the rest in not only rock music,but any music,ever.Period!

"Talk about sending - LOOOOOOOO-ooooo-ooo-ove!!!! --- LOOOO-OOO-OOO-ooooo-ooo-ove!!!! --- LOOOO-"....well,hopefully you get the idea.Am I right?Don't they go right to the adrenal gland!?

The years pass by.We listen.We hear.

We realize how special,how unique this music is.

Sparky points out to me,to you,to all of us how marvellous the bass playing is,how fantastic the harmonies are,just AFTER the rests that have been amazing me,in my own little world.

Amazing!The power in and of music...!...

(Talk about sending...!------------ !.......)

Yes "sends love" through music better than any band I have ever had the pure pleasure of experiencing.....

RIGHT ON!! I agree 100%. The title track is a great number, the lap steel, great harmonies, and maybe one of the best endings to a yessong as it swirls up and rises away. Gives me the chills. I actually prefer this as a show starter to SK.

[witheredleaves]

who said this album was weak!!! is one of the best yes albums ever

[ham]

This was the first Yes album I ever bought and it still has a place high in my estimations... Why is is it underated??? It is beyon' ma ken... :what4:

[PO]

It's weak because of the filler. 3 of the songs are great, though.

[ham]

It's weak because of the filler. 3 of the songs are great, though.

As in poly-filler??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm - well we all differ to agree about what we agree with I suppose...

[remembering]

I happen to love GFTO. I will never forget my dad's face during Awaken at his first yes show, Union tour. He turned to me after the magical moment, and said, "That was incredible!"

Yeah Awaken is incredible except from the 'Keys' which I think is the weakest live version I have ever heard!

I supprised noone mentions Dont Kill the Whale which I think is excellent. Also I think the title track is better live than in the studio.

But if I had place Going for the one along side Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the edge, Tales and Relayer then it would come bottom.

[capnkrk]

Yeah Awaken is incredible except from the 'Keys' which I think is the weakest live version I have ever heard!

I supprised noone mentions Dont Kill the Whale which I think is excellent. Also I think the title track is better live than in the studio.

But if I had place Going for the one along side Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the edge, Tales and Relayer then it would come bottom.

Uhhhh.....DKTW is on Tormato

[shortexchanges]

Going is considered the last greatest (top shelf) album. Turn of the Century is a masterpiece!!

The releases after this point are diminished and the one is on par to Yes album, Fragile, I like Relayer and Close more. Top 3 is not a weak album.

[dtrose]

I really do love this album. It's the one Yes album I can always turn to. Maybe it ain't the best one but certain albums just work their magic on you for mysterious reasons. All tracks great, wish Parallels was a bit louder though. Think Led Zep!

[Bill Mocarsky]

I think of
"Going For the One" as an indian summer for the group,
"Drama" as the precurser to a long winter,
and "90125" as the reincarnation of Yes.

[TNyesfan]

It's always been my favorite Yes album.
Probably always will be.
I became such a Stevefreak after hearing this album -- his playing on the 'star- song' part of Awaken STILL turns me inside out every time I hear it.
I agree with Scooty, Chris' harmonizing is fantastic.
All the guys were in top form, and it's the most original in composition.

[emerson_brady]

When I first bought GFTO, I only liked the title track and Parallels. The rest seemed completely boring to my teenage punk ears in 1986. As with Tales and Time & A Word, I only listened to GFTO a few times and then never bothered again for a long time.

So one day, about ten years later, I'm going through my old records to see if I missed anything. I put on GFTO and when "Turn of the century" came on, it suddenly clicked. Same with "Awaken". I was truly puzzled how I could have dismissed this album at first. A mind is a terrible thing.


Over time, GFTO has become one of my favorite YES albums.

[bilbobass]

I just don't know, perhaps shorter songs, but yes are brilliant at that as well.
The big church like-sound is fantastic, i often wonder how it would sound on ctte or relayer. I think the only thing missing from this album is roger dean.

[cinderella]

To me it's overrated. Turn Of The Century and Awaken are great songs. The rest I can live without.

[CybrKhatru]

As an album...a full entity...it carries a high-energy spirit rarely captured or equalled on other Yes albums. It sounds very summery....I guess it's appropriate that it was released in July of 1977!

Even the tracks that I'd consider my "least favorite" are still favorites. I can't skip any of 'em.

--Matt

[Jackaranda]

I'm playing it a lot these days. It's a great, magical album, with great writing, playing and production.

The GFTO show I saw in 77, which was my 2nd Yes concert, is to this day the greatest concert I've ever seen. After all these years, and seeing Yes 11 times after that (as well as all the other shows I've seen), that concert still stands out for me above all others.

[True Believer]

Who says it's underrated? I LOVE it!

[MrZuLu]

Who says it's underrated? I LOVE it!
Yeah... I din't know it was underrated!!!!

who says???

Jeramie???
you started this...

:Wow:
dude, you're frightening me, MAN!!!

[Hill St.]

Start to finish I love it all.Top 3 for me.

[cvp18]

When posting my thought for if Awaken is an epic or not I was realy bumd out to see that GFTO gets not nearly the respect it should. what do you think? Where does this album stand in your mind? I put it up there with CTTE, FRAG, TFTGO, and Relayer but I would love two know what all of you think.


GFTO was one of the first Yes albums i purchased after i rediscovered them last year. I think it is one of the greatest albums Yes has put out. and what can one say about "Awaken?" i am very spiritual and pray a lot, to me, "Awaken" is just that, an extension of my prayers. "... Master of Light... etc... whenever i hear this part of the song, i have to stop whatever i am doing and just envelope myself in the music and words. i love the whole album. what more can i say? ",,,like the time i ran away, turned around and you were standing close to me..."

carol

[IDOLIZEYES]

For the time that album was released, it was a really nice breath of fresh air. I just think it was under rated because you had all of your 'Styx, Foreigner, Kansas', out there outshining GFTO in radio play. Which is mainly why most of YES' work never gets the attention and praise it so deserves. But that's fine, I am used to it, I have my CD's, MP3 player, etc., so I can listen to any YES music anytime, anywhere, and that is what matters most to me!

[M-Class Planet]

I don't really think it is undervalued at all - to me it's the pinnacle. one they never really returned to

:O(

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

I love Going for the One! I have to admit, that I love Awaken a little bit more than CttE...(but only a little bit :D) That's why I dedicated a painting to that song...

[YESOLA]

Going for the one is great, but it is the first one perhaps, that it seemed Yes wasn't pushing forward, and just sort of got comfortable with who they were. Wakeman back and all that. They were happy. It shows through the music...sort of a celebration fo being Yes. They were singing and playing like seasoned pros.

This lead to Tormato being somewhat directionless i think, as they became too comfortable. Happens to all of us.

They got the edge back on Drama.

The "all music guide" review indicates that is is "overlooked" and makes points about it made here.

Going for the One is perhaps the most overlooked item in the Yes catalog. It marked Rick Wakeman's return to the band after a three-year absence, and also a return to shorter song forms after the experimentalism of Close to the Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans, and Relayer. In many ways, this disc could be seen as the follow-up to Fragile. Its five tracks still retain mystical, abstract lyrical images, and the music is grand and melodic, the vocal harmonies perfectly balanced by the stinging guitar work of Steve Howe, Wakeman's keyboards, and the solid rhythms of Alan White and Chris Squire. The title track features Howe on steel guitar (he's the only prog rocker who bothers with the instrument). "Turn of the Century" and the album's single, "Wonderous Stories," are lovely ballads the way only Yes can do them. "Parallels" is the album's big, pompous song, so well done that in later years the band opened concerts with it. Wakeman's stately church organ, recorded at St. Martin's Church, Vevey, Switzerland, sets the tone for this "Roundabout"-ish track. The concluding "Awaken" is the album's nod to the extended suite. Again, the lyrics are spacy in the extreme, but Jon Anderson and Squire are dead-on vocally, and the addition of Anderson's harp and White's tuned percussion round out this evocative track.

[nitrus]

I often ask myself the same question. It's got wonderful music on it, but I think people tend to overlook it a for a few basic reasons:

- it doesn't feel as tight and consistent as the previous albums do, there is no concept driving the album as a whole

- as mentioned in a post above, the album already sounds professional, unlike the previous albums made by guys with a passion experimenting with ways to make music in a different and pioneering way as opposed to experienced musicians who exactly know how to make an album sound good

- the three albums preceding Gfto were truly groundbreaking and people may just say "allright, here we go again, another groundbreaking record..."

That's problem of later albums not just by Yes but also other great old bands. There's nothing wrong with albums such as Keystudio or The Ladder, it's great music, maybe even better composed and sophisticated than that on Ctte, but it just HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. I think this is the definite answer why bands can never live up to their past.

[yessound_chaser81]

- the three albums preceding Gfto were truly groundbreaking and people may just say "allright, here we go again, another groundbreaking record..."



I totally agree!

IMO GftO is a classic Yes album, I love it.

I think amoung Yes fans this album will always be held in high esteem. However, the general population doesn't really seem to be interested in more "complex" music (as you may have figured out when trying to play Yes for friends.......like a cigar, habanero salsa, or drinking Guiness at room tempature, it's an aquired taste).

[CybrKhatru]

VERY happy to have found a UK LP of GFTO today at Amoeba....and if our living room ever cools down I'll get to spin it...:rolleyes:

[nitrus]

...drinking Guiness at room tempature, it's an aquired taste).

Awwwww, how the hell can you acquire such taste...?

[yessound_chaser81]

Awwwww, how the hell can you acquire such taste...?

:sofunny:

LOL! Let me make this clear, wasn't saying I personally like cigars or warm Guiness, however a bit of habanero salsa is good for you....
_____________
Cool CybrKhatru! Hope you get to play it soon!

[virginiaprograsser]

Going For The One was (when I purchased it 'back in the day') and remains my favorite Yes album. It has the widest range of Yes "textures" of all of the albums, IMO.

"Awaken" is also IMO Yes's individual masterpiece, but that choice is not that uncommon I would expect.

2nd Place - Close To The Edge
3rd Place - TFTO

[IDOLIZEYES]

It might be under rated because at that time (1976-1977) pop music was becoming very popular, and disco was just starting to become popular. I think our generation (YESFANS) were caught a little off guard when this all occured. It is kind of like being influenced by someone else, but then later knowing in our own minds what we really love (YES MUSIC IN IT'S PUREST STATE). 'Going for the one' is certainly one of the best YES albums out there. It features five of the best performers ever to record, and perform the music we (YESFANS) cherish and love so much.

[YYY]

I often ask myself the same question. It's got wonderful music on it, but I think people tend to overlook it a for a few basic reasons:

- it doesn't feel as tight and consistent as the previous albums do, there is no concept driving the album as a whole

- as mentioned in a post above, the album already sounds professional, unlike the previous albums made by guys with a passion experimenting with ways to make music in a different and pioneering way as opposed to experienced musicians who exactly know how to make an album sound good

- the three albums preceding Gfto were truly groundbreaking and people may just say "allright, here we go again, another groundbreaking record..."

That's problem of later albums not just by Yes but also other great old bands. There's nothing wrong with albums such as Keystudio or The Ladder, it's great music, maybe even better composed and sophisticated than that on Ctte, but it just HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. I think this is the definite answer why bands can never live up to their past.

This probably the one of the best responses I've read. I assume you were already a fan win GFTO was released. To truly grasp the response to GFTO by fans and semifans in the 70's, you have to remember that YES were on an intense creative roll througout their career. From the momentum of the early Albums, to the earth shattering CTTE, then the most original TFTO then the mindblowing twin to CTTE 'Relayer'.

At the time GFTO was a return to the YES/Fragile format and many fans wanted & expected them to continue on the path of complete unorthodoxy. The YES album hit me like a ton of bricks, Fragile was like a meteor blast, CTTE..well close CTTE just took everyone to a new galaxy and TALES to a new univrse. Relayer was a blatant response to the negative mainstream press of TFTO ("sure we can do CTTE again but this time even harder"). Not to mention the great solos albums of Jon, Chris & Moraz. Yes had taken us beyond our wildest dreams and GFTO was tight but not earth shattering (relatively). Awaken was it's saving grace.

In regards to Styx, Kansas, Rush, etc. Most people I knew were never distracted by these bands in comparison to YES. They weren't hardcore prog. Maybe the success of Pink Floyd but not them.

It actually took me a while before I truly appreciated GFTO as a whole. Mainly because at the time I could definately get more of a serious YES fix from listening to all the previous YES related albums.

[YESYOUANDI]

Only three good tracks......
Cheers fans.

[islandsofarabia]

you know the two tom hits that Alan White plays a couple of beats after " Hark thru dark ties
That tunnel us out of sane existence In challenge as direct As eyes see young stars assemble"..... IMO these are some pretty decent drum hits.


OK they're the best drum hits of the 20th Century.


OK they're just the best ever....in all of recorded music.

[hailhail]

I cannot understand how anyone could under-rate GfTO

It was surely the last of the great epic albums

Steve`s slide on the title track
Chris` "sound " on Parralells
Jon`s voice throughout
Rick`s organ (oooh mrs.)
Alan as under-estimated and under-stated as ever

The tracks
Title track................. a belting little rocker
Turn of the centery.....a phenomal mixture of voice/guitar
Parallels...................that fecking bass...I love it
Wonderous Stories.....a perfect cross-over track
Awaken....................a wonderous epic (last 1 for 20+ yrs)

Not even one of my favourite albums

[robles]

I guess to understand my feelings on this properly you need to know a little history of my moving into progland. Late in my junior year of high school (1988) I started checking out Genesis. I had started with Invisible Touch and worked my way backward in order through their entire catalog. After that, I wondered who was next. I'd heard a little about Yes being prog and I liked 90125. So I went to the music store, picked up a CD of Close To The Edge, and said to myself "hmm, three songs on the entire album. I'll take it." Anyway, over the coarse of the next year I proceeded to pick up almost every Yes CD from the 70's available at that time:

Close To The Edge
Fragile
The Yes Album
Relayer
Going For The One
Drama

Well, after listening to all of them innumerable times, I found myself gravitating more and more to one in particular. In fact I found it better than every other album I ever purchased, including my entire Genesis collection. I listened to it over and over again my first year in college. That album was Going For The One. Simply put, there was not a weak song on it. Anyone nay-saying Parrallels needs to listen closely to the build up in middle instumental section. It just goes all they way.

I think what most removes it from the rest of the 70's classics is that finally Anderson's lyrics actually make sense. The whole way through. Not just little snippets of meaning surrounded by lines of strange abstract unknowables:

"Luther in time"?
"Shining flying purple wolfhound show me where you are"?


How about instead:

"Was the sign of the day with a touch as I kiss your fingers
We walked hands in the sun memories when we're young love lingers
So"

So much better.

[lensdarkly]

Yes, I love GFTO, have it on original vinyl + CD.
Faves : Awaken, Parallels, Wondrous Stories, & title track.
Rick is great on this album & the interplay between him & Steve is really tight.

[relayeire]

I don't think it's underrated... it's typically high on the faves list for most Yesfans...

[True Believer]

I don't think it's underrated... it's typically high on the faves list for most Yesfans...
Yes .... indeedy!

[IDOLIZEYES]

The album has been out for well over 30 years, I love it today as much as I did then!

[the'YES'kid]

news to me.

I would never think a real Yes fan wouldn't like that album a lot.

Is just as good as Fragile or CTTE. Just as good.

[scootwhoman]

After the masterful albums 'Close To The Edge', 'Tales From Topographic Oceans', and 'Relayer', 'Going For The One' struck me as an album which was geared towards radio airplay. The album title suggest 'going for the one big hit', the songs lack the unity that marks the earlier albums, with each song having a different 'sound', and the themes seem more mundane than the spiritually enlightened themes of the preceding three albums.

It seemed to me that the album was knocked together in a hurry, compromising some of the esoteric production values the band had come to be known for. It does not seem a single composition to me, as 'Tales' and 'Relayer' do, which is a reality in pop music I have always disliked. I love to listen to symphonies and concertos, where a theme can be embellished, developed, and built upon, so short compositions are inherently less satisfying for me.

[JL]

After the masterful albums 'Close To The Edge', 'Tales From Topographic Oceans', and 'Relayer', 'Going For The One' struck me as an album which was geared towards radio airplay. The album title suggest 'going for the one big hit', the songs lack the unity that marks the earlier albums, with each song having a different 'sound', and the themes seem more mundane than the spiritually enlightened themes of the preceding three albums.

It seemed to me that the album was knocked together in a hurry, compromising some of the esoteric production values the band had come to be known for. It does not seem a single composition to me, as 'Tales' and 'Relayer' do, which is a reality in pop music I have always disliked. I love to listen to symphonies and concertos, where a theme can be embellished, developed, and built upon, so short compositions are inherently less satisfying for me.

Are we listening to the same album?

[luckeydoug1]

Going For the One, Relayer and Tormato are the three YES albums that don't do much for me.

[frosted]

For me Going For The one is like an oasis in a desert. "Tales" "Relayer" and "Tormato" are my least fave Yes albums.

[Orbert]

After the masterful albums 'Close To The Edge', 'Tales From Topographic Oceans', and 'Relayer', 'Going For The One' struck me as an album which was geared towards radio airplay. The album title suggest 'going for the one big hit', the songs lack the unity that marks the earlier albums, with each song having a different 'sound', and the themes seem more mundane than the spiritually enlightened themes of the preceding three albums.

It seemed to me that the album was knocked together in a hurry, compromising some of the esoteric production values the band had come to be known for. It does not seem a single composition to me, as 'Tales' and 'Relayer' do, which is a reality in pop music I have always disliked. I love to listen to symphonies and concertos, where a theme can be embellished, developed, and built upon, so short compositions are inherently less satisfying for me.

While I appreciate what the guys were doing with CttE, Tales, and Relayer, I was actually a bit relieved when they balanced the "epic attack" with a bit more conciseness. It was nice to get back to a more song-oriented album, and I like all the songs themselves (two of them I love), so no problem there. And come on, the average song length is still eight minutes; this is not exactly a pop hit factory.

"Wonderous Stories" apparently got some airplay, but I never heard it, and I can't even imagine any of the other songs being a "hit", so your interpretation of the album's title never occurred to me.

[Full Tilt Boogie]

I wasn't aware it was. :D

[AwakeMan]

.......The album title suggests 'going for the one big hit'......

Hi Scoot,

I always interpreted the "One" in the title as Unity or the Universal Being, or God, whatever you might conceive him/her to be. The lyrics of "Awaken" allude to this. Also there's the cover picture of the man in the midst of the concrete jungle trying to find his true identity, and when you opened the original gatefold album sleeve there was this stark contrast of a beautiful sunrise over a lake, implying that's what's missing from his life. Maybe this is all a bit naive, but it's what I believe anyway.

Sé

[Suntower Asking]

Hi Scoot,

I always interpreted the "One" in the title as Unity or the Universal Being, or God, whatever you might conceive him/her to be. The lyrics of "Awaken" allude to this. Also there's the cover picture of the man in the midst of the concrete jungle trying to find his true identity, and when you opened the original gatefold album sleeve there was this stark contrast of a beautiful sunrise over a lake, implying that's what's missing from his life. Maybe this is all a bit naive, but it's what I believe anyway.

Sé

Totally agree with you.

"Going for the One" is about the meaning of life , striving to find God and love through the lourney of life.
To me this is one of Yes' most inspiring songs. it gives me chills when i hear it. It's like taking the themes of everything they did and concentrating it into a five minute song.

I find this to be a well balanced album without one bad song on it. and the themes presented in Awaken somehow reflect the going for the one theme perfectly , the moment you realise God and that he is always there standing close to you.

[Parish]

Maybe this is all a bit naive, but it's what I believe anyway.

Sé


:appl[1]: :appl[1]: :appl[1]:

I love GFTO, it has so many brilliant compositions on it...

My favs...
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=listRowEven><TD></TD><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript><!--if (browserHasRadio()){document.write('<td class="listen">');var link = krexLink('/gp/recsradio/radio/B000002J1H/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_001?ie=UTF8&track=001&disc=001');document.write(link + 'Listenhttp://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/detail/music/notes_clear._V47082447_.gif</td>');}//--></SCRIPT><TD class=listen></TD><TD class=listen> </TD></TR><TR class=listRowOdd><TD>Turn Of The Century</TD><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript><!--if (browserHasRadio()){document.write('<td class="listen">');var link = krexLink('/gp/recsradio/radio/B000002J1H/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_002?ie=UTF8&track=002&disc=001');document.write(link + 'Listenhttp://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/detail/music/notes_clear._V47082447_.gif</td>');}//--></SCRIPT><TD class=listen></TD><TD class=listen></TD></TR><TR class=listRowEven><TD></TD><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript><!--if (browserHasRadio()){document.write('<td class="listen">');var link = krexLink('/gp/recsradio/radio/B000002J1H/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_003?ie=UTF8&track=003&disc=001');document.write(link + 'Listenhttp://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/detail/music/notes_clear._V47082447_.gif</td>');}//--></SCRIPT><TD class=listen></TD><TD class=listen> </TD></TR><TR class=listRowOdd><TD>Wonderous Stories

</TD><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript><!--if (browserHasRadio()){document.write('<td class="listen">');var link = krexLink('/gp/recsradio/radio/B000002J1H/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_004?ie=UTF8&track=004&disc=001');document.write(link + 'Listenhttp://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/detail/music/notes_clear._V47082447_.gif</td>');}//--></SCRIPT><TD class=listen> (javascript:amz_js_PopWin('/gp/recsradio/radio/B000002J1H/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_004?ie=UTF8&track=004&disc=001',winName,winArgs);void(0);)</TD><TD class=listen> (http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000002J1H001004/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_004)</TD></TR><TR class=listRowEven><TD>Awaken </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[gibby]

I absolutely love GFTO and cant understand why its so often ignored by both Yes fans and prog fans in general. From the hawaii 5-0 style guitar intro of the eponymous track, though to the epic "Awaken", GFTO is a masterpiece and is one of my favourite Yes albums.

[RobAdams]

This was the first Yes album I ever bought. I bought it after I heard CTTE for the first time. When I tried to buy CCTE that week, the clerk at the record store said "We don't have that one in stock, but we do have their new album." I bought it (GFTO), and it's been one of my most favorite albums ever since.

[AmyK]

Under rated? Nah. Its a classic that sits beside Fragile, CTTE, TFTO, Relayer and TYA. Nuff said. :)

[cinderella]

I lost interest in Yes when Going For the One was released. I hated the title song.
Turn Of the Century is the only song I like on it and I didn't discover that until about 2 years ago.

I didn't bother with Tormato either until my friend Paul introduced me to the song Future Times and that was 2 years ago too.


The album covers were bad too.

[chipperoo]

This album is Steve Howe at his absolute best.

[FishIntoWater]

"Going for the One" is about the meaning of life , striving to find God and love through the lourney of life.
To me this is one of Yes' most inspiring songs. it gives me chills when i hear it. It's like taking the themes of everything they did and concentrating it into a five minute song.

I find this to be a well balanced album without one bad song on it. and the themes presented in Awaken somehow reflect the going for the one theme perfectly , the moment you realise God and that he is always there standing close to you.

Yes it is, and for me the YES band always been "Going for the One" all the time, if you see it in sequence "Tales..." shows you the philosophical basement and history, "Relayer" then shows the hell and the little light at the end of the tunnel and "Going..." takes you to Heaven!

Of course, I am being totally subjective, but is what I see.

At the same time is noticeable they begun to be interfered for some evil reason, that's why (for me) that came "Tormato" and "Drama"... and the disolution... chan!!!...

Then, they came back to the road (90125) speaking new languages (musically) gaining attention from other generations, and this is not so subjective, it really happened... my niece and people of her age become Yes fans due to that, and she came with me to one live show of "Talk Tour".

Now I've got to rebuy it, it's the second time I loose it... Shame!!:crybby:

[bjlevine]

At the time, Atlantic was begging Jon to not do a conceptual album. Other than Awaken, they got what they wanted. I was surprised that the song Going for the One didn't get a release as a single. I love the way that Jon makes fun of his own writing style in it.

I was fortunate enough to see the GFTO concert in Houston in '77. Great show...Rick was really enjoying being back in the band and Chris had that awesome black and white diamond costume. While playing GFTO, Steve starting rolling his steel guitar back and forth across the stage while still playing. The guitarist in my band just stood there shaking his head.

[bob_32_116]

While I appreciate what the guys were doing with CttE, Tales, and Relayer, I was actually a bit relieved when they balanced the "epic attack" with a bit more conciseness. It was nice to get back to a more song-oriented album, and I like all the songs themselves (two of them I love), so no problem there. And come on, the average song length is still eight minutes; this is not exactly a pop hit factory.

"Wonderous Stories" apparently got some airplay, but I never heard it, and I can't even imagine any of the other songs being a "hit", so your interpretation of the album's title never occurred to me.
Wondrous Stories got a certain amount of airplay here in Australia, as did the title track. In those days "Prog" was still considered cool enough so that commercial radio stations would play the odd track.

If any album was to be named as Yes' selling-out album, I would have thought it would be 90125. That's not to say I dislike it - I own it so I can't hate it all that much can I? - but it does have that poppy 1980's sound, and Owner of a Lonely Heart was such an obvious danceable hit single. The songs on Going For the One are a little shorter than what they had been making prior to then, but none of them are poppy or danceable.

[soulshiner]

I think some of the reason why it could be underrated is because it isn't part of the classic Yes trilogy - Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Tales from the Topographic Oceans. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a clue how such a good album could possibly be underrated.