And You And I... And A Harmonica

[RABARKS]

Maybe not worthy of an entire new Thread, but I've some mixed feelings about Chris on harmonica in the Symphonic performance of AYAI. On the one hand it's a nice new twist to an old classic, but on the other hand it's bringing it into comedy and I'm not sure I like Yes going there. (with the exception of Rick doing his satire bit on Money...)
Any comments?

:headset:

[umgekehrt]

I like it a lot, because for me it's not silliness but rather cheerfulness and joy that I feel when I hear that harmonica. Probably some kind of reference to other great harmonica-playing musicians like Lennon or Dylan.

[Internaut]

It was a very pleasant surprise to see Chris whip it out (the harmonica!) at Tsongas last year

[Store Hadji]

First heard Chris do this on one of the tours. Wasn't sure I liked it.

Like it fine now.

Now I think I don't like Rick going "beerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" on his keyboard repeatedly during AYAI on Tsongas. Tacky - and direspectful of a great song. Wakeman always had more talent than taste.

[umgekehrt]

Yeah Wakeman's style is sometimes too bombastic. Probably better suited for ELP than for Yes.

[Purple Wolfhound]

I knew Chris used the harmonica on Love Will Find A Way but after all this time of following Yes (off and on, mind you), it was only a few years ago that I realised he used it during And You And I as well. I love it regardless - it brings Yes down to Earth. If you want my honest opinion, Yes could use more grounding moments like that (listen to Steve Howe's banjo playing at the end of Magnification). It's not the least bit comical, either...

[Hed G.]

"On the one hand it's a nice new twist to an old classic..."

New? He started pumping the harmonica on this tune on the
Relayer tour in '74! I think 30 years would be enough time
for the fans to get used to it!

[Scooty]

Comedy??? :lmao:

You're funny.
I love when Chris plays the harp on AYAI...its a moment I wait for at concerts...I always enjoy when he tosses it to a roadie...I wonder what the ratio of caught/not caught is?

[fovman]

It is their lingering cowboy music aspirations

[Silent_wings]

Comedy??? :lmao:

You're funny.
I love when Chris plays the harp on AYAI...its a moment I wait for at concerts...I always enjoy when he tosses it to a roadie...I wonder what the ratio of caught/not caught is?

Me too!!!

[RABARKS]

New? He started pumping the harmonica on this tune on the
Relayer tour in '74! I think 30 years would be enough time
for the fans to get used to it!

Oops... I didn't know that.
I've only seen Yes twice (not counting ABWH) and the first
time was in 1991. :headset:

[neilius]

Comedy??? :lmao:

You're funny.
I love when Chris plays the harp on AYAI...its a moment I wait for at concerts...I always enjoy when he tosses it to a roadie...I wonder what the ratio of caught/not caught is?


when I saw the ladder tour in 2000, at the Albert hall, he tossed it to the back of the stage without looking! Imagine been hit with Chris' Harmonica! A souveneer bruise!

[RABARKS]

I knew Chris used the harmonica on Love Will Find A Way If you want my honest opinion, Yes could use more grounding moments like that (listen to Steve Howe's banjo playing at the end of Magnification). It's not the least bit comical, either...

Was that really Chris on LWFAW?
As for the banjo, I like that. I also like the harmonica on Footprints.
And Rick's circus music at the end of Minddrive.

I guess I just have this "fixed" idea of how AYAI should sound, and
that does not include harmonica... :headset:

[neilius]

When was the harmonica first used on ayai?

[Purple Wolfhound]

It is their lingering cowboy music aspirations
Well, I don't know if you meant that as a funny, fov - but it may not be too off the mark. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed quotes music from both The Big Country and The Magnificent Seven - two epic westerns. Yes was big on western movie soundtracks at the time.

[Purple Wolfhound]

Was that really Chris on LWFAW?
Oops sorry, my bad - it was Jimmy "Z" Zavala. D'oh!

[gathernear]

I have never liked the recently added harp part, but that's just my opinion.


Larry

[steve4001]

Chris on harmonica...it's a nice new twist to an old classicNew??

[gathernear]

New??


Yup. The song has been around for 33 years.



Larry

[steve4001]

I don't like Rick going "beerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" on his keyboardBeer on his keyboards? Never! Curry? Possibly

[steve4001]

Yup. The song has been around for 33 years.And the harmonica solo has been in place for a couple of decades at least!

[steve4001]

It is their lingering cowboy music aspirations:lmao:

[gathernear]

And the harmonica solo has been in place for a couple of decades at least!

And that's new.

[Yes_Fan_4_Life26]

It is their lingering cowboy music aspirations

I'm pretty sure your mistaken for ELP

Hoedown and The Sheriff

[Sheerah]

Well, I don't know if you meant that as a funny, fov - but it may not be too off the mark. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed quotes music from both The Big Country and The Magnificent Seven - two epic westerns. Yes was big on western movie soundtracks at the time.

The Brits love American Westerns, though for the life of me, I can not know why.

[TNyesfan]

...I always enjoy when he tosses it to a roadie...I wonder what the ratio of caught/not caught is?
My bet is 1:12, caught to not caught. :lmao:

[Albedo]

I never thought about it being new...How new is it? Anyway, I liked it on Tsongas.

[Store Hadji]

Beer on his keyboards? Never! Curry? Possibly

:lmao:

[hailhail]

Back on topic

I think its great,it just seems so right

[HaroldLand]

It adds another color of sound to the muse of Yes. Ever since I first heard it on the Stellar Attaction boot 30 years ago, I've loved it and looked forward to it everytime the song is performed.

[relayeire]

I like it... I think Yessongs is the only live version without it(?)

[HaroldLand]

Yes, you're right. Unless you include the ABWH Shoreline Ampitheater dvd.