Experiencing 'Tales' Live

[markcampbell]

I have had the distinct privilege to see Yes perform live on no less than seven occasions (nine, if two ABWH gigs are thrown into the melting pot). At three of these concerts Yes have played tracks from Tales. They gave an airing of 'Revealing' on the two nights I saw them at the Hammy odeon in '98. That was brilliant, but 'The Ritual' the last time out was out of this world. I still have to pinch myself to think I saw thse epic masterpieces live and in the flesh. They both contain supreme musicianship, together with some wonderful singing from Jon. In particular the middle section of 'Revealing' when the band join as one in a rousing fashion and the finale to 'The Ritual' (the percussion gone mad part) were mind-blowing to experience at first hand. What a band Yes are and what a fantastic album 'Tales' is.

[yessiree]

Originally posted by markcampbell
I still have to pinch myself to think I saw thse epic masterpieces live and in the flesh. What a band Yes are and what a fantastic album 'Tales' is.

markcampbell, you are a Yesfan after my own heart. I could not agree with you more. In fact, when I was at Masterworks, I sat next to a guy who became a fan with Owner. He was looking forward to hearing things from that era. I told him that when they do Ritual that he will be completely blown away. He was not convinced. Then they played Ritual. After the show he said that was the best song they did and spoke about how powerful it would be to hear all 4 sides. Of course I had to agree completely as it would be and it was! I've had the pleasure to hear all of it twice and it was wonder beyond all words.

If only they would do all of Tales on this tour and all of Magnification, my wishes would be fulfilled.

[Omar Fares]

Yessiree, that's scene looks familiar to me. It's quite impossible to not to like the early era material, it's like watching a movie in the middle of it, missing its plot.

[yessiree]

Not to mention how wonderful and groundbreaking it still remains! In my opinion, nothing beats Tales for being cutting edge and that's the idea that draws me the most--something that will show me something completely new and change my world view.

[Martin Riley]

My first Yes concert was the Tales tour at Newcastle in 1973.I'd already been a fan since FRAGILE but as I was now 15 at the time I was allowed to travel the 40 miles up the road to see them.I'd had the album for a couple of weeks and having played it I already appreciated sides 1,2 & 4(The Ancient took a bit longer - I still have some trouble with it)

It's since been stated that audiences were apprehensive about listening to all of this material in one go without having had time to assimilate it. I can assure you that this was not the case with me. I seem to remember that they started off by playing all of the CTTE album and then introduced us to this new work. I think it was one of the most magical experiences I've ever experienced. I've since had my doubts bout parts of the album(although I'll always love it) but that night brought it home to me how YES music could change your perception of music forever.

[nightliner]

The first time I saw Yes was during the Tales tour, and I was expecting to hear all 4 sides, but for some reason, I got ripped off. They only did Revealing and Ritual. I never heard why they cut the show I saw. It was great anyways, but the extra 45 minutes would of made it even better.

[ANTIOCH]

I also saw the 'Tales' tour when YES came through Southern California all those years ago, and they had dropped "The Remembering - High the Memory" by then. I enjoy this movement the most of the 4 sides, simply because it's so different from anything else. It's as unique as "The Ancient - Giants Under the Sun" is; in a more melodic and orchestral way.
If they did anything from "Tales", this would be my wish !? I know I'm in the minority here, but . .??

[yessiree]

Originally posted by Martin Riley
I seem to remember that they started off by playing all of the CTTE album and then introduced us to this new work. I think it was one of the most magical experiences I've ever experienced. I've since had my doubts bout parts of the album(although I'll always love it) but that night brought it home to me how YES music could change your perception of music forever.

Yes, that's what I remember too--all of Close to the Edge then going into Tales. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Regarding The Ancient, try it again. It is their most far-reaching track in all of Yes music in my opinion. And to me, being able to do that is what makes Yes so appealing.

Originally posted by ANTIOCH
If they did anything from "Tales", this would be my wish !? I know I'm in the minority here, but . .??

You would not be in the minority with me! I never tire of hearing any of Tales--just please no medleys! Of course I would love to hear all 4 sides. They really should do that at least once more so it can be filmed for posterity. It's just too important a work for that Not to happen.

[Yes Oz]

with Rick coming back. He has never been too slow in coming forward with his thoughts on Tales and the amount of "padding", to use his term.

It would be ashame as I have heard Ritual from one of their "Symphonic" concerts last year and it sounded awsome to say the least. If they WERE to come to Oz with Rick I would be a little disappointed if Ritual wasn't included. But after 30yrs plus between gigs I'm not going to be fussing over what they choose to play and/or leave out.

[RobAdams]

My only "in the flesh" TALES song was seeing RITUAL in Saratoga NY on the Masterworks Tour. When they started playing RITUAL
I had no idea of the magnitude this very familliar piece was going to take on. I find it hard to determine which movement of TALES is the strongest, but seeing RITUAL was an experience I'll always remember.

I agree with Pat here, that they really should document this wonderful album by playing it ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON STAGE. The 30th anniversary of TALES is upon us next year. A live performance of the entire album would make a great DVD. And if they couldn't see doing it all at once, perhaps they could play RSOG at one show, REMEMBERING at another, ANCIENT at another and RITUAL at yet another - then have them assembled together for the DVD.

[porcupinetreeguy]

I saw the Tales tour when it stopped in New Haven in 1973.
The setlist was
SK
CttE
AYAI
Reveal
The Rem
The Ancient
Ritual
encore
Roundabout
At the time it was what they had that was most recent so I had no idea that it would be such a landmark. Besides I was 16 and loaded up on beer and "jazzy herbal cigarettes" as Paulie calls them. So it seemed to me that it was a regular type of setlist - they played the last record and the new record and they encored with the hit record....
My dim memory also provides that the crowd was VERY enthusiastic until The Remem about half way thru...then they got the crowd back with Ritual as they always do...the material was very new at that point and there were then, as there are now, the fair amount of "PLAY STARSHIP TROOPER" drunken screamers..
But I always feel privileged to have seen the entire four sides performed....what i can recall of it...

[Jackaranda]

Wouldn't it be great if they did all of Tales live and released it on CD/DVD?

[allpurechance]

I saw the Tales tour when it stopped in New Haven in 1973.
The setlist was
SK
CttE
AYAI
Reveal
The Rem
The Ancient
Ritual
encore
Roundabout
At the time it was what they had that was most recent so I had no idea that it would be such a landmark. Besides I was 16 and loaded up on beer and "jazzy herbal cigarettes" as Paulie calls them. So it seemed to me that it was a regular type of setlist - they played the last record and the new record and they encored with the hit record....
My dim memory also provides that the crowd was VERY enthusiastic until The Remem about half way thru...then they got the crowd back with Ritual as they always do...the material was very new at that point and there were then, as there are now, the fair amount of "PLAY STARSHIP TROOPER" drunken screamers..
But I always feel privileged to have seen the entire four sides performed....what i can recall of it...

This was my experience, too.

And I, too was 15 at the time Martin Riley!

Madison Square Garden for me, one of the two Feb. 1974 dates.

The setlist was exactly the same as that listed above.

Mind numbing!

I was way up in the nosebleeds and there were even there still alot of whispered "wtf?"'s...:lmao:

I went with my older half brother, who was interested in Yes not in the least.He was more or less my Manhattan chaperone.

We came by the tickets in an unusual way.We had gone to Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey circus there at the Garden...got all the way down there from Schenectady, and my mom had "forgotten" the tickets.

My dad was always convinced she had never gotten them in the first place.

At the time she worked for the Sherriff's department, and flashed her badge around at everyone and anyone, telling them, "I'm a Deputy Sherriff"...embarrasing the hell out of my dad...:lmao:...who always considered himself a cosmopolitan, at - home - in - the - Big - City kinda guy.

As we are leaving after this debacle, I spy a marquee in the Garden saying:

"Yes:Feb.18"

I never begged for anything in my life, at least not the way I did for those tickets.

My parents, nary the proverbial pot to p*ss in...finagled it anyway...

...musta loved me or something...

Any Tales material I have seen in these latter days always has an enormous and amazing emotional effect upon me.

And I see that I am not alone.
This is a good feeling.

[allpurechance]

Oh, forgot to mention, my half brother did not attend with me, choosing instead to enjoy the Manhattan nightlife.So it was just me up there in the nosebleeds.

And earlier that day he and I saw The Excorcist on it's first run through theaters...midway through a young black male rose up out of his seat, screaming and ran from the building back out into the comfortingly familiar streets of Manhattan.

These two events are inextricably linked in my memory to each other, Tales & seeing The Exorcist...

Isn't life strange?

:lmao:

[dantelion]

The first time I saw YES was on the Tales tour in February '74 in Miami. All of Close to the Edge and all of Tales. And the album was not yet released in the states. But what a night! Outside under the stars with a full moon and red and white striped cover over the stage. The only problem was that the P.A. went out during CTTE but was soon fixed. If only there was film footage from that tour............

[allpurechance]

...and...

If Yes ever decide to play Tales in it's entirety again:

I will be there!

Not sure if my emotions would be able to handle it all -----

----what I have not seen is what we all have not seen, and that is The Remembering live...this might be the most emotion laden song of the bunch...when listening to it now from the Rhino remaster, it never fails to evoke that large, nay huge response...

...have seen the Leaves Of Green segment from The Ancient, and it was...incredible!

Revealing.Weeping that I was witnessing it again.And was it beautiful?You know the answer!Three letters, first one is a capital 'Y'...

Ritual, repeatedly...

Wonderful.

All of these since the Turn Of The Century...

We must all remember how lucky we are to live in such times...

Correction:I.I must remember!

You?You will do as you will.

This all might be too much to ask, regarding Tales.But, we can dream, can we not?

Again the three letter response:

Y _ _ !!!

[allpurechance]

Wouldn't it be great if they did all of Tales live and released it on CD/DVD?

Yes, Jack it would be.

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!A thousand times Yes!!!

lmaoOOOOOOoo

(and, really good job of "thread unearthing", sir!You are really, Really Good at this!!!)

[Albedo]

Wouldn't it be great if they did all of Tales live and released it on CD/DVD?
That would be so brilliant - I'd pay whatever exhorbitant price they wanted to charge for that.

[rick not wakeman]

I was at the MSG (NYC) show, 14 years old...I recall the crowd's reaction was similar the following year, when they played most of Relayer prior to it's release...

[Scottie]

I am still extremely young in the world of weeds/unofficial releases. As of late due to a few kind souls I have received a few Tales shows that absolutely floor me.

I have seen these guys numerous times throughout the years beginning in September of ‘78. Upon leaving after a show the experience has always left me in absolute awe. Hearing these Tales shows now over 30 years later just exemplifies that these guys are, and have always been, ON night after night.

I consider myself blessed having been introduced to this music and will always appreciate anything that they would perform for me/us.


Would I like to see or have this officially? hummmmmmm :thinking:

[F.C.]

I've only seen Yes in '98, thus never having the pleasure of seeing Tales material played live. I am, however, an avid--what the hell, bloody rabid, collector of Tales concerts. I have Sheffield '73, Tampa '74, Miami '74, Philadelphia '74, New York '74, Los Angeles '74, Memphis '74, Munich '74, Frankfurt '74 and finally Paris '74.

Now as to why do I have these, I can't explain. I'm far from being a completist, although I've picked up some of the concerts to get all songs they've played (Wakeman's solo, Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper) that weren't normally included in their standard setlists, but I still have immense joy and a feeling of fulfillment in my soul when I hear these concerts. Yet, as I've said, I can't explain why. Can anyone explain such a thing?

[Albedo]

I've only seen Yes in '98, thus never having the pleasure of seeing Tales material played live. I am, however, an avid--what the hell, bloody rabid, collector of Tales concerts. I have Sheffield '73, Tampa '74, Miami '74, Philadelphia '74, New York '74, Los Angeles '74, Memphis '74, Munich '74, Frankfurt '74 and finally Paris '74.

Now as to why do I have these, I can't explain. I'm far from being a completist, although I've picked up some of the concerts to get all songs they've played (Wakeman's solo, Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper) that weren't normally included in their standard setlists, but I still have immense joy and a feeling of fulfillment in my soul when I hear these concerts. Yet, as I've said, I can't explain why. Can anyone explain such a thing?
Sadly I've never experienced any of Tales live, but I have several live recordings and even though they are B+ quality at best, I also just love to listen to them. I have two with Remembering which just floors me live especially the last few minutes.

[YYY]

Transcending iis the 'Word'

I saw TALES in 74 in Cleveland, Ohio at 18 year old.
I'd heard the album so I knew what to expect and was extremely excited.
My friends and I were also 'under the influence' as always at YES concerts.
Actually I don't remember my friends or anything except the music and the surreal stage once TALES began. I was lost in the Topographic Ocean of pure bliss. I do remember continously wiping away the tears as they streamed down my cheeks. My emotions were too intense to describe. I was completely captivated within the experience. We had snuck down to the floor of the arena and I had one of the closest views of the stage. Not until the 'in the round' tour had I'd been so close to the band.

I was almost useless after 'The Ritual' ended. The journey was almost too intense. Musically I'd thought that nothing could ever be more elating than hearing all 4 sides of TALES Live. I still feel that way. TALES is unusually magical. It is a world apart from other YES music. It has a life of it's own that can transport your spirit to another place. The REMEMBERING was simply devastatingly beautiful Live, The ANCIENT was outragously surreal at the time. Nothing can compare to that experience. I must take into account the era it was created. In 74 TALES was new, fresh and we were still in the midst of the post 60's mindset. This gave it such power It wouldn't be as profound today. Although it could get very close.

IT WAS A DREAM come true. Hearing all of it again Live is a dream as well. It will never happen. It was a once in a life time experience just like the album is one of a kind...

[rememberer]

Now as to why do I have these, I can't explain. I'm far from being a completist, although I've picked up some of the concerts to get all songs they've played (Wakeman's solo, Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper) that weren't normally included in their standard setlists, but I still have immense joy and a feeling of fulfillment in my soul when I hear these concerts. Yet, as I've said, I can't explain why. Can anyone explain such a thing?

I can't explain it either. Tales isn't even my favorite Yes album, Relayer is, and nothing on Tales is my favorite song, Gates Of Delirium is, but I am far more interested in hearing Tales live, even when it's not complete.

Out of necessity, my Yes collection is limited to 4 shows from each tour - exceptions being rare numbers, the Tales Tour, the Relayer Tour, and 2002 when they were playing Revealing Science with Rick. A Relayer show I can turn down, but not the Tales stuff. I doubt I'll quit collecting until I have all of the Tales tour that exists in circulation. I have but to read the name of the venue and I'm filled with expectations of a powerful performance of awesome compositions that will come shining through whatever condition the tapes were in.

I think the 4 from each tour is realistic - if I'd had my head on my shoulders about it, I'd have pitched in with some buddies and we'd have looped around a state or two and caught 4 shows when Yes toured. And from the looks of it, in 1974 I'd have willingly followed Yes around like a Deadhead to EVERY show if I could have - in spite of the fact that Relayer is my favorite, hands-down. :-)

[F.C.]

One thing that's noteworthy is how bleedin' lost Rick gets in "The Remembering", which I think that happened to be the final straw leading them to leave it off the set, but yet these moments are of sheer beauty--it's as if we're on a cosmic travel with the Mellotron and the Moog and suddenly he manages to come back where he's supposed to. Superb, I say. Oh, and those delicate basslines fingered by Chris in his fretless Guild--yes having dozens of Tales concerts is truly a delight for me.

[new_sum_do_solve_ay]

I'm jealous and feel like a youngen!

[Amy]

Ritual blew me away in 2004.
I would be more than happy to hear any part of Tales live again.
:headset:

[YesForSure.]

My main Yestour would also be the Tales tour, as it's the best album ever created. I have these shows so far:

11/27/73 Sheffield UK
12/06/73 Glasgow UK
02/08/74 Miami FL
02/09/74 Tampa FL
02/18/74 New York City NY
02/20/74 New York City NY
02/22/74 Toronto ON
02/26/74 Boston MA
02/28/74 Detroit MI
03/10/74 Memphis TN
03/18/74 Inglewood CA
03/19/74 Long Beach CA
04/13/74 Munich DE
04/19/74 Paris FR

Ah well, still a few more to go. As close as I can get to actually being there.

[gathernear]

Me too! I have quite a few Tales shows.