Finally: The YES IN A WORD tracklist

[RobAdams]

In case you didn't see it at www.yesworld.com the track list for the upcoming Rhino boxed set has been posted at the band's web site. I'd list it here, but it won't hurt you to go to Yesworld and see for yourself!

One thing that caught my eye was REVEALING SCIENCE OF GOD with some sort of "extended intro". Wonder what that would be?

Any thoughts on the track list, now that you can finally check it out?

[gt76yesman]

I am curious how much I do not have.

Also only Mind Drive and In The Presence Of from the last 2 releases.

[Earl Grey]

And I have most of what's on it...
Oh well. There's the 'Live' box I've heard rumours about.
Well, I'll buy YES In A Word, as it will have the new Chris Welch writings and hopefully a really nice booklet. And the extended intro to TRSoG sounds interesting.
The Last Train sounds intriguing.

But I want the YES version of Anthology, and it doesn't look like we're getting it.
Maybe next time.

Earl:yesbird:

[Martin Riley]

It's a balls up. I never bought Yesyears cos it was too much stuff I had for a few extras and now they've gone and done it again. 4 CDs on Yesyears 5 on this one and all I want is about 2 CDs worth of material. Materialism is what it's about - keep buying the stuff you already have for a few nuggets they're prepared to offer you.Well I won't buy this one either.

[RobAdams]

I want outtakes, demos and rehearsals of Yes, and not some bootlegger's scraps. I want something sanctioned by the band. I want to hear a take of a Yes classic that breaks down when someone sings a lyric wrong. I want to hear a demo of a Yes classic still in it's infancy. I want to hear a few funny moments in between takes. I want to hear an alternate version of a Yes classic that was nearly released, but canceled when the 'actual' version was recorded. I too want Yes Anthology. Maybe I'm weird, but I like hearing my favorite groups' outtakes. We didn't get it this time. I'm sure I'll get this box set anyway.

[1yesfan]

I'm with ROB on a bit on this one.

[Dragonfly]

"Mind Drive", but no "That, That Is" or "Bring Me To The Power"? "In The Presense Of", but no...Hmmm. Anything else off of MAGNIFICATION would have been better.

I was pleased to see "Release Release" and "Arriving UFO".

I wish I could just buy the "new" material instead of all of those repeats. Oh, well. It's not like I have a choice ;)

Dragonfly :yesbird:

[Q]

in 1993, Citizen Steely Dan took the prize for the worst anthology ever, containing every track from every album - in chronological order, yet - and only ONE additional track, which was just an alternate of a track already included. Why would anyone buy such a collection? (mine was a well-intentioned gift) - it offered no insight into the band or creative process, which alternate versions of songs, and songs that didn't make the final cut, invariably provide.

I want to hear the paths Yes might have taken, the ideas that were stepping stones, and so on. I want to know the music and the musicians more deeply - and outtakes, demos and rehearsals are what would have taken us there ...

Q

[Khatruman]

I am rebuilding my Yes collection, and I have frankly waited on buying older Yes albums on CD from when I switched over from the venerable LP. I bought YesYears to have these older tracks, and I was pleased with it for the most part, with the exception of a few tracks. (It irked me that they included the singe edit of America, leaving out the best part of the song). It seems this set, in many ways was prepared to supplement YesYears. I looked on the set and saw tracks from Yes Album (Disgrace and Perpetual) as well as, *jumping up and down* South Side of the Sky. I have never bought Fragile on CD, since I had multiple recordings of Roundabout, Long Distance, and Heart of the Sunrise (I believe this track ranks as the song that I have the most number of times, both original and live, as any track in all my collection of CDs). I am also delighted to see other tracks, which, taken together with YesYears, gives me a fairly comprehensive collection of classic Yes.

The addition of ABWH stuff makes this comprehensive to me. Obviously Squire didn't have much of a hand in the project, since, with YesYears, he obviously sought to erase the memory of that band, while including Cinema stuff, thus acting like a petulent father disowning his wayward son.

I am pleased with it, and now feel comfortable in having a good Yes CD catalog to be secure in once I buy this set.

[mcguck]

when I think of Yes, I think of the "epics", the lengthy, swirling, majestic rock symphonies. This collection is missing, in my opinion, one of the 2 greatest Yes epics (along with CTTE), and that's Awaken...a Yes retrospective without Awaken is like taking Hey Jude out of Beatles 1 or Shine on You Crazy Diamond out of Echoes. The rest of the album GFTO is awesome, but I'd venture to guess that if you asked most Yes fans what they think of when they think of GFTO, they'll say Awaken. It's a Yes signature piece. Closely behind that is the very conspicuous absence of AYAI. And Steve Howe helped put this together?!?

[gathernear]

I too am disappointed in the lack of unreleased stuff for this box. The extended 'Revealing Science Of God' is all I see that's interesting. Maybe if they re-issue the albums, they'll include it with Tales as a bonus track. I've never been too keen on 'greatest hits' type compilations that make up your typical box set. I'm an album man. Give me full albums with a digipak or mini-LP sleeve packaging.

Larry

[Martin Riley]

I'm still seething about this............and Yesyears .........Yes just don't seem to have gotten the hang of these boxed sets. There are basically two sorts - a great big compilation that tries to appeal to a broad audience(which Yes would no longer command) or the collection of demos, outtakes, live tracks, alternative versions which the commited fans want. This is the audience Yes should be aiming for and yet they are far wide of the mark.
That promised 3 CD live set that Alan White hinted at had better be good

[gathernear]

Isn't there some Tales era BBC stuff floating around on bootlegs?That should have been included. I don't agree that fans should influence what direction Yes will take in the future, but this old archival stuff is a different matter. A casual fan is not going to buy this box. Why cater to them? The early BBC double disc was fantastic. We need to see more of this type of thing.

Larry

[gathernear]

Remember The Doors box from a couple of years ago? Each album in it's own mini LP sleeve, and a disc of primo outtakes. Now that was a box set!

Larry

[Martin Riley]

That's right. And the BBC certainly broadcast the QPR gig on TV. I'm not sure who would own the rights to that but even that could be released as an official live document CD

[Flo]

Originally posted by Martin Riley
It's a balls up. I never bought Yesyears cos it was too much stuff I had for a few extras and now they've gone and done it again. 4 CDs on Yesyears 5 on this one and all I want is about 2 CDs worth of material. Materialism is what it's about - keep buying the stuff you already have for a few nuggets they're prepared to offer you.Well I won't buy this one either.

I had bought Yesyears containing stuff I already have i current albums. The result is I don't listen much to Yesyears. Now I certainly won't buy this new box set (too expansive for too little stuff). I'd end up with many repeated tracks I already own. It's just a shame that I won't be able to listen to the rare/new stuff they have included. This will encourage home burning...

[Earl Grey]

Wow- I've never heard of those! That would've been perfect.
I wish YES would stop throwing us the ocassional bone-collection, and would put out the stuff that we really want to hear.

It would stop the bootlegs, it would garner new interest in the band the way Anthology did for The Beatles... and we'd have a fuller understanding of the way our favorite songs evolved.

That's the main thing: when you listen to out-takes, to alternate takes... demos, breakdown-composites etc, it's like being invited into the band's inner-sanctum. It deepens the personal meld we already have with our heroes.

Now, maybe the tracks on YES In A Word are re-mixed in a way that will be clearer, cleaner and add a veneer to these classic tracks: that we already have! This would be nice, in the same way that the re-release of The Beatles Yellow Submarine was nice.
But it 'aint the grail: that's for sure.

Steve Howe has even released some of his home-demos, and that was more satisfying than what we're getting on this collection.
Oh well... gripe gripe gripe: maybe the tracks will be remixed in a way that will at least sound new.

*sigh* Earl:ele:

[illusion]

The boxed set may be aimed at the Yes fan who hasn't upgraded to CD yet. If this is the case then it has appeared five years too late.

For God's sake Yes, why not release the IAW:YES unreleased tracks and the unreleased Yesyears tracks on CD together? You could get 70-80 minutes of music (with the "Revealing Science Of God" extended intro included). I would run down (well I'd get the bus, actually) to my local record store and buy it. Or make it a double/triple, with Tales and ABWH II material included.

I wonder if Yes have ever considered this?

[Khatruman]

Yeah, I am the fan who lost all his previous recordings and is pleased to see this new collection come out. Knowing Rhino also, I am figuring that the recordings will be given new life, which, having purchased one older Yes CD and finding the sound quality atrocious, I am pleased to see.

It is obvious that, if you look at the set list from YesYears, this was compiled to be complementary to that boxed set. So, for me, with two boxed sets I have nearly all I need of older Yes material. But you all don't want to hear me because you would rather have the version of Close To the Edge where Steve Howe sneezed during *I Get Up, I Get Down* and Wakeman shouted, "Now THAT's a bloody good chorus!" and guffaws hysterically (please don't respond to ask me where I obtained that recording, it was actually me putting a mike up to my speaker to make a bootleg cassette in 1979 and my brother was the heckler).

Anyway, here is an idea that has intrigued me. Tales from Topographic Oceans has always been a piece that I liked, for certain parts, but couldn't slog through entirely. I remember hearing Trevor Horn quoted as saying he could edit the piece down to about an hour and it would be fantastic. Well, why doesn't someone let him DO that?? Horn is a masterful producer, and being a fan and former member of Yes, I know he could do a brilliant job. Anyone agree??

[Khatruman]

Oh, I just remembered!!!

Regarding White's hint at a Live Yes boxed set: Please, please, please include material from the Union tour. Though Union the album was dismal, that tour was phenomenal. I saw it three times and was in total awe. I would really like to see a CD of the whole show put out.. I KNOW they recorded the concerts. All I have is a bootleg which sounds like someone's microcassette shoved in their pocket... which is why I have never again bought a bootleg.

Anyway, please don't rehash a best of for the shows they have already released. Make it good guys... the stuff you've recorded but have NOT released.

[HighTheMemory]

Wow, it kinda looks like what Yesyears skipped over, except yesyears had the b-sides to certain singles, and the BBC 1969-1970 sessions, which as a matter of fact was released some years later. I dont know, I will definitely buy it, I want to hear what that "extended version" on Revealing is all about. I am psyched!!

[Earl Grey]

I could never call a collection of YESSONGS a 'bone collection'! Shame on me!

I guess I was hoping for that unreleased version with the sneeze, and spoke in haste there. Forgiven?

Bye the way: Never, I repeat NEVER pay $ for a YES bootleg. Trades are available all over the place, you could nearly pick a YesFan at random and find trades here.

I heard (Many moons ago, when I first came to this site, ...hoping to find some 'rare' YES recordings, but didn't want to take $ away from my favorite band in the world. Bad Karma, that!) that YES sanctions 'trading' between fans, NOT selling. Those are the rules and I respect them. I've had opportunities to pay for YES bootlegs and have never ever done it. We want YES to thrive, right?!

I lost most of my YES albums in a fire a couple of years ago: if this boxed-set had come out then, it would have sufficed for me.
In the meantime I've re-bought most of YES's catalogue, so for me the boxed-set is a red herring.

But for you, High The Memory (Nice name there!) the box-set may actually be the grail, so there you go.

I can't wait for the Live-Box. Union should have a very great presence there: it WAS one of YES's best tours after all... Heart Of The Sunrise with both Howe AND Trevor. Amazing.

:yesbird:

[Martin Riley]

I'm still of the opinion that Yes should release as much live stuff as the market could take. Which is a lot. Like Crimso an archive series of recordings from every tour should be made available if there is a good enough quality source. The fans get to choose which they want, the band get the royalties and every body ends up happy. Even the record company doesn't have to put any money into marketing them, just advertise on the 'net and those that want them will find them. Beats the bootleggers and you get a better quality of service.

[Earl Grey]

Barking Pumpkin Records used to be on Ventura Blvd in Universal City, along the route I drove to work every morning. And it always brought a smile to my face driving past such an iconoclastic record company: Barking Pumpkin indeed!

Now YES needs to 'bark' a bit, take back the bootleg recordings we already have, polish them and make some $$$ to furnish the NEW Roger Dean stage-set for the next tour!

$ to fill the Fish's bathtub, and to buy Jon that new crystal he needs for inner healing!

I wonder if they'll do it?

:ele:

[Martin Riley]

Of course they won't. Crimso & Zappa were able to do it because they were very much 'hands on' in respect of their archives. I don't think anybody in the Yes camp has the wherewithal or energy to see such a project through.
It reminds me of when Jethro Tull did their 20 Years Of... boxed set.In the liner notes Ian Anderson mentioned about the 2 fans( David Rees & somebody whose name escapes me) did all the leg work and were the main driving force behind the project. Maybe Yes need somebody like that.

I'd certainly volunteer to trawl through the vaults for them

Also, Fairport Convention have just released a 4CD set that was compiled by a fan with input by fans with about 80 tracks of which something like 77 are unreleased, and the other 3 were very obscure. Now that's the way to do it.

[Earl Grey]

You mentioned Fairport...
You wouldn't happen to be a Richard Thompson fan would you???

Quite a few of us in the LA acoustic underground. We LOVE Thompson. Hell, he might be the only guy who could actually 'sub' for Howe, banish the thought.

And Sandy Denny had a wraith-like voice that could chill and warm the world. Just stunning, bless her soul......

Fairport Convention: now I don't see them mentioned in all the prog threads of this site. Hmm. Should be there.

Tull. I have the boxed-set that "chameleon's" as a cigar-box. Is that the one you speak of?

I love the 'Beaker's Bottom' tracks..... Thick as a Brick never sounded better.

Did you know that we had a car-commercial that had 'Thick as a Brick' for the accompanying music?

They don't understand the British sense of 'Thick' over here!

"Buy our automobile: you're thick as a brick, right?" ;)

Now I sleep. Early here, only 4:54 am! Thick as a Brick.

Earl:ele:

[Martin Riley]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
You mentioned Fairport...
You wouldn't happen to be a Richard Thompson fan would you???

Quite a few of us in the LA acoustic underground. We LOVE Thompson. Hell, he might be the only guy who could actually 'sub' for Howe, banish the thought.

And Sandy Denny had a wraith-like voice that could chill and warm the world. Just stunning, bless her soul......

Fairport Convention: now I don't see them mentioned in all the prog threads of this site. Hmm. Should be there.

Tull. I have the boxed-set that "chameleon's" as a cigar-box. Is that the one you speak of?

Richard Thompson - he is THE MAN, guitar god, songwriter par excellence, dry witted comedian - and for those who know cricket the best off spin bowler in rock. Hopefully I'll catch him at Fairports annual Cropredy festival in August - he usually turns up

Fairport should be everywhere.

That Tull box was the 25 Years Anniversary, the 20 Years celebration was (for me) a stronger collection with more unreleased material rather than live & remixed stuff.

And, Earl, Sandy Denny was the inspiration for one of my posts on the poetry thread

[Earl Grey]

At LA's famous McCabes Guitar Shop.
Two prominent folk artists gabbing:

"So, are you going to see Richard Thompson here next week?"

(Spoken in derisional tones)"Oh. That 'Rock And Roller?' I can't stand 'im! The guy confuses me."

He is hands-down, the most eclectic guitarist I've ever heard! Just as comfortable playing an irish hornpipe as he is playing a rave-up, and somehow he melds it all together!

And a lyricist on Dylan's par, sometimes even Dylan's 'better'.

"Shoot Out The Lights"! Poor Linda Thompson still pops up fronting the ocassional band over here. Some people never quite forgave him for that! Could you imagine having to create art 'contractually' with your estranged mate? Ouch.

Richard seems happier lately. His son has been playing guitar with him on stage. He's remarried and appearently settled-down a bit. He had a bit of an ex-lover comet tail for a while there, and was getting a BAD reputation! Haha!
People will gossip!

Sorry for going so far adrift off the topic (Moderator, moderate yourself!): back to topic...

What track-list would YOU love to see on a YES boxed set? You can make stuff up that doesn't necessarily exist. Like the long lost original 'samba' version of Yours Is No Disgrace!
Anyone...? ;)

Earl:yesbird:

[Moon Theme]

You can pre-order the box set at CD Universe for only $48.00, that is a savings of over $20.00. That is cheaper than if you order it from Rhino (with the special 20%off)...

[wolfehollow]

I for one do not think they have much that they could put on an album in terms of rareties. I record music all the time and if it is good, it gets heard, if it is bad, it gets erased.

[itchy n scratchy]

Well, Yes saved me a lot of money for this joke of a box set. It's just another glorified greatest-hits set. Where are "We Can Fly From Here" or "Go Through This"? They are out there. What about "Give And Take" a b-side from the Union era? I mean, for God's sake this sucks!
I will not buy this package. Juts who are they trying to appeal to? The casual fan won't plunk down that kind of coin, and the die-hard will be very mad at this lame collection. I thought with 5 discs they might get it right. And how cute to leave the rare material from "Yesyears" off. Shame on you Yes!
You want a real box set? Get Echo And The Bunnymen's "Crystal Days 1979-1999"-that's awesome and Rhino did a great job!
R.I.P.
John Entwhistle
Ted Williams
Jack Buck
Daryl Kile

[Earl Grey]

Are there really two of you, or are you a Gemini as well? ;)

I agree on all the above co. the new boxed set.

The sad part though, is that i will buy it: I am powerless over my YES addiction, and the guys could put out a cover album of Partridge Family songs and i'd buy the thing....

Hey, that could be a cool album! Imagine the harmonies on 'Point Me In The Direction Of Albaquerque'! (How do you spell that again?). The counterrpoint between Wakey and Howe on 'I Can Feel Your Heartbeat'!

:ele:

[The Fish]

The tracklisting SUCKS. It hasn't even AND YOU AND I, RITUAL and AWAKEN on it!!! And where is ON THE SILENT WINGS OF FREEDOM ??

Nopez, I prefer the YesYears box. Even the cover-art of YES IN A WORD is really beautiful!!

[gathernear]

I'm steamed again about this box set. I cannot buy it. There's only one song I'm really interested in, the extended Revealing Science Of God. And in five discs, surely there's room for the original single of "Roundabout" at around three and a half minutes. I'd like you guys to hear it if you haven't. It's pretty chopped up, but if you've never heard the full one, it's a pretty powerful little song for the old AM radio, especially in 1971.
If Rhino re-issues the back catalog, then I'll be happy. New remastering, make them sparkle like the Jap HDCDs without the huge price tag. I will buy them yet again, especially Tales and Yessongs. $50 for a CD? Forget it. The Japanese want way too much for these things. I've bought three of them, I couldn't resist Close To The Edge, you know. And Yesterdays. But Rhino, Jon, please reissue the old albums. Please.




Larry

[The Fish]

I have the short single-version of ROUNDABOUT on mp3 on my computer. My father (dear father > LOL) owned the official 7" single of ROUNDABOUT but he gave it away, and he still regrets that.

Well, the edit can't be found on any CD, so I searched on the net. And thank God I found it! And I love it!

[Khatruman]

I preordered the boxed set, probably the only fan who seems pleased with it, since I have so long hesitated buying the old stuff. Offhand I forget who I ordered it through, but I looked at the track list and to me it looks like the extended intro to RSOG is a seperate track that is listed AFTER RSOG, so it may not be the piece with an extended opening, but an extended opening offered as a separate track.

[Dragonfly]

O.K., now that would be just plain dumb! Putting the "extended opening" afterward? Pu-lease!

Dragonfly:yesbird:

P.S. I have the single for the YesSymphonic disc which includes a "radio edit" of "Roundabout". I wonder how the edits on this one compare to the original "radio edit" of the original "Roundabout".