Early Kaye v.80's Kaye

[bjlevine]

I always liked Tony Kaye's work on early Yes recordings. Especially noteable to me are the instrumental break on Astral Traveler and the organ fills on Survival. By the time of The Yes Album seems to have abandoned his role as a lead musician, very content to sit in the background and let Steve take all of the lead parts. Not sure if he felt he was on the way out during these recordings or not. When Rick Wakeman came on board, the keys were firmly back in the forefront.

His style seems to have completely changed by the time 90125 hit. He is definately a supporting element in the music, rather than a mainstay. It was almost painful to watch him try to add a Wakeman-esque keyboard solo to Starship Trooper (okay, not many people can play 32nd note arpeggios, but even a 16th note run ala Astral Traveler would have been better than they keyboard whacking in 9012Live).

I did think that TK did an admirable job on Heart of the Sunrise when I saw them in '87. It just seems to me that he his best work is on the first two albums.

[Orbert]

I agree, and this is something I've thought of from time to time as well. I'm just guessing here, but it probably has to do with the personalities involved.

One the first two albums, the band was fresh, the ideas were fresh, and everybody was into trying things out. Peter Banks clearly had no problem sharing chord and lead duties with Tony Kaye. But Steve has a much more outgoing personality. He does seem to push Tony a bit to the back, doesn't he? But I don't think it's intentional or personal. The opening chords of "Yours is No Disgrace" have the guitar and organ sharing duties equally, as though to say Look, perfectly equal! But there are countless guitar solos on TYA. How many keyboard solos are there? Anyone? I can think of only one, "A Venture". The forgotten YesTune.

There are quotes from Tony much later to the effect that Rick was brought in because Yes as a whole was moving towards the synthesizers and more complex music, which Tony didn't feel comfortable doing. Rick, being such a natural showman, was a much better match for Steve, and there was once a again a balance between the keyboards and guitar, much like on the first two albums, but with everything up a notch or two.

I think when Tony came back for 90125, it was understood from the outset that it was Trevor's band. It was not originally going to be Yes, so none of the ideas about how musical politics work in Yes apply to Cinema. Tony was supporting cast. And he seemed fine with that. I think the YesWest albums have some pretty good music at times, but I think what keeps them from being "real Yes" to me is not the lack of Steve, or Rick, or any particular individual. It's the way the various musicians combine their skills. Tony did shine on those first two albums, but he was never given the opportunity in Cinema. That's just not how that band worked.

[DesertCat]

There are quotes from Tony much later to the effect that Rick was brought in because Yes as a whole was moving towards the synthesizers and more complex music, which Tony didn't feel comfortable doing.

Some of the bonus interviews on the new 90125Live! DVD have Tony saying pretty much just that. Tony wanted to be a Hammond organ player and wasn't that interested in playing the early 70's synthesizers. The advances in technology found him warming to their uses by the time of 90125.

Those interviews also have some quotes from Tony being a bit chagrined about Trevor Rabin being good at EVERTHING. That kind of plays into the idea that he was mostly there to be the keyboard player, but not necessarily as a creative element.

[ariceffron]

u guys are out of your gourd. Tony is the heart and soul of yes. yes was born w/ tony and when yes dies, it should be with tony. tony in the 80s was on the cutting edge of pop music tecnology which shortly thereafter exploded into the mainstream even more than ever before. tony never got credit for all that but he doesnt care he knows what he did.




oh and just for all you non-musican yes fans out there, playing the 90125 keyboard parts live is harder than topograhic oceans. The main differences between 80s yes and 70s yes really are in the keyboard sounds. yea yea trevor too, but what really distinguishes 80s yes from the work prior are all the new key sounds.



if yes ever want to retain their former glory they are gonna have to give tony a call

[Sunrise68]

It was almost painful to watch him try to add a Wakeman-esque keyboard solo to Starship Trooper (okay, not many people can play 32nd note arpeggios, but even a 16th note run ala Astral Traveler would have been better than they keyboard whacking in 9012Live).


Wow it seems as all of my 20 or so posts on Yesfans are defending the honour of Tony Kaye - someone's got to do it :D

Everyone's got their own taste - but I loved Tony's solo on the 9012LIVE Starship Trooper - elbows on the keyboards is what he's all about :rcking: - I've never been crazy about Rick's solo on ST -too flashy on a song that didnt need it.

I agree on Tony's supporting role in his second stint as a Yesman. Although I do love Rabin era Yes, one of the things about that era is that it seems, as though everyone - Jon, Chris , Alan and Tony's roles were redefined as support. Heck - check out the Union tour's YIND - Trevor ever tried to relegate Steve to support on his own song!

[BlankReg]

I have to assume that many of the keyboard parts on YesWest releases are really played by Trevor. On Talk, TK is only credited for Hammond organ. All non-Hammond keyboard parts on that record were played by Trevor. Does anyone know more about what was played by TK and what was played by Trevor on 90125 and Big Generator? It has always bothered me that I don't know who played what on those albums...

[Jackaranda]

I have to assume that many of the keyboard parts on YesWest releases are really played by Trevor. On Talk, TK is only credited for Hammond organ. All non-Hammond keyboard parts on that record were played by Trevor. Does anyone know more about what was played by TK and what was played by Trevor on 90125 and Big Generator? It has always bothered me that I don't know who played what on those albums...


Rabin played almost all the keyboard parts on all the Yeswest albums. You can hear Tony in spots, usually playing the Hammond, but most of the keyboard work is by Rabin.

I liked what he did live except for some of the Talk tour. He seemed to play out of key on The Calling and some other tracks.

[JB86]

If you have the 9012live DVD, check out 'Hold On'. I love that chime effect Tony plays after the 'sunshine, shine on you' lyric. I'm not exactly a huge fan of how Tony like, 'sweeps' his arms down the keys when they play 'All Good People' on that DVD, but to answer your question, I think I prefer Kaye in the 1980/1990 period- after all, that Hammond solo on 'The Calling' is awesome.

[YESOLA]

if yes ever want to retain their former glory they are gonna have to give tony a call



You are out of your mind. That's the only thing more ridculous than saying that Trevor Rabin can come back and save Yes, or Yes music, as if he ever did. ( but that's a topic for a different thread).

[YESOLA]

I always liked Tony Kaye's work on early Yes recordings. Especially noteable to me are the instrumental break on Astral Traveler and the organ fills on Survival. By the time of The Yes Album seems to have abandoned his role as a lead musician, very content to sit in the background and let Steve take all of the lead parts. Not sure if he felt he was on the way out during these recordings or not. When Rick Wakeman came on board, the keys were firmly back in the forefront.




I loved Kaye's work on the first two albums and then The yes album. Kaye was the one guy that gave Yes a little soul.

Not to mention he seems like an excellent guy.

But having said that Rick Wakeman will always be *the* Yes keyboard man.

[YESOLA]

Although I do love Rabin era Yes, one of the things about that era is that it seems, as though everyone - Jon, Chris , Alan and Tony's roles were redefined as support. Heck - check out the Union tour's YIND - Trevor ever tried to relegate Steve to support on his own song!



My friend - truer words have never been spoken.