Fish Out Of Water - Still Amazing In 2002

[RobAdams]

What an amazing album. Why this has been out of print in the US since the late 1970's is beyond me. If you haven't heard this one yet - shame on you Yes fan. If you like CAN YOU IMAGINE on the Yes album MAGNIFICATION, this album will no doubt please you. I just got my second CD of this great album. (My first copy died a miserable death in my friends malfunctioning CD changer).

An interesting thing about FISH OUT OF WATER. It's the only time we get to hear Chris Squire, Patrick Moraz and Bill Bruford on the same tracks. Bruford and Moraz really add to the brilliance of the album to the point where it nearly deserves to be considered a Squire Bruford Moraz album. There are tasteful orchestrations as well, giving it a slight MAGNIFICATION ambiance. There aren't any lead guitar solos, but where you might expect to have one, instead you get BASS, BASS and MORE BASS! I love the fuzz tones Chris uses on his bass on the opening track HOLD OUT YOUR HAND. This is in my opinion, the ultimate prog album for bass guitar fanatics - it's held up well after all these years. And Chris Squire's singing is wonderful. I love his voice.

[prem895]

Rob, I could not agree with you anymore. Out of all the solo albums that each of the boys put out that year, Fish Out OF Water is by far the best work. I have to hear on a weekley basis, to get my Squire fix.

[Squire*Fan725]

I agree with you all! FOOW is my favorite of the solos!! Hold Out Your Hand would have to be my all time favorite track. Ever since I heard that little bit of it in the Yesyears vid, I had to have it...And, the best part of all was when I finally found a Japanese Import CD copy for $24, but only had $22, the fella behind the counter said "Don't worry about it", and let me have it for what I had, even though I could've very easily gotten the $2 from my dad, who was a few stores down, buying Chinese food for dinner! Now how cool is THAT!?

[RobAdams]

$24 is reasonable, since my first CD of FISH cost me 32 dollars plus tax at The Music Box in Hamden CT. Still, FISH & OLIAS need to be issued in the usa.

[Martin Riley]

So we may not get to see the lads over here this year but I got to buy FOOW for£4.99 - what's that in US $? about $8.50 I think, so at least we can get that cheaply

[David Washack]

I had the opportunity to meet squire and anderson last year in Atlanta for the the Magnification tour. He was kind of modest and quiet, Anderson was a little more alert to our questions.

[YYY]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RobAdams
An interesting thing about FISH OUT OF WATER. It's the only time we get to hear Chris Squire, Patrick Moraz and Bill Bruford on the same tracks. Bruford and Moraz really add to the brilliance of the album to the point where it nearly deserves to be considered a Squire Bruford Moraz album.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very interseting point. That combination would have created some great music together if they had taken the opportunity.
Each of there indivisual styles work so well together. Chris melodic, punchy, slick bass style with Bill's sophisticated, jazzy, percussive technique with Moraz's Classical yet jazz fusion sensibility are incredible together. Too band we only got one album from this trio. FOOW is very sweet, progressive, honest album, Chris should have made more.

[Squire*Fan725]

That's a great pic, Dave! :valintine

[VentureRG]

FOOW, a great album. My CD is made in Germany. Check out the Moraz solo on Silently Falling and turn it up to 11. The Yesyears video reminded me that the whole album was performed I believe on TV. I remember watching it and being blown away by it. Does anyone remember the broadcast of that performance?

[ThorBrynjolfson]

Great, timeless album

[Dafty Boy]

Nice to know it's now available in the UK for £4.99. It cost me £19.99 about 10 years ago. Still, I've had ten year's worth of good music, so it was a bargain, really.
I first bought this album on vinyl, the morning before I went to see ABWH. Boy, did I feel like a traitor!
I doubt if we'll ever get Squire and Bruford on an album together again. Unless it's a Union-type never-actually-meeting scenario.

[TTT]

FOOW remains a brilliant album. I bought my first lp copy of Fish along with Tormato in the early 80s as used records and got both as Japanese CDs just a few years later (paying exhorbitant sums for each!). I wholly agree this needs to be re-released and a bit of remastering wouldn't hurt either. :)

[Scheming Demon]

Guess what? It's even more amazing in 2004!

[pauli]

Someone once did a post entitled "What would the Yes album from 1975-76 have sounded like?"
The answer is "Fish Out of Water".
Just ordered a replacement CD from amazon...

[About The Round]

Progressive World has done a new review on FOW:

Reviewed by: Tom Karr, March 2004

There may be some contentious arguments as to which of the many solo projects by the members of Yes is the best. Anderson’s Olias Of Sunhillow? Wakeman’s Six Wives Of Henry The VIII, or his magnificent Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, perhaps? Steve Howe has produced many fine solo works, more than I’ve heard, I shamefully admit. And one must not forget Patrick Moraz’s very entertaining work, The Story Of I. There is plenty to argue about, to be sure. I will say that for me, the choice is obvious. Chris Squire’s Fish Out Of Water surpasses all of the others, in its songwriting, vocals, the choice of sidemen, and its kinship with the sound and more importantly, the soul of Yes.

After the tour in support of Relayer the members of Yes did what a number of top acts did in the 1970s. They took a lengthy sabbatical from the road and each member produced a solo album. These efforts were, of course, all over the board, and some of the works fare better than others. Chris took the path that I find most to my liking, and released what I believe is the best of the bunch, though I will admit to a love of Wakeman’s and Moraz’s first solo recordings as well.

Fish Out Of Water is a pleasure to listen to now, nearly thirty years after its release, and even more importantally, I believe, it continues to reveal new details every time I listen to it. That, I think, is one of the highest praises that I can bestow upon any recording. There are only a few recordings I can recall right now that have that quality, that endearing aspect.

Fish Out Of Water is also the most Yes-like of any of the solo works of the members, I am sure of that. The presence of Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz assure that, but it goes deeper than that. I seem to recall Chris saying something about he and he alone owning the rights to the name Yes, feeling I suppose, that he, and whoever he chose to play with were Yes. I refer to the time of Yes L.A. and their legal battles with Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe. Indeed, nasty things are said whenever lawyers come around. But the point is, Squire was probably right. I didn’t really understand, before hearing this work for the first time, how much of what we think of as the Yes “sound” is the result of Chris, his bass, his writing, his voice. This release could, with little change, stand alongside Yes’s best and most popular albums.

All the material on this CD is very, very good, but I think that Chris wrote two absolute masterpieces of the genre here, those being the CD’s opening track, "Hold Out Your Hand," and the third cut, "Silently Falling."

"Hold Out Your Hand" begins in a quite Yes-like manner, with a flourish of keyboards and a brilliant bass line, one of those lines that comes at you, and by the time you figure out where it is going, and how its going to be resolved, it turns a corner and doubles back on you. This album is a textbook of the Squire bass style, and that is reason enough to pick this up. The opening cut features some impressive and very satisfying keyboard work, and any time spent listening to Bruford’s drumming is time well spent as well. This piece, as well as the rest of this release, boasts some lovely work by an ensemble of musicians on strings, flute, woodwinds and horns. Chris’s vocals will leave no doubt as to who is really responsible for that classic Yes harmony we all love. Chris is not only a quite accomplished lead vocalist, but is usually the arranger of Yes’s vocals. I will not bog all of us down in an endless dissection of the music on this album, but lets just say that "Hold Out Your Hand" will stand on its own when compared against the best material of Yes.

"Silently Falling" now sends shivers down my spine every time! At over eleven minutes, this is THE highlight of this release, and my personal favorite. It begins with woodwinds and some of the finest flute work I have ever heard, played by Jimmy Hastings, just one of the many outstanding players appearing on this CD. Hastings is one of the most storied flutists in England, and has worked with Caravan, National Health and Soft Machine as well. As I said, one of the great strengths of Squire's work is the great care he took in his choice of sidemen. One fascinating tidbit about this release is the appearance of Dr. Barry Rose, Chris’s choir master from Guildford Cathedral. The good Reverend contributes his enormous talents on pipe organ, as well as other keyboards. Speaking of keyboards, and "Silently Falling" as well, this number features Moraz on a blistering organ/synthesizer solo, one of the best I have heard from him. This song also shows one of Chris’s and by extension, Yes’s, greatest strengths and most noticeable tendencies. Everything always begins or ends one beat before or after you think it will. This song displays Bruford’s very tasteful style and his beautiful cymbal work. Chris misses no opportunities on this one either, and his bass line is powerful and could likely carry the song by itself.

All in all, this is a brilliant CD, and one that will show some of England’s finest musicians in addition to Squire. He shows us all just what a masterful musician, composer and yes, what a great lead vocalist he really is.

Rating: 5/5

[Dafty Boy]

I just had an hour spare and thanks to this thread, I pulled out FOOW and played it nice and loud.
It still sounds great. (Although a remaster would be nice!) I suppose it sounds a little similar to ELP, what with bass/keyboard/drums but hardly any lead guitar. Bruford's drumming is always excellent, whatever he's on. Moraz certainly shines more than on Relayer (I played a bit of that afterwards, all I could hear was Steve's guitar!).
But top marks to Chris. What amazing 'lead bass' playing! The vocals are great, though a little low in the mix for me (backing singer syndrome?)
Just about edges out The Steve Howe album for me as favourite solo album.
Thanks for getting me to relisten. It's been a while.

[NoQuarter]

I ordered a copy of FOOW about 2 weeks ago and it still hasn't come yet. I keep seeing this thread and hearing all the great things about it. I am dying to hear it. I hope my CD comes soon.

[pauli]

I ordered a copy of FOOW about 2 weeks ago and it still hasn't come yet. I keep seeing this thread and hearing all the great things about it. I am dying to hear it. I hope my CD comes soon.
Amazon.ca quoted me 2-3 weeks for delivery, if that's any consolation.

[altaeria]

I would like to put aside the (expected) great individual playing on the album to shine a spotline on the perfect use of orchestration.

In fact ... This has to be one of the top prog albums ever to utilize an orchestra.
There is really never a moment where it seems "forced" into the material.
The orchestral instrumentation isn't simply there to help color the overall sound, It actually drives the music on many occasions.

Combine that with the playing of Chris, Bill and Patrick ....
and THAT is what makes this album so interesting and essential.

[Timmo]

Rob, I could not agree with you anymore. Out of all the solo albums that each of the boys put out that year, Fish Out OF Water is by far the best work. I have to hear on a weekley basis, to get my Squire fix.

I think it was the best Yes solo album ever released, period.

Much as I love Steve, his creativity always seemed stronger when he was playing with Chris and Alan.

TIM
Venice, CA

[Cosmic_Hippo]

Now this thread brings back some memories. In short, I discovered Yes when 90125 was released. Within a year, I bought all of the albums in print. I had read good things about FOOW, but could never find it. One day I walked into a used record store and there it was for $4! I was amazed at how complete it sounded. (That was also the day I found King Crimson's RED and Alan White's RAMSHACKLE!).

That was in the mid-eighties. I only recently found a CD (at CD Universe) and I still find this to be one amazing album.

It is too bad that Yes decided to make solo albums. After listening to Olias, Story of I, Beginnings, Ramshackled and Fish Out of Water, I'm convinced that the band could have created a masterpiece. However, Fish Out of Water is still a classic.

Sadly, the CD itself isn't all that great. The sound quality is similar to the original Yes CD released in the 80's. It is a bit flat sounding. Hopefully Atlantic will one day re-master the album (they seem to have no problem doing it with Yes albums every decade!).

[Squire*Fan725]

Well if I rememeber correctly, Squire had once said that the master tapes for FOOW went missing...What a bummer, eh?

My CD copy of FOOW is a Japanese Import, and sounds fine to me...

IMHO, it's the best of the solo albums, with Jon's Olias running a close second..

[Timmo]

Now this thread brings back some memories. In short, I discovered Yes when 90125 was released. Within a year, I bought all of the albums in print. I had read good things about FOOW, but could never find it. One day I walked into a used record store and there it was for $4! I was amazed at how complete it sounded. (That was also the day I found King Crimson's RED and Alan White's RAMSHACKLE!).

That was in the mid-eighties. I only recently found a CD (at CD Universe) and I still find this to be one amazing album.

It is too bad that Yes decided to make solo albums. After listening to Olias, Story of I, Beginnings, Ramshackled and Fish Out of Water, I'm convinced that the band could have created a masterpiece. However, Fish Out of Water is still a classic.Me 2. Mostly of smoking lots of pot and dropping acid in my friend's dorm room at the wonderful University of Michigan, listening to FOoW nonstop.

My friend Jeff was a Yesshead like me. His roommate Leo put up with us. So we had both been converted by older brothers with TYA.

I discovered "Red" later, with another pothead/acid-head friend, who I bonded with over early Yes.

"Starless and...BIBLE BLACK!"

Another memory...being the designated driver at the '84 Pine Knob Crimson show, with a carful of buddies peaking on Mr. Natural Blotter.

Tim
Blasting "Mind Drive" in
Venice, CA

[pianozach]

This album is absitively posilutely fantabulistic!

Definately in my desert island 100, and one of my top 10 favorite "Yes" albums.

I've had the LP for years (I think I bought it practically the day it came out), but I was able to obtain a CD last April from Amazon.com's Third-Party Seller program for $12.39 plus $2.49 shipping. As I recall, it came right away (less than a week)

I remember seeing a video of one of the songs a long time ago. Where can I get a copy of that?

[Squire*Fan725]

I remember seeing a video of one of the songs a long time ago. Where can I get a copy of that?

http://yesmuseum.org/video/ is your best bet. There are also a ton of other cool Yes goodies there as well..

[ken day]

Rob Just Put The Same Thing On On Other Part Of This Site Could Not Agree With You More. Still One Of My Favs, Play It In Car All The Time

[custom55]

Love it. I bought it when it first came out and it has been with me ever since. Thanks Chris !!!

[brotherofmine]

Still amazing in 2004!!!

[slazman]

One of the first in the queue to be heard when I reactivate the turntable.

[onslo]

totally. i LOVE that album.

[Scooty]

Pure Genious

Incredible

Perfection


So...Uncle Squire?? FOOW II??

Hmmmmmmm

Scoot

[GaryC]

Does anyone think that some of "Fish Out of Water" sounds a bit like the group Pilot ?

[paulovajao]

the same as too many albuns of that time sounded better than before!

[triplej 04]

im glad i returned to this site to find other peoples interest in this awesome album. my favourite track would have to be "silently falling".... this particular track has that magic that makes you wanna listen to it over and over again.

[gathernear]

I'm glad this thread is still going. I love this album.


Larry

[RatFishes2]

I love this album. Chris has told me the best stories regarding recording this album. If they weren't so long I would type them here....but they are great.

[Scooty]

I love this album. Chris has told me the best stories regarding recording this album. If they weren't so long I would type them here....but they are great.

its my favorite album...period.

Id love to hear those stories sometime...

I know his schedule is super busy but Chris..may I request pleeeeeasssse a follow up...Fish Out of Water II ??? Id love to hear it, and would love to hear Stuff from FOOW live someday...

[gathernear]

I love this album. Chris has told me the best stories regarding recording this album. If they weren't so long I would type them here....but they are great.

Please do! We have all day.


Larry

[A Student of YES]

What everyone else said!

I have posted before about this album but we all love to read about things YES and all things Squire so why not again.........

I bought this album new in 1976! Loved it. Never tried to work on any of the music then though. Band I was in, a few years later, was working hard on Floyd, Genesis, The Fab 4 etc. etc. We did try and were actually working out parts of South Side of the Sky when the band fell apart. That hurt! I loved making music and I was getting better and better all the time. I kicked around a few bands after that but it never clicked for me. I gave up the Music thing by 1985. I was the guitarist and second voice and was a fair guitarist and an excellent Acoustic player and excellent harmony voice. And I missed it for a while.

Years went by and all I did during this time was slowly and painfully sell off any instruments I had eccept for my favorite Acoustic. I would break it out and play on the beach etc. etc. but had a hard time even remembering all the songs I knew.

19 years or so pass and I am a family man and earning a living through my tallents as everything but a musician. For some reason I was looking through some CD's that a kid was selling at a garage sale earlier this year. I saw that face behind the knight's helmet and I couldn't wait to pop it in the car player for the ride home.

Well I sat in my driveway and tilted my head back on the rest and that CD was just absolutely captivating! Silently falling is an Anthem for anyone who has children and wants to see there kids lives enriched and to see them take up the human struggle where we leave off!
At least that's what it is for me. Hold out your hand is a real Bass players trophy! They all are.

I started my second childhood right there! My Midlife crisis did not consist of self centered drama with new relationships and a sports car. Nope It centered around doing the one thing I always had a real passion for! Music!

The last ten months are gone since that day. The guitar purchases, for me, are almost at an end. A huge Garage was built, this summer, with a second floor and a sound proof room dedicated to Music is almost completed. Practice has been ongoing now for several months with A Rock Solid Keyboard player and the new addition, last month, of a guitarist who is taking the time to copy Steve Howe and myself Playing the Bass. Drummer is in the works. We are all having a blast learning the first generation YES songs and some of the second as well.

My Keyboard player and I are still working on Hold out your hand and Silently Falling. I want to do these two songs with just myself the drummer and the Keyboards but I think I will have to give the vocal work to whom ever we eventually find, because these songs Squire wrote on this Solo Album are masterpieces! I can sing them and I can play them now, but I just can't do both jobs at the same time! When we hit the Jam session in silently Falling I can feel the hair on the back of my neck litterally stand up. That song just spirrels and spins up and down the musical scale and it Rocks! We have extended this section of Chris's work a little.. ( I know the purists will kill me here) but "This song" is "my favorite song" out of everything else YES we play. It is the song I wanted to do 20 years ago. And I am finally doing it!
I add a little more speed picking bass scale work for fun during that jam. I almost have the sound I have been after for this song. And our Keyboard player has finally got Patric's incredible key work in that song down! He loves this piece!

Well I hope I have not filled another post with babble. I know this is a Me, Me, Me, kind of post but I thought some of you may like to see just how the Music of One man can affect other's. YES Has had this kind of influence on so many thousands of us second, and third string musicians like me, It is a tribute to them all!

My life's end game will now be filled with Music, And I have discovered my best instrument (The Bass) And I have Chris Squire to blame as well as Thank for this.

Somebody plaese find me a singer that can handle Jon's work in upstate NY!
He will have a good band to work with? A Voice you either have or you don't You just can't make yourself Sing as good as Jon no matter how hard you practice! Cuz ........ Dam! He is talented.

Question; Was there not a Video released as a "Promotional" for this Solo Album in 1975-76??? I am hoping I can find a copy on Vid or DVD?? Do any of you guy's or girl's know where anything like this can be found??

Thanks for letting me ramble.
Randy

[yesmandroc]

Perhaps someone can help me. I heard a song on the radio recently. It was one of those lower frequency stations, like 80-something. Anyway, the song had bass playing and vocals that were definately Chris. My girlfriend and I both agree it was him. The recording sounded older, and didn't sound like Conspiracy. I hear there's not much if any Syn circulating yet, I don't know. Someone hear suggested that it might be Fish Out Of Water. It was a very jam-oriented song, at least where I came in. There was a saxiphone, but I don't know if it was real or a keyboard patch. Any ideas?

[pianozach]

Question; Was there not a Video released as a "Promotional" for this Solo Album in 1975-76??? I am hoping I can find a copy on Vid or DVD?? Do any of you guy's or girl's know where anything like this can be found??

Thanks for letting me ramble.
Randy

No. Thank YOU

Here's the link that Squire*fan posted for me. It seems to still be working.

http://yesmuseum.org/video/ is your best bet. There are also a ton of other cool Yes goodies there as well..

[Scooty]

Perhaps someone can help me. I heard a song on the radio recently. It was one of those lower frequency stations, like 80-something. Anyway, the song had bass playing and vocals that were definately Chris. My girlfriend and I both agree it was him. The recording sounded older, and didn't sound like Conspiracy. I hear there's not much if any Syn circulating yet, I don't know. Someone hear suggested that it might be Fish Out Of Water. It was a very jam-oriented song, at least where I came in. There was a saxiphone, but I don't know if it was real or a keyboard patch. Any ideas?


My guess would be Lucky Seven from FOOW..

Tis only a guess though..

This album, THIS ALBUM folks, drives me nuts..because its so purely fan tastic and brilliant..
all I have to say is.."HOW DOES HE DO THAT!!"
It floors me, astounds me, and yet takes me to another place..its majestic, its beautiful, its perfect..

The man is so Gawd Damn talented it freaks me out..

Ill never be able to play it..hence the beauty in that FOOW will forever remain a mystery to me..a puzzle to be solved for all of eternity..
I so love this album..

Scooty

[Earl Grey]

FOoW Mach II

We wait...

[Scooty]

FOoW Mach II

We wait...

It can happen..

I hope we get an official sequel..

he has it in him..we know he can do it...

maybe with our help ;)

[allpurechance]

....there're certain songs in this life,certain music you(I!lol) turn to.Music which functions in a certain context.For instance-if I need energy-Mountain: Mississippi Queen;Joe Walsh:Rocky Mountain Way;Bill Bruford:Hell's Bells.Along these lines,and this song functions for me on multiple levels-it provides me with a jolt of vibrance,it reassures me about humanity.I guess I just plain have always loved(and I love the whole album,too-but this one is special)-"Hold Out Your Hand/You By My Side".Music from The Power That Is,plain and simple.

[Earl Grey]

I for one, wish for a sequel.

Squire will have to write, play and sing...

And this is what we wish for.

Fish In His Depth, part II.

Why not?

I've mentioned a ----load of things here that I never really expected, and so far, so good.

I Would've Waited Forever...

Knock me out Chris.

Fish Out Of Water Mach II: ...Only a matter of time...

:ele:

[A Student of YES]

Someone hear suggested that it might be Fish Out Of Water.

Yesmandroc;

Does not matter what song this was. If you can appreciate YES Music, you need to buy this CD of Chris's. It will make you want to set down your classical guitar and pick up a bass!

Enjoy

Randy

[Earl Grey]

Someone hear suggested that it might be Fish Out Of Water.

Yesmandroc;

Does not matter what song this was. If you can appreciate YES Music, you must hear this CD of Chris's. It will make you want to set down your classical guitar and pick up a bass!

Enjoy

Randy

Absolutely!

I am a guitar player. I love Hendrix, Gilmour, Howe, Hackett.
Clapton Knoffler Rory.

Heart Soul Spirit & Mind...

:ele:

[Earl Grey]

I don't want to see ANY guitarist on FOoW Mach II.

Squire should play all the leads. Better than Clapton.

[A Student of YES]

Earl;
Ya know I bought a bunch of Solo Bassists works after I got hooked on playing the fat strings this time around. And to be honest I absolutely love John Entwistle and Geedy Lee and a few others, but their Solo work just does not stand out as a Bassists masterpiece the way Chris's does! They did their best work with their bands! After hearing FOoW again I realize it is Chris who has to be the heavy hand in Yes's earlier work! His influence is all through the work they did from 1969-77. The later stuff is absolutly great as well, Yet it is that early work that I can hear and feel Chris's influence the most. And it is genius!

I still play the Acoustics along with the bass and I will play the electric guitar on a few newer songs we are adding to the list, but When I play Silently Falling and Hold Out Your Hand I think it is the most fun I have ever or will ever have playing an instrument! Those Bass lines never get old for me! They make you turn and spin and jump while your playing them.
What a wonderful thing it must be to be able to create songs such as this! You seem to be able to do this Earl. Your originals are real well done man. I do not seem to have this ability. I can come up with some real nice chords but putting this to lyrics and creating a song? It just does not work that well for me.

Must be satisfying to say the least. Squire just has to close those doors and start working Solo again! I would love to see him work with Bill and Patric again! I would think these guy's are burning out ya know? They ain't kids no more but after watching these guy's this year They have not lost a thing with age! In fact, they are more polished and relaxed than Any band I have ever seen, including themselves, 25 years ago. Chris does not seem to be slowing down so I am waiting like the rest of us for a second Fish! I think he should title it

Chiris Squire "A Fish in his element" or "The Fish That Got Away"

[yesmandroc]

Someone hear suggested that it might be Fish Out Of Water.

Yesmandroc;

Does not matter what song this was. If you can appreciate YES Music, you need to buy this CD of Chris's. It will make you want to set down your classical guitar and pick up a bass!

Enjoy

Randy
Yeah man, ABSOLUTELY. I love Chris, and if I had all the money in the world I would own all of his stuff. But what I heard intrigued me at the time, so I'm interested in finding out what it is now.

And I'v dabbled in bass in my life, and I love it. Shame I got rid of my bass so I don't do it anymore, but I loved it.

[Andy56]

When Fish Out Of Water was released there was a review in the UK music paper 'Sounds' that began something like : (i paraphrase cos my memory is weak):

"If I wanted to get someone to write the soundtrack to the end of the world, I'd get Chris Squire to do it"

It was one of the most enthusiastic album reviews I've ever read. I recently dug out the vinyl and played it and I'd have to agree that it is one of the most original albums ever produced. I can't praise it highly enough - I love 'Safe' - just when you think its ended it carries on and surprises you again.

Still brilliant after all these years!
-----------------------------------------------
P.S. If anyone else can still play vinyl, there is a sealed copy up for sale on eBay from vinyltap - :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1077&item=4059350079&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Not promoting it - just highlighting the fact in case anyone wanted a copy.

[kevycanavan]

now i have been one to take the mickey out of Chris in the past. His stage antics are just a bit much for me. But Last week i was in a record shop in Dundee and stumbled accross this album for 1 pound, let me repeat that, one ----ing pound! I took it back to my mates flat not expecting much as i'm kinda careful about any yes stuff from relayer onwards, and that includes any solo stuff that i have. but holy ----. this album is absolutely amazing, definatly one of the best Yes albums available (it might as well be yes with bruford and moraz on it who just happen to be my favourite yes drummer and keybaordist - so bonus)
Go buy this album!

[rememberer]

In my humble opinion, you have VERY good taste, kevycanavan. :-) Welcome. :-)

Yup. Squire, Moraz and Bruford. There'd be a dream album if they hadn't already done it. And quite possibly the best-orchestrated album of all time. Absolutely brilliant.

[Timmo]

He always refers to it as "my orchestral album."

But to me what works is that you NEVER think "gee, that's an orchestra."

It so perfectly blends in with that phat phunky bass.

I can't listen to "Silently Falling" without crying, it's just so damned good, allthough I love the whole damned shootin' match.

I recently reacquired this album after not hearing it since the early 80s. It spent a LOT of time in play, and still is.

I remember arriving at one Liquor Locust gathering at Earl's house, and I'd been listening to it in the car. When I turned off my car, oddly enough I could still hear the song.

Inside, not only were they also listening to FOOW, but were at the EXACT same place in the song!

Great, or at least drunken, minds think alike, I guesss...

[JL]

Well, I just fired up the old debit card for a copy of this one, and if my wife asks, I'm going to blame Tim, rememberer and kevycanavan for making me do it, so you guys better cover for me! :smurf:

I had a vinyl copy of this one way back when. I lost my entire record collection in 1992, a catastrophe I have since largely recovered from. I remember loving the bass playing even more than usual, and loving the orchestration.

Wasn't Andrew Jackman from the Syn the one who did the orchestrations?

[Scooty]

Blame me too. John..LOL!!

It helps if you have more alibis...

This album is simply brilliant, and a nightmare from a learning Bass players point of view.
Yeah it was Andrew Pryce Jackman who orchestrated it, he did a helluva a job. Chris actually credits him with making the album what it is...but I disagree...Chris is ON FIRE on this album. the orchestrations are beautiful.
But its Chris that makes this album pure Fantasticness.

[JL]

The artist formerly known as scootyes89 is now Scooty!!!!

I like it!!!

[A Student of YES]

" Well, I just fired up the old debit card for a copy of this one, and if my wife asks, I'm going to blame Tim, rememberer and kevycanavan for making me do it, so you guys better cover for me! "

JL;

You will be very pleased with your purchase! All these solo albums will give you some insite to just what the contribultions are to YES! And that is, they are all genius's in their own way!
You won't hold us to blame. You'll see.
If your like me though, you will hold Chris responsible for pushing you over the edge and deciding to get into playing bass in a big way! This album was the single instigating circumstance that pulled me back into the whole Music, Band, R & R dream thing! at 42. So Beware!

By the way I'm having the time of my life playing Chris's stuff! If it never makes it any farther than my practice room I feel my soul is better filled for the effort!

Randy

[gathernear]

I'm glad this thread is back. It reminded me to pull this one out and give it a spin. Wow, this album is better than some Yes albums, I'd say.

Larry

[A Student of YES]

Some of you may find this pretty cool!

I had the day off... No that's not it, there's more.....................

Our Keyboardist's truck is in the shop so we called our drummer and he was home and ready for a session!
He showed up with a guitar playing friend whom I have not seen in twenty years. He wanted to hear what we were doing. We played Hold Out Your Hand, after two miss starts. This guy was beside himself!!! He thought this was an original! Never knew anything about Solo albums from YES. He said he had never heard anything like that with just three guys!

It felt good to here this from someone who plays an instrument! And it is good to here Chris Squires Stuff can still excite someone almost 30 years after it was written! Thats how timeless this stuff is!


A TOAST TO OUR MR. SQUIRE!!!!!! Chris ! You are a treasure.

It was a little ego boost for us and I am sure this guy wishes he did not decide to play nothing but "Hair Band" stuff now! Wait until we get the equipment I want for the PA system.
This was a good day and we all got a few grass stains on our fingers to celebrate.

I swear I'll do Chris Proud!

Randy

[Timmo]

Well, I just fired up the old debit card for a copy of this one, and if my wife asks, I'm going to blame Tim, rememberer and kevycanavan for making me do it, so you guys better cover for me! :smurf:

I had a vinyl copy of this one way back when. I lost my entire record collection in 1992, a catastrophe I have since largely recovered from. I remember loving the bass playing even more than usual, and loving the orchestration.

Wasn't Andrew Jackman from the Syn the one who did the orchestrations?You will SO NOT REGRET it.

Not only is the bass hideously complex, but get a load of the layered Hammond solo on top of ANNOTHER hammond solo on top of a piano rhythm line on top of a synth flourish in "Silently Falling." All REALLY FAST with a great beat.

I need a cigarette after that song.

[JL]

FOOW arrived in the mail today!!!!!!!

When I heard the first couple of notes of Silently Falling, I remembered how much I loved that song when I had the album before.

I'm going to make a cassette copy to listen to at work tonight.

[JL]

Great listening experience!!!

Lucky Seven is a bit of a dated 70s relic, mainly because of the E. Piano sound. Other than that, the whole album is completely brilliant.

Pat's Hammond solo on Silently Falling-ouch Daddio, you're hurting me!!!!

Safe (Canon Song) is really beautiful.

When I heard it for the first time in 13 or 14 years today, I immediately remembered loving Silently Falling.

[A Student of YES]

"When I heard it for the first time in 13 or 14 years today, I immediately remembered loving Silently Falling."

JL .......... Yep it was the same for me! Best I can figure it was 1982 last time I put my FOOW Album on the turntable. Never bought a cassette of it and I did not stumble upon the CD until January of this last year!
I popped that baby in and it brought back so many cool memories of years gone by, and that sound! It is still really wild even now.
Always was a sucker for a strong bass line and a Hammond. Silently Falling is a bassists and keyboardists dream! Our Keyborad player is using a Korg Triton extream 88 note sound monster! And as good as the Hammond is on this thing, he is still considering finding an old B-3,C-3 or an A-100 with the leslie to get that exact sound dimension because of this particular song!

Enjoy


Randy

[KPatrick]

I wondered when somebody was going to mention the keyboard solo on "Silently Falling." The first time I heard that was on my walkman, on a walk on a road near Lake Champlain in Upstate NY. I actually stopped and sat down when that solo started; I had been getting too absorbed and I knew that now I was going to get hit by a car, so I'd better just park it for a moment. And Chris, Patrick and Bill JUST GO APES__T for about 5 minutes. Good Lord. Don't tell me Chris doesn't have it in him to pull off another one of these. Conspiracy, as much as I love those albums, doesn't match it. Just phenomenal stuff on every level.

[A Student of YES]

KPatrick Agreed! I would go as far as to say it is the best Hammond/Bass Jam I have ever heard!
used to wonder what these songs would have sounded like with some guitar work, but not any more!

Chris; !!!!!! You've just gotta do another!

rANDY

[sparky]

While watching the Chris´promo material on the YesYears video where he performs Hold out your hand it really struck me how effortless it looked him singing lead and playing all those really sideways stuff on bass - it really blew me away! Not that it´s incredibly intricate, but the bassline goes in such different ways compared to the lead vocals - that´s real musicianship in my eyes!

[kevycanavan]

I just wish the man would stop prancing about on stage. Its so bad i can't show any of my mates my Yes DVDs for fear of being ousted.

[sparky]

I just wish the man would stop prancing about on stage. Its so bad i can't show any of my mates my Yes DVDs for fear of being ousted.
But it looked pretty cool in the 70´s...

[A Student of YES]

Ahh Ya know I am just old enough that his movements just do not matter to me! I move a lot now when I play and I swear it makes my music better, I feel it more! And as for singing and playing it is doable! I have been practicing his work from FOOW for a few months now and I am not quite confortable with it all yet but I am getting there! I can attest that, at first, it was nothing but pure concentration to try and get through this work, Playing & Singing, but now I am just kind of going with it. If this makes sense?
The only thing that has changed with 30 years since he did this Album is the Kimono! and the silk arm wings he always used to use! I guess for the times it was just plain cool! Still knida like the Tuxedo jacket though? Does this make me Gay?

Randy

[Scooty]

I just wish the man would stop prancing about on stage. Its so bad i can't show any of my mates my Yes DVDs for fear of being ousted.


Come now, thats just Chris!!!

I don't fear the mans "prancing"...its the only movement Ive ever witnessed at a Yesshow... and it is most certainly welcome.
I love to watch Chris move...
Hate to say it but 90% of my attention is on him anyway during a Yesshow.

And again why Im so peeved about the exclusion of Ritual on the Tsongas DVD...unredeemable and unforgivable!!!

[Amy]

And again why Im so peeved about the exclusion of Ritual on the Tsongas DVD...unredeemable and unforgivable!!!
....because it's ridiculous! It was the highlight of the tour last year.