Opinion on Dear Father

[Olias of BurryPort]

Does anyone else think that this track is almost criminally under rated ? One my favourite " rare" Yes tracks along with Somethings Coming.

[pianozach]

Sorry, mate, it's on my short list of least favorite Yes tracks.

I do like parts of it - I've always liked Peter Banks' harmony vocals - the three of them together (Jon, Chris & Peter) usually sound pretty trick together - but not on the choruses of Dear Father.

I like the first minute of the Early Version #1.

[pianozach]

I've just listened to all four versions: Early #1, Early #2, Regular (with orchestra) and live (Beyond and Before).

I think my main objection to the song is the chorus, both in composition and execution - the vocals, both lead and harmony seem strained and almost off-key.

I do like Banks' organ sounds, which are practically buried by the orchestra in the originally released version.

And, of course, the bass is crankin'.

[Yes2Yes]

I dug it the very first time I heard it.

[yesyadda]

I likes it muchly.

[Melissa]

I likes it muchly too. Have since the first time I heard it. I just d/l a compilation with it live. Twice! Can't wait to hear it!

[Dantalion Rides Again]

I'm w/Zach. Both in his content and execution.

;)

[wolfhound]

I don't have this album anymore. I need to get the CD.

My buddy and I had a routine of driving to Marissa, Illinois to visit Ye Olde Music Shoppe (Bob Heils' music store) We always brought this tape with us... and "Dear Father"... a fave of mine.

[Canonsong]

I have always loved the bass lines..... It made the song great to my ears

[happytheman]

I remember hearing it on Yesterdays years ago and wondering "why did this get left off of Time and a Word". Great song.

[cinderella]

Honest answer?


Never heard of it.

[pianozach]

Honest answer?


Never heard of it.

It's on "Time and a Word" and "Yesterdays".

There's two early versions as bonus tracks on "Yes".

And there's a live version of it on the "Beyond and Before: BBC Sessions 1969-1970" 2-CD Set.

Composer credit is given to Jon Anderson / Chris Squire.

[wolfhound]

It's on "Time and a Word" and "Yesterdays".

There's two early versions as bonus tracks on "Yes".

And there's a live version of it on the "Beyond and Before: BBC Sessions 1969-1970" 2-CD Set.

Composer credit is given to Jon Anderson / Chris Squire.


So... when I had it on 8-track tape in the 70s, it must've been on "Yesterdays" ???

My memory's the shyyte. I just assumed "Dear Father" was on the original "Time And A Word"

[BillGuitar]

Gotta admit, it does go through my head, from time to Timmo.

But it really isn't one of my their favorite songs of his.

Next?

:sneaky:

[neilius]

It's on Yesterdays, but should've been on T& a W (originally.

I think its a very cool song.

[wolfhound]

It's on Yesterdays, but should've been on T& a W (originally.

I think its a very cool song.
Thanks. I took a breather from music (about 20 years), so some things remain a tad distant. :D

[flatopfreak]

It was probably left off the original LP of Time and a Word for timing issues.
Albums generally carried around 20 minutes per side.
It was on Yesterdays.

[relayeire]

I quite like this one, and always have... this and America (and the artwork) make Yesterdays earn its keep... I don't like some of the alternate versions as much, but they are newer to me...

[Ajay]

I love 'Dear Father'. Especially the instrumental section at the end of the Orchestra version. Tony's organ and Chris's bass are wonderful on it too. I half-hoped they would play it on the Symphonic tour.

[cinderella]

It's on "Time and a Word" and "Yesterdays".

There's two early versions as bonus tracks on "Yes".





I don't have the remastered Time and A Word or Yesterdays, so I guess that's why it's escaped me.

[happytheman]

I love 'Dear Father'. Especially the instrumental section at the end of the Orchestra version. Tony's organ and Chris's bass are wonderful on it too. I half-hoped they would play it on the Symphonic tour.
Agree, they missed a "prime" opportunity to dig into the Time and A Word album and pull off some "classic songs" from that album.

[relayeire]

Agree, they missed a "prime" opportunity to dig into the Time and A Word album and pull off some "classic songs" from that album.

and to open with a live version of Firebird, too...

[yessound_chaser81]

I liked this song as soon as I heard it.

[the'YES'kid]

I don't hate it but I don't like it either. That's the ONE song from the first 2 albums I don't like. All the others are just fine.

[BrianD]

Originally it was the B-side of the Sweet Dreams single in the UK and Europe.

It then appeared on Yesterdays

To me it is a typical B side song - a filler thats not much chop.

[marklovesyes]

Agree, they missed a "prime" opportunity to dig into the Time and A Word album and pull off some "classic songs" from that album.

Since when does YES NOT believe in NOT taking great opportunities like that?

YES is one of the most guilty bands for not taking good opportunities like you mentioned. They kind of started to get it together on their 2004 tour by playing something from virtually every album. But for the most part, they are usually well shy off the mark when it comes to set lists.

By the way, I love 'Dear Father'. One of the top 5 songs from the Banks era.

-mly

[gathernear]

I love it. The Yesterdays version is my favorite.

[Sheerah]

I think it's a wonderful song!

[ANTIOCH]

I agree with many of you. It's a very cool song and having a number of versions indicates the band never felt comfortable with the song as a whole. And I agree, the Anderson, Squire, Banks vocal harmonies are stellar !!!

[StephenM.]

One of my favorite early YES tunes. Would be cool if they played it on 2008 tour.

[ShimmeringStar]

I love Dear Father, it's one of my favorite 'early' Yes tracks. It's a shame it never really made an album before the remasters.

[gathernear]

I love Dear Father, it's one of my favorite 'early' Yes tracks. It's a shame it never really made an album before the remasters.

Well, actually it did make it onto an album. It's on Yesterdays, it came out in 1975, that's where I first heard it.

[Soundchaser_413]

Being that there are so many great Yes tracks it's hard for me to call it one of my favorites. However, it is definitely one of their most under rated songs. I'd even say it is one of the best of their pre TYA original compositions. It's one of those songs that the build up and tension is actually better than the actual chorus(at least in my opinion). It's still a great song though. I'd also say that the strings fit perfectly with this one. It's obviously an outtake from Time and a word but I really can't understand why it was left off the album. I'll never figure that out especially since I prefer it over "everydays" and "clear days" and maybe one or two others.

[MichaelB]

I loved it the first time I heard it. Still do!

[BEE]

Originally it was the B-side of the Sweet Dreams single in the UK and Europe.

It then appeared on Yesterdays

To me it is a typical B side song - a filler thats not much chop.

Dear Father is a beautiful and unique early YesSong that is very dear to my heart and soul!

The single was released June 19,1970 in the UK and Holland as Atlantic 2091 004

Here are the 2 picture sleeve singles:
Holland version Atlantic 2019 018 (1970)
It was also released again as the B side of Something's Coming in Holland as Atlantic 2091 199 (1972)

[Mickstafa]

I always kind of cringe during the chorus. It's not a bad song, but definitely the weakest of the early Yessongs, IMO.

[pianozach]

So... when I had it on 8-track tape in the 70s, it must've been on "Yesterdays" ???

My memory's the shyyte. I just assumed "Dear Father" was on the original "Time And A Word"

8-tracks . . . !

Funny thing about 8-tracks releases - they were often quite different from the album versions.

For instance, my 8-track of Pink Floyd's Animals did not have the two separate "Pigs on the Wing" at the beginning and end (8-tracks sort DON'T have a beginning or end - they're continuous . . . ); it had parts one and two linked by a 40 second acoustic rhythm and electric lead instrumental.

Ringo's Ringo had a Paul McCartney heavy tag to "Six O'Clock".

More common was to have the track sequence messed with to minimize tracks that had to be broken up over the track changes.

[BEE]

Funny thing about 8-tracks releases - they were often quite different from the album versions.

For instance, my 8-track of Pink Floyd's Animals did not have the two separate "Pigs on the Wing" at the beginning and end (8-tracks sort DON'T have a beginning or end - they're continuous . . . ); it had parts one and two linked by a 40 second acoustic rhythm and electric lead instrumental.


Wow thanks for stirring up the memories!
This is one of the few 8 tracks I still have,because I always thought it was such a rarity. The combined POTW pts 1&2 is so beautiful and flows so nicely together. This is truly the way it should of been released on Animals!
Yes did the same thing to Mind Drive live in 2004 ;)

[90125yes]

Dear Father - a great track , makes me wonder why it was not on the original record

[bjlevine]

I much prefer the live early versions, where Tony's organ work really shines. It's a great track.

[relayeire]

8-tracks . . . !

Funny thing about 8-tracks releases - they were often quite different from the album versions.

For instance, my 8-track of Pink Floyd's Animals did not have the two separate "Pigs on the Wing" at the beginning and end (8-tracks sort DON'T have a beginning or end - they're continuous . . . ); it had parts one and two linked by a 40 second acoustic rhythm and electric lead instrumental.

Ringo's Ringo had a Paul McCartney heavy tag to "Six O'Clock".

More common was to have the track sequence messed with to minimize tracks that had to be broken up over the track changes.

often a song was repeated or left off to make the thing even... 8-tracks were an aesthetic nightmare... seriously compromised the artists' original intent...

I understand PF's The Wall 8-track had an extra guitar solo(?) that was played by Snowy White... hmm...

have always loved Dear Father...

[astral_stardust]

I still love this song, especially the orchestra version on Time and a Word. Everytime I get on an airplane, I can't help thinking of the line "Catch the wind and hold on tight."

[Close to Loch Ness]

I honestly think it is one of the crappiest songs they wrote and some of the vocals are cringe worthy.
Thank goodness they left it off TAAW.

[bjlevine]

Actually, I think that the orchestrations hurt this track. The live versions have much more power, which really help the song.

[rembutok]

An asesthetic nightmare, but far superior in fidelity to cassettes. Even better than records if not for tape hiss.

often a song was repeated or left off to make the thing even... 8-tracks were an aesthetic nightmare... seriously compromised the artists' original intent...

I understand PF's The Wall 8-track had an extra guitar solo(?) that was played by Snowy White... hmm...

have always loved Dear Father...

[RobAdams]

"Dear Father" is just alright with me. Never loved the song, but I never hated it. If it was my introduction to Yes I probably wouldn't have bothered with them.