Getting back on the train...

[LJG]

Somewhere in the mid-90's I quit buying Yes albums. I never quit collecting shows... but after Union I 'lost the studio faith'.

I'm getting the itch to purchase again. Should I start here? Or should I turn to one of the Keys albums? What about House of Blues?

All official releases have passed me buy for quite a while.

Thoughts?

[BlankReg]

You'll find a bazillion different responses. Here's my stab at it.

For their post-Union output, I could suggest this order to get a good feel for what they were up to creatively (live albums are left out):<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
1) Keys to Ascension 1 & 2 (or just KeysStudio, which is the studio material from both albums)<o:p></o:p>
2) The Ladder<o:p></o:p>
3) Magnification<o:p></o:p>
These are in chronological order, although Open Your Eyes came out around the same time as Keys 2. I left OYE out for reasons described below. But these three albums really show the progression of where Yes went after getting back together in 1996.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
4) Open Your Eyes<o:p></o:p>
I put this out-of-order as it's not really representative of what Yes as a band was doing creatively. This was more a Chris Squire/Billy Sherwood project forced into a Yes project by the record company.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
5) Talk<o:p></o:p>
I listed this last only because Trevor left the band after the Talk tour and it's more representative as a culmination of the 90125/Trevor era then a direction they were heading in.

If you only want to buy one CD at this point, KeysStudio would be my first suggestion, followed by Magnification. But that's just my personal taste (many would rank The Ladder at #1 or #2). In reality, either of the top three above will give you a great view into Yes' post-Union output.

PS - Welcome to Yesfans!<o:p></o:p>

[Orbert]

I agree with everything BlankReg just said. He's really nailed it.

The only thing I'll add is that there hasn't actually been that much Yes output since then (studio-wise, anyway), so if your budget allows, just get it all. Except maybe Open Your Eyes.

[LJG]

Thanks for the input. I'm leaning towards Magnification... but the live material on the Keys albums is a strong pull as well.

I'd heard mixed reviews of The Ladder, but I'll take your advice under consideration.

[RickyG]

My opinion.... FWIW...

"Magnification" is a great album.
Unequivocally the best YES album since the 70's.
Some true "classic" material on it.

"The Ladder" has alot of excellent material on it but it's more of a mixed bag.

I enjoy the Keys studio material as well, most of it is great. I have problems within certain pieces... parts of arrangements that I wish were left out or done differently.
But I'd recommend getting the original Keys double CDs... much better artwork than "Keysstudio" and the live material is great. Keys I is the best. Much better live mixes on Keys I... Keys II live mixes suffer noticeably to my ear. Keys I is a great package all around. Booklet, artwork, poster and music.

Only even consider "Open Your Eyes" after you get all of the others!

[Earl Grey]

Hi LJG: Welcome to Yesfans!
Glad you found us.

I'm partial to the 'Keys Studio' album (actually, Keys To Ascension I and II are both worth your time).

Both Magnification, as well as the DVD from the Magnification Tour are supurb ('Yes Symphonic Live').

Have fun!

Best to you,
Earl:yesbird:

[Dantalion Rides Again]

I'm kind of obsessed with all four of these albums (post-Talk). I've got my fair share of complaints about them too, but ultimately you can't change the albums!

Their wonders outweigh their weaknesses for me. Even Open Your Eyes, which gets torn apart by the fans constantly. I listen to it all the time, and I just seem to enjoy it more and more. Same with The Ladder, Magnification & Keys to Ascension. [And yes, those Keys to Ascension 1 live tracks are unreal!]

I'm just psyched that Yes really returned - they regrouped after those weird middle-period times and, kind of returned to form for a nice refreshing and prolific late period.

I love Union too though, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me.

:D

[Orbert]

I'll admit I was totally blown away by Keys to Ascension when I first got it. This was the first album by ABWHS in 20 years, and I was so psyched. Remember that? Sure, the guys sounded older, some of the tunes were played just a bit slower, but I was expecting that. It put me into a mindframe of "okay, this is how they sound now". It helped me appreciate the new studio tracks, which sounded great, even if they didn't quite have the fire of "Siberian Khatru" or "Sound Chaser". Then Keys 2 came out and was even better. A full disc of more live stuff, and a full disc of new studio stuff. Yay!

What bugged me was finding out later on that there was a vast amount of editing and overdubbing done to get that wonderful live sound. I don't like overdubbing on live albums, so I guess it turned me off. For that reason, I recommend the studio tracks from Keys 1 and 2, but I don't mention the live tracks. If you don't have anything nice to say...

[Mind Driver]

I like everything they have put out since Union.

[RickyG]

I'll admit I was totally blown away by Keys to Ascension when I first got it. This was the first album by ABWHS in 20 years, and I was so psyched. Remember that? Sure, the guys sounded older, some of the tunes were played just a bit slower, but I was expecting that. It put me into a mindframe of "okay, this is how they sound now". It helped me appreciate the new studio tracks, which sounded great, even if they didn't quite have the fire of "Siberian Khatru" or "Sound Chaser". Then Keys 2 came out and was even better. A full disc of more live stuff, and a full disc of new studio stuff. Yay!

What bugged me was finding out later on that there was a vast amount of editing and overdubbing done to get that wonderful live sound. I don't like overdubbing on live albums, so I guess it turned me off. For that reason, I recommend the studio tracks from Keys 1 and 2, but I don't mention the live tracks. If you don't have anything nice to say...
Ummm...Orbert?
"...but I don't mention the live tracks. If you don't have anything nice to say..."
Ummm... Orbert? But you just did mention the live tracks... and you didn't have something nice to say!

Show me a contemporary live album by any popular or rock group that hasn't been fixed up with editing and overdubs. Everybody does it. You'd have to throw out nearly all of your live albums.

The live tracks on Keys 1 are incredible.
I am glad they fixed up the vocals and possibly the bad note or riff here and there.
It's worth it for the stunning take of "The Revealing Science of God" alone!!
(And "Turn of the Century", and "Awaken", and "Time & A Word"...)

Even the versions of Roundabout and Starship Trooper are so good that they are well worth having.

Who really knows how much qualifies as a "vast amount" of overdubs? I am so tired of the "he said, she said" versions of Yes History!!
And the only people who know for sure are YES themselves and their engineer. And the engineer's job is to publicly keep his mouth shut and do the work.
It's great music, amazingly well performed, incredible sound quality.... enjoy it or not, that is your choice.
(But this idea that good live albums aren't fixed up in the studio is a false one. Even classical albums are "fixed" all of the time....)

[Orbert]

I don't mention the live tracks when recommending Yes releases. I focus on the studio work. I thought that was clear from the context.

I could just try to fool myself into thinking I'm hearing a live recording of Yes, performing live for the first time in 20 years, with minimal rehearsal, and sounding great. It's the knowledge that it's not a live performance that ruins it for me. True, most live albums have at least a little fixing up, but I read that over half the vocals tracks and at least some of the guitar work was overdubbed, and if they did that much, I would guess that they wouldn't hold back on the keys, bass, and drums. Maybe I shouldn't believe everything I read. Maybe I'm spoiled by artists like Frank Zappa who was meticulous about noting whether or not there were overdubs, and to what degree. Same with King Crimson. Some live albums are known to be unaltered performances, some are basically a studio creation, and there's everything in between. But what is the point in recording live, putting it out there with "live" stamped on the front, and having it just be a studio creation?

[Earl Grey]

I'm kind of obsessed with all four of these albums (post-Talk). I've got my fair share of complaints about them too, but ultimately you can't change the albums!

Their wonders outweigh their weaknesses for me. Even Open Your Eyes, which gets torn apart by the fans constantly. I listen to it all the time, and I just seem to enjoy it more and more. Same with The Ladder, Magnification & Keys to Ascension. [And yes, those Keys to Ascension 1 live tracks are unreal!]

I'm just psyched that Yes really returned - they regrouped after those weird middle-period times and, kind of returned to form for a nice refreshing and prolific late period.

I love Union too though, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me.

:D

You should ALWAYS listen to Dantalion/Kevin. Hell, I do!

Yes, even Union has it's moments. And even Alan refers to the album as 'Onion'!

:ele:

[luckeydoug1]

I would recommend the following:

1. Magnification
2. Talk
3. Open Your Eyes (I am one of the few that actually enjoys this CD)
4. The Ladder

Keys, if only for That That Is.

[Earl Grey]

I don't mention the live tracks when recommending Yes releases. I focus on the studio work. I thought that was clear from the context.

I could just try to fool myself into thinking I'm hearing a live recording of Yes, performing live for the first time in 20 years, with minimal rehearsal, and sounding great. It's the knowledge that it's not a live performance that ruins it for me. True, most live albums have at least a little fixing up, but I read that over half the vocals tracks and at least some of the guitar work was overdubbed, and if they did that much, I would guess that they wouldn't hold back on the keys, bass, and drums. Maybe I shouldn't believe everything I read. Maybe I'm spoiled by artists like Frank Zappa who was meticulous about noting whether or not there were overdubs, and to what degree. Same with King Crimson. Some live albums are known to be unaltered performances, some are basically a studio creation, and there's everything in between. But what is the point in recording live, putting it out there with "live" stamped on the front, and having it just be a studio creation?

You know Orbert, there are actually some recordings of the SLO shows out there, without the overdubs... And some of them sound better than the actual releases! Edgy here and there, ...but that stuff never bothered me. A lot of spirit to it.

It isn't quite lost on the actual tracks from KTA, but I sort-of wish the guys had put the live stuff out, as was.
So it goes, went.

eegee

[RickyG]

You know Orbert, there are actually some recordings of the SLO shows out there, without the overdubs... And some of them sound better than the actual releases! Edgy here and there, ...but that stuff never bothered me. A lot of spirit to it.

It isn't quite lost on the actual tracks from KTA, but I sort-of wish the guys had put the live stuff out, as was.
So it goes, went.

eegee

Interesting... I'd love to here how "The Revealing Science of God" went down, in the raw.

[CybrKhatru]

Interesting... I'd love to here how "The Revealing Science of God" went down, in the raw.

General consensus (from those who were there and those who heard the boots) is that the tapes didn't need THAT much overdubbing.

I can tell you that hearing RSOG on Night One of SLO is an experience I will take to my grave. It was magnificent. And magnaminous. And any other good "mag" adjective you can think of... :D

[Deliriumyes]

General consensus (from those who were there and those who heard the boots) is that the tapes didn't need THAT much overdubbing.

I can tell you that hearing RSOG on Night One of SLO is an experience I will take to my grave. It was magnificent. And magnaminous. And any other good "mag" adjective you can think of... :D

Ooohh! I know! What about some bytchin' mag WHEELS???

[LJG]

Mistakes in live music don't bother me in the slightest.

The 'rehearsed perfection' that is typically sought from a Yes performance (or ELP or Genesis or... at times ... Mr. Fripp) is very much different from other bands I love.

I am, amongst other things, a rather rabid Deadhead. Lord knows they didn't play a single show without dropping lyrics, messing up entrances, or anything else. Controlled chaos. Reckless abandon. That is what I love live. No overdubs at all. If I want to hear note for note perfect renditions I'll play a studio album... that is not what I expect from a live performance.

That being said... the perfection Yes so often did achieve live is one of the things that also blows my mind...

[Deliriumyes]

Mistakes in live music don't bother me in the slightest.

The 'rehearsed perfection' that is typically sought from a Yes performance (or ELP or Genesis or... at times ... Mr. Fripp) is very much different from other bands I love.

I am, amongst other things, a rather rabid Deadhead. Lord knows they didn't play a single show without dropping lyrics, messing up entrances, or anything else. Controlled chaos. Reckless abandon. That is what I love live. No overdubs at all. If I want to hear note for note perfect renditions I'll play a studio album... that is not what I expect from a live performance.

That being said... the perfection Yes so often did achieve live is one of the things that also blows my mind...

Aahhh...Live Dead...you never knew what you would get, eh? I just loved that, at a show, you could hold up a certain number of fingers to request different songs. Talk about variety! Say what you will about the GD, they were unique.

[Orbert]

See, that's what I'm talking about. I want to hear the mistakes. Not a lot, and sure, it would bug me if they happened to mess up one of my favorite parts of something. But I would rather hear exactly what the audience heard that night.

[allpurechance]

House Of Blues is also wonderful.

It was this recording that finally caused me to fully appreciate The Ladder. The songs on House Of Blues from The Ladder are great, really fine. Especially Homeworld and It Will Be A Good Day (The River).

And the classic material is handled excellently, also.

[Orbert]

Interesting. House of Blues is the one Yesvideo I haven't seen, and I admit I don't appreciate The Ladder the way many do. There may be a connection.

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Yeah, I love the House of Yes CD ... I've only seen short bits of the video, but the live album helped me to really appreciate The Ladder. They sure played a lot of that album on stage. Too bad those tunes are exclusive to that tour.

[CybrKhatru]

I gotta say--

One of the reasons I loved the Ladder shows so much was that they DID feature so much new music.

[tardistraveler]

I really love The Ladder, more than the Keys 1 and 2 studio tracks, and certainly as much as Magnification!

The Ladder and Mag were the direction of Yes at that point, and I wish they had continued on with more new stuff . . . :frown:

[CybrKhatru]

I really love The Ladder, more than the Keys 1 and 2 studio tracks, and certainly as much as Magnification!

The Ladder and Mag were the direction of Yes at that point, and I wish they had continued on with more new stuff . . . :frown:

Me too, Diane. Especially after hearing "In The Presence Of", I wondered what they might write next...