Why No ABWH LIve....

[Jackaranda]

The classic line up has been touring for nearly 2 years now and have played lots of great stuff, including songs they hadn't done in 30 years!!! Great! Now, my question is, why not do some of the ABWH material live??? Songs like "Brother of Mine", "Order of the Universe", "Birthright", and even a few of the Union songs could be considered. But to see them ignore that album is sad. It's a strong statememt in retrospect, and I wish they'd perform at least a little bit of it live....

What do you think??? Should they bring back ABWH to the live shows? Or not? And why???.....Jack

[nightliner]

I wouldn't mind seeing Brother of Mine but I doubt we ever will. "Technically" it wasn't done by Yes, and therefore, they probably aren't considering it.

We'll hear an ABWH song when Jon does something from Drama and Steve does something from Talk. Which I think, would help make a really nice setlist.

[Jackaranda]

Originally posted by nightliner
I wouldn't mind seeing Brother of Mine but I doubt we ever will. "Technically" it wasn't done by Yes, and therefore, they probably aren't considering it.

We'll hear an ABWH song when Jon does something from Drama and Steve does something from Talk. Which I think, would help make a really nice setlist.

Well, lets hope. They need to consider, seriously, ideas like this....Jack.

[brismike]

Originally posted by jack gowen
What do you think??? Should they bring back ABWH to the live shows? Or not? And why???.....Jack

I think they should do a song from ABWH. Chris Squire is the key to it. If he agreed I'm sure Alan would too. "Birthright" or "Brother of Mine" would be my choice. Chris could nail the bass parts on these easily. And Alan could play them with his eyes shut.

Then that would open the door to Jon singing a Drama song. "Tempus fugit" would seem obvious as he already sings the "Yes Yes" bit in Chris's Fish solo.

Then the two of them could apply the screws on Steve Howe to agree to do a "Talk" track like "I Am Waiting" which is well within Steve's capability.

Then all 4 of them, Chris, Jon, Alan & Steve could, in the spirit of working together, get Rick to play on a "Relayer" track. "To be Over" would be one that i'm sure Rick could easily do.

Now that would be an interesting concert to be at!!

Mike

[RobAdams]

I'd love to hear YES play BROTHER OF MINE, but I think I'd be even happier to see them play THEMES. How could Chris not have fun with that bass line?

For a Trevor Rabin era tune, I'd love to see them dust off I AM WAITING and FINAL EYES.

I'd rather see them play DOES IT REALLY HAPPEN from DRAMA instead of TEMPUS FUGIT - however I seem to be in the minority here.

I'd also like to see them surprise us with a nice extended length version of A VENTURE, the only YES ALBUM track to escape the stage (as far as I know).

The first two albums need to be revisited on the stage... HAROLD LAND or BEYOND AND BEFORE from the first album. I'm sure many would rather hear SURVIVAL, but I'm me - what can I say? Instead of the title track from TIME AND A WORD again, I'd like to hear THEN above all else. ASTRAL TRAVELLER would be an acceptable substitute.

As far as RELAYER material - TO BE OVER seems to be the one song CLOSEST to Rick's style of the three. This amazing song needs to be heard in live performance! I'd trade HEART OF THE SUNRISE for it.

While I'm at it, could it hurt to wish for THE REMEMBERING?

I'd also love to see them play NEW LANGUAGE from THE LADDER.

Time for a new MAGNIFICATION song....SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL would rock the house, and I'd love to hear what Rick could do with DREAMTIME. Still, I've never seen a live Chris Squire lead vocal...CAN YOU IMAGINE should have been a radio play track. I want to see it performed live!

I guess we must also consider what they want!

[scooter13]

I totally concure with all your thoughts. It would nice to see them mix it up a bit. Play things that haven't been heard. It would be very nice to see members of the band that have scoffed at others material all give in for one tour. Make a big compromise.

[Dragonfly]

Chris can barely get Steve to perform "Owner of a Lonely Heart". He avoids it like the plague! And that was the biggest commercial hit the band ever had. Rick seemed to really enjoy performing it on the UNION tour, so I don't see any problem there. And the other two, Jon and Alan, were on the original so they're shoo-ins.

Getting Chris to play anything from ANDERSON BRUFORD (LEVIN) WAKEMAN HOWE would be like pulling teeth. I don't know how receptive Alan would be, either. I mean, there weren't any commercial hits on that album. Sure, "Brother Of Mine" got some airplay, but not much.

I'm still waiting for Steve, Rick and Alan to agree to play material from the first two albums (other than "Time And A Word"). Yes, I know that Steve played a bunch of it when he joined, but that didn't last very long. How about "Astral Traveler" or - better yet - "The Prophet"?

No. It's unlikely you'll ever hear any AB(L)WH tunes live again. (At least there's the video and cd.) "Brother Of Mine" wouldn't be my first pick, anyway. I'd rather hear something along the lines of "Themes", "Fist of Fire" (which I think Chris might actually enjoy), "Birthright" or - from UNION - "I Would Have Waited Forever", "Silent Talking" or "Holding On".

Dragonfly :fly:

[Jackaranda]

They ought to forget who played on what and what the circumstances were, etc...just realize it's all Yes music and it shoud be played by whoever is in the band. As much as they've covered each other's material in the past, then really, what difference would it make?

I bet Alan & Chris would play ABWH if they thought it would improve the concert. And, my gosh, if Steve would just do I Am Waiting and a couple of Rabin's other "album" tracks, with Rick playing keys, they could do killer live versions of some of Rabin's songs.......

I really wish they could understand this........Jack

[nightliner]

Unfortunately ego's get in the way. No one wants to play on something they weren't involved in originally.

[yarstruly]

Fist of Fire anybody??

[Gato]

Could the ABHW stuff ever be turned into 100% YES stuff? That's the point, I guess. Here's a silly idea: as the new remasters are coming, the ABWH album could be reissued as a 2CD set, of which the 1st should be the remastered version of the original album we know and love (although it's my humble opinion that it'd have been even better if not for Bruford's being at the peak of his electronic frenzy), while the 2nd CD should be it, too, but with Chris adding his bass playing and choruses, and Alan his drumming instead of Levin's and Bruford's tracks (can you believe this, as I'm also a Crimso-fan?).
Yep, a "refurbished" thing, so to speak. I have the feeling it'd be a BLAST! But I'm also afraid dreaming is free... I'm aware this will imply studio work, not a mere remastering, and hence the problem, plus the fact that many are the wills that should agree (not to mention it should be made clear to all parts involved we all will be buying the thing like crazy). Just daydreaming...

[therifferoo]

Great post!! I just happened across it, and you had me laughing.
You're right, oh Yesfriend, dreaming is free...Ha ha ha ha!!

Anyway, glad you found us....Yesfans is a unique community of wonderful people....almost like a family, really....I know you will fit right in after reading your first post!! :D WELCOME!!

Come on in, look around, have fun, and join in! Looking forward to reading more of your posts.

Peace,

~Riff.

[Gato]

Thanks so much for such a warm welcome, Riff.
It really feels like home so far... :D

[PO]

Originally posted by RobAdams

As far as RELAYER material - TO BE OVER seems to be the one song CLOSEST to Rick's style of the three. This amazing song needs to be heard in live performance! I'd trade HEART OF THE SUNRISE for it.


There ya go, Rob. The next tour will be called Yescasino. "I'll see your HOTS and raise you a TBO." "Oh yeah? I'll call and raise you a Sound Chaser."

"Too rich for my blood!" "I'll pay to see that show"

[Dragonfly]

Originally posted by paostby ...Yescasino: "I'll see your HOTS and raise you a TBO." "Oh yeah? I'll call and raise you a Sound Chaser."Little do they know that I've got "'The Ancient' Giants Under The Sun" tucked into my sleeve cuff! Now, if I can only slip it into my hand without the dealer (the band) noticing...

Dragonfly :fly:

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Jack I tend to agree with the "forget who played on what" as I think it may get in the way of playing some songs that were done with different line-ups. It was still done under the YES tent, granted a different feel and mood for the time but still, the fans appreciate hearing the music no matter what. "Owner", avoiding...is it me or was that not a commercial effort that departed from the bands sound?

[Byroan]

I agree with Rob (see above). I like the selections you made RA. I don't see why we cant include some Jon and Vangelis as well. O.k. this is for those of us like to dream- howabout an "odd songs" tour ? Totally for the fans. When they came out and played Southside, the crowd went crazy. Could you image hearing Jon do anything off of Drama, or Rick and Steve on 90125 stuff- "Hearts" for example, or Chris on AWBH "Themes" ? Even if it was for one night- it would make a heck of a show!

[ACK!]

Unfortunately ego's get in the way. No one wants to play on something they weren't involved in originally.

Good point. It's also a good thing that Alan doesn't feel that way, otherwise half the show wouldn't have a drummer!!

[brotherofmine]

Chris can barely get Steve to perform "Owner of a Lonely Heart". He avoids it like the plague! And that was the biggest commercial hit the band ever had. Rick seemed to really enjoy performing it on the UNION tour, so I don't see any problem there. And the other two, Jon and Alan, were on the original so they're shoo-ins.

Getting Chris to play anything from ANDERSON BRUFORD (LEVIN) WAKEMAN HOWE would be like pulling teeth. I don't know how receptive Alan would be, either. I mean, there weren't any commercial hits on that album. Sure, "Brother Of Mine" got some airplay, but not much.

I'm still waiting for Steve, Rick and Alan to agree to play material from the first two albums (other than "Time And A Word"). Yes, I know that Steve played a bunch of it when he joined, but that didn't last very long. How about "Astral Traveler" or - better yet - "The Prophet"?

No. It's unlikely you'll ever hear any AB(L)WH tunes live again. (At least there's the video and cd.) "Brother Of Mine" wouldn't be my first pick, anyway. I'd rather hear something along the lines of "Themes", "Fist of Fire" (which I think Chris might actually enjoy), "Birthright" or - from UNION - "I Would Have Waited Forever", "Silent Talking" or "Holding On".

Dragonfly :fly:
Well maybe Chris and possibly also Alan are the sticking point here. To Steve's credit despite his feelings about OOALH and ROL Steve WILL play them ...so why not some ABWH I would LOVE to see some stuff from there.

If the band tour again and there is no new album, they will have to mix the songs up a bit, if there is no new album then they will need to play some songs that have been rarely played live in the past.

[raz]

Unfortunately ego's get in the way. No one wants to play on something they weren't involved in originally.

Nightliner, Ego's certainly appear to be a big issue with this band that we all love.
Personally, I'd love to see them play anything live again, but i dont think that it will happen.... well not as yes as we know it.
please, i hope i''m wrong.
if they do do another big tour, i hope they do push the envelope a bit and play some stuff which hasn't been done before....
i'd like them to play a very extended version of Then.....
that would be awesome...

[raz]

another thought...
how about yes re-recording some of their songs and making re-arrangements and then play these live...
this way, they can all be happy, right?

[stevie]

"The Meeting" was played during the acoustic set on the last tour. Okay it was only Jon and Rick but that was something from ABWH that was played during a Yes concert.

I sometimes think we make too much of this ego thing. The concert can only last a certain lenght of time and the band has to play the classics for the casual fan (well not just the casual fan I still love to hear the classics). Having said that I was listening to the first album Yes earlier and I would love to hear Looking Around, Beyond and Before and Harold Land. Why haven't these guys got the stamina to do a full day concert then we could hear everything. LOL

[Full Tilt Boogie]

Given this board's august status as the de facto forum/mouth-piece for Yes fans, might it not be reasonable to assume that some one on here (the owners?) might have a channel of communication into the band itself?

Fair?

That being the play, might it be possible for said channel to be opened and for the question to be asked to the band members themselves (or even a representative number of one, two or three of them) so that we might get a definitive answer to these tantilising questions; to which we'd all like to see/hear answers?

I'm still pissed off that I can find a video or DVD of the ABWH concert anywhere - although I've got the live CD.

Any news on when they intend to release the DVD or rerelease the video??

[raz]

I'm still pissed off that I can find a video or DVD of the ABWH concert anywhere - although I've got the live CD.

Any news on when they intend to release the DVD or rerelease the video??

Some one must have a weed of that show, right?
come on people....
Bren,

I have a video of it.....
PM me if you want to borrow it for a spell..

Raz

[Full Tilt Boogie]

Bren,

I have a video of it.....
PM me if you want to borrow it for a spell..

Raz

Raz, that's a very kind offer sir! PM sent. :)

[Hugh Shiebler]

Hey -

I just watched the AWBH DVD & it brought back some great memories.

i have one question though: Is that or is that not "Madrigal" that Wakeman is playing at the start of his solo section? Sure sounds like it to me, but it is not credited.