PO
01-31-2003, 03:43 PM
Okay, to keep this portion of the forum alive, Here are the changes I like to Close to the Edge that Yes developed since recording the original. When I play it this is what I think should be done.
1. During the "spider" intro, the vocal breaks. Originally this was done with voices only and it sounds kind of interruptive. On Yessongs, Jon just sang the high Bb with Rick playing the choir mellotron voice Bb chord (Bb-F-D, Bb high (3rd inversion)). The 2nd time it was the same Bb then the quick C -Bb chords. Sounds GREAT. It has an eerier medievel mood over the original.
2. At the ending, just before "On the hills we viewed ..." the transition actually lowers the remainder of the song one whole step from the original. This may have been done to lower the pitch for singing, but I liked the transition better. It brought out more, or enhanced, the mood of personal reflection (as in "cycles only of the past"). They do it to this day.
3. Alan - He really played this well on Yessongs, and still does. He added a number of fills that were very musical. He greatly enhanced this song.
What should stay:
1. Pipe organ in I Get Up. They never seem to use a really good Pipe Organ sound live. It is easily done today, so I wish they would nail this down a little better.
2. Violins - During the last "On the hills we viewed" section, the mellotron violins are full and lush. They never seem to use this type of sound live. The entire mellotron voice library is available on CD-ROM. I can buy it, so should Yes. And they should use it!
Paul
1. During the "spider" intro, the vocal breaks. Originally this was done with voices only and it sounds kind of interruptive. On Yessongs, Jon just sang the high Bb with Rick playing the choir mellotron voice Bb chord (Bb-F-D, Bb high (3rd inversion)). The 2nd time it was the same Bb then the quick C -Bb chords. Sounds GREAT. It has an eerier medievel mood over the original.
2. At the ending, just before "On the hills we viewed ..." the transition actually lowers the remainder of the song one whole step from the original. This may have been done to lower the pitch for singing, but I liked the transition better. It brought out more, or enhanced, the mood of personal reflection (as in "cycles only of the past"). They do it to this day.
3. Alan - He really played this well on Yessongs, and still does. He added a number of fills that were very musical. He greatly enhanced this song.
What should stay:
1. Pipe organ in I Get Up. They never seem to use a really good Pipe Organ sound live. It is easily done today, so I wish they would nail this down a little better.
2. Violins - During the last "On the hills we viewed" section, the mellotron violins are full and lush. They never seem to use this type of sound live. The entire mellotron voice library is available on CD-ROM. I can buy it, so should Yes. And they should use it!
Paul