Yessongs: the Motion Picture

[Ash Armstrong]

Oh, those bass-pedals on And You And I

I can remember a lot of pieces in the weekly music press about the Yessongs film at the time (Melody Maker, Sounds, even the NME), how within a certain time-frame it did better business than Jaws and such like.
It's not a reach to admit that it's not of the best visual quality or sound quality, which is unfortunate. Even the remastered BluRay edition doesn't improve on the VHS that much, although I'm currently watching it, for the fourth or fifth time this year, on Prime Video in 'HD'.
However, as an artefact of its day, it's precious and special. And it's 'my' Yes! And they rock and swing like a rocking, swinging mad thing!
I was lucky enough to see it in the cinema several times in the 70s, including on one occasion just a few days before the Going For The One shows at Wembley in 1977.

Along with Pink Floyd at Pompeii, I unhesitatingly hold it up as a favourite concert film, certainly of its day, and for me it's visual and aural shortcomings don't detract one jot from it. If only it were the full show.....

[Gary Betts]

It was exciting to see it at the time. I travelled all the way across London on the tube (from Walthamstow) to see it at the Hammersmith Odeon.

[Gtkgasman]

Was lucky to see this at a midnite showing in the late 70s or very early 80s at a local mall. Awesome in the big screen

[True]

I love this film. Hopefully someday someone will be able to restore it and brighten it up a bit more, though I thought the blu Ray was an improvement.
what a [email protected]$$ Band they were in the 70’s

[umgekehrt]

Alan's first tour with Yes. That must have been memorable for him!

[Gtkgasman]

Oh, those bass-pedals on And You And I

I can remember a lot of pieces in the weekly music press about the Yessongs film at the time (Melody Maker, Sounds, even the NME), how within a certain time-frame it did better business than Jaws and such like.
It's not a reach to admit that it's not of the best visual quality or sound quality, which is unfortunate. Even the remastered BluRay edition doesn't improve on the VHS that much, although I'm currently watching it, for the fourth or fifth time this year, on Prime Video in 'HD'.
However, as an artefact of its day, it's precious and special. And it's 'my' Yes! And they rock and swing like a rocking, swinging mad thing!
I was lucky enough to see it in the cinema several times in the 70s, including on one occasion just a few days before the Going For The One shows at Wembley in 1977.

Along with Pink Floyd at Pompeii, I unhesitatingly hold it up as a favourite concert film, certainly of its day, and for me it's visual and aural shortcomings don't detract one jot from it. If only it were the full show.....

Funny remembrance I just had. Our school got hold of and showed the Pink Floyd Pompeii film. In the gym. All of us sitting on the floor. And I was in grade school. Wow have times changed! 😊. Thank you Ash that jarred an old one. Lol.

[Gilly Goodness]

Yeah, too young for Yessongs cinema release but do remember in the 80's seeing Rattle and Hum at the cinema. With my mate Paul. After the first song, Helter Skelter, we turned to eachother in utter shock and wonderment. Rock on cinema can work.

[Gtkgasman]

Yeah, too young for Yessongs cinema release but do remember in the 80's seeing Rattle and Hum at the cinema. With my mate Paul. After the first song, Helter Skelter, we turned to eachother in utter shock and wonderment. Rock on cinema can work.

Excellent. I missed that one in the theater. Sure it sounded awesome.

This has made me try and think of those that I have seen on a big screen. Hmmm....YESSONGS, Song Remains the Same, Kids are Alright, Floyd-Pompeii as wee tot as I noted above 😊, Rocky Horror (does that count lol).....we did go see the Elvis Comeback also recently - that was fun.

if anyone knows of others that played on big screen may jar my brain again 🤣. I didn’t see too many I don’t believe. That may be all.

[Ash Armstrong]

Excellent. I missed that one in the theater. Sure it sounded awesome.

This has made me try and think of those that I have seen on a big screen. Hmmm....YESSONGS, Song Remains the Same, Kids are Alright, Floyd-Pompeii as wee tot as I noted above 😊, Rocky Horror (does that count lol).....we did go see the Elvis Comeback also recently - that was fun.

if anyone knows of others that played on big screen may jar my brain again 🤣. I didn’t see too many I don’t believe. That may be all.

Live Rust? Woodstock? The Last Waltz?

[Gtkgasman]

Live Rust? Woodstock? The Last Waltz?

Unfortunately no. Just little screen. 😊. I didn’t know they played in the theatres though.

[Ash Armstrong]

Unfortunately no. Just little screen. 😊. I didn’t know they played in the theatres though.

Woodstock was probably one of the first films I saw on a Friday evening at the cinema on my own, I was at highschool, so probably 12 or 13. Before that I was only allowed to go to Saturday matinees. It was a revelation! All that nudity....

And Born to Boogie was not long after that... A somewhat different kind of concert film, but I was a big Marc Bolan fan at the time.

[Gtkgasman]

Woodstock was probably one of the first films I saw on a Friday evening at the cinema on my own, I was at highschool, so probably 12 or 13. Before that I was only allowed to go to Saturday matinees. It was a revelation! All that nudity....

And Born to Boogie was not long after that... A somewhat different kind of concert film, but I was a big Marc Bolan fan at the time.

That is so funny! And I have such a similar recollection- same age about and The LED Zep was my first time allowed out for a late show with older kids. Good old days for sure. 😆

[Gary Betts]

And Born to Boogie was not long after that... A somewhat different kind of concert film, but I was a big Marc Bolan fan at the time.

Off on a slight tangent here…

I saw Born to Boogie multiple times at the cinema (I was also a big Marc Bolan fan and still ‘keep a little Marc in my heart’). This was at a time when the cinemas just kept playing the films over and over without clearing out the audience at the end of each screening. Consequently, one summer holiday, I just sat in the cinema watching the film multiple times as it came around again and again, unfortunately for me, it was shown with Cliff Richards ‘Take me high’ film so I have also seen that many many times also!

[kkleinschmidt]

Like others said above my first YesSongs theater experience was at a midnight movie showing at a theater by our local mall, and there were plenty of other movies we would go see and they were generally packed. And it was always A PARTY. People were hammered when they got there and continued imbibing in the theater. I remember one time a sheriff deputy went to the front and started lecturing about not smoking or drinking and he was literally booed loudly and pelted with crap. I'm surprised they let the show go on that night but they did.

The first time I saw Yes live was seeing YesSongs and all I can say is I have been looking for tickets to future shows ever since.

[Gtkgasman]

Question - for anyone who has the Blu-ray? Is it significantly better, and are the extras something not available elsewhere?