Going for the One- Rating out of 5?

[pianozach]

Again, not without shortcomings, but giving it only 4 stars seems wrong. So 3 it is.

I'm always taken back to the first time I heard the whole album: I found the end of the title track annoying; Howe's slide guitar was irritating - funny though - I thought it was a mini-Moog.

I did love Parallels, but over the years I found Wakeman's use of pipe organ simply pandering, only used for its bombastic effect, and Howe just seems to be trying to prove that he can noodle around a harmonic riff better than anyone else, but falls short.

And I actually dozed off during Awaken. As it seems to be on practically everyone's Top 5 Yes Epics list, my stance on the track has improved.

Turn of the Century seemed like the old "No, we're REAL musicians!" routine. I don't know why it rubbed me the wrong way so much.

Oddly enough, my favorite track is Wondrous Stories.

I'll just piss you all off here. GFtO is in my bottom 5 Yes albums, along with OYE, Yes, BG, K2A, and K2A2.

Please don't think that this means that I think it sucks. It doesn't suck. But there are well over a dozen other Yes studio and live albums I like more.

Compared to the rest of the Yes catalog, I'm re-rating it to give it a 2/5.

[gbh90125]

5/5 for me.

The perfect Yes album and the one ( along with Tormato 90125 and Big Gen) that I still return to reasonably regularly .

Opening with Going For The One (the song), the band put a stake in the ground in relation to what they will be about on this album. It rocks, sounds full of energy and passion and has a bright and powerfull sound.

Turn of the Century is a tone poem and beautifully constructed. it's epic but somehow warm and gentle and blends Steve and Ricks talents perfectly.

Parallels is a gargantuan classic Yes song distilled which has all the hall marks of their longer epics condensed into a 5 minute rock song . it is beautifully arranged; the bass counterpoint to the main church organ chords and the interesting rhythmic patterns Alan White uses all coalses in to an absolute classic yes song. And the live version on yesshows is even better.

Wonderous Stories is an elegant, ethereal and enchanting peice of work that in the wrong hands could have sounded disgustingly twee but it floats on the restrained energy of the band.

Awaken is their best song. Fact. Epic, exhilarating and packed full of awesome playing from all concerned. Highlights are Steves guitar solo at the start , the quiet organ solo ( that doesnt outstay its welcome un like many a live version), Ricks assending fugue like organ solo at 12:13 and THAT pregnant pause at 12:47 before they hit that E major chord which is is utterly spine tingling.

Their finest work as a band

[Olorin]

No idea, unfortunately

[madbear]

On a less weighty topic, someone commented on the buildings. That's the Century City complex in metro Los Angeles.

If it couldn't have had a Dean cover, something like this anniversary edition cover for Constance Demby's masterpiece would have been appropriate.

That's a lovely image. Is it old or pastiche architecture?

[Olorin]

Sorry, it's just overblown Anderson excess for me. But I don't mind anyone else liking it; i just don't want to hear it ever again.

Not to belabor the point or tell you that you are wrong; everyone has their own tastes. But whenever I listen to Awaken and it comes to the end and he sings, "like the time I ran away, turned around, and you were standing close to me," I tear up. Who could do that, be right there even though you ran away? Only God. The idea that there is someone who can love you despite all your faults, must be just about the most comforting idea imaginable, and at the core of religion's success.

On a less weighty topic, someone commented on the buildings. That's the Century City complex in metro Los Angeles.

If it couldn't have had a Dean cover, something like this anniversary edition cover for Constance Demby's masterpiece would have been appropriate.

[Ceasar’s Palace]

I prefer the Yesshows version to the studio version.

Well my dream version would be guitars/bass/drums from the live version and vocals/church organ from the studio version.

[madbear]

I would never have thought the day would come that I read "Awaken" and "loathe" in one sentence 😉

Sorry, it's just overblown Anderson excess for me. But I don't mind anyone else liking it; i just don't want to hear it ever again.

[Mr. Holland]

I bet Wilson would love to get his hands on the album, but it won’t happen because the master tapes are missing.
But if he did Parallels would be the first one to clean up, IMO.

I prefer the Yesshows version to the studio version.

[Mr. Holland]

I loved this at the time, and it was the first tour i saw them live. But I have come to loathe Awaken, though I like the rest of the album. It's nowhere near Relayer or Topographic Oceans though.

I would never have thought the day would come that I read "Awaken" and "loathe" in one sentence 😉

[Ceasar’s Palace]

Somebody call Steve Wilson for this one, i would love to hear more depth in Turn Of The Century and Awaken, the hidden gems...

I bet Wilson would love to get his hands on the album, but it won’t happen because the master tapes are missing.
But if he did Parallels would be the first one to clean up, IMO.

[Soundchaser]

Put Awaken on any Yes album, even Heaven and Earth, and it’s an instant 5/5. So yeah, GFTO is a 5 for me, thought I’m not crazy about the title track and the album could’ve benefited greatly from a remix. Oh, the lost masters! How can the universe be so cruel, LOL?

Somebody call Steve Wilson for this one, i would love to hear more depth in Turn Of The Century and Awaken, the hidden gems...

[JMKUSA]

I’ve got an old copy on vinyl and can confirm the bubbles exist… I’ve never been a fan of the cover art because it doesn’t feel like Yes to me. Nothing against the guy’s rear end, it’s honestly the sterile, modern buildings that don’t make sense. Especially with a song like “Awaken,” it could really use a Dean cover.

The songs are all great and I don’t mind the production, through I completely understand why it bothers some people. I would be interested to hear an updated mix of the master tapes are ever found.

[Gilly Goodness]

I’m not going to post a screenshot. But it’s on his buttocks, also on his shoulder and then some on the left beside him.
Little rings that you can see through. I call that bubbles. And now I vow to never raise the subject again.

I'm Team Bubbles. Seen 'em. They live!!!

[The sage]

I gave it a 4- mainly for the same reasons as a few others have noted- Im not a fan of the title track-its one that skip when I play the album. The other tracks are amongst Yes' most memorable- and my personal favorites- I think it does need some re-mixing and remastering - much of Wakeman's keys are too low in the mix for me- the piano in ToC and the church organ in Parallels and Awaken not withstanding. I do recall listening to the album with cans many many years ago and being surprised to hear moog in ToC and Awaken-! The mellotron could also be given a tweek or two!

[Olorin]

Put Awaken on any Yes album, even Heaven and Earth, and it’s an instant 5/5. So yeah, GFTO is a 5 for me, thought I’m not crazy about the title track and the album could’ve benefited greatly from a remix. Oh, the lost masters! How can the universe be so cruel, LOL?