Why Yes Is Finally Playing ‘Close to the Edge’ Correctly

[Mr. Holland]

An interview with Steve (presumably held before the CTTE 50 tour started):

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-close-to-the-edge-correction/

[pianozach]

Interesting. That odd change made when they played it live always bothered me.

[BillGuitar]

Interesting. That odd change made when they played it live always bothered me.

Yes.

[josuev80]

Downes hasn't got that memo. So many (who I assume are) amateurs can handle the famous keyboard solo. Downes doesn't even try. Geoff, if you are out there, watch these videos.

Try it on electric guitar

Use 2 hands if you have to (15:40)

[Mr. Holland]

^^ To me, changing the structure of a song where the whole band plays something else, is not the same as doing/interpreting a solo different.

[roundabout]

Downes hasn't got that memo. So many (who I assume are) amateurs can handle the famous keyboard solo. Downes doesn't even try. Geoff, if you are out there, watch these videos.

Try it on electric guitar

Use 2 hands if you have to (15:40)

I was at the Clearwater show and I thought the show was Awesome thanks to Steve . It's always been a head scratcher to me why Mr Downes can't play that classic organ solo properly on my favorite song. Igor had absolutely no problem nailing it,I hate to say it but he absolutely ruins this classic for me....How in the world is he gonna pull off Soundchaser?

[josuev80]

I was at the Clearwater show and I thought the show was Awesome thanks to Steve . It's always been a head scratcher to me why Mr Downes can't play that classic organ solo properly on my favorite song. Igor had absolutely no problem nailing it,I hate to say it but he absolutely ruins this classic for me....How in the world is he gonna pull off Soundchaser?

Lots of patches, perhaps.

[True]

Well, I think it's nice that Steve Howe wanted to present the song in the same key as the album - but I agree with others in that , in some ways, the song is presented as it was on record. In some other ways, it is quite different - the signature keyboard solo being a good example of that. So I suppose this version is as "incorrect" as prior versions - it's just incorrect in it's own way.
I don't feel this version - or the prior versions are "incorrect" - they are just the way the particular group of players wants to present it. Of course, many fans have felt that CTTE has been off due to the very slow tempo and perhaps would trade a key change with an energetic tempo as opposed to the traditional key at a very slow pace, if you understand my meaning.

This topic makes me feel old - as I remember my first ever Yes show featured Patrick Moraz in the 70's. And at that show they played CTTE, and I remember a number of us were saying that Moraz was a great player but his solo on CTTE was nothing like the Wakeman version and we felt it was ...incorrect!

These videos of unknowns playing the solo are fun to watch. Only the first player bothers to use his left hand. Wakeman uses his left hand a bit more than these players do for this song. If you look at the Symphonic video of Tom Brislin playing this solo, his right hand is generally faithful to the Wakeman version, but he augments it beautifully with his left hand and puts a few of his own stamps on it without playing a completely different solo - as in the cases of Downes or Moraz.

[Ash Armstrong]

Take it slow and steady, and leave no one behind...