Customer Reviews

9012 Live: the Solos

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was probably the strangest release in the Yes catalog. I remember it coming out in late 1985, probably as a stop-gap release because the next album(1987's 'Big Generator') was taking them forever to make. It's too short to be an album but too long to be a single or EP. Basically what you get is a live document containing two songs from 90125 and the solo spots from each member. Why not a regular live album featuring hits like 'Roundabout' and 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart'? Whose idea was this? It is however a very enjoyable and cozy release, one that I listen to every now & then. The trax:

HOLD ON - this live version is superior to the studio version from 90125. More big, more anthemic. One note: the live version on that tour featured a drum solo intro from Alan White. Seeing how this is '9012Live: THE SOLOS', I wonder why it was omited. Maybe because they thought it wouldn't be right to open the album with a drum solo.

SI - Tony Kaye's solo. I believe his solo was longer too, but we get this edited version. Too bad. This spacey synthesizer solo I find is more interesting than Rick Wakeman's solos. Too bad it's short.

SOLLY'S BEARD - Trevor Rabin's solo is acompanied by Kaye's soft atmosphere keyboard backing and is a highlight of this disc. A display of fancy fretwork on an Alverez(sp?) acoustic guitar, his solo compares nicely to any of Steve Howe's acoustic ditties. Very tastefully done.

SOON - Jon Anderson with some keyboard backing singing a unmercifully short version of the 'Soon' section of 'Gates Of Delirium'. His voice is crisp and clear. Like 'Hold On' and 'Si', his track kinda fades in too.

CHANGES - a solid version of the 90125 song, no more or less.

AMAZING GRACE - Chris Squire gets two solos here, which is good because his clean, upfront bass guitar sound is a YES trademark that can't be ignored. Listen to the long sustain here towards the end of this track.

WHITEFISH - Chris' signiture solo from 1971's 'Fragile' album gets a reworking here to include snippets of older Yes tunes like 'Tempus Fugit' and 'Sound Chaser'. Aided by Alan White on drums, this track jams and kicks. A real great live cut. The track(and disc) ends with long audience aplause, then a guitar comes in as the track is fading as if they were about to break into 'City Of Love', leaving the listener wanting more.

Seeing that this sadly is the only live release from the 90125/Trevor Rabin era of Yes, it does leave you wanting more. But despite the odd edits and it being a weird release featuring two songs and a few atmospheric solos rather than a regular live album, I still find it one of the most enjoyable live Yes albums. I listen to this more than Keys To Ascension. Its a solid release.

I have the (West) German LP of this scarce release. It was a million to one chance at a second hand shop. I had been looking for this for a few years. Many fans may feel short-changed getting this release. There aren't versions of earlier material since they probably felt it would be overkill having another round of "Roundabout", yet there are a handful of legal live albums (too many bootlegs floating around!) with the '70s classics with different members of what some would consider a franchise. Perhaps Yes just wanted to do something different. EPs as opposed to maxi-singles became a rarity.
Rhino/Atlantic may put this in their next phase of reissues, and could possibly add bonus tracks. There are live tracks with this lineup on the 1987-88 Big Generator tour that appear on the now out-of-print 1991 box set "YesYears" that could fill up the disc. Maybe they could feature "I've Seen All Good People" since that version was a single video on VHS, MTV, and DVD, leaving out part of a certain song from Alan White's former employers if you know what I mean!
Tony Kaye's solo "Si" sounds almost like his "arch-rival" Rick Wakeman, resembling a church organ instead of the usual Hammond.
"Whitefish" has part of "Tempus Fugit"; the only way you'd hear a "Drama" track after that tour (not counting Dream Theatre's rendition of "Machine Messiah" when they opened for Yes when I saw them three years ago)! You know how it is!
For loyal Yes fans only!
Originally released 1985 by Atco #90424/Atlantic/Warner Music UK Ltd.

I miss this EP! This was the first Yes album I ever owned. I bought it when it was originally released on cassette, lost it a few months later, and had never seen it since, until a minute before I began writing this! It wasn't even listed on Amazon at all! Anyway, this was my introduction to the piece, "Soon". It blew me away at the time. Little did I know that it was an excerpt from a much longer song, "The Gates Of Delirium", all of which, or even the original "Soon" part were far better on the original album, "Relayer". Get this, even if it's only a Japanese release right now!

It's not meant to be a full length live album. It's meant to be a fun EP of some great live stuff. And it works. It's my favorite Yes cd. You heard it correctly....my favorite.

This Cd would have been a great one if more songs were selected. The title reflects the essence of what is inside. Trevor Rabin is the fact leader of the band and this was a good change for that time.
Hold On and Changes (with Trevor on Lead Vocals) are amazing songs and here are perfomed just like every YES record, perfect!!
Tony Kaye's "Si" is the lack part of the cd.
Trevor Rabin's "Solly's Beard" is just a masterpiece for guitarplayers.
Jon's "Soon" is ok but the keyboards are too predominant. Jon's voice doesn't need any help.
Chris Squire's "Amazing Grace" is a strong bass solo.
Chris Squire & Alan White's "Whitefish" is great solo medley. That is weird don't you think?
I love YES, is one of my forever bands, this work is also great.
If you love YES you must buy it.

What kind of live cd is this? Mostly solos from individual members and just a few songs? Are they kidding?! This should at least have everything that was on the 9021live video, but in my honest opinion, this would be a great cd if it contained the ENTIRE concert. It should even include stuff that they didn't include on the cd OR video. Songs like Yours Is No Disgrece, Long Distance Runaround, and Roundabout were played on this tour. But they don't appear on anything. 9012Live should be a 2cd set containing the full show. Maybe in the future they'll release it that way. Unfortunately, this is the only live cd that has Rabin and Kaye. Until they release this the way it should be, if you want a live Yes cd, the best ones are Live at the House Of Blues (House Of Yes, or whatever it's called) or Yessongs.

Ok it isn't the goodest Cd of yes but!! I love it!! And yes!!
I think it's good!!