Customer Reviews

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plus

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have every live video of this band - no bragging, just perspective. Most of what I own is on laserdisc (remember laserdiscs?). This concert is the best live Yes video ever produced.

For a start, the performances are nothing short of inspired. Everyone is at the top of his game; Howe has never played better (rivals Yesshows). Wakeman is superhuman, but very tasty. Bruford is a joy to watch - his fluidity is hypnotic. And Anderson dances all over the stage like an elf (why doesn't he do that anymore?). The support musicians are also excellent (Jeff Berlin replaces an ill Tony Levin for this show).

Everyone is having so much fun, and the fun is really infectious.

This is a FULL LENGTH SHOW, not a "highlights" show like the Philadelphia disc. You get everything, including Anderson's vapid pre-show pay-per-view babbling (very amusing).

"Close To The Edge" crackles with an energy rarely seen. "And You And I" is most moving. Even the ABWH tracks sparkle and shine like diamonds.

All Yes concerts should be this good. Heck, all bands should be this good. Show it to your musician friends - if they aren't fans when you're done, there's no hope for them!

I have seen this VHS, and (like everyone else) am furious at the fact that the studios are no longer producing it. I own the CD and am still impressed with the mastery of all three instrumental solos at the beginning. This is the greatest concert I have ever seen - I honestly barely even noticed Squire's absence. If this DVD ever becomes available again, sign me up!

I also had this on VHS a decade or so ago and loved it so much the tape eventually wore out. I was devastated. It was my first chance to see the ABWH stuff live and although I love the album, seeing the creation of such complex music happen spontaneously in the moment was truly awe inspiring. No chance for overdubs, do-overs, or (God forbid) lip-synching. No second chances. No safety net. I don't think any other band could pull such a feat off so flawlessly or majestically. Themes, Order, Jon's medley, Birthright, Close, Steve's solo, Rick's solo... I sure wish I could buy it on DVD (or even VHS if I had to). I have the CD, but seeing it live gives an entirely deeper appreciation of the magnitude and precision of the event. The compositions are so complex and played so cleanly that it's always astounding to me that ANY group of musicians (magicians?) can manage to stay in tune, in time and in synch with each other in the midst of all that chaotically disguised structure and musical architecture.
It seems to be the general consensus of anyone who cares to share their opinion that this is one of (if not the) best live performances ever captured of this band (maybe any band) - in any era. I wonder why the mega-corporations that churn these DVDs out don't recognize this and give us what we all so desperately want? They deluge the market with drive-by artists that no one will remember or respect five years from now. Most are hard to respect now as their images and public personas are molded and shaped by high level executives who spend millions of dollars on target demographic studies to find out "what the kids want" and then mold their Britanys and Chingys to fit them. They also regurgitate new "live" videos of many of the same tired old bands that had one or two big hits back when, but have been stuck in the same rut, playing the same set lists and song renditions for decades without ever changing a note or trying out a new chord progression or growing musically in any other direction, but they won't recognize a band that has constantly evolved for over 30 yrs. and still continues to do so.
Enough with my rant. Also, enough with "documentaries" like Yesspeak (no disrespect), but give us some more live epic uncut footage (or spontaneous magic, if you prefer). PLEASE! Look at what Zeppelin did w/ their new double DVD. The audio remix sounds better than it probably did fifth row center and the re-mastered video looks cleaner, sharper, and better shot than most of the crap the music industry feeds us today. Let's recognize true genius and give it it's due.

I'll now discontinue my dramatic diatribe and hand the symbolic feather over to any of you who are still reading and have something to say. Thanks for listening.

Next...

Ken
tenacken@yahoo.com

If you are a guitarist who appreciates Steve Howe, this is worth having...if for no other reason, just to see him play Mood For a Day. DJFAKE's comments on the performance are right on target.

I have bought this VHS a long time ago, I already had the CD and its also amazing. When the show starts, you have solos of all members. In particular Rick Wakeman gives a show apart, Steve Howe shows why he is the only Yes Guitar Player and Bill Bruford is the perfection it self... On this CD/DVD you will find THE best version of "Close to the Edge" ever from YES.

Don't be fooled by the two re-releases of this great Shoreline Mountain View California concert; they edit out John Anderson's intro at the beginning as well as his rapport with the audience inbetween songs. They also do NOT offer any improvement in audio or video quality. The original dvd release is STILL the version to own.

Mind you, I like Jon Anderson - it isn't easy to be that twee all the time. Still, I think he's an earnest chap. He parades down through the audience to begin this concert with "Time and a Word" and it is a lovely beginning, but then through a succession of additional Anderson, Wakemen and Howe solos, it begins to feel like this will never take off. On top of that Howe has a bizarre expression on his face as though his last colonoscopy was minutes before stagetime. You will jump out of your chair when Bruford arrives to kick start the rest of the evening.
There is no need to spend $200 on this - it is now available through the YES website in a remastered edition that is sonically brilliant. there are some early mistakes with the camerawork, but about 20 minutes in, all is fine and it becomes quite a show. I caught this tour with Tony Levin, Bruford's Crim rhythm partner. Levin fell ill during the tour, so Bruford recruited Jeff Berlin and that is who is featured on the DVD. The sympatico among Bruford, Berlin and Wakeman are the reason to purchase this DVD. They are absolutely on target with each other, and I would argue that Berlin transforms the Chris Squier parts on a number of Yes chestnuts so radically that it feels like you are hearing these gems for the first time.
The lyrics have always been a bit Jungian archetypical, but th music has such a commanding Stravinsky groove to it, enhanced by a truly committed performance by Bruford, clearly enjoying the Crim hiatus, and Wakeman, determined to obliterate again any memory of Tony Kaye, and Berlin who fills in with such command for Levin that you can not imagine how Squire must have reacted. Howe is in full command of his extraordinary powers, but unfortunately dancing and mugging for the camera are not two of them. Anderson hits the high notes - he clearly made a pact with the devil - and bangs around out of time on the tambourine.
But this is Bruford's show and he is astounding. The show is from the Nassau Colisseum, and it is lively and appreciative audience who are growing gray along with thier idols, but clearly relish all the wonderful stories there are in YES/ABWH music. It's a great disc.

I own the VHS tape and waiting ...waiting...waiting for this DVD. The concert is the best you can get and surpassed House of Yes, Yessongs and Keys by miles. Just listen to f.i. Close to the Edge, and know why it is that Bill Bruford outmasters Alan White on percussion...the playing is super from all involved (though missing Chris)...so please,with cream on top....please release this DVD. Michael

I saw the original broadcast from Oceanview, CA, in 1989 with some friends (25) at my father's home and via satellite. My gratest musical experience without take in count the tours of 98 and 99. My VHS video was stolen 3 years ago and I need to get one, so please if you know someone or you want to sell it, please, send me an e-mail. In my opinion it's the best concert video in the history of VHS. Chris Squire was the great absent of the night, but the rest were excellent. Yes music like angels. I'm sure that if heaven have a soundtrack, Jon Anderson will be on vocals. Amazon, if you can get it, contact me soon as posible.

This concert was available live on per pay view in 1989, and I gladly paid my $25.00 or what ever it was, and slipped a VHS tape in the recorder. I later saw this show live when they came to Seattle. I wore my VHS tape out...I still have it, but it is wearing thin. I hadn't been able to find a copy of it on DVD, and when I checked here, I saw a used one at around $200. I ended up buying a copy on Ebay recently. The sound and audio is very good, and I paid $24.95. If you're looking for a DVD, that would be my recommendation. Anyway, I like this show even better than the 35th anniversary show filmed at Tsongas Arena. The ABWH tracks are all very good, and you only get "The Meeting" on Tsongas. Jon Anderson is in great voice, an amazing keyboard solo by Wakeman, and the final song, "Starship Trooper" is incredible even though it doesn't have the keyboard and guitar battle Wakeman and Howe provide on "Tsongas". Great individual performances at the start of the show wet your appetite for what is to come. Enjoy!!