Customer Reviews

Change We Must

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I admit a strong bias right up front: Yes was always my favorite band, and on top of that, I had the honor and pleasure of working with Jon for five years, during which time I played on two of his albums (although, alas, not this one), directed six of his music videos, helped him to orchestrate a ballet, and performed in a few venues with him. I have since moved away to pursue a different career, but I will always hold Jon in my heart as a very dear friend and mentor. And so this is not a completely unbiased review. But I can tell you in all honestly that he is an absolutely awe-inspiring and brilliant artist, and as kind and gentle and genuine and visionary a human being as exists on this planet. Jon is "for real". And he is continually years ahead of his time.

"Change We Must" may well be the most enduring, and is certainly my personal favorite, of his solo albums. It also has an interesting history. For various reasons owing to Jon's integrity in the face of politics, the album was never given the launch that it so richly deserved. Still, it remains a sparkling showcase of engineering, arrangement, performance, and songs, not only on Jon's part, but by everyone involved in the production. Like virtually everything Jon does, this album was clearly a work of love.

All of Jon's solo works are vastly different from one another, to the point that his sales have probably suffered from record stores never knowing quite which category to put his albums in. This work is no exception, and is usually I suppose tagged as "the classical album". But beyond that, this work, in my opinion, also captures the essence of Jon's magical melodies and angelic voice at his absolute, polished best. I believe that it is for Jon as defining an album as works like "Close To The Edge" and "Magnification" have been for Yes. I only hope that someday it is marketed properly and "rediscovered" as the brilliant masterpiece that it always has been.

Every once in a while a musician is blest to have sacred music come thru. Change We Must is sacred, fun, solemn, joyous, sad, reflective, mysterious. We are so for-tune-ate to be able to hear such music. This piece is a labour of love. My children cherish it. I cry for joy it came thru. Hep Yadda
Dr. Kevin Keough

Along with "Olias", all Yes albums from 1970 - 1976 and the beloved Jon and Vangelis recordings, this is essential Anderson listening. I have turned many people (of both genders I may add) to Yes and Anderson with this recording. All songs are given symphonic treatments. These songs consist of Jon and Vangelis tunes (Change We Must, Candle Song, State of Independence), older Anderson tunes from the In the City of Angels (Under The Sun, Hurry Home) and the Yes tune "Hearts". In all instances, I prefer these recordings to the original. Listening to the City of Angels tunes made me feel guilty for originally dismissing that album. Of the new songs, there is a great duet with an opera singer on "Chagal Duet" and a frantic reworking of John Adams' "Shaker Loops". Anderson's voice is in fine form and the orchestra compliments him perfectly. My favourite tracks are certainly "Under the Sun", which combines classical, pop and world musics and "Change We Must" - an intensly spiritual experience. Breathtaking. I would love to hear a sequel to this. More new songs and orchestrations of such great songs as "All in a Matter of Time","Animation", "Song of Seven" and maybe a medley of parts of "Olias" and "Toltec".

This is one of the top 3 albums Jon Anderson has ever done, the other two being "Olias of Sunhillow" and "Animation".
"Change We Must" contains wonderful arrangements of some of Jon's classics ('State of Independence', 'Hearts', 'Hurry Home', 'Candle Song' which is formerly known as 'Anyone Can Light A Candle' as done with Vangelis on "Page Of Life").
The album also contains other songs never before heard. The title track is one of Jon's best ever - the best way to describe it would be "emotional build up".
"Under The Sun" is a classic Jon piece.
"Alive & Well" is an instrumental, which is pretty rare for a vocalist! It's a wonderful track, though and fits in so well with the other songs.

This album is a great listen from start to finish. In fact, that is the best way to listen to it. It is like going on a journey.
What a shame it's no longer in print. Get it used while you can!!

I purchased this CD from a record club a few years ago , on sale for $4.00 or so,so I thought , what the hell I love his voice and was becoming a Yes fan at the time.I could not stop playing it!I find it very relaxing and soothing to the soul.I especially love it in the summer,lying in my pool and soaking up the sun!I urge all Yes and or Anderson fans to buy this CD.I see it is notin stock,but you could probably get it from his website.

Excellent. Jon Continues to expand his talents. New Twist to old songs plus bonus new songs and melodies in a classical vain

Nunca he esperado demasiado de los discos en solitario de Jon Anderson, quizás por eso, éste me ha resultado una sorpresa. Incluyendo una sabia mezcla de algún tema de Yes, de Jon & Vangelis y de Anderson en solitario, realiza un disco auténticamente bueno. Toda la música es orquestal, pero resulta agradable comprobar como la orquesta no se limita a servir de fondo al cantante sino que, en ocasiones nos sorprende con temas auténticamente Bartokianos. Incluye el tema Chagall Due con una cantante de ópera que es realmente excepcional. Muy recomendable y, visto en la distancia, puede resultar premonitorio de Magnification

Change We Must is an amazingly beautiful, spiritual and transcendent body of work. Jon ventures into new territory with symphonic grace and lyrical inspiration. Then again, that's not new for Jon. Most all his work is filled with a deep sense of spiritual grace and beauty. What's really new about this is the symphony. Change We Must is not just an established rock legend using an orchestra to boost rock songs toward musical legitimacy. It is a brilliant and captivating album. A beautiful and meaningful work of art. Jon is a master at his craft. And if we do more than listen, we may even allow ourselves to be moved.

Jon Anderson has produced a musical masterpiece with Change We Must. Due credit must be given to the amazing orechestral musicians (especially on violin/strings and piano) who provide the mystical atmosphere for Jon to take flight in. Jon's work with YES is amazing and profound in quality and quantity, but this CD does not try to compete. "Change..." does borrow from Jon's prior work with Vangelis (State of Independence) and YES (90125 Hearts), but the compilation is fresh and alive with nuance and original music. "Change..." is similar in quality with YES's most inspired works like Close to the Edge, Fragile, Relayer, and Going for the One. Only Jon's Olias of Sunhillow offers a musical experience which can compare/surpass in emotional and spiritual impact with "Change We Must". You can find some amazing Jon Anderson artistic visualizations of "Change We Must" and "Olias of Sunhillow" on You-Tube that will blow your mind!!
R.W.