Customer Reviews

Yes Story Gold

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

 

 

This 2 cd set, while I don't consider it a set of classic yes music, is an impressive package none-the-less. Included are tracks from different Yes members, as well as live versions of some yes favorites. I was pleasently surprised by the quality of music received, even though the set is priced very low for 2 cds. Every track is solid, with each band member getting their chance to shine. I particularly liked the live versions of Awaken and Your Move. Also very impressive were Rick Wakeman's tracks, especially the 32 minute "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". If you're like me, and haven't yet heard the band's solo works and would like to see the different aspects of yes, this set is a great investment. The artwork, true to yes, is attractive, and the booklet includes several pictures and quotes from band members. 5 stars is an easy choice when considering all you get.

Amazon is listing songwriters instead of performers on the track list. Here are the performers.

Disc 1:

1. Awaken - Yes (17:10)
2. Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Rick Wakeman (31:55)
3. To Be Over - Steve Howe (6:10)
4. Violet Purple Rose - Chris Squire & Billy Sherwood (4:57)
5. Open Your Eyes - Yes (5:13)
6. Owner of a Lonely Heart - Jon Anderson (3:33)

Disc 2:

1. Yours Is No Disgrace - Yes (12:52)
2. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - Steve Howe & Jon Anderson (11:49)
3. I Believe - Jemma Wakeman (3:44)
4. Merlin the Magician - Rick Wakeman (6:44)
5. Roundabout - Yes (7:24)
6. Tron Thomi - Esquire (7:54)
7. It's All Over Now Baby Blue - Steve Howe & Annie Haslam (4:32)
8. Lonesome Trail - Chris Squire & Billy Sherwood (6:36)
9. Dancing Fool - Jon Anderson (3:50)
10. Your Move - Yes (7:29)

Essentially a repackaging of Yes Friends and Relatives featuring recent live Yes recordings - like from Keys to Ascension, plus various recent solo track.

There's a whole series of this black-boxed "Story" series. It's merely a way for a minor label to cash in on artists that had once release stuff through them. Such products merely flood the market. Check out the discography on [...] to see was releases are authorised by the group.

If you are a true fan of Yes then you will be able to understand exactly what is meant by the intricate delicacy of these songs. First off, the song "Your Move" is great in that it has a better build up than other studio recorded versions of "Your Move". Also the song "Violet, Purple, Rose" is not just for Yes fans but for anyone who truly has fallen in love with music. It is the most beautiful "Yes" song I have ever encountered and it is indelible and pure. If you love Yes; if you love music, then this is the album for you.

So its not really "The Yes Story" but thats OK. Open Your Eyes is of course the title track from their 1997 album and this is the original version. The other four Yes tunes are taken from recent live DVDs. I don't care for Anderson's disco version of Owner of a Lonely Heart.Steve Howe's two Dylan tunes with vocals by Anderson and Annie Haslam are pretty good. Jemma Wakeman's song is a modern country tune. The two Squire/Sherwood songs are pretty good and sound like Yes. Wakeman's Journey and Merlin are updated versions without orchestra, choir or narration. I was hoping for the original Journey but this version is good and the singer here is better than the original.Howe's acoustic version of To Be Over from Relayer is nice. The sound quality is good and the packaging is nice. There is no musician or source info.