Product Details

• Actors: Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, Alan White, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman
• Directors: Peter Neal
• Producers: Brian Lane, David Speechley
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: December 17, 1997
• Run Time: 72 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305076995
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,507 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Yes - Yessongs" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Yes was on tour to promote the recent release of Close to the Edge when this energetic performance was captured on 16-millimeter film in London's Rainbow Theatre in December 1972. Although this DVD was mastered from a ragged print (with plenty of scratches evident throughout), this is actually the better of the two Yes discs available (the other--Live in Philadelphia--has an even murkier transfer from videotape), with marginally better sound quality and a 75-minute performance that finds the band at the height of their "early years" popularity. The lineup is the same as that of the 1979 performance in Philadelphia (Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, Rick Wakeman), but this concert is by a much younger, much more ambitious band that was still forging its formidable prog-rock identity. As a result this is the more valuable of the two Yes performances on DVD--a tighter, sharper, more satisfying look at the band at the peak of their creativity. It's also worth noting that they allowed room for solo improvisations (such as Howe's playful rendition of "The Clap" and Wakeman's excerpts from "The Six Wives of Henry VIII"), but as a group they remained intimately faithful to their studio recordings. And although even die-hard fans will grumble about the film's murky quality (which DVD can do nothing to improve), camera access was adequate for this show and each member of the band is given adequate screen time to demonstrate his instrumental virtuosity--particularly Howe, whose guitar work here is nothing short of amazing. While it's unfortunate that both DVDs featuring live Yes music leave much to be desired, this disc is definitely worth owning if you've ever wanted to see the giants of '70s prog-rock at the top of their game. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Experience the pure power of Yes on their 1973 world tour, featuring the classic lineup of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White. London's Rainbow Theatre reverberates with the energy of the legendary rock group as they perform many of their signature mood pieces from the "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge" albums. You haven't seen this classic rock group until you see them live. Songs: Your Move/I've Seen All Good People, The Clap, And You and I, Close to the Edge, The Six Wives of Henry VIII [excerpt], Roundabout, Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper [excerpt].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not one for showing off your DVD player, but good for fans!, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Yes - Yessongs (DVD)

The value of this DVD of the group, shot in December 1972 at London's Rainbow Theatre, depends entirely on your perspective -- Yes music fan or technophile.

While it is true that the audio (uncompressed 48k 16-bit PCM) is barely above bootleg quality and the video is grainy and contains some ticks and scratches, this movie captures the group in their prime and is valuable to those interested in the early 70's period -- especially those of us that were too young to see them live.

The camera work is good and captures, in colorful, moody closeups, each band member doing their thing. At several points in some of the songs ('Close To The Edge' in particular) images of microbial life are introduced, enhancing the organic qualities of the music.

The musical performance is excellent with especially good guitar work from Steve Howe.

While certainly not a candidate for showing off your new DVD player to your friends, Yessongs is a valuable document of the group in the early 70's.

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes' performances outshine the faint sound quality., June 6, 2003

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yes - Yessongs (DVD)

This set here captures Yes in fine form, as they were performing songs to support their 1972 release _Close To The Edge_. As many reviewers have stated, the sound quality is quite faint, which can be inexcusable to many viewers, but the performances are top-notch, and on the whole, is worthwhile for the Yes fan.

The six performances on here are for: "Your Move/I've Seen All Good People," "The Clap," "And You And I," "Close To The Edge," "Jingle Bells/Hallelujah/Roundabout" and "Yours Is No Disgrace" as an encore.

"Your Move.." is quite a nice performance as vocalist Jon Anderson is using his ethereal upper-register, and Steve Howe is playing mind-blowing material on his guitar (though in the first half, he plays what looks like a mandolin.) The vocal harmonies exchanged by Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire and Steve are nice as well. I also liked watching keyboardist Rick Wakeman clapping his hands during the handclapping section. "The Clap" is an extraordinary workout by Steve Howe. It was nice watching the close-ups on the fretboard, and watching Steve's amazing technique and virtuosity.

Elsewhere, hearing and seeing this live performance of "Close To The Edge" was quite refreshing, and sits quite nicely with the studio version. The opening was melodic and mesmerizing, although there were some parts in the beginning where you couldn't see the bandmembers, due to some of the art collages. This may annoy some viewers as this appears in other places during the performance, particularly during the third movement, "I Get Up, I Get Down." It was almost like magic witnessing Rick Wakeman, wearing his glowing silver cape, playing that soaring synthesizer lead before the crashing rhythm section jumps in to close out that third movement.

And, for more Rick Wakeman, he continues his magic on the "Jingle Bells/Hallelujah/Roundabout" medley. The first two parts feature Rick on the keyboards alone. First, he starts with a fairly reverent version of "Jingle Bells," then all of a sudden, it turns into a funked-up, bluesy piece, with the audience members clapping along. Then comes his interpretation of "Hallelujah," which was magnificently done, as he plays a synthesizer with his left hand, and what I think is a mellotron with his right hand simultaneously. It's unbelievable how he could get orchestral/choiral effects out of his instrument. But, of course, that may as well have been the technology at the time. But, in any event, it was nice to watch what many non-prog rock fans would simply call silliness and indulgence. And to end it all, there's an energetic version of "Roundabout." The encore was lots of fun as well, which was the fiery live version of "Yours Is No Disgrace."

To end this horribly written review, I'll just say that this should be owned by Yes fans, especially for fans who wish they could have seen the band play live in their 1970s period. Despite the slightly lacking sound quality, this still shouldn't be ignored, as the performances are excellent.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Yes at their Best" Live., July 20, 2002

By 

Mike (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yessongs [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre December 1972. This brilliant performance became a really great video for any true fan of the earlier forms of Yes (and not for the people who like their 80's stuff like "Owner Of A Lonely Heart"). First the video starts out with some moving artwork from the great Roger Dean to the music of the middle instrumental section of the studio version of "Close To The Edge".

Then after the title shows up, the band goes right into "I've Seen All Good People". The way it's played is great but Rick Wakeman's organ crescendo at the end of the first half doesn't compare to that of organ great Tony Kaye on the studio recording.

After that is a nice version of "The Clap" with just Steve Howe and his Martin 0014 Acosutic Guitar.

Then some tunes from their latest studio album (at the time), first comes "And You And I" where they skip Steve Howe's 12-String acoustic guitar intro (but uses a white Gibson EDS-1275 SG Double-Neck Guitar for the other parts that do require 12-String Guitar) but do an alternate beginning (and a more revelatory one at that). Then comes "Close To The Edge" Yes's 6th Longest song though clocking in at 18:40...

Anyway enough with Yes's longest tunes, back to Close To The Edge, through out the song at different times there are clips of underwater microscopic life which in my opinion should have been left out, and just showed the band play. The song is very close to the original studio version, except the end where they drop it a step from F to E flat (I guess because Jon Anderson's voice couldn't take the pressure he put on it like on the album).

Anyway a little stage chatter and Anderson kissing his microphone he introduces Rick Wakeman to do his "Excerpts From The Six Wives Of Henry The VIII". Though he plays the song by himself, he has Alan White smash cymbals and a couple drums to accompany the classical crescendos of Handel's "The Messiah" and (if you can believe it) "Jingle Bells" (but understand it was December of 1972 when this video was recorded so it was appropiate).

Then comes "Roundabout", I'd prefer the studio version over this, because the band just wasn't able to capture the same kind of magic onstage that was in the studio recording, like Chris Squire's ascending bass riff was dull, Steve Howe had to play his solo introduction on his Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster Electric Guitar instead of his Martin 0014 Acoustic Guitar, and Rick Wakeman's organ had a bit less shine then on the original recording. It was OK but they could have improved on it a bit.

Then comes "Yours Is No Disgrace", a better recording than the original. A nice pop-ish intro, and Steve has a nice unaccompanied solo in the middle (except for Alan White with a little bit of Phased High Hat and Chris Squire shoving in Fuzzy Bass Notes in at times). The only drawback is that after Steves Solo was over they skipped the middle section (ya know; "Death Defying, Mutilated, Army's Gather Near"), but instead right into the end just because they were running short on time. But altogether an electrifying performance.

Then the end credits with the last 2 minutes of Starship Trooper, Steve with his Double Neck Guitar, Chris with Fuzzed Bass, Jon at the mellotron next to Alan, while Rick does an amazing Moog Solo.

A very fine performance for Yes at probably the peak of their fame in 1972-73. Get the video if you want, but be warned once you watch, you will be hooked.