23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Yes Documentary, August 22, 2004
This review is from: Yes: Yesyears (DVD)
It was produced in 1991, yes I know, but Atlantic records produced it correctly and professionally. Interviews are excellent. Archival footage is the best I've seen. Bill Bruford is also on here. This is the documentary for which others are judged. This documentary coincided with the YesYears Boxed CD Set and Around the World in 80 dates world tour. Many shots from that tour are on here with a snippit of all 8 members of that tour performing Awaken. It was quite breathtaking. This documentary puts the newest DVD, "YesSpeak" to shame due to poor editing and pruducing and choice of Roger Daultry as the narrator. YesYears was produced correctly and with the proper funding by ATLANTIC records at the time. I highly recommend it.
Dave Carlin, Philly
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Terrific Account of a Band with a Unique Concept, December 27, 2004
This review is from: Yes: Yesyears (DVD)
To my ears, there are a handful of English bands who are true pioneers in their stylistic pursuits. The Beatles, Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, The Police and Dire Straits (sorry if I omitted one of your favorites...this is, after all, my opinion) all have musical and artistic refinement that seems to be lacking in many musical aggregations on EITHER side of the Atlantic. Quite often bands will disintegrate at the pinnacle of their success, either because of artistic restlessness, or, loss of a key member. Yes encountered both of these unbinding threats and, through recruitment of what turned out to be only temporary replacements (Bill Bruford is the exception here), managed to survive and mature. In fact, portions of this documentary were filmed during a Yes "Union" tour in which ALL former members of the band participated (with the exception of original guitarist, Tony Banks). Every member has recorded solo albums but the musical vision of the band seems to hold the strongest attraction to those involved. There have been some complaints voiced by other reviewers about the lack of actual performance footage or bonus booklets in this DVD. I, for one, didn't have to have any frills to appreciate the intent of the filmmakers. Nor do I feel shortchanged because the songs were incomplete. In my opinion this should not be regarded as a performance DVD. It is a documented historical account of one of England's finest, most artistic and long-lasting bands.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Is The One!, December 13, 2004
This review is from: Yes: Yesyears (DVD)
Not the tedious YesSpeak. This is a very thorough review of the years prior to 1991. Ironic in light of what has come after it. To hear Rick inferring that maybe the Union line-up could continue into the 21st century is quite touching in a way, considering the number of times he himself has come and gone in that time. I don't have a problem with the fact that there are no complete songs here... that's not the purpose of this. It does beg the question, is there any more of this archival footage? Sad that whoever was waving a camera about during the Close To The Edge sessions didn't have the sound recording switched on.
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