(1st Wave) - YES
YES - England (1969)
SYMPHONIC PROGRESSIVE ROCK
Along with GENESIS and PINK FLOYD, YES is considered one of the most influential progressive rock bands of all time. Along with those two plus KING CRIMSON, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER and other popular bands that have helped shape today’s progressive music scene, YES have long been a prog fan favorite, and stand out for their unique blend of styles. Their “golden age” started at approximately the same time as GENESIS’, in 1971, with the line-up of Jon Anderson (vocals/lyrics), Chris Squire (bass/vocals), Steve Howe (guitar/vocals), Tony Kaye (keyboards) and Bill Bruford (drums). However, it wasn’t until the replacement of Tony Kaye with keyboardist extraordinaire Rick Wakeman a year later that the band truly reached its peak.
Anderson, Squire, Howe and Bruford’s input alone were enough to make the music the most harmonious prog rock of the day. Anderson’s distinctive high-pitched vocals, Squire’s jazzy, rhythmic bass lines, Howe’s delicate guitar work, and Bruford’s highly progressive drum skills spoke of things that sprung from the collective minds of dreamers, and was filled with joyful, expansive harmonies. By incorporating orchestral works into their music to varying degrees over the years, YES redefined what Rock’n’Roll could be. Their fresh ideas and their ability to think beyond Rock’s 3-minute, standard 12-bar structure turned much of the band’s catalogue into classic prog. Their concept albums and lengthy live jams earned them a huge fan following, as well as massive commercial success: between 1972 and 1977, they had five top-10 albums, with “Close To The Edge” peaking highest at #3 in 1972*. At that point in time, YES comprised perhaps the most versatile, virtuoso group of musicians in the history of progressive rock.
*Source: “Progressive Rock Reconsidered,” by Kevin Holms-Hudson, Ed. (2002).
DISCOGRAPHY:
Yes (69) / Time And A Word (70) / The YES Album (71) / Fragile (72) / Close To The Edge (72) / Yessongs (73) / Tales From Topographic Oceans (74) / Relayer (74) / Yesterday (75) / Going For The One (77) / Tormato (78) / Drama (80) / Yesshows (80) / Classic Yes (80) / 90125 (83) / 9012 Live: The Solos (85) / Big Generator (87) / Union (91) / Yesyears (box set) (91) / Yesstory (92) / The Very Best Of Yes (93) / Symphonic Music Of Yes (93) / Talk (94) / Solo Family Album (94) / Keys To Ascension (96) / Keys To Ascension 2 (97) / Open Your Eyes (97) / BBC Sessions 1969-1970 Something's Coming (97) / Yes, Friends And Relatives (98) / The Ladder (99) / The Best Of Yes (00) / House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (01) / Yes Symphonic (01) / Keystudio (01) / Magnification (01) / Yes, Friends And Relatives – Volume Two (01) / We Make Believe (01) / Yestoday (02) / In A Word (02) / Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection (04)
BEST ALBUMS:
The Yes Album (71), Close To The Edge (72), Fragile (72), Relayer (74), Going For The One (77)
SYMPHONIC PROGRESSIVE ROCK
Along with GENESIS and PINK FLOYD, YES is considered one of the most influential progressive rock bands of all time. Along with those two plus KING CRIMSON, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER and other popular bands that have helped shape today’s progressive music scene, YES have long been a prog fan favorite, and stand out for their unique blend of styles. Their “golden age” started at approximately the same time as GENESIS’, in 1971, with the line-up of Jon Anderson (vocals/lyrics), Chris Squire (bass/vocals), Steve Howe (guitar/vocals), Tony Kaye (keyboards) and Bill Bruford (drums). However, it wasn’t until the replacement of Tony Kaye with keyboardist extraordinaire Rick Wakeman a year later that the band truly reached its peak.
Anderson, Squire, Howe and Bruford’s input alone were enough to make the music the most harmonious prog rock of the day. Anderson’s distinctive high-pitched vocals, Squire’s jazzy, rhythmic bass lines, Howe’s delicate guitar work, and Bruford’s highly progressive drum skills spoke of things that sprung from the collective minds of dreamers, and was filled with joyful, expansive harmonies. By incorporating orchestral works into their music to varying degrees over the years, YES redefined what Rock’n’Roll could be. Their fresh ideas and their ability to think beyond Rock’s 3-minute, standard 12-bar structure turned much of the band’s catalogue into classic prog. Their concept albums and lengthy live jams earned them a huge fan following, as well as massive commercial success: between 1972 and 1977, they had five top-10 albums, with “Close To The Edge” peaking highest at #3 in 1972*. At that point in time, YES comprised perhaps the most versatile, virtuoso group of musicians in the history of progressive rock.
*Source: “Progressive Rock Reconsidered,” by Kevin Holms-Hudson, Ed. (2002).
DISCOGRAPHY:
Yes (69) / Time And A Word (70) / The YES Album (71) / Fragile (72) / Close To The Edge (72) / Yessongs (73) / Tales From Topographic Oceans (74) / Relayer (74) / Yesterday (75) / Going For The One (77) / Tormato (78) / Drama (80) / Yesshows (80) / Classic Yes (80) / 90125 (83) / 9012 Live: The Solos (85) / Big Generator (87) / Union (91) / Yesyears (box set) (91) / Yesstory (92) / The Very Best Of Yes (93) / Symphonic Music Of Yes (93) / Talk (94) / Solo Family Album (94) / Keys To Ascension (96) / Keys To Ascension 2 (97) / Open Your Eyes (97) / BBC Sessions 1969-1970 Something's Coming (97) / Yes, Friends And Relatives (98) / The Ladder (99) / The Best Of Yes (00) / House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (01) / Yes Symphonic (01) / Keystudio (01) / Magnification (01) / Yes, Friends And Relatives – Volume Two (01) / We Make Believe (01) / Yestoday (02) / In A Word (02) / Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection (04)
BEST ALBUMS:
The Yes Album (71), Close To The Edge (72), Fragile (72), Relayer (74), Going For The One (77)
posted by ProgLucky @ 2:09 PM
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