Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis of YES: RITUAL (Live - Yesshows) | The Daily Doug (Episode 638)
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2023
- #yes #ritual #yesshows
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to one of my favorite tracks from Yes. Ritual (Nous somme du soleil) is the concluding side-long track from Tales from Topographic Oceans, originally released in December of 1973. On this occasion, I'm listening to the live version included on Yesshows for the first time. This particular performance is from August of 1976 in Detroit, MI. I invite you to join me for a second listen to this marvelous music!
Reference Video: • Yesshows Ritual Complete
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Close to the Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer. What a trilogy. Best. Band. Ever.
and then add in Fragile on the one end and GFTO on the other.............an amazing block of music for ~ 6 years (not to mention the solo albums)
Wild to think of the quick back to back releases of The Yes Album and Fragile too.
@@chacob3380 And The Yes Album.
you forgot Awaken and Endless Dream. Two of their greatest masterworks.
They're like buttah...
For me, back in the 70's, Tales was THE Yes album. Of course it was wide open to the criticisms it received at the time for being overblown, but for me those voices fell on deaf ears. An incredible work throughout, a journey (before that was a cliche) sweeping the listener along. I was lucky enough to see Ritual performed live back in the late 70's at the old Wembley Empire Pool in North London by the classic line up. I think I forgot to breathe throughout.
Alan and Chris are incredible in this live performance. Can't believe they are gone. The music of course will live on forever.
Love your closing comments on what this music brings and gives to you. I feel just the same and have done since I heard it for the first time in 1973, 18 years old. I'll be 68 tomorrow but it still gets me. YES is up there, together with the greatest symphonic composers. If Gustav Mahler had been born 90 years later, he would have been in the band. Thanks Doug for a great listen.
I'm a year older, but the same thing with me. I saw them do this when it was released, and still listen to it, especially lately, to see the joy on the reviewer's face, when they hear it for the first time and I can enjoy it vicariously.
@@lesblatnyak5947 Thank you!
Same for me, and I'm 65 since 4 days… 😀
I WAS there in person , at age 15 or 16. Live at Meadowlands arena in New Jersey-ran away from home on Long Island to be there. After that, was at every live tour till they dropped Jon. What were they thinking to be YES without Jon?
@@JimReemThe guys a fake. He's not hearing this stuff for the first time. It is staged. Watch his other fake videos - I don't care how tuned someone's ears are: you wouldn't know details (the biggest giveaways are when he sings along to vocal lines - he knows this shit inside out but makes out he's hearing it for the first time and offers his 'first impressions' lol. "Y'all."
It's impressive that they can play such challenging music at all. More impressive that they can do it live, just the five of them, without a lot of studio layering and post-processing. Still more, as you say, that they can do it from memory without any sheet music. But wow, I never realized how FAST they played in this concert! They did all of the above, and cranked up the tempo just to flex their musical muscles. Incredible.
Steve can't even read music 🤷😊
I believe the growling near the percussion section of the performance is Alan.
@@timbrown2971I believe it's Jon. If you watch the concert footage from QPR in 1975 you can kind of make it out.
@@simonthoben189maybe. I read somewhere years ago that it was Alan. But maybe not.
@@timbrown2971Here's a link to the video czcams.com/video/aeEqWLpcwiY/video.htmlsi=dvcrSZtbRbmuhNaS I just watched the section in question. You can see Alan leaning back farther away from his microphone whilst Anderson is pretty close to his. (Must be after 16:45) The first couple of times I heard these live versions I thought that it was Squire, but I also remember reading somewhere that it might have been Alan. I guess you wouldn't expect these deep growls from Anderson, so I never even suspected it was him until I watched the QPR video.
And experiencing this live several times in the 70s was pure magic. The percussion section was always powerful and you could sense how much fun Chris in particular had playing his timpani!
My two favourite Yes albums, Close to the edge and Tales. A lot of folk never got Tales which I always thought their masterpiece.
Took me a bit to get into Tales, but once I did, I completely fell in love with it. Definitely one of my favorites from YES.
Those for me are Yes' twin peaks. Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree on Tales: "I worked on and off for about 3 years on this new mix in my quest to do it justice. I hope it will satisfy the people who agree with me that it may just be Yes’ pre-eminent masterpiece.”
I'm a slow learner it only took me 48 years to fall in love with tails now that's not the way you spell it Siri it is spelled TALES😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 15:28
Doug, thanks for sharing your thoughts and analysis. It brings me back to my basement gathering place/ 1974 a wide circle of consciousness raising friends would regularly listen to all four sides....talk meaning, share their own illustrated booklets of the album. Despite humanities unavoidable instinct to "relayer" and the call to "fail safe Now!" As you shared, would end with that common peace that elevated my life each time we listen...."Cominnnng Home"❤
I realised something through Doug's comments at the end about my love of Yes. Often, I'm drawn to music with a dark or melancholy feel to it, but Yes is an exception. Yes' music is joyous. And like Doug, it brings me inner peace.
If you haven't heard The Ladder, you should give it a listen. It's the most joyous all the way through of all the Yes albums IMHO.
Gorgeous rendition of this song from Tales, which never fully got its due when released in 1973 (except from the Yes faithful).
Howe on Topographic Oceans: Jon and I had this idea-the band did need some persuasion and a lot of encouragement. And when it came out, everybody was a bit like, everybody was a bit in shock, like, "What kind of album is this?" It got a few slatings, and of course Rick was affected by some of these UK press slatings, because there were all these friends writing about his record! (laughs) ... But a really great thing happened-the bookend of side one and four are really the whole strength of it. But the middle, sides two and three, is really Yes in experimental mode. I was playing lute on side two, and we were playing this really weird stuff we had never played before ... we had never been quite that adventurous before then ... but going back to one and four, they are really very powerful and well-arranged music, but what happened with the reception is that we got out on-stage and played it, and people got to really like it.
So we had a new vibe, but it really grew ... Fewer people are critical of it now than, say, when it first came out. It’s become a specialized classic-it’s the only double-album project we ever did of new material, so it does stand out in itself, and it does take a very big nod to what we were fundamentally, which was a progressive rock group ... So I love it, just love it, but mainly one and four. On two, Yes was stepping out of being the group we were before. There were lots more sides on things like "And You And I" that were more in line with new age music, if you like. And three, with its strange sounds and unusual instrumentation, we tidied it all up on side four and made it something solid.
Was lucky to see them for the first time 73 in Chicago Amphitheater two nights in a row.Oh my God they were great. They did all of Topography tales!.Got to talk to Rick Wakemen and got Alan White drum sticks which had paint on them from playing the steel drums on the Ancient. The greatest!!
All sides are equally great, in my opinion, Side two in particular
The Symphonic Yes version is the best live rendition of Ritual. Excellent bass, drums and guitar performance.
Absolutely agree, unfortunately, that came way after Chris made the selection for this reviewed album track
You should check out the version of Ritual at the Baltimore show by Jon Anderson with the Band Geeks earlier this year. They knocked it out of the park! Richie Castellano's bass playing is incredible. Chris was smiling in bass Valhalla.
the 2001 symphonic live version is great, but i personally prefer the raw energy of this yesshows version.
richie castellano hinted that a recording of their recent tour with jon would be made available. knowing richie and crew, i can't to hear that version of ritual and others.
I prefer the Songs from Tsongas better.
When I was younger (late teens) I went through a couple of dark periods when I couldn't see anything positive. Listening to this full album on headphones would leave me feeling drained but optimistic. Jon's lyrics are usually opaque but occasionally a sentence pops out and strikes a nerve, on this track for me it was: "change we must as surely time does, changes call the course". You know you've found the right music when you get goosebumps listening to it. I find it amazing that music can cause physical changes to your body and I'm thankful I found the source.
My Dad was there the night of this performance. He said it was an unreal experience.
I remember buying Tales on day of release when I was 15. It instantly became my favourite album and has been ever since. So pleased you have grown to appreciate it so much Doug! It really is very special. Love your analysis! Love your thoughts and sentiments about the music - you have cheered me up too!
I got to see them on this tour, Parallels, in De Mountford Hall, Leicester, here in the UK. It was the first big band I ever saw, so had no idea what to expect, and boy, did they blow me away! I can vividly remember them doing Ritual. During the percussion section they had what I can only describe as giant clam shells the suddenly lite up and started to open and close in time to the music. As well as Ritual we got Gates of Delirium, the whole of Close to the Edge, and quite a few off The Yes Album.
What is striking listening back to these live recordings is how clear the sound was, no mean feat back in 1976.Very complex music that sounded like the album, played and sung by brilliant musicians that to me, were and still are, the best live band ever to grace the stage.
Both of my parents are very into Yes. Ever since I learned to put a needle on a vinyl record in 1986, the music of Yes has been pretty much one of the only constants in my life. Their music always makes my soul happy and as someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, it is a true godsend. I have seen them live 13 times in various incarnations and while their studio albums are amazing, I've always thought that they sounded better live and the performances were more powerful.
Many Yes song lyrics are about aspects of mindfulness and self care and then there's the incredible music too.
As a fellow depressive/anxious person I can very much relate! I find few things as calming and regenerative for my soul as lying down, lights off, and putting on Tales on my headphones (or maybe To Be Over or one of the other astonishinly beautiful jams). I feel transported and somewhat healed
My mother liked Yes. My dad who is a musician is a bit baffled by them.
It always seems to me that know one I know gets music like this, like I get it. It is life affirming, soul easing, it lifts me beyond myself. I'm so glad when I find a kindred spirit, you Sir are that kindred spirit, and I thank you profusely for sharing. after this listening; I am replete.
I saw Yes in '75 or '76. They played "Gates of Delirium" and "Ritual" and "Close to the Edge." It was mind-blowing.
July, 1975...I saw YES in Evansville, IN and they played these three epical pieces. The whole show was fantastic....3 songs were over an hour of the show. I think they played almost 2 1/2 hours.
Ace ("How Long has This Been Going On?")was the opening
act.
I really enjoyed listening to this and your reactions. Very joyful. The music of my youth. In fact, my best friends were editors of the Grover Cleveland High School yearbook in 1977. The lyrics to this song were featured in the yearbook. Which may have perplexed some kids but sure was special for us Yes fans! Nous sommes du soleil to you Doug!
Some scammer is replying to messages here. What a knob.
I remember writing “Nous Somme Du Soleil” in all my friends yearbooks at the end of 1976. To much confusion from my friends but it was a way of directing them to this album!!
That is awesome!
So - not far off 50 years old, and the best band in the world is still affecting people; musically still relevant and still so amazingly beautiful! I'm glad you get so much from this band...these albums, Doug - it will all stay with you, as it has with YES fans for more than 50 years. Enjoy what will be some of your fondest musical memories, still ton come!
after being a Genesis fan for 35 years I always wondered what it is that draws me to Genesis and I kept listening to other prog rock bands, especially Yes, and especially because apparently they are Doug's favorite. I always thought it's the bit of beauty in Genesis that I miss in yes, But here there is the beauty I missed. What a masterpiece.
For me the music of the traditional line-up has the secret combination, so the result is bgger than the sum of its Part.
There's much, much beauty in Yes - at least to my ears! Songs like To Be Over, And You And I, Awaken, The Remembering, Turn of the Century. I love Genesis as well (my fav bits are probably Guide Vocal, The Lamia and the flute part in Supper's Ready), but I don't find as much beauty of this magnitude there as in these Yes songs
amazing to think this was nearly 50 years ago! How can a modern band ever top these performances?
I saw them June 16th 1976 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale NY. My second concert ever following David Bowie. I was 15yrs old and totally blown away. Tix were $5.50.. Believe that one. They had 3 heads that extended over the stage with green lazers for eyes. I was mesmerized from the moment they entered the coliseum. I loved it so much it was like a dream to me. I still have my "YESSHOWS" T-Shirt from the show. My first concert T-Shirt. Needless to say I have seen them countless time. Like you said Jon is like an angel. He radiates spirituality love and peace. Just a wonderful band.
Btw.. I saw them in 2000 and 2001.. I'm not sure which show they did "Ritual" but the percussion section was different then this. There was everyone playing and no vocals at all.
Oh yea baby. Great live record.
Doug just discovered your channel and im so pleased I did. Am 34weeks pregnant with twins, your music seems to settle them down. Thank you.
Doug, PLEASE, PLEASE do listen to (and watch) the YES 2001 Symphonic Live video version of Ritual. If you were moved by this Yesshows rendition - which clearly you were - the Symphonic Live rendition, accompanied by the orchestra, will blow your mind. Please, do yourself a huge favor and give it a go (even if just on your own and not on the show). John, Chris, Steve, Alan and Tom Brislin on keyboards.
Agree, Alan and Chris utterly owning the whole thing
This and 'The Gates Of Delirium' from the same album were my real gateway drug into Yes in the first year of my degree (someone randomly gave me a copy of 'Yesshows' on vinyl) and I've never looked back. Would've been wonderful to have a full-show live album from the tour that gave us those two performances...
Love Chris’ bass solo on this!❤
Yes!
Such a great version.
I love the cover art from YesShows!
Glorious band. Saw classuc line up 12 to 15 times.. great performers. Looks like someone is conducting..amazing
I have followed YES from the release of The Yes Album. Seen them numerous times Live in Glasgow Scotland..
A fabulous version of a fabulous piece. When Yesshows was released it never left my turntable. Alan is totally outstanding on this......probably the best percussion from any drummer at any time. A masterpiece of skill and musicianship from all.
Alan seems to always be underated when you read best drummers selections, being a number of them out there, and he is nowhere to be found. He in my mind should be in at least every top 20 list. He is truly missed.
@@cmichaelanthonyimages2197 It is easy to argue that Alan was not technically the best drummer, however he was without doubt the best at getting the "feel" of the piece. That's why he was one of the very best, he didn't need to do a Neil Pert or a Thomas Lang. He blended with the room and powered things forward from the back exactly as a great drummer should.
I love Patrick’s fills on this version of Ritual, also this is the only song I know where they used Timpani played by Chris during the drum ritual. When I first listen to the drum ritual it transported me to Australia imagining seeing an aborigine ritual. Alan does an amazing job no just playing the drums but also doing the vocals during the drum ritual
Listen to the symphonic version. Slightly different lineup with Tom Brislin in for RW. On that you'll see all band members bar SH on drums. It's superb
Wow, you feel exactly like me when you describe this at the end. Magical music
Love your video again Doug, its my Bible for the last 50 years, Now it should be about time for the happy sports rock and roller "Going for the One" the title track, a full Band blast with a floating superb Jon Anderson
The timeline is Yes weird. The breakup of the classic lineup started in 1979 when Jon started working w Greek keyboard legend Vangelis (they made some good stuff), by Nov ‘79 the band was in Paris to record a new album but the sessions were a disaster; they tried again in London after Xmas, failed and by March 1980 Jon and Rick were gone. Shared management brought Chris in contact with the Buggles, and long story short, the Drama lineup was born. That criminally under rated LP was recorded in 3 months and released in August 1980, three months BEFORE Yesshows was released. In essence Yes was put in a position of competing with itself and with its past. Drama featured a leaner, meaner Yes that still sounded like Yes. It essentially was the germ of two massive early 80s “pop prog” successes - Howe and Downes work in Asia and Yes’ own 90125 rebirth.
Sure, Drama is a f****in good album of Yes, the best for the 20 next years after, till "Magnification" or "Fly from here" IMO
@@marcjdt5796 Don't forget The Ladder
Brilliant performance of a brilliant epic. Love your words about it reflecting on the whole piece. Amazing it is. Yet. You gotta go back another time Doug. The Symphonic live version for me is the all time best rendition. Awesome to see the band, to see Chris on bass ánd timpani, awesome to see the expressions on the faces of the orchestra during the drum ritual, awesome guitar work by Steve. Yeah big recommendation to go back a 3rd time and see the Symphonic Live version! It’s superb.
Back in the early 2000s, Yes performed both Gates and Ritual live at the same show, I think as part of their symphonic tour. The various releases of Magnification included live versions of both.
Steve Howe is a true master of all things guitar. His combining of various types of guitars including the pedal steel guitar gives a very special sound to these tracks.
YES are truly amazing and never cease to amaze..... still after all these years ....
The version from YES Symphonic is awesome. Masterpiece
Great reaction, Doug!
From 21:30 to 21:44, it is Chris who is singing. Not only was he a great bass player, he had a great voice.
Love this version. Chris scatting along to his bass solo/theme and Alan doing the unhinged vocalizing during the drum part. This band was tapping into some otherworldly magic at this time.
I've seen this performed live many times, but sometimes, like just now, I'm amazed that 5 people can create such precise music on stage, never ming in the studio!
Do you know who does the weird growling noise on the Yesshows version? Is it Alan?
My favorite Yes song ever.
I'm going to see them in October. Steve Howe is my favorite guitarist, so pretty excited :) This is a great performance. Thanks for sharing your Yes journey with us!
I was at this show! Junior year in high school!
From Tales I also adores side 1, what a adventure to listen
This is my favorite version.
There is a great version of Ritual in the Yes Symphonic Live dvd.
Back about '82, I had a 1-hour cassette in my car. Side A was ELP's live "Tarkus," and side B was this track. I played them back to back over and over. They are burned into my brain.
Yesshows is so overlooked in the shadow of Yessongs but it is a straight up banger...
I actually think YesShows is a tad better.
Not to take anything away from YesSongs
Love ‘em equally !!!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Doug, I'm so happy you love "Ritual" as much as I do! Probably the sweetest love song Jon has ever written. Loved your thoughts too on the role of ritual in our lives. 😊
So glad you are spreading the love for Topographic. It is a great album which I can always listen too. One of the greatest albums ever.
Doug, youve done a great job of summing up what is so great for me about this music as it is for you. You will never have the perspective of someone such as myself (and I wish that you could) who first heard this live in 1973 even before the album was released. The whole album live, Jon introducing and explaing each movement in turn. That was a concert in which the first part had been a complete performance of the Close to the Edge album, beginning with Siberian Khatru after the Firebird opening. Imagine that! Since then I've heard it played by all the line ups who have done so except Masteworks with Igor, only toured in the US. Orher highlights - the 35th anniversary tour with the classic line up and Symphonic on which it was played beautifully with the orchestra, an added joy seeing the young orchestral players so loving it. And, Close to the Edge, Gates and Ritual all in the same concert - another expefrience for you to imagine!
I've always loved Yesshows. The gates of delirium was played with so much energy in that detroit concert. One of their best moments ever.
I had the album and the only downside was the Rital did not fit on one side but was split between two sides. It also included live versions of selections from Going for the One and Tormato. I saw them in 1979, 1980 (I call this the Buggles Yes), 1984 and 1991 on the Union tour. In between, I saw Jon Anderson solo in 1982 during his first break from Yes. They were always great, even the Buggles Yes, and that is why I agree with your syphonic take. Musicians, like the young people Jon toured with last year, could still be presenting Yes music for generations to come. With Chris and Alan gone now, along with Peter Banks who deserves a mention, the Yes I saw no longer exists. Its the next generation that will need to carry it forward.
Love Yes live albums. 😊
I did see the "Masterworks," tour where they performed all their big epic pieces. Saw all of the tours from 1986 on until 2017 (both Yes and ARW). You are right, Jon Anderson's voice is angelic and magical...I think better live also. The only problem with seeing them live so much was that most other bands couldn't even come close in terms of musicianship... It was fun while it lasted though.
Lovely song and the solo by Steve Howe in the final , it´s spiritual and fantastic.I think you would like ``Future TImes´´ and ``Rejoice´´ by Tormato.
This is the first way I ever heard "Ritual" back in the early 80s. I loved it. I prefer the studio version now for the most part, but the "Nous Somme Du Soleil" and the ending on this YesShows version are way more emotive and impactful than the studio version.
"The Gates Of Delirium" on YesShows, though, is THE definitive version and I hope you react to it some time.
Finally! someone who also thinks that the version of GOD on YesShows is THE version. It amazes me how generally underrated it seems to be.
I totally agree!
@@dago87able I have seen a lot of people agree with us over the years. So, we are not alone in thinking this.
@@markjacobsen8335 Glad to hear that!
GOD from YesShows is the one.
My gosh that bass sounds like it's emanating from a canyon. Great fantastic review!
When I finally got to Maui, 15 years ago, we arrived at night. I had a plan. In the morning, the first thing I did was go by myself down to the ocean view at the condo, put on the headphones, sat back, and I took the experience of that beauty all in, while listening to Tales From Topographic Oceans. Yes, Ritual is a special track. Thanks Doug.
Any version of Ritual is better than most other music, but the Symphonic version is my favourite ... being played along with a youthful symphony orchestra shows how truely classical YES music really is and deserves to be recognised as such for centuries to come.
I was privileged to see, hear, nay, experience Ritual on the Symphonic Tour at Sheffield City Hall ... fantastic, especially Chris's bass solo, which literally almost lifted the roof off the old hall !!
OMG DEEPLY EMOTIONAL AT EVERY MOMENT on every point! Lush personified!!! No word can describe this Live then at 20
Chris really carries this for me. I regret only seeing him play once. Watching this performance would have been amazing.
Dough, I'm following you since we were 20.000. This is by far the best analisys I heard, ever. Thank you for what you're doing. ❤👍👏
I'm 70 and fell in love with Yes the first time I heard them (on a.m. radio) playing "I've Seen All Good People", and to this day if I had to pick my favorite band, yes, it's Yes. I was lucky enough to see the Yes CTTE Concert in MPLS in '72. I also saw them a few other times, the last being the Relayer Concert where they got a 15 minute standing ovation after The Gates of Delirium... followed by Ritual... and they had a laser with dozens of rainbow colored beams. We got there late and it was open seating so we picked high on center back wall... and got hit by the lasers!
One thing great about all the Yes concerts I saw was (most of) the people came to listen. Unlike many other concerts no one screaming and yelling, pushing, shoving, etc.. Notice in the live recordings there is very little crowd noise... that in itself is an amazing thing to experience... 20,000 people in a large auditorium (sports arena) and dead silence in the quiet parts!
QUESTION TO THOSE THAT SAW THE RELAYER CONCERTS: At the show in MPLS it opened with a huge screen rolled down and they played a Bug's Bunny Cartoon! In the cartoon Bugs smoked something and floated out the window on as carpet... Does anyone remember that cartoon? (Or did I smoke something??)
You know, i love to see these reactions of YES, because this is the music i found in my teenager years. Now with 48 i can say still is my music, among other way different, and still find new things and interpretations each time i come back to them. I love the way you discover this music and get fascinated for them, is a way to go back to them as my first time, so so long time ago.
I’m so glad you’re finally doing this version! Gates Of Delirium is also great on this album.
I just want to say I couldn’t agree more with your criticisms. This album is amazing and I have been a fan since 75… I was born in 63. This is absolutely my favorite and I love all progressive rock as a musician myself I really there’s no music I don’t like honestly and I just love watching your reactions. I’ve commented before again I just want to say our arms are forever wrapped around you here in Kennewick, Washington, Washington State on the Mighty Columbia River. Thanks for everything you do.
This hands down the best live album they put out ❤❤
Thanks to share this with us, I listened this version when the álbum was edited and I have the same feelings from this date to today. May be you want to check the Ritual version in Yes Symphonic 2000, where you can see the band performing this piece with an little orchestra. And you can appreciate the grate musicianship of all, specially Chris, who plays the bass, sing and also plays the symphonic cymbals during the percussion part. Saludos desde Buenos Aires.
It's easy to imagine how amazing it was to be at this concert in Detroit in 76, because I was at the one in Cleveland 2 or 3 days later... and I also saw them earlier on this tour, July 8, 76 in Cincinatti. Both were amazing indeed.
My first,of many, YES concerts, in Boston, Mass. was late summer ‘77 was a solid 3+ hours of musicianship heaven !!!
They played 5 sets with everyone playing a solo between sets to allow the 4 other musicians a break.
Most AMAZING show I’ve ever seen and heard !!!
Almost forgot to mention…the concert was “in the round”. Basically, it was an extremely slow-turning carousel stage. Everyone has a great seat !!!❤❤❤
memory lane for me. Like you said, quite remarkable!!
Thanks, Doug. I saw Yes on this tour, in Cincinnati. It was electrifying. Gates of Delirium practically blew me out of my seat. Ritual was the closing selection of the concert, and a more perfect finale they couldn't have picked. The "...don't seem to matter at all, at all..." part, and that glorious end section never fail to give me goose flesh from head to toe. There's a lot of power in this live performance (but the studio version is still the best).
Tales has always been my favorite Yes album. There is something very special about it. I think your closing words explained it perfectly!
I was lucky enough to catch them for the first time in June of 1976 in Cincinnati, just a couple of months before the Cobo Hall show featured here. It was all festival seating in those days, so my buddy and I parked about four people back from the edge of the stage in front of Chris Squire. They had an outstanding pod, spaceship Roger Dean designed stage set. Encore was The Beatles “I’m Down”- McCartney’s homage to Little Richard. Worth every bit of the $6.50/ticket we paid for general admission! 😊
“Ritual” wraps around in a way that carries ‘nous somme du soleil’ through chaos/exorcism/ritual and brings us back ‘flying home’. Steve’s final solo ties together multiple thematic references and brings the song to a masterful conclusion- nicely tied together in a very gratifying way- a mind blowing connective finality. ✌🏻
Agree that Rick is one of the nicest guys to talk to - we talked about dogs because he is a great defender of dogs very active in preventing cruelty to them. The musicianship of YES is off the charts. There is greatness here! Chris was a bass god! Incidentally BIG BIG TRAIN are currently in rehearsal for their upcoming tour - please give some love to INGENIOUS DEVICES which pulls together some linked songs from the back catalogue in definitive versions with added strings - you will LOVE it! It also marks the transition from the DAVID LONGDON years to the new line up with ALBERTO BRAVIN. They’ll be touring Europe soon. I saw the new lineup at Aylesbury and they are amazing.
Love this whole live album.
If I had a time machine, I think I would skip going back to kill Hitler, and instead, go back to 1976, Cobo Hall, Detroit, to be at this Yes concert. The performance of Gates Of Delirium from the same show is also amazing.
My absolute favorite version of Ritual. This track alone makes Yesshows a great live album in my book.
Masterful Live Music !! the whole Double album is pure genius Doug.
Chris pulled a Rabbit from the Hat at the Mixing Desk 🙏
Those bas lines.... omg ❤
One part of this version that I think is amazing is at the very end of the bass solo right before the drum break, Chris is singing in harmony with his bass. I thought for years it was guitar.
Loving another of your videos, good friend!
If you’re ever bored and interested Doug, there is a live matrix recording of Ritual from Zurich 1974 (Topographic oceans tour) taken from Steve’s monitor and 2 audience recordings. It’s a wonderful insight to the tales tour and to the might of the 5 classic members at the time.
Thanks! The Gates of Delirium on this album is out of this world. Steve Howe is so much higher in the mix on this live album. It really shows!
Thank you, I need to check out The Gates of Delirium from this album. Sounds amazing!
I am thankful for your support, appreciate you, friend.
Doug that’s exactly how Jon is in person a very loving man who has time to spread that love, & your right he’s truly an Angel. Chris was also a very personal man too, my brother & I saw them in Murfreesboro, Tn. the night after they’re Russian keyboardist Igor had gotten in trouble in Virginia Beach & we & another couple were standing in the parking lot getting ready to drive back to Atlanta when a van pulled up & out got Chris who shook our hands & thanked us for coming to the show!!! Now we weren’t a couple of hot women we were two middle age men & we couldn’t see in the van so to us it could have been the caterer, but he thought enough to stop & thank us for coming to the show. I can’t tell you how much that meant to us then & still to this day. The Positive Nature of YES Living Up To They’re Name, it’s was one of the most awesome concert experiences I’ve ever had to say the least!!!
Steve Howe's bowing effect is usually plucked (in advance) with his volume pedal pushed to silent, then pedal up to produce the sound without the pick being heard.
Also used by Peter Banks on the first two Yes albums which Steve was a fan of, especially Time and a Word.
Topographic oceans , beatiful , saludos desde Argentina , Doug !
Doug, "doing something like this" includes doing what you do. Thank you.
"Tales..." was the turning point to the band. It was released in 1973, after 1972's "Close To The Edge", the last Yes album with Bill Bruford on drums, while "Tales..." was the first with late Alan White on drums replacing him.
Bruford was (he's alive and well, but retired now) a hell of a drummer, and I remember thinking "Oh no! Bill left. Yes is over!".
On that moment I believed "Close To The Edge" was Yes' "Swan Song", but that was just until I put my hands on "Tales..."
That was a magical moment for me!
The amazing Alan White sat on drums and it was like: "WOW!!!" He definitely was no second place to Bill, and his performance on "Ritual" proves it no doubt.
Rick, on it's turn, was critical about the album. I remember an interview (to Eagle Rock Entertainment "Yes Talks" documentary, if I'm not mistaken) in which he said: "That was insane. We had absolutely not enough material for a double album." He left the band soon after the "Tales..." tour .
"Close To The Edge" and "Tales..." are quintessential Yes. It was cool to see Yes growing musically, from the self titled album "Yes", from 1969, to "Tales..." only four years later.
On album sleeve notes, Anderson says that "Tales..." took four months to conceive, write, arrange, rehearse and record all four tracks of the album. Four months. Unbelievable!
Awsome musicians who produced awsome music.
Peter Banks, Chris Squire and Alan White, you'll always be remembered!
Foe me Relayer is a pinnacle. AND Turn of the Century has intelligible lyrics!
Turn of the Century is an incredible song. I love that it tells a story. The band plays with great restraint on the song, and that makes it perfect.
Saw them @ Rosevelt Stadium in NJ…1976. What a show. Yes took me on my first and last musical spiritual journey. No matter how many times i listen to this, it never gets old.
Beatiful thoughts, Doug. Yes...what a miracle..
Exactly!
Doug, don't forget : it's just Chris singing from 21:32 to 21:40 AND playing bass at the same time... This track is a masterpiece played live. I heard it when i was17. I'm 54 today and still amazed by this performance
I can still remember the little cassette boombox I had... taking this cassette home and listening to it... in the basement. I think it is totally awesome that they are about to play a 28 min. piece of music and they count it in! Doug - thank you. These videos help recapture special moments. I've heard it a million times... but thinking about that first time is really special. Thank you!