“Awaken” by Yes is an essential prog epic. And at about 15 minutes, it’s more epic for its content than its length. S-tier for sure. Absolutely you should do a prog stream!
Yeah, the 90125 tour was an impressive show. I suppose it could have been the Big Generator tour but that would have been anti-climactic. Congrats! My wife and I are soon to pass our 34th anniversary. (Yes didn’t have much to do with it, but Rush sure did!)
Married 37 years this year as well. Our first date was Bowie on the ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour. Guys in that era didn’t use premium concert tickets on just anybody. 😉
Yes!!! Lyrics are loosely based upon a chess game and/or Lewis Carroll's "Through The Looking Glass". This tune was "S" tier for me. They also nail this live.
The one and only time I called a radio station to request a song was this one! The DJ actually put it on in less than 15 minutes. Those were the days ...
I think the version from Yessongs is actually better. It's heavy, still has great vocal harmonies, and the transition between songs makes much more sense.
There's also images from Through the Looking Glass (the sequel to Alice in Wonderland), for instance the White Queen running fast, and trying to make Alice a wife.
Absolutely! I think they missed the chessboard metaphor. They also missed the John Lennon reference in the middle, "All we are saying is give peace a chance. All we are saying is give peace a chance," which perhaps they haven't hit yet, and are unaware of the song.
I think this was really underrated by both of you. I’m not a prog guy, but this song is definitely A+/S. The lyrics had references to Alice in Wonderland/Through the Lookingglass, where Alice is out of reality and like a reflection, things are the opposite of what they are, hence progress was made by “moving back”. Others mentioned the White Queen, but being in the reflection of real life remembered future events, and even said that it’s an odd sort of memory that only looks backwards. Also, the Queen of Hearts had a huge moral failure in “Alice in Wonderland” by only surrounding herself with “yes men”. She definitely surrounded herself with herself. Again, others mentioned the John Lennon homages. The “Your Move” section was composed and played on a Renaissance vachalia, which is a Portuguese 12-string instrument. The only valid reason I could see for rating as low as A is that the “All Good People” have basically uses the same lyrics over and over, but again, this resembles the part of waking from a dream, where the one thought is repeated as a person is in between sleep and lucidity. (Edited for spelling)
@@AliasMark69 Twice for me - on the same tour. They came to Philadelphia in August of 1989, and we saw them. Loved that so much that when they came back to Philly in March of '90, we went again.
You took care of it. I’m glad to hear there are people who have treasured their vinyl collections for so long. I’m 38 but I buy almost exclusively vintage vinyl. Nothing compares to vinyl.
Hey guys - Andy & Alex: review "Long Distance Runaround" it features Chris Squires bass grooves that are highlight worthy as he frets down on some of the verse runs. A great song!
I've always liked that towards the end of the first part, the 'Your Move' section, the background vocals sing and repeat a couple of times ' all we are saying is give peace a chance'..... always dug that. And for me personally, this track has always gave me the impression that life is a grand game of chess so if and whenever possible, consider all your moves carefully because it will matter later
This was the first Yes album with Steve Howe on guitar. The addition of Howe completely changed the sound of the band and set up the style of the band for the next four albums. Absolutely my favorite Yes album!
The late Chris Squire was one of the top bassist of his generation and certainly a personal favorite of mine. This song brings back so many memories, great reaction gentlemen.
I saw Yes live about a half dozen times. Chris Squire was my focal point most of the time. Between him and Steve Howe, you got your night's fill of first-class guitar wizardry every time. Along with John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, and Berry Oakley, I'd rate him among the top bass players of the golden age of rock.
Squire is ridiculously underappreciated. You just don't hear his name mentioned with Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, Entwistle, John Paul Jones, etc..., and I've always tended to wonder if that's because of his solo career--maybe people didn't think of him as a bassist. No doubt, in my book, one of the 10 greatest rock bassists ever (given no particular order).
@@ArtofFreeSpeechTo be fair, in the 70's Chris was always mentioned alongside those names. Yes became a fairly generic, corporate-sounding band when Steve Howe left and was replaced by Trevor Rabin and MTV started working their will on fair-weather pop fans, but Chris was always considered top-notch to anyone in the know or amongst those who actually attended live shows.
@@obbor4 Yeah, I turned 13 in 1979, which is when I really started listening to and appreciating music and musicians. I wasn't really paying enough attention when people mentioned bassists in the 70s.
This song shows how far Yes was ahead of the prog pack...blending melodies, free form jamming, harmonies, time signature changes etc. Otherwise called Ear Candy
From Song Facts This is an anti-war song. The term "I've seen all good people" is ALL the people, including the so-called enemy. The line, "Don't surround yourself with yourself" refers to self-righteous behavior; "Move on back two squares" is a chess term meaning to retreat and rethink your position. The lyrics also refer to the queen, which is the most versatile and powerful chess piece. It talks about how news is captured for use by the queen, which uses forces to take control and manipulate troops against the enemy. War is like a game of chess.
Trevor Rabin made yes more interesting even he thought Steve howes guitar parts were quite boring to play . Long and tedious I remember him saying if he felt bored playing it how must the audience feel. Steve was better in Asia.
@@tommac215 Trevor Rabin probably wishes he could come close to being able to play all of Steve Howe's guitar parts. His live performance renditions of the classic Yes material from the 1970's are always dumbed down. I cannot imagine him even attempting to pull off a passable version of something epic like "Close To The Edge" or "Gates Of Delirium."
"Dont surround yourself with yourself" means to focus on others and not on as much on yourself. This teaches you empathy and perspective for examination of yourself later. It can also encourages or discourages you into making your own life choices.
This song! It's about chess. It's about moves. We had them, lol, back then! But, it's two songs mashed up, with a few Lennon quotes. I think Yes is so underrated. I loved them then and still today. I used to give albums to friends--boys--as birthday gifts. Not sure if they appreciated the albums but I was glad to spread some YES around. And, btw, this queen's never been captured.
This is one of my fav Yes songs. They quote two John Lennon songs within, using they lyrics "instant karma" and "give peace a chance" and make references to Alice Through The Looking Glass. I don't know if I'd compare it to a Led Zep song at all, but I like it's light sound and sing-ability. A prog-rock live stream would be awesome.
Absolutely right Sharon. Gotta listen close “all we are saying, is give peace a chance.” Seen em twice once in the 70s and again in 92. Amazing musicians. ❤️🤘
@@vinnygi No, it's a Lennon term. The word "karma" was always being bandied around by hippies who got into the guru thing during the time. Lennon, taking a cue from Yoko's "happenings" which featured her form of instant art, penned the song 'Instant Karma' in about an hour, then recorded it and readied it for issue within a period of ten days, with it appearing publically like just like a piece of instant art.
I saw them several times in the 70s. My favorite show was when they had a carousel stage in an arena - so there were no bad seats, really. You just waited until the stage made a complete revolution. It must have been a nightmare to rig the wiring for lights and amps, obviously, everything had to run through a central hub of some sort. But it worked.
You boys mentioned their live concerts; spend an afternoon listening to Yessongs. I believe there's a video that goes along with it, but it was a triple live album; which was my first foray into Yes. Great way to immerse yourself into their ether!
Completely agree - was for me too - was the first Yes album I bought back in the fall of ‘73 Quickly picked up Close to the Edge ( still my favorite ) , Fragile and the Yes Album afterwards Then the journey began
I bought "Yessongs" at a used record store. Primarily for The Album cover! lol. I'm a big Roger Dean fan! The live version of Starship Trooper kicks ass though!
Yes, there was a film version of "YesSongs," but it is much shorter (i e., fewer songs) than the triple-disc live record. It is definitely worth watching, especially if you want to see the band when the members were really young in the early 1970's.
Alex, I think you're right with an A (sorry Andy but nah to the B+) but I also think this song will grow on you. It's the acoustic equivalent of a street race coming at you, getting louder, blowing your hair back and then fading into the distance. While you're left going 'what the hell was that? That kind of innovation, if you look at when it came out, makes it a strong A+ for me.
I'm ok with the B+ rating bc @Andy&Alex will need songs to revisit in a few years for re-rating. Would love to watch them every odd year reach back three/four years and dust off some of their B+ (or below) rated songs for a relisten.
Very surprised Andy only gave it a B+ when last week he gave the song "Dancing in the Moonlight" an S and Alex gave it an A+ which took me completely by surprise! Also they're not looking at the lyrics. They use to review them but now I haven't seen them read them in a long time which I think would allow a better input to base their ratings.
Yes had me from day one many years ago. My favorite part is always Chris Squire’s aggressive bass, so fat. Jon Anderson’s voice is angelic. These guys are some of the great pioneers of Prog rock along with ELP and The Moody Blues. I love all of them.
Absolutely! My top 2 picks as well. The live version of Awaken at the house of blues in Chicago was great, and the Suppers Ready on Seconds Out competes with the studio version as if it were a different song.👍
This group is comprised of some of the most talented musicians on the planet. Love their first 5 albums - indescribably good music. Got to see them live twice in the 70s and those were both some of my most memorable concerts ever. Thanks, guys, for a great weekend kick off song!
My first exposure to Yes 1970, I was 12, took about ten years to see them, this song was the standout but later all the songs were, for my money, this album, Fragile and Close to the Edge are my favorites though liked some of their later works, "Shoot High Aim Low" among the best. For a real mind bender, look them up on Wikipedia and look at how many lineup changes they've had, it's surreal how many changes they've had.
So you need to get to ‘Gates of Delirium’ to re - experience the feeling you had with Close to the edge. Based on the book War and peace, you think you heard curated chaos in Close to the edge, then the battle scene section of this song will have you grasping for structure even though on future listens you will find that it is clearly there. The song also resolves into one of the most beautiful sequences of Yes music in their entire catalogue.
This is my favorite YES song. It's an anti-war song. Did you not hear the refrain at the end of Your Move, with the John Lennon lyrics, "All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance."
Well it is one of my favorites too. WELL....until these guys educated me how its a ONLY B+. Now I have to start listen to hall and oates more , you make my dreams is A+ According to them. live version is great listen to, when Jon Anderson introduces the band
I SAW YES IN THE ROUND BACK IN '79 AND IT WAS AWESOME. THE CIRCULAR STAGE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 16,000 SEAT ARENA SO EVERYONE HAD A GREAT VIEW. REMEMBER RICK WAKEMAN'S MASSIVE KEYBOARD THAT WAS SEVERAL BANKS HIGH. INCREDIBLE WATCHING HIM REACH UP AND DOWN TO PLAY SEVERAL KEYBOARDS STACKED UP.
As a huge Yes fan, I am with you on the rating. "All Good People" is a great song, but far from my favorite. South Side of the Sky is up there in my estimation.
Chess (white queen, move back two squares, goal to capture all we want, any black square) as a metaphor. It's a war protest song with references to John Lennon (send an Instant Karma to me, All we are saying is give peace a chance) and you both got the rating wrong it's S. Pure S.
Yes songs is a great reference point for how good they were live. Saw them in 74 . Chris Squire and Steve Howe were unbelievable. If you stop and think of the lineups of the bands of that time most of them had at least one incredible musician and a lot ( Sabbath, Purple , Zeppelin, Yes , Heep just to name a few )were loaded with talent on every instrument
"Yes" playing live is amazing!! Extremely talented musicians, Jon Anderson likes to be a storyteller and has a magical presence on stage. They play for hours, and it still isn't enough, you never want the show to end.
Yes's lyrics are all over the place because how the words sound together is of more importance than their meaning. The first part was chess (don't surround yourself with yourself - don't castle; move me on to any black square - bishop/queen; capture only one - getting the king is how you win; etc)
If YES ever had a danceable prog hit, this is it! At their shows folks (mostly the ladies) get up and dance in the aisles during this song. Awesome song!
@@nathantrees4134 Typically, the audience at a YES concert is about 80% male/20%female. And those ladies get up and dance to this tune (which is performed at most of there concerts) every time. I think it is a ritual (no pun intended!)
Love, love, LOVE how the bass busts in on those first 3 notes of the chorus each time late in the song after the guitar solo, when it gets wild: "I've seen all..." SO hot and inventive!
Not a weak moment on this album in my book! I remember when my 8 track player ate my copy.......after a brief fit of expletive exercise, I headed straight for the local head shop (remember those?!) and bought another copy!! It was that important then, and still is today!
I would throw a party if The Lads reacted to Yes's album "Going for the One." It blew me away. When I played it for a friend his mother complained about the noise. :)
Fake? I was there when it happened. :) I'm still friends with the family. She disliked the title track particularly. She passed away a couple years ago. We never agreed about anything but she was kind to me over the forty plus years I knew her.
Love it when the keyboards come in and it starts to build. The guitar riff and the bluesy piano on the (I've Seen) All Good People section--whoa is right. Might want to check out 9012Live for live performances but the live stuff demonstrates even more the tremendous musicianship of this band.
I got to see Yes live in Columbus, Ohio back in 2000. They played a 2 hour set, it consisted of 8 songs. This was the last one before the encore (which was Roundabout). It was awesome.
Saw them in the 70'S (I've seen them 22 times)...at this concert I jumped the wall when the lights went out and ran to the front row and knelt down hoping I would'nt get caught. All these ladies came out from backstage and about halfway through the first song decided to go backstage. One looked at me and said "You can have Our seats kid." YES!!! The lights above the band were shaped like a star and moved up and down during "Starship Trooper." Thank You Ladies of Yes".
The album was released in February 1971, it’s 51 years, I’m 65 and I can’t think of anything released before it that the whole album sounds like, much less all good people.
"Yes" still plays (allegedly) - the only 2 classic members are the guitar player (Steve Howe) and the second drummer (Alan White). But Alan White only plays a song or two in modern shows. Check out a live version of this song from the 70s - the 2nd half is a great live jam. They're an AMAZING live band!! CZcams has some good live footage from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even the early 2000s with the classic lineup.
The first part is very John Lennony, with the refrain "All we are saying, is give peace a chance" and the line "Send out instant karma to you", as Instant Karma is a great song by Lennon, and by coincidence the drummer on Instant Karma was none other than future Yes drummer Alan White.
It's so musically tricky and smart for Yes ---kept changing key on he fade with every vocal line--been playing keys for 30 years and took me hours to figure out the progression! Great choice, guys!!
It’s “Clap,” not “The Clap.” Steve Howe wrote it about playing with his young son and teaching him to clap along with music. It’s not about venereal disease.
“Don’t surround yourself with yourself” means don’t be so self consumed - see beyond yourself. Don’t turn your heads and be on your way just because you’re satisfied. Timeless advice.
Up until his death in 2015, Yes had to have bassist Chris Squire in the lineup to use the name. That was why there are albums like Anderson, Buford, Wakeman, Howe. Which is steller by the way! After he died, his wife said, any previous members could call themselves Yes. Since then, there is at least 2 bands that tour and call themseves Yes.
I love Howe and group, but without Jon Anderson, you're not Yes. Sorry. I've seen them 11 times live -- not counting ABW&H and just can't imagine Yes any other way. Heck, it's barely Yes without Squire.
I saw them live at the Lakeland Civic Center in 1984 and they were so amazing live so many years into their careers. They are the reason why we got to enjoy Rush in the 80s. There musical sounds are so very impressive. It’s a journey for my mind and ears at the same time!
Perpetual Change from the live Yessongs album and the studio version of America are two of their most impressive songs from a musicianship standpoint. Wonderous Stories is a beautiful short song.
I’ve been watching you guys for about 18 months now, and have caught up on all the vids I missed from before that. Super cool to see young guys who appreciate ‘real’ music. You’ve introduced me to some great songs that I had never heard of before, so thanks for that. The one song that I would love you to check out is San Jacinto by Peter Gabriel(the version off the Plays Live album). If you want to be eyeballs deep in sauce, that’s the one. I guarantee it.
YES was the ultimate mushroom/acid influenced band in early 70s. John Anderson still to this day takes a mushroom journey on this birthday. I 've seen them 3 times and it is an experience. The audience at YES concerts were totally chill and NICE people. I think,to me, the lyrics ,Don't surround yourself with your self," is a Eastern philosophy concept of LOSE YOUR EGO. This band never got lost in their fame.The first time I saw them was at Brown University in Providence RL. I was 17 and they were amazing.Their sound was so trippy you didn't need any psychedelics, however we all did before a Yes concert.So many years ago. I'm almost 70 and you guys bring me right bat to the time. Love and love you guys. Thank you
This is such an enchanting song! I only ever owned one Yes album in college and it was this one, which I bought for this song and Roundabout. Glad you checked this one out.
"Tempus Fugit" would be an epic reaction, from their album "Drama" (which has a lot of drama behind it... but is incredible!) ALSO: Time to revisit GENESIS!! ("In The Cage" or "The Musical Box" or "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" or "Dance On A Volcano") Cheers!
@@dana_brooke_27 I'm guessing you probably only heard "Drama" through some distorted lens of your own biases. It's a freaking great album... and if they simply removed ALL names on the album, and simply called it YES, you'd be blathering about what a great song Tempus Fugit is.
"All Good People" & "Yours is No Disgrace" are two of my most listened to & enjoyed YES tunes. The YES Album is in my top albums. Another great YES album is Tormato, try "Future Times" "Don't Kill The Whale" or "Circus Of Heaven" from that.
Glad you all reacted to Yes again, and there is SOOOO much more you could react to. And yes, they are still touring. The first time I saw Yes was in 1973 on the Close To The Edge tour, and have seen them many times over the years. Most recently I saw AWR in 2016 in Austin, which was Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Trevor Rabin, Lee Pomeroy on bass, and Lou Molino III on drums. It was a PHENOMENAL show, with an incredible display of musicianship by everyone and Jon Anderson still hitting all the high notes. I have both the live DVD and CD of that tour. The other faction of Yes, including members Steve Howe and Alan White, just released a new album this past September and just announced this week they are going on tour for the 50th anniversary of the release of Close To The Edge. So yes, they are still touring and still amazing!
haven't seen any ratings lower than "A" in a while and I don't think this song should be the one to break through into the "B" realm. Head scratching and baffled by Andy's rating.
Probably my first exposure to Yes after Roundabout. Then Siberian Khatru, Clap, Mood for a Day, Long Distance Runaround, Close to the Edge.... A relationship that's lasted decades!
That fat bass! Chris Squire was amazing live. He literally caused the arena to vibrate, so not only did you hear him playing but also felt it! Got a not so common Prog band request for you...Renaissance, you pick!
Boys, boys, boys...Tsk Tsk Tsk...This is easily an S, or at the very least A+. There are so many dynamic changes and key changes. Vocals and instrumentals are outstanding. Maybe it's just me and reminiscing days of special farm yard Kool-aid and rolling smokes (70's). My favorite Yes tune by far!
"Lyrically great but I don't know what they're talking about." Yep, that's Yes. I'm definitely in favor of a prog live stream -- suggesting King Crimson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gentle Giant, Hawkwind. And this genre also spills over nicely into jazz-rock fusion with some really great music from Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Santana (particularly the Welcome & Caravanserai albums), Jeff Beck (Blow by Blow), Al Di Meola...and on and on.
HOW you come out of a song and can't remember what to do next and then say A is just a misfire. Both of them were lost in it for nearly the entire thing. I don't get their ratings AT ALL.
Exactly, I aree 100% as I mentioned in another comment especially after Andy gave the middle of the road song, "Dancing in the Moonlight" an S and Alex an A+! Don't see anyway this song is lower than "Dancing in the Moonlight".
Chris Squire was a stand out bassist, not only for his mastery of the instrument but his stage presence as well. His six foot 4" frame could not be missed on stage.
Should we do a prog stream?! Also what's the next Yes song we gotta hit?!
Yes! And I suggest Awaken.
Absolutely YES!!!
“Awaken” by Yes is an essential prog epic. And at about 15 minutes, it’s more epic for its content than its length. S-tier for sure. Absolutely you should do a prog stream!
Gates of Delirium is fine too!
Awaken.
Best description from Rick Wakeman regarding Jon Anderson "Someone who is trying to save this planet whilst living on another one"
😂😂😂
LMAO😂😂 True 👍
I’ve heard that quoted a lot
The Yes Album, Fragile and Close To The Edge are three of the best albums produced by any band at any time, ever.
Agreed!
Relayer is also an underrated masterpiece. White and Moraz do a phenomenal job in place of Bruford and Wakeman
Fragile is my all time favorite album
SAw them in 73 and 2000
Agreed.
My husband and I have been married for 37 years, our first date was to a Yes concert. What a great night!
Yeah, the 90125 tour was an impressive show. I suppose it could have been the Big Generator tour but that would have been anti-climactic. Congrats! My wife and I are soon to pass our 34th anniversary. (Yes didn’t have much to do with it, but Rush sure did!)
Wow
Married 37 years this year as well. Our first date was Bowie on the ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour. Guys in that era didn’t use premium concert tickets on just anybody. 😉
Yes!!! Lyrics are loosely based upon a chess game and/or Lewis Carroll's "Through The Looking Glass". This tune was "S" tier for me. They also nail this live.
The one and only time I called a radio station to request a song was this one! The DJ actually put it on in less than 15 minutes. Those were the days ...
I think the version from Yessongs is actually better. It's heavy, still has great vocal harmonies, and the transition between songs makes much more sense.
There's also images from Through the Looking Glass (the sequel to Alice in Wonderland), for instance the White Queen running fast, and trying to make Alice a wife.
Absolutely! I think they missed the chessboard metaphor. They also missed the John Lennon reference in the middle, "All we are saying is give peace a chance. All we are saying is give peace a chance," which perhaps they haven't hit yet, and are unaware of the song.
I think this was really underrated by both of you. I’m not a prog guy, but this song is definitely A+/S.
The lyrics had references to Alice in Wonderland/Through the Lookingglass, where Alice is out of reality and like a reflection, things are the opposite of what they are, hence progress was made by “moving back”. Others mentioned the White Queen, but being in the reflection of real life remembered future events, and even said that it’s an odd sort of memory that only looks backwards. Also, the Queen of Hearts had a huge moral failure in “Alice in Wonderland” by only surrounding herself with “yes men”. She definitely surrounded herself with herself.
Again, others mentioned the John Lennon homages. The “Your Move” section was composed and played on a Renaissance vachalia, which is a Portuguese 12-string instrument. The only valid reason I could see for rating as low as A is that the “All Good People” have basically uses the same lyrics over and over, but again, this resembles the part of waking from a dream, where the one thought is repeated as a person is in between sleep and lucidity. (Edited for spelling)
At the time critics accused this album as being just a studio creation. They soon shut their mouths after hearing them live.
3 times for me. Always awesome show
@@AliasMark69 Twice for me - on the same tour. They came to Philadelphia in August of 1989, and we saw them. Loved that so much that when they came back to Philly in March of '90, we went again.
When I saw them I was never expecting them to sound so much like the studio, incredible and blown away.
I was 18 when the YES album was released. Fifty-one years later, I'm still listening to my original vinyl album.
YES! I do the same thing..just turned 77 this past September.
...scratches and all? My scratches have become part of the song.
You took care of it. I’m glad to hear there are people who have treasured their vinyl collections for so long. I’m 38 but I buy almost exclusively vintage vinyl. Nothing compares to vinyl.
Hey guys - Andy & Alex: review "Long Distance Runaround" it features Chris Squires bass grooves that are highlight worthy as he frets down on some of the verse runs. A great song!
Long Distance/The Fish. They both flow into each other (otherwise known as the long version of Long Distance )
Live version from YESSONGS!
@@gnomeofwar 👍
Amazing song
Yes! Literally.
"Lyrically it was great - I don't quite know what they were talking about' is the definition of Yes.
it's as if an alien was trying to describe the game of chess
I've always liked that towards the end of the first part, the 'Your Move' section, the background vocals sing and repeat a couple of times ' all we are saying is give peace a chance'..... always dug that. And for me personally, this track has always gave me the impression that life is a grand game of chess so if and whenever possible, consider all your moves carefully because it will matter later
@@Dooklawz Thanks! I've heard this 100's of times and never notice that!
They didn't take the lsd
This was the first Yes album with Steve Howe on guitar. The addition of Howe completely changed the sound of the band and set up the style of the band for the next four albums. Absolutely my favorite Yes album!
The next SEVEN albums until the band's initial breakup in 1981.
The late Chris Squire was one of the top bassist of his generation and certainly a personal favorite of mine. This song brings back so many memories, great reaction gentlemen.
I saw Yes live about a half dozen times. Chris Squire was my focal point most of the time. Between him and Steve Howe, you got your night's fill of first-class guitar wizardry every time. Along with John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, and Berry Oakley, I'd rate him among the top bass players of the golden age of rock.
Squire is ridiculously underappreciated. You just don't hear his name mentioned with Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, Entwistle, John Paul Jones, etc..., and I've always tended to wonder if that's because of his solo career--maybe people didn't think of him as a bassist. No doubt, in my book, one of the 10 greatest rock bassists ever (given no particular order).
@@ArtofFreeSpeechTo be fair, in the 70's Chris was always mentioned alongside those names. Yes became a fairly generic, corporate-sounding band when Steve Howe left and was replaced by Trevor Rabin and MTV started working their will on fair-weather pop fans, but Chris was always considered top-notch to anyone in the know or amongst those who actually attended live shows.
@@obbor4 Yeah, I turned 13 in 1979, which is when I really started listening to and appreciating music and musicians. I wasn't really paying enough attention when people mentioned bassists in the 70s.
@@ArtofFreeSpeech I always hear Squire mentioned with all of those guys.
This song shows how far Yes was ahead of the prog pack...blending melodies, free form jamming, harmonies, time signature changes etc. Otherwise called Ear Candy
And the unusual descending key changes at the end. Just boffo.
From Song Facts
This is an anti-war song. The term "I've seen all good people" is ALL the people, including the so-called enemy.
The line, "Don't surround yourself with yourself" refers to self-righteous behavior; "Move on back two squares" is a chess term meaning to retreat and rethink your position. The lyrics also refer to the queen, which is the most versatile and powerful chess piece. It talks about how news is captured for use by the queen, which uses forces to take control and manipulate troops against the enemy. War is like a game of chess.
HEART OF THE SUNRISE
Steve Howe is the greatest guitar player no one talks about. He is beyond brilliant.
Howe is easily one of the most underrated guitairists in history. Watching him live is a real treat.
A & A did a review of this banger already.
And I believe he couldn't read music.
Trevor Rabin made yes more interesting even he thought Steve howes guitar parts were quite boring to play . Long and tedious I remember him saying if he felt bored playing it how must the audience feel. Steve was better in Asia.
@@tommac215
Trevor Rabin probably wishes he could come close to being able to play all of Steve Howe's guitar parts. His live performance renditions of the classic Yes material from the 1970's are always dumbed down. I cannot imagine him even attempting to pull off a passable version of something epic like "Close To The Edge" or "Gates Of Delirium."
This is an underrated gem from Yes. It sadly gets overlooked by songs like "Roundabout".
I think this was actually their biggest pop hit before the 80s.
Uh? Wot? LOL
@@vaportrails7943 Really? I hear Roundabout more than I do this one on the radio... weird.
It is their rock anthem imo.
Overlooked? Next to "Roundabout" & "Owner of a Lonely Heart," it is probably their most played song on classic rock radio.
"Dont surround yourself with yourself" means to focus on others and not on as much on yourself. This teaches you empathy and perspective for examination of yourself later. It can also encourages or discourages you into making your own life choices.
YES - “Awaken”… true prog masterpiece!
"Take a straight and stronger course to the corner of your life."One of the best opening lines of a song ever.
This song! It's about chess. It's about moves. We had them, lol, back then! But, it's two songs mashed up, with a few Lennon quotes.
I think Yes is so underrated. I loved them then and still today. I used to give albums to friends--boys--as birthday gifts. Not sure if they appreciated the albums but I was glad to spread some YES around. And, btw, this queen's never been captured.
Giving peace a chance would be instant karma!
Thank you!! They are genius. I still have the album from back then.
Underrated? Love Yes, but they are definitely NOT underrated...
Getting a YES album from a girl would have blown my mind back in the day! Cool chick.
This is one of my fav Yes songs. They quote two John Lennon songs within, using they lyrics "instant karma" and "give peace a chance" and make references to Alice Through The Looking Glass. I don't know if I'd compare it to a Led Zep song at all, but I like it's light sound and sing-ability. A prog-rock live stream would be awesome.
All Good People predates Instant Karma.
@@waynemarvin5661 I think it’s the other way around. Anyway, I appreciate and love both songs!
Instant karma was a pretty common term back then.
Absolutely right Sharon. Gotta listen close “all we are saying, is give peace a chance.” Seen em twice once in the 70s and again in 92. Amazing musicians. ❤️🤘
@@vinnygi No, it's a Lennon term. The word "karma" was always being bandied around by hippies who got into the guru thing during the time. Lennon, taking a cue from Yoko's "happenings" which featured her form of instant art, penned the song 'Instant Karma' in about an hour, then recorded it and readied it for issue within a period of ten days, with it appearing publically like just like a piece of instant art.
I saw them several times in the 70s. My favorite show was when they had a carousel stage in an arena - so there were no bad seats, really. You just waited until the stage made a complete revolution. It must have been a nightmare to rig the wiring for lights and amps, obviously, everything had to run through a central hub of some sort. But it worked.
I LOVED that show. I stood in line for a long time and had great seats - 11 rows up, center court at Seattle Coliseum.
They also did that for their "Union" tour in the early 1990s, which I saw in Cleveland, OH. It was amazing!
You boys mentioned their live concerts; spend an afternoon listening to Yessongs. I believe there's a video that goes along with it, but it was a triple live album; which was my first foray into Yes. Great way to immerse yourself into their ether!
Absolutely agree, they could even revisit some of the ones they’ve already hit for the live versions.
Completely agree - was for me too - was the first Yes album I bought back in the fall of ‘73
Quickly picked up Close to the Edge ( still my favorite ) , Fragile and the Yes Album afterwards
Then the journey began
I bought "Yessongs" at a used record store. Primarily for The Album cover! lol. I'm a big Roger Dean fan! The live version of Starship Trooper kicks ass though!
Same for me how I became a YES fan!
Yes, there was a film version of "YesSongs," but it is much shorter (i e., fewer songs) than the triple-disc live record. It is definitely worth watching, especially if you want to see the band when the members were really young in the early 1970's.
Alex, I think you're right with an A (sorry Andy but nah to the B+) but I also think this song will grow on you. It's the acoustic equivalent of a street race coming at you, getting louder, blowing your hair back and then fading into the distance. While you're left going 'what the hell was that? That kind of innovation, if you look at when it came out, makes it a strong A+ for me.
I'm surprised Andy voted a B+
I'm ok with the B+ rating bc @Andy&Alex will need songs to revisit in a few years for re-rating.
Would love to watch them every odd year reach back three/four years and dust off some of their B+ (or below) rated songs for a relisten.
This is a solid "S" for me. It has everything you want in a prog song. Well, everything *I* want.
@@sourisvoleur4854 I go between an A and an S on this one so yep, I agree.
Very surprised Andy only gave it a B+ when last week he gave the song "Dancing in the Moonlight" an S and Alex gave it an A+ which took me completely by surprise! Also they're not looking at the lyrics. They use to review them but now I haven't seen them read them in a long time which I think would allow a better input to base their ratings.
You gotta love Alex's expression just before the drop, it was a definite 'Where is this going????' 🤔
One Of The Greatest YES Songs
3 / 11 / 22
Yes had me from day one many years ago. My favorite part is always Chris Squire’s aggressive bass, so fat. Jon Anderson’s voice is angelic.
These guys are some of the great pioneers of Prog rock along with ELP and The Moody Blues. I love all of them.
I shall keep requesting two of the most epic prog songs ever... "Awaken" by Yes and "Supper's Ready" by Genesis.
I second both motions, and I'd add "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" and "Firth of Fifth" by each band respectively as well.
Absolutely! My top 2 picks as well. The live version of Awaken at the house of blues in Chicago was great, and the Suppers Ready on Seconds Out competes with the studio version as if it were a different song.👍
@@tommyblackwell3760 I believe they already did Fifth so maybe something proggy and saucey like Back in NYC.
I love how can’t really explain how you feel…this was a unique band…
Lucky me…I saw them live.. unlucky me I’m old AF
Joseph Thompson " Do not resent growing old, many are denied the privilege. "( Irish proverb )
Age comes to us all; we're lucky that we have such things to remember :)
Age is nothing, but another step in the ladder of life...embrace it, because it only takes us to another ladder.
This group is comprised of some of the most talented musicians on the planet. Love their first 5 albums - indescribably good music.
Got to see them live twice in the 70s and those were both some of my most memorable concerts ever.
Thanks, guys, for a great weekend kick off song!
My first exposure to Yes 1970, I was 12, took about ten years to see them, this song was the standout but later all the songs were, for my money, this album, Fragile and Close to the Edge are my favorites though liked some of their later works, "Shoot High Aim Low" among the best. For a real mind bender, look them up on Wikipedia and look at how many lineup changes they've had, it's surreal how many changes they've had.
So you need to get to ‘Gates of Delirium’ to re - experience the feeling you had with Close to the edge. Based on the book War and peace, you think you heard curated chaos in Close to the edge, then the battle scene section of this song will have you grasping for structure even though on future listens you will find that it is clearly there. The song also resolves into one of the most beautiful sequences of Yes music in their entire catalogue.
This is my favorite YES song. It's an anti-war song. Did you not hear the refrain at the end of Your Move, with the John Lennon lyrics, "All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance."
I hope they didn't on a first listen. It took me YEARS to figure that out.
After listening to it for years, I never heard it, until the first time I listened to it on CD.
Well it is one of my favorites too. WELL....until these guys educated me how its a ONLY B+. Now I have to start listen to hall and oates more , you make my dreams is A+ According to them. live version is great listen to, when Jon Anderson introduces the band
@@stocksgoupward5922 So funny! You're right.
Also references Instant Karma
I SAW YES IN THE ROUND BACK IN '79 AND IT WAS AWESOME. THE CIRCULAR STAGE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 16,000 SEAT ARENA SO EVERYONE HAD A GREAT VIEW. REMEMBER RICK WAKEMAN'S MASSIVE KEYBOARD THAT WAS SEVERAL BANKS HIGH. INCREDIBLE WATCHING HIM REACH UP AND DOWN TO PLAY SEVERAL KEYBOARDS STACKED UP.
As a huge Yes fan, I am with you on the rating. "All Good People" is a great song, but far from my favorite. South Side of the Sky is up there in my estimation.
Chess (white queen, move back two squares, goal to capture all we want, any black square) as a metaphor. It's a war protest song with references to John Lennon (send an Instant Karma to me, All we are saying is give peace a chance) and you both got the rating wrong it's S. Pure S.
You guys have to hit the live version of this from YesSongs, it is the definitive version!
Yay! at last, a bit of long-overdue prog.
Seems like it's been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
😊
This whole album was so so good . I played it over and over back in the day!!
Your next Yes song should be "And You and I" from the "Close to the Edge" album.
I love that song but reactors rarely check it out
Talk about your fat bass
Their “ Zeppelin “ song
This was the first album I purchased 'way back in high school---still among my all-time favourites. Thanks again, guys! (senior from Canada)
Yes songs is a great reference point for how good they were live. Saw them in 74 . Chris Squire and Steve Howe were unbelievable. If you stop and think of the lineups of the bands of that time most of them had at least one incredible musician and a lot ( Sabbath, Purple , Zeppelin, Yes , Heep just to name a few )were loaded with talent on every instrument
I saw them on that tour as well and it still holds rank of #1 concert of a lifetime!
"Yes" playing live is amazing!! Extremely talented musicians, Jon Anderson likes to be a storyteller and has a magical presence on stage. They play for hours, and it still isn't enough, you never want the show to end.
This is a song all cool 6th graders listened to in 1973 ...great memories of Yes. Well done boys.
Yes's lyrics are all over the place because how the words sound together is of more importance than their meaning. The first part was chess (don't surround yourself with yourself - don't castle; move me on to any black square - bishop/queen; capture only one - getting the king is how you win; etc)
I was lucky enough to see them "in the round "" in the early 80s. Top 3 concerts ever.
The live version of this song from the Yessongs album is absolutely killer.
Every track on Yessongs is about 10% better than the studio version
As are ALL of Yessongs. Greatest live album ever. Even with the muddy production.
@@michaelbeerbados3291 Agreed! The jazzy intro to Yours Is No Disgrace gets me hyped every time.
Perpetual Change on Yessongs is epic!
All of this.
If YES ever had a danceable prog hit, this is it! At their shows folks (mostly the ladies) get up and dance in the aisles during this song. Awesome song!
Mostly the ladies?
@@nathantrees4134 Typically, the audience at a YES concert is about 80% male/20%female. And those ladies get up and dance to this tune (which is performed at most of there concerts) every time. I think it is a ritual (no pun intended!)
Love, love, LOVE how the bass busts in on those first 3 notes of the chorus each time late in the song after the guitar solo, when it gets wild: "I've seen all..."
SO hot and inventive!
Not a weak moment on this album in my book! I remember when my 8 track player ate my copy.......after a brief fit of expletive exercise, I headed straight for the local head shop (remember those?!) and bought another copy!! It was that important then, and still is today!
I would throw a party if The Lads reacted to Yes's album "Going for the One." It blew me away. When I played it for a friend his mother complained about the noise. :)
Honestly this story seems kinda fake to me.
Fake? I was there when it happened. :)
I'm still friends with the family. She disliked the title track particularly. She passed away a couple years ago. We never agreed about anything but she was kind to me over the forty plus years I knew her.
Love it when the keyboards come in and it starts to build. The guitar riff and the bluesy piano on the (I've Seen) All Good People section--whoa is right. Might want to check out 9012Live for live performances but the live stuff demonstrates even more the tremendous musicianship of this band.
I got to see Yes live in Columbus, Ohio back in 2000. They played a 2 hour set, it consisted of 8 songs. This was the last one before the encore (which was Roundabout). It was awesome.
Love the songs of my youth. Can’t believe I remembered all the words, when I can’t remember what I had for lunch🤷🏻♀️
“Don’t Surround Yourself With Yourself” is the best and most true advice ever.
A&A so glad you are getting back to the greatest band on this or any other planet! Thanks guys!!!☮💜😎
Saw them in the 70'S (I've seen them 22 times)...at this concert I jumped the wall when the lights went out and ran to the front row and knelt down hoping I would'nt get caught. All these ladies came out from backstage and about halfway through the first song decided to go backstage. One looked at me and said "You can have Our seats kid." YES!!! The lights above the band were shaped like a star and moved up and down during "Starship Trooper." Thank You Ladies of Yes".
Saw them live at the chicago theatre back on the 90's. First row seats. I could touch Chris Squires shoes if I wanted. Awesome live.
The album was released in February 1971, it’s 51 years, I’m 65 and I can’t think of anything released before it that the whole album sounds like, much less all good people.
"Yes" still plays (allegedly) - the only 2 classic members are the guitar player (Steve Howe) and the second drummer (Alan White). But Alan White only plays a song or two in modern shows. Check out a live version of this song from the 70s - the 2nd half is a great live jam. They're an AMAZING live band!! CZcams has some good live footage from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even the early 2000s with the classic lineup.
I've heard this song almost my entire life and I cannot help but sing a bass line to the harmonies. One of my all-time favorites to sing along to.
The first part is very John Lennony, with the refrain "All we are saying, is give peace a chance" and the line "Send out instant karma to you", as Instant Karma is a great song by Lennon, and by coincidence the drummer on Instant Karma was none other than future Yes drummer Alan White.
You need more Moody Blues, but definitely for the Prog stream.
Seeing them do this live was an incredible trip.
It's so musically tricky and smart for Yes ---kept changing key on he fade with every vocal line--been playing keys for 30 years and took me hours to figure out the progression! Great choice, guys!!
Sweet. Now they've hit every song on the album if I'm not mistaken. My favorite Yes album
they have not done Perpetual Change.
Can't remember The Clap. Am often wrong though...
It's a great album but Close to the Edge will always be my fave. A true masterpiece.
I don't think they hit A Venture, one of my favorites.
It’s “Clap,” not “The Clap.” Steve Howe wrote it about playing with his young son and teaching him to clap along with music. It’s not about venereal disease.
“Don’t surround yourself with yourself” means don’t be so self consumed - see beyond yourself. Don’t turn your heads and be on your way just because you’re satisfied. Timeless advice.
GOOOOOOOD MORNING A&A FAMILY!
☮️💟♾️
Saw them 5 times! Yes! They were AWESOMELY AWESOME TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY!! 👊🎉🍻
Up until his death in 2015, Yes had to have bassist Chris Squire in the lineup to use the name. That was why there are albums like Anderson, Buford, Wakeman, Howe. Which is steller by the way! After he died, his wife said, any previous members could call themselves Yes. Since then, there is at least 2 bands that tour and call themseves Yes.
I love Howe and group, but without Jon Anderson, you're not Yes. Sorry. I've seen them 11 times live -- not counting ABW&H and just can't imagine Yes any other way. Heck, it's barely Yes without Squire.
I saw them live at the Lakeland Civic Center in 1984 and they were so amazing live so many years into their careers. They are the reason why we got to enjoy Rush in the 80s. There musical sounds are so very impressive. It’s a journey for my mind and ears at the same time!
I was there as well.
Perpetual Change from the live Yessongs album and the studio version of America are two of their most impressive songs from a musicianship standpoint. Wonderous Stories is a beautiful short song.
I’ve been watching you guys for about 18 months now, and have caught up on all the vids I missed from before that. Super cool to see young guys who appreciate ‘real’ music. You’ve introduced me to some great songs that I had never heard of before, so thanks for that. The one song that I would love you to check out is San Jacinto by Peter Gabriel(the version off the Plays Live album). If you want to be eyeballs deep in sauce, that’s the one. I guarantee it.
The first part called Your Move uses the game chess as metaphors for life
Unique comes to mind while listening to YES. Lots of great Prog groups from that era but you can't mistake YES !
I saw Yes long ago,,rick wakeman what a showman..
YES was the ultimate mushroom/acid influenced band in early 70s. John Anderson still to this day takes a mushroom journey on this birthday. I
've seen them 3 times and it is an experience. The audience at YES concerts were totally chill and NICE people. I think,to me, the lyrics ,Don't surround yourself with your self," is a Eastern philosophy concept of LOSE YOUR EGO. This band never got lost in their fame.The first time I saw them was at Brown University in Providence RL. I was 17 and they were amazing.Their sound was so trippy you didn't need any psychedelics, however we all did before a Yes concert.So many years ago. I'm almost 70 and you guys bring me right bat to the time. Love and love you guys. Thank you
This is such an enchanting song! I only ever owned one Yes album in college and it was this one, which I bought for this song and Roundabout. Glad you checked this one out.
Awaken from "Going for the One" - in fact that whole album, was a bit slated when it came out but it's always been a favourite of mine.
"Tempus Fugit" would be an epic reaction, from their album "Drama" (which has a lot of drama behind it... but is incredible!)
ALSO: Time to revisit GENESIS!! ("In The Cage" or "The Musical Box" or "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" or "Dance On A Volcano") Cheers!
GENESIS..YEAH...DRAMA...NAH...
NO TREVOR RABIN OR TREVOR HORN ON LEAD..IT'S NOT YES, IT'S THE TREVOR BAND
@@dana_brooke_27 Oddly enough I love that Drama album. And I'm a 70's Prog staple worshipper.
@@dana_brooke_27 I'm guessing you probably only heard "Drama" through some distorted lens of your own biases. It's a freaking great album... and if they simply removed ALL names on the album, and simply called it YES, you'd be blathering about what a great song Tempus Fugit is.
@@johnmavroudis2054 No.. I listened to it when it came out. It's just not YES. Call it anything but not YES. CINEMA would have been fine.
omg I haven't heard this for way too long! Thank you gentlemen... You bring me back to my youth. Jon Anderson and Chris Squire make me happy... -smdh
"All Good People" & "Yours is No Disgrace" are two of my most listened to & enjoyed YES tunes. The YES Album is in my top albums. Another great YES album is Tormato, try "Future Times" "Don't Kill The Whale" or "Circus Of Heaven" from that.
Glad you all reacted to Yes again, and there is SOOOO much more you could react to. And yes, they are still touring. The first time I saw Yes was in 1973 on the Close To The Edge tour, and have seen them many times over the years. Most recently I saw AWR in 2016 in Austin, which was Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Trevor Rabin, Lee Pomeroy on bass, and Lou Molino III on drums. It was a PHENOMENAL show, with an incredible display of musicianship by everyone and Jon Anderson still hitting all the high notes. I have both the live DVD and CD of that tour. The other faction of Yes, including members Steve Howe and Alan White, just released a new album this past September and just announced this week they are going on tour for the 50th anniversary of the release of Close To The Edge. So yes, they are still touring and still amazing!
As you've now hit 3 of the 4 "big" songs from "The Yes Album", consider doing "Perpetual Change/Wurm" to complete the set.
haven't seen any ratings lower than "A" in a while and I don't think this song should be the one to break through into the "B" realm. Head scratching and baffled by Andy's rating.
Probably my first exposure to Yes after Roundabout. Then Siberian Khatru, Clap, Mood for a Day, Long Distance Runaround, Close to the Edge.... A relationship that's lasted decades!
Was in a bit of a shitty mood this morning. I've done a 180!! Thank you boys 🌞
Steve's rockabilly/ swing guitar vibe is very influenced by Chet Atkins
That fat bass! Chris Squire was amazing live. He literally caused the arena to vibrate, so not only did you hear him playing but also felt it! Got a not so common Prog band request for you...Renaissance, you pick!
My suggestion for your next YES song: Siberian Khatru..
MASTERPIECE! Great reaction. One of their best tunes.
Boys, boys, boys...Tsk Tsk Tsk...This is easily an S, or at the very least A+. There are so many dynamic changes and key changes. Vocals and instrumentals are outstanding. Maybe it's just me and reminiscing days of special farm yard Kool-aid and rolling smokes (70's). My favorite Yes tune by far!
Love the background vocals, John Lennons lyrics “all we are saying is give peace a chance”.
Yes, one of the pioneers of prog-rock. Other were Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Camel etc.
Great live version on Yes Symphonic Live.
“And You And I” is a similarly produced piece that has a catchy hook and a wonderful tasty theme of floating in love.
"Lyrically great but I don't know what they're talking about." Yep, that's Yes.
I'm definitely in favor of a prog live stream -- suggesting King Crimson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gentle Giant, Hawkwind.
And this genre also spills over nicely into jazz-rock fusion with some really great music from Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Santana (particularly the Welcome & Caravanserai albums), Jeff Beck (Blow by Blow), Al Di Meola...and on and on.
Great jazz/rock suggestions, but that might end up being an all night livestream. Hey, why not?
Jean Luc Ponty, Chick Corea and so many more!
I love how they sing All we are saying is give peace a chance” in the back ground at the beginning!! John Lennon must have lived that!!
Totally shocked by these relatively low ratings! You guys need to do second-listen sessions!
HOW you come out of a song and can't remember what to do next and then say A is just a misfire. Both of them were lost in it for nearly the entire thing. I don't get their ratings AT ALL.
Exactly, I aree 100% as I mentioned in another comment especially after Andy gave the middle of the road song, "Dancing in the Moonlight" an S and Alex an A+! Don't see anyway this song is lower than "Dancing in the Moonlight".
@@steveullrich7737 the problem with us Prog folks is we believe every song is an S.
Chris Squire was a stand out bassist, not only for his mastery of the instrument but his stage presence as well. His six foot 4" frame could not be missed on stage.
Also sang great harmonies to Jon’s lead!
@@cherylwoodward You're so right.
"All Good People"
I remember hearing this in the car when I was little. My mom loved this group and played a cassette tape of YES often when we drove around.