fans of YES

mike phillips · #1 04-04-2008, 08:21 AM

i know chris uses a ric and i love the tone of a ric. is there any one yes album where the bass really stands out throughout the whole album? i do not own any YES albums so what should i get?

Joe Gress · #2 04-04-2008, 08:23 AM

Fragile is a great place to start.

Brian S · #3 04-04-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

Fragile is a great place to start.

+1

Also try "The Yes Album"

Actually, most if not all Yes albums have the bass prominent in the mix. That is part of their unique sound.

Turock · #4 04-04-2008, 08:36 AM

Close to the Edge

Brian S · #5 04-04-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turock

Close to the Edge

+1

Phalex · #6 04-04-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian S

+1

+1!

James Hart · #7 04-04-2008, 08:59 AM

the greatest hits "Classic Yes" is a great starter from the band.
http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Yes/dp...7321071&sr=1-1

Illbay · #8 04-04-2008, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike phillips

i know chris uses a ric and i love the tone of a ric. is there any one yes album where the bass really stands out throughout the whole album? i do not own any YES albums so what should i get?

All of their albums "feature" Squire's bass to a significant degree.

I think rather you should ask for examples of specific tracks, which would include "The Fish," of course, as well as "The Revealing Science of God," etc.

Bruce Lindfield · #9 04-04-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illbay

All of their albums "feature" Squire's bass to a significant degree.

I think rather you should ask for examples of specific tracks, which would include "The Fish," of course, as well as "The Revealing Science of God," etc.

The studio version of the Fish is very short though and for actually hearing the bass on extended tracks there's nothing to beat YesSongs - I remember seeing Yes play live in 1974 and that album captures how they sounded live with the bass way up in the mix!

The studio albums sound quite "restrained" in comparison...

KJung · #10 04-04-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

The studio version of the Fish is very short though and for actually hearing the bass on extended tracks there's nothing to beat YesSongs - I remember seeing Yes play live in 1974 and that album captures how they sounded live with the bass way up in the mix!

The studio albums sound quite "restrained" in comparison...

IMO, the Keys to Ascension CD's (the live parts anyway) give you that live sort of aggressive vibe that came through their live performances so well, but the recording is so much better than the very 'rough' (IMO) YesSongs (even the recently remastered version).

Both the Keys to Ascension I and II live cuts of the classics are, to my ear, the best way to hear 'classic Yes' in a live setting with superior sound quality.

Even better... the AMAZING 'Symphonic Live' CD with the young Russian kid on keyboard. Talking about giving that band a kick in the **s, that kid is amazing. It's cool to see the orchestra grooving to the tunes also... very good sound, most of the classics, and LOT's of Squire in the mix!

K

Edit: Squire's solo disc 'Fish out of Water' is also quite good... good tunes for the most part, and lot's of bass!

Bruce Lindfield · #11 04-04-2008, 09:27 AM

Of course in 73/74 they sounded amazing live - I remember feeling a pressure on my chest every time Squire played the lower strings!!

I don't think they got any better than that!

Yessongs captures the feel of that period - even if it can never sound as good as they actually did at the time!

I think it's a case of personal prefrence but the studio albums sound nothing like the band did live and often the tracks seem too short and over-produced!

KJung · #12 04-04-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Of course in 73/74 they sounded amazing live - I remember feeling a pressure on my chest every time Squire played the lower strings!!

I don't think they got any better than that!

Yessongs captures the feel of that period - even if it can never sound as good as they actually did at the time!

I think it's a case of personal prefrence but the studio albums sound nothing like the band did live and often the tracks seem too short and over-produced!

I agree. Keys to Ascension are live disc's.. I agree about YesSongs also... the Stravinsky (the Firebird I think... or maybe the Rite of Spring... can't remember anymore) opening was always so cool live... when the band merges in with the orchestra recording prior to kicking it. That was always an 'ah' moment for me when I was a kid at these concerts!

I saw the two Relayer tours with Patrick Moraz in the mid 70's, and it was really something. Since I was really into the fusion thing at the time, the Relayer album was very cool... kind of 'Yes meets Chick' (which was their goal... to stay relevant by moving a little more to the fusion thing that was happening at the time).

While I don't really listen to this stuff much any more, I do put Relayer on once a year or so, and it always brings a smile to my face... just smoking playing, and Moraz was just perfect for what they were trying to do. That was the last studio Yes album that sounded like Yes to me.

Edit: I also saw the Reunion tour much later... mid 90's. It was a little bit depressing, since it was pretty much an 'oldies show' at that point, but it was amazing because I believe they had every member touring except Moraz (who was on tour with the Moody Blues at the time)... so Bruford, White, Wakeman, Tony Kaye, Squire, Trevor, Howe, etc. all on stage at the same time. Kind of cool!

Marcus Johnson · #13 04-04-2008, 10:11 AM

Relayer was great, I loved Pat Moraz on that one. His solo album from the same era was another matter.... Jeff Berlin and Alphonse Mouzon in the rhythm section, and he buried it in so much crap, they were rendered inaudible. Jeff was pissed about that one.

Close To Edge had some great stuff.

Bruce Lindfield · #14 04-04-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Relayer was great, I loved Pat Moraz on that one. His solo album from the same era was another matter.... Jeff Berlin and Alphonse Mouzon in the rhythm section, and he buried it in so much crap, they were rendered inaudible. Jeff was pissed about that one.
.

I bought that album on vinyl and loved it - but I haven't heard it since the 70s!!

KJung · #15 04-04-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Relayer was great, I loved Pat Moraz on that one. His solo album from the same era was another matter.... Jeff Berlin and Alphonse Mouzon in the rhythm section, and he buried it in so much crap, they were rendered inaudible. Jeff was pissed about that one.

Close To Edge had some great stuff.

Holy cow... wasn't that called 'i' or something. Yeah, that was a mess!!!! Not many people know about that one!

Bruce Lindfield · #16 04-04-2008, 10:26 AM

I remember its starting with a great Brazilian-sounding part - but after that it's a bit hazy - must be 30 years since I heard it!

ryco · #17 04-04-2008, 10:39 AM

The Yes Album
Fragile
Close to the Edge

James Hart · #18 04-04-2008, 10:50 AM

Yessongs is without doubt my LEAST favorite live album (and I generally prefer live stuff).

They struggle to keep things moving, the timings are all over the place, vocals (and harmonies) are off often... it just feels like a long train wreck to me.

mike phillips · #19 04-04-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryco

The Yes Album
Fragile
Close to the Edge

these seem to be the top three. everybody agree.

jenderfazz · #20 04-04-2008, 11:56 AM

The Yes Album has a more traditional rock bass tone, while Fragile shows off a driven Ric tone. Check out "The Fish" for multiple bass tracks. Close to the Edge is easily my favorite, though. Squire's tone is crystal clear, aggressive, and very present (even loud) in the mix.

Tone aside, his great playing is always present.