Live Yes/Chris Squire on Letterman

[Element Zero]

Feel like I’ve done myself a disservice all these years having never looking into their music. Many of my favorite musicians pointed to Yes as a major inspiration.

In your opinions, which album “sounds” the best?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

IMHO Chris' best solo of all time was the The Fish on the live recording Yes Songs. He was at the peak of his ability, and that was THE tone that made me want to play a bass, and particularly a Ric. Damn I miss that guy. Rode an elevator with him and Howe once, too star-struck and chicken to speak (plus they were clearly arguing about something, so.. awkward). Missed my chance for at least an autograph.

 

[J Gold]

The Talk show at Madison Square Garden was the first of many Yes concerts for me. I wiped out on my bicycle on the way home from work that day and my hands were all bandaged up.

I remember watching that Letterman gig very well when it first aired too.

Time and a Word has some phenomenal playing and tone on it. But musically, Topographic through Drama is my favorite Yes era.

 

[Jeff Scott]

To many 70's kids like me, Close to the Edge is the quintessential Yes album. In fact, I'd say it's one of the greatest pieces of recorded music, ever. Still blows my mind how young they were when they made that. Next would be The Yes Album, Fragile, Relayer, Tales, Going for the One---in that order IMHO.

The last time I saw Yes (August 7th, 2013) they played the whole CTTE album, the whole GFTO album, and the whole TYA, plus their usual/standard encore, "Roundabout". Three hour concert!

 

[Jeff Scott]

IMHO Chris' best solo of all time was the The Fish on the live recording Yes Songs.

I bought a wah pedal because of that, and learned the whole solo.

 

[projectapollo]

After Close to the Edge, what's the next Yes album a person should check out?

Peak prog effort is Relayer. Peak song crafting and production was 90125. My first concert was 1974 Tales in Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Saw many tours thereafter.

 

[GodsLove66]

Feel like I’ve done myself a disservice all these years having never looking into their music. Many of my favorite musicians pointed to Yes as a major inspiration.

In your opinions, which album “sounds” the best?

ESSENTIALS: The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Going for the One and 90125! Relayer is NOT essential, BUT the epic, Gates of Delirium, is essential imo!

 

[Slade N]

After Close to the Edge, what's the next Yes album a person should check out?

start at the very begining/1st album, you can see the seeds of what was to come but also appreciate the growth better as well

Also, sadly Drama gets overlooked for great bass is a great example of prog with pop sensibilities, prog doesnt always have to be long winded to be great

 

[Sam Evans]

Step 1: The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge.
Step 2: 90125, Big Generator, Talk.
Step 3: Yes (the first album), Time and Word.
Step 4: Everything between CttE and 90125. I esp. like Drama and Relayer.
Step 5: Anything else I haven't mentioned.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Peak prog effort is Relayer. Peak song crafting and production was 90215. My first concert was 1974 Tales in Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Saw many tours thereafter.

One of the four times I saw Yes during the Relayer era was there. The Poussette-Dart Band opened the show. The first of their encore songs was "I'm Down". And I recall Chris played his white Rick 4008 on one of the songs.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Also, sadly Drama gets overlooked...

Not overlooked by me!



When I saw The Syn in the '06 Chris used the Electra extensively.

 

[MCF]

After Close to the Edge, what's the next Yes album a person should check out?

The Yes Album. Fragile. Relayer.

 

[MCF]

To many 70's kids like me, Close to the Edge is the quintessential Yes album. In fact, I'd say it's one of the greatest pieces of recorded music, ever. Still blows my mind how young they were when they made that. Next would be The Yes Album, Fragile, Relayer, Tales, Going for the One---in that order IMHO.
I mostly lost interest in the 80's Yes and ignored the 90's Yes. I'm too much of a 70's Yes diehard - the later stuff just doesn't do it for me--some of it I find cringey - though I certainly appreciate that they kept trying new things, and trying to stay relevant which is a very hard thing to do over that long a career.

I walked out of the Drama show at the Long Beach Arena. I didn’t mind the album so much. But that iteration of the band was awful.

 

[MCF]

One of the four times I saw Yes during the Relayer era was there. The Poussette-Dart Band opened the show. The first of their encore songs was "I'm Down". And I recall Chris played his white Rick 4008 on one of the songs.

The Hollywood Bowl show was pure magic.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The Hollywood Bowl show was pure magic.

I imagine it would be.

I was at the Bowl a couple times in the late '80s for some jazz shows. I can't remember who we saw at one of them, but the other one was amazing: Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band, Wood Herman & His Young Thundering Herd, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Joe Pass.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

ESSENTIALS: The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Going for the One and 90125! Relayer is NOT essential, BUT the epic, Gates of Delirium, is essential imo!

Gates of Delirium played through a really loud mono (McIntosh c8 preamp and MC30 power which likely hadn't been serviced in years, though a terrible speaker) while I had a headache was my introduction to Yes ca. 1975 or 6. I hated it. Which stayed with me until August 1978 when I saw them at the Boston Garden from perhaps the worst seat in the house and my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe that humans could do that and the sound was amazing. I regretted missing all the shows up until that point. I saw them again a few more times, but it felt like I had caught the end of an era. I saw the 92105 tour from the second row in a fairly small venue, which was great to see Chris Squire up close, but it was a very different band. I saw some of the later 80s versions, too, but nothing came close to that first show.

 

[dinobass]

The last time I saw Yes (August 7th, 2013) they played the whole CTTE album, the whole GFTO album, and the whole TYA, plus their usual/standard encore, "Roundabout". Three hour concert!

That was right after my band Volto opened for them at the Yestival at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Chris was running late and I didn't get a chance to say hello He and Geddy were my two guys growing up in the 70s and 80s.

 

[Jeff Scott]

That was right after my band Volto opened for them at the Yestival at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Chris was running late and I didn't get a chance to say hello He and Geddy were my two guys growing up in the 70s and 80s.

That was par-for-the-course for Chris. Even at his funeral service, his widow said he that now he will always be the late Chris Squire (true story).

 

[Element Zero]

…prog with pop sensibilities, prog doesnt always have to be long winded to be great

Just how I feel about Sieges Even. Especially their Paramount album. Phenomenal.

 

[Slade N]

Just how I feel about Sieges Even. Especially their Paramount album. Phenomenal.

thanks for the suggestion