Listening to Yes on Radio Paradise

still fabulous

Posted 1 month ago by carmelmike [ Reply ]

EXCELLENT!! One of my favorite bands in high school! I was 16yrs old when this album came out. Thanx RP!

Posted 2 years ago by joejennings [ Reply ]

Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities [ Reply ]

This song squeezes my gizzards every time I hear it... love it... love this entire album to this day... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...

Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

I don't think you have to drop to your knees and confess ("CONFESS, brothah!"—Fred, this applies to you) that you liked, lionized even, prog rock before punk brought you (indeed an entire culture) to your senses. It was what it was, at time excessive, and at times transcendent, like this extended bit of indulgence. But once you sort of poke past all the excesses that prog came to represent, you find amazing musicianship and a sense of cohesiveness to the composition. Overblown? Maybe. But I find this one eminently listenable today, and, folks, I was an avowed destroyer of all things prog back then. You learn; you grow.

Posted 12 years ago by WonderLizard [ Reply ]

Recognize the history and importance of this song but I'd be fine if I never heard it again.

Posted 12 years ago by iTuner [ Reply ]

Yes is one of the groups that I really respect but have never been able to make a personal connection with. Owner of a Lonely Heart and Love Will Find a Way might be the exceptions. I've never spent a cent on Yes but they can groove.

Posted 12 years ago by PA1749 [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

"hobbit-rock" - nice one!

I wish I'd coined that phrase.

Back in the day (that'll be the decadent progrock early 70s, before punk exploded all pretentions with its rude and necessary vitality) I and my pretentious mates at college were into ELP, Yes, Gong, Amon Duul and similar. I used to dream of appearing on stage with Keith Emerson and playing synth riffs. I wrote ELP on school desks, quoted their lyrics, expounded on their musical virtuosity, and generally though that they were the dog's bollox. Which I suppose they were at the time, but virtually nothing of theirs is now listenable to by any other than the nostalgic. A couple of Greg Lake songs, and that's about it. Albums like Brain Salad Surgery are as distinctive markers of their time as fossils are in determining the age of rocks.

I could no more listen to ELP now than stick needles in my ears, and that applies tenfold to the execrable Yes (if Yes is the answer, you're asking the wrong question). I don't look back on my tastes in the 70s with disgust or shame - that was a different time, I was a different person, and progrock was a necessary antidote to the social turmoil of Britain at that time. I enjoyed ELP and Yes then, as did many others. Even though we knew in our hearts that the lyrics were gnomically meaningless, the 20-minute tracks hideously overblown, and the baroque synth solos from Wakeman and Emerson plain self-indulgent noodling, we revelled in it. However, that was then, this is now. Some artists' work (eg Hendrix, Floyd, Clapton, Kraftwerk) straddles the decades and will still be listened to for decades to come, some is specific to its time.

Hendrix, Floyd, Clapton . . . Kraftwerk?

Posted 12 years ago by steeler [ Reply ]

YES!

Posted 12 years ago by Jelani [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

"hobbit-rock" - nice one!

I wish I'd coined that phrase.

Back in the day (that'll be the decadent progrock early 70s, before punk exploded all pretentions with its rude and necessary vitality) I and my pretentious mates at college were into ELP, Yes, Gong, Amon Duul and similar. I used to dream of appearing on stage with Keith Emerson and playing synth riffs. I wrote ELP on school desks, quoted their lyrics, expounded on their musical virtuosity, and generally though that they were the dog's bollox. Which I suppose they were at the time, but virtually nothing of theirs is now listenable to by any other than the nostalgic. A couple of Greg Lake songs, and that's about it. Albums like Brain Salad Surgery are as distinctive markers of their time as fossils are in determining the age of rocks.

I could no more listen to ELP now than stick needles in my ears, and that applies tenfold to the execrable Yes (if Yes is the answer, you're asking the wrong question). I don't look back on my tastes in the 70s with disgust or shame - that was a different time, I was a different person, and progrock was a necessary antidote to the social turmoil of Britain at that time. I enjoyed ELP and Yes then, as did many others. Even though we knew in our hearts that the lyrics were gnomically meaningless, the 20-minute tracks hideously overblown, and the baroque synth solos from Wakeman and Emerson plain self-indulgent noodling, we revelled in it. However, that was then, this is now. Some artists' work (eg Hendrix, Floyd, Clapton, Kraftwerk) straddles the decades and will still be listened to for decades to come, some is specific to its time.

Fredriley, your post contains one or two common threads found in a lot of entries here, such as "when does a band or a genre become a nostalgia act?".

Some music aims to be in the here and now and doesn't care about grand themes or musical traditions. It just wants to explode and tear away the mainstream bullshit that's built up. Once its time is past, it doesn't work as a nostalgia act. Rebellion has to take ever new forms if it wants stay fresh and current. Once punk's time was up, we eventually moved onto grunge in response to heavy metal metal hair bands and arena rock.

Do you want your music to always be new, do you want it tied to some musical tradition? I'm pretty sure that we all want a mix but it's always interesting to hear how someone's musical tastes have changed over time. RPers are always going to be debating this matter. There's no right answer.

Personally, I wonder from time to time whether there'll be classic punk or rap anthologies, and whether anyone will buy them. I can't listen to punk-only Webstations for very long—it's loud and angry and messy and then it gets really tiresome. I'd probably get quickly fed up with prog-rock stations as well.

> I don't look back on my tastes in the 70s with disgust or shame - that was a different time, I was a different person, and progrock >was a necessary antidote to the social turmoil of Britain at that time.

Would love to read more of what you have to say about that time in the UK and how it affected music. I've heard that the British version of the TV series "Life on Mars" really captured that period in the country.

Posted 13 years ago by kcar [ Reply ]

Never really liked this group.

Posted 13 years ago by bachbeet [ Reply ]

cohifi wrote:

Much better than Rush!

So is a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!
(But yes, I like Yes.)

Posted 13 years ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

lemmoth wrote:

More proof of your cluelessness.

Wow. Just wow. I didn't realize someone's opinion of a song had something do with their level of knowledge. This is music not physics equations.

Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'... I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s...

Does that mean you think they are eminently effable nowdays?

Posted 13 years ago by Businessgypsy [ Reply ]

Posted 13 years ago by Jelani [ Reply ]

romeotuma wrote:

I am so happy to hear this song! Love it!!!!

Your joy is contagious - I am SO loving hearing this song! We're about to get a foot of snow, I have three litterboxes to clean, all the critters are tucked in for the night, the bills are paid, we're going to get a dishwasher either repaired or replaced, the rototiller is in the shop, and it seems that life has finally cut us a break or two. I wish peace and contentment to everyone at RP.

Thank you for this song, whoever uploaded it.

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera [ Reply ]

Much better than Rush!

Posted 13 years ago by cohifi [ Reply ]

Live YES in the round. 2 hits of ——.
I forget it like it was yesterday.........

Posted 13 years ago by sportskid [ Reply ]

But it makes every 7th grade chess club geek with glasses happy

this was more profound after a few joints

Posted 13 years ago by michaelc [ Reply ]

I love this!

Posted 13 years ago by More_Cowbell [ Reply ]

Proclivities wrote:

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

It's amazing how someone who speaks ill of this band and/or song is dismissed as a "moron" or a "fool". Since when is hindsight not a way to judge music, culture or anything else? There are countless examples throughout one's life of having something seem like "the coolest sh*t in the world" at one time and then coming to the realization that it really wasn't. I'm not sure why "music supposed to be about feel in real time" either: that would seem to invalidate anything but live performances (maybe I'm just misinterpreting that sentence).
I understand that this band is/was important to a lot of folks here, and that's great, but there's a lot of stuff I listened to in the 1970's that I can't listen to anymore - particularly this sort of "hobbit-rock".

I must agree with both of you that this type of music seems dated now, but I LOVE HOBBIT ROCK! (and love that moniker!)

I personally believe prog rock will becomemore accepted with, much like opera or Butoh dance {ducks and runs for cover}

Posted 14 years ago by kaybee [ Reply ]

Greyjoca wrote:

Hey Bill, I'm pretty disappointed you didn't play the Wurm part of this song. Bummin me out man.

You are thinking of the song Starship Trooper from the same album, that had the incredible instrumental climax "Wurm" at the end. Starship Trooper is one of my all time favorites.

Posted 14 years ago by Relayer [ Reply ]

GINRUSH wrote:

After all these years, I am just finding the hidden lyrics, " All we are saying .... is give peace a chance" in this tune.....cool

There are 2 Lennon references in this song; in addition to what you hear, they also use the phrase "instant karma" in the verses.

Posted 14 years ago by Relayer [ Reply ]

sirdroseph wrote:

This is one of those prerequisite sing along to songs and let me tell you to all of those around me, this is not good, but this song sure is......

Edit: I was just listening to ShawBlades cover of this this morning, it is very good as well!

More proof of your cluelessness.

Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

"hobbit-rock" - nice one!

I wish I'd coined that phrase.

Back in the day (that'll be the decadent progrock early 70s, before punk exploded all pretentions with its rude and necessary vitality) I and my pretentious mates at college were into ELP, Yes, Gong, Amon Duul and similar. I used to dream of appearing on stage with Keith Emerson and playing synth riffs. I wrote ELP on school desks, quoted their lyrics, expounded on their musical virtuosity, and generally though that they were the dog's bollox. Which I suppose they were at the time, but virtually nothing of theirs is now listenable to by any other than the nostalgic. A couple of Greg Lake songs, and that's about it. Albums like Brain Salad Surgery are as distinctive markers of their time as fossils are in determining the age of rocks.

I could no more listen to ELP now than stick needles in my ears, and that applies tenfold to the execrable Yes (if Yes is the answer, you're asking the wrong question). I don't look back on my tastes in the 70s with disgust or shame - that was a different time, I was a different person, and progrock was a necessary antidote to the social turmoil of Britain at that time. I enjoyed ELP and Yes then, as did many others. Even though we knew in our hearts that the lyrics were gnomically meaningless, the 20-minute tracks hideously overblown, and the baroque synth solos from Wakeman and Emerson plain self-indulgent noodling, we revelled in it. However, that was then, this is now. Some artists' work (eg Hendrix, Floyd, Clapton, Kraftwerk) straddles the decades and will still be listened to for decades to come, some is specific to its time.

OK Fred - I often disagree with your comments here on RP, and ELP is my wife's favorite band of all time and............I couldn't have said it better — You are 100% accurate

Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth [ Reply ]

Proclivities wrote:

It's amazing how someone who speaks ill of this band and/or song is dismissed as a "moron" or a "fool". Since when is hindsight not a way to judge music, culture or anything else? There are countless examples throughout one's life of having something seem like "the coolest sh*t in the world" at one time and then coming to the realization that it really wasn't. I'm not sure why "music supposed to be about feel in real time" either: that would seem to invalidate anything but live performances (maybe I'm just misinterpreting that sentence).
I understand that this band is/was important to a lot of folks here, and that's great, but there's a lot of stuff I listened to in the 1970's that I can't listen to anymore - particularly this sort of "hobbit-rock".

"hobbit-rock" - nice one!

I wish I'd coined that phrase.

Back in the day (that'll be the decadent progrock early 70s, before punk exploded all pretentions with its rude and necessary vitality) I and my pretentious mates at college were into ELP, Yes, Gong, Amon Duul and similar. I used to dream of appearing on stage with Keith Emerson and playing synth riffs. I wrote ELP on school desks, quoted their lyrics, expounded on their musical virtuosity, and generally though that they were the dog's bollox. Which I suppose they were at the time, but virtually nothing of theirs is now listenable to by any other than the nostalgic. A couple of Greg Lake songs, and that's about it. Albums like Brain Salad Surgery are as distinctive markers of their time as fossils are in determining the age of rocks.

I could no more listen to ELP now than stick needles in my ears, and that applies tenfold to the execrable Yes (if Yes is the answer, you're asking the wrong question). I don't look back on my tastes in the 70s with disgust or shame - that was a different time, I was a different person, and progrock was a necessary antidote to the social turmoil of Britain at that time. I enjoyed ELP and Yes then, as did many others. Even though we knew in our hearts that the lyrics were gnomically meaningless, the 20-minute tracks hideously overblown, and the baroque synth solos from Wakeman and Emerson plain self-indulgent noodling, we revelled in it. However, that was then, this is now. Some artists' work (eg Hendrix, Floyd, Clapton, Kraftwerk) straddles the decades and will still be listened to for decades to come, some is specific to its time.

Posted 14 years ago by fredriley [ Reply ]

westslope wrote:

Question: I hear Wakeman on the keyboards, Squire on bass, Howe on lead guitar. Who is playing the second guitar?

Not Wakeman, is Tony Kaye on keyboard

Is the one with broken foot on the sleeve cover photo

Posted 14 years ago by raga [ Reply ]

westslope wrote:

Question: I hear Wakeman on the keyboards, Squire on bass, Howe on lead guitar. Who is playing the second guitar?

No, who is on first.

Posted 14 years ago by GINRUSH [ Reply ]

Question: I hear Wakeman on the keyboards, Squire on bass, Howe on lead guitar. Who is playing the second guitar?

Posted 14 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

I love that moment when the pipe organ comes in. I imagine myself sitting in a big cathedral playing this across five keyboards, flipping my long grey hair out of my eyes

Posted 14 years ago by DoctorHooey [ Reply ]

Noooooooo.

Posted 14 years ago by Papernapkin [ Reply ]

These guys had such an impact on music back then - I just love early Yes.

Posted 14 years ago by bindi [ Reply ]

This is one of those prerequisite sing along to songs and let me tell you to all of those around me, this is not good, but this song sure is......

Edit: I was just listening to ShawBlades cover of this this morning, it is very good as well!

Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph [ Reply ]

Hey Bill, I'm pretty disappointed you didn't play the Wurm part of this song. Bummin me out man.

Posted 14 years ago by Greyjoca [ Reply ]

After all these years, I am just finding the hidden lyrics, " All we are saying .... is give peace a chance" in this tune.....cool

Posted 14 years ago by GINRUSH [ Reply ]

I love it when these gems suddenly appear. Makes me want to go and play the album.

Posted 14 years ago by terryd [ Reply ]

I still have this on a 45.

Black round plastic thing with a big hole in the center.
Played on a turntable (record player)

Posted 14 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta [ Reply ]

${#Dancingbanana_2}$ I'm back in high school . . . "Hey, don't Bogart that, man . . . pass it on down!"

Posted 14 years ago by robco1 [ Reply ]

Click.

Posted 14 years ago by Anax [ Reply ]

I used to think this was two different songs. The serious contemplative song with just Jon Anderson then the dancy song with the guitar riff.

Posted 14 years ago by Jack_Jefferson [ Reply ]

lostintokyo wrote:

this song did not stand the test of time

I think you accidentally left out the last two very necessary words in your post - "for me". Or perhaps you meant "except for those with no taste"? But, of course, how could anyone (aside from Bill, as programmer in chief) disagree with you? Absurd.

Posted 15 years ago by paulmack [ Reply ]

I really liked this band early on, even if they couldn't pen a coherent lyric. Just amazingly good musicians, really inventive. Trying to please the masses is what ruined them, I think.

Posted 15 years ago by djengs [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by camatcba [ Reply ]

this song did not stand the test of time

Posted 15 years ago by lostintokyo [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

radiozep wrote:

Thanks for the negative moronic input... Made me load up my song list with Yes. You 'used' to think that they were the 'pearls of ineffable wisdom', yet know you dismiss them now?? Isn't music supposed to be about feel in real time? If it sounded fresh and beyond your years then, give it some credit. Thank God they and others stretched the bounderies of music. First impressions are raw, and usually truthful. Anything can get outdated after massive play, so I guess you were either a fool then or a fool now, but 20/20 hindsight is no way to judge music.

It's amazing how someone who speaks ill of this band and/or song is dismissed as a "moron" or a "fool". Since when is hindsight not a way to judge music, culture, or anything else? There are countless examples throughout one's life of having something seem like "the coolest sh*t in the world" at one time and then coming to the realization that it really wasn't. I'm not sure why "music is supposed to be about feel in real time" either: that would seem to invalidate anything but live performances (maybe I'm just misinterpreting that sentence).
I understand that this band is/was important to a lot of folks here, and that's great, but there's a lot of stuff I listened to in the 1970's that I can't listen to anymore - particularly this sort of "hobbit-rock".

Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities [ Reply ]

my very 1st progressive rock album bought in '75...I still love it!
thanks Steve!...(my big brother)

Posted 15 years ago by df1489 [ Reply ]

This makes me feel like I've ate too much.....

Posted 15 years ago by SweTex [ Reply ]

...i've had this song stuck in my head all morning, in fact even lamented that i didn't own the CD to listen i drove in to work - thanks, bill!..

Posted 15 years ago by mandolin [ Reply ]

Yes any time!

Posted 15 years ago by More_Cowbell [ Reply ]

jagdriver wrote:

We're hearing these guys WAY too often as of late....

Hmmm, looks like the last time this was played was February. I feel your pain. Whenever it's a song I don't like, it FEELS like they play the damn thing every day!!!

That said, I love this song....

Posted 15 years ago by Pyro [ Reply ]

We're hearing these guys WAY too often as of late....

Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver [ Reply ]

I have always adored Yes, particularly before they went all POP on us (i.e. Owner of a Lonely Heart)....

This is probably my favorite of all their albums! LOVE the pipe organ.

Posted 15 years ago by Pyro [ Reply ]

vaiodon wrote:

This last page worth of comments really made me laugh - thanks to all the post-ers especially those who have vague and augmented memories.

I've never been a big abuser of mind altering drugs, alcohol is bad enough, but a course of heavy painkillers for a 40-something's back problem a couple of years ago really did take take me to a mellow place.

As to the music: Yes have their moments, I loved that track on Going for the One where Rick recorded the organ in some Swiss/French church. But, yes, I can see how a trip helps it all digest....

And, yes I'm enjoying a drink just now. Why not?

There was alot of that church organ on that record. I am a big Yes fan and know the album well. About 15 yrs ago I had the good fortune to travel to Switzerland. I looked up that church in a town called Vevey. It was a tiny church with a rather large and stately pipe organ upstairs above the altar. It was a little surreal for me for a moment or two.

Posted 15 years ago by Peace_tode [ Reply ]

rolland69 wrote:

Someone probably already said it, but when i was younger i thought this was a Rush song.... but it's all good.

I have known the music of "Yes" since the early 1970's when I listened repeatedly to "Close to the edge". I have since heard enough of "Rush" to know the difference. While the music of "Yes" degraded in later years, music by "Rush" clearly is not "all good" in comparison.

Posted 15 years ago by MinMan [ Reply ]

This last page worth of comments really made me laugh - thanks to all the post-ers especially those who have vague and augmented memories.

I've never been a big abuser of mind altering drugs, alcohol is bad enough, but a course of heavy painkillers for a 40-something's back problem a couple of years ago really did take take me to a mellow place.

As to the music: Yes have their moments, I loved that track on Going for the One where Rick recorded the organ in some Swiss/French church. But, yes, I can see how a trip helps it all digest....

And, yes I'm enjoying a drink just now. Why not?

Posted 15 years ago by vaiodon [ Reply ]

songbirdfemme wrote:

peter_james_bond wrote:

Yes....I like this Yes song. Time for a drink

Good LORD me too

Cheers!

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

peter_james_bond wrote:

Yes....I like this Yes song. Time for a drink

Good LORD me too

Posted 15 years ago by songbirdfemme [ Reply ]

Yes....I like this Yes song. Time for a drink

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

I fell in love with the Ovation because of Yes.

Posted 15 years ago by DigitalJer [ Reply ]

What a miracle these guys are.
1970
The Golden Time.
This album is unparalleled.

Posted 15 years ago by gjeeg [ Reply ]

MUTE

Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver [ Reply ]

Someone probably already said it, but when i was younger i thought this was a Rush song. (like in my early teens) now that I older i can recognize the differnce mostly by the Chicago like riff at the end where the beat, tone, and even instruments chagne up. given that this song is Pre-'hard to say i'm sorry/get away' i would say that Chicago did a more Yes-like switch up... but it's all good.

Posted 15 years ago by rolland69 [ Reply ]

Double-barrel orange, eh?

According to a Carleton Univ. chemistry student I met, it was 40% mescaline and 60% LSD. The guy who played 3rd clarinet beside me in the high school band did some (against everybody's advice) and went into a series of convulsions at 9:30 a.m. after walking into music class. Came close to ODing he did.

As the resident high school radical activist (I was so non-violent, polite and cooperative, it bordered on ridiculous) I helped the principal find a sample for the doctors.

So I did a full hit at a later date and better chosen time and venue. Good stuff! But not for everybody, especially for those with known metabolism and similar problems.

Still love Yes.

Posted 15 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

ACK!!!! ACK ACK ACK!!!!!!
F*ckin' ACK!!!!!
Seriously? How many times ya gotta modulate just to prove you can do it?

Posted 16 years ago by agnes [ Reply ]

healyf52 wrote:

Yes kicked ass in the 70's. I saw them at a midnight show at New York's Academy of Music in January of 1972. They played for over 4 hours and completely blew everybody's minds to smithereens.

I dropped one half of a four-way Orange Barrel about an hour prior to the show and was peaking about an hour into their set. It was a life altering experience for me.

We wobbled out of there at 5am happily stunned by their performance. It was literally earth shaking. I'll never forget their splendid musicianship. Chris Squire was wearing thigh-high leather boots and nearly shook the place apart with his thundering bass lines. Steve Howe was at his peak, his mercurial and edgy lines running around Squires bass. Rick Wakeman playing was astonishing and Jon Anderson sang like an Angel.

Jeez, those orange barrels were supposed to be 4-way, we used to pop em two or three at a time. Of course we'd be flying for 24+ hours. Used to hit a show Fri evening, college football game Sat afternoon and another show Sat evening, coming down by early Sun am and sleeping all day. So I must admit all those groups I liked in the 70's were seen and heard under the influence. However, I still enjoy listening to them, Yes included. But I really like listening to RP because they've opened my ears to lots of new music, most of which I like.

Posted 16 years ago by anotherlistener [ Reply ]

Just a Fabulous album!

Not my favorite song indeed...

Posted 16 years ago by CoYoT51 [ Reply ]

Good Stuff (a bit dated, but still good R&R).

Posted 16 years ago by Chi_Guy [ Reply ]

All I know is it makes me smile. That's really all I need.

Posted 16 years ago by fingerpin [ Reply ]

veegez wrote:

So, Yes fans are worshipping a false god, or something like that? Ok. That would assume your low opinion of Yes is the "correct" opinion. Which is stupid.

BZZZZZT!!! Sorry, good try, but no. Your consolation prize is a free course: Logic and Critical Thinking 101. Good luck!

Posted 16 years ago by holborne [ Reply ]

Hannio wrote:

Let's see. Fredriley posts up a heretical opinion of Yes, and

radiozep calls him a moron and a fool,
cafortier calls him self-righteous,
rtrudeau calls him (along with Brits in general)insufferable, self-righteous, egomaniacal know-it-all

This leads me to believe that Yes fans are every bit as intolerant as punks. Maybe because the object of their worship is so worthy of derision, and they know it?

So, Yes fans are worshipping a false god, or something like that? Ok. That would assume your low opinion of Yes is the "correct" opinion. Which is stupid.

Posted 16 years ago by veegez [ Reply ]

Bleh. Bombastic crap.

Posted 16 years ago by holborne [ Reply ]

Hannio wrote:

Let's see. Fredriley posts up a heretical opinion of Yes, and radiozep calls him a moron and a fool, cafortier calls him self-righteous, rtrudeau calls him (along with Brits in general)insufferable, self-righteous, egomaniacal know-it-all This leads me to believe that Yes fans are every bit as intolerant as punks. Maybe because the object of their worship is so worthy of derision, and they know it?

Smack! I love the Austin people on RP.

Posted 16 years ago by nate917 [ Reply ]

bronorb wrote:

I like what you say about punks all dressing the same, acting the same, same disdain for popular things. Henry Rollins said once that punks were the most intolerant group ever.

Let's see. Fredriley posts up a heretical opinion of Yes, and radiozep calls him a moron and a fool, cafortier calls him self-righteous, rtrudeau calls him (along with Brits in general)insufferable, self-righteous, egomaniacal know-it-all This leads me to believe that Yes fans are every bit as intolerant as punks. Maybe because the object of their worship is so worthy of derision, and they know it?

Posted 16 years ago by Hannio [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

...The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating....

That may be an apt description, but irritating? I guess I just don't listen to The Yes with a view to understanding what the lyrics mean. Cryptic prose, like some James Joyce, can irritate me that way, but music? It's not much different from them singing it in Swahili -- it's a good song even if I can't understand it.

Get the idea cross around the track Underneath the flank of Thoroughbred racing chasers. Getting the feel as a river flows. Would you like to go and shoot the mountain masses? And here you stand no taller than the grass sees. And should you really chase so hard, The truth of sport plays rings around you.

The Yes, "Going for the One" (opaque, sure, but still a really good song IMHO)

Posted 16 years ago by nate917 [ Reply ]

countyman wrote:

those who don't recognize history are bound to repeat it. the music of the 70's was what it was. if you didn't live it you can't comment on it. just be thankful that it happened.

I sure hope you don't comment on Bach or Mozart.

Posted 16 years ago by fortyonejb [ Reply ]

radiozep wrote:

Thanks for the negative moronic input... Made me load up my song list with Yes. You 'used' to think that they were the 'pearls of ineffable wisdom', yet know you dismiss them now?? Isn't music supposed to be about feel in real time? If it sounded fresh and beyond your years then, give it some credit. Thank God they and others stretched the bounderies of music. First impressions are raw, and usually truthful. Anything can get outdated after massive play, so I guess you were either a fool then or a fool now, but 20/20 hindsight is no way to judge music.

excellent argument!

Posted 16 years ago by peyotecoyote [ Reply ]

whining

Posted 16 years ago by oscar_driver [ Reply ]

those who don't recognize history are bound to repeat it. the music of the 70's was what it was. if you didn't live it you can't comment on it. just be thankful that it happened.

Posted 16 years ago by countyman [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

Fred gets it exactly right.

Posted 16 years ago by Hannio [ Reply ]

...more yes, please...

Posted 16 years ago by mandolin [ Reply ]

Ahhh, I love to show my age. Yes! Quite a gear shift from Zero 7.

Posted 16 years ago by Ericac [ Reply ]

Memeories..Just make me stop and listen

Posted 16 years ago by sdgserv [ Reply ]

healyf52 wrote:

Yes kicked ass in the 70's. I saw them at a midnight show at New York's Academy of Music in January of 1972. They played for over 4 hours and completely blew everybody's minds to smithereens. I dropped one half of a four-way Orange Barrel about an hour prior to the show and was peaking about an hour into their set. It was a life altering experience for me. We wobbled out of there at 5am happily stunned by their performance. It was literally earth shaking. I'll never forget their splendid musicianship. Chris Squire was wearing thigh-high leather boots and nearly shook the place apart with his thundering bass lines. Steve Howe was at his peak, his mercurial and edgy lines running around Squires bass. Rick Wakeman playing was astonishing and Jon Anderson sang like an Angel.

Forgotten Yesterdays (Yes concert archive) There aren't any comments or reviews up for this show, you should add yours. dctrpunda wrote:

This was a do or die album for them, Atlantic told them to make a sellable album or they would drop them. Relative to their more recent stuff where they sold out completely, this has a nice balance of showing off thier talents and trying to achieve some sales

Adding Steve didn't hurt either.

Posted 16 years ago by Hairfarmer [ Reply ]

This was a do or die album for them, Atlantic told them to make a sellable album or they would drop them. Relative to their more recent stuff where they sold out completely, this has a nice balance of showing off thier talents and trying to achieve some sales

Posted 16 years ago by dctrpunda [ Reply ]

healyf52 wrote:

...I dropped one half of a four-way Orange Barrel...

Jeesuz. Peaking at a 4 hour Yes show sounds seriously memorable. I listened to them blissfully enough through the 70's not even knowing what the hell you just said.

Posted 16 years ago by slartibart_O [ Reply ]

rtrudeau wrote:

Thank you for answering the question: are Brits insufferable, self-righteous, egomaniacal know-it-alls? YES!

That's rich!

Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex [ Reply ]

Takes me back, this one does!

Posted 16 years ago by Welly [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. ... blah blah blah ...

Thank you for answering the question: are Brits insufferable, self-righteous, egomaniacal know-it-alls? YES!

Posted 16 years ago by rtrudeau [ Reply ]

Yes kicked ass in the 70's. I saw them at a midnight show at New York's Academy of Music in January of 1972. They played for over 4 hours and completely blew everybody's minds to smithereens. I dropped one half of a four-way Orange Barrel about an hour prior to the show and was peaking about an hour into their set. It was a life altering experience for me. We wobbled out of there at 5am happily stunned by their performance. It was literally earth shaking. I'll never forget their splendid musicianship. Chris Squire was wearing thigh-high leather boots and nearly shook the place apart with his thundering bass lines. Steve Howe was at his peak, his mercurial and edgy lines running around Squires bass. Rick Wakeman playing was astonishing and Jon Anderson sang like an Angel.

Posted 16 years ago by healyf52 [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

Thanks for the negative moronic input... Made me load up my song list with Yes. You 'used' to think that they were the 'pearls of ineffable wisdom', yet know you dismiss them now?? Isn't music supposed to be about feel in real time? If it sounded fresh and beyond your years then, give it some credit. Thank God they and others stretched the bounderies of music. First impressions are raw, and usually truthful. Anything can get outdated after massive play, so I guess you were either a fool then or a fool now, but 20/20 hindsight is no way to judge music.

Posted 16 years ago by radiozep [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

do you really talk like the way you write? good grief. Lighten up Francis!

Oh By the way. this is a good song. on the radio too much but its a good song from a very good album.

Posted 16 years ago by rickhoran [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

that's appropriate for your self-righteous diarrhea of the mouth.

Posted 16 years ago by cafortier [ Reply ]

WTF is all this about punk? Why can't there be room for both? People talk about punk like a bunch of skinny angry heroin-addled youths called each other up all on the same day and say "let's get these blighters with some simplistic shout-fests! That'll show 'em!" and then *POOF* punk was born. That's just not true. Maybe marketers and critics want you to think that, but punk, like art rock or prog or anything else, was informed by what came before. Sex Pistols did not appear on the earth from outer space. They listened to older records by bands they liked and were influenced by them, like anyone else at any other time in music history.

Posted 16 years ago by DoctorHooey [ Reply ]

idheitmann wrote:

Yes!

NO

Posted 16 years ago by jdpinball [ Reply ]

A band that really attempted positive themes. I really can't think of another one like them, in any time.

Posted 16 years ago by More_Cowbell [ Reply ]

Yes!

Posted 16 years ago by idheitmann [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

tell me how you really feel...

Posted 16 years ago by swinghamer [ Reply ]

Yes are perhaps the most egregious, stereotypical, and now seriously dated example of egocentric self-important 'pomp rock'. The lyrics in particular, with their cod Eastern philosophy and sheer impenetrability are astonishingly irritating these days, though I and my mates used to think that they were pearls of ineffable wisdom back in the early 70s. Yes were one of the main reasons that punk kicked off as it did in reaction to puffed-up bands touring the country in lorry convoys carried shedloads of kit and playing pretentious cobblers. In that sense Yes were a good thing, but in all other senses they should be left buried in the dustbin of history with ELP and the others of that generation. 1 from the Nottingham jury, and that's being generous.

Posted 16 years ago by fredriley [ Reply ]

Amazed at all the posts about punk, etc. Anyway, this is a great tune from a great band - takes me back to high school. Remember seeing them in Long Beach in the late 70's in the round - great set up it was! As for punk - it's for punks ! and they are too shallow to understand this music.

Posted 17 years ago by pushkinjim [ Reply ]

crinky wrote:

...excruciatingly dull, plodding Led Zeppelin in 1978. After enduring Bonham's 20-minute drum solo ...

The self abuse had started to catch up to Bonham by then. If you can lay your hands on the two DVD Zep set, the drum solo on there (from 1970) is a tour de force. But that's what happened ... by 78 the bloat had set in for a lot of the old guard like Zep and Yes. I personally like both Yes (pre-bloat) and the Pistols --- "Bollocks" is overlooked for what it is, which is a great rock album.

Posted 17 years ago by keller1 [ Reply ]

heyjoe3577 wrote:

I like your thoughts here. I don't like Punk because of a Punk roommate I had (he was the "drummer" in his band - they were awful and they loved being awful) who would always have his crew of punk friends crash at the house on weekends. They were all real cool people, funny as hell, fun to party with, but they were ALL THE SAME. Same clothes, same hair, same disdain for anything mainstream or popular. I was the most unique person there, and yet they might have only thought a few of my records, tapes or cd's were worth listening to. I've never had any prog musicians pass out drunk at my house, so I don't have much to say bout them. I like some Yes, some ELP, some Supertramp, but only some. And I do like some punk, but its the popular stuff, so I guess it doesn't really count.

I like what you say about punks all dressing the same, acting the same, same disdain for popular things. Henry Rollins said once that punks were the most intolerant group ever. If a song went longer than 3 minutes, they hated you. If your hair was too long or too short, you were shunned. How can anything new come out of that? The best bands of the punk era broke out of their punk chains and piercings and went on to something new. The rest faded away and became a parody of themselves. IMHO.

Posted 17 years ago by bronorb [ Reply ]

So sa-ti-sFIED. Nails on a blackboard. I'm old enough to remember this when it came out and I loathed it then too. Though I think the musicianship is decent.

Posted 17 years ago by andrea924 [ Reply ]

radioparadisehead wrote:

Ugh... Yes and Santana so close... I feel like I should be out on my cigarette boat, crimped mullet flowing through the air, high-hipped, one-piece bathing suit-wearing blonde at my side, neon shorts on, Gold's Gym tank top pulling back in the wind, smiling, and thinking how great it's going to be to watch Magnum P.I. tonight.

Magnum P.I.! Right on!

Posted 17 years ago by mattt [ Reply ]

Well - I like it YES!

Posted 17 years ago by egg-banjo [ Reply ]

NO!

Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex [ Reply ]

Oh no, Yes! I seem to remember this one sounding a bit different...

Posted 17 years ago by Mack [ Reply ]

beelzebubba wrote:

You know, some hack reporter for Rolling Stone magazine or somewhere wrote an article and described 'punk' as the natural 'answer' to the 'overblown pretention' of prog of the 70's, and people have latched onto his quote and have been repeating it like lemmings ever since, without really thinking about how smart the original quote was in the first place. Let's examine the notion that 'punk' is the 'answer' to 'prog'. It may sound clever, but does it really ring true? Did legions of Yes fans suddenly wake up in 1977 and collectively say "my gawd, this is pretentious...whoah, have you heard this band called the Sex Pistols?!!" No, I doubt it. Most people I know who were prog fans in the 70's are still fans today. They may have given up a bit when bands such as Yes ran out of good concepts, but to think that people got sick of Yes and punk was created to 'answer' the 'overblown pretentions' of prog is stupid and lazy. And I doubt Johny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Jello Biafra, Joey Ramone et. al., were once prog fans or ever paid much attention to prog and one day said, "Blimey, let's write fast 3-chord songs with bloody nasty lyrics that last 2 minutes because prog songs are too long and pretentious an overblown." If punk was an 'answer' to any musical genre, it was more likely an 'answer' to the status quo stupidity of disco and the the lilly-white wonder-bread puke called the Carpenters and Harry Chapin.

Punk was a reaction to all the creaky rock music at the time that people in their teens and 20s could not relate to: boring prog bands, jaded 60's rock stars et al. I was converted after seeing an excruciatingly dull, plodding Led Zeppelin in 1978. After enduring Bonham's 20-minute drum solo I embraced the scene. It was great seeing new, young, exciting bands in clubs rather than paying too much money to see bored rock stars in stadiums. It seemed like every week there was a great new record released - even great 45s. New clubs started popping up with great new bands playing nightly. I saw Joey Ramone walking around my neighborhood in Queens occasionally. He was friendly and approachable unlike the dour rock stars ensconced in their limos surrounded by bodyguards. Years later I realized that there is only good or bad music. I'm still not a Yes fan but I do listen to all kinds of rock music including some LZ as well as blues, reggae, classical, jazz, folk, country, latin, & electronic among others. But in the late 70s it made perfect sense that punk came out to shake up the old guard. Oh and punks tended to like both disco and reggae.

Posted 17 years ago by crinky [ Reply ]

beelzebubba wrote:

You know, some hack reporter for Rolling Stone magazine or somewhere wrote an article and described 'punk' as the natural 'answer' to the 'overblown pretention' of prog of the 70's, and people have latched onto his quote and have been repeating it like lemmings ever since, without really thinking about how smart the original quote was in the first place. Let's examine the notion that 'punk' is the 'answer' to 'prog'. It may sound clever, but does it really ring true? Did legions of Yes fans suddenly wake up in 1977 and collectively say "my gawd, this is pretentious...whoah, have you heard this band called the Sex Pistols?!!" No, I doubt it. Most people I know who were prog fans in the 70's are still fans today. They may have given up a bit when bands such as Yes ran out of good concepts, but to think that people got sick of Yes and punk was created to 'answer' the 'overblown pretentions' of prog is stupid and lazy. And I doubt Johny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Jello Biafra, Joey Ramone et. al., were once prog fans or ever paid much attention to prog and one day said, "Blimey, let's write fast 3-chord songs with bloody nasty lyrics that last 2 minutes because prog songs are too long and pretentious an overblown." If punk was an 'answer' to any musical genre, it was more likely an 'answer' to the status quo stupidity of disco and the the lilly-white wonder-bread puke called the Carpenters and Harry Chapin.

The above is a Top 5 RP post, for me. A couple years old, but I couldn't agree more.

Posted 17 years ago by veegez [ Reply ]

I love the way this song was used in the movie \"Almost Famous\" - where the young reporter gets his very first glimpse backstage at a rock concert, like he was entering a secret fantasy world.

Posted 17 years ago by DoctorHooey [ Reply ]

radioparadisehead wrote:

Ugh... Yes and Santana so close... I feel like I should be out on my cigarette boat, crimped mullet flowing through the air, high-hipped, one-piece bathing suit-wearing blonde at my side, neon shorts on, Gold's Gym tank top pulling back in the wind, smiling, and thinking how great it's going to be to watch Magnum P.I. tonight.

You really don't get out much, do you?

Posted 17 years ago by felix_the_man [ Reply ]

I like your thoughts here. I don't like Punk because of a Punk roommate I had (he was the "drummer" in his band - they were awful and they loved being awful) who would always have his crew of punk friends crash at the house on weekends. They were all real cool people, funny as hell, fun to party with, but they were ALL THE SAME. Same clothes, same hair, same disdain for anything mainstream or popular. I was the most unique person there, and yet they might have only thought a few of my records, tapes or cd's were worth listening to. I've never had any prog musicians pass out drunk at my house, so I don't have much to say bout them. I like some Yes, some ELP, some Supertramp, but only some. And I do like some punk, but its the popular stuff, so I guess it doesn't really count. beelzebubba wrote:

You know, some hack reporter for Rolling Stone magazine or somewhere wrote an article and described 'punk' as the natural 'answer' to the 'overblown pretention' of prog of the 70's, and people have latched onto his quote and have been repeating it like lemmings ever since, without really thinking about how smart the original quote was in the first place. Let's examine the notion that 'punk' is the 'answer' to 'prog'. It may sound clever, but does it really ring true? Did legions of Yes fans suddenly wake up in 1977 and collectively say "my gawd, this is pretentious...whoah, have you heard this band called the Sex Pistols?!!" No, I doubt it. Most people I know who were prog fans in the 70's are still fans today. They may have given up a bit when bands such as Yes ran out of good concepts, but to think that people got sick of Yes and punk was created to 'answer' the 'overblown pretentions' of prog is stupid and lazy. And I doubt Johny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Jello Biafra, Joey Ramone et. al., were once prog fans or ever paid much attention to prog and one day said, "Blimey, let's write fast 3-chord songs with bloody nasty lyrics that last 2 minutes because prog songs are too long and pretentious an overblown." If punk was an 'answer' to any musical genre, it was more likely an 'answer' to the status quo stupidity of disco and the the lilly-white wonder-bread puke called the Carpenters and Harry Chapin.

Posted 17 years ago by heyjoe3577 [ Reply ]

Mindscrape wrote:

Might be a bit overplayed, but so is Roundabout, and I would love Roundabout no matter what. Same as I've Seen All Good People. Just because it is played more, doesn't mean I get tired of it. I like that others are allowed to enjoy the awesomeness of Yes.

Well, heck... So is Bach a tad overplayed, a few hundred years after his death. And Debussy, and Mozart, and Elvis. A classic is a classic,and it's forever awesome. And to all the flamethrowers I sense pumping the fuel out there, I'm quite sure a few people were probably sick or horrified of Bach way back then, too. "Good heavens, there goes that heretic maniac again! And they keep playing his ghastly music all over court, the unholy sinners! Give me some good, wholesome gregorian chants any day..."

Posted 17 years ago by gekkosan [ Reply ]

radioparadisehead wrote:

Ugh... Yes and Santana so close... I feel like I should be out on my cigarette boat, crimped mullet flowing through the air, high-hipped, one-piece bathing suit-wearing blonde at my side, neon shorts on, Gold's Gym tank top pulling back in the wind, smiling, and thinking how great it's going to be to watch Magnum P.I. tonight.

are these normal feelings?

Posted 17 years ago by themotion [ Reply ]

radioparadisehead wrote:

I feel like I should be out on my cigarette boat, crimped mullet flowing through the air, high-hipped, one-piece bathing suit-wearing blonde at my side, neon shorts on, Gold's Gym tank top pulling back in the wind, smiling, and thinking how great it's going to be to watch Magnum P.I. tonight.

Are you saying that's bad? c.

Posted 17 years ago by cc_rider [ Reply ]

I don't think I noticed the "allll we are sayyyying..." in the background before. Huh.

Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd [ Reply ]

REALLy do not dig this band! Another one added to the Sucko-barfo bin.

Posted 17 years ago by FluorideFreeMN [ Reply ]

Yes! yes!! yes!!!

Posted 17 years ago by pablo_valenta [ Reply ]

Hoping to hear some Saga.

Posted 17 years ago by Whirlpool [ Reply ]

Ugh... Yes and Santana so close... I feel like I should be out on my cigarette boat, crimped mullet flowing through the air, high-hipped, one-piece bathing suit-wearing blonde at my side, neon shorts on, Gold's Gym tank top pulling back in the wind, smiling, and thinking how great it's going to be to watch Magnum P.I. tonight.

Posted 17 years ago by radioparadisehead [ Reply ]

dmax wrote:

Samples? 30 years ago?

Posted 17 years ago by bokey [ Reply ]