Music Post #9 | Tom Woods

I’m at peace with the music Yes made in the 1980s; some of it is actually very good, but the key thing to me is that it brought Jon Anderson’s angelic voice to a larger audience — and maybe some of those people went on to investigate the band’s incredible back catalogue from the ’70s.

timbercruiser

I remember that song from high school. (Catholic school, so I recieved a good education-and no knuckle whacking from the nuns!)
Franklin

I was also fond of the Rick Wakeman period, and while his tangential, symphonic, epic retellings were met with mixed results/reviews, I thought he was excellent. Anyway, coming roundabout to the Yes days, they were a great band. Anderson, to be sure.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Zebram-Zee/100002539017006 Zebram Zee

Do you listen to country music? Here’s a good one I was just listening to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs44ve9mq2o
http://www.facebook.com/matt.tanous Matthew Tanous

Interestingly, the first Yes song I heard was Roundabout – and that led to listening to their stuff from the 80s. I’d still say that 90125 is the best album of theirs, in my opinion.
Dave in Ann Arbor

90125 is a pretty good album, but after that I thought the 1980s stuff was pretty meh. My favorite Yes albums are Fragile, The Yes Album, and Close to the Edge … I feel like they were really at their best then.
http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

My favorite album is Going for the One.
Tom

I have to go with Fragile, as well. I was always to peace with the 80′s stuff. I do prefer Bill Bruford to Alan White, though.
http://www.facebook.com/roger.drinnon Roger Andrew Drinnon

I remember when MST3K did the parody of this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5OzF-ZT6QI

The Owner of a Perfectly Functional Cheese Slicer hahahaha.

Also for more Yes in Pop culture, Roundabout is the ending theme for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure which is chalk full of classic rock references The bad guy’s names include Dio, ACDC, Cars, Wham and Santana!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NggC8Ga8vI

And yes, Straights is a reference to Dire Straights and there is a guy named Robert Edward O Speedwagon (REO Speedwagon). IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS.

New episode out tonight for those interested.
Khadija Umayyad

MST3K was the best show on television.
Khadija Umayyad

The drummer’s facial expression is unbeatable.
http://plenarchist.wordpress.com/ plenarchist

I think 90125 was my last vinyl album (which I still have and my turntable). Then the CD and then downloaded. Changes.

http://youtu.be/P6jAMwK-4QU
http://www.facebook.com/people/Zebram-Zee/100002539017006 Zebram Zee

Here’s another good one. It’s called Georgia Rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9uFWZqME7A
Richard Schwarz

I too love Going For The One, as Awaken is possibly the best song they’ve ever done. Can’t imagine seeing it live without JA although I hear they do it justice. Always a concert highlight back when Anderson was in the band. I was actually just on a Yes kick this past week and listened to the first 2 Yes albums while at my friend’s in Houston. That first album is so great! “Survival……..Survival…. They take away and they give……”
Steve

Have you listened to Elbow?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQIdXKz4sE8
john

Yes has some great stuff, and Anderson’s voice is one of a kind. But the only thing that comes to mind when I hear this particular song is…. “Gary on the kick drum!” ha for those who don’t know the reference check it out….it features one of the very few avowed libertarians in Hollywood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na70-2wv79A
uk6strings

I am a huge Yes fan. For me, Yes doesn’t get any better than “Close to the Edge” – “The Yes Album” and “Fragile” are brilliant as well.

1980s-era Yes created some good stuff though – “Owner of a Lonely Heart” is a classic! However, my favorite ’80s Yes album though doesn’t feature Anderson (“The Buggles” duo instead): “Drama” is fantastic – really underrated. http://youtu.be/kHFbzaf8FX8
Michael Mills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUxEEvCE3WQ

’nuff said.
penki

great tune and interesting video. love the way they captured the brutality and indifference of the state in the middle. but what of the ending? was he sentenced to a capitalistic hell with the CEO’s judging him at the end? Is this a classic example of people confusing free market capitalism with big gov. crony capitalism?
Dave in Ann Arbor

Oh, you’re right, I forgot about Drama with Trevor Horn. It opens with “Machine Messiah,” which immediately grabs you and rips your face off. Great stuff.
Dave in Ann Arbor

Interesting choice. I mean, each of their albums has something to offer, and I like Tales from Topographic Oceans and Relayer too, but as someone said above I think the albums with Bill Bruford just tended to beat out the ones with Alan White for various reasons. (I was really sad when Bruford switched to those crummy electronic drums in the 1980s.)
Dave in Ann Arbor

Oh, and course the magnificent Jon Anderson showcase “Soon” came from Relayer — part of “The Gates of Delirium” I believe.
Daniel McAdams

Oh Tom, if you are looking for an angelic voice from the 1970s, you would be better served to turn to Henryk Gorecki’s Third Symphony and Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, dedicated to our Blessed Virgin and among the most beautiful music of the 20th century:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVITZUQ_uIU&feature=youtu.be

“My son, my chosen and beloved
Share your wounds with your mother
And because, dear son, I have always carried you in my heart,
And always served you faithfully
Speak to your mother, to make her happy,
Although you are already leaving me, my cherished hope.”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=512422133 Michael Gay

I seem to recall a quote from JA regarding OoaLH to the effect that he had never heard himself better while recording. Therefore his intonation is the best on it compared to his other songs. I would tend to agree. His pitch is almost Sam Cooke worthy.
http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

Going for the One has Turn of the Century, a stunning piece (and Steve Howe’s favorite Yes song) and Awaken (Jon’s favorite). That alone makes it a strong candidate. I also like Parallels and Wondrous Stories, though the title song is a bit cacophonous.
Tom Woods fan

You should listen (it’s on youtube) to Trevor Rabin’s 90124..Mostly his demos for what would be come Yes 90125
http://plenarchist.wordpress.com/ plenarchist

Thanks. Interesting how the song changed. I remember vaguely losing track of Yes after Howe and Wakeman left for good. But I was only a superficial fan – I just had Yes, Fragile and Close to the Edge – musical must-haves for the 70′s teen. Tom likes Going for the One best so I’ll have to check it out. I like finding old gems and there’re so many that never got radio airtime.