The Yes Album
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The Yes Album | ||
Studio album by Yes | ||
Released | February 19, 1971 | |
Recorded | October - November 1970 | |
Genre | Progressive rock | |
Length | 41:36 | |
Label | Atlantic Records | |
Producer(s) | Yes and Eddie Offord | |
Professional reviews | ||
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Yes chronology | ||
Time and a Word (1970) |
The Yes Album (1971) |
Fragile (1971) |
The Yes Album is the third album by British progressive rock band Yes. The first release to feature longtime guitarist Steve Howe, the album was released on Atlantic Records in February 1971 in the UK, a month later in the United States. This was the album that finally set Yes' career alight, with the album reaching #4 in the UK and, eventually, #40 in the U.S., where it was a platinum seller. In addition to being the first album to feature Steve Howe, this was also the last Yes album for over twelve years to feature Tony Kaye until his return in 1983.
The Yes Album set the stage for the band's route to superstardom with Fragile and their epic masterpiece Close to the Edge. This was their first commercial success and, reportedly, it had to be or Atlantic was going to cut them loose.
Contents |
[edit] Features
Many features for which Yes became known are demonstrated for the first time on The Yes Album:
- The "democratic" balance of the band -- with each virtuoso member making his own significant contribution -- is seen here for the first time.
- Steve Howe appeared with the band for the first time and played a very prominent role throughout. His solo acoustic tune, Clap (forever renamed "The Clap" by Anderson's mis-introduction on the live track) has always been a concert favourite of the band and their fans.
- The band began to explore longer songs with Yours Is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, and Perpetual Change, foreshadowing the many album-side-length tracks that followed on Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans and Relayer.
The Yes Album is generally considered a classic 1970s rock album and a highlight of the band's long career. The songs "Starship Trooper" and "I've Seen All Good People" are still staples of classic rock radio. In 2000 Q magazine placed it at number 86 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.
[edit] Track listing
- "Yours Is No Disgrace" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Steve Howe/Tony Kaye/Bill Bruford) – 9:41
- "Clap" (Steve Howe) – 3:17
- "Starship Trooper" – 9:28
- "Life Seeker" (Jon Anderson)
- "Disillusion" (Chris Squire)
- "Würm" (Steve Howe)
- "I've Seen All Good People" – 6:55
- "Your Move" (Jon Anderson)
- "All Good People" (Chris Squire)
- "A Venture" (Jon Anderson) – 3:18
- "Perpetual Change" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) – 8:52
The Yes Album (Atlantic 2400 101) reached #7 in the UK. It also reached #40 in the U.S. during a chart stay of 50 weeks.
[edit] Personnel
- Jon Anderson: Vocals, percussion
- Chris Squire: Bass guitar, vocals
- Steve Howe: Electric and acoustic guitars, vachalia, vocal
- Tony Kaye: Piano, organ, Moog synthesiser
- Bill Bruford: Drums, percussion
[edit] Reissues
- 1988 - Atlantic - CD
- 1994 - Atlantic - CD (Remastered)
- 2001 - JPN Limited Edition - ???
- 2003 - Rhino - CD (Remastered with bonus Tracks )
[edit] Rhino Reissue
The Yes Album was remastered and reissued in 2003 by Rhino Records with several bonus tracks, including a studio version of "Clap." The original LP and CD version of The Yes Album refer to the song as "The Clap," given Jon Anderson's erroneous introduction of the song on the original release. The Rhino reissue clears this matter up and correctly refers to the song as "Clap" on the traycard, as Steve Howe intended.
[edit] Trivia
- The album cover shows Tony Kaye with his foot in a cast; this was due to a car accident shortly before which had broken it.
[edit] Sources
- The Yes Album, CD booklet essay, Bill Martin, c.2003
- AllMusicGuide.com
- "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c.2002
- Yes Lyrics: The Yes Album
- Prog Archives: The Yes Album
Yes |
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Jon Anderson | Chris Squire | Steve Howe | Rick Wakeman | Alan White |
Peter Banks | Tony Kaye | Bill Bruford | Patrick Moraz | Geoff Downes | Trevor Horn | Trevor Rabin | Billy Sherwood | Igor Khoroshev |
Discography |
Studio albums: Yes | Time and a Word | The Yes Album | Fragile | Close to the Edge | Tales from Topographic Oceans | Relayer | Going for the One | Tormato | Drama | 90125 | Big Generator | Union | Talk | Open Your Eyes | The Ladder | Magnification |
Live albums: Yessongs | Yesshows | 9012Live: The Solos | Keys to Ascension | Keys to Ascension 2 | House of Yes: Live from House of Blues |
Compilations: Yesterdays | Classic Yes | Yesstory | The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection |
Remix albums: Yes Remixes |
Box sets: Yesyears | In a Word: Yes (1969 - ) | The Word is Live |