When I was a student earning money in a record store in the late 1970s, I played the first two Yes albums to get to know each other, especially if there were few customers around. This first one in particular sounds very 1960s; Yes was still looking for their own musical path, which happened with Steve Howe from the third fantastic album. In this Byrds cover you can recognize Jon Anderson's vocal style. On the second side is a McCartney-Lennon cover.
Legendary drummer Bill Bruford had a jazz background, I believe, so not a surprise that you picked that up. They did indeed have a very '60s sound back then, but you could hear the seeds of prog greatness even then.
Bill definitely had a jazz background. He played with Phil Collins in Brand X (jazz/fusion) and his jazz sensibility is why he was uncomfortable with Genesis and their rigid structure.
" I See You " was written and recorded by "The Byrds " on " Fifth Dimension " . People in the UK like the YES version ( it's pure YES ) -- but I prefer the original . You should listen to it !
Cool. From the debut album. Not quite the fully formed prog epics that Yes would evolve towards, but still a great and listenable debut. Bill Bruford on drums. This was his first time ever in a recording studio. I think he was still under 20 years old when this was recorded. He left Yes after “Close to the Edge” to join King Crimson, another seminal prog band you should get to know. He eventually founded the great jazz fusion groups Bruford and Earthworks, both also great bands.
Bruford of course just got better and better but his playing here is remarkably self-assured and his influence on the band’s arrangements and performance is obvious right off the bat. Still my favorite drummer all these years later.
A fantastical journey ahead if you do them chronologically.. we'll be waiting a long time to hear the new stuff so! 😂 I'd love to hear you do some early TOTO, brilliant singing, tunes are great, a bit proggy in parts, brilliant production, drumming, guitar, its all there! Master musicians... any tune really! Irish roadie Colm.. 🤘😎🤘
So you decided to go way back to the beginning! huh? but “I See You” is early YES doing an "embellished" cover version of the song first recorded by American rock band The Byrds with their original guitarist Peter Banks. BTW, the YES today only includes Steve Howe, Banks' 1971 replacement, who is the only elder member from the 70's remaining. Sadly, with a different singer they are only a shell of what they were. But nevertheless, the original singer Jon Anderson is also touring YES music with a great band, and they sound incredible!
I always skipped the first two albums. I prefer this to later Yes after "Going for the One" when things start getting twee and patchy in places. I have the triple cd addition "The Word is Live". It has live versions of some of these earlier tracks and they were tight even at the beginning. Bill Bruford is one of the top 3 rock drummers of all time, imo. Wish I saw them when he was still with them. Alan White has always been great, but Bill, something else. Seen him with King Crimson, always amazing! US Roadie 1 signing out.
After a hit-and-miss opening track, Yes set their stall out in exuberant fashion, leaving no one in any doubt that they can rock - and more. I've heard Bill Bruford described (by another drummer) as a mathematician, and on this evidence it's easy to see why. The sheer number of different sounds he extracts from his kit is remarkable, and they're all inserted as precisely the right moment to maximise their impact. The contributions of the other band members are no less striking, particularly Tony Kaye's understated flourishes that add so much depth to the overall experience. There's one more cover version on the album, and it's an absolute corker.
You got a bad back 😢 I'll raise you; both shoulders separated, 17 fractured bones, 4 knee surgeries, and a hip replacement and I played golf today, and l swim 1.3 km 3 times a week. Im 67. And YES, everything hurts ✨️🎶🙏🎶✨️
@@MusicForTheSoulReactions With a band like Yes, with output from this to Siberian Khatru to their immensely good 80s pop-prog-rock - there is something for all of us ❤️
Jazzy. This tune does not diminish my appreciation for Yes musicianship.....but I can't say that this increases any appreciation for their lyrics. With a few exceptions I find Yes lyrics are lame. Sorry.
That's because the lyrics were written by Roger McGuinn and David Crosby of the American group 'The Byrds" . YES admired the Byrds and Folk - Rock . They also did a cover of Simon and Garfunkle's -- 'America'
Peter Banks was a wonderful guitarist. The early albums and the live recordings from this era are smoking hot.
When I was a student earning money in a record store in the late 1970s, I played the first two Yes albums to get to know each other, especially if there were few customers around. This first one in particular sounds very 1960s; Yes was still looking for their own musical path, which happened with Steve Howe from the third fantastic album.
In this Byrds cover you can recognize Jon Anderson's vocal style. On the second side is a McCartney-Lennon cover.
Thanks for reaction! I appreciate your suffering offered up for us and this tune. 😊 heh. Thanks Sir.
So many good tracks on the first 2 Album. ‘YES’ & ‘Time and a Word’.
🎶❤️🎶
YES!!!🤩
I like the jazzy, snappy feel. You really went after this song. Nice!!
Legendary drummer Bill Bruford had a jazz background, I believe, so not a surprise that you picked that up. They did indeed have a very '60s sound back then, but you could hear the seeds of prog greatness even then.
@@Tarkus_ ah that explains the sound if that's his background, and yeah, can definitely see the direction they end up going in!
Bill definitely had a jazz background. He played with Phil Collins in Brand X (jazz/fusion) and his jazz sensibility is why he was uncomfortable with Genesis and their rigid structure.
Never heard this (album?). More similar to Fragile than expected! Jazzy!
If you’re a fan, I cannot implore you enough to give the whole album a spin. It really is very very good ❤
" I See You " was written and recorded by "The Byrds " on " Fifth Dimension " . People in the UK like the YES version ( it's pure YES ) -- but I prefer the original . You should listen to it !
@@unstrung65 that's interesting to know, I think I'll take a look at that original version!
That drummer is Bill Bruford, first with Yes, then with King Crimson. 🙂
Then with Brand X and Genesis! (one tour)
Cool. From the debut album. Not quite the fully formed prog epics that Yes would evolve towards, but still a great and listenable debut. Bill Bruford on drums. This was his first time ever in a recording studio. I think he was still under 20 years old when this was recorded. He left Yes after “Close to the Edge” to join King Crimson, another seminal prog band you should get to know. He eventually founded the great jazz fusion groups Bruford and Earthworks, both also great bands.
Bruford of course just got better and better but his playing here is remarkably self-assured and his influence on the band’s arrangements and performance is obvious right off the bat. Still my favorite drummer all these years later.
A fantastical journey ahead if you do them chronologically.. we'll be waiting a long time to hear the new stuff so! 😂 I'd love to hear you do some early TOTO, brilliant singing, tunes are great, a bit proggy in parts, brilliant production, drumming, guitar, its all there! Master musicians... any tune really!
Irish roadie Colm.. 🤘😎🤘
So you decided to go way back to the beginning! huh? but “I See You” is early YES doing an "embellished" cover version of the song first recorded by American rock band The Byrds with their original guitarist Peter Banks. BTW, the YES today only includes Steve Howe, Banks' 1971 replacement, who is the only elder member from the 70's remaining. Sadly, with a different singer they are only a shell of what they were. But nevertheless, the original singer Jon Anderson is also touring YES music with a great band, and they sound incredible!
@@wendellwiggins3776 that's for the very informative info, it's a shame many great bands end up breaking apart 😢
@@MusicForTheSoulReactions Give Anderson with the Bank Geeks a listen they're brilliant
I always skipped the first two albums. I prefer this to later Yes after "Going for the One" when things start getting twee and patchy in places. I have the triple cd addition "The Word is Live". It has live versions of some of these earlier tracks and they were tight even at the beginning. Bill Bruford is one of the top 3 rock drummers of all time, imo. Wish I saw them when he was still with them. Alan White has always been great, but Bill, something else. Seen him with King Crimson, always amazing! US Roadie 1 signing out.
The first two albums are better than a lot of what followed, indeed. Cohesive jazz-fusion proto-prog-psych.
Bloody good songs!
After a hit-and-miss opening track, Yes set their stall out in exuberant fashion, leaving no one in any doubt that they can rock - and more. I've heard Bill Bruford described (by another drummer) as a mathematician, and on this evidence it's easy to see why. The sheer number of different sounds he extracts from his kit is remarkable, and they're all inserted as precisely the right moment to maximise their impact. The contributions of the other band members are no less striking, particularly Tony Kaye's understated flourishes that add so much depth to the overall experience. There's one more cover version on the album, and it's an absolute corker.
I love the opener, but to each their own 😊
You got a bad back 😢
I'll raise you; both shoulders separated, 17 fractured bones, 4 knee surgeries, and a hip replacement and I played golf today, and l swim 1.3 km 3 times a week. Im 67.
And YES, everything hurts
✨️🎶🙏🎶✨️
Yowzers! That's some injury list! Good on you for staying so active in spite of it! That's some life you must have led
@@MusicForTheSoulReactions The spiritual sounds of YES have been a huge companion
Reminds me of free style ELP ! Karn Evil parts 1 and 2 off the Brain Salad Surgery album comes to mind
@@nealjones255 did sound like they were flying off the cuff, which I loved to be fair
Heads up a new English prog band to the channel IQ - the Darkest Hour 1st track on their 1992 album Ever 10min epic
Album opens with a massive bang… Continous big bangs follow. I still can’t fathom why Yes “purists” give the first 2 albums a miss. ❤
@@mattleppard1964 I know, I've done nothing but enjoy every song so far, to each their own I guess!
@@MusicForTheSoulReactions With a band like Yes, with output from this to Siberian Khatru to their immensely good 80s pop-prog-rock - there is something for all of us ❤️
@@mattleppard1964 💯
Jazzy.
This tune does not diminish my appreciation for Yes musicianship.....but I can't say that this increases any appreciation for their lyrics. With a few exceptions I find Yes lyrics are lame. Sorry.
That's because the lyrics were written by Roger McGuinn and David Crosby of the American group 'The Byrds" . YES admired the Byrds and Folk - Rock . They also did a cover of Simon and Garfunkle's -- 'America'
Yes is my favorite band and I've been ignoring the lyrics for 50 years.
@@dhfenske Bravo. I did the same with Genesis. Then came Covid and I started listening. Glad I did.