SACD Yes – The Yes Album

A fresh beginning with Steve Howe

When Yes released The Yes Album in 1971, two commercially disappointing records were behind them. Steve Howe’s arrival opened a different range of musical possibilities. Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford joined Howe in the line-up responsible for this third album. It became their breakthrough, reaching number four on the British album chart.

The background was a period of concentrated work together: rehearsals in Devon, followed by sessions at London’s Advision studio with Eddy Offord. The resulting pieces develop ideas over extended spans. Yet the record asks for no examination in progressive rock. It simply invites listeners to follow the changes and hear a band expanding its possibilities.

Five personalities, and a recorder

Howe’s guitars join Kaye’s keyboards, Squire’s bass, Bruford’s drums and Anderson’s voice. Smaller details also help define the music. Colin Goldring plays recorder on “Your Move”, the first section of “I’ve Seen All Good People”. Howe also uses a Spanish laúd there, identified on the sleeve as “Vachalia”.

“Clap”, by contrast, puts one musician at the centre. Howe’s guitar solo was recorded live at London’s Lyceum on 17 July 1970. The shift between collective studio work and a solo performance belongs to the album’s character. The personnel information therefore distinguishes album credits from individual contributions; Bruford’s drums are not part of Howe’s solo piece.

Extended forms, tangible ideas

“Yours Is No Disgrace” opens the record. “Starship Trooper” connects “Life Seeker”, “Disillusion” and “Würm”, while “I’ve Seen All Good People” moves from “Your Move” into “All Good People”. “A Venture” and “Perpetual Change” complete the programme. The sequence gives listeners a good reason to return to the original album from beginning to end.

Pay attention to transitions as well as solos. How does one idea become another passage? When does the voice lead, and when does an instrument take over? Listeners more familiar with later Yes will encounter a different balance of personalities here. Even familiar names reward closer attention, because this particular combination occupies only a limited moment in the band’s history.

The Atlantic 75 hybrid SACD

The edition offered here, CAPA 064 SA, is an Analogue Productions stereo hybrid SACD. It includes a SACD layer and a CD layer playable on ordinary CD players. Kevin Gray is credited with mastering at Cohearent Audio. The discographic entry for this exact edition describes a direct transfer from the original analogue tape to DSD; the publisher’s own page does not elaborate on the tape source.

This is the original six-track album without bonus material, distinct from the separate 45 RPM LP and from Steven Wilson remix editions. For listeners seeking this decisive chapter of Yes on a digital disc, the release presents the complete programme in a clearly defined format: stereo hybrid SACD, with the contributions of its musicians retained in the accompanying personnel information.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and dispatch from Hilden.

Also in another edition: The Yes Album

More by Yes: 90125 · Close To The Edge

Artist page: All titles by Yes

Customer question: Buying Analogue Productions records in Europe

Musicians

Participants and documented credit status. Track references correspond to the tracklist.

• Jon Andersonvocals, percussionParticipation: Album, except solo track 2
• Chris Squirebass, vocalsParticipation: Album, except solo track 2
• Steve Howeelectric guitar, acoustic guitar, laúd (Vachalia), vocalsParticipation: Album · track 2 solo · laúd: 4a
• Tony Kayepiano, organ, Moog synthesizerParticipation: Album, except solo track 2
• Bill Bruforddrums, percussionParticipation: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Colin GoldringrecorderParticipation: 4a · Your Move

Clap (track 2) is Steve Howe’s unaccompanied guitar solo. Colin Goldring plays recorder on 4a (Your Move), with Howe on laúd. Production: Yes and Eddy Offord. SACD mastering: Kevin Gray.