DOCSLIB.ORG

It's Easy to Perceive the Story of Yes in Bare Facts. They Were Formed In

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
It's Easy to Perceive the Story of Yes in Bare Facts. They Were Formed In UK & INTERNATIONAL PRESS AND PROMOTION SERVICES *******BIOGRAPHY ****** BIOGRAPHY ****** BIOGRAPHY******* It's easy to perceive the story of Yes in bare facts. They were formed in 1968, and recently celebrated (in 2018) a remarkable 50th anniversary, with their acclaimed and hugely successful #YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of YES tour. There have been 19 full-time members of the band during this period. They have sold more than 30 million records worldwide. They have won a Grammy and received a further five nominations. They have released 21 studio albums, having two number one records in the UK and seven Top 10 successes in the US. And in 2017 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, all of this is true. But it doesn't even begin to explain how Yes have become one of the most influential and vital bands of the past five decades, one that altered the parameters of music, and in the process invented, then reinvented progressive rock. It all began in June 1968, with the first line-up of vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Peter Banks, bassist Chris Squire, keyboard player Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford. They made their live debut on August 4 the same year at a youth camp in Essex. And their potential was amply highlighted when offered the chance to support Cream at their farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall on November 26, '68. The band signed to Atlantic Records, releasing their self-titled first album during August 1969. This immediately showcased the band's musical credibility and virtuosity. This failed to chart, but second album 'Time And A Word', released in July 1970, reached number 45 in the UK. However, Banks left the band soon after this was recorded, being replaced by Tomorrow's Steve Howe. And 'The Yes Album', with Howe, issued in February '71, was a big breakthrough, making it to number four in Britain and number 40 in the States. Kaye was subsequently replaced by Rick Wakeman, and the band entered a bright era of creativity and acclaim. The albums 'Fragile' (November, 1971), 'Close To The Edge' (September, 1972) and 'Tales From Topographic Oceans (December, 1973) were all artistically bold and visionary, in the process augmenting their growing commercial reputation. The last named not only was the band's first chart topper in the UK, but also introduced new drummer Alan White to fans; he replaced Bruford in time for the 'Close To The Edge' tour. And talking of this album, it reached number three in America, the band's highest chart position over there. Wakeman left after the '...Topographic Oceans' tour, with Patrick Moraz coming in during August '74. The 'Relayer' album came out in November the same year, introducing the new line-up and a more jazz-fusion musical direction. The band took a brief break after this, with members recording solo records, before they reconvened for 'Going For The One'. This saw the return of Wakeman, and when released in July '77, it became their second number one album in the UK. The final Yes album of the decade was 'Tormato', which came out in September '78, again accentuating as had its predecessor, a move towards shorter songs. Anderson and Wakeman left as the band worked on a new album, with the surprise choice of Buggles pair Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, who now had the same management as Yes, coming in for 'Drama' (August '80). The arrival of the new duo not only gave Yes a musical boost, but proved their commercial appeal was undimmed. However, the band was to go through a massive upheaval soon afterwards, as Howe, Horn and Downes all left. Undaunted, Squire and White carried on with a renewed sense of purpose. Joined by guitarist Trevor Rabin, plus the returning Anderson and Kaye, Yes completely revamped their sound and style, making themselves a contemporary phenomenon with '90125'' (November '83). The single 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' was a number one success in America. And 'Cinema' from the album got the band a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. 'Big Generator' (September '87) continued the momentum acquired on '90125', as Yes showed a deftness of melodic touch, allied to the expected deep thinking musicality. What happened next, though, was something of a surprise. Anderson left again at the end of 1988, teaming up with Bruford, Wakeman and Howe in ABWH. And in April 1991, these four joined forces with the remaining Yes quartet to release the 'Union' album, which proved a very successful foray, with the subsequent tour seeing all eight members performing on a revolving stage. Anderson was back in the fold for 'Talk', released in March 1994. This featured the single 'Walls', co-written with Roger Hodgson, which reached number 24 in the States. The tour saw Billy Sherwood joining on additional guitar/keyboards. But by the end of 1995, both Rabin and Kaye and departed. In October '96, Yes released 'Keys To Ascension', featuring a combination of live and studio recordings with Wakeman and Howe on board. Sherwood became a full-time member, replacing Wakeman for 'Open Your Eyes', released in November 1996. But, by the time Yes put out 'The Ladder' in September 1999, the versatile Sherwood had moved to second guitar, with Russian keyboard player Igor Khoroshev being hired. However, 'Magnification' (September 2001) was recorded without both Sherwood and Khoroshev, but with a 60-piece orchestra. Back came Wakeman for the 35th anniversary tour. And just to prove the band's universal appeal, in March 2003 minor planet (7707) Yes was named in their honour. Not many can claim such an accolade. As for Yes, themselves, they went on hiatus in September 2004, returning with Benoit David on vocals five years later. And Downes was back in the fold for 'Fly From Here' (June 2011). Jon Davison was recruited in February '12 to replace David; he was a crucial part of the 'Three Album Tour' from 2013-14, as they performed 'The Yes Album', 'Close To The Edge' and 'Going For The One' in full. Davison made his studio bow with 'Heaven & Earth', released in July 2014. However, in May 2015, Squire was diagnosed with acute erythroid leukaemia, and died on June 27. He wanted the band's legacy to continue, though, and personally chose Sherwood as his successor. And in April 2017, the band were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, a very long overdue recognition of their impact and longevity. Coming off their #YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of YES tour in 2018, the band is headlining their “The Royal Affair Tour” in North America in 2019. This must-see best-of-British-rock show also features Asia with the return of founding member Steve Howe in a special performance, John Lodge of The Moody Blues, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy with guest vocals by Arthur Brown. For Yes, it's been an amazing journey so far, and one thankfully set to carry on with vigour and passion for some while yet. STEVE HOWE One of the greatest guitarists in rock history, Howe has not only been an invaluable member of Yes, but has also contributed to the success of Asia and GTR, as well as recording acclaimed solo albums. He has also worked with such artists as Lou Reed, Queen, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Fish. JON DAVISON An American vocalist, not only has Davison become an inspired frontman for the band, but was also a member of Yes tribute band Roundabout, and for five years from 2009, he was the singer with US progressive band Glass Hammer. Davison has also played bass with Seattle band Sky Cries Mary since 1993. ALAN WHITE A drummer who's been highly regarded since the '60s, White played with Billy Fury and Alan Price, before joining The Plastic Ono Band in 1969, at the personal request of John Lennon. Subsequently, he worked with another Beatle in George Harrison, as well as Steve Winwood and Terry Reid, prior to joining Yes. GEOFF DOWNES Downes has found considerable success as a core member of Asia. He's also released numerous solo albums, and as a producer has been involved with Mike Oldfield, GTR and Thompson Twins, and wrote a song for Agnetha Falktskog of ABBA. He also recorded albums with long-time friend John Wetton. BILLY SHERWOOD Nobody has filled more roles with Yes than Sherwood. As a mixing engineer, keyboard player, guitarist, vocalist and now bassist. He was also part of US prog band World Trade, has guested with Toto and Def Leppard and taken on the role of producer/engineer with Motörhead, William Shatner and Paul Rogers. Written by Malcolm Dome. For product, interviews, more information and jpgs please contact: E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (020) 8450 8882 Twitter: @PRConnect Website: www.thepublicityconnection.com U.S. Press Contact: MSO PR: Mitch Schneider, [email protected] Andrea Faulk, [email protected] www.msopr.com .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Yes Catalogue ------1
    THE YES CATALOGUE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Marquee Club Programme FLYER UK M P LTD. AUG 1968 2. MAGPIE TV UK ITV 31 DEC 1968 ???? (Rec. 31 Dec 1968) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Marquee Club Programme FLYER UK M P LTD. JAN 1969 Yes! 56w 4. TOP GEAR RADIO UK BBC 12 JAN 1969 Dear Father (Rec. 7 Jan 1969) Anderson/Squire Everydays (Rec. 7 Jan 1969) Stills Sweetness (Rec. 7 Jan 1969) Anderson/Squire/Bailey Something's Coming (Rec. 7 Jan 1969) Sondheim/Bernstein 5. TOP GEAR RADIO UK BBC 23 FEB 1969 something's coming (rec. ????) sondheim/bernstein (Peter Banks has this show listed in his notebook.) 6. Marquee Club Programme FLYER UK m p ltd. MAR 1969 (Yes was featured in this edition.) 7. GOLDEN ROSE TV FESTIVAL tv SWITZ montreux 24 apr 1969 - 25 apr 1969 8. radio one club radio uk bbc 22 may 1969 9. THE JOHNNIE WALKER SHOW RADIO UK BBC 14 JUN 1969 Looking Around (Rec. 4 Jun 1969) Anderson/Squire Sweetness (Rec. 4 Jun 1969) Anderson/Squire/Bailey Every Little Thing (Rec. 4 Jun 1969) Lennon/McCartney 10. JAM TV HOLL 27 jun 1969 11. SWEETNESS 7 PS/m/BL & YEL FRAN ATLANTIC 650 171 27 jun 1969 F1 Sweetness (Edit) 3:43 J. Anderson/C. Squire (Bailey not listed) F2 Something's Coming' (From "West Side Story") 7:07 Sondheim/Bernstein 12. SWEETNESS 7 M/RED UK ATL/POLYDOR 584280 04 JUL 1969 A Sweetness (Edit) 3:43 Anderson/Squire (Bailey not listed) B Something's Coming (From "West Side Story") 7:07 Sondheim/Bernstein 13.
    [Show full text]
  • Yes – Topographic Drama: Live Across America
    Yes – Topographic Drama: Live Across America (63:47, 73:01, 2CD, Rhino/Warner, 2017) Nicht wenige langjährige Bewunderer von Yes würden den Herren um Steve Howe wegen Beschädigung ihres eigenen Erbes gerne die Denkmalschutzbehörde auf den Hals hetzen. Und fürwahr haben es die Prog-Urgesteine ihren Fans in den vergangenen Jahren nicht gerade leicht gemacht. Schon das von Trevor Horn produzierte „Fly From Here“ konnte die hohen Erwartungen vielerorts nicht erfüllen und mit dem nachfolgenden „Heaven & Earth“ löste man gar auch noch „Open Your Eyes“ als unbeliebtestes Yes-Album aller Zeiten ab. Auf Tour spielten diese Werke sowieso kaum eine Rolle. Dazu kommen die Diskussionen um die Besetzung der Band, inbesondere um Anderson-Ersatz Jon Davison und Keyboarder Geoff Downes. Der Tod von Chris Squire als trauriger Höhepunkt war für viele Fans schließlich das Ereignis, an dem man einen Schlussstrich hätte ziehen sollen. Heute wissen wir aber, dass inzwischen sogar zwei Yes- Versionen die Bühnen der Welt bereisen. Neben der offiziellen Formation um Steve Howe und Alan White firmieren die zunächst als ARW gestarteten Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman und Trevor Rabin als Yes feat. Jon Anderson. An derartige Entwicklungen muss man sich wohl in Zukunft gewöhnen und sich von dem Gedanken verabschieden, dass ein Bandname an eine ganz klar definierte Gruppe von Personen gebunden ist. Yes ist ein Markenname und die dazugehörige Musik das Produkt, für das nach wie vor Nachfrage besteht. Nun liegt mit „Topographic Drama: Live Across America“ ein neues Live-Album der „offiziellen“ Yes mitHowe , White, Davison, Downes und Squire-Erbe Billy Sherwood vor. Mit Jay Schellen als zweitem Schlagzeuger tritt gar ein ganz neues Gesicht auf das Parkett.
    [Show full text]
  • Martin Hutchinson Interviews Steve
    18 wow! Friday, November 20, 2009 wow! music Friday, November 20, 2009 wow! 19 Two years ago, The Magic Numbers stepped off the From Genesis to jazz, Steve’s FAMILY AND FRIENDS exhausting treadmill they’d AGAIN: The Magic Numbers been on since their debut have regrouped stronger a heck of an eclectic guitarist album became a hit and and better than ever disappeared. Now they’re back, STEVE Hackett is a happy chap at the mo- turous journey, and using one style is limit- ment, not only has the litigation over his ing yourself unnecessarily.” rested and rejuvenated, with a latest album been settled in his favour, he is He warms to his theme: “There’s Turkish also about to undertake a UK tour. influences and Spanish music has been an new album in the pipeline. “There was an injunction stopping me from influence ever since I first picked up a Frontman Romeo told JUDITH releasing the album, but it was settled last nylon string guitar,” continued the 59 year- week and it’ll be out next week,” he says. old Londoner. DORNAN how they rediscovered After two weeks on the continent, he’s very “ Still Waters is a blues number. It’s really upbeat about touring: an excuse to play blues guitar. their magic “It’s been very good The music has a spirit, an unre- and I still feel fresh. It lenting pulse and audiences get Tales from MAGIC Numbers frontman must be the lack of excited by it.” Romeo Stodart clearly remembers smoking and drinking. Also in the mix is a bit of jazz with the day they realised they had to I sleep better these Ghost In The Glass.
    [Show full text]
  • Resolution May/June 08 V7.4.Indd
    craft Horn and Downes briefl y joined legendary prog- rock band Yes, before Trevor quit to pursue his career as a producer. Dollar and ABC won him chart success, with ABC’s The Lexicon Of Love giving the producer his fi rst UK No.1 album. He produced Malcolm McLaren and introduced the hitherto-underground world of scratching and rapping to a wider audience, then went on to produce Yes’ biggest chart success ever with the classic Owner Of A Lonely Heart from the album 90125 — No.1 in the US Hot 100. Horn and his production team of arranger Anne Dudley, engineer Gary Langan and programmer JJ Jeczalik morphed into electronic group Art Of Noise, recording startlingly unusual-sounding songs like Beat Box and Close To The Edit. In 1984 Trevor pulled all these elements together when he produced the epic album Welcome To The Pleasuredome for Liverpudlian bad-boys Frankie Goes To Hollywood. When Trevor met his wife, Jill Sinclair, her brother John ran a studio called Sarm. Horn worked there for several years, the couple later bought the Island Records-owned Basing Street Studios complex and renamed it Sarm West. They started the ZTT imprint, to which many of his artists such as FGTH were signed, and the pair eventually owned the whole gamut of production process: four recording facilities, rehearsal and rental companies, a publisher (Perfect Songs), engineer and producer management and record label. A complete Horn discography would fi ll the pages of Resolution dedicated to this interview, but other artists Trevor has produced include Grace Jones, Propaganda, Pet Shop Boys, Band Aid, Cher, Godley and Creme, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, David Coverdale, Simple Minds, Spandau Ballet, Eros Ramazzotti, Mike Oldfi eld, Marc Almond, Charlotte Church, t.A.T.u, LeAnn Rimes, Lisa Stansfi eld, Belle & Sebastian and Seal.
    [Show full text]
  • Big Generator Tour
    . " " . "YES"" " ; Big Generator , / Tour BY RICHARD REITZ flashy stage , the group performecd StaffWriterStaff Writer "Hold" On ," and then put out theirr " " It's' hard to believe that it's' classic "Heart of the Sunrise. been over 4 years since the 90125 Yes continued to grind out Tour hit America (which, superb performances of new incidentally , started at songs , such ass their powerful " ," as Millersville ) , supporting that version of "Big Generator " ," blockbuster album which capped well as "Shoot High , Aim Low , " " - a reuniting of Yes after it seemed and "Holy Lamb.. Unfortunate - apparent they had split for good.. ly, Anderson experienced feed Well , here it is , 1988 , and Yes back trouble with his microphone " " is still making great music over in the beginning of "Holy Lamb , 18 years since their first record , but was able to slide through it supporting their latest album , Big: and perform it very well.. Generator. And once again, Yes Their show also included hit hits with a successful tour as songs from 90125 , such as " " well.. [This concert eliminated any "Owner of A Lonely Heart" and " " doubts that this band can still "Changes, as well as popular " play.. ] old Yes classics like "And You To start , the audience was And I"" and "Yours" is No " treated to two Popeye cartoons Disgrace . ("The" Jeep"" and "Gopnland""Goonland"" " for The highlight of the show came those interested) , which provided when Trevor Rabin creaked out a humorous entertainment before solo acoustica performance to the ' the concert... When these short likes of nothing I'd ever seen in features were over, music was concert..
    [Show full text]
  • If the Stones Were the Bohemian Bad Boys of the British R&B Scene, The
    anEHEl s If the Stones were the bohemian bad boys of the British R&B scene, the Animals were its working-class heroes. rom the somber opening chords of the than many of his English R&B contemporaries. The Animals’ first big hit “House of the Rising Animals’ best records had such great resonance because Sun,” the world could tell that this band Burdon drew not only on his enthusiasm, respect and was up to something different than their empathy for the blues and the people who created it, but British Invasion peers. When the record also on his own English working class sensibilities. hitP #1 in England and America in the summer and fall of If the Stones were the decadent, bohemian bad boys 1964, the Beatles and their Mersey-beat fellow travellers of the British R&B scene, the Animals were its working- dominated the charts with songs like “I Want to Hold Your class heroes. “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” and “It’s My Hand” and “Glad All Over.” “House of the Rising Sun,” a tra­ Life,” two Brill Building-penned hits for the band, were ditional folk song then recently recorded by Bob Dylan on informed as much by working-class anger as by Burdons his debut album, was a tale of the hard life of prostitution, blues influences, and the bands anthemic background poverty and despair in New Orleans. In the Animals’ vocals underscored the point. recording it became a full-scale rock & roll drama, During the two-year period that the original scored by keyboardist Alan Price’s rumbling organ play­ Animals recorded together, their electrified reworkings of ing and narrated by Eric Burdons vocals, which, as on folk songs undoubtedly influenced the rise of folk-rock, many of the Animals’ best records, built from a foreboding and Burdons gritty vocals inspired a crop of British and bluesy lament to a frenetic howl of pain and protest.
    [Show full text]
  • Courseleaf's Users' Guide
    Table of Contents Home ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 CourseLeaf ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Browsers ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Web Site Accessiblity .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Showing Differences (Red/Green Markup) ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 CourseLeaf Catalog (CAT) .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Borrowed Content ........................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Acoustic Sounds Catalog Update
    WINTER 2013 You spoke … We listened For the last year, many of you have asked us numerous times for high-resolution audio downloads using Direct Stream Digital (DSD). Well, after countless hours of research and development, we’re thrilled to announce our new high-resolution service www.superhirez.com. Acoustic Sounds’ new music download service debuts with a selection of mainstream audiophile music using the most advanced audio technology available…DSD. It’s the same digital technology used to produce SACDs and to our ears, it most closely replicates the analog experience. They’re audio files for audiophiles. Of course, we’ll also offer audio downloads in other high-resolution PCM formats. We all like to listen to music. But when Acoustic Sounds’ customers speak, we really listen. Call The Professionals contact our experts for equipment and software guidance RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE Windows & Mac Mac Only Chord Electronics Limited Mytek Chordette QuteHD Stereo 192-DSD-DAC Preamp Version Ultra-High Res DAC Mac Only Windows Only Teac Playback Designs UD-501 PCM & DSD USB DAC Music Playback System MPS-5 superhirez.com | acousticsounds.com | 800.716.3553 ACOUSTIC SOUNDS FEATURED STORIES 02 Super HiRez: The Story More big news! 04 Supre HiRez: Featured Digital Audio Thanks to such support from so many great customers, we’ve been able to use this space in our cata- 08 RCA Living Stereo from logs to regularly announce exciting developments. We’re growing – in size and scope – all possible Analogue Productions because of your business. I told you not too long ago about our move from 6,000 square feet to 18,000 10 A Tribute To Clark Williams square feet.
    [Show full text]
  • Mediated Music Makers. Constructing Author Images in Popular Music
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Helsingin yliopiston digitaalinen arkisto Laura Ahonen Mediated music makers Constructing author images in popular music Academic dissertation to be publicly discussed, by due permission of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Helsinki in auditorium XII, on the 10th of November, 2007 at 10 o’clock. Laura Ahonen Mediated music makers Constructing author images in popular music Finnish Society for Ethnomusicology Publ. 16. © Laura Ahonen Layout: Tiina Kaarela, Federation of Finnish Learned Societies ISBN 978-952-99945-0-2 (paperback) ISBN 978-952-10-4117-4 (PDF) Finnish Society for Ethnomusicology Publ. 16. ISSN 0785-2746. Contents Acknowledgements. 9 INTRODUCTION – UNRAVELLING MUSICAL AUTHORSHIP. 11 Background – On authorship in popular music. 13 Underlying themes and leading ideas – The author and the work. 15 Theoretical framework – Constructing the image. 17 Specifying the image types – Presented, mediated, compiled. 18 Research material – Media texts and online sources . 22 Methodology – Social constructions and discursive readings. 24 Context and focus – Defining the object of study. 26 Research questions, aims and execution – On the work at hand. 28 I STARRING THE AUTHOR – IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND UNDERGROUND . 31 1. The author effect – Tracking down the source. .32 The author as the point of origin. 32 Authoring identities and celebrity signs. 33 Tracing back the Romantic impact . 35 Leading the way – The case of Björk . 37 Media texts and present-day myths. .39 Pieces of stardom. .40 Single authors with distinct features . 42 Between nature and technology . 45 The taskmaster and her crew.
    [Show full text]
  • John Wetton's Official Website
    John Wetton's Official Website http://www.johnwetton.com/index.html LATEST NEWS January 31st 2020--- Today is the 3rd anniversary of the untimely death of John Wetton. Today we remember the genius of John and we share love with John’s son, Dylan, and John’s wife Lisa. Please keep subscribed to John’s social media. More details relating to the forthcoming John Wetton box set will shortly be released. The stories and tributes being assembled are a mind-blowing testament to John’s legacy. December 12th 2019--- American guitarist Fernando Perdomo has recorded a tribute album of King Crimson songs. The Crimson Guitar includes two songs from John Wetton's time in the band - Starless and Book of Saturday. There is also a dedication to John Wetton's memory inside the album. Amazon CD: https://geni.us/CrimsonGuitar June 12th 2019--- The John Wetton Estate proudly announces work has commenced on a solo career box set featuring expanded editions of his iconic albums and a lavish hardback book. 12th June 2019 would have been John’s 70th birthday. 1 of 42 16/03/2020, 12:18 John Wetton's Official Website http://www.johnwetton.com/index.html Since John Wetton’s passing in January 2017, his family, friends and management have been working on finding a fitting tribute to such a remarkable man and iconic artist. The result of this labour of love is a box set entitled “An Extraordinary Life”, dedicated entirely to John’s solo career. The project has the full support of John’s wife, Lisa, and his son, Dylan, who are wholly involved with compiling the contents.
    [Show full text]
  • Book Review with TTU Libraries Cover Page
    BOOK REVIEW: BEYOND AND BEFORE: THE FORMATIVE YEARS OF YES BY PETER BANKS The Texas Tech community has made this publication openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters to us. Citation Weiner, R.G. (2008). [Review of the book Beyond and Before: The Formative Years of Yes by Peter Banks]. Popular Music and Society, 31(1), 136-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/03007769908591748 Citable Link http://hdl.handle.net/2346/1546 Terms of Use CC-BY Title page template design credit to Harvard DASH. 136 Book Reviews Hammond’s myopic vision, his unrelenting determination, and his deep personal sorrows, but to his friends and supporters Hammond was a trying project. Perhaps, as Prial suggests, Hammond’s relationship to the Vanderbilts did him more good in his early years in music than his social skills. There are questions unanswered and undeveloped in this biography related to Hammond the man, such as his falling out with Aretha Franklin or his quick parting with Dylan. Each chapter of this book comes (another assault on your pocketbook) with a wonderful ‘‘discography’’ that should slow down the pace of reading but will contribute to a great start in building a library of American music of the 20th century. It is quite something how much music Hammond had a role in, and this portion of the book is an important reminder of the times and genres Hammond touched. As with all biographies there are problems and limitations. For those of us raised in the second half of the century, The Producer fails to deliver the same magic surrounding the discovery and signing of ‘‘our’’ heroes as it does around the early stars.
    [Show full text]
  • The Royal Affair Tour: Live from Las Vegas
    Yes – The Royal Affair Tour: Live From Las Vegas (75:20, CD, 2 LP, Download, BMG/Warner) Schon wieder ein Live-Album von Yes? Seit dem Jahr 2014 ist dies nun die bereits sechste Live- Veröffentlichung bei der Yes drauf steht, sodass eine gewisse Reizüberflutung zu verzeichnen ist. Sind dennoch Gründe erkennbar, sich noch ein weiteres Live-Werk zuzulegen, auch wenn man kein „Die-Hard Fan“ der Band sein sollte? Fakt ist, das zum x-ten Mal Tracks wie ‚Starship Trooper‘, ‚Siberian Khatru‘, ‚Roundabout‘ oder ‚I’ve Seen All Good People‘ dargeboten werden, die in früheren Besetzungen mit mehr Verve und besseren solistischen Können ertönen. Immerhin sind Kompositionen wie das Richie Havens-Cover ‚No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed‘ von der zweiten Yes- Veröffentlichung, sowie zwei weitere Coverversionen mit ‚Imagine‘ von John Lennon sowie ‚America‘ von Paul Simon dabei, die bisher seltener auf einem Live-Medium zu hören sind. Das Konzert wurde am 26. Juli 2019 im Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas während der „The Royal Affair Tour“ aufgenommen und von Billy Sherwood gemixt. Yes sind aktuell Steve Howe (Gitarre), Alan White (Schlagzeug), Geoff Downes (Keyboards), Sänger Jon Davison sowie Billy Sherwood, der nach dem Tod von Gründungsmitglied und Bassist Chris Squire im Jahre 2015 den Bass übernahm. Außerdem wird Jay Schellen im Booklet als Yes- Musiker aufgeführt, der das Schlagzeugspiel live wesentlich bereichert. Ein Gründungsmitglied ist bei Yes inzwischen nicht mehr an Bord, womit der dienstälteste Yesser Steve Howe, der 1971 auf dem „Yes Album“ die Gitarre für Peter Banks übernahm, das Zepter übernommen hat. Als Gast hört man die Moody-Blues-Legende John Lodge, der sich auf ‚Imagine‘ den Gesang mit Jon Davison teilt.
    [Show full text]