What does it sound like?:
Here at last, after three years in the works, is the fifth, and for the time being final, release in the series of expanded Yes reissues.
This 1974 double album has long divided fans of the band, and even the members of the band itself. It’s certainly the band’s most controversial release, comprising four lengthy pieces, each originally occupying one side of the original vinyl long player.
This three cd set begins with that original album given a remix by Steven Wilson, followed by an alternate extended version of Revealing Science titled Dance of the Dawn. Note this is not the same as the version on the 2003 Rhino reissue which reinstated the missing introduction, originally edited out for time reasons.
We then move on to five single edits, one each for the first three tracks, plus two for Ritual. These basically concentrate on the vocal parts of the songs at the expense of the long instrumental passages.
There is also a complete alternative album comprising the two studio run throughs from the Rhino reissue, together with an unreleased run through of High The Memory and an unreleased 1974 live version of Ritual.
The bluray has as usual a multitude of 5.1 mixes – the original album, the 2016 mix of that album, a needle drop of the original UK pressing and a US banded promo version, plus all of the material mentioned above. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s an instrumental version of the whole album plus the new Dance of the Dawn thrown in for good measure.
This is a real treasure trove for the Yes fan and in particular devotees of this album. The sound is everything you’d expect it to be from a state of the art release such as this, Even the original artwork has been expanded with material from Roger Dean’s archive, while the booklet has extensive new sleevenotes and new interviews with the key players.
What does it all *mean*?
If you were a fan of the original album, you’ll lap this up – you can spend literally hour after hour exploring the multitude of content in this package. If you didn’t rate the album when it was released then now is the time to reappraise it because this is surely one of the jewels in the Yes crown.
Goes well with…
Other Yes albums from their golden era, when the music poured out of them in a seemingly unstoppable torrent and their inventiveness pushed the musical and lyrical envelope with each new release.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Yes, prog, finding out what all the fuss was about!
One day I will actually listen to this album. Every dog has its day.
No time like the present!
Well, I’ve never properly listened to any Yes. I’ll start with the earlier albums before diving into the Oceans.
My “to do” list is as long as any other AWer, Bargedude. For example, I’ve literally only today got round to Joy of A Toy. (Very good so far, BTW)
PS. Excellent review as always.
Thanks 🙂 Start with something more accessible for sure, maybe The Yes Album is as good a place to start as any.
Correct. Definitely do not start with Tales….
My copy arrived yesterday from Burning whatsit and the GLW is out all day Saturday – probably the only circumstance under which this would be allowed to stay on for more than around 30 seconds.
Personally, however, I can’t wait.
Thanks for the review, Mr Bargepole – order duly placed.
Disappointed to read above that Steven Wilson didn’t use the “missing” intro to Revealing Science…. the original vinyl is probably still my first choice, but I thought that meditative intro prior to the vocal entry on the Rhino issue was really good!
Sorry I didn’t explain that very well – he does use the extended intro, but Dance Of The Dawn is different to the version of Revealing Science on both the original and Rhino albums.
Final, for the time being……. Yay!! Bargey gets to go to bed!!
I liked Yes from the first time I heard The Yes Album, bought Fragile, and Close to the Edge, and I saw them perform Tales live at the Finsbury Astoria. I cannot remember a thing about the performance, except it seemed to go on for a while, and although I bought the album shortly afterwards, I do not think I ever played it. Nor have I ever bought any Yes album post TFTO. It would seem therefore that I wasn’t enthused at the time, and that I went off the whole Yes idea. Perhaps after 40 years (40 YEARS!!?? Shit!) it might be worth revisiting. Perhaps not.
I’m amazed you bought CTTE, saw TFTO and didn’t buy another Yes album. CTTE is regularly cited as the greatest prog album ever… did you not want to hear more? Were you diverted towards punk or something? You should have at least heard TFTO and Going For The One.
Well, I already have the Rhino CD reissue, plus a vinyl copy, and I don’t have a blu-ray player so the last disc is useless to me, so…
Ordered!
Tell me, Barge, how do they fit all that on just 3 CDs and one blue ray disc?
I think they make the notes really, really small, and then put them very close together. Possibly. Marmalade was involved, wasn’t it? Tomorrow’s World? Judith Hann? Early awakening of sexuality? Possibly, marvellous.
Well, I’m all for making those loooong tracks pass by much quicker, whatever technology they use.
The bluray discs have a very large capacity compared to cds – hence the content of all three cds and more besides fits comfortably onto one bluray.
I get blue ray having huge capacity but the original album lasts over 80 minutes. There is an extended track and two whole album remixes. Tight squeeze on the three CDs I would have thought.
Only a small part of the BluRay content is on the CDs. As with the recent XTC remasters, you basically get the original album plus a few bonus tracks on CD, while the BluRay has the new stereo mix, a 5.1 surround mix, an instrumental mix, the original mix, more bonus tracks plus additional video content.
Groove-cramming. Which is pretty much what GCU said.
That doesn’t give the impression of improved sound quality. I don’t understand CDs but vinyl groove cramming was never any good.
Groove cramming? Since Moose’s return this site has become a repository of filth..
You’re welcome, guvnor!
Shall I do the drains now?
Dearest @Bargepole,
I would like to thank you for the fantastic review service that you offer this site. I always thank people for the gift of music (the most precious gift, IMHO,) but I realised that I have never thanked you. I have bought/streamed/enjoyed so many albums, based on the strength of your reviews, and the tone of said reviews always brings me joy.
Having read this review 3 weeks ago, I ordered TFTO from Burning Shed. It arrived last week and is already my favourite re-release of the year. I don’t have a 5.1 system but I was intrigued to see what SW could do to clean up what I always thought was a slightly muddy sounding album. This is a bloody joy! Steve Howe must be delighted with the way that his guitar has risen in the mix. I have said previously that, whilst Page/Clapton/Hendrix/Beck may have dominated the guitarist awards at the time, there was a period in the early ’70’s (Yes Album to TFTO?) when Steve Howe was the most innovative player in the world. I always find him a joy to listen to – so melodic, so memorable and so full of power. Dance Of The Dawn here is majestic, and may become my favourite piece from TFTO, when I thought that nothing would surpass Ritual/Nous Sommes Du Soleil.
Steven Wilson has also made me reappraise my opinion of Alan White as Yes’s drummer. I was distraught when Bruford left (I was 16, what can I tell you?) and was anti-White from the start. When I listen back to Yessongs now, I can see I was a bit harsh (he seemed like a sledgehammer compared to Bill’s deft, angular touches) but now that I can hear him properly, there is so much more going on than I thought.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you – for the effort you put in and for giving me back my love for this album. And for the gift of music.
Oh shit, nial. What are you doing to me? I’ve never been a huge Yes fan but the combination of SW, barge and you are just irresistible. I’m going to have to put it on my Christmas list!
Funnily enough I was listening to Yessongs only the other day and thinking the tracker recorded with Bruford sound great with Alan White – he’s more grooving somehow, much as BB is godlike.
I agree with you on Alan White’s drumming and how SW has revealed a whole new aspect. As an example, the first two minutes or so of The Ancient always sounded like a clattering din to my ears, but Wilson’s clean up has uncovered all sorts of nuances I’d previously missed.
Thanks @niallb – really appreciate your comments, very kind of you 😉
I just got my copy a couple of days ago – so far have just been playing in the car to and from work, so haven’t had a chance to test it out on a proper system, but I think ‘revelatory’ is the word. I just wish they had somehow found a way to fit the instrumental mixes onto a CD, because I don’t have a blu ray player and have no way to hear them…
“In the car” – because presumably you’re not allowed to play it in the house. Classic Afterworder behaviour…
3cd’s & 1 blu-ray of TFTO? You get less for murder these days…
I have just listened to the latest SW Dolby Atmos mix. It’s a different album, no longer dull and plodding, this fizzes with excitement and energy. It sounds more like Jazz, with Anderson scat singing (his lyrics were always word salads). Wakeman anchors the whole thing with considerable restraint but those boys could play.
Who knows? I might listen to some more Yes.
We have a handshake and everything…
I don’t think I want to go that far, thank you very much.
You spotted the jazz – the third side always had a high jazz content.
Indeed. Now, I think all of it does. And, it rocks.
I was tormented by it as a teenager by a friend. (He went to the gig in Manchester when Wakeman ate a curry.) SW is a real miracle worker. This is nothing like the album I heard back then.
Have to say, I was very tempted by this latest issue, particularly for the live material. But the price put me off – and, since Mr P suggested Qobuz, I don’t feel the same imperative to own a hard copy just for the live sections (still having my original LPs and the previous CD/BluRay set).
These are interesting comments. I have always loved Toppo – at one time I think it was my favourite album. So, if I was not put off by what many of you heard back then, will I still find something extra in here, I wonder?
I think you can easily stream the new Dolby Atmos mix (I did 😐). Give it a listen, see what you think.
I’m a big fan of Toppo. To me, it just sounds like the same album, but, it feels like the band is playing together a lot more. The drums are tighter and drive the music. It’s maybe possible to distinguish each voice (including Alan White occasionally!)… and some sloppy tambourine playing seems to be in the background where it belongs. Steve Howe is still incredible as he always is/was. He’s never mentioned in lists of best guitar players, probably because he doesn’t look very cool. However he is an inspiration to me.