YES is the 1969 debut album from British progressive rock band Yes, considered among the first progressive rock albums. With the original Yes line-up of vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford, Yes was the quintet's original musical statement, one that merged harmonic beauty with heavy instrumental backing.
While many music critics regarded it as a strong initial effort, the album was not a large commercial success, due...
YES is the 1969 debut album from British progressive rock band Yes, considered among the first progressive rock albums. With the original Yes line-up of vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford, Yes was the quintet's original musical statement, one that merged harmonic beauty with heavy instrumental backing.
While many music critics regarded it as a strong initial effort, the album was not a large commercial success, due in part to the inexperience of the band and the producers. The album was also overshadowed by Led Zeppelin's debut album, released earlier that year.
Two of the eight songs on the album are covers, which the band use to demonstrate their penchant for massively reworking others' songs; The Beatles' "Every Little Thing" is turned into a grungy wall of sound with several tempo changes, and The Byrds' "I See You" becomes a jazzy psychedelic workout for Banks and Bruford to display their instrumental virtuosity.
Lester Bangs favourably reviewed the album in Rolling Stone, writing that it was "the kind of album that sometimes insinuates itself into your routine with a totally unexpected thrust of musical power."
Side one
"Beyond and Before" (Chris Squire/Clive Bailey) – 4:58
"I See You" (Jim McGuinn/David Crosby) – 6:54
"Yesterday and Today" (Jon Anderson) – 2:53
"Looking Around" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) – 4:05
Side two
"Harold Land" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Bill Bruford) – 5:45
"Every Little Thing" (Lennon/McCartney) – 5:46
"Sweetness" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Clive Bailey) – 4:35
"Survival" (Jon Anderson) – 6:23
2003 remaster bonus tracks
"Everydays (Single Version)" (Stephen Stills) – 6:23
"Dear Father (Early Version #2)" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) – 5:51
"Something's Coming" (Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim) – 7:09
"Everydays (Early Version)" (Stephen Stills) – 5:18
"Dear Father (Early Version #1)" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) – 5:31
"Something's Coming (Early Version)" (Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim) – 8:02
Personnel
Jon Anderson (written on the original LP as "John Anderson"): vocals
Chris Squire: bass and vocals
Peter Banks: guitars and vocals
Tony Kaye: keyboards
Bill Bruford: drums
Reissues
1989 - Atlantic - CD
1994 - Atlantic - CD (Remastered)
2003 - CD (Remastered with Bonus Tracks)
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