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FEBRUARY 27, 1975
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Source: Progrography
http://www.connollyco.com/discography/yes/yesterdays.html
Review: Yesterdays
By Dave Connolly
Yesterdays
Produced by Paul Clay, Tony Colton, Eddie Offord, Yes
Released on February 27, 1975
Yesterdays is a sampler from the band’s first two records, plus “America”
in all its 10-minute glory. Released while the band was on tour, the record
actually charted better than the albums it drew from, and gave listeners
unfamiliar with their earlier catalog a chance to see the seeds of
greatness at work. Selections like “Astral Traveller” and “Survival” are
not on a par with their subsequent masterworks, but they do reveal the
shadows of majesty and intricate arrangements at play. For all the
accolades offered to Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman, Peter Banks and Tony Kaye
were more than competent musicians, they were equal partners in the band’s
original vision (as “Looking Around” clearly illustrates). Somehow, this
album strikes a balance between Yes and Time and a Word that benefits both
albums; by separating tracks like “Time and a Word” and “Then” from the
sticky-sweet grip of their second album, they shine. Enjoyable as these
early tracks are, however, the album’s highlight is the unedited version of
Simon and Garfunkel’s “America,” originally released in 1972 and arguably
the best cover the band has ever done. This song contains all of the
elements that Yes fans had come to enjoy: acrobatic guitar leads from Steve
Howe, intricate rhythms from Chris Squire and Bill Bruford, Jon Anderson’s
soaring vocals and Rick Wakeman’s playful keyboards. Some of those elements
are also in attendance on the surrounding tracks - notably the work of
Squire and Bruford - lest it seem that Yes happened upon this style
overnight. Yesterdays is ultimately a better listen than their first two
albums, and the inclusion of the otherwise hard-to-find, unedited version
of “America” and “Dear Father” is enough of a carrot for serious fans.
TRACK LISTING
1. AMERICA (Paul Simon) 10:31
2. LOOKING AROUND (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) 3:59
3. TIME AND A WORD (Jon Anderson/David Foster) 4:31
4. SWEET DREAMS (Jon Anderson/David Foster) 3:47
5. THEN (Jon Anderson) 5:46
6. SURVIVAL (Jon Anderson) 6:20
7. ASTRAL TRAVELLER (Jon Anderson) 5:53
8. DEAR FATHER (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) 4:18
CREDITS
JON ANDERSON -- vocals
PETER BANKS -- guitar & vocals
BILL BRUFORD -- drums
TONY KAYE -- organ
CHRIS SQUIRE -- bass & vocals
Rick Wakeman -- keyboards (1)
Gerald Chevin -- engineer
Tony Cox -- orchestral arrangements
Eddie Offord -- engineer
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