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NOVEMBER 20, 1997
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Source: Music Street Journal
http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/scoming.html
Yes-Something`s Coming - CD Release
Overall Review
This album is actually a compilation of Yes performances on various
television and radio programs from the 1969-1970 era. The personnel on this
album are Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Bill Bruford and Tony Kaye.
Since every song on this album is available, as a different recording, with
the exception of For Everyone, one of the focuses of this review will be to
compare and contrast the versions, including the cases where multiple
versions of a track exist on this album. Also, since this material may not
be commonly found in many people`s Yes collection in any format, I will be
doing a general informational rundown of the tracks as well.
Much of the music here is very similar to the original version, and in
fact, similar to the other version present here (in many cases). However,
it is nice to have a record of these performances as they capture the
psychedelic exuberance and early progressive sensibilities of this band so
well. It is also interesting to note how similar the guitar styles of Peter
Banks and Steve Howe really were. Not only that, but the inclusion of For
Everyone makes this album a must have for any diehard Yes fan.
Track by Track Review
Disc One
Something`s Coming: Recorded on Top Gear with John Peel on January 12th,
1969, this version really differs little from the rendition that is present
on the Yesyears box set. However, for those who don`t have the box set, the
inclusion here makes another nice reason to have this album. This song is a
wonderfully psychedelic/progressive take on this piece from the musical
West Side Story, and contains some fine percussion and guitar work.
Something`s Coming is an excellent example of what early Yes was all about.
Everydays: Breaking from the original version (found on the Time and a
Word album), this number begins with a nicely distorted instrumental intro
which gives way to a rather bluesy sort of slow groove (featuring some very
tasty organ work), before breaking into a delightfully percussive
instrumental section. This section gives way to an all out progressive/jazz
oriented jam session before returning to the main movement of the song. A
short reprise of this instrumental section serves as the conclusion to this
piece. This track was recorded on Top Gear with John Peel on January 12th,
1969. The central differences between the original version and the versions
included here are the absence of the string section, and the fact that
neither of these versions are as heavily produced as the Time and A Word rendition.
Sweetness: Another track which was recorded on January 12th, 1969 on Top
Gear with John Peel, this one starts in an almost folk-rock sort of mode,
but features a nice keyboard flourish early on. Sweetness is a likable,
rather poppy, progressively flavored track.
Dear Father: Recorded on Top Gear with John Peel, January 12th, 1969, the
original version of this track was never released on a standard Yes album,
but, in fact, was released as the B-Side of the Sweet Dreams single. The
song was reissued on the compilation album Yesterdays. Featuring some
rather intriguing and unusual guitar work and creative vocal improvs, the
intro to this really has a much different feel than the original. In fact,
nearly the entire instrumental intro section here is not present on the
Yesterdays version. The uniqueness of this version really makes this track
one of the more interesting tracks on this album.
Every Little Thing: A major reworking of a Beatles song, this track was
recorded on Top Gear with John Peel on January 12th, 1969. Featuring an
extended jam intro, which includes a couple bars of Day Tripper, the Yes
version makes for a very interesting take on this tune. This version is
really a guitar showcase in many ways and features much extended jamming
not present in either of the other performances. The sound on both of these
renditions is a bit more raw than the original, and really, that makes for
a nice change of pace.
Looking Around: Remaining quite true to the original version, this track,
from the Dave Symonds Show, August 4th, 1969, showcases both the
progressive and the mildly psychedelic leanings that the band had at the time.
Sweet Dreams: Originally broadcast on the Dave Lee Travis Show January
19th, 1970, this track starts with a slightly raw intro which is actually a
nice break from the original. This piece is another which creates a
synthesis of the `60`s stylings with the beginnings of progressive rock
into what is basically a solid pop song. This rendition features a very
lively guitar solo, which also separates it a bit from the original studio recording.
Then: Another track which was originally broadcast on the Dave Lee Travis
Show January 19th, 1970, this rendition stays fairly true to the original.
However, a shortened intro and some other small changes do bring this one
in at over a minute shorter than the original Time And A Word version. This
is a nicely accessible, yet quite progressive and energetic track.
No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Required: A cover of a Richie
Havens song, this recording was originally a rare German broadcast for
which the exact date is not given. The sound quality here is probably the
worst of any song on this album, but it is still quite listenable. The
instrumental break here is quite interesting, although it does suffer a bit
from the inferior sound quality. Other than the obviously more barebones
approach (no string section, etc.), this cut is fairly close to the
original rendition in terms of performance. This is a solid rock song with
progressive rock leanings.
Disc Two
Astral Traveller: Recorded live on the Sunday Show, March 17, 1970, this
piece features a very brief announcement of the band, which leads me to
believe that it would have been a better choice as the opener for this
album. This is a solid, and quite faithful rendition of an energetic early
progressive sort of song, and features some pleasantly jazzy guitar and
bass interplay. In fact this track really showcases some of Banks` tastier
guitar work.
Then: This version is quite a bit rougher than the other two versions, if
taken side by side, but is still quite an entertaining rendition. This
performance of Then was recorded live on the Sunday Show March 17, 1970,
and contains a solid guitar solo.
Every Little Thing: Another performance of this Beatles cover, Every
Little Thing was also recorded live on the Sunday Show March 17, 1970. The
intro to this version is even more interesting than the rendition on disc
one, featuring an extended jazz guitar based jam. Eventually the intro
drops into the same pattern as the other two renditions, but really
contains quite a few little twists and variants(in fact, this performance
clocks in almost an entire minute longer than either of the other
versions). This is another standout track here, due mostly to the unique approach.
Everydays: Another track recorded live on the March 17, 1970 Sunday Show,
this interpretation foregoes the distortion intro of the other rendition
present on this album, jumping directly into the bluesy section of the
tune. The recording quality here is lower than that of the version on disc
one, but still is not bad really.
For Everyone: Previously unreleased, and recorded live on the Sunday Show
March 17, 1970, this track is wonderful. Essentially a new old Yes song,
much of this piece reminds me a lot of Yes` version of America. Therefore
it seems to be a bit ahead of it`s time. Although I love the work that
Steve Howe has done with Yes, and the sound that he has brought to the
band, this track really has me wondering what would have been had Peter
Banks not left the band. This is a very superb progressive piece, albeit a
bit rough edged at times, and features the "disillusion" section of The Yes
Album`s Starship Trooper (with some slightly different lyrics). This cut is
really a gem and, even by itself, would make this album a welcome addition
to any Yes collection.
(Intro)Sweetness: Bonus Track-Originally broadcast on Johnny Walker June
14, 1969, this track begins with a spoken introduction, naming the members
of the group, telling a tale of the history of the band, and describing the
song. This one actually seems a bit better produced than the earlier
version on the album, although that version was not poorly produced. In
fact, it seems as if there are some pleasant nuances, rather down in the
mix, that are either not present in the other rendition, or simply not
audible due to the recording quality. Both this version and the early
version have a more basic, underproduced feel to them than the original
version of this song. This actually makes them a pleasant departure.
Something`s Coming: Bonus Track-Another rendition of this track from West
Side Story(this time from Top Gear with John Peel February 23rd, 1969),
this performance differs little from either the earlier version on this CD
or the Yesyears rendition.
Sweet Dreams: Bonus Track-This version of this song is also from Top Gear
with John Peel February 23rd, 1969, and suffers from a rather annoying
announcer blurb over the top of the intro to the piece. This rendition
utilizes an intro much closer to the original, but the guitar solo here is
even longer than the first version present on this CD, which was itself a
departure from the original.
Beyond and Before: Bonus Track- Originally a rare French broadcast for
which the exact date is not given, the recording here is a bit lacking in
sound quality, but not that bad. The performance is a bit rougher around
the edges than the version present on Yes, but that is not necessarily a
bad thing. All in all, this is a fairly faithful rendition of a solid early
progressive rock and roller, with an instrumental break that differentiates
itself a bit from the original. This interpretation is slightly
abbreviated, although, it is really not noticeable unless you actually
compare the times of the two renditions.
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