----------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 9, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: London Times YES: The Ultimate Yes - 35th Anniversary Collection (WSM Records) By Chris Campling You know that thing about Led Zeppelin selling their souls to the Devil in exchange for superstardom? Well, 35 years ago, Yes did that, too, only what they said was: "Make us consummate musicians, instil in us the ability to inspire fans for life among very hairy young men, and in return we will put up with being possibly the uncoolest band to bestride the planet of Rock -- yes, even more uncool than Phil Collins." And, lo, it was so. The hairy young men are now bald middle-aged men, as are most of Yes, and yet the band's very name can bring a tear to the eye of those for whom the group's glory days -- from 1971 to 1973, say -- summed up all that was best about classically tinged, jazz-influenced virtuoso prog rock, a once-proud beast fallen on increasingly harder times. To be honest, it is a bit difficult to see the 21 tracks, lasting more than 150 minutes, on this double CD snaring a new and younger audience. The time has long gone when a fan of intricate musicianship and mystic lyrics was prepared to put up with songs that only really got into their stride after the ten-minute mark. But for more battle-hardened prog rock veterans CD1, in particular, is a triumph, delighting us with cuts from the first five albums, the Golden Age of Yes. CD2 contains Yes - the Declining Decades (ie, the past 30 years), spiced with a few hit singles such as Going for the One, Owner of a Lonely Heart and the ludicrously spelt Wonderous Stories. There are downers - what have they done with the And You and I segment from Close to the Edge? It sounds as if they re-recorded Rick Wakeman's parts on a Casio keyboard. But for the rest, there is magic here - especially the guitar of Steve Howe and the bass playing of Chris Squire, two men who, had the world been kinder, would be demigods now, not figures of fun. (Rating: 4/5) Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com