YES — Time And A Word (1970-2009) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Yes' second (and least successful) album was a transitional effort; the group trying for a more produced and sophisticated sound through the use of an orchestra. Even so, the results weren't conventional, because the group didn't tone down or turn down its sound. Much of Time and a Word relies on bold, highly animated performances by Bill Bruford, Chris Squire, and Tony Kaye. Additionally, by this time the group was developing a much tauter ensemble than was evident on their first LP, so there's no lack of visceral excitement. "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed" was a bold opening, a highly amplified, frenzied adaptation of the Richie Havens song, melded with Jerome Moross's title music from the movie The Big Country. Somewhat more successful musically is "Then," which keeps the orchestral accompaniment to a minimum and allows Kaye and Banks to stretch out on organ and guitar. "Everydays" is highlighted by Anderson's ethereal vocals and Kaye's dueting with the orchestra. A surprising amount of the material here seems rather tuneless, but the group was solidifying its sound and, in the process, forcing Banks out of the lineup, despite some beautiful moments for him (and Tony Kaye) on the prettiest parts of "The Prophet," a piece that also contains fragments of music that anticipate Yes' work right up through Tales from Topographic Oceans. "Astral Traveller," as a title, anticipates the themes of future group work, though they still don't have the dexterity to pull off the tempo changes they're trying for. By the time the record was completed, Banks was out of the band, which is why Steve Howe, his successor, ended up pictured on the cover of most editions. Bruce Eder  

Tracklist :

1.     No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (Havens) (4:53)

2.     Then (Anderson) (5:50)

3.     Everydays (Stills) (6:12)

4.     Sweet Dreams (Anderson / Foster) (3:52)

5.     The Prophet (Anderson / Squire) (6:39)

6.     Clear Days (Anderson) (2:09)

7.     Astral Traveller (Anderson) (5:57)

8.     Time And A Word (Anderson / Foster) (4:40)
– BONUS TRACKS –

9.     Dear Father (Anderson / Squire) (4:15)

10.     No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (Original Mix) (Havens) (4:46)

11.     Sweet Dreams (Original Mix) (Anderson / Foster) (4:21)

12.     The Prophet (Single Version) (Anderson / Squire) (6:36)

Musicians :

Jon Anderson - Vocals, Percussion

Chris Squire - Bass, Vocals

Peter Banks - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocal

Tony Kaye - Piano, Organ

Bill Bruford - Drums, Percussion

YES — The Yes Album (1971-2009) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

On Yes' first two albums, Yes (1969) and Time and a Word (1970), the quintet was mostly searching for a sound on which they could build, losing one of their original members – guitarist Peter Banks – in the process. Their third time out proved the charm – The Yes Album constituted a de facto second debut, introducing the sound that would carry them forward across the next decade or more. Gone are any covers of outside material, the group now working off of its own music from the ground up. A lot of the new material was actually simpler – in linear structure, at least – than some of what had appeared on their previous albums, but the internal dynamics of their playing had also altered radically, and much of the empty space that had been present in their earlier recordings was also filled up here – suddenly, between new member Steve Howe's odd mix of country- and folk-based progressive guitar and the suddenly liberated bass work and drumming of Chris Squire and Bill Bruford, respectively, the group's music became extremely busy. And lead singer Jon Anderson, supported by Squire and Howe, filled whatever was left almost to overflowing. Anderson's soaring falsetto and the accompanying harmonies, attached to haunting melodies drawn from folk tunes as often as rock, applied to words seemingly derived from science fiction, and all delivered with the bravura of an operatic performance – by the band as well as the singer – proved a compelling mix. What's more, despite the busy-ness of their new sound, the group wasn't afraid to prove that less could sometimes be more: three of the high points were the acoustic-driven "Your Move" and "The Clap" (a superb showcase for Howe on solo acoustic guitar), and the relatively low-key "A Venture" (oddly enough, the latter was the one cut here that didn't last in the group's repertory; most of the rest, despite the competition from their subsequent work, remained in their concert set for years to come). The Yes Album did what it had to do, outselling the group's first two long-players and making the group an established presence in America where, for the first time, they began getting regular exposure on FM radio. Sad to say, the only aspect of The Yes Album that didn't last much longer was Tony Kaye on keyboards: his Hammond organ holds its own in the group's newly energized sound, and is augmented by piano and other instruments when needed, but he resisted the idea of adding the Moog synthesizer, that hot instrument of the moment, to his repertory. The band was looking for a bolder sound than the Hammond could generate, and after some initial rehearsals of material that ended up on their next album, he was dropped from the lineup, to be replaced by Rick Wakeman. Bruce Eder  

Tracklist :

1.     Yours Is No Disgrace (Anderson-Squire-Howe-Kaye-Bruford) 9:41

2.     Clap (Howe) 3:17

3.     Starship Trooper (Music: Anderson-Squire-Howe; Lyrics: Anderson-Squire) 9:29

    a) Life Seeker (Anderson)

    b) Disillusion (Squire)

    c) Wurm (Howe)

4.     I've Seen All Good People 6:57

    a) Your Move (Anderson)

    b) All Good People (Squire)

5.     A Venture (Anderson) 3:19

6.     Perpetual Change (Anderson-Squire) 8:58
– BONUS TRACKS –

7.     Your Move (single version) (Anderson) 2:59

8.     Starship Trooper: Life Seeker (single version) (Anderson) 3:28

9.     Clap (studio version) (Howe) 4:02

Musicians :

Jon Anderson - Vocals, Percussion

Chris Squire - Bass Guitars, Vocals

Steve Howe - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Vachalia, Vocals

Tony Kaye - Piano, Organ, Moog

Bill Bruford - Drums, Percussion

YES — 90125 (1983-2009) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A stunning self-reinvention by a band that many had given up for dead, 90125 is the album that introduced a whole new generation of listeners to Yes. Begun as Cinema, a new band by Chris Squire and Alan White, the project grew to include the slick production of Trevor Horn, the new blood (and distinctly '80s guitar sound) of Trevor Rabin, and eventually the trademark vocals of returning founder Jon Anderson. His late entry insured that Rabin and Horn had a heavy influence on the sound. The album also marked the return of prodigal keyboardist Tony Kaye, whose crisp synth work on "Changes" marked the band's definitive break with its art rock roots. "Owner of a Lonely Heart" was a huge crossover hit, and its orchestral break has been relentlessly sampled by rappers ever since. The vocal harmonies of "Leave It" and the beautifully sprawling "Hearts" are additional high points, but there's nary a duff track on the album. Paul Collins
Tracklist :
1.     Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Rabin-Anderson-Squire-Horn) 4:30
2.     Hold On (Rabin-Anderson-Squire) 5:18
3.     It Can Happen (Squire-Anderson-Rabin) 5:29
4.     Changes (Rabin-Anderson-White) 6:21
5.     Cinema (Squire-Rabin-White-Kaye) 2:08
6.     Leave It (Squire-Rabin-Horn) 4:14
7.     Our Song (Anderson-Squire-Rabin-White) 4:18
8.     City Of Love (Rabin-Anderson) 4:52
9.     Hearts (Anderson-Squire-Rabin-White-Kaye) 7:43
– BONUS TRACK –
10.     Leave It (Single Remix) (Squire-Rabin-Horn) 3:57
11.     Make It Easy (Bonus Track) (Rabin) 6:12
12.     It Can Happen (Squire / Anderson / Rabin) (Cinema Version) (6:05)
13.     It's Over (Previously Unissued) (Rabin) (5:42)
14.     Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Previously Unissued Extended Remix) (Rabin / Anderson / Squire / Horn) (7:05)
15.     Leave It (A Capella Version) (Squire / Rabin / Horn) (3:19)
Musicians :
Jon Anderson - Vocals
Tony Kaye - Keyboards
Trevor Rabin - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Chris Squire - Bass, Guitar (Bass), Vocals
Alan White - Drums, Percussion, Vocals

YES — Big Generator (1987-2009) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The four-years-in-the-making follow-up to Yes' comeback album, 90125, Big Generator was also a million-selling hit, although not as successful as its predecessor, probably because the singles "Love Will Find a Way" (number 30) and "Rhythm of Love" (number 40) couldn't match "Owner of a Lonely Heart" from the previous LP, even if they were favorites on AOR radio at the time. Actually, it was the title track that was a carbon copy of "Owner," so maybe that was the problem. More likely, though, "Owner" was a one-shot (courtesy of producer Trevor Horn), and as Yes asserted itself more here, the band reverted more to its old style, making for some confusion. Nevertheless, this album was Yes' last major hit. William Ruhlmann

Tracklist :

1.     Rhythm Of Love (Kaye-Rabin-Anderson-Squire) 4:48

2.     Big Generator (Rabin-Kaye-Anderson-Squire-White) 4:34

3.     Shoot High Aim Low (White-Kaye-Rabin-Anderson-Squire) 7:03

4.     Almost Like Love (Kaye-Rabin-Anderson-Squire) 5:01

5.     Love Will Find A Way (Rabin) 4:51

6.     Final Eyes (Rabin-Kaye-Anderson /Squire) 6:26

7.     I'm Running (Rabin-Squire-Anderson-Kaye-White) 7:38

8.     Holy Lamb (Song For Harmonic Convergence) (Anderson) 3:24

– BONUS TRACK –
9.     Love Will Find A Way (Edited Version) (4:18)

10.     Love Will Find A Way (Extended Version) (7:12)

11.     Rhythm Of Love (Dance To The Rhythm Mix) (6:55)

12.     Rhythm Of Love (Move To The Rhythm Mix) (4:26)

13.     Rhythm Of Love (The Rhythm Of Dub) (7:51)

Musicians :

Jon Anderson - Vocals

Tony Kaye - Keyboard

Trevor Rabin - Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals

Chris Squire - Bass and Vocals

Alan White - Drums and Percussion