* * * * * * * * * * ______ ______ ____________ _________ / \ | \ __/ \ __/ \__ _________ | \| \ / |/ _ \ _________ / | // _____ || / \_/ \ | \ // / \ \\_ \_ | | \ || _____ ___\ \ \_ \_ | | \ || / ---/______| \ \_ | | ___\ || | | /______ __/ \ | | ___/ \ \\ \_ \_ // | | \_____ / ___\ _/ \_ \ \_ _// | ______/ \__ \__/ ___/ \_ \____ | \_/ \__ ___/ \___ _/ \__ \__/ \ \_________/ \_____/ \_ \_____/ \ \_ | \_ | \__ __/ \_____________/ #2 October 24, 1990 On with the second installment of the Yes/ABWH newsletter.... The list of members has grown to approximately 90 people, and additions keep coming! Thanks so much for all the input and enthusiasm!! Rumors abound concerning the current status of Yes. Several people have written to inform me that they had heard that once more Yes has disbanded. Apparently, the band "broke up" in order to form a new one called No Deal. This new group would consist of Trevor Rabin (?), Chris Squire, Alan White and Roger Hodgson (of Supertramp fame). The only members missing since the Big Generator album are Tony Kaye and Jon Anderson, Jon having left shortly after the end of the Big G. tour. New to the line-up is Supertramp singer/keyboardist Roger Hodgson...lets hope he doesn't try to "replace" Jon. I am hesitant to endorse this information, since I have heard it from very few sources...so let's leave it at the "rumor stage" until we have more information. Needless to say, however, is that there is not much hope for another Yes album in the near future... * * * * * * * * * * HAPPY BIRTHDAY: ============== October 25 is the birthday of one of the most important members in Yes history. This year Jon Anderson turns 46 on that day...so don't forget to wish him a happy birthday when you see him! * * * * * * * * * * ABWH: ==== Good news on the ABWH front: >From Joe P (joep@cbmvax.cbm.commodore.COM): There was a bit of an interview w/ Bill Bruford last night, on 94.1 in Philly...recorded on Wed, 10/10 after the Earthworks concert... Bill said that the (ABWH) album will be out in January. The music is done, a bunch of titles have been submitted, along with 13 or so tracks, of which 8-9 will make it to the album. (*grumble* I want them all!!) He described the sound as "lean modern rock", and not another Close to the Edge. Being produced by John Elias. * * * * * * * * * * TRIVIA ANSWERS: ============== 1) Q: What is the significance of the title of the Bill Bruford piece "Five Percent for Nothing" on the Fragile album? A: In order for Yes to get rid of their first manager, they had to promise him 5% royalties for the work he had done, which amounted to almost nothing. 2) Q: What was the original title for the same piece? A: The working title for Five Percent, was "Suddenly it's Wednesday". 3) Q: On what book were parts of "The Gates of Delirium" based? A: "Gates" was loosely based on Tolstoy's War And Peace. 4) Q: What book inspired "Close to the Edge" (the song)? A: "Close to the Edge" was inspired by Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha. 5) Q: Where did Jon find the inspiration for "Tales From Topographic Oceans"? A: While on tour in Japan during the Close to the Edge tour, Jon got caught up in Paramhansa Yoganada's Autobiography of a Yogi. In it he found mention of the 4 shastric principles of buddhism, around which the album revolves. More info can be found in the booklet for the CD. 6) Q: Jon played with David Foster (soundtrack for St. Elmo's Fire, among others) in a band prior to Yes. Name the band. A: Jon, David and his brother Tony had a band called the Electric Warriors (sometimes called just Warriors). They played top 20 songs, including the covers of songs from the bands that greatly influenced Yes: the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkle. 7) Q: Who threw the tomato that is splattered across the artwork on the Tormato album? A: Rick did it! 8) Q: To whom does Jon refer in the song "Yours Is No Disgrace"? A: Jon was writing about soldiers going off to fight in VietNam. 9) Q: Where was "Roundabout" written? A: Steve and Jon wrote "Roundabout" in the back of a van, as the band left Aberdeen, Scotland for Glasgow. Loch Ness is the lake mentioned: "in and around the lake". Mountains towered on all sides: "mountains came out of the sky" and they were all anxious to get home! "24 (hours) before my love, you'll see I'll be there with you" 10) What is the origin for the title of the Fragile album? A: When asked what the title of the upcoming Yes album was going to be, Yes' manager barely hesitated before answering "Fragile". He had seen this written on stage equipment in some photos he was looking at at the time. 11) Q: Before asking Steve Howe to join, who did Yes approach? A: Yes asked Robert Fripp to join the band. He turned them down, can you imagine how different things would be? 12) Q: What band did Trevor Rabin turn down just before he joined Yes? A: Trevor was asked to join Steve Howe in Asia. What if...? 13) Q: What was the inspiration for "Perpetual Change"? A: "Perpetual Change" was inspired by the British countryside where the band was recording. (Ross Storey adds the additional info that it was "morning mist at the Church Hill Lodge in Devon") 14) Q: Who was "The Clap" written for? A: "The Clap" was written for Steve's newborn son Dylan. 15) Q: What is the "real" name for this tune? A: Originally this was called "Clap", but somehow, the typo was added, and it stuck. An unfortunate label. (Ross Storey adds an additional title: "One Day Old") 16) Q: Who is the guest "vocalist" on the song "Circus of Heaven"? A: Jon's son Damion has a couple lines, speaking, at the end of the song. "No clowns..." 17) Q: What song off the Drama album was written and recorded once before Jon and Rick left the band? A: "Run Through the Light" was recorded by Yes in Paris in the fall of 1979, with Jon on vocals and Rick at the piano...the Drama version features Chris on piano, and Trevor Horn on bass and vocals. ("Into the Lens" was an answer that stumped some people on this one) 18) Q: What band was supposed to open for Cream's Farewell tour, but cancelled, thus giving Yes their break? A: We should thank Sly and the Family Stone for giving these amazing musicians their chance. 19) Q: What band from California opened for Yes in the states on their Close to the Edge tour? A: The Eagles! 20) Q: What university did Bill Bruford drop out of to rejoin Yes for Cream's Farewell concert? A: Bill played in Yes for a while, then dropped out to attend Leeds University. He was temporarily replaced by Tony O'Riley. When Yes got their chance to open for Cream, Bill ditched school, and the rest is history! (I have heard it said that Bill almost regrets his decision not to finish school...) AND RESULTS: =========== Dori Kelly (with a little help from husband Gary) had the most correct answers: 18. Missing only #6 Jon's former band with David Foster and #18 the original opening act for Cream's Farewell Concert, guessing Deep Purple. Ross Storey ran a close second with 17 correct responses. He missed question #7 on who threw that tomato, saying Steve Howe was responsible. Also missed #18, and #19, hoping the answer I wanted for #19 was Tranquility. Thanks to everyone who responded (you know who you are)...I only hope MORE OF YOU decide to participate next time (which, if all goes well, will entail a lyrics quiz compiled by Dori and Gary Kelly)... * * * * * * * * * * JON ANDERSON SONG: ================= >From Scott McDaniel (STU_SMMCDANI@VAX1.ACS.JMU.EDU): I've got a question for anybody out there that knows: When did Jon Anderson do a song which I think is titled "Cage of Freedom", and where can it be found. I taped it from the radio in eighth grade before I'd even heard of Yes, and I liked it. Only later did I recognize the voice as Jon's. I haven't found it on any of his solo albums, but an eighth grade taping would put it at about 1984-85. It includes the lyrics.... .... big brother big is a bigger one watching you or is there one smaller who I should be watching too Is that a friend Can you tell is he on your side? For I spy with my Infinite circles of snakes eating their own tails Forever may one ..... and earlier Cage of freedom Cast in power There's no entrance There's no exit Remember how we swallowed the key.... ...We manufactured this world of our own We manufactured this world on our own..... Nobody I've run into yet has heard the song, even when I play it for them from the tape. They all agree that it is Jon on vocals tho. So's anyone heard of it? * * * * * * * * * * MORE JON: ======== This is more a question of curiosity, rather than anything else: A while ago I played Jon's solo album Animation for a friend of mine, and she swears she's heard the song "All God's Children" somewhere before, done by someone else. I checked the songwriting credits; they go to Jon and his wife. No mention of anything else. So does anyone know where my friend might have heard this before??? I never had heard it until I got the album. -Cathy (v111pbxx@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu) * * * * * * * * * * BOOTLEGS: ======== >From Ross Storey (StoreyR@Venus.YCC.Yale.Edu): I have a friend who is so into Yes in so many ways, it is amazing. He does not have access to the net, though. He has over two hundred excellent bootlegs of live yes tours, at least one from every tour. He'd like to get into contact with other Yes collectors to see about trading. No Selling!!! I'll act as a go-between. He wants people to e-mail me with their address, and then he will write. Hopefully, some people will be interested in trading. Believe me some of the shows are recorded so well, it made me cry. Thanks. * * * * * * * * * * ABWH LIVE: ========= >From Ross Storey (StoreyR@Venus.YCC.Yale.Edu): Also, there is a Japanese only double Cd available as an import. It is a live recording of ABWH at Wembley Arena on Oct. 29, 1989. It's pressed on two picture disc Discs and has decent sound quality. The title on the disc is "An Evening of Yes Music Plus. . ." All this and more can be obtained by contacting this guy. -Ross Storey * * * * * * * * * * SUNRASTERS: ========== >From Eric (es10422@ultb.isc.rit.edu) I have a few YES album covers in Sunraster format. Yesterdays (ok condition) YesSongs (slightly rotated.... needs cleaning) I might have had Close to the Edge, but I can't find it now... I think I have a few more someplace (on mag tape I think) They may need image processing, but if you're interested send mail or I can place them someplace for anonymous FTP. I can also convert to GIF. I'm looking for the following (on CD only): Fish out of Water - Chris Squire Steve Howe Album - Steve Howe YesSongs - Yes * * * * * * * * * * EARTHWORKS ========== >From Bill S: (The following was also posted to rec.music.misc.) "Bill Bruford's" Earthworks, The Bayou, DC, Oct. 11, 1990 --------------------------------------------------------- For those who aren't familiar, Earthworks is Bill Bruford's jazz project. The play "British jazz" but try to avoid the excessively "serious" attitude of British jazz musicians and definitely don't share the anti-electronics views of many jazz musicians. Upon entering the Bayou I was relieved to note the management had decided to lay off the normal diet of commercial heavy-metal videos. Bruford's drum kit drew attention, located at the front of the stage on the audience's right. As in the AWBH concert, it consists of an acoustic snare and cymbals and a large Simmons electronic drum set. The show got under way with three tunes off Earthworks' newest, _Dig?_. Bruford got behind the mike between songs and talked to the crowd. Listeners to _The Bruford Tapes_ are familiar with what this is like. Before "My Heart Declares a Holiday" he said that it was a dance tune for those with 13 toes. At the end he thanked the audience and said "me on the plastic", referring to his plastic Simmons pads. Iain Bellamy was the main horn player with his saxes, including soprano, but Django Bates stepped out from behind the keyboards to play his Tenor horn as well. The Tenor looks like a sideways trumpet, bell pointing straight up, and has a mellow sound. Those who like a dirty type of sax sound will not hear it from Bellamy; this is probably my only gripe with these extremely talented musicians. His smooth tone is great for mellower tunes of course. Bates is a fine keyboardist. Those who think Bruford and next think Jeff Berlin are not going to disappointed by Tim Harries' bass. Both electric and upright basses were featured. The talent in this band is much more striking live. I wondered how the keyboard in "Pressure" would be handled along with the wonderful dual horn lines. Turns out, they're not really "keyboard", they're "chordal drums". Keyboard sounds are triggered by the Simmons drum pads. The album _Dig?_ uses the chordal drums in a more obvious way but I never realized they were used on the Earthworks debut album. Bruford's drumming was less flashy than I've seen at other times, but his playing is so tasteful, modern, and displays such an uncanny ability to keep track of complex rythms that, as always, it was a joy to hear him. And see him too! Standing 10 feet away sure beats seeing arena shows! I could hear his acoustic snare and cymbals directly; the sound of sticks hitting the Simmons pads was even audible at times. The show included an intermission. I estimate that they played a full 3/4 of their two albums. If you have any interest in modern jazz or Bruford's drumming or ... well, great music and talented musicians I definitely recommend seeing an Earthworks show if you can! * * * * * * * * * * ANOTHER DATE: ============ An addition to the list of concerts by Bill Bruford's Earthworks: Date: City: Location: 11-1 Pittsburgh Graffiti * * * * * * * * * * YES PUBLICATIONS: ================ I have been asked to compile a list of known Yes publications and their addresses, and will do so in the next letter. (Sorry) Please, if you know of any OTHER THAN Yes Magazine, Wonderous Stories, Going For the Two, and Dan Hedges' authorised biography of the band, or if you think you have further information on these that might interest someone, please e-mail me. * * * * * * * * * * LYRICS: ====== It has also been suggested that I post lyrics, especially those that are hard-to-obtain (not in the CD)...unfortunately I'm sure there are some sort of legal complications to doing this. I think this is what happened to lyrics-server. Maybe I can compile a list of who has what and let you get in touch with those people yourself. Comments anyone? * * * * * * * * * * YES RECORDING, PRE-DRAMA: ========================= Ron Chrisley has sent me lyrics from a recording he has of the Paris sessions in 1979, prior to Jon and Rick's departure. Rather than include these lyrics in this letter (which has turned out longer than I expected) I would rather that anyone interested in them contact me and I can forward them to you. Unfortunately Ron will not be able to make copies of this recording for anyone, so please do not write him with this request! (subject heading: Pre-Drama Lyrics) * * * * * * * * * * BEFORE YOU GO: ============= If you decide you wish to respond to any of the contributors to this issue, and you think your response might interest other readers (for example responses to Scott MacDaniel's question), please send your responses to me instead/also. Then I can include follow-up information in the next newsletter. That about wraps it up for newsletter #2...please remember that any and all information/comments/complaints are welcome...just write me at v111pbxx@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu Keep up the enthusiasm! Cathy