* * * * * * * * * * ______ ______ ____________ _________ / \ | \ __/ \ __/ \__ _________ | \| \ / |/ _ \ _________ / | // _____ || / \_/ \ |NOTES \ // / \ \\_ \_ | |FROM \ || _____ ___\ \ \_ \_ | |THE \ || / ---/______| \ \_ | |EDGE ___\ || | | /______ __/ \ | |#46 ___/ \ \\ \_ \_ // | | \_____ / ___\ _/ \_ \ \_ _// | ______/ \__ \__/ ___/ \_ \____ | \_/ \__ ___/ \___ _/ \__ \__/ \ \_________/ \_____/ \_ \_____/ \ \_ | \_ | \__ __/ \_____________/ Notes From the Edge #46 August 3rd, 1992 * * * * * * * * * * IN THIS ISSUE... ================ Editorial Notes - The Chris Squire Experience? Yes on Victory - A lineup? New Lineup Comments - Not what it seems... Wakeman to tour the States - This fall! Onion Video - Broadcast on TV, no less! Drama Bootleg - Availability? Collectors Only - Yes Rarities Writing Yes - Addresses? ABWH Live - 2 Years in Retrospect - Another look at the Pay-per More on Jon & Kitaro - Comments and Radio City show Then and Now...A Loser? - Another Listen Hearts: An Analytical Review - Details and more Important Questions - Pondering the imponderable * * * * * * * * * * EDITORIAL NOTES: ================ Ok, so I was calling the San Jose Cabaret to get some more info about the upcoming Camel show and I hear this plug for the "Chris Squire Experience" playing there the 25th of this month. Ok, I think, Squire died and now some young guy is trying to copy him...I wonder if he'll go for the 70's boots and cape approach or the more recent bloated alcoholic image. Then I hear that the show will feature Chris Squire, Alan White and "their new band". I'm still wondering who "their new band" is, though if it has anyone that even looks like Trevor Rabin... So I don't know if I'm going yet though the Cabaret is literally a five minute walk from my doorstep (and all you thought I was in Davis, hah!) My girlfriend told me that she'd go if I paid (she said, rapidly blinking her eyes). I told her I'd go if she paid for me (I said shoving her off couch). They didn't say how much tix were though judging from the Camel prices I'd say about $16 or so, or much more if you get them through Bass(tards) the local overpriced ticket agency. This issue really kicks. I haven't been excited by an issue of NFTE in a while, but what you're about to read brings me back to the good old days of March 91 or so when all of us were wondering what the hell Union would sound like. Which reminds me: If you're wondering what former editor Cathy Leak is up to, she just moved into a nice pad in Berkeley and is gearing up for four more years of school. If you'd like to write her, her address is: Cathy Leak 1862 Arch St. #3 Berkeley CA 94709 USA She accepts all major credit cards. :-) And one final thing: Since so many people have ignored my requests and pleadings to send all NFTE related mail to my account on the snowball machine, you may now send the mail here too and I won't get pissed at you. In fact it won't make a difference where you send it since it all gets forwarded here anyhow. Thanks to everyone who was contientious and sent all the Notes mail over there. -Mike Borella Editor of Notes From the Edge borella@cs.ucdavis.edu * * * * * * * * * * YES ON VICTORY: =============== For sake of brevity I've combined several people's postings here: According to the new ELP tourbook, Yes HAS been signed to Victory and the lineup it gives is: Jon Anderson Tony Kaye Trevor Rabin Chris Squire Rick Wakeman Alan White This doesn't necessarily mean that Howe and Bruford are out - the story will come with time. Thanks to the following people for this info: Damien DeSimone <71221.2364@CompuServe.COM> Jeremy Weissenburger <07822@brahms.udel.edu> Roger M. Levasseur Mike Robinson -Mike Borella Editor of Notes From the Edge borella@cs.ucdavis.edu * * * * * * * * * * NEW LINEUP COMMENTS: ==================== From: mcytera@nl.oracle.com (Mark Cytera) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 92 14:37:43 MET DST With all the talk of a new Yes album, and the rumours concerning the change in the line-up of the band, I thought it might be worth trying to come up with a title for the new album. I'm suggesting "And then there were 6", but I don't know if that would infringe any copyright. Anyway, what about 90126? Any other ideas (maybe more serious), and we could pass on our suggestions to Yes themselves. By the way, apart from Bruford, do they know about this newsletter? Mark Cytera +++ +++ +++ +++ From: wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca (Anil Prasad) Date: Sun, 19 Jul 92 1:38:03 EDT Regarding Greg Stoned's comments about Yes reforming in ScabYes+Wakeman mode: Bruford sure seemed to think he was still in Yes when I talked to him on July 7th. He was fairly emphatic about the fact that he planned on continuing with the group. Unless the ScabYes+Wakeman band is pulling, to use Perot-Speak, a "Republican Style Dirty Trick" on Bruford, I wouldn't take what Stoned said too seriously. Anil Prasad * * * * * * * * * * WAKEMAN TO TOUR THE STATES: =========================== Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 23:28:23 EDT From: Mike Fellow Yes-heads: Found this article in a local (south Florida) music rag _Jam_ recently... _Fla Band on Wakeman Tour_ Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman will be touring Europe and the US this summer-- with the help of some Florida musicians. An Orlando based group consisting of Mike Franklin, Tim Franklin, Paul Parker and Jim Gentry will be touring as Wakeman's band in England and Germany and at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland before embarking on a series of US concerts beginning this fall... [stuff about the bands background in Florida]... The group is currently in Orlando recording tracks for Wakeman's upcoming album, to be titled _Classic Tracks_. For that project, they're using the name "Rick Wakeman and The American Rock Ensemble." Cool eh? Also, I was at a record meet this past weekend, and got a couple bootleg tapes, including one that was a mix of 1991 and 1971 stuff, and other assorted remixes and edits... The 1991 stuff was "Awaken" and "Roundabout" recorded in Dayton, nothing too special there (I am accumulating numerous Union boots to really find anything special here), and the 1971 stuff was recorded in NYC on 7/23/71, and features Clap/ Classical Gas by Steve, Perpetual Change, and then a really long jam on a song introduced as "It's Love"... I have never heard of this song nor do I recall any artist's name being mentioned by Jon in the intro... Does anyone have any details on this song? Don't decieve your freewill at all... Mike * * * * * * * * * * ONION VIDEO: ============ From: wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca (Anil Prasad) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 92 21:01:25 EDT Howdy folks, A Yes "Union" tour concert video was aired on Canadian television tonight and I gots me a pristine copy of this thing. If anyone has anything interesting to trade video or audiowise, please get in touch with me! *Great* video too. Too bad Kaye, White, Squire and Rabin had to be in it. :) I figure everyone would want to know the deal on the new Yes Onion video, so here it is. It's called "Round The World In 80 Dates" and runs 90 minutes. The specific concert location and date is not mentioned. It's got the bulk of the show, but none of the solos, Awaken, Rhythm Of Love (oh darn!) or Hold On (double darn it all to heck!) made it to the final edit. It's a great video. Chris Squire is there in all of his obese glory, double chin flailing away as he strains to stand up for the duration of the show, Bill Bruford taps away every 10 minutes or so on his electronic kit as Alan White plays like all acoustic drums will disappear off the face of the earth immediately after the gig. Trevor Rabin flops about doing his best Slash impersonation, leather tights, open shirt, tassled boots and all, while Tony "The Sound Of One Hand Playing" Kaye (I wonder what he does with his other hand during the shows?) is going nuts tapping the one key that activates his sequencer... Whoa!!!! Holy negativity Batman! Whip out the Bat-Yes-Union-Skeptic-scab-Yes-hater antidote! I'm sure all of those who think the Onion tour was a good idea will like this video. The performances are overall quite good. Heart Of The Sunrise shines, especially since it's the one tune where Bruford handles all of the drum chores. Wakeman's solo on Owner Of A Lonely Heart is great as well. I hadn't heard of this concert video until it aired tonight. I don't know if it will be released on home video, but I assume it will someday. Then again, who cares anyway? Anil Prasad * * * * * * * * * * DRAMA BOOTLEGS? =============== Date: Mon, 20 Jul 92 15:39:25 -0400 From: Gregory Silvus Several years ago (read over 8 years), I recorded a Yes radio show. One of the tunes they did from the Horn/Downes era was "We Can Fly From Here", which Trevor Horn said was "a song that didn't make the album, but it's still one of my favorites..." It's a pretty neat song, and I was disappointed that it didn't make the boxed set (initially, I thought "Run with the Fox" might be it...until I found my old tape). Does anyone know where I could get a recording on CD? My copy is really low quality, although better than nothing. Thanks for your help, gReg * * * * * * * * * * COLLECTORS ONLY: ================ Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 17:31:43 EST From: David Markfield An individual (who wishes to remain anonymous) recently contacted me requesting I act as intermediary for a large number of EXTREMELY rare YES items that they are offering for sale. I will not waste the bandwidth here going into details, however if you are interested please email me at: ilwn500@indycms.iupui.edu later Dave * * * * * * * * * * WRITING YES: ============ Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 02:12 EST From: SZ2@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU Has anyone written (or more interestingly gotten mail from) any of the Yes men? I particularly am interested in writing Jon Anderson. If someone could provide the appropriate address, I'd be very appreciative. On another, slightly different note, is there anyone from NFTE planning on attending ELP at Deer Creek in Indianapolis on 8/17? First of all, I may need some directions, and I'd possibly like to see who I could meet before the show. The reason I'm asking for this is that that will be my first night in the state (I'm moving to Bloomington to begin grad work at IU), and I expect to be pretty clueless, so any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance . . . Jeff Johannes SZ2@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU * * * * * * * * * * ABWH LIVE - 2 YEARS IN RETROSPECT: ================================== Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 03:06 EST From: SZ2@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU I was just watching my Shoreline Aphi. PPV tape of ABWH, and I must restate my vows to Yes . . . they are BRILLIANT! I just watched the solos, and I have a hard time sitting still while watching! I just want to be as close as possible to them! WOW! Anyway, soon enough Yes euphoria will lessen a bit (but never die!) and I'll get to my questions . . . I was very lucky to see ABWH on their first ever performance in Memphis, on July 30, 1989, and for what I can tell from the video, there's a few things they dropped from the set after that show. When I saw Steve's solo, Jon was on stage for the performance, and they actually did part of the acoustic bit from "The Ancient" ("Does the lamb cry out before we shoot it dead?"). It was very exciting for me, since it's the only time I've seen even part of _Tales_ (my favourite album). Also, they performed "Quartet" of the album. Both were really good. Anyway, does anyone know if this was the only show they played those songs for? I want to see Yes again! I've never had good seats, and there are so many more things that I want to look for (cameras never go where you want). One more question . . in Rick's ABWH solo (which I believe was the same for the Union tour), does it sound to anyone else like the section after "Madrigal" is "Changes" in about double-time? I know that's a Kaye song from 90125, but it really sounds like it. Maybe it's just a theme from some Wakeman solo work that I'm forgetting. Please comment on what Rick's solos contain. In fact, a synopsis would be most interesting, because, although I think I nevercould recognize the parts (I can't keep my attention focuses without being awed by his playing!), I probably own them all. Thanks as usual, for any helpful info. Wait . . a final short one . . has anyone gotten Yes Magazine 4-2 or know of it's timing for release? Just being impatient! Jeff Johannes SZ2@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU * * * * * * * * * * MORE ON JON & KITARO: ===================== From: wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca (Anil Prasad) Date: Sat, 25 Jul 92 0:20:53 EDT just got a recent press release from MCA regarding some news about the Kitaro/Anderson collaboration "I was very excited about working with KITARO" John said. "This is a wonderful musical marriage and I am looking foward to perorming in concert with him. Music is so important and can have so much impact. When you are able to make great music that you hope will affect people in an uplifting way, well, what more could you ask for?" Hee yuk! How profound mr. amorphism! The propaganda sheet continues with: Kitaro along with Jon Anderson begin an international tour in the UNITED STATES in October. There are ambitious plans to take the elaborate and sophisticated sound/light/symphony production to unusual locations around the world. It is of course expected that "special friends" will make appearances at various stops on the tour. Yee haw! The question is, will Kitaro offer us further proof that one cannot listen to a light show? Anil Prasad +++ +++ +++ +++ Date: 27 Jul 92 21:02:45 EDT From: Damien DeSimone <71221.2364@CompuServe.COM> Hello everybody: I just got tickets to see Kitaro *with Jon Anderson* at Radio City Music Hall in New York on October 21! This should be a great show. I doubt the Kitaro/Jon Anderson tour will be extensive, so this might be a rare opportunity to see Jon in this type of setting. I would think his vocals would be a focal point of the show, and I am sure he will really have a chance to shine! After all, he won't have a bunch of over-the-hill prog dinosaurs on stage with him to cramp his style! Just kidding... :-) Anyway, are any NFTE readers going to be at the show? I'm sure the crowd will be quite diverse. I'll say it right now, I am there TO SEE JON ANDERSON, as I don't give a damn about Kitaro, he's boring! Diehard Yes fans have to stick together... Lastly, in case you don't know this, the new Kitaro CD has recently been released in the US, and it is called "Dreams," as opposed to the Japanese import I have called "Lady Of Dreams." The US version has one extra track that features Jon. See ya, Damien DeSimone 71221.2364@compuserve.com * * * * * * * * * * THEN AND NOW...A LOSER? ======================= Date: Sun, 19 Jul 92 19:55:36 PDT From: edju%phakt.usc.edu@usc.edu (Dr. Hannibal Lecter) I gave Then And Now a couple more spins and it just got worse with each listen. Now I had a lot of CDs that grew on me, with Fragile being one of them. But a CD that gets worse and worse with each spin... this was a first! Regardless of the lyrics, Asia's music was still too one-dimensional and structurally boring. Of course, if I haven't heard GTR, I might have thought Howe did put in some hard work with Asia. Somebody mentioned about a GTR reunion in 1996. Was it just a rumor? Eddie * * * * * * * * * * HEARTS - AN ANALYTICAL REVIEW: ============================== Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 03:55 EST From: SZ2@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU A New World Jeff Johannes Music Paper 4 Tyler White 3/17/1989 One isolated distant note--this begins Hearts by Yes from the album _90125_. The endless modulation and changes from major to minor keys accentuate the contrasted feelings in this song. The piece moves through only four keys and three themes, but a skillful use of continual modulation creates the necessary changes of mood. The song opens with the solitary tonic, to establish the key and the mood of loneliness. This note emanates with a tone reminiscent of a boat lost at sea calling for help. The key of D minor is verified in the first twelve measures, which is the second longest stretch of a consistent key in the composition. This constant span serves to clearly establish the opening key so that modulating and returning to it will be apparent as it happens. The opening keyboard passage, which delivers a praying message and a hopeless yearning for something better, is developed in the first twenty-four measures with simple but unobtrusive chord changes between D and G minor. These deviations serve to emphasize the incessant searching, but do not indicate a significant change, parallel to the harmonic similarity of the tonic to the subdominant. Through a more detailed analysis the two-measure repeated phrase suggests a haphazard wandering as the doubled sixths wander around the tonic. In addition to the thematic and harmonic feeling of aimless searching the vocals openly express this message for all who have missed it. The lyrics include "Set your heart sail on the river; look around you as you drift downstream," intertwined with the vocal "hearing, talking." All aspects of the section affirm the idea of searching for something better. After twenty-four measures of the principal motif, the first transitory phrase is introduced. For this strain the piece moves into a new key, A minor. This modulation casts the piece into a dreamy instrumental chord progression with several sustained flowing chords. This enchanting motive is somewhat like a consideration of how life could be better, but it also expresses a sense of futility for the future. This utopia ends rapidly and the work moves back to the principal motif, but with a more violent approach accentuated by the bass guitar and the bass drum. This renewed search features a stronger definition of the goal, and therefore more devotion to reaching it. The continuous ideas are mirrored by the lyrics which climax at the end of the main body of the principal theme with: All the senses tuned discovery as and as and when our hearts decide. Be ready now, be ye circle; be the central force ye life. As the game extends the cycle, be ready to move. With that last word, the piece rises with a dramatic modulation from the depressing D minor thus indicating the end of the long and laborious search. After modulating out of D minor into the key of D major, the piece picks up psychologically. Every component of the song expresses an achieved goal. Structurally the composition develops a new motive completely independent of the principal motif. This secondary theme moves into the forefront and becomes the major influence for the remainder of the piece. Harmonically the main transformation of the work, from minor to major, provides a principal focus and stands out as the essential turning point. Lyrically the song expresses a new found optimism and an achievement through the expressive lines of "One heart's for love, one's for giving . . . I hearing it, I living it, I believe in it." This is the crucial turning point of the work, completely demonstrating a realization of the better world the searcher has found. After a short recurrence of the principal theme, there is a constantly changing guitar solo to demonstrate the experiences and examination of the new way of life. The secondary motive is then repeated for enforcement, showing that apparently the better lifestyle has been found. After the reality of the new world has sunk in, the searcher realizes that it is new, but begins to question whether it is the world he was searching for. This is expressed through the most violent and tumultuous section of the piece, a completely new phrase with new questions. This tertiary strain presents the concept that possibly this new way of life is too good to be true, however the fact that the section is in G major and not a minor key clues the listener to a positive outcome. Once again the thematic idea is stated with the lyrics asking "Who would believe you? Wise men do. . . You sing the answers, question time." This violent questioning evolves into the principal motif, with a more passionate approach than before; however after four measures it quickly resolves back into the secondary subject of the new world. For the next twenty-four measures the composition stays with the secondary motive, and holds to the key of D major. This is the longest uninterrupted stretch of one defined key throughout the entire work. It expresses that near-paradise has been found; all of the ideas expressed with the introduction of the movement earlier are repeated. A guitar solo eight measures into this section expresses the more successful experiences in the new lifestyle. In the last eight measures the piece slows once again to have a enchanted quality, with everything described in words of perfection: "All angels of the magic constellation be singing us now." However, this perfection is suddenly shaken with the final chord which is reminiscent of the primary motif and the initial key of D minor, intentionally established so the listener could recognize it as it reappeared. This restatement of the original question hints that the world may not be perfect, and signifies that the search for something better is truly never- ending. The final chord has a tonal quality much like the initial note, and therefore ties back into the idea of loneliness and desperation, indicating that the quest for perfection is futile. * * * * * * * * * * IMPORTANT QUESTIONS: ==================== From: wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca (Anil Prasad) Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 2:31:23 EDT Does anyone know if "Page of Life" was ever released in the USA? Also, it seems Jon is working his way through every Japanese synth superstar, is Tomita next? Will we eventually see a Jon and Yanni project emerge? (Yes, I know Yanni is not japanese, so relax) Will Yanni eventually join Yes? Will Chris Squire go on nutrasystem? Some questions to ponder... Anil Prasad * * * * * * * * * * THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: ============================== New subscribers, contributions, questions/comments/criticism, and additions/corrections to the discography: Mike Borella (Editor) borella@snowball.cs.ucdavis.edu NFTE Server (lyrics, backissues, discography, rarities, surveys, GIFs): Automated. For help send mail with subject line yes-archive@meiko.com "send main help" to NFTE Server problems, additions/corrections to the lyrics & GIFs, and additions/corrections to the rarities list: Mike Stok mike@meiko.com NFTE backissues and lyrics via anonymous FTP from cs.uwp.edu (131.210.1.4): Directory: /pub/music/lists/yes Contact for helping out with transcriptions: Greg Utas utas@bnr.ca For Import CD's (last resort): Joe Pizzirusso joep@cbmvax.cbm.commodore.com ******************************************************************************** --< END OF NOTES FROM THE EDGE #46 >-- ********************************************************************************