* * * * * * * * * * ______ ______ ____________ _________ / \ | \ __/ \ __/ \__ _________ | \| \ / |/ _ \ _________ / | // _____ || / \_/ \ |NOTES \ // / \ \\_ \_ | |FROM \ || _____ ___\ \ \_ \_ | |THE \ || / ---/______| \ \_ | |EDGE ___\ || | | /______ __/ \ | |#47 ___/ \ \\ \_ \_ // | | \_____ / ___\ _/ \_ \ \_ _// | ______/ \__ \__/ ___/ \_ \____ | \_/ \__ ___/ \___ _/ \__ \__/ \ \_________/ \_____/ \_ \_____/ \ \_ | \_ | \__ __/ \_____________/ Notes From the Edge #47 August 17th, 1992 * * * * * * * * * * IN THIS ISSUE... ================ Notes From the Editor - One down...eleven to go Tour Dates? - For members of the Yes family Bruford Rarity - In Search of Ancient Gods Some Thoughts and Comments - From the last issue Wakeman's Solos - Comparing and contrasting Steve Howe Live! - A review of the Texas show Unmasking the Caped Crusader - Info from Wakeman's fan club * * * * * * * * * * NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: ====================== A month back I wrote Rick Wakeman's Ambient label informing them of the existence of Notes From the Edge and asking for information about Rick. I got a nice thick envelope from them last week with all kinds of info, press releases, merchandise, etc. I've tried to summarize everything at the end of this issue. Victory will be next to hear from me. :-) Thanks to Mike Slater for the review of Steve Howe's solo show in Texas. Sounded like the rest of us missed a real treat. Speaking of concerts, here's a few shows of interest at the San Jose Cabaret, not all necessarily about Yes but all in the family: August 25th The Chris Squire Experience (Squire and White) August 28th Steve Morse September 12th Steve Hackett Tix for the first two are on sale, and the last one goes on sale this friday. I still don't know if I'll be at the Squire/White show but there's a possibility. -Mike Borella Editor of Notes From the Edge borella@cs.ucdavis.edu * * * * * * * * * * TOUR DATES? =========== From: wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca (Anil Prasad) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 92 2:57:03 EDT If anyone has any info, or even a scant rumour about Canadian tour dates for the following, please let me know asap! Jon And Kitaro The "Chris Squire Experience" Asia Rick Wakeman Thanks! Anil Prasad * * * * * * * * * * BRUFORD RARITY: =============== From: wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca (Anil Prasad) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 92 4:37:47 EDT I just picked up what appears to be a totally obscure Bruford appearance. Here's the details: IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT GODS featuring Bill Bruford An experience in sound and music based on the books of Erich von Daniken (yes, that's the real title and subtitle!) Bomb Records Licensed from John Hill Productions Bomb 106 (c) 1975 Music performed by "Absolute Elsewhere": William Bruford - Percussion Paul Fishman - Keys, flute Philip Saatchi - Guitar Jon Astrop - Guitar --- I've never heard or seen this before prior to picking it up at a store in Montreal. I'm dying for additional info. Thanks, Anil Prasad * * * * * * * * * * SOME THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS: =========================== Date: Fri, 7 Aug 92 17:11:09 -0400 From: burley@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Craig Burley) Two things: 1. THANKS for the analysis of "Hearts" on 90125! It is one of my favorite of the post-"Going for the One" Yes tunes. (After Going..., I spent many years exploring classical music, and now half my CD collection is classical, so that might explain why I love "Hearts" -- it's a "classic" Yes tune.) I'd hardly agree with the judgement on the closing -- rather than that attempting to achieve perfection is futile, more that doing so is a continual process (a very gratifying if one keeps hearing music like "Hearts"! :-) -- but a very helpful analysis overall, easy to read while mentally playing through the piece. (My 90125 CD is in the car at the moment, coincidentally cued to..."Hearts". :-) 2. Yes-related music on TV: our local channel 38 is showing ads for New England Patriot coverage featuring "Almost Like Love" from "Big Generator". Makes for great rockin' background music. Funny thing, though, they omit the parts of the song where Jon sings. What, Jon's voice not considered suitable for riling up NFL viewers? :-) NBC Olympics coverage late this Friday Aug 7 morning (the Peacock Channel :-) was using music from Steve Howe's "Turbulence" album. I haven't checked out which cut yet, but it's easy to identify -- it's the one that shares some material with "I Would Have Waited Forever" from "Union". (There are _two_ other Yes "Union" cuts that share material with two corresponding "Turbulence" cuts. So three "Union" cuts remind me of "Turbulence" and vice versa...kind of like how Bruford's "Gradually Going Tornado" reminds me, at the end, of National Health's "Of Queues and Cures", and now vice versa, but those albums were separated by a few years, I think.) tq vm, (burley) +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ Date: Tue, 4 Aug 92 14:21:11 -0400 From: dic5340@hertz.njit.edu (David Charlap) >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? Apparantly, ABWH changed many things throughout their tour. I've a video tape from Jones Beach, New York (near the start of the American tour) and at Madison Square Garden, NY (last stop of the tour), and there were differences. One that I noticed was the set. At Jones Beach, there was a spider- like assembly around Bill's drum set, which would flash lights and move with the music. There was a flowing curtain for a backdrop, which was lit up in different ways. Above the stage was a silver/black peace symbol. At MSG, the spider was gone, and the backdrop was simply a flat curtain. Above the stage was an assembly composed of four cloth triangles on chains. The chains were drawn up and down, making the triangles sometimes form pyramids, and other times look like a bird in flight. Neon line drawings were projected on the triangles. As for the music, MSG ended the show with "Sweet Dreams" (to the crowd's amazement and wonder), while JB ended the show with Starship Trooper. Also, at JB, Jon began his concert-opening solo walking through the audience to the stage. He just walked out from the side at MSG. > 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? The two solos are different, although they share similar themes. At ABWH, Rick begins with a richly melodic moving piano piece (which I haven't identified yet). He then goes into a powerful piece involving a flute-like synth bass and a pan-flute sound being played at incredible velocities - this is not Changes, though; it's close to something on "Six Wives", but it's not that either. After this piece, he plays part of the "Merlin" theme off of the "King Arthur" album. He finishes with a return to the first theme (that piano piece). He takes his bows and starts the band into "Long Distance Runaround" on piano. At Union, he started with an excerpt from "Six Wives". He then goes into the same bass/pan-flute solo as from ABWH. From there, he plays another excerpt from "Six Wives" - a slow, flowing string/voice piece. After this, Trevor Rabin comes in on guitar playing one of Rick's themes from "Six Wives" - Rick then parallels Trevor with the theme. Trevor switches themes to "Hall of the Mountain King" - this combination also occurs on the "Six Wives" album. Both finish, and Rick concludes with the "Merlin" theme again. After bows, he returns to the keyboard to bein "Awaken". [ I know the Hall of the Mountain King theme appears on the Journey... album, but I was wondering where it shows up on Six Wives...? - Mike ] >THEN AND NOW...A LOSER? >======================= > >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. Just to clear things up, Steve Howe was not present for "Then And Now". He is only in the credits because he wrote some of the "Then" songs. None of the "Now" stuff involved him. Asia (with Steve) is much better on the two other albums I have: "Asia" and "Astra". I have yet to get "Alpha" or "Aqua". (Gee, do they have a thing for the letter "A"?) If you can find GTR, it's a wonderful album, containing some pieces that can really get into one's head. >Somebody mentioned about a GTR reunion in 1996. Was it just a rumor? I hope not. I'd love to hear some of those pieces live. * * * * * * * * * * WAKEMAN'S SOLOS: ================ From: "David Halm" Date: Tue, 11 Aug 92 09:27:42 EDT > Jeff Johannes wrote: > > 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... Actually Wakeman played a different solo on the Union tour than on the ABWH tour. In fact, when I saw the very last show of the ABWH tour, his solo was even a bit different from the one he played earlier in the tour. Wakeman ended both his ABWH and Union solos with an excerpt from "Merlin" (Myths and Legends....) They both also included an excerpt from "Stand-By" (Rhapsodies) somewhere in the middle. This was the rapid-fire, repeated note synth bit. "Madrigal" opened the ABWH solo but not the Union solo. I can't remember the rest of the ABWH solo, so I don't know about the "Changes" part. The Union solo contained three excerpts from Six Wives, the three "Catherine" selections, I believe. It opened with the first song from Six Wives, just like on Yessongs. Then there was a slower, longing melody from another "Catherine." The third was the bit introduced by Rabin on guitar and then picked up by the keyboards. David * * * * * * * * * * STEVE HOWE LIVE! ================ Date: Mon, 3 Aug 92 15:32 CDT From: mds8539@tamuts.tamu.edu (Michael David Slater) Sunday, July 26 I saw Steve Howe perform a two-hour, all-acoustic set in front of fifty people. Sitting five yards away, and directly in front of the same guitarist I have seen playing for crowds of 15,000 was unsettling, let alone meeting Howe after the show. His playlist of familiar tunes provided the common denominator, and the show was as incredible as one might expect. "Wall Of Miracles," opened the show with a grouping of very average 'soft-white-reggae' songs performed by a very average band. Impatience was replaced by anger, as each minute the 'Wall' played was another minute Howe wasn't. Appropriately, their last song was "I've Waited a Lifetime." The crowd erupted in maddening applause when Howe came onstage. Fans used to psychedalic apparel, heeled-boots, and fifteen guitars would have been disappointed with his brown silk dress shirt, wing-tips, and Martin Acoustic. Appearance belied talent as Howe was hot as ever, playing off each solo album, taking a majority from the acoustic-heavy "The Steve Howe Album," songs like Meadow Rag, Diary of a Man Who Disappeared, and All's a Chord. For the curious, or skeptical, Howe DID sing, in a suprisingly tasteful voice. It leaves one wishing vocal tracks had been included on the latest solo Album, "Turbulence." Referencing at least two more solo albums due on Relativity in the next few years, Howe played an experimental number, Sweet Georgia, which I expect is dedicated to his daughter of the same name. That follows a trend started in 1969 when he wrote Clap for son Dylan, who is percussionist for the upcoming Howe solo effort. Howe added variety to the night with long stretches of "Tale From Topographic Oceans," again with fine vocals that provided a different interpretation than Yes's Jon Anderson. Additionally, he played some Vivaldi, pointing out the common love for Vivaldi's pieces he shares with Keith Emerson. In the late sixties, Howe mentioned, he tried to join "The Nice" with Emerson but a cryptical "things didn't work out" ended the thought. Finally, after almost two hours of note-perfect performance he predictably encored with Clap, Mood For a Day, and a Andre Segovia-style minuet. Playing at such a tiny venue as "The Pig 'Live'" in Houston allowed him to sign autgraphs without fear of mad mob riots. I found him upstairs sitting on a couch in a "Turbulence" T-shirt. He is certainly unlike any other person I have ever met -- incredible deer-like, and gentle. He seemed fairly scared of the group of 5 of us, particularly the primate who insisted on sitting beside him, waiting for the never-to- transpire photo-op. If you ever get the chance to meet him don't make the two mistakes I did, in my paralysis of awe: try to photograph him, or, in temporary stupidity, ask him if he get's along with Rick Wakeman. (to which he answered, "I don't see him much." Just as I suspected...) Steve Howe is currently working on his solo album due out in early 1993. It is expected that he will tour with Asia in fall. * * * * * * * * * * UNMASKING THE CAPED CRUSADER: ============================= They sent me so much stuff I don't know where to start. Here's a list of everything I got: - Two newsletters - An ad for two videotapes - A discography - A list of merchandise available - A free membership to something Most perplexing is the free membership. I guess there's a Wakeman fan club or something but the official literature doesn't say. In any case, I'm assuming that they'll keep me informed on whats going on in the Wakeman front so I can pass it on to you. I didn't know that Rick had a store! It's called "Wakeman's Music Emporium Ltd." and is based on his homeplace of the Isle of Man. Here are some of the items they sell: * The usual Wakeman CDs and videotapes. The only new CD mentioned is called "World of Wisdom", while the videotapes "The Classical Connection" and "The Word and the Gospels" were new to me. * Belt Buckles (King Arthur logo) * Bugs (?? I have no idea...) * Assorted pins * Earrings with musical designs * Keyrings * Jumpers * Keyboards (of course!) * T-shirts (designs include Classical Connection, 2000AD, and Yes) * Classical Connection Programs And so on. They advertise that they have quite a bit more musical merchandise. Here's the address: Wakeman's Music Emporium Ltd. Bajonor House Atholl Place Peel, Isle of Man Phone: (0624) 844138 Fax: (0624) 844135 I don't know how overseas orders would be handled so I suggest you write them or call for more info. This is also the address for the fan club, and again you'll have to write them to hear more. Here are some items of interest in the two newsletters: * Alan White will guest on the forthcoming "Wakeman and Wakeman" album, featuring Rick and his son Adam. Most of the composition was by Adam! * Rick is finishing off the "Prayers" recording and is ready to mix. A promo CD with parts of songs and interviews will be made, though it won't be sold. The fan club will try to get some. * Rick is working on a sheet music book of some of his newer piano oriented pieces. * Rick and his wife Nina were guests of a Florida-based charity dedicated to expanding a village for children with terminal diseases whose last wish is to see Disneyworld. The charity raised over $1.5 million at the ball that Rick and Nina attended. * Rick is preparing a live show based on The War of the Roses, with a possible CD recording of it being released. * At the Gaitey Theatre on the Isle of Man will have two Christmas shows featuring Rick on the 11th and 12th of December. * Rick did a show in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Adam Wakeman on guitar Alan Thompson on bass, Tony Fernandez on drums and Chrissie Hammond on vocals. The show was on nationwide TV. He plans to return to Russia for more shows next year. * There will be no Yes tour this year. * There will be a CD of Rick with the English Rock Ensemble recorded live in Italy. * There are talks underway of a live show of "Prayers" in California. * A US tour is confirmed, with 15-20 shows in Florida, Georgia, Loiusiana, and possibly Kentucky and New Jersey. * A CD will be released in the US with a 36 minute version of "Journey..." with no narration and 8 minutes of "Catherine Howard" and "Merlin the Magician". If I read it right, the tracks are new recordings with the American Rock Ensemble, and supposedly very different from the originals. Tentative release date was early August. * A UK solo tour will be coming. The dates are: Oct. 31 Berwick on Tweed. Nov. 1 Forum 28, Barrow in Furness Nov. 5 Sheffield Nov. 6 Chatham Nov. 7 Sutton Nov. 8 Walthamstow Nov. 9 Canterbury Nov. 11 Worthing Nov. 12 Weston Super Mare Nov. 15 Derby Nov. 16 Mould Nov. 19 Mitchell Theatre, Glascow Nov. 21 Wullyotts Centre, Potters Bar Nov. 22 Colchester Nov. 27 Telford Town Hall Nov. 28 Leeds Civic Centre * A classically oriented triple CD set is being prepared for commision, but will be made available to the general public eventually. Busy guy, huh? :-) -Mike Borella Editor of Notes From the Edge borella@cs.ucdavis.edu * * * * * * * * * * 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 #47 >-- ********************************************************************************