______ ______ ____________ _________ / \ | \ __/ \ __/ \__ | \| \ / |/ _ \ | // _____ || / \_/ \ // / \ \\_ \___ \ || _____ ___\ \ \_ \ \ || / --/ ______| \ \ ___\ || | | - /______ __/ \ ___/ \ \\ \_ \_ // | / ___\ _/ \_ \ \_ _// | \__ \__/ ___/ \_ \____ | \_/ \__ ___/ \___ _/ \__ \__/ \ \_________/ \_____/ \_ \_____/ \ \_ | \_ | \__ __/ \_____________/ N o t e s F r o m T h e E d g e # 87 (c) THE Internet Magazine For YES Fans December 9, 1993 ______________________________________________________________________________ | nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IN THIS ISSUE ============= Sound Chaser - - Steve Howe In So. Cal. Yesoteric - - Feedback Wanted Howe In NYC - - Help Needed Grand Scheme Of Things - - A Russian Review Paul Simon - - And Yes? Live/Rarities - - Available Patrick Moraz - - In Space Symphonic Yes - - Japanese Release - - Japanses Warning Lyric Discussion - - One Vote Yes Yes - - A Query Power Of Silence - - What Happened? Turn Of The Century - - What? Hello NFTE - - A New Member Speaks Steve Howe - - Yesoteric Wishes Morning TV - - Defended! Answered Questions - - From Roy The Symphonic Album - - It Could Have Been Better More On Lyrics - - Two Votes Yes Yes Related LP's - - Are Here From The Editor - - Long Time Coming ______________________________________________________________________________ | nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOUND CHASER ================ Notes from the Contributing Editor, Mike Tiano (miketi@microsoft.com) STEVE HOWE LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Steve Howe's current solo tour of North America is a must-see for Howephiles and for lovers of the guitar in general. I was fortunate enough to attend three of Steve's Southern California shows: at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, the Couch House in San Juan Capistrano, and the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Steve played alone, using four different guitars over two sets, and his show spanned his career, from Tomorrow to THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS. When I walked into the Belly-Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA (near San Diego) it was about 3:30 pm on Monday, November 22. There were people playing pool, patrons at the bar, and a couple of people who were there to watch Steve doing a mini-rehearsal/sound check (it was the first show of the tour). He ran through some pieces of tunes that he would play later, but the few he wouldn't included 'Heart of the Sunrise'. 'Turn of the Century', and a short, wonderful fingerpicked version of 'Yours Is No Disgrace'. For those in the club who didn't know who Steve was it was almost as much of a treat as it was for those who did. It was amazing just to hang around and watch him go through his paces. During the shows themselves Steve would talk about the songs and would get quite chatty (though in L.A. he was a bit more reserved). This would lead the audience to seize the opportunity to request their favorites, including some off the wall (for a solo show, at least) like 'Sound Chaser'. But Steve would surprise them: at the San Juan show he threw off a quick riff from the opening of 'The Gates of Delirium' and started to play 'Doors of Sleep' until he hit a wrong chord and stopped, saying something like, 'Okay, no more unrehearsed songs!' My opinion is that this may have distracted him a little bit, which may be why he was a bit more reserved in L.A. As for his performance, Steve's playing was superb and inspired. He was clearly having a lot of fun. His singing was pretty much on the mark; though he occasionally faltered it was for the most part just fine with me, at least. His set varied a bit between the three nights I saw him; the main change was that he reversed the guitars (and associated songs) he played in the second set after the first night at the Belly Up. Here's the set list from the second show at Couch House in San Juan Capistrano, CA, on November 24,with notes in parens. (v) means he sang on the tune. Spoiler warning: if you intend on seeing him and don't want to know everything then skip to the bottom. FIRST SET: Kohno classical (handmade in Japan): 1. Vivaldi Concerto in D 2. Corkscrew (A very nice solo arrangement of this TURBULENCE tune.) 3. Heritage Review (new song inspired by Carlos Montoya.) 4. Surface Tension 5. Tales From Topographic Oceans suite (v) (This was a real treat. Steve began by singing and playing the opening of side 1, 'Dawn of light lying...' in a drone style, then played two of the main themes from that side. This led to the opening of side 2 where again he incorporated themes, and sang the section that begins 'In the days of summers so long...' The 'Leaves of Green' guitar/ vocal section from side 3 followed, and the suite concluded with 'Nous Sommes du Soliel' from side 4. All in all a Yeshead's dream come true. It really shined in L.A., where he extended the section from side 2.) 6. Segovia (Not sure if that's the title, but he told the story of how after too many encores Segovia would say 'My guitar is tired'. It was a piece that longtime Yesheads will recognize as he used to play it live as a prelude to 'Mood for a Day'. That song follows but here there was a definite break between the two.) 7. Mood For a Day (Had a short intro inspired by Sebecus [sp?]) Martin 12 string: 8. Masquerade ('From the most expensive album Yes ever recorded'...he said $2 million...yow!) 9. And You and I (v) (An abridged version; at the beginning Steve would say, 'Is it rolling...' Anyone who's really listened to that song from the beginning on CLOSE TO THE EDGE will get this. An interesting mini-arrangement of a mega- tune.) 10. Sketches in the Sun SECOND SET: Steinberger electric: 1. Sweet (Written for his Aunt Dorothy, his favorite aunt, and dedicated to anyone with a favorite aunt or special someone. Though he also referred to 'Sweet' as the title at the Belly-Up, he called it 'Aunt Dorothy' when he performed it on Friday, November 25 at the Troubadour in L.A. In any event it was a dreamy, chorus-sounding instrumental and the word 'sweet' aptly described it.) 2. Bareback (Steve called this country-picking piece 'Untitled' at the Belly-Up, but he told us at San Juan that the song was titled at the gig in Scottsdale, AZ the previous night: he was inspired by their dressing room, which happened to be a cowboy supply store.) 3. Sweet Thunder (Another new, or at least unrecognized, tune.) 4. Diary of a Man Who Vanished (He told the story of how he had problems with this song due to the fact that another composer already had a song with this same title!) 5. Scarlatti piece/Swedish Rhapsody/Whispering (Some older tunes, probably influences from his youth.) 6. Meadow Rag Scharpach 6-string (handmade in Sweden): 7. Second Initial (He's been playing this one for a while but I don't recall it ever being recorded.) 8. Glory (An old tune by Big Bill Broonzy. He sang it the first night but not here or in L.A.) 9. Winter (I believe he said this was from Segovia.) 10. Cactus Boogie (Another cool solo arrangement of what was originally Bmultitracked.) 11. Beginnings medley: Australia/Pleasure Stole the Night (v)/Ram (His brother is in Australia, who Steve said he hasn't seen in ten years; Steve joked 'Perhaps he's that long lost brother [of mine]...') 12. Country Mix (A tribute to Chet Atkins and Mel Travis.) 13. Wayward Course 14. Running the Human Race (v) (Though this was a multi-tracked instrumental on TURBULENCE here it was performed as an affecting vocal piece. A simple yet powerfully haunting piece, and one that has stayed with me since.) 15. Roundabout (v) (Abridged, same arrangement he played on Regis and Kathie Lee though his singing was much better.) 16. Valley of the Rocks (Probably my favorite, very nicely played, and a real crowd pleaser.) 17. Clap Encore: Steinberger electric 1. Sometimes (v) (A Jonathan Edwards tune; he had a hit with 'Sunshine' in the early 70s, and apparently when he toured with Yes in those early days he somehow made quite an impression on the band from what Steve was saying. The tune itself was quite affecting.) 2. Heat of the Moment (v) (The only power chord rocker, and abridged. The audience went nuts when he played this.) 3. My White Bicycle (v) (This was played almost verbatim from the 1967 original, a real surprise.) At the end of the show he said, 'See you next year with Dylan': it turns out he plans on returning late in 1994 with a band, including son Dylan on drums. To top it off I was fortunate to speak to Steve alone on more than one occasion, including a one-on-one interview that lasted an hour and a half on Thanksgiving night. We discussed his new book 'The Steve Howe Guitar Collection', the success of GRAND SCHEME, the much maligned TORMATO, the upcoming Symphonic tour, the possibility of his opening for ELP on their upcoming tour, and much more (including, yes, Regis and Kathie Lee...!). Watch out for it in the next week or so. If you were undecided as to whether to attend his concert, I have only one word for you: GO! And if you see the show and speak to him afterwards tell him you read about his show in Notes...! Mike * * * * * * * * * * YESOTERIC FEEDBACK ================== From: IN%"hartnett@uunet.uu.net" "R.u S.Hartnett" Subj: Yesoteric Duplicator I have often asked people who i have made tapes for what they think of the series. I usually get a response about half the time. Some people i don't ever hear from, and then just a very few i get a "Hello, hows it going" and keep in touch. I was just wondering ,what people think of the tapes. I get very busy at times and don't always have enough time to to read and keep up so this might have been discussed. If so please forgive me. Till Later, and hope to stay with you, * * * * * * * * * * HOWE IN NYC HELP NEEDED ======================= From: IN%"AACUNZO@ccmail.sunysb.edu" "FISHBOY" Hello everyone. Does anyone out there know the phone # of the Bottom Line, and if they sell tix over the pohone, and if Steve Howe's shows (I heard he's doing one at 7:30 and one at 9:30 on 12/15) sold out yet? I don't have a NYC phone book, and I figure if anyone knows it'll save me the price of calling long distance (runaround - sorry) information. I know Ticketmaster is not selling tickets for this show, and that the Bottom Line is handling the sales, I was just wondering if you have to go there in person or if they do phone orders. While I'm begging for help, does anyone know how to get tix for Steve's Toronto show on 12/17? If NYC falls through, I may actually head up to the great white north to see him, and I've never bought tickets to any show in Canada before. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Andy Acunzo aacunzo@ccmail.sunysb.edu * * * * * * * * * * GRAND SCHEME THOUGHTS FROM RUSSIA ================================= From: IN%"sharoff@artint.msk.su" An old hat--one more view on The Grand Scheme of Things Steve Howe arrived at Moscow! Of course, not personally (GSoT) and with the little help of my friend (thanks to Jeff). It seems that Internet not only compresses space but it also compresses time, average two year time lag between album appearance and our possibility to hear it is reduced to three months. Here are few words about my impression about "The Grand Scheme of Things". The first impression after listening was the thought: it seems that it is not Steve who can join to the band, but the band should join to Steve. Alan White has said in his interview to Mike Tiano about upcoming YES album that it will be 90s version of YES. I think I have already heard 90s sound of YES on GSoT. Of course, it was only the first enthusiastic thought about the album though GSoT deserves such a musical characteristic. Songs from the album could obviously belong to the whole YES. Take for example Blinded By Science. Can you imagine that this song could appear on 90125? The song Beautiful Ideas is definitely designed for Jon vocal and Steve guitar sustained by all of the band as it was in ABWH (Brother of Mine, for example). Common Ground is for Steve and Rick (or Keith Emerson?) interplay. The songs for all of the band are At The Gates Of The New World or Too Much Is Taken And Not Enough Given. Wayward Course and Reaching The Point are like brilliant 90s version of brilliant YES albums from the beginning of 70s. Enough eulogies. Steve is not the whole band. This becomes obvious in the back light of comparison his GSoT to ABWH. The best parts of this solo album that hold true after comparison, are his definite solo compositions: Desire Comes First, The Valley Of Rocks, Luck Of The Draw, Georgia's Theme. They should not be played by all of the band, they are in Steve's realm entirely. This suggests some thoughts about the future of Steve. If he rejoins to YES it will be an event we can pray for :-). If he does not then he might become something like Mike Oldfield (take for example wonderful Passing Phase). I hope in this case he will retain his own, Howeish, sense of sunny music. Anyway, I am enthusiastic about Steve's future works as well as I am enthusiastic about his GSoT. +++++++++++++++++++++ -- Serge Sharoff, sharoff@artint.msk.su "The remembering high the memory" * * * * * * * * * * PAUL SIMON AND YES? =================== From: IN%"relayer@vt.edu" Hi all, I was looking at a record guide that i picked up recently. So i turned to look up the value of records for my favorite group. it lists some albums and at the end it has a "see also" section for artists in the band. So I'm looking at the list: Peter Banks: Yeah i've got his first album 'Both Sides of Peter Banks' and it was alright. Patrick Moraz: Never got around to getting any of his solo stuff (or Moody Blues stuff for that matter). Jon Anderson: Well I've got everything he's ever done and most of his guest appearances. Rick Wakeman: I've got a good number of his solo albums, but I can't possibly keep up. Chris Squire: His solo album is excellent. Paul Simon: What?!?!?! Paul Simon? So I looked up Paul Simon in the record guide to verify that it was a typo. But sure enough under the 'see also' section for Paul they've got Yes. So how are Paul Simon and Yes related? This must be a direct link because that's all that the book counts. Unless they're counting the America cover from Yesterdays, but that's ridiculous. I mean Yes covered 'Every Little Thing' on their first album and it doesn't say see also the Beatles. So what gives? -Frank * * * * * * * * * * LIVE/RARITIES OFFERED ===================== From: IN%"brianb@ims.com" "Brian e. Batson" Here's a list of some Yes related offerings from the Winter 1994 AB-CD catalog. AB-CD 33 N. Main St. Port Chester, NY 10573 (914) 939-ABCD CDs -------------------------------------------------------------- CDs ABWH An Evening of Yes Music Plus..London '89 (DBL)(JPN) Hunting Like the Dinosaurs (1st album before arista) We Make Believe (unreleased album) Yes (Live San Jose, CA '89) Anderson,Jon 3 Ships (JPN) Island of Life 3* (EP) + 1 Track (JPN) Olias of Sunhillow (JPN) Jon&Vangelis Page of Life C. Squire Fish Out Of Water (JPN) YES 9012 Live (The Solos) (JPN) Live in London 1975 Live in Montreal Looking Around (BBC '69-'70) Looking Around (Live Gotenborg '71) Owner of a Lonely Heart(EP) + 3 tracks Re-evolution (Live '74 Boston) Rehearsal Tales (Live Quebec '79) Resurrecting Dragons (DBL) (Live '86) Round the World in Eighty Dates ('91 Live) Say Yes (DBL) (Live) Siberian Khatru (Live Los Angeles '74) Sound Chaser (Live Boston '74) Starship to the Gates of Eternity (Live Quebec '79) The Golden Age (Studio + Live TV Perf) The White Album (Amsterdam '72, Hollywood Bowl '75) They (DBL) (Live Montreal '93) Tourmato (Live Toronto 5/5/79) (DBL) Union + 1 extra track (PIC Disc) Yes-shows (Live '88) Yesshows (DBL) (JPN) YES(solo) Affirmative: The Family Album (14 tracks) Laser Discs ----------------------------------------------- Laser Discs ABWH An Evening of Yes Music Plus (2LD) Steve Howe Careful with That Axe Unplugged (13 tracks) Montreux Jazz Fest '89 YES Live at Q.P.R. '75 (2LD) *********************************************************************** * Check with AB-CD for price confirmation, availability, and ordering.* *********************************************************************** * * * * * * * * * * MORAZ IN SPACE ============== From: IN%"r.derousse2@genie.geis.com" Here's a note that Kim Dancha originally posted on Prodigy: Here's a tidbit you might find interesting. An advance copy of the new Moraz CD "Windows of Time" is aboard the space shuttle right now. Seems one of the seven astronauts is Swiss and grew up with Moraz. (No joke....) Moraz is still working on a rather elaborate booklet for the CD, so it probably won't be released "on earth" until early Spring, with tour to follow. Byeeeee... * * * * * * * * * * JAPANESE SYMPHONIC ALBUM ======================== From: IN%"shio@mt.cs.keio.ac.jp" "Atsushi Shionozaki" The Japanese "Symphonic Yes" CD will be released on Dec. 16. Catalogue #: BVCF-1516 2,500yen It will contain one extra track: Roundabout (radio edit). I believe this is the same version on the US promo CD, though I cannot confirm at the moment. If anyone has any Yes or ABWH CD singles (promos) that they might consider trading away for stuff from Japan, please e-mail me! shio * * * * * * * * * * JAPANESE SYMPHONIC WARNING ========================== From: IN%"wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca" Some unscrupulous UK mail order dealers are advertising "Symphonic Music Of Yes - Ltd. edition Japanese version with bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere!" The prices are ranging between 25 and 30 pounds!! I checked this out, and all the Japanese edition has is a radio edit of Roundabout tacked on to the end!!!! And it's not even a limited edition!!! Buyer beware. Anil Prasad wcsanil@ccs.carleton.ca * * * * * * * * * * LYRIC DISCUSSION ================ From: IN%"'GAUSS::KEELEY'@PHYSICS.HOPE.EDU" I support the inclusion of discussions of yes lyrics. I find that there are many allusions (such as the "Pygmalion and Galatea" note from Greg Silvus) of which I am not aware and which I find helpful. Add to that the difficulty of understanding some of the lyrics because of the impressionistic lyrical style of Jon Anderson and some of the songs are downright incomprehensible without some help. Bob Keeley, Holland, MI * * * * * * * * * * YES QUERY ========= From: IN%"ISCLADOC@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu" "Allan T. Grohe, Jr." In the past several months I have acquired various studio outtakes and such by Yes, and I would like to know if Yes has ever performed them live (in the manner of "we can fly from here" and "go through this" during the Drama tour)? Along the same lines, what solo material did the band play during the 1975-76 tours? (Any material from _Olias of Sunhillow_, especially?) Thanks, Allan. iscladoc@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu * * * * * * * * * * POWER OF SILENCE YANKED ======================= From: IN%"yes@cbnewsb.att.com" A good freind of mine who works for Tower Records just told me that Jon Andersons "The Power of Silence" has been deleted from release. This is not a postponement but a complete removal. He was told that the album was pressed, packaged and ready to be released when Geffen decided to scrap the whole project. I verified this with a local distributor, Western Merchandisers and was told that as of yesterday they had deleted it from their release file as well. Does anyone have a clue as to why this is happening? Is this going to be an import only release? [Ed. - Anderson has taken the master tapes from Geffen and is reportedly shopping around for a new label.] THIS REALLY STINKS. On a more positive note. I went to the Steve Howe show in Boulder last thursday and was treated to a couple of real surprises in his song selection. I won't spoil it for others but if you would like a more detailed review email me a yes@att.com.cbnewsb and I'll be glad to tell you all about it. Woffman * * * * * * * * * * TURN OF THE CENTURY =================== From: IN%"map7@ukc.ac.uk" As we say. "Hellloooooo?" What was with this recent discussion of Turn of the Century? I saw a lot of obviously bullshitty interpretations. Here's the facts: 1) It was inspired by La Boheme.# 2) The theme _is_ a lot like the Pygmalion story. I like to get the meaning in lyrics, but one can really go too far. There's this guy. He loves this chick. She dies. He makes a sculpture. Sob sob sob, story's over. I laugh at more than that. The song consistently makes me weep, and if there's more to it than above, I really really really can't see it. * * * * * * * * * * HELLO NFTE ========== From: IN%"KABOOKA@delphi.com" Hello out there. This my first submission to NFTE. I've been receiving it for about three months now. It is a great forum for all the Yes people out there. I would like to mention that there is a discussion group on IRC called #yes. If you don't have direct access to IRC, it can be acessed through TELNET to: 140.117.11.33 140.115.83.200 140.115.83.201 Log in as "irc", the password is "irc". Once in IRC, type "/join #yes" There is also some activity in "alt.music.progressive" on USENET. There is currently an active movement to create "alt.music.yes". [Ed. - I am aware of this and do not support it. Post to a.m.p with your views.] In case anyone is interesed in who I am, my name is Bob Cook and my current residence is in Tempe, Arizona. I am a frustrated Computer Science stoodent. My real interest is in writing, playing, and listening to music. I am 24 years old, and have been a pretty hardcore Yes fan for about half that time. I listen to them every day that I can. Well, I guess that's it for my first post to NFTE. I know this is a Yes forum, but I'd just like to wave goodbye to Frank Zappa. Bye Frank. We'll all miss you. - Peace - Bob Cook * * * * * * * * * * HOWE QUESTIONS ============== From: IN%"galbrait@rintintin.Colorado.EDU" "GALBRAITH JOHN" HOWE LASER DISC =============== From: IN%"jbenson@dekalb.dc.peachnet.edu" I recently received the Steve Howe Unplugged Live at Montreux Jazz Festival laser disc. This was from a 1979 appearance at the Festival. Steve appears solo on acoustic guitar. The track list follows: What are the chances of adding this to Yesoteric? (Read: just how illegal would it be?) I would like to have this, but have neither laser disc player _or_ $75.... There is already some stuff, like RAM and an acoustic Turn of the Century, but from a different and much more recent performance. In any case, not nearly as much material as here. Also, does anybody know if any of the current Steve Howe show have been recorded? It could potentially be highly desirable if the show is as good as the review of last summer or whenever suggested. john * * * * * * * * * * SYMPHONIC AVOIDANCE =================== From: IN%"tlkalka@mailbox.syr.edu" I have withheld purchase of Symphonic Yes because of the name of the arranger/conductor David Palmer. Fans of Genesis may be familiar with the album "We Know What We Like" in which Palmer tackles (and IMHO des- troys) a number of Genesis tunes. Having heard WKWWL, and now reading Anderson's and Squire's comments, I feel confident in my decision to avoid that particular recording. "The idea is to keep going, and not feed the pop machine, because it will eat you..." J. Anderson * * * * * * * * * * MORNING TV REVISITED ==================== From: IN%"burley@gnu.ai.mit.edu" Regarding Regis & Kathie Lee: It is _not_ a lame show!! I am a fan (though, apparently mercifully, I was on vacation during the 11/11 "Yes debacle" and missed it), in that I've been fairly regularly taping it and watching it later (typically only the first 10-to-15-minute segment, though) as time permits for about a year now. Usually, I use it as background while I get something to eat, so clearly, for me, a "barf bag" is _not_ necessary to accompany it. At first, like apparently everyone else who submitted articles about the show to NFTE, I thought it was really lame. But having accidentally caught a few moments of it a little too often, it finally grew on me. (That's the same way I "discovered" Square One TV, especially Mathnet. Man, I gotta get a life...seriously, though, I haven't had time to keep up with it, and once you've seen Yeardley's [Lisa's voice on the "Simpsons" and a key character on, I think, "Herman's Head"] guest arc, you've pretty much seen it all. :-) The secret about these two (R&KL) is that they are _so_ hip they think they aren't hip at all, and don't make pretentions to be. They are self-deprecating about it. In essence, a morning version of David Letterman (indeed, that's why the shows have a fair amount of cross- pollination), with some Seinfeld thrown in (yes, more cross-pollination; the Seinfeld cast once sent a special "segment" to R&KL for their use where they did a Seinfeld version of a segment where R&KL discussed the Seinfeld show, about it being "so amazing, about NOTHING, but it's very good, and how about Kramer's hair", changing it only slightly). I happen to be a fan of both Letterman (which I catch around three times a week) and Seinfeld (which I try to never miss). One of my favorite moments on R&KL: Early in an interview with, I think, Miss World, who had just barely mastered ordinary conversational English, R&KL were asking about this with questions such as "Do you know the word 'kiss'?", when Regis popped the big one: "Do you like to be tied up?" I nearly fell on the floor! Then I remembered that, in the previous segment (which I'd watched on tape the day before and thus wasn't fresh in my mind), KL had been explaining how her son Cody, still a toddler, had discovered cowboys and been trying to tie up everything with rope. Thankfully, I remembered this just in time for Regis' explanation of his question, which otherwise would have struck me as his trying to get Miss World together with a dwarf friend of his. What does this have to do with Yes? Well, aside from rebutting the apparent assumption that "fan of Yes" == "no fan of R&KL" -- Yes is my #1 favorite band (and has been since, oh, around '76 -- that's 1976 for you young-uns :-), and R&KL is, well, maybe not quite going to get me to be caught dead in NYC just to attend a taping, but definitely better than the dreck that passes for talk shows most of the rest of the day. (Regis occasionally delights in reading TV listings of a single days' talk shows, which tends to go something like this: "On Oprah, single mothers who marry their prepubescent daughters' boyfriends; on Donahue, women who want sex without commitment; on Sally Jesse Raphael, nuns who want celibacy without having to dress up for it [ok, I made that one up :-]; ... on Regis & Kathie Lee, fifteen winter uses for hot dogs!!") But, more importantly, since about the only reservation I have about Yes is that the music/lyrics sometimes come across as somewhat pretentious, I enjoy R&KL (and Letterman and Seinfeld) as something like friendly antidotes for pretentiousness. I mean, after listening to Yes all day, I might be ready to float off the face of the earth, but if I'm going to watch TV, I might as well watch shows like these to bring me back to earth. Now, Yes isn't anywhere near as pretentious to me as Donahue and such, but still... ...and I have the sneaking suspicion that Kathie Lee is a closet fan of art rock, among other things. Maybe even Regis is. I used to think KL was one of the shallower people on TV, but now I think she's got a lot going on. (Including being rather annoying, of course!) As far as the trivia questions go, yes, their audience seems pedestrian. I couldn't believe it when nobody got the answer to a question about what television series parodying talk shows and starring Martin Mull was a spin-off of his character (actually, the character's twin brother) on "Soap", the soap-opera parody. But that doesn't mean _everyone_ in their audience is that way! Just the ones who take the time to send in lots of postcards. I haven't done that. Yet. (And the audience is probably musically aware enough to not go out and buy "Symphonic Music of Yes" after hearing what apparently was an awful rendition of "Roundabout" -- I suspect R&KL could have done a better job, she's quite a decent singer actually.) tq vm, (burley) * * * * * * * * * * ANSWERED QUESTIONS ================== From: IN%"r.derousse2@genie.geis.com" A few responses to questions asked in NFTE #86: >For those not in the know: the Nice was Keith Emerson's pre-ELP >band, and O'List was their guitarist, who left after their first album. >Whatever DID happen to him? Here's what I know: ARNOLD, P.P. FERRY, BRYAN Another Time, Another Place 74 Let's Stick Together 76 JET Jet 75 JETHRO TULL info MISUNDERSTOOD <1969 line-up> 69 info ROXY MUSIC info ---------------- 2) There IS a Vangelis Internet mailing list. Send e-mail to Keith at direct-request@celtech.com . Specify whether you want the digest or the interactive form of the mailing list. 3) The Tony Kaye CD on Cinema never materialized as Cinema went out of business shortly thereafter. I'm not sure how much music was completed for the planned album, if any. BTW, "The Interstellar Suite" by Amin Bhatia is promoted in the same place as the Tony Kaye CD. This CD WAS released, and I highly recommend it to fans of Vangelis, Synergy, Jarre, and the like - very grandiose, symphonic keyboard work. From the liner notes: "The orchestral textures on this recording are a complex blend of synthesizers. To prove a point, we did NOT digitally sample any acoustic instruments or performers... as a gesture of respect to orchestras throught the world... A.B." Some of the arrangements sound like something John Williams would do. Williams, Goldsmith, and Tomita are even thanked "for all the years of great music" in the liner notes. ...Sorry for going off on a tangent here, but I really think that most fans would enjoy this album. 4) The "Power of Silence" CD that has been released is totally unauthorized according to someone who has spoken with Jon's management. 5) I vote "Yes" for lyrics discussion. Normally, I don't pay much attention to lyrics either, but Yes' lyrics are one of the main elements that separates them from the more pedestrian bands, and I think they're worthy of discussion. Actually, I could use some serious help understanding some of the lyrics! :) 6) "Music for Piano and Drums" is only available as a Japanese import CD. What a great album - one of my all time favorites! 7) A different Tony Kaye directed the Jackson Browne video. He has direct other videos in the past too. --Roy * * * * * * * * * * SYMPHONIC YES, IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ======================================== From: IN%"dlazarus@PCS.CNU.EDU" Howdy fellow Edger's!! Since I'm a newcomer, let me start of with a brief intro. I first started listening to Yes in 1983. Even though this was the year 90125 was released, the first album that I bought was Classic Yes --recommended by my uncle. Well, to make a long story short, I didn't like the album at first so I put it on the shelf for a while. About four months later, I picked it up again and that it was the greatest music in the world. Why the change of opinion you ask? Well, in those days my ears were used to hearing pop music so I just couldn't handle the complexity. However, for some mysterious reason (maybe it was Jon's angelic vocals) I really loved the stuff four months later! Since then, I have acquired all of the albums that they've released including the box set, ABWH, Union, and now Symphonic Music of Yes. My favorite album? I really don't have one. I think all of the music is really good. Although I will say that I think Big Generator was their poorest effort to date --I think even Jon admitted that sometime or another. Moving right along...I'm *very* happy to hear that Jon and Chris feel the way the do about Symphonic Music of Yes. For though I feel it's good, it could have been many times better. Forgive me for asking a potentially stupid question, but why wasn't Wakeman involved? Especially since he's worked with the London Orchestra before. I think if he had been in charge of the arranging, SMoY would have been an incredible album!! Another question that's bugging the heck out of me is why was Jon excluded on much of the album and from the release of it? I don't know about him, but I would be very angry if released the album without asking me what I thought of it and if I felt that it was ready to be released. On to another topic...What's the deal with Steve and Rick?? One minute they're in, the next they're out. Is there a lot of red tape involved? Hmmm...maybe I should clarify what I'm talking about. I'm talking about their new album that's supposedly due out January. It has the Tony Faye-Tremor Ravine...oh, I'm sorry, I got carried away there, I meant Tony Kaye-Trevor Rabin line-up. Let's face it folks, Tony Kaye is just a mediocre keyboard player. And Trevor Rabin, though a very good guitarist, is *not* a Yes guitarist. I've always felt that they should have gotten someone like Alan Holdsworth or Steve Hackett (who always respected Yes's music --and Steve Howe). Well, I think that's enough babble for my first posting. I hope this stirs some conversation... * * * * * * * * * * MORE ON LYRICS ============== From: IN%"galbrait@rintintin.Colorado.EDU" "GALBRAITH JOHN" >> 1) Discussion of Yes lyrics. A complete waste of time. It annoys the >>hell out of me, bores a lot of people and wastes digest space. I vote for >>it to be dropped. If people want to discuss lyrics, let them do it in their >>own time and space. I just have to say that I *really* enjoy the lyric discussion. I am an engineer, not a english major. I don't pick up on things as easy, _especially_ when it involves a literature reference such as Turn of the Century. As a matter of fact, the purpose of a newsletter like this for me is to find out: 1. New music. What else might I like, and when is the new album coming? 2. Concert info. Due to the promotional void that surrounds YES related tours, I need such a resource. ( I missed Trever on his last solo tour because I didn't know he was here!) 3. Better understanding (and thus enhanced enjoyment) of one of the best bands of all time, YES. This is stuff like interviews, lyric discussion, and nitty gritty musical discussion. After the last issue of NOTES, I listened to Turn of the Century again with new understanding. I didn't need any help liking Going for the One in the first place, as it is one of my favorites, but now I can enjoy it even more. This is not a flame, just a "vote", as the previous poster mentioned. john * * * * * * * * * * CHEAP YES RELATED LP'S ====================== From: IN%"r.derousse2@genie.geis.com" I just got the latest catalog from Harvard Square records. They have a truly amazing collection of still-sealed LPs for sale at very reasonable prices, many in the $4-$6 range. Here are some Yes-related examples: Jon Anderson - In the City of Angels - $6 - 3 Ships - $4 Bruford's Earthworks - Dig - $10 Curved Air - Lovechild (with Jobson) - $6 Geoff Downes - The Light Program (2 LPs) - $4 Esquire - Esquire (Squire/White contributions) - $4 Gentle Giant - Superstar Collection - $8 (not Yes-related, but a truly great collection of songs plus a photo-filled booklet, presumably informative if you speak Italian!) Dana Gillespie - Weren't Born a Man - $10 (Wakeman and Bowie are on the album - very nice!) Gowan - Great Dirty World (w/Jon singing) - $3 Greg Lake - Manoueuvers - $4 (no Yes connection) Patrick Moraz - Coexistence (w/Syrinx) - $4 - Future Memories 2 - $4 - Timecode (w/Bruford one track) - $4 Moraz/Bruford - Music for Piano and Drums - $8 - Flags - $10 (I can't recommend these highly enough, and MFPAD is not available on CD except as a $30+ Japanese import) Soundtrack - Scream for Help (with 2 songs by Jon, and John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page) - $6 Al Stewart - Early Years (2 LP w/Wakeman) - $4 (I recommend getting the Orange CD where part of this LP comes from. some great Wakeman material plus good Stewart too, of course :) Synergy - Audion, Cords, Games, Metropolitan Suite - $4 (only a tenuous Yes connection, but great keyboard/ electronic albums!) Wakeman - Country Airs - $5 - The Gospels (2 LP) - $12 Kazumi Watanabe - Spice of Life - $4 - Spice of Life Too - $5 (both are highly recommended to fans of the "Bruford" band. These are very similar, and even feature Jeff Berlin on bass!) John Wetton - Caught in the Crossfire - $5 (no Yes conn.) - King's Road (1972-1980) - $4 (very nice compilation spanning Wetton's career. Bruford is on some of the U.K. tracks.) Wishbone Ash - Number the Brave - $4 (with some great Wetton bass and vocals. No Yes connection) Gary Wright - Extraction (w/White drums) - $5 Yes - 9012live - $8; 90125 - $8, Big Generator - $4, Classic Yes - $15, Topographic Oceans - $15, Tormato - $15, Union - $12 King Crimson - Sleepless 12" (several versions of this amazing song!) - $4 ... and there is plenty more in this 50+ page catalog that I omitted! Here's the address: Harvard Square Records NOTE: I'm not affiliated P.O. Box 381975 with HSR, but I am a Cambridge, MA 02238 customer. phone: (617) 868-3385, fax: (617) 547-2838 --Roy * * * * * * * * * * FROM THE EDITOR =============== I realize it's been more that two weeks since the last issue. I've been really slammed at work and time just hasn't been as plentiful lately. This should change after the holidays. Sorry about the unsubscribe message a while back. I left the door open and one got through. I'm glad to see the Howe reviews coming in. I look forward to his return with a band next year. I'm also looking forward to Mike Tiano's second interview with Steve Howe. It'll be exclusive to Notes and should be great as usual. I'd like ask a question of all of you. How many of you subscribe to Yes Magazine currently? If you do please drop me a line and let me know. We'd like to try a collaborative effort with them but want to avoid duplication for their paying subscribers and this information will help us out. I've completed design of the Notes From The Edge logo. I plan to convert it to gif and jpeg formats soon and put it on the archive at meiko for your viewing. It's based on Dean type lettering and I think it looks pretty good. If I get enough positive feedback I'll try and move forward with the shirt idea put forth a while back. You may or may not know but there's talk in alt.music.progressive to create an alt.music.yes. As I mentioned before, I don't support this. I think it would be a duplication of what we do but without the cohesion and quality environment created here. The noise ratio would rise. Useful, constructive, flame-free discussion would sink into the background. If you've read a.m.p. lately, you know what I mean. This may mean nothing to subscribers that can't read news. To those of you who can and do, I urge you to voice your opinion for or against it in a.m.p. I'd like to wish all of you a happy holiday season, and peace and happiness in the coming year. --jeff ______________________________________________________________________________ | nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: ============================== New subscribers, contributions, questions/comments/criticism: Jeff Hunnicutt (Editor) hunnicutt@vxc.ocis.uncwil.edu Reviews, Surveys, Etc. Mike Tiano (Contributing Editor) miketi@microsoft.com 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, lyrics, etc, via anonymous FTP: cs.uwp.edu Directory: /pub/music/lists/yes Contact for helping out with transcriptions: Greg Utas utas@bnr.ca Yesoteric Information : yes-archive@meiko.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |The views expressed within Notes From The Edge are the opinions of individual| |contributors and in no way reflect the views of the editorial staff unless | |otherwise stated. - The Editor. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________________________________ | nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ << END OF NOTES FROM THE EDGE #87 >> ______________________________________________________________________________ | nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte nfte | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------