Yes: Song By Song Thread.

[soundchaser]

The eponymous debut album, Yes, was released on 25th July, 1969.

Jon Anderson: Vocals.
Peter Banks: Guitar.
Tony Kaye: Keyboards.
Chris Squire: Bass.
Bill Bruford: Drums.

Track 1, side 1 of Yes, Beyond & Before, was written by Chris Squire and Clive Bailey, and the influence of psychedelia is most evident. A lovely song, with the instantly recognisable Yes sound. A fantastic band right from the off:

[naughty boy]

[WG Kaspar]

This is a very ambitious thread

[soundchaser]

This is a very ambitious thread

Yes were a very ambitious band: they deserve celebrating.

It will be an absolute pleasure.

[robertff]

Saw them at Croydon Tech. around the time when this had just come out and they were absolutely superb. In a way I wished they had stayed that little bit more commercial as with this album but I loved/love the whole album, particularly the two covers. Saw them a few times after this but this was the best I ever saw them. Always disappointed that they ditched Peter Banks and Tony Kaye early on but I expect they knew what they were doing.

Beyond and Before is a great introductory track, not the best on the album but excellent no less.



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[Matt Wilson]

I love that version of "I See You" on the first LP.

[soundchaser]

Saw them at Croydon Tech. around the time when this had just come out and they were absolutely superb. In a way I wished they had stayed that little bit more commercial as with this album but I loved/love the whole album, particularly the two covers. Saw them a few times after this but this was the best I ever saw them. Always disappointed that they ditched Peter Banks and Tony Kaye early on but I expect they knew what they were doing.

Beyond and Before is a great introductory track, not the best on the album but excellent no less.



.

Wow, that’s amazing you saw then so early on.

I would loved to have seen them with Banks & Kaye.

They were great players even then.

[harvey k-tel]

I love that version of "I See You" on the first LP.

Except for the crappy "jazz" guitar solo it's pretty good. 'Harold Land' is my fave on the album.

[robertff]

Saw them at Croydon Tech. around the time when this had just come out and they were absolutely superb. In a way I wished they had stayed that little bit more commercial as with this album but I loved/love the whole album, particularly the two covers. Saw them a few times after this but this was the best I ever saw them. Always disappointed that they ditched Peter Banks and Tony Kaye early on but I expect they knew what they were doing.

Beyond and Before is a great introductory track, not the best on the album but excellent no less.



.

Wow, that’s amazing you saw then so early on.

I would loved to have seen them with Banks & Kaye.

They were great players even then.

My only regret was that I had to leave early to catch a train home - I was spellbound by their performance. When 'heavy' was becoming a burgeoning aspiration for many groups, (Led Zep's influence), they offered something very, very different at the time. I had also seen Led Zep that year, (1969), as well but remember being very unimpressed by them.



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[soundchaser]

My only regret was that I had to leave early to catch a train home

.

I feel your pain. I saw Budgie when I was about 15, and they were so late coming on that we could only watch a few songs before having to leave to catch that last bus home. I didn’t even get to see Beadfan...that was a real drag.

[C]

a great track

a great rhythm section

Heavy bass and tubs

oooooof!




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[soundchaser]

I See You. The first in a number of covers Yes recorded. I like this one well enough, but I'm not convinced it quite works. Peter Banks limitations get in the way a bit, but there's still much to enjoy. Great interplay between Bruford & Squire, though.

[robertff]

I See You - one of my favourites on the album, love the jazzy type guitar and the vocal on this. I knew this version before I heard the original Byrds' version - probably prefer the Yes version because of that.



.

[soundchaser]

Side 1, Track 3. Yesterday & Today.

A really beautiful ballad, that wouldn't have been out of place on Odessey & Oracle.

Lovely piano from Kaye.

[robertff]

Agreed - a really beautiful ballad.




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[soundchaser]

Jon Anderson's first contribution to this album, and it really shows.

Everything that was great about the Yes to come is present here.

[Osgood]

A curiosity, there is a version of that song by Los Bravos, yep, the same band that had a hit with Black Is Black (although a different lineup). And the singer was Jon's brother Tony Anderson.

[soundchaser]

A curiosity, there is a version of that song by Los Bravos, yep, the same band that had a hit with Black Is Black (although a different lineup). And the singer was Jon's brother Tony Anderson.

Wow, that’s amazing! Thanks so much for posting. You can sure hear Jon Anderson in those vocals.

Great version, too.

[Charlie O.]

A curiosity, there is a version of that song by Los Bravos, yep, the same band that had a hit with Black Is Black (although a different lineup). And the singer was Jon's brother Tony Anderson.

Wow, that’s amazing!

That is a wonderful surprise. Interestingly, they don't seem to have ever put it on record (I just spent some time at Discogs and 45cat.com looking... around). Whatever became of Tony?

[Quaco]

Wow! Might be better than Yes's version! Tony is a great singer as well.