As this is my first post on this topic I have followed for some time now. I thought it was time I also joined in on the fun. And as the topic of my first post, I chose the daunting task of trying to limit myself to three songs from the legendary band Yes.
If you are not aware of the band, I thought I would give you a little bit of an introduction to them. They formed in 1968 in London. And they have been active from then till now, with the exception of two hiatuses, 1981-1983 and 2004-2008. The band has had a slew of members over the year but some of the more famous and influential ones are Jon Anderson, singer and one of the founding members. The man with the golden voice. A voice unlike any other I have come across. Steve Howe guitarist and widely recognized as one of the most influential in the genre. And Rick Wakeman, a true wizard of the keyboards. But the list is long and these are just my personal top three musicians that have been members of Yes. The others are about just as accomplished musicians as there three.
Over the years the band have put out a total of 23 studio album. So for an act that has been around close to 50 years, they have been fairly productive. Averaging around 2 years between records. With their first hitting stores back in 1969, and their most recent one being put out this year. The majority of albums fall into the genre of what is known as progressive rock.
But I will not keep you anymore from the music. Without further ado.
Yes - Roundabout
The song Roundabout is the first track from the 1971 album Fragile. And this is probably the song the band is most known for. And it is one of their most popular songs as well.
Yes - Starship Trooper
Starship Trooper is also from 1971, but from the first album released that year by Yes. The record is simply called The Yes Album. While aware of the book with the same name published by one of sci fi all-time greats Robert A. Heinlein. The song has nothing to do with it. They simply got inspired by the name.
Yes - Owner of a lonely heart
This song comes from the 1983 album 90125, and is the band's biggest commercial hit. And this song is also their only song to reach the coveted number 1 spot on the billboard list in the US.
While I can not say that the band has had a profound impact on me or my life. I do not think any band has, so it is no knock on Yes at all. They have been percent for most of it. I cannot remember who it was that introduced me to them, my father or my oldest uncle. But I do remember playing a strategy game for hours on end while listening to Yes album Talk. The reason being in order for the game to run the PC had to have a CD in the driver. It did not have to be the game CD tho. So why not play and listen to great music?
And that pretty much encompasses what Yes is to me. It is great music I can listen to over and over again, for hours on repeat, or pretty much at any given time. And I will never tire of it. There is just some quality that lets me enjoy it and discover new things with each listening. But that said I unlike many, can listen to music on repeat. Pretty much as long as I like it without any problem.
That being said, I do have a recommendation for you if have not listened to Yes before and plan to. In order for you to get as good an experience as possible I recommend listening with a good set of headphones. And proper ones that go over your ear. Not those crappy iCrap ones you put inside. And find a comfortable place, like in one of those lay-back chairs. And just enjoy your first Yes experience. Hopefully, it will be the first of many more to come.
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Picture provided by: fair use
