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YesThe Word Is LiveReview

Compilation. Released 2005.  

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BBC Review

Like musical Marmite, Yes divides the masses...

Chris Jones2002

From Radiohead to the Red Hot Chili Peppers; not a day goes by without some young musical whippersnapper admitting that prog rock's not such a bad thing. But before we all rush out and start buying err...Rush, let us examine what semioticians would refer to as a 'key text': The music of Yes. The Word Is Live gives us an alternative chronological overview. That's three discs of mainly unreleased live versions of their classic work. Gulp...

Like musical Marmite, Yes divides the masses...but if you have a musical bone in your body you'll be hard-pushed to not find something of worth here. Beginners will be drawn in by Jon Anderson's frankly angelic voice (just don't ask what he's on about), whereas hardcore fans will melt over Steve Howe's edgy guitar dynamics, Chris Squire's in-yer-face bass and Bill Bruford's whipchord snare. All in all it's a cherry-picked primer on one of rock's most distinctive b(r)ands. Go on...be brave.

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Review of The Word Is Live

Tracks

Disc 1

  1. 1Then (BBC 1970)
  2. 2For Everyone (BBC 1970)
  3. 3Astral Traveller (Gothenburg 1971)
  4. 4Everydays (Gothenburg 1971)
  5. 5Yours Is No Disgrace (London 1971)
  6. 6I’ve Seen All Good People (London 1971)
  7. 7America (London 1971)
  8. 8It’s Love (London 1971)

Disc 2

  1. 1Apocalypse (Detroit 1976)
  2. 2Siberian Khatru (Detroit 1976)
  3. 3Sound Chaser (Detroit 1976)
  4. 4Sweet Dreams (London 1975)
  5. 5Future Times / Rejoice (Oakland 1978)
  6. 6Circus of Heaven (Oakland 1978)
  7. 7The Big Medley: a) Time and a Word b) Long Distance Runaround c) Survival d) The Fish (Schindleria Præmaturus) e) Perpetual Change f) Soon (Inglewood 1978)
  8. 8Hello Chicago (Chicago 1979)
  9. 9Roundabout (Chicago 1979)

Disc 3

  1. 1Heart of the Sunrise (Oakland 1978)
  2. 2Awaken (Chicago 1979)
  3. 3Go Through This (New York 1980)
  4. 4We Can Fly From Here (New York 1980)
  5. 5Tempus Fugit (New York 1980)
  6. 6Rhythm of Love (Houston 1988)
  7. 7Hold On (Houston 1988)
  8. 8Shoot High, Aim Low (Houston 1988)
  9. 9Make It Easy / Owner of a Lonely Heart (Houston 1988)

Release Details

  • Label

    Rhino

  • Date

    Sep 12 2005

  • Country

    United Kingdom

  • Format

    CD

  • Catalogue #

    8122–78234–2