Yes - Yessongs
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Movie Reviews of Yes - Yessongs
Movie Review: Best of the Classic Yes Era
Summary: 5 Stars
I give this DVD ***** because I saw it when it was first shown as a movie in theatres in the mid 1970's. I am very happy that someone choose to preserve this gem. I am a progressive/progressive metal aficionado from before YES & ELP. "In the Court of the Crimson King" is probably the first recognized progressive album/ group and it still is alive and well today. King Crimson lost Greg Lake to ELP and gained Bill Bruford from YES. Bill Bruford did play on some of songs on the Yessongs album, but Alan White replaced him during the Yessong tour(s)and played drums & percussion on the Yessong movie, which was from a performance recorded during the tour(s).
It is correct that the quality is not Blu-Ray or even HD-DVD. It appears to have been transferred straight from the 16mm(?) film to DVD with little or no re-engineering. It would interesting if somebody were to clean-up the picture and re-mix/produce the sound. But then you'd loose the ambiance of the era. It is very much influenced by the psychedelic. Perhaps it could be sold as "Collector's Set" of both the re-processed and the original, much like the CD set of Deep Purple's 'Machine Head' which has both the original and the 25th anniversary remix by Roger Glover.
Yessongs is the best of Yes Mk 2 (more or less +Howe, Wakeman, -Bruford). It is a legendary performance of music made before it's time. The incredible Howe-styling on his many Les Pauls, And Wakeman on the Hammond C3 and the much ignored mellotron, Anderson's unique high vocals , and Squire's characteristic chunky Rickenbacker. Then the stage ambiance, enhanced by Wakeman' sequin cloak and Squire's winged cape; the incredible tension of the simplistic music, tight vocal harmonies and CO2 fog of 'Close to the Edge' is haunting. GET THIS DVD if you have any interest in progressive rock. This, in a large nutshell, is the essence of progressive.
A Question to anyone else who remembers the original theatre film: I seem to remember more footage, songs. In particular, Steve Howe playing his unique pedal steel guitar stylings. The DVD seems to be an edit of the original film?
Movie Review: Yes at the height of their powers...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an old white guy who graduated from high school in 1972 and who was utterly enthralled with what is called "progressive rock" for a decade of my young life. At the top of a heap that included bands like Gentle Giant, Caravan, and Emerson Lake & Palmer stood Yes. It's hard to describe what they meant to me. The first record for me was the "Yes Album," and it literally changed my perspective on music. I saw the band for the first of my 23 shows over a period of more than 25 years at a Catholic high school outside of Cleveland on a Sunday afternoon. It was between the release of the "Yes Album" and "Fragile" - they were debuting songs from that record at the show. I saw the tour captured on this DVD three times.
Many other reviewers have pointed out the fairly poor sound quality and the unrestored nature of the film, but toss all of that out. Toss too whether they played "Roundabout" as well as the studio version, or any other detail about a particular song. None of that matters. What matters is that this is the REAL DEAL - this is what Yes was like when they ruled the progressive world like no other.
The energy level is amazing. Steve Howe and Chris Squire are on fire. Jon sings like an angel. Wakeman doesn't miss a note. And a very young Alan White plays with a joy that you won't see very often.
I'd give a particular nod to Steve Howe. This isn't the distinguished old fellow you see on newer Yes DVDS (that's not a knock - we all get old); this is a fellow in his mid-twenties who is perhaps even fueled with some substances... but is playing with manic excellence.
If you came to Yes late (and most of you reading this are probably younger than I am), and you want to see a performance that combines intense discipline with pure joy, BUY THIS TODAY. It is a peak into the distant past that will blow your mind.
Progressive rock will never be better than this. Yes is the Beatles of the genre.
Movie Review: Yes, take it from me
Summary: 5 Stars
Take it from me we're lucky to have this potent, mesmerizing recorded concert of Progressive Rock's answer to the Rolling Stones. Yes in high gear at the height of their prowess is a scary proposition. If only there was more of this stuff. I'll take all they got.
There seem to be a lot of complaints about the quality of the sound and picture. As someone who saw Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones, Yessongs, Jimi Hendrix and The Song Remains the Same in movie theaters at the time of their releases, I can't agree. The Hendrix movie and Yessongs are mind-blowing in both audio and image, capturing their subjects in all their glory.
On top of being a musically supercharged concert, Yessongs is full of good cinema technique, interesting montages and just the kind of shots you hope to see, like Howe during All Good People, Close to the Edge and Roundabout or Alan White playing the triangle during And You and I. There's even at great shot of a young, ardent fan having the bottom dropped out from underneath him when the band leaves out the final bridge to Yours is No Disgrace. These touches along with the superb set list and excellent sound quality make this the same kind of must to your music DVD collection that, back in the day, made Yessongs a must for your vinyl collection.
My only gripe would be that Yessongs VHS, which I originally paid $55.00 for, and vinyl should have included extra material when transferred to DVD and CD. At least it would have been nice.
Movie Review: The Essential Yes
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember going to see this concert in the theater when I was merely 12 years old. I was so captivated by the tight orchestration that the band provided, I went to see it almost on a daily basis (summer time) while it played. From there I collected what Yes had recorded by that time (Close to the Edge, Time and a Word etc..). A very tough sell to friends at that time as they were not a "radio based" group, but Yes certainly proved that there was much more to rock than what was being portrayed on the radio which offered such limited access due to music length.I have to say that the line-up for this concert is what I truly consider to be Yes. Rick Wakeman simply cannot be touched and the same holds true for Steve Howe and Alan White. Which on a side note, Alan did join the group while the tour was on the road and he filled in without flaw.
I had the pleasure of seeing Yes in 1979 (the round stage) and again in 1984. By far the most compelling show was the '79 show which opened with Siberian Katru and went straight into Heart of the Sunrise (same as the CD version of this tour). Granted that there is not mega effects (like say Pink Floyd's Pulse), but we have to remember that this was the early 70's.
For true Yes fans, this is the DVD to own. Trust me on this. If you like Yes, you will truly appreciate this DVD.
Movie Review: Simply Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
Prime example of an excellent rock and roll band, in top form. Much has been said of the quality of the production. I see no big deal. It was produced from footage from 1973. It's not Paul McCartney or U2, but it is of sufficient quality for an enjoyable experiance. It's not fuzzy or materially lacking in any way. The video is quite clear and gives an accurate reproduction of a Yes concert from 1973. The camera angles are very good, the camera is not bouncing around all over the place from musician to musician like some of the the more recent DVD's. I have a Cream DVD from 1968 the quality is really quite good, and this footage is at least as good if not better. I was hesitant to get it fearing it would have been sorely lacking in quality, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yes is an awesome band, and this DVD does total justice.