And to a NEW release, 2021 album called 'The Quest' and a track about lockdown 'The Living Island'  >  [this fantastic video appears almost 3D] 

 

This line-up has vocals from Jon Davison [another sound alike] with Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Alan White and it becomes the first Yes LP without any original band members after the death of Chris Squire [he's replaced by Billy Sherwood - also of previous Yes's and Asia]. 

From a 2008-11 line up [including Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe, Oliver Wakeman and Canadian Benoit David - sounding remarkably like Jon Anderson] :-
'From a Page' was a mini-album, it contained four previously unreleased tracks originally recorded by that 2008–2011 line-up of the group and intended for release on an album at the time, but ultimately they weren't, until more recently. 

This track is called 'To the Moment' - nice video

Oliver Wakeman (son of Rick) - search for 'Divine Harmonies ~ Music For The Soul' - check it out > [another nice video] 

The 'Talk' album was predominately South African musician Trevor Rabin who did the writing and production before other members joined in and Jon Anderson came in on the vocals. It's noted for being amongst the first albums to be digitally recorded and edited in its entirety without using traditional audio tape. 

Track two is 'I Am Waiting' below:

The album fell short of commercial expectations upon it's release "It was probably one of the best albums they have ever done ... but of course it was totally at the wrong time." Said long time Yes associate Phil Carson. 

[This is another Jon Anderson production video] 

   

In the summer of 1972 Yes were in the studio composing and recording their soon to be released album 'Close To The Edge'. Over the years since this LP has topped many polls as the Best Prog-Rock album of all time. 

In June of 2015, before the dawn of my music blog, long time Yes bassist Chris Squire sadly died from leukemia, aged 67.  

All this signals the timing of 'My YES Week'. So welcome to 'Close to the Yes'. 

Beginning naturally with a Chris Squire composition from the 1977 'Going For The One' LP. An often-overlooked contributor to Yes’ lyrics, on “Parallels” it's clear that some of the best vocals the band recorded were when Jon Anderson and Chris Squire sang a song as a duet. 

Plus it's one of those classic Yes tracks that starts with the guitar solo (by Steve Howe). And ends with another solo. An all time favourite track of mine, there's even a great story about the recording:

In addition to recording in Switzerland at Mountain Studios, the organ on "Parallels" and "Awaken" were played on the church organ at St. Martin's church in the town of Vevey, some four miles away. The band thought of hiring a mobile recording studio to record on location, but they were advised to rent a telephone line for the day as the quality of the country's lines are of high fidelity and can be fed through directly to the studio in Montreux. With Rick Wakeman in the church and the rest of the band in the studio, Alan White counted the band in and they played the song through. Wakeman described the experience as "absolute magic". 

Some YouTuber has 'mashed' all this together in a video. Not the best pictures but the music is just fantastic. 'Parallels' by Yes 

With many band line-up changes down the years and the various versions of YES, it begs the question 'When is Yes not quite Yes ?

> Coming Soon .... [meaning next week]

 

  

As we relocate over the coming weeks I may need to take a break from the Music Spot for obvious reasons. Be back soon !

Leaving our flat in London got me thinking about the early days there and listening to Margaret's smooth jazz CDs, most of which were all new to me. Earl Klugh, Mindi Abair and Marc Antoine. 

I've picked this track for no other reason than the video: 'Live' from London at Pizza Express Jazz Club, October 2009 - this Marc Antoine track is called 'Latin Quarter'. 😀 

 

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

This is maybe a bit like Marmite !  

Some might say "I totally hate it when somebody takes a classic and desecrates it". While others feel it takes the essence of the original and creates something brand new. 

This is certainly 'Culture Clash' [1966 Counter Culture meets 1998 Hip Hop]. Public Enemy 'He Got Game' featuring Stephen Stills - music that is straight to the point with a message. It was released as the soundtrack to Spike Lee's 1998 film and basketball drama of the same name.

Said to be one of the most respected hip hop songs of all time. I really like it. You judge for yourself ...

> Sampling Buffalo Springfield's 'For What It's Worth'  © 1966

  

Kim, my daughter, told me one of her old favourite bands has a new album out. Called 'Crisis of Faith' - she was saying I should listen to the track 'Hanging Out With All The Wrong People' - not sure that's a good idea 😁[he laughs] - however the track that follows this on the record is 'End of Me'. I really liked this track and the macabre video - somehow the madness struck a note, as in sometimes it feels like everything is 'up in the air' > 

This is Canadian band Billy Talent >  

  

   

How's this for a fun story I recently read: 

The headline was "The Hacienda rises again: The Manchester nightclub raves on after 40 years" - Hundreds of middle-aged ravers attempted to recapture the glory days of the Hacienda at a 40th anniversary party on Saturday - in the car park of the flats that now stand on the site. The venue opened in 1982, and within five years had became the spiritual home of the acid house movement and the ecstasy-fuelled epicentre of British youth culture. Around 1,000 clubbers relived the Hacienda's halcyon days on Saturday, with old-school ravers joined by younger clubbers who were not alive when it shut in 1997. It couldn't be exactly like old times, though. The former yacht warehouse that housed the Hacienda was demolished in 2002, and the Hacienda Apartments built in its place.
So Saturday's event was staged in the block's underground car park, with its concrete pillars painted in the club's trademark yellow and black diagonal stripes.

Echoes very much the lyrics to the Kinks 'Come Dancing' - "They put a parking lot on a piece of land…." > full lyrics here.   

The Hacienda Club - opened in 1982 with the band New Order performing. 

Moving on from that time and their 'Temptation' and 'Blue Monday' tracks to 1987 and their 'True Faith' - a song about addition that those old-school ravers would relate to, but I've chosen for no better reason than I like this very Silly Video:

(The opening puts me in mind of the 'Fish Slapping Dance' from Monty Python > see this clip link  and for the curious the music is: 'Merrymakers Dance' by Edward German). Fun and Silly