Yes Music Podcast

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Jeffrey Crecelius, and Doug Curran

This week, Mark and I spoke to Chris Clark, thanks to YMP Patron, Mark Lang who put us in touch with him. We asked Chris about his experiences working with Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks live and in the studio. Now a veteran of approaching 100 concerts with the Yes co-founder, we were keen to know what it's been like, how it came about, how the first album, True, was born and what the future might hold for the collaboration. If you listen carefully, I think you might be able to pick up some tantalising clues as to what the forthcoming second album might be like and we had a great time getting to know Chris. I will be seeing him with Jon Anderson and the Geeks in September so I am looking forward to that.

• How did Chris become involved with the Band Geeks and then Jon Anderson?

• Has it been fun?

• How has the band evolved?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week, Mark and I have been taking a somewhat forensic look at the newly-released Roosevelt Stadium Jersey City 17 June 1976 live set. We go rather deeply into the weeds around the quality, sources, presentation and packaging, all for your edification. Mark uncovers some surprising aspects of the (rather expensive) vinyl version of this release and we both enjoy the actual performances of the band which featured Patrick Moraz rather than Rick Wakeman at this time, during the Solo Albums Tour.

What does this recording sound like?

Where did it come from?

What are the troubling aspects of the vinyl version?

Vinyl and CD versions

Hype sticker from CD

Slightly spurious details?

Rear of vinyl

The puzzling expanse of dead wax...

Yes - The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes Album Listening Guide

Available now!

YesMusicBooks.com

YMP Patrons:

Producers:

Joseph Cottrell

Wayne Hall

Jeffrey Crecelius

Doug Curran

Patrons:

Aaron SteelmanSteve LuziettiLindAl Dell'AngeloTerence SadlerLobate ScarpBarry GorskyJohn ThomsonMark BaggsBill WhittakerSteve PerryMark James LangBob MartilottaThomas DeVriesMark SlaterBrian HarrisJohn ViolaMartin KjellbergBrian SullivanSteve RodeMichael HanderhanChris BandiniTim StannardMichael O'ConnorCraig EstenesSteve ScottMiguel FalcãoDave OwenChip PalmerPaul HailesDavidGuy DeRomePaul TomeiDavid HeydenSteve MossRachel HadawayDavid PannellGeoffrey MasonRobert NasirDavid WatkinsonHenrik AntonssonRobert VandiverDeclan LogueHogne Bø PettersenRonnie NeeleyDemSteven RoehrScott ColomboBrianTodd DudleySimon BarrowFergus CubbageJohn HoldenStephen LambeFred BarringerDouglas CaldwellSteve DillGary BettsJohn CowanJamie McQuinnGeoff BailieRay RiethmeierKen Fuller

Become a Patron!

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Jeffrey Crecelius, and Doug Curran

This week, Mark and I have been taking a somewhat forensic look at the newly-released Roosevelt Stadium Jersey City 17 June 1976 live set. We go rather deeply into the weeds around the quality, sources, presentation and packaging, all for your edification. Mark uncovers some surprising aspects of the (rather expensive) vinyl version of this release and we both enjoy the actual performances of the band which featured Patrick Moraz rather than Rick Wakeman at this time, during the Solo Albums Tour.

• What does this recording sound like?

• Where did it come from?

• What are the troubling aspects of the vinyl version?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week, Mark and I were unable to get together so we both recorded separately, like we used to do years ago. Here we have 'retro' or 'classic' YMP I suppose. Anyway, we both enjoyed listening to/watching 2 different versions of And You And I - one from the brilliant Symphonic Live DVD and the other from the BBC Prog Prom event last week.

I have embedded both versions into the show notes for this week so do watch those and see what you think of our reactions.

Which version is 'better'?

Is it fair to compare them?

What was the rest of the concert like?

https://youtu.be/ZZL9AMfzok8?si=rPGl4hHbb2zrfyfR

https://youtu.be/0tBVttKmeO0?si=tyOQNH4jwAFp66-c

Yes - The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes Album Listening Guide

Available now!

YesMusicBooks.com

YMP Patrons:

Producers:

Joseph Cottrell

Wayne Hall

Jeffrey Crecelius

Doug Curran

Patrons:

Aaron SteelmanSteve LuziettiLindAl Dell'AngeloTerence SadlerLobate ScarpBarry GorskyJohn ThomsonMark BaggsBill WhittakerSteve PerryMark James LangBob MartilottaThomas DeVriesMark SlaterBrian HarrisJohn ViolaMartin KjellbergBrian SullivanSteve RodeMichael HanderhanChris BandiniTim StannardMichael O'ConnorCraig EstenesSteve ScottMiguel FalcãoDave OwenChip PalmerPaul HailesDavidGuy DeRomePaul TomeiDavid HeydenSteve MossRachel HadawayDavid PannellGeoffrey MasonRobert NasirDavid WatkinsonHenrik AntonssonRobert VandiverDeclan LogueHogne Bø PettersenRonnie NeeleyDemSteven RoehrScott ColomboBrianTodd DudleySimon BarrowFergus CubbageJohn HoldenStephen LambeFred BarringerDouglas CaldwellSteve DillGary BettsJohn CowanJamie McQuinnGeoff BailieRay RiethmeierKen Fuller

Become a Patron!

This week, Mark and I were unable to get together so we both recorded separately, like we used to do years ago. Here we have 'retro' or 'classic' YMP I suppose. Anyway, we both enjoyed listening to/watching 2 different versions of And You And I - one from the brilliant Symphonic Live DVD and the other from the BBC Prog Prom event last week.

I have embedded both versions into the show notes for this week so do watch those and see what you think of our reactions.

• Which version is 'better'?
• Is it fair to compare them?
• What was the rest of the concert like?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week Mark and I listened to 2 medleys - the Big Medley from the The Word Is Live box set, recorded on 5th October 1978 at The Forum, Inglewood and a recording of Jon Anderson and The New Life Band playing their Yes medley in 1980 at The Royal Albert Hall from a BBC recording broadcast the same year. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAGcYMSbpc8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5dR1wtjEv8

It was a very entertaining process and, as you’ll hear, Mark has a particularly interesting reaction to the rather different style of the New Life Band’s interpretations, on a tour that Jon Anderson arranged to promote his recently-released second solo album, Song of Seven. Having just left Yes for the first time, he ended up being out on tour at the same time as the Yeggles version of Yes, who boasted Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn as part of their (fairly hastily assembled) lineup. For his part, Anderson collected together brilliant musicians but with a rather different instrumentation to the classic rock band arrangement.

The Big Medley wasn’t played on The Drama Tour (unfortunately, some would say) so we can’t compare these two performances directly, but they are very close in time.

What songs were included in each medley?

How does the New Life Band instrumentation work?

Which ends up being a better Yes medley (and do we even make a decision on that)?

Do take a listen to the recordings I have embedded into the show notes for this week and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Mark Lang's photos:

Yes - The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes Album Listening Guide

Available now!

YesMusicBooks.com

YMP Patrons:

Producers:

Joseph Cottrell

Wayne Hall

Jeffrey Crecelius

Doug Curran

Patrons:

Aaron SteelmanSteve LuziettiLindAl Dell'AngeloTerence SadlerLobate ScarpBarry GorskyJohn ThomsonMark BaggsBill WhittakerSteve PerryMark James LangBob MartilottaThomas DeVriesMark SlaterBrian HarrisJohn ViolaMartin KjellbergBrian SullivanSteve RodeMichael HanderhanChris BandiniTim StannardMichael O'ConnorCraig EstenesSteve ScottMiguel FalcãoDave OwenChip PalmerPaul HailesDavidGuy DeRomePaul TomeiDavid HeydenSteve MossRachel HadawayDavid PannellGeoffrey MasonRobert NasirDavid WatkinsonHenrik AntonssonRobert VandiverDeclan LogueHogne Bø PettersenRonnie NeeleyDemSteven RoehrScott ColomboBrianTodd DudleySimon BarrowFergus CubbageJohn HoldenStephen LambeFred BarringerDouglas CaldwellSteve DillGary BettsJohn CowanJamie McQuinnGeoff BailieRay RiethmeierKen Fuller

Become a Patron!

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week Mark and I listened to 2 medleys - the Big Medley from the The Word Is Live box set, recorded on 5th October 1978 at The Forum, Inglewood and a recording of Jon Anderson and The New Life Band playing their Yes medley in 1980 at The Royal Albert Hall from a BBC recording broadcast the same year.

Yes Medley - Jon Anderson - Royal Albert Hall Event 1980

The Big Medley (Time & a Word, Long Distance, Survival,The Fish, Perpetual & Soon) (Inglewood 1978)

It was a very entertaining process and, as you'll hear, Mark has a particularly interesting reaction to the rather different style of the New Life Band's interpretations, on a tour that Jon Anderson arranged to promote his recently-released second solo album, Song of Seven. Having just left Yes for the first time, he ended up being out on tour at the same time as the Yeggles version of Yes, who boasted Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn as part of their (fairly hastily assembled) lineup. For his part, Anderson collected together brilliant musicians but with a rather different instrumentation to the classic rock band arrangement.

The Big Medley wasn't played on The Drama Tour (unfortunately, some would say) so we can't compare these two performances directly, but they are very close in time.

• What songs were included in each medley?

• How does the New Life Band instrumentation work?

• Which ends up being a better Yes medley (and do we even make a decision on that)?

Do take a listen to the recordings I have embedded into the show notes for this week and let us know what you think in the comments over at YesMusicPodcast.com

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

It’s the 50th Anniversary of Jon Anderson’s masterpiece, Olias of Sunhillow this month, so it was highly appropriate that we spoke to the album’s biggest fan, David Watkinson, this week. Dave helps us plot the musical development of Yes’ co-founder to the point at which he felt able to create his first solo album - entirely on his own. We also discuss the amazing packaging and the album’s influence on Anderson and Yes.

Do watch Dave’s interview with artist, Jeff Cummins, which is embedded into the show notes below and check out the photos of my copies of the album and a small selection of Dave’s memorabilia collection.

Was Jon Anderson ready to create Olias?

Did he play everything on the record?

Why isn't Roger Dean the artist?

Please do add your own comments below.

https://youtu.be/S21u2lkO0n8?si=qB_KUKcsTDIvB3TU

Kevin's LP and CD

Some items from Dave's Olias collection

Those involved in the record

CD

8-track, cassette, badge

The team

Original Olias drum stick, cuttings

Yes solos poster with Olias pendent

Signed Olias promo card

Yes - The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes Album Listening Guide

Available now!

YesMusicBooks.com

YMP Patrons:

Producers:

Joseph Cottrell

Wayne Hall

Jeffrey Crecelius

Doug Curran

Patrons:

Aaron SteelmanSteve LuziettiLindAl Dell'AngeloTerence SadlerLobate ScarpBarry GorskyJohn ThomsonMark BaggsBill WhittakerSteve PerryMark James LangBob MartilottaThomas DeVriesMark SlaterBrian HarrisJohn ViolaMartin KjellbergBrian SullivanSteve RodeMichael HanderhanChris BandiniTim StannardMichael O'ConnorCraig EstenesSteve ScottMiguel FalcãoDave OwenChip PalmerPaul HailesDavidGuy DeRomePaul TomeiDavid HeydenSteve MossRachel HadawayDavid PannellGeoffrey MasonRobert NasirDavid WatkinsonHenrik AntonssonRobert VandiverDeclan LogueHogne Bø PettersenRonnie NeeleyDemSteven RoehrScott ColomboBrianTodd DudleySimon BarrowFergus CubbageJohn HoldenStephen LambeFred BarringerDouglas CaldwellSteve DillGary BettsJohn CowanJamie McQuinnGeoff BailieRay RiethmeierKen Fuller

Become a Patron!

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

It's the 50th Anniversary of Jon Anderson's masterpiece, Olias of Sunhillow this month, so it was highly appropriate that we spoke to the album's biggest fan, David Watkinson, this week. Dave helps us plot the musical development of Yes' co-founder to the point at which he felt able to create his first solo album - entirely on his own. We also discuss the amazing packaging and the album's influence on Anderson and Yes. Do watch Dave's interview with artist, Jeff Cummins, which is embedded into the show notes for today's episode and check out the photos of my copies of the album and a small selection of Dave's memorabilia collection.

• Was Jon Anderson ready to create Olias?
• Did he play everything on the record?
• Why isn't Roger Dean the artist?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week, we return to our occasional series on YesKit, this time featuring the instrument Tony Kaye used, briefly, in 1968 before he upgraded to a Hammond M100. It was the 1960s iconic keyboard, the British-made Vox Continental. The story of this revolutionary instrument is fascinating and we are indebted to the undisputed expert in the field, Chris Dale, for a great overview I read out at the end of the episode. It was huge fun to both research and then chat about the Vox Continental and I’m sure you will enjoy Mark’s demonstrations as much as I did.

How did it become the most iconic keyboard of the 1960s?

What was the keyboard Tony Kaye had when he joined Yes?

Why did he disguise it?

Please do add your own comments below.

https://youtu.be/dEXb3m2Guiw?si=llKrnAX2F1yg7gm9

https://youtu.be/SoXwfapV3CA?si=c-pkPwJdmADGphqa

https://youtu.be/YZBDGATnJKM?si=t8hmcZrISmguc4Gw

https://youtu.be/mbj1RFaoyLk?si=zEMYo5Vc24s8AY3G

https://youtu.be/UIVe-rZBcm4?si=QanT_u2BnGrX_zUj

https://youtu.be/DpPIFP6rcww?si=Kzi_F72QSYaeCM-z

https://youtu.be/wG4kxLZTHL4?si=y6OK-d-7AJ7U9b6O

https://youtu.be/OZ9-F7FE83o?si=kBdWHLSuD0ovpu9p

https://youtu.be/UJLSrxkNR78?si=fU1kevOwOg6v6lwh

https://youtu.be/ecDmNNQAB4k?si=IMlKCrESiqfFMVP2

Yes - The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes Album Listening Guide

Available now!

YesMusicBooks.com

YMP Patrons:

Producers:

Joseph Cottrell

Wayne Hall

Jeffrey Crecelius

Doug Curran

Patrons:

Aaron SteelmanSteve LuziettiLindAl Dell'AngeloTerence SadlerLobate ScarpBarry GorskyJohn ThomsonMark BaggsBill WhittakerSteve PerryMark James LangBob MartilottaThomas DeVriesMark SlaterBrian HarrisJohn ViolaMartin KjellbergBrian SullivanSteve RodeMichael HanderhanChris BandiniTim StannardMichael O'ConnorCraig EstenesSteve ScottMiguel FalcãoDave OwenChip PalmerPaul HailesDavidGuy DeRomePaul TomeiDavid HeydenSteve MossRachel HadawayDavid PannellGeoffrey MasonRobert NasirDavid WatkinsonHenrik AntonssonRobert VandiverDeclan LogueHogne Bø PettersenRonnie NeeleyDemSteven RoehrScott ColomboBrianTodd DudleySimon BarrowFergus CubbageJohn HoldenStephen LambeFred BarringerDouglas CaldwellSteve DillGary BettsJohn CowanJamie McQuinnGeoff BailieRay RiethmeierKen Fuller

Become a Patron!

Vox Continental photo - Docrobbie, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons