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"...Heart Of The
Sunrise..."
The fifth release to date to
receive the twinkle-fingers jiggery-pokery remix-magic of Porcupine Tree's
Steve Wilson – 1971's "Fragile" was always going to inject a
flying-jalopy flutter into the Prog Rock trousers of YES fans – make their
scaly Schindleria Praematurus Space Ark hearts beat a little faster (if you get
my fishy drift). And you have to say that the dapper gent has done another
sterling job - even if I personally find the remixes just a tad too squeaky
clean (1971's "The Yes Album", 1972's "Close To The Edge",
1973's double "Tales From Topographic Oceans" and 1974's
"Relayer" are the other four Wilson revamps).
Firs up there are two
versions of this November 2015 'Definitive Edition' Reissue for
"Fragile" – the CD and DVD-A variant on Panegyric GYRSP50009 (Barcode
633367900722) and its bigger brother – the CD and BLU RAY Version – the one we
are about to dance a jig too. There is a mountain of detail to be crossed, so
onwards into the Heart of the Sunrise…
UK released Friday, 6
November 2015 - "Fragile: Definitive Edition CD/BLU RAY" by YES on
Panegyric/Atlantic GYRBD50009 (Barcode 633367900821) is a 2-Disc Reissue (CD
and BLU RAY) with New 5.1 Surround, Stereo and Instrumental Album Remixes and
Remasters by Steve Wilson – it plays out as follows:
CD Definitive Edition (64:38
minutes):
2015 STEREO MIXES
1. Roundabout [Side 1]
2. Cans And Brahms
3. We Have Heaven
4. South Side Of The Sky
5. Five Per Cent For Nothing
[Side 2]
6. Long Distance Runaround
7. The Fish (Schindleria
Praematurus)
8. Mood For A Day
9. Heart Of The Sunrise
Tracks 1 to 9 are their
fourth studio album "Fragile" - released 26 November 1971 in the UK
on Atlantic Records 2401019 and 4 January 1972 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7211.
Produced by EDDIE OFFORD - it peaked at No. 7 in the UK and No. 4 in the USA and
was the first Yes album to use Roger Dean's artwork (something that became
synonymous with the band's image)
ADDITIONAL TRACKS:
10. Roundabout (Rehearsal
Take, Early Mix)
11. We Have Heaven (Full
Version, Steve Wilson Mix)
12. South Side Of The Sky (Early
Version, Steve Wilson Mix)
13. All Fighters Past (Steve
Wilson Mix)
14. Mood For Another Day
(Previously Unreleased Take)
15. We Have Heaven
(Acapella, Steve Wilson Mix)
All tracks mixed and
produced from the original multi-track tapes by STEVE WILSON
BLU RAY Definitive Edition:
2015 STEREO MIXES
Tracks 1 to 9 as per CD -
LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)
5.1 SURROUND MIXES
Tracks1 to 9 as per CD -
LPCM and DTS-HD MA (24bit/96khz)
ORIGINAL STEREO MIXES
Tracks 1 to 9 as per CD -
Flat Transfer from Original Master - LPCM Stereo (24bit/192khz)
ADDITIONAL TRACKS
1. Roundabout (Rehearsal
Take, Early Mix)
2. We Have Heaven (Full
Version, Steve Wilson Mix)
3. South Side Of The Sky
(Alternate Take, Steve Wilson Mix)
4. All Fighters Past (Steve
Wilson Mix)
5. Mood For Another Day
(Previously Unreleased Take)
6. We Have Heaven (Acapella,
Steve Wilson Mix)
Tracks 1 to 6 LPCM Stereo
(24bit/96khz)
BLU RAY EXCLUSIVE
1. Roundabout (Early Rough
Mix from "Fragile" 2003 CD Reissue)
2. South Side Of The Sky
(Early Take)
3. Roundabout (Headphones
Mix for Vox Overdubs)
Tracks 1 to 3 LCM Stereo
(24bit/96khz)
2015 STEREO INSTRUMENTAL
MIXES
Tracks 1 to 9 as per the CD
- LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)
ORIGINAL 5.1 MIX
Tracks 1 to 9 as per CD
(with 6 and 7 as one track) plus "America" as Track 10
Mix from the Rhino DVD-A
release - LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)
NEEDLE-DROP
A1/B1 (Matrix) first
-pressing UK original vinyl LP transfer
Tracks 1 to 9 as per the CD
- LPCM Stereo (24bit/96khz)
10. Roundabout (US Single
Edit)
11. Long Distance Runaround
(US Single Edit)
YES was:
JON ANDERSON – Lead Vocals
STEVE HOWE – Electric and
Acoustic Guitars and Vocals
RICK WAKEMAN – Organ, Grand
Piano, Electric Piano, Harpsichord, Mellotron and Synthesizer
CHRIS SQUIRE – Bass Guitars
and Vocals
BILL BRUFORD – Drums and
Percussion
PACKAGING: Using a Mini-LP
replica gatefold sleeve (slightly oversized compared to the CD variant) – you
get the original Roger Dean artwork - gatefold sleeve with the lyrics on one
side and the album credits on the other with the mini booklet of the original
LP now detached) - as well as archive material (evolution of the Fragile logo)
and new Roger Dean front-cover images used on both discs (they are housed in
plain black card sleeves). Noted Progressive Rock writer and enthusiast SID
SMITH provides new liner notes in the 16-page booklet and there are Audio
Source notes about the Transfers, Remixes and BLU RAY Set-up (Headless
Operation) and so forth.
The booklet also has the
usual original/reissue credits, the lyrics to the four worded tracks, repro's
of a UK, USA and French original 1971 LP labels (a white label promo for the
American issue on Atlantic SD 7211), period colour photos of each band member,
concert tickets for the October 1971 Tour (Jonathan Swift was the support act),
photos of the rare and unique artwork to French, Dutch, German and Spanish
edited singles for "Roundabout" (called "Carrusel" in
Spain) most with "Long Distance Runaround" as its flipside - as well
as a Melody Maker magazine full-page advert for the album. Sid Smith interviews
Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Roger Dean and others and of course discusses the sad
passing of original Bassist Chris Squire in 2015 only months before the reissue
– noting quite rightly that the big man and the unique Bass sounds he made came
from a mere 23 year-old back in August and September 1971. The whole shebang is
nicely presented and feels substantial – especially the sheer amount of
material on the BR disc. If I were to criticise - I'd say that some of the BLU
RAY 'Exclusive' material is mildly superfluous whilst other parts of it should
have been made available on the CD too (the single edits would easily have
fit). But others would argue that if you buy this BR version – then you know
what it is that you're getting - and fair enough. To the music...
The album
"Fragile" consisted of four centrepieces – the short "Long
Distance Runaround" and the long "Roundabout", "Heart of
the Sunrise" and "South Side Of The Sky". But realising they
hadn’t enough material, each was sent off to write a solo piece - and they did.
Personally I find Bruford’s "Five Per Cent For Nothing" (named after
a dodgy publishing deal) and Wakeman’s "Cans And Brahms" both
superfluous to anyone’s requirements. The individual stuff is saved by Chris
Squire’s ingenious "The Fish" where every sound is from some sort of
Bass Guitar, Howe’s delightful Spanish guitar piece "Mood For A Day"
and Anderson’s voice-crescendo "We Have Heaven".
What is fascinating though
(apart from the staggering clean audio provided by Wilson – disarmingly perfect
almost) is the unexpected quality of the extras which are thankfully worthy of
the moniker Bonus and not just reissue padding. Apparently found at the end of
one of the master tapes whilst Steve Wilson was researching the reissue - the
snippet "All Fighters Past" turns out to be a work-in-progress
abandoned at the sessions. But on hearing it fans will immediately recognise
that it was used for passages in both "Siberian Khatru" on 1972's
"Close To The Edge" and in parts of "The Revealing Science Of
God" on Side 1 of 1973's double-album "Tales From Topographic
Oceans". The piano-to-the-fore/at-the-beginning of the Early Mix for
"South Side Of The Sky" almost makes me wonder did the boys make an
arrangement mistake. I can understand why the clever finished version was
chosen but there’s something about this Rick Wakeman led cut that I find a
hundred times more endearing than the released version. The two versions of
Anderson's beautiful vocal tour-de-force "We Have Heaven" are fascinating
- but although the 'Headphones Mix' on the BLU RAY is a trip - I thought the
rehearsal variant of "Roundabout" on the CD didn’t seem radically
different.
YES broke American with
"Fragile" in January 1972 when an edit of "Roundabout" was
played on US Radio and its angular yet funky rhythms caught the listener's
fascination. The album eventually made No. 4 there – better than they did in
their native Blighty. YES had truly arrived and with a different kind of music
made on their own terms – an amazing achievement.
"…Mountains come out of
the sky…" – Jon Anderson sang on the opening musical carousel
"Roundabout". Well, having loved "Fragile" back in those
heady days - I'm so pleased to report that this superb-sounding 2015 reissue
warrants another ride on the 1971 Space Ark. Letting in the sunshine indeed...
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