"...Beyond And Before..."
I remember as a young lad opening up the
gatefold of the wildly exotic Atlantic Records 588 190 (why is that always such
a brill thing) and reading Tony Wilson’s liner notes. Respected journo, he
enthused that Melody Maker magazine had asked him what two top bands he would
pick for 1969 – one was LED ZEPPELIN and the other was of course – YES (both
signed to the canny American label). I think the lad was on to something...
Personally I've always thought their first two
albums wildly underrated and under appreciated (most fans want to begin their
catalogue with 1971's brilliant "The Yes Album" and i can understand
that). But like the "Time And A Word" CD Reissue and Remaster [their
2nd platter from 1970] - I'd argue that the six 'Bonus Tracks' on this 2003 Elektra/Rhino
CD Remaster of "Yes" (four of which are unreleased) lift proceedings
into the realms of essential purchase for fan and newcomer alike. Here are the
positive details...
UK released January 2003 (reissued August 2008
and April 2013) - "Yes" by YES on Elektra/Rhino 8122-73786-2 (Barcode
081227378622) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with Six Bonus Tracks that
plays out as follows (79:48 minutes):
1. Beyond And Before [Side 1]
2. I See You
3. Yesterday And Today
4. Looking Around
5. Harold Land [Side 2]
6. Every Little Thing
7. Sweetness
8. Survival
Tracks 1 to 8 are their Debut studio album
"Yes" - released 25 July 1969 in the UK on Atlantic Records 588 190
(reissued December 1971 on Atlantic K 40034) and 15 October 1969 in the USA on
Atlantic Records SD 8243. The US issue had different artwork to the UK variant
- the first page of the booklet uses the UK artwork (centred YES logo) whilst
the last page uses the US cover (a colour photo of the 5-piece band standing
amidst statues).
BONUS TRACKS:
9. Everydays (Single Version) – October 1969 UK
7” single on Atlantic Records 584298, Non-Album Version, B-side to
"Looking Around"
10. Dear Father (Single Version No. 2) -
PREVIOUSLY UNISSED
11. Something’s Coming – 4 July 1969 UK 7”
single on Atlantic 584280, Non-Album B-side to "Sweetness"
12. Everydays (Early Version) - PREVIOUSLY
UNISSED
13. Dear Father (Early Version No. 1) -
PREVIOUSLY UNISSED
14. Something’s Coming (Early Version) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSED
For their Debut Album YES was:
JON ANDERSON - Leads Vocals and Incidental
Percussion
PETER BANKS - Lead Guitars and Backing Vocals
TONY KAYE - Keyboards (Organ and Piano)
CHRIS SQUIRE – Bass and Backing Vocals
BILL BRUFORD – Drums and Vibes
The first remaster of this album in November
1994 simply presented fans with the 8-track album and as it was a US based
reissue - it used the American colour artwork. This new 2004 stab at it goes
back to the British artwork and design of Bryan Lasley (the US variant is on
the last page of the booklet) and adds on six tasty Bonus Tracks, four of which
are Previously Unissued in the USA. The 16-page booklet has detailed and
informative liner notes from MIKE TIANO and the text is peppered with
colour/black and white period photos of the band as well as rare picture sleeve
for Sweetness. Pages 2 and 14 recreate the inner gatefold artwork of the UK
plum label 1969 original, while the rare lyric insert that came with original
vinyl issues is featured towards the end. But the big news here is a new DAN
HERSCH and BILL INGLOT CD Remaster at Digiprep from original master tapes and
they've done a sterling job - full, alive and coming at you with real presence.
Grapefruit Records of the UK - the new darlings
of 3CD reissues covering this period - featured the Side 1 opener "Beyond
And Before" in their May 2019 mini box set "Lullabies For Catatonics:
A Journey Through The British Avant-Pop/Art Rock Scene 1967-1974" and its
easy to hear why. Their cover of The Byrds "I See You" smacks of Yes
hijacking that hooky sound but still has enough to make it exciting and feel
like something new and brill is emerging. Pretty and even beautiful describes
the gentle strum of "Yesterday And Today" – the audio warm and
lovely. Something on a lost melodic gem in their canyon on an album so often associated
with the early Prog of the very Yes
"Looking Around". Speaking of which...
Their debut produced two wildly un-commercial
UK 45s - "Sweetness" b/w "Something's Coming" in July 1969
on Atlantic 584280 and "Looking Around" b/w "Everydays" in
October 1969 on Atlantic 584298 - the second reputedly withdrawn after zero
interest. I can remember decades back when these orange label 7" singles
would command £40 for the first and say £60 for the second, especially because
of their non-album B-sides pre CD. But in 2019 they're probably four times that
amount and if actual mint issues came up for public grabs (especially
"Looking Back"), they’d be auction items rather than set sale. Both
are featured in the bonus tracks and cool inclusions.
The Side 2 opener "Harold Land" is
superb and I used to think it like Nursery Cryme by Genesis – only recorded
months earlier. The acoustic guitar over to the left is clear as Jon sings of
marching soldiers and holding the thin blue line. While the Byrds cover on Side
1 stayed mostly faithful - Yes rightly screw around with The Beatles cover of
"Every Little Thing" (originally on their fourth UK platter
"Beatles For Sale" in 1964). Half way through they come up with that
familiar vocal refrain - a clever set of counterpoints as the guitars and drums
punch and swirl. "Sweetness" is just over four minutes of Prog meets
melody - sweetness stirred with a spoon - a very 1969 love-song wrapped up that
Yes-ness sound. "Survival" points towards the multiple-song-parts of "The
Yes Album" - huge thumping bass notes - guitars and keyboards dancing –
until it suddenly fades into something entirely new and unexpected – gorgeous
stuff and a genuinely great way to end the album.
The 1970 "Time And A Word" second LP
(with orchestra) would continue the musical search for 'that sound' which they
would finally realise in the 1971 game-changer "The Yes Album" - a
band arriving and unleashing their potential. "...Somewhere in a field a
life begins..." and "...yesterday's endings will tomorrow's life give
you..." - Jon Anderson sang on "Survival". For sure
"Yes" is only a start, but man what an opening Starship Trooper...
PS: This 2003 Remaster variant of
"Yes" including the Six Bonus Tracks also turns up inside "The
Studio Albums 1969-1987" Box Set which is amazing value for money and
includes repro artwork but not the booklet...
