This Review Along With More Than 480 Others Is Available In My
SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites
CLASSIC 1970s ROCK On CD - Exception Remasters
Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95
Thousands and thousands of E-Pages
All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs Themselves
(No Cut and Paste Crap)
"...Life Will Be Even Bolder..."
Produced by TONY COLTON (a
close friend of Jon Anderson and the lead singer with Heads, Hand & Feet -
another Atlantic Records act on the up) - Yes' second platter "Time And A
Word" from July 1970 saw our British Prog Heroes take on an 'orchestra' to
mixed results - good and bad.
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 I'd argue that the four 'Bonus
Tracks' on this 2003 Elektra/Rhino CD Remaster of "Time And A Word"
lift proceedings into the realms of essential purchase for fan and newcomer
alike. Here are the timely details...
UK released February 2003
(reissued April 2013) - "Time And A Word" by YES on Elektra/Rhino
8122-73787-2 (Barcode 081227378721) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with
Four Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (60:15 minutes):
1. No Opportunity Necessary,
No Experience Needed
2. Then
3. Everydays
4. Sweet Dreams
5. The Prophet [Side 2]
6. Clear days
7. Astral Traveller
8. Time And A Word
Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd
studio album "Time And A Word" - released June 1970 in the UK on
Atlantic Records 2400 006 (reissued December 1971 on Atlantic K 40085) and
November 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8273. The US issue had different
artwork to the UK original - the first page of the booklet uses the UK artwork
(naked lady in black and white) whilst the last page of the booklet uses the US
cover (a colour photo of the 5-piece band).
BONUS TRACKS:
9. Dear Father - UK-only
7" single on Atlantic 2091 004 released 15 June 1970 - B-side to
"Sweet Dreams" (album track No. 3)
10. No Opportunity
Necessary, No Experience Needed (Original Mix)
11. Sweet Dreams (Original
Mix)
Tracks 9 to 11 also first
appeared on an early German pressing of the "Time And A Word LP" in
April 1970
12. The Prophet - UK-only
7" single on Atlantic 584 323 released 27 March 1970 - B-side to
"Time And A Word" (album track No. 8)
For "Time And A
Word" YES was:
JON ANDERSON - Leads Vocals
PETER BANKS - Lead Guitars
TONY KAYE - Keyboards
CHRIS SQUIRE - Bass
BILL BRUFORD - Drums
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 Laurence Sackman (the
US variant is on the last page of the booklet) and adds on four tasty Bonus
tracks Previously Unissued in the USA. The 16-page booklet detailed and
informative liner notes from MIKE TIANO and the text is peppered with colour/black
and white period photos of the band. The rare lyric insert that came with
original vinyl issues is also reproduced - there's a photo f the band beneath
the see-through CD tray and the only tiny glitch that I can see is that Rhino
used the December 1971 reissue artwork for Atlantic K 40085 on Page 2 (the rear
of the UK sleeve) with the WEA credit when it should have been Atlantic 2400
006 - the 1970 original when WEA didn't exist. Other than that the booklet is
very tastefully done - Rhino's quality shining through. 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.
The album opens with a
Richie Havens cover version lifted from his second album on Verve Forecast
"Somethin' Else" called "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience
Needed". YES take the 1968 Folk-Soul song and its inherent funky beat and
add their Prog Classical slant and actually it works. Driven by Squire's huge
Bass notes and Kaye's frantic Organ - it could actually be a Yes song - in fact
you can hear "Yours In No Disgrace" in its structures. But it's
"Then" and the fabulous "Everydays" that brings the LP to
life - brilliant rhythms as Jon sings "...love is the only answer..."
and that gorgeous languid Blues-feel to "Everydays". I know you could
argue that "Then" in particular could have done without the strings -
but the combo of strings and Kaye's slinky organ notes on "Everydays"
along with that cool cymbals and guitar Prog break actually make the song.
Atlantic figured the
ever-so-slightly commercial feel to "Sweet Dreams" would make a great
45 - so they give it pride of place as an A-side in mid June 1970 with the
none-album "Dear Father" on the flipside - but despite the strength
of both sides - it sank without a trace presently clocking in at £45 in the
latest 2018 RC Price Guide. But that's as naught to the rarity of the album's
first single - the non-album mix of "The Prophet" b/w the album’s
version of the title track "Time And A Word". No one seems to know
how many stocks copies of Atlantic 584 323 were released in March 1970 in their
native Britain - but it wasn't a lot and has subsequently become a notorious
YES collectable clocking in at £175.00 - if you can actually find a copy. Both
of those rare non-album 45 versions are included here as Bonus Tracks and
welcome additions they are too.
The album version of
"The Prophet" opens Side 2 (different to the single mix) and at 6:40
minutes gives you the full Jon Anderson/Chris Squire penned gamut of Yes
sounds. Again I think the when the strings come in - it adds rather than
detracts (others would disagree). The remaster has great power when the band
finally kicks in - that Peter Banks guitar passage particularly clear as Jon
starts to sing "...a tale of yesterday..." Lead vocalist and founder
member Jon Anderson penned "Clear Days" - a song that goes all
"Eleanor Rigby" on the string additions to the point where it's
difficult to hear any other instrument. But along with the piano - it feels
epic and clever. The near six-minute "Astral Traveller" is more like
"The Yes Album" Yes people love - Anderson warbling about
"...wandering where lights go..." and leaving out the body load (know
what you mean man). The opening acoustic guitars of “Time And A Word” are
beautifully clear and I’d forgotten how good parts of the song is - similar
musical themes that turned up on parts of "Tales From Topographic
Oceans".
The 1969 debut is better for
sure and the next LP in 1971 "The Yes Album" is a masterpiece - a
band finally arriving and unleashing their potential. "...And the word is
love..." - Jon Anderson sings on "Time And A Word" -
"...and it's right for me..." I feel the same way about this
forgotten part of their mighty catalogue.
PS: This 2003 Remaster
variant of "Time And A Word" including the 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...
-->
No comments:
Post a Comment