If you are a Yes fan and weren’t satisfied with the plethora of Yes music, concerts and side projects available to you in 2018, then something is seriously wrong with you.
The 50th anniversary year saw a successful multi-city tour by Yes, which included original keyboardist Tony Kaye. Yes Featuring Anderson Rabin Howe also launched their self-proclaimed 100-show world tour. There has also been solo dates by Steve Howe, Geoff Downes on the stage with his Downes/Braides Association and two Yes conventions featuring Bill Bruford, Patrick Moraz and Tom Brislan among others. ARW even gave us a new live recordings (with newly enhanced crowd noise) of Yes classics.
Now, as #Yes50 wraps up, we get two great new Yes tribute releases. Prog masters Dave Kerzner and Fernando Perdomo just released Yesterday and Today, which is a must have for Yes fans. This review focuses on the just-released A Life in Yes: The Chris Squire Tribute, which was conceived, produced, recorded and mixed by current Yes bassist Billy Sherwood.
Clearly, the album’s 10 songs represent a labor of love for Sherwood, who met Squire in the ’90s and became fast friends. I would also imagine the selection of songs from the album was difficult, yet Sherwood does throw in a few curveballs.
“On the Silent Wings of Freedom,” originally from 1978’s Tormato is a brilliant start to A Life in Yes. Since the master tapes of Tormato are missing, a Steven Wilson style remix is unlikely. Sherwood does a brilliant job capturing the essence of the song, while making it sound modern and clear.
Additional credit must go to Yes singer Jon Davison and drummer Jay Schellen: They add an enthusiasm which was lost in the original recording, but never stray too far from original parts. Sherwood not only captures the essence of the iconic squire bass part, but handles the multiple guitar parts perfectly, blending Steve Howe with Steve Lukather. Patrick Moraz steps in with clean and supportive synthesizer parts which enhance instead of step on the guitar parts.
Sherwood also takes on the opening song from Squire’s lone solo album, 1975’s Fish Out of Water. “Hold Out Your Hand” is almost faithfully reproduced as singer Steve Hogarth’s vocals are spot on, as is Sherwood’s bass. Larry Fast provides clavinet and synth support, and Sherwood adds in little bits of guitar which were not included in the original. “Onward” is an obvious and welcome inclusion, especially with the addition of Annie Haslam on vocals. Sherwood’s arrangement is lovely and textured.
“South Side of the Sky” does seem to be an unusual inclusion, however. The original recording of the song from 1971’s Fragile, co-composed by Jon Anderson, Chris Squire and an credited Rick Wakeman, relies more on Squire’s musical input in the chorus and vocal arranging than his bass playing. On this update, Sherwood handles the vocal heavy lifting. It’s not Jon Anderson, or Jon Davison, but it works well on A Life in Yes: The Chris Squire Tribute. David Sancious adds his own flavor to the iconic piano break with an unmistakable jazz flair which is further enhanced by Steve Stevens’ driving guitar work. It’s all good stuff.
“The Fish” is a more obvious, yet welcome song choice – and one which Sherwood is thoroughly at home with. “The More We Live – Let Go,” from 1991’s Union, is also a welcome addition. The song, which was the first collaboration between Chris Squire and Sherwood, is just as touching as it was on the Conspiracy album or Union. Toto synthesizer master Steve Porcaro and prog god Steve Hackett help make something new and uplifting. “The More We Live – Let Go” is a gem and Sherwood’s fretless bass work, sitar and multi-tracked vocals only take it to a higher plane.
“Parallels” was originally conceived for Fish Out of Water, but later appeared on 1977’s Going for The One sounds very close to what was played during the #Yes50 shows this year. Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood tackle the dense and complex harmonies, while Sherwood’s guitar work is brilliantly mixed as the song takes flight. Tony Kaye replaces his replacement’s parts with a Hammond B-3 sound instead of the original church-organ sound. Hopefully, the #Yes50 version of the song will make it to a live album, but if it doesn’t this is a fine substitute.
Nikki Squire and Dweezil Zappa appear on a faithful and fun recreation of “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” while Todd Rundgren with help from John Wesley and Tony Kaye on guitars and keyboards respectively tackle “Roundabout” with a determination that the old classic hasn’t seen in years.
Wesley’s harmonics in the electric guitar hints at Steve Howe, yet with a modern energy. Rundgren sounds like Rundgren, singing in a lower key than the original with an unmistakable passion. Kaye again gets to reimagine an iconic Wakeman keyboard part. It’s different yet brilliantly fits into Sherwood’s arrangement, as does Schellen’s aggressive blend of Bruford and Alan White’s styles.
A Life in Yes: The Chris Squire Tribute also includes two bonus tracks which feature Squire – the Prog Collective‘s “Technical Divide” and “Comfortably Numb” from a Pink Floyd tribute album. If you are a big Chris Squire fan, you probably own both. The last non-bonus song, however, is “Don’t Kill the Whale.”
Opening and closing this tribute with Tormato songs is ballsy, and it works. Vocalist Candice Night charges forward with a passion only matched by Jay Shellen’s drumming and Sherwood’s powerful guitars. Brian Auger’s synthesizers don’t step on the guitar parts ad Sherwood’s filter bass almost brings a tear to the eye, as they are loud in the mix and sound phenomenal.
As a whole A Life in Yes: The Chris Squire Tribute is an undeniable treat for Yes and rock fans, and a fitting salute to the late Yes legend.
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