I’m probably in the minority of Yes fans, but I didn’t think much about the Yes album Talk when it was released in March 1994. The album ranked toward the bottom of my favorite Yes albums.
The Trevor Rabin years of Yes included significant progression for the band with 3 1/2 albums worth of material, most of it very good. My issues with Talk revolve mostly around Trevor Rabin’s production.
Chris Squire’s writing input was minimal, and his bass playing was low in the mix. Tony Kaye was sidelined with just a few Hammond organ stabs. Alan White’s drum sound bordered on bombast.
Does an expanded 30th-anniversary deluxe box set edition fix these issues? Not totally. However, the 14th studio album from Yes demonstrates how the band was still progressive with its streamlined lyrics, direct production, and powerful playing.
The expanded edition provides several tasty rarities for hardcore Yes fans. “The Calling (Special Edition)” seems to benefit from remixing, with Tony Kaye’s input more prominent and the vocal mixed more subtly. Radio and single edits of “The Calling” are also welcome additions. Disc 2 also features intriguing rarities such as the “Endless Dream (Demo)” and instrumental versions of “Where Will You Be,” “Walls,” and “Endless Dream.”
All these extras are good; however, the live songs, pulled from the June 19, 1994, performance in Canandaigua, New York, are essential listening. Yes was augmented at this point by Billy Sherwood on second guitar, second keyboard, vocals and bass, and appears is in excellent form. The rhythm section is mixed well, highlighting their power and agility.
The concert is a reminder of the majesty of the late Chris Squire and Alan White. The live versions of “I Am Waiting,” “The Calling,” and “Walls” shine in this setting. “Real Love,” co-written by Rabin, Squire and Anderson, benefits from the additional keys, acoustic guitar and synth programming. The live version of “The Calling” shows Jon Anderson at the top of his game.
The expected Rabin-era deep cuts are well represented, too: “City of Love,” “Changes” and “Hearts” all translate well in the live setting. The Howe era “hits” are here too, and all come across better than they did on the audience-enhanced ARW live album, which came out a few years back.
Is the 30th anniversary deluxe box set essential listening? If you are a Yes fan, absolutely. This expanded version of Talk fills in a significant hole in many collections. The album has aged better than I expected. The bonus studio tracks and demos, along with the stirring live tracks, also make this one of my favorite Yes boxed sets.
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