“Everydays,” written by Stephen Stills, was released as a single though not included in Yes’s self-titled 1969 debut. Two versions of the cover can now be found on the 2003 Rhino Records rerelease.
They provide a tasteful though not a dramatically different version of a song originally found on Buffalo Springfield Again. Jon Anderson and Chris Squire’s harmonies are very much in the mode of Southern California, and Anderson continues to refine his lead vocal approach.
Bill Bruford’s stickwork and Tony Kaye’s prominent Hammond B3 organ touches set the song apart from the more folky original material found elsewhere on Yes. Additionally, Peter Banks’ psychedelic and off-the-rails guitar work has hints of Neil Young.
While “Everydays” appears initially to be a weird selection for Yes to record, the interaction of Kaye and Banks quickly confirm that this version of the band had the arranging and playing chops to entice the psychedelic crowd. The song would have made a worthy addition to the album: How about replacing “Sweetness”?.
Furthermore, “Everydays” is also a look forward to things to come, arrangement wise, for Yes through the main sequence of albums – long after Banks, Kaye, and Bruford were all gone.
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