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Episode 79 – Yes Tracks Through Time Part 1 – Astral Traveller

astral lyrics
Cosmic lyrics (Click to enlarge)

The seventy-ninth episode of the Yes Music Podcast featuring the first in a series of Yes Tracks Through Time. After the initial recording, what happened to songs live? How did different line-ups of the band alter the character of tracks – if at all?

Listen and then let me know what you think of the different approaches by contacting me via any of the different routes on the right hand side or by leaving a comment below!

  • Which of the three versions of Astral Traveller is the best?
  • Should group members leave tracks alone or add their own character?
  • Does the band’s approach change over time?

 

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Theme music

The music I use is the last movement of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. This has been used as introduction music at many Yes concerts. My theme music is not take from a live concert – I put it together from the following two creative commons sources:

thanvannispen and archive.org

4 replies on “Episode 79 – Yes Tracks Through Time Part 1 – Astral Traveller”

Great idea Kevin. I can’t tell you how any versions I have of “And You and I” or “Roundabout”. It’s interesting to hear how AYAI developed through the Rabin years and beyond and I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts. As for Roundabout, compare and contrast the version on Yessongs (when the song was still young and fresh) with later versions when it became the obligatory “time to run for the car park” encore.

Thanks Ken. Yes, it should be a very interesting journey. I really enjoyed listening to those versions of Astral Traveller – such different versions!

Absolutely love the idea of “Tracks Through Time”. An interesting choice for first track, not one that I would have come up with but a fascinating one.

So having listened to those versions I find I really like all three but I found my collection has a version by the late Peter Banks on a CD called “Tales from Yesterday” which is a compilation of Yes tracks by various people including Patrick Moraz, Steve Howe and Steve Morse, Here is a link to the CD at Prog Archives

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=10584

So I wondered when it was put together – 1995 – and in looking at the CD sleeve notes it mentions that the lead guitar for the Peter Banks Astral Traveller track was recorded at “The Next Room” in Barnet [this is a suburb of North London] (Peter lived in Barnet I believe). It also said that the track was engineered by Richard Burton (not the actor) but I recognised the studio and the name – my son and his son are in the same class at school and we often chat on the school run. He and his studio are more into Dance Music but he takes on other work as needed.

I talked to him via email today and he remembers the session…he said he was introduced to Peter by Rick Wakeman – and has “known Rick and his sons for ages”. He didn’t know of Peters passing and said “he was a really nice bloke. Clean living guy as well, really so humble. He will be missed.”
As far as the song goes, this version is an instrumental with, as you would expect, Peter’s lead guitar very prominent and sounding really good and a little bit “over the top”. You can check it out on You Tube at

hope that was interesting?
regards
Paul

Hi Paul and thanks so much for the comment! I seen the cover of that CD before, maybe even in a record shop but I don’t have a copy. There are some fascinating tracks on there – I’m particularly interested in the Peter Banks and Steve Howe ones but I’s also love to hear all those cover versions!

Great story about the engineer as well! It’s amazing how small the world can be. What’s that thing about degrees of separation?

Thanks also for the YouTube link – as you say that’s an amazing version and threatens to commit unspeakable acts in the grand tradition of Mr. Banks.

Fantastic to have your input – thanks again!

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