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This week, we start a new series of episodes in preparation for the forthcoming book Master of Images – Barry Plummer’s Yes Legacy. One of the most intriguing sets of photos shared with me by Barry shows some kind of an event in 1981 with Rick Wakeman, shortly after he left Yes. I’ve added a couple of the shots (heavily watermarked) into the show notes for this week’s episode but the whole set will be available in what is shaping up to be a very interesting book.
Mark and I discuss the photos as well as the associated album. Let us know what you think of it via the comments on Yes Music Podcast.com
- What is Rick doing underground?
- Who is with him?
- Most importantly – why?
Barry Plummer’s photos:
Mark’s copies of the album:
Mark Lang’s photos from Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks at The Lansdowne Theatre
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5 replies on “Master of Images – Barry Plummer’s Yes Legacy – Part 1 – 1984 – 719”
Sorry it took me so long to get on board as a patron, but I look forward to helping keep the lights on at YMP Towers!
I won’t try too hard to defend Rick’s 1984 album, but I will say that I hadn’t heard it until some time after I’d gotten used to “The 1984 Trilogy” from THE CLASSICAL CONNECTION. That’s quite a lovely distillation of the best bits from the album, combining several themes into a satisfying whole (The Overture/ The Hymn/Finale, incorporating Julia). It made me eager to hear the album, imagining something along the lines of KING ARTHUR or CRIMINAL RECORD. (Needless to say, it did not live up to my expectations.) But so far as I am concerned, the highlight of 1984 is “The Room (Brainwash)”; I contend that Rick is in rare form for that one, bringing to mind a more Emersonic style than we’re used to hearing from him. And I do still love the medley on CLASSICAL CONNECTION!
Welcome, Ray! Ray and I are music friends and are fans & supporters of a certain guitarist, among others.
…a certain guitarist who plays in DBA with Geoff Downes, and who also is a talented keyboardist and held the same position in the Strawbs as Rick Wakeman, Oliver Wakeman, and Adam Wakeman (a position also held briefly by John Young of ASIA, for that matter).
Hi Kevin and Mark!
Thanks for another engaging episode and amusing banter. As a lifelong Rick Wakeman fan I am forced to admit that 1984 was a dreadful album, albeit slightly better than ‘Prophet’…
Mark is absolutely right when he highlights the inconsistency of Ricks eighties output. Alcohol, relationship problems and financial issues all took their toll. However even if the musical ideas were dire, and the production was poor and the new keyboards abysmal, I think Ricks complex arrangements still point to his musical genius. But not in a way I actually enjoy listening too!
Just one further comment. Before discarding this album to the bargain bin of Yes related failed solo projects, make sure you listen to the overture performed by Rick live, without the orchestra, just his three piece band and his keys. Stripped down it makes much better sense as a complex rock piece, without the flailing orchestrations. The performance at Hammersmith is a good place to start.
Kevin and Mark. You guys come up with some great ideas for episodes, but I’ve had one of my own for your future consideration.
How about charting the relationship between Yes and other individual bands, either their influences or contemporary peers.
I’d often thought a side by side comparison of the history and discography of Yes, Genesis or ELP (for example) would be illuminating. These bands were contemporaries and likely influenced each other’s musical directions. Members knew each other personally, toured together and we know Bill moved from Yes across to Genesis. Emerson was offered the Yes gig after Rick left and I seem to recall somewhere that Steve was considered for Genesis before Hackett came on. Both blokes later worked on GTR together. Steve and Carl Palmer did Asia. Phil might have been offered Bill’s stool after Close to the Edge.
Anyway, I think tracing the evolving musical style of Yes with its contemporaries might make for interesting discussion. There are some clear parallels and some points of difference
I had some great laughs listening to this one (two or three times). I think I want to listen to the bloody album now!
P.S. By now we have enough material to make one full episode with Mark’s impersonations.
Thanks Ken & Mark