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Why did Yes want Rick Wakeman…back…again? – 583

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Ken Fuller, Wayne Hall and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week, Mark and I return to our perennial favourite, the ‘why did Yes want’ series. Rick is back – again – after the orchestral diversion of Magnification and the Symphonic Tour just after the turn of the century (pun intended). He produced two albums of Yes-related music shortly before returning to the band so we are going to listen to those this coming week and bang on about them next week – you are most welcome to join in via the comments below.

I’ve spent all my spare time(!) this week packaging and sending copies of my Tormato book across the world so there’s been no time to look at the usual social media places, I’m afraid. So we move straight onto the discussion.

See if you agree or disagree with what’s said and let us know by leaving a comment on the show notes for this episode.

  • What was Rick up to before returning to Yes once again?
  • What are the ‘Two Sides Of Yes’?
  • Why does he do ‘that’?!?

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Producers:

  • Joseph Cottrell
  • Ken Fuller
  • Jeffrey Crecelius and
  • Wayne Hall

Patrons:

Aaron Steelman

Dave Owen

Mark James Lang
Paul Tomei
Joost Maglev

David Heyden

Paul Wilson
Martin Kjellberg
Bob Martilotta
Lind
Michael O’Connor
William Hayes
Brian Sullivan

David Pannell

Lobate Scarp
Miguel Falcão
Chris Bandini

David Watkinson

Neal Kaforey
Rachel Hadaway
Craig Estenes
Dem
Mark ‘Zarkol’ Baggs
Paul Hailes
Doug Curran

Robert Nasir

Fergus Cubbage
Scott Colombo
Fred Barringer
David
Geoff Bailie
Simon Barrow
Geoffrey Mason

Stephen Lambe
Guy R DeRome
Steve Dill
Henrik Antonsson
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Hogne Bø Pettersen
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Declan Logue
Steve Scott
Todd Dudley
Jim
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Steven Roehr

John Parry
Keith Hoisington
Alan Begg
Terence Sadler
John Holden
Barry Gorsky
Michael Handerhan
Tim Stannard

Jon Pickles
John Thomson
John Cowan
Tony Handley
Robert
Gary Betts
Jim Morrison

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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: archive.org

5 replies on “Why did Yes want Rick Wakeman…back…again? – 583”

It’s always been a musical reason to have him back, but the Rick package means you get so much more as a band mate and for all involved with a touring unit. Sadly it would seem no more returns of any sorts for Yes, not even any special one offs but we should be happy he plays and tours as he has hinted more than once he wouldn’t tour anymore.

Like with all Yes members we are so lucky to have the music to view and listen to at a click of a button. With a Rick UK tour next year he still maintains his love for the Yes music he helped to create.

I saw the Yes with Porcupine Tree gig in Columbus OH in Oct 2002, from the 8th row in an arena. It was a fantastic pairing, IMO, even if it meant that Yes played a slightly shorter show.

Really enjoyed this episode. Love Rick but I too have a bunch of CDs from that period of his that make me scratch my head. Also agree that the 2002 – 2004 version of Yes which I was lucky enough to see on tour multiple times was a real treat and a fitting “second act” from the classic 70’s lineup. Keep up the great work Kevin and Mark!

I know you said they didn’t record any music with Rick in this period, but technically didn’t they record the bonus disc on best of 35 years? – it re-recordings of Roundabout (acoustic) Southbound of the sky which was excellent and technically a new song being “show me” that had only been released live versions.
I was around when the ‘two sides of yes’ came out but could only afford one version so I bought Vol 2 as I love Awaken which to me is the best track on the CD. The word that best describes the CD is “dull” although Starship Trooper is especially bad! Madrigal is tolerable as a band track but it is not one of Rick’s finest…speaking of which – will you review Rick’s new Album as you did last year considering it is the same line up with ab occasional singer?
Keep up the good work

Thanks John. That’s a really good point about those recordings and we haven’t discussed them at all so we should make a point of doing that.
I’m really not keen on Rick’s latest so it will probably be quite far down the list.

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