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Yes album sleeve notes – 428

Chris Squire in this amazing set
Chris Squire pictured in the booklet of The Word Is Live

Produced by Jeffrey Crecelius, Wayne Hall, Preston Frazier and Bill Govier

It’s another week of normality, courtesy of the YMP. I hope you are well and coping with the current situation.

This week in a bit of a departure from the usual format, Mark and I took a look at some of the sleeve notes which come with Yes records, CDs and so on. We both choose our favourite 3 examples and talk quite a bit about the different kinds there have been through the years. There’s an invitation to suggest your own favourites on the show notes for this episode and also the news that we will be speaking to Sid Smith next week on the show. In case you are unaware, Sid recently updated his essential King Crimson book and is also the author of many essays for sleeve notes including the Steven Wilson Yes remixes. We are very much looking forward to that conversation.

  • What different styles of sleeve notes are included with Yes albums?
  • Which are the best?
  • Which are our favourites?

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think!

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Show notes and links:

YMP Patrons:

Producers:

  • Jeffrey Crecelius
  • Preston Frazier
  • Bill Govier and
  • Wayne Hall

Patrons:

Aaron Steelman

Dave Owen

Mark James Lang

Paul Tomei

Joost Maglev

David Heyden

Martin Kjellberg

Paul Wilson

Bob Martilotta

Lind

Michael O’Connor

Peter Hearnden

Brian Sullivan

David Pannell

Miguel Falcão

Lobate Scarp

Chris Bandini

David Watkinson

Neal Kaforey

Rachel Hadaway

Craig Estenes

Dem

Paul Hailes

Mark ‘Zarkol’ Baggs

Doug Curran

Robert Nasir

Fergus Cubbage

Scott Colombo

Fred Barringer

Scott Smith
Geoff Bailie

Simon Barrow
Geoffrey Mason

Stephen Lambe

Guy R DeRome

Steve Dill

Henrik Antonsson

Steve Perry

Hogne Bø Pettersen

Steve Rode

IanNB

Steve Scott

Jamie McQuinn

Steven Roehr

Ken Fuller

Terence Sadler

Michael Handerhan

Tim Stannard

Jim

Todd Dudley

John Cowan

Tony Handley

John Holden

Joseph Cottrell

John Parry

Keith Hoisington

John Thomson

William Hayes
Barry Gorsky


Robert and David

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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

11 replies on “Yes album sleeve notes – 428”

I really enjoyed this episode, and couldn’t wait to get into my collection and read some of the footnotes, booklets and even books. So to kickoff my favourites in no particular order, I have to mention the first album, Yes. I’m s bit surprised you didn’t mention it, with the short story of the early days by Tony Wilson.
Next for me is The Yes Years cd box set. A full album size book with loads of information, packed with pictures and even a fold out Yes family tree at the back.
And of course I have to choose the Fish Out Of Water box set. Not only filled with info on this album, but also the Run With The Fox single with Alan White, plus his other album, Swiss Choir.

That’s the idea, Tony! Fish Out Of Water – yes I had forgotten this week’s guest Sid Smith had been involved in that. Fabulous stuff.

A great episode that I was not expecting – Something that was always there but something I hadn’t thought too much about.
My first would be ABWH – One of the few times I was excited to see a photo with all of the originals back together looking healthy, happy and good (like the music) – not that exciting but holds a special place as the music and package came at a good time in my life.
Next, for me would also be Yes Years for all the reasons Tony said above – the Album size made it feel epic and everything else.
Last would be the Progeny big box set with it’s individual covers – but the book with it has great photos (Alan White playing guitar!), and informative writing in a font size I can read.
Only sad part of the episode was I then had a closer look at some of my LP’s and realise I don’t have the insert for CTTE, the booklet for Olais or even Talk interactive thing Kevin spoke about…..Mmmmm goona have to look around now…

I think I’m going to have to stop listening to the Podcast – hearing the two of you talk about covers and inserts of albums I bought when they came out and subsequently gave away makes me want to cry. . What was I thinking?? The only two originals I still have are Topographic Oceans and Drama – both framed and hanging in my office.

Me too. I owned Olias on vinyl in high school (along with Fish Out of Water, Steve’s first two solo albums, Ramshackled, Bodast Tapes, Tomorrow, and of course every Yes album up through 90125, including both covers for the first two). Gone, all gone. (Same with all my vinyl. The old Genesis albums, some Floyd and Crimson, and much more.) And my Roger Dean posters! All of Yes replaced on CD at least, along with some of the solos (I may be the only Ramshackled fan I know), and expanded to cover the intervening years. But sometimes I want to kick my past self! Anyway, back to the topic: The Word is Live has a great booklet.

No! Don’t stop listening Ken! We need you! Sorry to hear about your former collection. Great shame.

I like this show a lot guys as it’s on product and memorabilia.

Outside of Yes then Olias it has to be. Simply stunning work that never ages and always amazes.

Yes works I would have to say Yessongs, Topographic, Relayer, I get the inside artwork on Tormato too, GFTO is great but the box sets are huge works of art. Booklets need to be studied fully, Yes do this kind of thing better than most. There is a standard originated by Roger Dean and the band that carries on with the Gottlieb brothers to this date. It’s either top notch or nothing, if it has the official backing it will be a stunning package.

From the Fragile and Yessongs booklet, Topographic Drama, or DBA in green vinyl or many more, we are extremely lucky to have Roger Dean as the 6th member of Yes.

More chats like this chaps.

I would like to evoke Chris’ last dedications in the sleeve notes of Heaven and Earth, notably:

“Paul Silveira, who I wish to thank personally, as a new member of the Yes partnership who has done an excellent job of guiding us over the last couple of years”

“I also feel it’s about time to give my heartfelt thanks to Richard Davis who has been my bass tech and wingman since the late seventies and still has the capacity to put up with me to this day”

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