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I have been away on holiday this week but Mark and I managed to pre-record this episode all about Yes Rapture – although we may stray into a ‘rupture’ moment as well…
We each chose 3 moments that take us to a different dimension. There are many of these in Yes music, of course, but see if you can guess what we have chosen – I was certainly very surprised by more than one of Mark’s choices!
Of course, we would be delighted to hear your choices for Yes Rapture moments – or even your rupture moments! – so please do add them to the show notes for this week’s episode.
- What did we choose?
- How would you define a ‘rapture’ moment?
- What on earth is Mark’s ‘rupture’?
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8 replies on “Yes Rapture – 722”
Rapture moment — ‘To Be Over’ — “After all your soul will still surrender, After all don’t doubt your part be ready to be loved…”
My rapture moment (and I think favorite musical moment of all time)—the break to piano and harmony “Da da da da da da” vocals in “South Side of the Sky”—absolutely sublime!
Ya’ll took my answers:). I did select before listening. Awaken, CTTE, Leaves. Live Wurm as a runner up. Thanks.
Excellent topic. I am not going to veer far from the beaten track but with maybe some slight variances. I am a sucker for the sections in Yes music where everything breaks down to a something close to an
oceanic stillness.
So number one moment by a league and a mile for me is the harp / church organ breakdown section in Awaken. Plenty of recordings to choose from. Wembley 78 is a big favourite as is Wembley 77 for that matter. House Of Yes and Montreux are also pretty good. I thought ARW made a very decent job of Awaken in the show I saw but the live recording isn’t in the same league as the Yes versions.
After that the contenders for the number two slot are the controlled post mayhem sections of both Nous Sommes Du Soleil and Gates. They both have a sweet release aspect to them but to make them 2 and 3 on this list would represent a redundancy.
So, if I had to pick between them it would be Gates (at a pinch) from around the 15 minute mark of the studio recording through to the end of Soon though the way the musical sun comes out in the Yesshows recording of NSDS is pretty fabulous too. As is the QPR version. It’s a bit of a messy performance but is transcendent for all that and I was there so that counts in its favour.
For my third pick I am going for a nostalgic “first love” selection and South Side Of The Sky. I was tempted to go for the final section of the Yessongs version of CTTE but SSOTS is the more musical choice and was probably the first piece of Yes music to reel me in and make a fan of me. In particular the piano solo before the Swingle Singers – esque vocalese section (check out the Swingles album with the Modern Jazz Quartet if you want to see what I am getting at here). This is Rick’s most Keith Emerson moment on record and works brilliantly. As a kid I used to pick the needle up and replay that section over and over. The arm of the stereo and cartridge on what passed for a stereo were so heavy I must have ended up digging a trench in that record.
Before listening to your picks, I made these choices: “Awaken” after the heavenly instrumental section; the big build-up in “Hearts” just before the tranquil ending; “Brother of Mine” moving into the final sequence; and (admittedly a surprising choice, even for me once I realized it) “Love Will Find a Way,” particularly Trevor singing “a way” by himself after Jon repeats the title several times just shy of the two-minute mark. Oh, and pretty much all of “And You and I.”
hi guys – love the podcast – now grown to something I look forward to each week.
I thought the “Rapture” concept was quite interesting and wanted to add a moment that has always moved me in that way, although I didn’t know what to call it.
It’s in Gates of Delirium at the end of the “battle” sequence – at about 12:49 in – the swirling guitar and keys while Chris and Alan skirmish rhythmically make my whole body say “WOW”.
Great episode and concept. I’m sure there are so many more – might be worth a second look.
Peace,
Jeff Schaetzel (rhymes with Pretzel)
Love the topic, thank you both! Would throw in any live version of And You and I from the 2003-2004 tours when they slowed down the ending instrumental piece just before Jon comes back in to sing the end. See Madison Square Garden, NY, 5/13/04. Chills!!
Mark and Kevin
Great show, well done gents!
Still struggling to define the concept of ‘Rupture’, but if I had to pick some favourite musical highlights it would probably be the climax of Awaken, the climax of Wurm, the instrumental interlude on And You and I, and some of Ricks moog and Mellotron meanderings on The Remembering on Tales.
I also agree with Marks inclusion of Cinema, and in particular the closing refrain with layered keys and vocals… From the same era I agree with Ray on the inclusion of Hearts, but maybe for that hanging final chord.
I think there is great material on the new From a Page, especially From the Moment and Mr Wakemans final moog flourish.
More recently, the quieter middle section of Jon Andersons ‘True’ where his mantra returns is quite extraordinary and uplifting.
In the interests of fairness and completion I have thought long and hard about the more recent albums, but I can’t think of any ‘rapturous’ moments. Must not be part of the new ‘evolved’ Yes sound.
Thanks again for a compelling show