Live at Montreux (2007)
Disc One
1. Siberian Khatru
2. Magnification
3. Don't Kill the Whale
4. In the Presence Of
5. We Have Heaven
6. South Side of the Sky
7. And You and I
8. To Be Over
9. Clap
Disc Two
1. Show Me
2. Rick Wakeman Solo Medley
3. Heart of the Sunrise
4. Long Distance Runaround
5. The Fish
6. Awaken
7. I've Seen All Good People
8. Roundabout
By this point in their career, no one was really sure if Yes would ever get around to making another studio album. So seeing yet another live release hit the shelves wasn’t exactly shocking. What’s a bit odd, though, is that this album largely draws from the same general period as their previous live outing, 2003’s Symphonic Live. The key differences? For one, there’s no orchestra here. And perhaps more importantly, Rick Wakeman is back in the fold—yet again. If you’re wondering why that alone might justify another live album, look no further than the cover art itself: the band is so proud of the “classic” lineup reuniting that they slapped all the members’ names on the front in oversized type, just to make sure you didn’t miss the point.
To be fair, the setlist isn’t a carbon copy of Symphonic Live, which is arguably the main selling point. It’s different enough to warrant interest, and overall it flows a lot better than its predecessor. Interestingly, the slightly shorter running time (about 20 minutes less) actually helps—it feels tighter, less bloated, and a bit more engaging start to finish.
They also wisely include a couple of the stronger cuts from the then-current studio album they were supporting, which is always welcome on a live release. It’s good to see the band not just leaning on the old warhorses but actually giving the newer material some time in the spotlight. Of course, there’s also plenty of room for the obligatory solo showcases—those are a bit of a mixed bag. If you’ve heard more than a couple of Yes live albums, you know the drill. At this point, there’s not a lot left to surprise anyone. That said, the jam between Chris Squire and Alan White on The Fish is genuinely fantastic, and it’s hard not to get caught up in the sheer musicianship on display there.
Ultimately, this is about as strong a live album as you could reasonably hope for from Yes at this stage. The band sounds energized, the recording is polished, and there’s enough variety to keep things interesting. The only real knock against it? We’ve pretty much heard all of this before. For completists or those who just can’t get enough of the “classic” lineup, it’s a no-brainer. For everyone else, it’s a solid—if slightly redundant—addition to the ever-growing pile of Yes live releases.
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