Yessongs (1973)


  
  

1. Opening "Firebird Suite"
2. Siberian Khatru
3. Heart of the Sunrise
4. Perpetual Change
5. And You and I
6. Mood for a Day
7. Excerpts from "The Six Wives of 
   Henry VIII"
8. Roundabout
9. I've Seen All Good People
10.Long Distance Runaround/The Fish 
   (Schindleria Praematurus) 
11.Close to the Edge
12.Yours is No Disgrace
13.Starship Trooper

 

With Yessongs, Yes made it abundantly clear they weren’t just a studio band—they were a live force to be reckoned with. Released in 1973 as their first official live album, Yessongs wasn’t content with the usual fare. Instead of a tidy single or even a generous double LP, they delivered a triple album. Yes, three full discs. In the early ’70s, that was nearly unheard of—and it still is.

Even more surprising is that at the time of its release, Yes had only five studio albums to their name. Yet Yessongs focuses exclusively on material from their most recent three—The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge. These were, and still are, widely considered the band’s golden trio, so it makes sense. All the signature long-form pieces are present. Trimming the set down to a double LP might have made for a leaner experience, but it would’ve meant losing too much of what made this band extraordinary onstage.

They even perform the entirety of Close to the Edge (albeit out of sequence), and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Some fans grumble about the sound quality, and sure, 1973 tech had its limits. But the raw energy and performance muscle more than compensate for the analog haze. This isn’t a sterile reproduction—it’s a snapshot of a band roaring at full throttle.

Among the curiosities, the set opens with Firebird Suite—not performed by the band but piped in as walk-on music. Rick Wakeman also throws in a medley from his solo work, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which makes for a welcome showcase of his flamboyant style. Speaking of personnel, this tour marked the first major lineup change since Close to the Edge: Alan White steps in on drums, replacing the recently departed Bill Bruford. White would go on to become the longest-serving member in Yes history, anchoring the band’s rhythm section for decades to come.

Yessongs isn’t just a live album. It’s a testament. To their ambition, their stamina, and their willingness to go big when everyone else was playing it safe. If the studio albums showed what Yes could construct in layers, Yessongs showed how they could bring it all to life onstage—flaws and all, and somehow even more alive for it.

Go to the Next Review
Go back to the main page