PROGENY: HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEVENTY-TWO

Not being a Yes completionist, I shook my head at the prospect of owning 7 complete shows from their 1972 Close To The Edge Tour and settled instead for this, a 2-CD package containing what are apparently some of the best, most representative works from the shows.

I have to admit, never having seen Yes perform live, they must have been pretty great back in their heyday if this is what it sounded like. Really, this is a very safe buy for just about any prog fan. All of the songs here are ones that we all know well and, for the most part, they don't deviate too far from their studio counterparts. The big problem with this collection, for me, lies in the fact that Yes isn't a band that translates too well to a live recording setting. I can only imagine how incredible they would have been to see back in the day, with their over-the-top showmanship and stunning visual effects. However, having only the audio captured from these evenings, it leaves a lot to be desired when many of the subtleties and perfections of these compositions are glazed over with extra distortion, slightly out-of-time playing, liberties being taken in the tempo, etc.

In general, this live set is inferior to the studio recordings, especially on numbers like And You And I and Roundabout. There are some redeeming features, though; Steve Howe's Clap/Mood For A Day medley works very well with respect to both pieces and the jamming on Yours Is No Disgrace is top notch. If there's any reason to buy this album, that last track would be it. Altogether this is a 3 star album, a good collection of songs we know and love, but whether you need different versions to love again is up to you.