TWO SIDES OF YES

Rick Wakeman is unmistakably one of the greatest keyboard virtuosos of all time. And I say that without reservation, and that includes every genre of music. He made his mark with Yes first, then created another impressive catalog of recordings as a solo artist. [as you can see below -ed]

Two Sides Of Yes - Volumes I and II are classic Yes songs done instrumentally in a way that only Wakeman could recreate them. His talents as a keyboardist are all encompassing, ranging from rock to classical. All of that is explored via his agile and skillful fingers. You will recognize all the songs, and chances are the angelic voice of Jon Anderson will come to mind frequently as you listen. As noted on the back of the CD - "Dazzling selections of the greatest hits by Yes are performed." It couldn't have been put into better context than that.

Volume I and II are extensions of each other, the only difference being that Volume I has a bonus video of Wakeman performing "The Meeting." Dependent on the use of keyboards in a song, the atmospheres vary from the soft-as-a-cloud pristine pureness of new age to their rocking best, reminiscent of his early days with Yes. For instance "Your Move," which starts off Volume I, is done on an acoustic piano and sounds very elegant with strong classical overtones, while "Roundabout" rocks steadily from start to finish with many variations of electronic keyboards weaving their way in and out of the song. He renews his connection to all of the Yes music in a spiritual, loving way, thereby creating new classics out of the old. The beauty of each song is enhanced recurrently with Wakeman's prolific keyboard brilliance.

Old fans will be in all their glory listening to the new versions of these songs. And I am sure there are many music lovers out there who haven't had the pleasure of enjoying this music yet that will be pleasantly satisfied with the scope and breadth of the tastefulness and expertise in the selection of songs and styles that are presented in these two incredible CDs. Wakeman is a legendary figure in music and his influence is as strong and far-reaching as it ever has been. This kind of testament to his ever growing legacy as a keyboard genius just adds further credibility to what I have already stated.

I must give you fair warning though, after you listen to this you had best hide your credit cards and stay off the Internet, as I am sure you will want to buy every Wakeman and Yes CD there is to be had, or try to fill the holes in your present collection. Its time once again to climb aboard the Yes starship and enjoy all the "Wondrous Stories" that continue to unravel and reveal different personalities in each song as time passes. This is a must collection for any Yes fan, and a no-brainer for the legions of prog-rock lovers.

Rick Wakeman's Two Sides of Yes does exactly what it says on the tin: it offers Rick giving an instrumental runthrough of a bunch of classic Yes songs. The exercise is charming in execution but ultimately rather pointless: these stripped-down renditions don't really add an interesting new aesthetic perspective to the songs, they just sound like rehearsals for proper full-band performances. Those who are already Yes fans will find themselves craving the original songs so much that the CD will be out of their player and on will go a favourite classic- era Yes album before you can say "A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace". Those who are not already Yes fans will find the original renditions of these songs far richer and more interesting than these castrated versions.

Originally released as two separate volumes in 2001 and 2002, 2016 saw a reissue of both sets as a double CD set (missing only a 'bonus' video which was originally on Volume 1). The reason it is indicated as 'Two Sides' is not for the number of discs, but rather there are two totally different approaches to the music contained within. Some of the interpretations feature just Rick on piano, while others feature Alan Thomson on bass and long-time collaborator Tony Fernandez on drums. Now, I have been a fan of both Wakeman and Yes for well over forty years and have managed to see both in concert twice, although unfortunately not on the same stage at the same time. To me this is a lost opportunity, in that the band versions don't always add a great deal to the original, and sometimes are less. The first time I played Rick's version of 'Going For The One' I straight afterwards went to the original and played them back to back, with Rick's sadly lacking in comparison.

But, they are pleasant enough even if they're not essential, but the piano pieces are a revelation. Here classic numbers have been stripped, and then provided with totally new arrangements yet still staying true to the original. These are superb, and if these two discs were comprised solely of Rick providing piano variations of classic Yes numbers that this would be essential. As it stands, it is interesting to those like me who have followed both careers with interest for longer than they would really like to admit, but not as important as it could be.