SOMETHING'S COMING - THE BBC RECORDINGS 1969-1970

Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969-1970 is a compilation of live recordings that only feature the band's original lineup. The original lineup of the band includes Jon Anderson on vocals, Chris Squire on bass, Tony Kaye on keyboards, Bill Bruford on drums, and Peter Banks on guitar (who also compiled the album). The live tracks consist of performances on the BBC radio showcasing tracks mainly taken from the band's first two studio albums. The live performances of tracks from the Time and a Word album particularly fascinating due to the tracks being stripped down to just include the 5-member band rather than the accompaniment of a full-blown orchestra. However, there are also several non-album tracks included which add an interesting dynamic to the album. The first non-album track that receives live coverage on this album is Something's Coming. This is a cover from the 1957 musical West Side Story that was originally released by the band in 1969. There are actually two live performances of this track on the album, which are both equally admirable. Something's Coming has become somewhat of a highlight within the band's early career for me, due to the notable progressive elements used throughout. A special mention also goes to Bill Bruford's superb jazz infused drumming found all over both live performances. I sometimes wonder why the band never included this on their debut album and instead restrict it to a non-album single. The second non-album track to receive a live performance on this album is Dear Father. Tony Kaye's playing during this track is fantastic, as he replaces the orchestra which was found on the original version of the track. In addition, Bill Bruford continues to incorporate his jazz infused drumming while Peter Banks comprises modest yet powerful guitar into the performance.

These BBC radio recordings are able to show the band in a more "raw" feel when compared to the studio albums released at the time. Just listen to Jon Anderson's boisterous vocals on Dear Father, you can almost hear him yell at points! This album likewise includes the first official release of the track "For Everyone" which is certainly the highlight of the album as it can be considered to be a proto-type version of Starship Trooper. At the one minute and fifty-six second mark, the band begins to perform a section that probably feels familiar to any Yes fan. In fact, it is an earlier version of the Disillusion section found on Starship Trooper without the Steve Howe acoustic flare. This entire track really showcases how excellent the band was, even in their early days. Unfortunately, as this album is recorded between 1969 and 1970 the sound quality is not the greatest by any means, but still listenable nonetheless. There are also multiple instances of tracks being performed twice, which is great for any Yes fan but irritating for any casual listener. In addition, these performances display the band as they were still improving on their sound and musical direction. Therefore, there are no sweeping tracks of epic proportions such as Close to the Edge or Awaken found here. This to me confirms that this album, despite it being particularly interesting with superb musicianship throughout, is best intended for collectors/fans only. As Jon Anderson would also say on The Yes Album... Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever.

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