GOING FOR THE ONE

I particularly remember waiting for this album to come out; I think it was July 1977 in the UK, with the school term coming to an end; I had only recently got into Yes and was a big Wakeman fan already - so I was excited to see if the re-union would work. I had already heard the title track previewed on "Old Grey Whistle Test" with some swirling graphics and thought, is that really Yes? Did I hear it right?

Despite my doubts about the album cover( which persist to this day), I absolutely loved that first track, "Going for the One", and still do. A real rockin' track with Howe's screeching slide guitar, with only a few seconds respite in the middle for a Wakeman keyboard run before setting off again. Playing it on stage, Howe cut a demonic figure, face in a grimace, pulling the guitar across the stage as he played. I remember the words of one reviewer when he heard the album track - "I was jumping round the room shouting they've done it, they've done it! - just like John Peel must have done when Tommy Smith scored" (Liverpool had just won the European Cup). I shared his excitement; Yes had done an absolute 5 star rocking track.

The rest of the album isn't half bad either, although the single "Wonderous Stories" was too syrupy for me, and "Turn of the Century", a quiet number with considered lyrics by Jon Anderson (no, really, there's a story to it!) was rather conventional for Yes, lacking their usual harmonies and instrumental hooks. "Parallels" is an up-tempo rock number by Squire which is raised up a level by Wakeman playing a church organ from a church in Vevey, which apparently was piped down the Swiss telephone wires to the studio.

I have read that the final number - "Awaken" - is rated by both Anderson and Wakeman as their favourite Yes track. It uses the pipe organ again,this time in more reflective mood, and White adds some thoughtful percussion. The peice is in two parts; there is a sublime break between parts 1 & 2, featuring a choir arranged by Wakeman. If all the album had been the standard of the first and final tracks it would have topped even "Close to the Edge" but its still a damn fine album, and always brings back memories of that summer in the 70's, and perhaps the last great year of "prog".