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YESSYMPHONIC

Yes

Symphonic Prog


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Yes YesSymphonic album cover
2.88 | 74 ratings | 3 reviews | 27% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, released in 2001

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. In the Presence Of (10:23) :
- i) Deeper
- ii) Death of Ego
- iii) True Beginner
- iv) Turn Around and Remember
2. Don't Go (4:30)
3. Long Distance Runaround (3:50) *

Total Time 18:43

* Initially found on the Japanese release of Magnification as a bonus track

Line-up / Musicians

- Jon Anderson / lead vocals, acoustic & MIDI guitars
- Steve Howe / pedal steel, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, backing vocals
- Chris Squire / bass, lead (5) & backing vocals
- Alan White / drums & percussion, piano, backing vocals

With:
- Larry Groupé / orchestrations, arrangements & orchestra conductor
- Bruce Donnelly / orchestrations
- Frank Macchia / orchestrations

Releases information

Yes LLC CD: YES-78204-2

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Prog Zone & projeKct for the last updates
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YES YesSymphonic ratings distribution


2.88
(74 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(27%)
27%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(27%)
27%
Good, but non-essential (28%)
28%
Collectors/fans only (11%)
11%
Poor. Only for completionists (7%)
7%

YES YesSymphonic reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by daveconn
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars This is actually something of a hybrid: a skeletal version of YES plays live in the studio alongside orchestral accompaniment, so the final product feels like a live YES album scaled back for a smaller venue and fleshed out with an orchestra. Those who expected a serious musical discussion based on the band's clever and complex motifs will be disappointed with what amounts to YES in Pepperland. Granted, most of these songs would sound good played on a kazoo, but extended works like "Close to the Edge" and "Heart of the Sunrise" are ripe for a serious reinterpretation, and the decision to merely add strings to the originals is a missed opportunity. On the quieter tracks, however, DAVID PALMER and the London Philharmonic become equal partners in the musical dialogue, which provides a somewhat fresh perspective to old nuggets like "Mood for a Day", "Soon" (which is given a MOODY BLUES treatment here), "Survival" and "Wonderous Stories." It's on the latter track especially that you realize YES has contributed some timeless melodies to the musical canon. On the rock side of the equation, STEVE HOVE is his usual brilliant self, Tim Harries is impressive replacing the seemingly irreplaceable CHRIS SQUIRE, and Jon Anderson reprises his role on a handful of songs. The presence of BILL BRUFORD, which would ordinarily be a cause for celebration, is instead a distraction here, since his original drum parts simply don't mesh with the orchestra. In fact, despite the presence of a qualified cast on both "Sides" of the boards and a legitimate label (RCA Victor), it's unclear if the parties involved had a shared final vision for what this would sound like. What remains is an unnecessary exercise that recycles their back catalog yet again.
Review by Easy Livin
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
2 stars Confusing

There's a great moment in the Monty Python film "Life of Brian", where John Cleese gets upset when someone mistakes his "Judean Peoples' Front" for the "Peoples' front of Judea". The review (on this EP's review page) by Dave C is a similar situation. What Dave is actually referring to is an album called "The Symphonic Music of Yes", not "Yes Symphonic". "TSMoY" does not appear here in the list of Yes albums, as strictly speaking, it is a "Various artists" collection. It was in fact recorded in 1993, some years before the Yessymphonic Tour was even mooted, and to which it bears no direct relationship.

The actual EP referred to by this entry was an official release (not a bootleg). It was however only available at some shows during the Yessymphonic tour. Two of the tracks are studio recordings taken straight from "Magnification", the third apparently being an old live version of "Long Distance Runaround", with orchestration added later.

Latest members reviews

1 stars If you see this rare album (it's a bootleg) don't feel the temptation of buying it. The music is excellent but the sound isn't. If you want to have the same music in perfect condition, the DVD Symphonic Yes (official) is a must for you. ... (read more)

Report this review (#14013) | Posted by | Friday, January 16, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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