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Yes

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I never tire of the unique sound of Jon Anderson. I recently acquired a DVD of their Symphonic tour, oddly in a Japanese cover, but nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Saw them for the first time, last year in Cardiff.  If you get a chance go and see them.  Of course as usual Rick Wakeman was not present, so a little disappointed from that respect. Yes album artwork worth collecting in its own right.

Vist the Roger Dean website to view, appreciate, and buy if you want.

Visit Yesworld for info on albums,videos,dvd etc.................

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Pocket History

Favourite Albums

1. Close to the Edge -  Anderson, Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Bill Bruford were believed to be the best lineup of Yes, and this would be the last time those five would stand together for nearly twenty years.  Regardless,  Close to the Edge is a stunning prog achievement, from an innovative prog outfit.
   
2. Anderson Bruford Wakeman & Howe - Not strictly a Yes album, but well worth a visit
3. Keys to Ascension - is a excellent album, the best to come from the real "YES" in far too many years. I didn't think they had it in them but this is the absolute best collection of live material they've ever recorded. The sound quality is remarkable combining the studio perfection we've come to expect, while somehow transferring that sound to a live
4. Magnification - 30 years on and still as good as ever. If you're in doubt. If you feel Yes have let you down over recent years. If you think they're too told to hack it. Don't. Get Magnification. It's magnificent.
5. Talk - This album has been, and probably still is one of the best they have ever made. The balance in the songs throughout the album is just right with the highlight "Awaken" at the end. Another Yes masterwork in yet another Yes period!

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In March 2006 I saw for the third time Jethro Tull in concert at the Colston Hall in Bristol.  Once again the band produced an outstanding set.  Based around the Aqualung album with a classical mix, the show was seperated into 2 sections.  Laced these days with some amusing stories Ian Anderson eased his way through the repetoire.  He was joined with brilliant young violinist who dressed in the opera babe fashion helped Tull through a classic renditions of Led Zeppelins Kashmir, and several of Tulls own tracks.

Click HERE for the Jethro Tull Biography

Click HERE for the Jethro Tull Discography

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Albums I play the most

Aqualung. A semi-conceptual album and very caustic mood , the two side are to be played separately as side 2 is a great vicious attack on organized religion . Mother Goose is one number that should rediscovered along with the other lesser known numbers because there are very few flaws on this classic album.Cross-eyed Mary , Locomotive breath, Hymn 43 , My God and the title track are the stand-out here , but do listen to Goose or Wind-up. Anderson along with Gabriel and Hastings are the mosts delicious and quintessential english lyrics writers. The humour is devastating. Mr Anderson did not appreciate the press saying that this was a conceptual album and promised them to make the Mother Of All Conceptual Albums as a spoof but little did we know that Thick was to be their best work ever. Click HERE for an independent review

Thick as a Brick This is a excellent concept album whose 45 minutes of continuous music and abstract lyrics were a sociological examination of a childs experience in a modern world context supposedly composed by child prodigy Gerald Bostock . This was an in band joke enhanced by a spoof newspaper included with the albums sleeved and reproduced on the new CD re-mastered edition . This was Tull’s first American number 1 album. This is one of Tull’s funniest albums to date. It was meant to be a bit of satire about the whole idea of grand rock-band concept albums. This humour was displayed more and more in the live shows at this time. Click HERE for an independent review

Minstel in the Gallery.  Five stars especially for Baker St Muse, fantastic suite with every detail of Jethro's specific style, on the album we have also great title song and one of my favorite Anderson ballads, Requiem... it touches me deeply everytime I hear it... Click HERE for an independent review

Songs From The Wood One of the best Tull albums. Bs the end of the 70s JT presented themselves as men from the woods, the blues was definitely gone and replaced by folk and fiddle. Best songs: "Songs from the wood" (great a-capella intro) and "The whistler". Click HERE for an independent review

A Passion Play So very sadly unappreciated! Though I would encourage beginner Tull-fans to check out Thick as a Brick first, this one is next on the list. The themes are gorgeous, and The Story of the Hare who Lost his Spectacles (found in Part 2) is quirky, weird, and reminds me so much of Peter and the Wolf that it made me cry with laughter the first time I heard it. Not an album to be dismissed or taken lightly - worth the time to get to know.  Click HERE for an independent review

Click HERE to visit the Jethro Tull home page

I have listened to Jethro Tull for over 30 years so I am slightly biased, but I would thoroughly recommend giving the above a listening

Classic track Burn

Favourite Albums

1. Come taste the band and Stormbringer were not best received by the hardcore fans, but for me the bands musicianship created some superb tracks.
2. Machine Head - just can't keep your feet still tracks.
3. Live at the Royal Albert Hall (1969 version)- Brilliantly staged event, stunning solo by Gillan, superb score from Jon Lord.  See Review.  Love to see this performed at the BBC Proms.
4. The Battle Rages On, crisp still rocking stuff.
5. Live in Japan, one of the best live offerings.

Unlike Richie Blackmore's Rainbow Purple the music still remains fresh and not dated.

For me Ian Gillan always produced the best vocals

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Pocket history

Classic Track

Anne of Cleves

Pocket History

Discography

Lyrics

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In 2004 at last I managed to see Rick in concert, the venue was Berkeley Castle (South Glos UK).  Ricks shows these days is mixture of funny stories and music. I have followed Rick's music from the very beginning.  Depending on your mood there is a wide selections of genre to choose from.the heavily synthesiser based to the classical piano.

Favourite Albums

1. The Six wives of Henry VIII. - See Review. Staggering intricate tracks, a good proportion using one of my favourite instuments, Mellotron, Moog, and Hammond C3 organ.
2. The Myths and Legends of King Authur & the Knights of the Round Table - See Review.  This time more of the same, but with impresive  vocals from Ashley Holt & Gary Pickford Hopkins.  Journey to the Centre of the Earth - See Review.  This is my favourite album, every time it always leaves me amazed at the achievement of pulling everthing together into an outstanding concert.
3. Rhapsodies - See review. 
4. 1984 - See Review
5. Country Airs - See Review. For me a brilliant chill-out album, great for bath time, candles and fine wine.
6. Heritage Suite - See Review

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 Classic Track

I  have been ploughing through the warts and all Led Zep biography.  For me this certainly opened my eyes to life on the road. At times it is a endless tale of drugs, booze and sex.  It must have been a miracle that they did not find themselves behind bars more often. I was really surprised to see how often they toured, and how much they put into their shows, the majority rarely short of 3 hours.  Compared with today this was getting your monies worth.  Fortunately musically they demonstarted that they were at the top of the game, energetic, adventurous, confident and just enough arrogance. I was fortunate to see them just the once at Earls Court, a night never to be forgotten.

I recently acquired the "Song remains the same" DVD. The film was several years in the making, and was not what had been originally invisaged, still an excellent trip down memory lane. Click HERE for a short review and track details.

For me I enjoy all of their albums, the music is so diverse each are unique in their own right.

Short Biography

Lyrics & Discography

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Classic Track

Brief History

Discography

Welcome to the show Ladies and gentlemen (live triple album)

Tons of energy.  Bought the album second hand, unlike some I was pleased to find that the previous owner had not only treated the vinyl well but had inside the covers attach photos of ELP in action.  The picture that says it all is Keith Emerson sat at the keyboards with what appears to be the London telephone exchange. Hundreds of wires criss crossing a huge set of panels.  This album for me sums up the energy, inventiveness, exhibitionist, musical knowledge and skill of ELP.  I always have a sense of being part of something special every time I listen to this album

Brain Salad Surgery

While I like all four of this band's previous albums, I am sure that the last truly progressive effort by Emerson, Lake, & Palmer surpass any of them and by all means. "Brain Salad Surgery" is not only the most complex and intriguing album by the band, but also their only album which is great from the first to the last note. It includes "Jerusalem” a track that I would love to hear in a cathedral;” Still You Turn Me On"; "Karn Evil" which is a sequence, which is composed of three seemingly unrelated sections. The first has a great driving rhythm, and includes the well-known "Welcome back my friends..." song. It also has possibly their most successful attempt at witty lyrics. Section 2 is a decent jazz instrumental.
This work was produced when E.L.P. were in their prime and it shows.

If you can only afford one album by this group then I would suggest you purchase this one.

Tarkus

It remains among the Top Ten classic tracks in progressive rock history mostly because of the epic title suite, "Tarkus".  This track 20 minutes long keeps you involved throughout.  With Keith Emerson keyboard action at its best, "Tarkus" has some unforgettable themes as well as tons of energy. 

The other tracks, except for "A Time and a Place", which is pretty heavy and has a classic vocal part from Greg Lake, doesn't match the strength of Tarkus.  Overall this album demonstrates their strengths and weaknesses, but the "Tarkus" suite makes it worthwhile.  Tarkus makes a very solid album, especially to the ears of progressive rock fans, no lengthy jazz interludes. More accomplished than the trio's first album, but not quite as polished as Brain Salad Surgery, Tarkus is nevertheless a must-have.

Pictures at an Exhibition 

An outragous concept brilliantly executed.  A great interpretation of Musorgsky pieces plus some original songs that fit right into the whole picture.  There are moog and organ solos, fast and complex bass, sophisticated drums parts. 

For me this album is tops. This is a highly enjoyable ELP live record, second only to "Karn Evil 9", this one's a masterpiece from beginning to end. It's pretentious and overblown, but that's what makes ELP ELP. A brilliant mixture of classical, blues, progressive, acoustic guitar, choral hymns, and sounds only a keyboard under the influences of Emerson could produce. The Great Gates of Kiev is, to my ears, a beautiful, awe-inspiring song.

Emerson Lake and Palmer

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