Posted on 04/21/2021 4:26:01 PM PDT by simpson96
Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge told me that they and Zep toured around 1969-70. For the first time he could remember anywhere, the bands traded off leading act status based on who had the top album in the location they were playing.
Relayer is amazing. Gates of Delirium one of my all-time favorites.
I agree it's great. But Mr. Speedy's solo/variations on "Take A Pebble" is quite amazing. . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlzrOV_9fLs
True. Just taste I guess. Never felt Emerson’s playing like Mark Stein, Jon Hammond, or Wakeman.
If you are an Argent fan you might appreciate this clip if you haven’t already seen it. 2015 live rendition of the Hold Your Head Up song with closeup video of Rod playing the solo which is probably different every time he plays it.
Rod says people often misunderstand the lyrics. It is not Hold your head up ooh but rather Hold your head up wo—man. I digress but Jeff Lynde of ELO gave up on attempting to get audiences to sing the correct lyrics to Don’t bring me down. He made up an expression groos in the studio and left it in but audiences typically sing Don’t bring me down Bruce.
That Hold your head up solo approach of playing different modes over a held note was used by lots of groups - Genesis, Iron Butterfly etc - but Rod ruled that space. Rod Argent and Tony Banks are lesser known of the great rock/classical organists from that era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUCJBu6gLWE
That movie is very underrated.
Phil Hartman stole the movie. “This way to the cafeteria!”
“Heart of the Sunrise” One of my favorite Yes songs.
:-)
Sirius XM channel 26 (Classic Vinyl) had a tremendous show last weekend, which they have reprised throughout the week. It’s called 50 Albums Turning 50. They had their listeners rank their favorite 50 Albums from 1971, and the 2 surviving members of the Doors host the show and play a song or 2 from each album. Both The Yes Album and Fragile were in the top 25, but not in the top 10. Top 10 were Led Zep IV, Sticky Fingers, LA Woman, Tapestry, Aqualung, Who’s Next, Imagine (hate the title track), Madman Across the Water, Allman Bros at Fillmore East, Every Picture Tells a Story. Albums that did not make the top 10 include the mentioned Yes albums, Pearl, Tupelo Honey, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, American Pie, Ram, Teaser and the Firecat, Hunky Dory, Chicago III, Santana III and America and Little Feat’s eponymous debuts. Can’t say I agree with every choice, but what a year for albums!!
“what a year for albums!!”
You can say that again. Amazing lineup there.
This was very good. He knows how to build-—a Jon Hammond trait-—to a big finish. Was listening to Kooper/Bloomfield the other day, and I liked Al Kooper.
Elton John’s Madman Across the Water is good, too.
On the subject, I vividly recall hearing “Yes” for the first time, the album was Fragile. Mood for a Day .. “That’s ONE person?” Has since then been an ambition to play that.
I’ve seen Yes perform live more times than any other band. Dating myself, No. 2 is Frank Zappa. Not a huge number of events for either. Real professionals, highly creative.
Their rendition of Simon and Garfunkle “America” is rockin’.
The irony is that Yes referenced John Lennon’s “Instant Karma” on “I’ve Seen All Good People”.
Alan White played drums on Instant Karma, and became Yes’ drummer a few years later.
Loved Bloomfield’s tone. He had a lot to do with introducing Johnny winter to the world.
Kooper was a guitar player brave enough to man the organ during the recording session of Bob Dylans like a rolling stone. He came up with the distinctive organ melody on the spot and Dylan loved it. Kooper also was a composer and wrote songs like “ this diamond ring”.
Wow. Learn something every day. Thanks.
EJ and Bernie Taupin were one of the best song writing teams ever.
Even better than Lennon and McCartney IMO.
L
I saw Yes 3 times back in the day, once “in the round”.
Amazing.
L
Lennon and McCartney pretty much wrote their songs solo, and shared the writing credits, there was some collaboration here and there.
With Elton and Bernie, Bernie wrote lyrics and Elton wrote music.
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