Yes / America

[knickola]

Quite like this; but it's known that Yes copied the concept from the earlier version of this arrangement by 1-2-3 (Clouds) at the Marquee in 1967.

[MrAlfredoferreira]

Amo isso.

[sunshinegirl1967]

I was about 12 or 13 when i first heard this and never knew it was a cover song! Always LOVED this song!

[JamesRobertSalter]

This footage never fails to throw me into a catatonic swound . . . until some minutes after it ends . . . and I agree this jacking around performance is the pinnacle of their (or anybody's) genius. Without a trace of doubt the one muse of our existence was in that room and nowhere else on planet earth at that moment. Jesus

[benaberry]

Andersons replacement is amazing!

[happymealme]

naaaaaaassssssssssssssty!

[hanky2112]

Yes was then and still is today a great group , don't really know if anything more needs to be said.

[electricchaos]

Totally correct what alot of other people have already stated they just don't make music like they used to. These bands today dont know how the hell to play with any kind of skill or talent. Christ these guys even today could play circles around half of today's generation. This video is back when bands had to use actual skill and didn't just copy the fuck out of everything..

[JamesRobertSalter]

They were alien beings playing on Earth . . . for a day the studio was rewired to resonate signals from a parallel universe . . . all one big joke . . . told in Nephilim poetry . . . a cosmic organ grinder . . . tooting out ethereal Calliope

[JamesRobertSalter]

Good rants . . . well stated . . . thanks to Disney we have generations bred to swallow the watery cum of tonedeaf moneygrubbing business executives . . . they wouldn't know brilliant art if it was shot directly into their brains with a rocket launcher. Where did the muses go?

[ewparkentity]

@TheYenni -You can be rest assured that I am one of the scant minority that does realize and appreciate that true music is timeless and embodies timeless harmonies, melodies, and lyrics. I absolutely abhor the music of today. Possible exceptions, and they in turn are inspired by bands like Yes in the progressive rock era, would be A Perfect Circle, Tool, and to a certain extent Phish and Peral Jam.

[TheTherese3]

Napolian!!

[Liton777]

its funny how stupid people are for not realizing how amazing bands like this are.

[rainlilac1]

this sounds awesome this sound really adds to my new way of living

[Mystep]

What an amaziing guitarist Howe is. And Wakeman is the P.K. Subban of Yes.

[ciarraibuzz]

The difference between the stuff making money today and this Yes music is really remarkable. At the risk of sounding repetitive ( of other commentators herein), they ain't making and playing this level of music right now in the money making field. I am happy that I have enjoyed Yes for these many years.

[BigFatBetty]

Recording a vocal with a small diaphragm condenser?

[ThoughtThinkerTomas]

Crazy madness for Rick there at 3:38. They were all SO Happy... Now rick is a grumpy guy aparently

[ThoughtThinkerTomas]

At 2:32 Bill, keeping his head still, is like: What the f**k you looking at?LOL

[notnowjon]

@ThoughtThinkerTomas XD XD XD XD Yes!!! ^^

[koebroek]

Splendid version, already listening for more than 20 years to yes. Pure art!

[Crowsfan55]

the only cover I heard YES do...a S&G song...and they kill it

[notnowjon]

@Crowsfan55 Richie heavens cover??? =( i like it!! ;D

[electricchaos]

@notnowjon Simon and Garfunkel cover. Unless your talking about something else it's hard to tell with the new YouTube format..

[jmorra]

They're just KIDS!!! And making this music! Why is Rick W. here? I thought he came in with Fragile.

[txkjun]

I love it Anderson is wearing a Warehouse New Orleans shirt!

[Wazabooz]

and I like how they're just in t-shirts, very unpretentious but just as good as any concert, or better.

[Wazabooz]

Wakeman is irrepressible! This is pure joy.

[ClassicRockDVD]

Yes, A Celebration 1969-1979 2DVD set available at Tommygun Video - check our channel for link and other info

[Graesie]

They're having such fun with this. Love it. Rick is really hamming it up while Bill is cool as you like - making it look so casual.

[Crowsfan55]

@Graesie heh...true..did you notice Squire playing the bass pedals....can NEVER have to much sound!

[menatoq]

ONE OF THE TRUE PIECES OF ART IN ROCK HISTORY !!!

[PhotoGalleria]

This was my first Yes vinyl. I wish I still had it!

[1dpat69]

I like how (howe? heh heh) around 3:07 that Jon Anderson lets the cameraman know that a Steve Howe guitar extravaganza is coming next, very soon!

[ccbloody]

Love these song since I was teenage.Now I am 50 yrs old.Still love it more and more.

[guidenredhawk]

Steve Howe is one of the most under rated guitarists of rock. Wouldn't you agree?

[Skraboing649]

@guidenredhawk absolutely. His first solo on the album version of "Awaken" is breathtaking, to name one of many many amazing pieces of work. Such an inventive, intuitive player.

[Relayer56]

Agree with those that say this is the greatest cover song, ever! And I don't usually like cover songs at all, especially when I liked the original. Hard to imagine that Rolling Stone rated Steve Howe as only the 60th best ever guitarist. He has to be at least in the Top 10. Certainly, my favorite player.

[bass90125]

WOOOOOW Q VIAJEEE LSD

[anthonybabington]

This is the best cover song EVER !

Thnx !

[logbuilder45]

Wow !This is vintage treasure,. Look the only recording on video of this performance in the studio with a Paul Simon cover. Bill Bruford is my hero!

[KirkSandall]

This is obviously a promotional film as, (1) Steve overdubs a pedal steel guitar in parts, and (2) Rick didn't feel this song was up to his "standards" and didn't play on it. Supposedly, Bill played the organ on it, as well.

IMO, the best cover ever. I love this version.

Q: anyone know what kind of guitar Steve is playing? I don't recognize it.

[KirkSandall]

This is obviously a promotional film as, (1) Steve overdubs a pedal steel guitar in parts, and (2) Rick didn't feel this song was up to his "standards" and didn't play on it. Supposedly, Bill played the organ on it, as well.

IMO, the best cover ever. I love this version.

Q: anyone know what kind of guitar Steve is playing? I don't recognize it.

[neil73]

@KirkSandall Bill Bruford played Mellotron during the outro. The rest (keyboards wise) is Rick who at the time was working his ass off with 6 wives, sessions and being a family man.

[nixli1980]

@KirkSandall what about those rhodes parts? Did Bruford play those too? If he did then damn!!!

[helcio1960]

The young Rick Wakeman!

Very Happy!

Genius too!

[guidenredhawk]

What album was this released on? I want this song!

[neil73]

@guidenredhawk Yesterdays. a Compilation of Yes tunes from their 1st 2 albums.

[sgtRsm1th]

@guidenredhawk fragile

[badaxeman]

Well said Yenni, well said!

[emdotambient]

I've never like Paul Simon's music and this is the only way I ever could have heard one of his songs and liked it; though I have to say, this sounded old even when I first heard it in probably 1975. Yes had grown so much since this song was recorded in 1972, it sounded like ancient history. Fortunately, though, it's lasted even if it sounds like "old" Yes.

[fuckoffndie1]

america where are you now dont you care about your sons and daughters.we cant fight alone against the monster.....

[sooner3153]

@fuckoffndie1 The tune you quote is timeless; it's author saw the evil that was government; who knew how keen his eye was, way back then. And it's said he's blind. It's of course worse now, much worse, the govt. that is. (the LIVE version is THE version of course)

[3salamanders]

An all time favorite of mine, even though I didn't discover it until the 80s. I was about 6 when it was recorded. Damn good song.

[CromDubMonday]

I like the Simon and Garfunkel version better, but I do like Yes and this cover is awesome. This is definately one of my favorite songs ever.

[fucheduck]

I likes mine raw...

[hotmesit]

I'm a die hard YES FAN....

[Iranisawruswreck]

they look so young here, must be their first year together.

[deadheadland]

wow, what a treat to see them like this! I love Yes!

[pleased9]

What should we do next? How about an album called Close To The Edge.

We'll get Roger Dean to do the cover for this one too. A happy and healthy time for the band.

[GooGyuelle]

An unusual tech note for those who might be interested - Somewhere along the way in these many years, I read a staement from Mr. Bruford saying that he overdubbed the congas on this recording, and that the amplified signal was fed to a wah-wah pedal - perhaps most noticable around the 8:00 mark on this video - enjoy.

[jon1156]

Have a good look, folks. This is a "band" playing together in the studio. No separation, No isolation, no comping or autotune. The work happened before they rolled tape, not after.

P.S. I wonder how much of an influence The Band was on this stuff.

[vivelavidarocka]

Jon1156 now that you mention the way this was recorded I wonder if that's one of the reasons there isn't more music like this anymore: Because of the way it was put together. Another case of technology interfering with the human factor of the equation. You said the work happened before they rolled the tape. But I would also add that in many occacions the magic happened while the tape was rolling, and all members were at the same time confined in the same room.

[jon1156]

@vivelavida. Certainly that's true. All I was highlighting is the fact that today it doesn't matter if it's magic or even competent when you lay it down. Musicians today expect to be able to tweak or "improve" everything after the fact. But you're right, there is a level of spontaneity that produces unrepeatable moments of brilliance when a band plays together like in this clip.

[rmalone77]

Bands just don't sound like this anymore, such a great band and great music!!!

[TAfTfilms]

yes

[pedroanimb]

great yes

[jbedna41]

They were so happy playing with each other, no wonder they are a great band.

[animal90sFreak5]

good song.good band period.

[loompa2000]

Bruford !!!!...the music they recorded with him pounding the skins was amazing...he and Chris really meshed well

[prr1361]

Bruford made the band what it was...special ! Saw a drum clinic with him a few years ago ...WOW !!!

[mccarrero]

its songs like this that makes the music of today look like a complete disgrace to the art. just a little side note to all those music lovers out there...if i hear a song on the radio that i can learn to play on the guitar in 3 minutes whoever wrote it and whoever listens to it should stand in front of a train. hahahaha

[christopauls]

This has been my favorite Yes record for as long as I can remember. It's the vrsion which you'll find on Yesterdays. Go out and find it, (or just down load it. Then play it as loud as you can. I would live to see them do this live. But Bill Bruford would have to be on drums. It's a dam shamr Cause that won't happen.

[Pighood]

This kicks so much ass it's almost humorous.

[Smafdy]

Pro Tools bands can kiss my dick. This is what real musicians can do without all the editing and cleanup work.

I don't know what day God decided to put these five guys in a band together but it was a good day.

[Perbuatan1883]

@MISS Smafdy bear in mind that these where studio recordings using the jumping technique between different prerecorded themes,(typical from these times of early seventies)

As far as i can figure out for that song, i assume the was a bridge around 6.23 as the images might suggest, i remember having bought a single record off this song whis THIS particular soundtake without all the (truly fantastic) guitar solo part, (until the theme at here at 6.23)

the producer Eddie Offord did a marvellous jod

[uriahheep108]

@Smafdy Have we succeeded? We think so. Before long we shall have covered with our narratives an enormous period of time; between the "Comtesse de Salisbury' and the "Comte de Monte Christo" five centuries and a half are compresed. Well, we assert that we have taught France as much history about those five centuries and a half as any historian. This passage is from The Companions of Jehu which was written by Alexandre Dumas pere.

[markkling2]

Niiiiiiiice.

[TheYenni]

People who were born after generation "X" (1980-present) need to realize that truly good music is timeless and still relevant even thirty years later. So called music like J-Hoe, The Jonas Homos, Miley Virus, Hillary Muff, The Lip Syncing Simpson's, In-Stink, Feminine M, Fag Street Boys, and all the other American Idol and Disney crap is not real music. This is how real music used to be musicians playing instruments, artist performing, no gangsters, no hoes, and no bullshit.

[oilingup]

Best youtube comment I have ever read EVER! Hats off to you and Real Music. All riff-raff listed above, in the acid. Alive

[CARBAU57]

Routhles but the real truth. I agree.

[joncosm]

YEAH I absolutely agree!!!!

[guidenredhawk]

@TheYenni Truly, music today, I'd say about 95% of it is crap. I really only listen to Yes anymore because its like my heroin. I can't get enough of Yes and probably never will. Ahh, when music becomes creative and unique again, maybe then I'll listen to current material again.

[ClassicRockSovereign]

@TheYenni

My God, you're ignorant.

Just because you don't like a certain type of music doesn't mean that it doesn't connect with other people. It's 'music' just as much as this is.

[Jefgg]

@TheYenni Brilliant analysis. There has always been lightweight commercial pop music. But now it appears that teens no longer listen to rock music. And that young market is what the record labels cater to. I guess they buy the most product. But now they don't buy it. They just download.

[tatu95613]

@TheYenni Right now i want to flag your comment as spam, but as it's not, i won't. I agree whit your point of view but i'm part generation X (i'm 15 years), as you call it, and i don't listen to that shit faggot music, and yes, i listen to the good, like yes, so don't say that everyone "needs to realize that truly good music is timeless and still relevant even thirty years later." beacause i don't and i feel insulted with your comment.

Great song by the way!

[TheYenni]

@tatu95613 You would have to be born between 1964-1980 to be part of Generation "X." You are technically part of generation "Z." (1995-2010) Either way most modern "Music" is crap in my opinion. How many of these groups that I mentioned earlier do you actually see playing an instrument? Playing three repetitive chords on an acoustic guitar does not make any of them musicians in my opinion!

[mazakman1957]

@tatu95613

Mellow out dude...one thing today's kids need to learn is to avoid the "victim" mentality being used by the liberal media to divide society. Being "offended" just ain't cool sometimes. Learn how to let it ride, man!

You have great taste in music!

[darklord8603]

@TheYenni i was born 1986 and I agree with you, this music will never get old.

[crocotone]

@TheYenni absolutely right... even if some bands played technically worse in those times, they did it with heart & soul & fun and not only for the bucks and getting important in the hi society. Today we have to deal with polished prostitutes and payed slaves. Every hooker and pimp in the 70s were more honest than these people who call themselves songwriters, producers and singers.

[tonesbe]

@TheYenni - you forgot Justin Bleeder and Big Time Rash

[fuzzyrecords123]

@TheYenni But I like the gangsters and hoes

[notnowjon]

@TheYenni sono del '88...fatto!!! ^^

[ewparkentity]

@TheYenni  Furthermore I was born in 1983.

[bds1167]

It's really a sad state of music over the last 25 years, when a genius like Steve Howe can have a multitude of incredible riffs in this song alone, and the MTV/VH1 boy jokers can't even create one cool riff.

[bds1167]

Holy shit!! How does someone obtain an unobtainable video like this??!!!

[Awwa1]

Choice!

\A/

[myreau]

The good old days...and Rick seem to be having fun on to of that!

[Wazabooz]

When was this recorded? What is the lineup? Some people say it's from Fragile but not the Fragile I have. Maybe a different UK version?

Certainly that's possible -- but the guitarist doesn't look like Steve Howe to me. Looks and plays like Peter Banks! Also the photo snapshots in Fragile show Jon with longer hair. On the other hand, the producer (Offord?) looks the same

Well, Rick if you mysteriously jumped thru time into this song, I'm glad you did, you're a lot of fun to watch.

[TheZman1963]

the line up is Anderson, Squire, Howe, Bufford and Wakeman.

According to the cover in the Yesyears set, it was released in July'72. According to Anderson's website timeline biography of Yes, Banks left in April'70 and Howe entered in May'70. Tony Kaye left and Wakeman joined in august'71. They started recording their 5th album in May'72. Buford left that same month. Alan joined in May'72 so this must have happened right before Buford left.

[LikTyBlur]

100% Howe, Bruford, Wakeman, Squire, Anderson!!! I might add, I suspect they are "playing along in the studio to the already recorded track, while someone with a camera catches in on the FUN!"

[fucheduck]

best line up I believe. Jon's voice under his control now, unlike the '60s, incredible bottoming out highs on a male voice, impossible.

[pryt86]

that is steve howe this song is a cover and was recorded around the time fragile came it wasnt on the album this is just a single

[suratof]

yesterdays a compil in the early seventies

easy to find  and great(of course)

[early65model]

nice remake

[angsdad]

Brilliant!

[bedpotato]

Genius band. They all had that lead instrument thing going, where each member was so good you couldn't say 'Chris Squire just plays bass.' Incredible.

[subgenius2012]

its almost miraculous to witness musicians who can actually play their instruments with virtuosity. this has to be one of the best arranged and performed covers of all time!

[Petra9119]

@subgenius2012

In my opinion it is way better than the original which very strong.

YES, one of the best super groups of all times.

Born in 1955 I can still hear them after almost 40 years with great joy.

Fanatastic!!!

[wilbut40]

what a voice...what a group..hippy rock at its best

[julyvalls]

Steve Howe ROCK!!!!!!! Steve IS the best!!!!!!!

[Julespin4184]

Muy buena versión. Es excelente,...Viva YES. Julián Espín Carvajal - Venezuela-Cumaná