Yes - Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) (Part 1)

Track taken off 1974's "Tales from Topographic Oceans" Album

Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 and generally regarded as one of the archetypal bands of the genre. Despite many lineup changes, occasional splits within the group and the ever-changing trends in popular music, the band has continued on for over forty years and still retains a large following.[1]

The band's music blends symphonic and other 'classical' structures with their own brand of rock music, which is marked by sharp dynamic contrasts, long songs, abstract lyrics, and a general showcasing of instrumental prowess. Although the band's sole consistent member has been bass player Chris Squire (noted for his highly melodic and discursive playing as well as his early use of electronic effects), Yes is also generally noted for the distinctive high-register vocals of lead singer Jon Anderson and the eclectic musical stylings of a succession of guitarists (Peter Banks, Steve Howe, Trevor Rabin, Billy Sherwood), keyboard players (Tony Kaye, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, Geoff Downes, Igor Khoroshev) and drummers (Bill Bruford and Alan White). Several band members became celebrated musicians and/or bandleaders in their own right, and a 1980 lineup of the band was briefly fronted by future production star Trevor Horn.

Long-term band members Squire, Howe and White have most recently been touring (on the In The Present Tour of late 2008 and early 2009) with a Yes lineup featuring vocalist Benoît David and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman.

Yes was formed in 1968 by vocalist Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire. Anderson had already recorded a single in 1964 as a member of The Warriors, a beat band formed by his brother Tony, and later sang on a couple of 45s for Parlophone Records under the pseudonym Hans Christian. He was also briefly a member of the group The Gun. Squire had been a member of The Syn, a flower-pop outfit that recorded a couple of singles for Deram Records (one, "14-Hour Technicolour Dream", celebrating the "happening" held at Alexandra Palace on April 29/April 30, 1967). After the breakup of The Syn, Squire spent a year developing his bass-playing technique, strongly influenced by The Who's bassist, John Entwistle. In May 1968, he met Anderson in a Soho nightclub, La Chasse, where Anderson was working. The two had a common interest in vocal harmony and began working together soon afterwards.

At the time, Squire was in a band called Mabel Greer's Toyshop with guitarist Clive Bailey and drummer Bob Hagger, and invited Anderson to begin singing with the group. Hagger was soon replaced by Bill Bruford, a jazz aficionado who had played just three gigs with Blues revivalists Savoy Brown before leaving, and who was recruited from an ad he had placed in Melody Maker. An earlier lineup of Mabel Greer's Toyshop had featured guitarist Peter Banks who'd previously worked with Squire in The Syn and who now returned to replace Bailey. Finally, the band also expanded to include an organist and occasional piano player, Tony Kaye, a classically-trained musician who'd abandoned his studies to pursue rock and roll and had already been in a series of unsuccessful groups (Johnny Taylor's Star Combo, The Federals, and Jimmy Winston and His Reflections).

In search of a more commercially useful bandname, Mabel Greer's Toyshop soon became Yes.[5] Banks came up with the three letter name, with the rationale that it would stand out on posters.

The newly-rechristened Yes played their first show at East Mersea Youth Camp in England on August 4, 1968. Soon after this, they opened for Cream at their 1968 Farewell Concert from The Royal Albert Hall. Early on, influenced by bands like 1-2-3 (later Clouds),[6] the group earned a reputation for taking other people's songs and drastically changing them into expanded, progressive compositions.

In September 1968, Yes subbed for an absent Sly & the Family Stone at Blaise's and as a result of that appearance gained a residency at The Marquee club. Soon after that, they made their first radio appearance on John Peel's programme. When Melody Maker columnist Tony Wilson selected them and Led Zeppelin as the two bands "Most Likely To Succeed" (as he states on the liner notes of the band's debut LP), it appeared that their future was assured.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Yes
• Ritual
• Nous
• Sommes
• du
• Soleil
• Part
• 1974
• Tales
• from
• Topographic
• Oceans
• Progressive
• Rock

[swaggs]

This came out when I was in High School and I 've never forgotten its importance to me and the way it shaped my taste in music.

[shanferg1]

Tales from Topographic oceans is just an excellent album and all four tracks are incredible, I still listen to it all the time got the original vinyl

[thelilymoore]

@TheBassplayah i wish i could have seen the best band ever

[TheBassplayah]

@JackJ1957 I saw them 4 times as well in Boston....the best band of their type, one of the top ever....I agree with you and all the comments here...awesome days for music back then

[parzooman]

I've always considered this album a continuation of what they did with Close to the Edge as if that track was the first movement, these movements 2 through 5 and finally concluded with Gates of Delirium. What I find interesting about this track is that the rather peaceful feel of the final repeat of "Nous sommes du soleil" is broken by the Howe's final guitar solo in the last two minutes. All of a sudden a rather sinister ending which, I think, leads perfectly into Gates on the next record.

[cohenterry717]

@blackfieldpain Yeah i totally agree with you. When you think about it, Close to the edge was the best album they made, and this album is so different in sound. It took me 4 plays to really appreciate it back when it came out, but like you say, it grows on you - people just have not got the patience when it comes to listening to long tracks.

[MattieCooper]

WOW! Never heard this one before!

[blackfieldpain]

I know that this album got slagged off but I loved it then and love it now and still regard the tour as my favourite ever gig (also saw Zep, Sabbath, Genesis, Tull, Floyd, Queen, Lizzy etc). I think the main problem is that most people cannot be bothered to listen to anything that is not instantly catchy, complex music like this really grows the more times you listen to it. The late 60's and early 70's were a great time to be into rock music.

[HowardBobson]

you got to love the build up and the groove that kicks in is so killer

[JackJ1957]

Classic Yes. Saw them 4 times between '74 and '79.

[Zyborggian]

4:23 fucking awesome sneaking of Close to the Edge in there lol

[3456jcw]

yep we are stardust as they say, woodstock I think.