Yes
Joshua Miller | Coeur d'Alene,ID | 05/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I want to make it clear before I write anything more that I know nothing about Yes. I don't know the name of a single member in the band, except Jon Anderson and I don't even know what he does in the band. I don't know who the lyricist is, I don't know the inspiration for any of these songs, and this is the first Yes album I've listened to. So, if my review is sketchy. Forgive me. My friend let me borrow this CD and listening to it, I have to say that these guys rock. They're true musicians, they all play what they play so well. The bassist is one of the best bassists I've heard in a song. He's up there with Geddy Lee and Flea (two odd people to be together I know). The keyboardist is one of the best keyboardist's ever bar none...The singer sounds like a mix between Geddy Lee and Steve Perry, even though I'm pretty sure he was around long before the both of them. Almost all the songs on this CD are long, which is something I usually don't like. I really don't like long songs, but these were cool. They're songs start off one way and, usually, take a completely different direction towards the end. It's like two songs mixed into one. Although I know nothing of the band, I think solely by listening to this I can say that these guys are some of the best artists of rock. Here are the songs and some opinions I have on them;
1. Heart of the Sunrise-5/5-I heard this song in Vincent Gallo's movie "Buffalo 66".
This song would've worked better as an instrumental (even though about 85% of it is). The music they've worked out is killer.
2. Wonderous Stories-5/5-The lyrics to this song are really cool.
3. Yours is No Disgrace-5/5-The musicianship on this song is awesome. It sounds really cool.
4. Starship Troopers-5/5-This song takes so many different turns, but it's still great.
5. Lond Distance Runaround-5/5-A fantastic instrumental.
6. The Fish-5/5-Great keyboard playing. Everything about this song is cool.
7. And You and I-5/5-This song's really awesome too.
8. Roundabout-5/5-This song is totally awesome, it's Yes's "Stairway to Heaven". Is the original version live though?
9. I've Seen All Good People-5/5-I'd heard this song before in movies like "Almost Famous". It's a really beautiful song, with fantastic lyrics.
This whole CD is rocking. If you haven't listened to Yes you should really check them out...If you like Rush (and I know the guys of Rush like Yes) then you should like this band.
GRADE: A
"
Still the best single disc compilation of YES's career!
Eric F. | Long Island, USA | 05/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"By now, there have been numerous YES greatest hits packages, including two large box sets; yet this is the compilation I keep coming back to because it captures YES at the heart of their progressive stardom from 1971 through 1977.
You get full-length versions here, including "Long Distance Runaround" immediately followed by "The Fish". You also get "And You And I", which has managed not to be featured on many other YES compilations. Pity, because it's one of their most enchanting songs; although I believe on the YESYEARS box set, there is a live version recorded during the Trevor Rabin years.
The only down side is that "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People" are live versions taken from their 1979 tour. While they're still enjoyable tunes, the original full-length version would have made this CD perfect."
Still remains the ideal Yes collection (for me)
Johnny Boy | Hockessin, DE | 02/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes has had numerous collections released over the years. We had 'Yesstory.' We had 'The Ultimate Yes.' And we had the original 1974 classic early years collection 'Yesterdays.'
In 1981, Chris Squire teamed up with Atlantic to compile 'Classic Yes.' It was spectacular. It featured highlights from 'The Yes Album' to 'Going For The One.' The early years aren't covered, because that's why we have 'Yesterdays.'
You still get some great music. 'Yours Is No Disgrace,' 'Heart of the Sunrise,' the epic 'And You And I' and of course 'Starship Trooper.'
The live tracks are excellent. I really enjoy the live version of 'Roundabout' and the version of 'I've Seen All People,' taken from Wembley Stadium in 1979.
So if you're new to Yes, I advise this or 'Highlights: The Very Best of Yes.' If you're a big Yes fan, you still need to own this for the live tracks.
Highly recommended for any Yes fan. ENJOY!!!
"