Extended Versions

Artist: Yes Label: Bmg Special Product Category: Music Average customer rating: Format: Live Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 1 UPC: 755174591921 EAN: 0755174591921 ASIN: B00005YJE1 Release Date: 2002-01-15

Extended Versions

Tracks:

1. Siberian Khatru
2. America
3. Onward
4. Awaken
5. Roundabout
6. Starship Trooper

Similar Items:

1. Extended Versions
2. Extended Versions (Live: Encore Collection)
3. Extended Versions: The Encore Collection
4. Extended Versions
5. Extended Versions

Customer Reviews:

'Extended' is a series of misleading releases flooding the market.......2005-07-20

Beware . . ........2004-03-17

This collection starts with "SIBERIAN KHATRU" (originally from 1972's "Close to the Edge,' and with original drummer Bill Bruford). Strangely enough, it sounds a bit tired, with Steve Howe's formerly brilliant guitar work starting to drag the ensemble down tempo-wise. One gets the feeling that bass player Chris Squire and drummer Alan White are keeping the song afloat. (But frankly, most listeners won't even notice.) But the three part vocal harmonies are crisp and in tune (although they cheat at the end - Jon Anderson's voice is backed up by Rick Wakeman's keyboard rather than vocals from Howe and Squire. The repetitive nature of the guitar part can really turn off non-Yes-fans. The interest here is in the changing meters (2 sets of 8 followed by 2 sets of 7. Repeat.)

Next up is "AMERICA," another pre-White recording, originally a single released before the early 1972 breakthrough album "Fragile," and the first recording with "new" keyboardist Wakeman. It made it's first album appearance on the compilation "Yesterdays" in 1974. Things pick up a bit on this song, although it is a bit of an oddity in the yes set list - it's one of the few covers that yes has ever released (this one being a Paul Simon tune from Simon & Garfunkel's "Bookends."), as well as being a non-album track. Again the three-part vocals are quite good, and Anderson sounds a bit more at ease.

Chris Squire's "ONWARD," originally from 1978's "Tormato" receives a new acoustic guitar intro from Howe which is quite nice (called "Unity," a detail missing from the non-existent liner notes for this release) . The song itself is a wonderfully dreamy gem, with excellent vocals from Anderson and Squire.

The epic "AWAKEN," (originally from 1977's "Going for the One") is masterfully executed, all members contributing meaningfully. Of note are Anderson's harp playing, Wakeman's astounding keyboards, and White's percussion. However, Squire's bass sounds even more muffled than on the rest of the album.

The classic "ROUNDABOUT," originally from "Fragile," (and also found performed live on "Yessongs," "House of Yes," "Classic Yes" and ABWH's "An Evening of Yes Music Plus") is flawlessly played, with the original intro and middle section restored (both often truncated in concert for many years), and another captivating Hammond solo by Wakeman. Even the trademark three-part vocals at the end are covered nicely.

This disc finishes off with "STARSHIP TROOPER," originally from 1971's "The Yes Album" (with original keyboardist Tony Kaye). All subsequent recordings of this classic have been vastly improved by Wakeman's solo improvisations at the end, and this one is no exception. Howe finishes off truimphantly.

As a stand-alone body of work, this CD is quite good, in spite of the poor overall sound quality of Chris Squire's usually crisp upfront bass guitar and White's undermixed drums. Anderson and Wakeman are in top form, and all vocals (including Howe's) are quite good. And there may not be a better drummer in the business than Alan White.

Misleading title, these are not extended versions.......2003-06-09

Misleading.

It gets three starts because it is NOT the fault of the good songs on this CD that they were mis represented.

Buy it for Onward, if at all........2003-02-13

The songs on this compilation are all really thin sounding. Steve's clean guitar tones on some parts really lessen the attack that songs like Starship Trooper and Siberian Khatru had in the studio. And dumbing down the country guitar part on Disillusion, the second song in the Starship suite, is pure sacrilege and an injustice.

A poor version of Awaken, and nearly studio copies of America and Roundabout, round out this very weak offering. In fact, the only reason it got a second star is because of the reworked Onward.

Having heard all the rave reviews over at the KTA Vol. 1 booth about how Steve reworked Onward for acoustic guitar really sparked my interest. In fact, if not for those reviews, I might never have purchased this at all. After listening to this song for the first time, I was floored. Steve's classical guitar is a work of majesty. Vocals by Jon and Chris soar above beautiful, if a bit cliché, synth washes from Rick, and the lyrics and harmonies are really moving.

Still, one song is not enough to redeem the album as a whole. Save your money and get KTA instead.

Slimey Record Company Trick.......2003-01-09

Keys to Ascension was a reunion album for Yes with Anderson, Wakeman, Squire, White and Howe getting back together. It was a 2 CD set which consisted of material taken from a reunion concert in San Luis Obisbo and two new studio tracks. This "Extended Versions" is just most of the live tracks from Keys To Ascension.

Keys to Ascension was one of Yes's worst live albums. This version of Yes had just got together for this show after being apart for almost 10 years. The group did not practice much or have time to get used to one another again. The songs are bland and close to the studio versions. The group hardly opens up at all. The only good track was Awaken. Onward has a nice accoustic guitar intro, but Anderson's vocals just keep on droning on at the end.

Music Album:

1. Fed To Your Head ~ Scorched Earth
2. Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03 ~ The Rockfords
3. The Tiki Tones Play Songs for the...Suburban Savages ~ The Tiki Tones
4. On the Beach ~ Neil Young
5. Karelia: The Spotnicks in the 60's ~ The Spotnicks
6. Mountain Rock ~ Dear Nora
7. Remix Wars ~ 16 Volt , and Hate Dept.
8. What Is It? ~ Naturally 7
9. Wide Awake and Dreaming ~ Wendy Woo
10. One Night Jammed-Live ~ Ten Years After

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Journey Between ~ Baka Beyond

Ancient Future/Blue

Rhizome ~ Mario Canonge

Music CD 99

Cruisin'

Songbook, Vol. 2 ~ Vinicius de Moraes

Africa: Never Stand Still ~ Various Artists

Vandana ~ Rajasree Mukherjee, Shromona Mukherjee

Herzlichst Ihr.... ~ Peter Kraus

Studio 58 ~ Various Artists