Another remastered clamshell box set from the good folks at Cherry Red Records, here we have the live album from the sole tour by the late 80’s “alternative” Yes – namely Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe. This latest version of An Evening of Yes Music Plus includes the entire concert on two CDs, and also includes the full concert video on a region free DVD. Also included is an additional region free DVD, In the Big Dream, featuring promotional videos and interviews. The story behind ABWH has been well documented over the years, but to summarise – Anderson left Yes, then at the time featuring Chris Squire, Alan White, Trevor Rabin, and Tony Kaye, to once again work with his former bandmates Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford. Since Squire owned the rights to the Yes name, this new faction simply called themselves by their names, and went off on a hugely successful World tour.
Regardless of whatever line-up of Yes you have seen over the years, many of the songs here will be instantly familiar. The set list incorporated the traditional “solo” sections for each musician (Steve Howe’s “Clap / Mood for a Day” always being a showstopper), much f of the new album and some of Yes most memorable moments. There is no doubt where the highlights are on this show, ‘And You And I’, ‘Close to the Edge’ and ‘Heart of the Sunrise’ are all captivating moments and, performed by what was as close to the classic line-up as possible at the time, are simply outstanding. That is not to say that the new material doesn’t stand up well against the older classic tracks; “Brother of Mine”, “Birthright”, “Themes”, and “Order of the Universe” are all fine songs and definitely worthy of being attached to the Yes name.
This configuration of Yes will always be fondly remembered and cherished by long time fans, although it only lasted the course of one album and tour before the next chapter of the story began with the Union concept. Watching the DVD, a real treat is seeing Jon Anderson walking through the crowd and singing his opening solo spot, and you really get the feeling that the singer was loving this tour. Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman both appear pretty motivated throughout the set, something that could not always be said in the years that followed. It is also nice to see so many close ups of Bill Bruford, whose nimble drumming is always a pleasure to witness.
This is yet another great job from Cherry Red Records and a release that comes highly recommended for Yes fans of all eras.
DISC ONE
1 Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
2 Time and Word / Owner of a Lonely Heart / Teakbois
3 Clap / Mood for a Day
4 Gone But Not Forgotten / Catherine Parr / Merlin the Magician
5 Long Distance Runaround
6 Birthright
7 And You and I
8 I’ve Seen All Good People
DISC TWO
1 Close to the Edge
2 Themes
Sound
Second Attention
Soul Warrior
3 Long Lost Brother of Mine
4 Heart of the Sunrise
5 Order of the Universe
Order Theme
Rock Gives Courage It’s Hard to Grow The Universe
6 Roundabout
7 Starship Trooper
DISC THREE
An Evening of Yes Music Plus
1 Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
2 Time and Word / Owner of a Lonely Heart / Teakbois
3 The Clap / Mood for a Day
4 Gone But Not Forgotten / Catherine Parr / Merlin the Magician
5 Long Distance Runaround
6 Birthright
7 And You and I
8 I’ve Seen All Good People
9 Close to the Edge
10 Themes
Sound
Second Attention
Soul Warrior
11 Long Lost Brother of Mine
12 Heart of the Sunrise
13 Order of the Universe
Order Theme
Rock Gives Courage
It’s Hard to Grow The Universe
14 Roundabout
DISC FOUR
In the Big Dream
1 Brother of Mine
The Big Dream
Nothing Can Come Between Us Long Lost Brother of Mine
2 Order of the Universe
Order Theme
Rock Gives Courage It’s So hard to Grow
The Universe
3 Quartet (I’m Alive)
4 Heart of the Sunrise (live)
