Yes Music Podcast

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6 reasons The Yes Album is a great Yes album - 679 Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week, Mark and I enjoyed coming up with 6 reasons why the band's third record, The Yes Album, is a great Yes album. As I'm sure you know, this was Steve Howe's first album with Yes and also Tony Kaye's last. It is correctly viewed by many fans, critics and Steve Howe himself as the first Yes masterpiece.

Clearly, we could have found dozens of reasons why this is a great Yes album but that would have left less room for you to be involved. So please do add your reasons in the comments on this week's show notes.

What do you think we chose?
Is this album the start of the progressive sound of Yes?
Was the success of the album all down to the musicians?

Let us know if you agree with us!

Favourite new millennium Yes songs - 678 Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius R.I.P. Johnny Bruhns

This week, Mark and I considered the Yes music of the new Millennium - 25 years after it began. In this time, the band have produced just 5 studio albums and 1 EP:

Magnification
Fly From Here
From a Page (EP)
Heaven and Earth
The Quest
Mirror to the Sky

However, there are plenty of examples of great Yes music to enjoy and Mark and I chose 3 examples each.

What did we choose?
Anything from Heaven and Earth?
Did we get it 'right'?

See if you agree with us and let us know by leaving a comment below.

Let us know if you agree with us!

Yes audacity - 677 Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week, Mark and I returned to our occasional series on Yes concepts. This time we considered Yes audacity - those times when the band has done something few others would have attempted. We both came up with 3 examples and it proved to be a very enjoyable conversation, albeit with quite a bit of shameless self-promotion from me.

In the world of progressive rock, perhaps the most audacious genre of all, what do you think we came up with - and what would you have chosen? Let us know in the comments on the show notes for this week.

What are the best examples of Yes' audacity from the past 50+ years?
Innovation or excess?
Would you have chosen the same examples as us?

AI killed the prog star? – 676 Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius

This week we have a bumper, epic episode where Simon Barrow, Mark and I discuss AI and its impact, in the context of Yes music, of course. My daughter, Charlotte, also gives us her thoughts on the subject so many thanks to her. This topic was suggested by the appearance on YouTube of an album entitled 'YEP – On The Waterline (70's Prog Rock / Progressive Rock)' as spotted by Charlie Nolan.

Should AI be used in music?
What impact could it have?
What about the future for Yes and all other music artists?

See if you agree with us and let us know by leaving a comment below.

Let us know if you agree with us!

Alan White's adaptability - 675 May 30, 2025

Show notes

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius

It's already been 3 years since Alan White died. To mark the sad anniversary, Mark and I discussed the iconic drummer's adaptability this week. We each chose 3 different examples of his playing to highlight different aspects of his musical character. In addition, 4 YMP Patrons gave us comments to read out - Jon Pickles, Ronnie Neeley, Doug Curran, and Fred Barringer. It was very enjoyable to think about Alan but also, of course, a somewhat mournful process. Do add your own memories of Alan to the show notes for this week.

Which songs did we choose?
Was Alan 'just' a drummer?
What were Alan's special skills?

Chris Squire - 10 years gone with Stephen Lambe - 674 May 23, 2025

Show notes

Unbelievably, it's already 10 years since we lost Chris Squire. Tempus Fugit, but this time not in a good way. To mark this sad milestone, Prog Magazine has included 2 large articles about Chris in the latest issue, number 160. The person charged with writing the main piece was friend of the YMP, Stephen Lambe. Mark and I spoke to him this week about the greatest bassist the world has ever seen, the irreplaceable Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4 March 1948 – 27 June 2015).

Yes virtuosity - 673 May 16, 2025

Show notes

Mark and I really enjoyed discussing what Yes virtuosity means to us with the help of YMP Patrons Brian Harris, Michael OConnor, HB Pettersen, Jon Pickles, Dave Owen, Gary Betts, Mark Slater and Ronnie Neeley this week. Can you guess what we all chose for our examples of Yes virtuosity? You might be surprised, as Mark and I were.

There were some common themes that emerged which is always encouraging because it means we are not on our own in our thoughts about the band.

So thank you to all those Patrons but do have your own say by adding a comment to the show notes for this week.

Billy Sherwood's bass - 672 May 09, 2025

Show notes

This week Mark and I enjoyed thinking about what Billy Sherwood has contributed on bass to the last two Yes albums, The Quest and Mirror to the Sky. We each chose three examples of songs from those two records to talk about and shared our thoughts on whether Billy has continued the tradition of Chris Squire bass playing or gone his own way - or a combination of the two.

There wasn't enough time to review the posts on the YMP Facebook discussion group this week but hopefully I'll be able to get back to that next week.

Also, apologies to those who sent in entries to last week's quiz. I haven't forgotten and I'll be announcing the winner next week.

Yes Connections - The Game! 671 May 02, 2025

Show notes

This week, Mark and I are trying out a new concept - it's a game called Yes connections. There will be chances to laugh at my ineptitude as well as chances to get involved yourself with a special Yes connections round for listeners - with a prize for the more creative - or maybe funny entry sent into the show. Hang onto your hat and test your Yes knowledge in a few minutes' time.

Reactions to Record Store Day 2025 - 670 Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

Produced by Wayne Hall, Joseph Cottrell, Jeffrey Crecelius and Ken Fuller

This week, Mark and I were joined by Jon Pickles to talk about the latest (greatest?) Yes Record Store Day offering - Live at the Rainbow London, England 12/16/1972 - a catchy title if there ever was one. I haven't forked out the considerable amount of money for a copy - yet - but both Jon and Mark have, so at least they are speaking from a position of knowledge. No change there then.

Have you managed to get a copy of this new release?

What does the music sound like?
Is it a good performance?
Is the high cost justified?

Let us know if you agree with us!

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