Say Yes!

Prog-rock hero and surround-sound guru Steven Wilson has just confirmed the near-imminent release of the second title in his series of expanded and remixed Yes classics.  On April 14, the Panegyric label will reissue 1971’s landmark The Yes Album in CD/DVD-Audio and CD/Blu-ray packages loaded with bonus material and new stereo and surround mixes.

Yes’ third studio LP, The Yes Album welcomed guitarist Steve Howe to the band following the departure of Peter Banks.  Howe immediately made his presence felt, writing one original song himself (“Clap”) and contributing to the epics “Yours in No Disgrace” and “Starship Trooper.”   Lengthy compositions dominated both sides of the original vinyl, with only two songs under the near-seven-minute mark: “Clap” and Jon Anderson’s “A Venture.”  The Yes Album would also be the last album for keyboardist Tony Kaye, who would be replaced by Rick Wakeman for the band’s next release, Fragile.

Despite the comings and goings in the band, the Anderson/Howe/Kaye/Chris Squire/Bill Bruford line-up sounded in perfect harmony on The Yes Album.  They blended key elements of folk and rock into a dramatic whole, showcasing the individual members’ impeccable musicianship with adventuresome science-fiction concepts and a broad stylistic palette.  Anderson, Howe and Squire’s three-part suite “Starship Trooper”- containing “Life Seeker,” “Disillusion” and “Würm” closed Side One, while Anderson and Squire’s two-part “I’ve Seen All Good People” opened Side Two.  The first part of “Good People,” the chess-inspired “Your Move” (with its apparent allusions to Lewis Carroll and John Lennon) was released as a single, backed with “Clap,” and has been covered numerous times over the years.

The Yes Album turned out to be the band’s commercial breakthrough, cracking the Top 40 in America and getting all the way to No. 4 in the United Kingdom.  It was eventually certified platinum, and has seen numerous reissues in the compact disc era including an expanded edition from Rhino in 2003.  That reissue included a studio recording of “Clap” (which was featured in a live version on the original album) as well as the unique single versions of “Your Move” and “Life Seeker.”

What extras will you find on the upcoming DVD and BD reissues?  Hit the jump!

The CD/DVD edition of The Yes Album is housed in a slipcased double digipak.  It contains new sleeve notes by Sid Smith as well as rare photographs and memorabilia.  The DVD contains Steven Wilson’s new, band-sanctioned 5.1 surround mix, and the accompanying CD presents Wilson’s all-new stereo mix plus two bonus tracks (the studio version of “Clap” and a previously unreleased extended version of “A Venture.”  The DVD (a NTSC Region 0 hybrid DVD-A, compatible with all DVD players and DVD-ROM drives) features, in all:

• 5.1 DTS Mix; those with DVD-A players can access the 5.1 mix in Lossless 96/24 audio;
• The new album mix in high resolution stereo;
• The original album mix in a hi-res flat transfer from the original stereo master tapes; and
• An alternate version of The Yes Album drawn from live tracks, singles edits and an extended mix.

As with the previous entry in this series, Close to the Edge, the Blu-ray issue will differ from the DVD version and contains additional, exclusive material not available in the other format.  The CD/BD combo is presented in a mini-vinyl gatefold replica sleeve (with the discs in protective inner sleeves); it boasts the same notes and images as the DVD version.  The NTSC all-region Blu-ray Disc contains:

•  5.1 PCM Surround Sound and High Resolution Stereo mixes (in 96/24);
• The original album mix in a hi-res flat transfer from the original stereo master tape source (192/24);
• A complete alternate album running order drawn from live tracks, singles edits and an extended mix;
• Exclusive instrumental versions of all new mixes in DTS-HD Master Audio stereo (96/24); and
• An exclusive needle-drop of an original UK vinyl A1/B1 pressing transferred in 96/24 audio.

Plus, the order page at Burning Shed indicates that the BD will feature “further audio extras, some exclusive to the Blu-ray edition.”

You can visit Burning Shed here for more information, and can pre-order The Yes Album at Amazon U.S. or U.K. just below.  (The Amazon links are live but the product descriptions have not yet been updated.)  Both the DVD and BD editions are due in the U.K. on April 14 and one week later stateside!

Yes, The Yes Album (Atlantic LP SD 8283, 1971 – reissued Panegyric, 2014)

CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

CD - New Stereo Mixes by Steven Wilson:

1. Yours Is No Disgrace
2. Clap
3. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
4. I've Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
5. A Venture
6. Perpetual Change
7. Clap (Studio Version) (from Rhino CD R2 73788, 2003)
8. A Venture (Extended) (previously unreleased)

Tracks 7-8 are bonus tracks.