Yes - Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970 (2CD)

Size: 189 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoeRock
Artwork Included
Source: Japan BLU-Spec Remaster

Yes' early years, up until The Yes Album, are usually perceived as a formative period, primarily of interest to hardcore fans. This double-CD set of live BBC and other radio-related tracks from 1969-70, however, forces the listener to take this era of the group's history on its own terms. The performances and repertory all date from the tail end of the psychedelic era, and a time when the Nice were the only fully functioning progressive rock unit in England -- one can hear the early incarnation of Yes catching up fast with Keith Emerson and company, throwing in progressive influences of their own and generally playing like there was no tomorrow. 

The fact that the BBC sessions never permitted retakes, and were never intended for commercial release, gave them a raw, spontaneous quality that was missing from the studio equivalents. 

The drawback is that the singing is sometimes a lot rougher than the group would have preferred -- so "Dear Father," for example, is vibrant but a little raw; on the other hand, "Every Little Thing" is practically worth the price of the disc by itself, as the most exciting track here. Disc two features more live performances of the era off of radio, including a completely different but equally impressive version of "Every Little Thing" and more amazing work by Bill Bruford. 

Overall, it's the perfect early Yes companion to Yessongs, with notes by Peter Banks, the band's co-founder and lead guitarist during this era, that reveal a lot about what the band was like during this era and some of the rivalries and alleged unfairness in the divvying up of credits and revenues.


Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970 is a compilation of live recordings by the progressive rock band, Yes. They are the only live recordings to feature the band's original lineup. It is a compilation of the band's early performances on BBC radio. The two-disc set features liner notes from original guitarist Peter Banks, who was fired from the band shortly after these recordings were made.

Legally released, but without the knowledge of the band, this two-CD compilation of early Yes appearances on British, French, and German radio shows is perhaps the best that fans can hope for; except for the title track of "Time and a Word," Yes has never bothered to release live versions of songs off its first two albums. 


Most of these early songs turn up here, and there's even an prototype of "Starship Trooper" in the previously unreleased "For Everyone." Stripped raw of their studio padding, the Time and a Word cuts attain a ragged beauty, especially in redlining versions of "Dear Father" and "No Opportunity Necessary." 

The liner notes were clearly a labor of love, with newspaper clippings, posters, recording notes, unpublished photos, and dishy notes by a thoroughly unrepentant Peter Banks. Despite variable sound quality, and an inevitable garage band grittiness, it's a fine artifact. Released in the U.S. in 1998 as Beyond & Before.

Band members:
♦ Jon Anderson - vocals
♦ Chris Squire - bass, vocals
♦ Peter Banks - guitars
♦ Tony Kaye - keyboards
♦ Bill Bruford - drums

Disc one 
01. "Something's Coming"  Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim  7:38
02. "Everydays"  Stephen Stills  5:12
03. "Sweetness"  Jon Anderson/Clive Bailey/Chris Squire 4:14
04. "Dear Father"  Anderson/Squire  5:33
05. "Every Little Thing"  Lennon–McCartney  5:31
06. "Looking Around"  Anderson/Squire  3:40
07. "Sweet Dreams"  Anderson/David Foster  3:26
08. "Then"  Anderson  4:19

Bonus Track:
09. "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed"  Richie Havens  4:18

Disc two  
01. "Astral Traveller"  Anderson  6:01
02. "Then"  Anderson  5:15
03. "Every Little Thing"  Lennon–McCartney  6:49
04. "Everydays"  Stills  6:06
05. "For Everyone"  Anderson/Squire  4:35
06. "Sweetness"  Anderson/Bailey/Squire  5:16
07. "Something's Coming"  Bernstein/Sondheim  7:58
08. "Sweet Dreams"  Anderson/Foster  4:14

Bonus Track:
09. "Beyond & Before"  Squire/Bailey  5:28

+ Picture Sleeve Mini CD Single:
01. "Astral Traveller" BBC Live

1. Link
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2. Link
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Yes - Japan Single 1972

Yes - Netherland Single 1970