Yes - Extended Versions: The Encore Sessions (2002) Bootleg

(U.K 1968 - 2004, 2008 - Present)

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By the mid nineties Yes were at another crossroads. Guitar wizard and writer of 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' Trevor Rabin had left the group and their last album 'Talk' had hardly set the charts alight. To make things worse the wave of Grunge bands that had taken over the airwaves was now a flood.
So founder members Chris Squire and Jon Anderson plus long serving drummer Alan White did the one thing all Yes fans dream of, they got on the phone to Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman. The classic line-up were together again.

The band then played three shows in March 1996, at the Freemont Theatre San Luis Obispo, in California.   All the classics were there and the shows went down a storm with the ecstatic fans that packed in to see them.   The resulting live album 'Keys To Ascension Vol II, also included some new studio material, but poor record company back up and a general lack of promotion meant that sales were not as good as had been hoped for.

Then as always seems to happen with Yes, somebody left and as per usual it was Wakeman, tired of the constant management trouble the band had, he also decided that touring with Yes was not what he wanted at that time, so once again he went off to do his own thing. As quickly as the classic Yes line-up had reformed, it had once again disintegrated, leaving behind only one live/studio album for fans to cling to. Of course, the bootleggers decided that they needed to cash in on this brief reformation of the classic Yes, and this release is one of these offshoots from the Ascensions Tour in 1996.

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Concert Review (San Luis Obispo, California)

Venue - Edward's Fremont Theater (800 capacity)

(by Doug & Glenn Gottlieb)

What was originally planned as a night for “dressed rehearsal” became the debut show for the newly reformed classic Yes lineup of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White. The band hit the stage at San Luis Obispo’s Fremont Theater, performing for nearly 3 hours. 

Concert staples such as "Roundabout" and "I’ve Seen All Good People" were performed with such enthusiasm and vigor that the entire capacity crowd was up and dancing in the aisles. But it was the intense performance of Paul Simon’s America that whipped the already exuberant crowd into a frenzy. Feeding back on the energy from the crowd, guitarist Steve Howe seemed to be jolted off the ground. Fingers flying about the guitar, Howe began hopping across the stage like a cross between Chuck Berry and Roger Rabbit. Howe’s energy and obvious enjoyment pushed the crowd higher. This give and take was one of the nights most exhilarating moments. The song drew a thunderous standing ovation, as did the band’s mesmerising performance of "The Revealing Science of God". 

Jon Anderson, in particularly good spirits and fine voice, introduced Revealing with a story about how the tune was the one song he insisted the band learn for these shows. Jon brought Revealing to the table with the idea of shortening and revising the epic, but Steve Howe insisted the band learn and perform the tune in its entirety. It was the first time Yes performed the song in over two decades. 

Jon coaxed the crowd into singing Happy Birthday to Chris Squire, who was celebrating his birth with a few hundred friends. 

The shows became more and more polished with each performance, and the set list remained the same. By all counts, the third and final show was the tightest, and most intense. Fortunately, the video crew had stepped up to the higher end equipment for the final night, adding additional crew members as well. The band delivered a fantastic performance. All three shows were recorded and video-taped for what promises to be a stellar live album. 

The set list included "Close to the Edge", "And You and I", "Onward", and a very interesting version of Paul Simon's "America". The two encores were "Roundabout" and "Starship Trooper". About mid-way through the ~3 hour set, Jon led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Chris, which he seemed to enjoy... 

All in all, an incredible experience... 

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Lineup

Jon Anderson     (Vocals)

Steve Howe     (Guitars)

Chris Squire     (Bass)

Rick Wakeman     (Keyboards)

Alan White     (Drums)

Full Setlist

Firebird Suite

Siberian Khatru

Close To The Edge

I've Seen All Good People

Time And A Word

And You And I 

The Revealing Science Of God

Going For The One

Turn Of The Century

Happy Birthday To Squire

America

Onward 

Awaken

Roundabout

Starship Trooper

This post consists of MP3 (320kps) ripped from my CD copy and includes full album artwork.

Although not the full concert setlist (see the official 'Keys To Ascension Vol II' release to hear more), this bootleg contains most of the highlights - even my favourite Yes track "Starship Trooper" and the quality of the recording is exceptional. 

OK, so "Close To The Edge" isn't on this one, but then again; nothing comes Close To Hearing the original Yes lineup again!  Enjoy

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Track Listing

01 Siberian Khatru 10:09

02 America                 10:27

03 Onward                   5:33

04 Awaken                 18:14

05 Roundabout           8:24

06 Starship Trooper 13:04

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Yes Link (130Mb) New Link 17/11/2024

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