Music Monday: Yes/Keys to Ascension

Released in 1996, Keys to Ascension was one of those live albums with "bonus" new material. I have included it here because the new songs weren't just some random songs stuck on to get you to buy the CD (okay in my case it did).

Also, someone has the common sense to have Roger Dean do the cover:

The first seven of the album’s nine tracks were recorded live in San Luis Obispo, California’s Fremont Theater during three nights in March 1996. The purpose of these concerts was to capture the spontaneity of a live performance under controlled conditions, similar to that of a studio. These performances were also filmed and released as a live video under the same title.

The last two tracks "Be the One" and "That, That Is" are studio recordings of new songs made in November 1995 (with post-production lasting into 1996). 

To me, these are the best sounding songs that Yes had done in years since the days of ABWH and Drama. Part of the reason for this I think is that it is the first album with the line-up consisting of Anderson, Squire, White, Howe and Wakeman since 1978's Tormato.

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1) Be the One - This song is divided in three parts: 

a) The One (0:00 - 4:11) - Never let the fools destroy your dreams.

b) Humankind (4:11 - 7:20) - This section is the best thing on the whole album. Jon sings forcefully and with passion. Every time it plays I'm like "preach it Jon!". I wish more of their music was like this, direct and to the point instead of being flighty and all over the place.

c) Skates (7:20 - 9:50) - Basically Steve Howe takes over until the end of the song.

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2) That, That Is - Did I mention being all over the place? This another multi-piece song that has seven (!) sections. Now the music is absolutely great with an intro by Howe on acoustic guitar which is repeated a few times throughout. Wakeman, however seems nowhere to be found. I have always thought that the "All in All" part should have been edited and released as a single.

a) Togetherness

b) Crossfire

c) The Giving Things

d) That Is

e) All in All

f) How Did Heaven Begin?

g) Agree to Agree

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Also, more Roger Dean inside.

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Keys to Ascension  reached #48 in the UK. It also reached #99 in the US during a chart stay of two weeks.