Yes – The Yes Album (1971/2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Yes – The Yes Album (1971/2014) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]
Blu-Ray: LPCM 2.0 & 5.1 24bit/96(192)kHz and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 24bit/48kHz | 21,6 GB
FLAC: 2.0 Stereo | Tracks 24bit/96kHz(192) – 5,49 GB; Includes Extras | Complete Scans – 247 MB

The Yes Album is the second in a series of remixed and expanded Yes classics. The album has been mixed for 5.1 Surround Sound from the original studio masters by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and is fully approved by Yes. The Blu-Ray features 5.1 PCM Surround Sound and High Resolution Stereo mixes and in DTS-HD MA 5.1. The Blu-Ray also features the original album mix in a hi-res flat transfer from the original stereo master tape source as well as a complete alternate album running order drawn from live tracks, singles edits and an extended mix. And if that wasn’t enough, the Blu-Ray exclusive features include full album instrumental mixes, a full album needle-drop of an original UK A1/B1 vinyl pressing, additional singles edits and live tracks. Original artwork expanded with new sleeve-notes and archive material.

With a series of songs now regarded as band classics & frequently performed in concert, it takes some imagination to think of The Yes Album as a ‘difficult third album’. Yet, as the interviews conducted for the sleeve-notes for this edition make clear, the recording took place against a backdrop that was far from ideal. Despite a fine live reputation & two well-received albums, Yes had not made the commercial breakthrough to a wider audience that some of the band’s British label mates on Atlantic had achieved.

However, with the arrival of Steve Howe as guitarist, a better concept of what the band was trying to achieve in the studio with engineer/co-producer Eddie Offord & a focus on material that could be played live with the same punch as the studio recordings, The Yes Album proved to be that vital step to a much wider audience in Europe & America.

From the opening notes of “Yours is No Disgrace” to the final fade of “Perpetual Change”, the sound is of a band that is brimming with musical confidence. As Bill Bruford recalls “You gave it your best but it was a fast-moving world and you had to give more than your best.” The band may have been down to its last few pounds, the management may have been changing, the record label concerned, but there was no compromise in the studio as Yes produced the band’s first classic album, in a year where there was plenty of healthy competition for that much over-used term.

A full forty-three years on from the album’s UK chart debut, YES will be back in Europe – starting in the UK – performing a show that includes the album performed in its entirety.

This edition coincides with that tour. As with last year’s release of Close to the Edge, the CD features a completely new stereo mix, while the DVD-A features new stereo & 5.1 surround sound mixes all by Steven Wilson, a flat transfer of the original album master & a complete alternate album with tracks drawn from a mixture of singles edits, live tracks & an extended mix.

With expanded artwork & new sleeve-notes this is the definitive edition of The Yes Album and the second in a series of remixed and expanded Yes albums.

Blu-Ray content:

2014 Surround Mixes (LPCM 5.1 – 24/96)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace
02. Clap
03. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
04. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
05. A Venture
06. Perpetual Change

2014 Stereo Mixes (24/96)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace
02. Clap
03. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
04. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
05. A Venture
06. Perpetual Change

Original Stereo Mix (Flat Trasfer 24-192)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace
02. Clap
03. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
04. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
05. A Venture
06. Perpetual Change

Original Stereo Mix (Archived Master Transfer) (24/96)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace
02. Clap
03. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
04. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
05. A Venture
06. Perpetual Change

UK Vinyl Transfer – A1/B1 UK Vinyl Needle-drop Transfer (24/96)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace
02. Clap
03. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
04. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
05. A Venture
06. Perpetual Change

2014 Stereo Instrumental Mixes (24/96)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace
02. Clap
03. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
04. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People
05. A Venture
06. Perpetual Change

The Alternate Album (24/96)
01. Yours Is No Disgrace (Live, London 1971)
02. Clap (Studio Version)
03. Starship Trooper (Single Edit)
04. I’ve Seen All Good People (Live, London 1971)
05. A Venture (Extended Mix)
06. Perpetual Change (Live, New Haven 1971)

Exclusives (Single Versions, Edit & Live) (24/96)
01. Your Move (Single Version / Stereo)
02. Clap (Single Version / Stereo)
03. America (Live, London 1971)
04. It’s Love (Live, London 1971)
05. Your Move (Single Version / Mono)

Original Album Produced by Eddie Offord & Yes.
Original Vinyl Needle-drop Transfer by John Kimber.
All New Mixes by Steven Wilson.

Blu-ray Audio Disc