The Yes Album, Yes’ classic third studio release from 1971, that showcases their great musicianship, harmonies and unique songwriting, has gotten a Super Deluxe Edition, with a newly remastered version along with rarities, two previously unreleased concerts, and fresh mixes by Steven Wilson, including an immersive Dolby Atmos Mix. The expanded box set contains 4-CDs, a Blu-ray disc, and an LP, arrived on November 24, 2023, via Rhino. It’s available for order in the U.S. here and the U.K. here. Listen to many of the tracks below.
The Super Deluxe Edition includes Wilson’s newly remastered version of the original album on the CD. The LP is a new AAA cut by Bernie Grundman from the original master tapes. One of the two previously unreleased concerts from 1971 was recorded just a few weeks before The Yes Album was released, while the second was recorded six months later during the band’s U.S. tour. These performances include live versions of songs from the album, such as “Starship Trooper,” “Yours Is No Disgrace” and “Perpetual Change,” as well as songs from 1970’s Time and a Word.
Guitarist Steve Howe made his debut with the progressive rock band on the album. In the October announcement, he said, “The Yes Album represents to me the invention of 70’s Yes. This was aided by leaving outside material off the record and heavily investing in the influences we brought together, particularly the arrangement skills and utilizing the available best technology. Our adventurism shows in the originality of the music and lyrics, as none of us had done anything quite like this before.”
Listen to an early take of “I’ve Seen All Good People”
Listen to Howe perform “Clap” and a cover of Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas”
Wilson features the 2014 remixed The Yes Album and instrumental versions of all six album tracks. In addition, the Blu-ray disc offers four new mixes of album, including two versions in 5.1 Surround Sound, the 2023 Remaster, and the Dolby Atmos Mix.
Wilson shares his insights into the new mixes in the set’s liner notes: “For the Atmos Mix, I used my 5.1 as a starting point but found myself taking quite a different approach on some parts of the music, partly by virtue of now having the extra speakers to place the sounds in, but also because I’ve learned a few things in the nearly ten years since I first remixed the album…I hope you enjoy The Yes Album in its new, fully spatialized form. To me, it still sounds as fresh as the day it was recorded.”
Initially released in the U.K. on February 19, 1971, it was the group’s – Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford, and Howe – first album to feature all-original material. It peaked at #4 in the U.K. and was the group’s first to crack the Top 40 in the U.S., where it would eventually be certified platinum.
Anderson also reflects on the original. “It’s wonderful to know that 50 years later our music is still appreciated. It was a ‘make or break’ time for the band on many levels. The harmony within the band was really special at that time, and it came through in the music.”
After decades of being eligible, Yes was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
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Related: Our Album Rewind of the original LP
The Yes Album (SUPER DELUXE EDITION) Track Listing
Disc One: Original Album 2023 Remaster
“Yours Is No Disgrace”
“Clap”
“Starship Trooper”
a. “Life Seeker”
b. “Disillusion”
c. “Würm”
“I’ve Seen All Good People”
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
“A Venture”
“Perpetual Change”
Disc Two: Steven Wilson 2014 Remix and Instrumentals
“Yours Is No Disgrace”
“Starship Trooper”
a. “Life Seeker”
b. “Disillusion”
c. “Würm”
“I’ve Seen All Good People”
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
“A Venture”
“Perpetual Change”
“Yours Is No Disgrace” – Instrumental
“Starship Trooper” – Instrumental
a. “Life Seeker”
b. “Disillusion”
c. “Würm”
“I’ve Seen All Good People” – Instrumental
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
“A Venture” – Instrumental
“Perpetual Change” – Instrumental
Disc Three: Rarities
“Your Move” – Single Version (2023 Remaster)
“Starship Trooper: Life Seeker” – Single Version (2023 Remaster)
“Clap” – Studio Version (2023 Remaster)
“A Venture” – Extended Mix (2023 Remaster)
“Yours Is No Disgrace” – Mono Version (2023 Remaster)
“Clap” – Mono Version (2023 Remaster)
“Starship Trooper” – Mono Version (2023 Remaster)
a. “Life Seeker”
b. “Disillusion”
c. “Würm”
“I’ve Seen All Good People” – Mono Version (2023 Remaster)
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
“A Venture” – Mono Version (2023 Remaster)
“Perpetual Change” – Mono Version (2023 Remaster)
“Starship Trooper: Life Seeker” – Alternate Take (Instrumental) *
“I’ve Seen All Good People” – Early Take*
a. “Your Move”*
b. “All Good People”*
“Yours Is No Disgrace” – Alternate Mix*
Disc Four: Live
Live at Konserthuset, Gothenburg, Sweden (January 21, 1971)
“I’ve Seen All Good People” *
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
“Astral Traveller” *
“Everydays” *
Live at the Yale Bowl, New Haven, CT (July 24, 1971)
“Yours In No Disgrace” *
“I’ve Seen All Good People” *
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
“Clap / Classical Gas” *
“Perpetual Change” *
Blu-Ray
2023 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix
2023 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix DTS-HD MA
2023 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix LPCM
2023 Stereo Remaster
LP: Original Album (2023 Remaster)
Side One
1. “Yours Is No Disgrace”
2. “Clap”
3. “Starship Trooper”
a. “Life Seeker”
b. “Disillusion”
c. “Würm”
Side Two
4. “I’ve Seen All Good People”
a. “Your Move”
b. “All Good People”
5. “A Venture”
6. “Perpetual Change”
* previously unreleased
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2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSteven Wilson did not remix “all six instrumental tracks”, but only the 5 studio tracks other than “Clap” (which was a live solo guitar piece so remixing did not apply).
I guess this is where we’re at with reissues now. New 5.1 mixes and instrumental-only tracks. Would have been nice to get this 20 years ago, when my hearing was better. Grump grump grump.
This is why bootlegs exist. Because fans want this material while they can still enjoy it. Back in the 90s I bought a CD of the Who’s performances at the BBC. On the back (j-card) the publisher wrote “Due to the intransigence of the BBC . . .”