1968 - 1991

Yes		YesYears


DVD 1  -  134.55


Comments about this recording that I found on Amazon.com:

It was produced in 1991, yes I know, but Atlantic records produced it 
correctly and professionally. Interviews are excellent. Archival 
footage is the best I've seen. Bill Bruford is also on here. This is 
the documentary for which others are judged. This documentary coincided 
with the YesYears Boxed CD Set and Around the World in 80 dates world 
tour. Many shots from that tour are on here with a snippit of all 8 
members of that tour performing Awaken. It was quite breathtaking. 
This documentary puts the newest DVD, "YesSpeak" to shame due to poor 
editing and pruducing and choice of Roger Daultry as the narrator. 
YesYears was produced correctly and with the proper funding by ATLANTIC 
records at the time. I highly recommend it.


To my ears, there are a handful of English bands who are true pioneers 
in their stylistic pursuits. The Beatles, Yes, ELP, King Crimson, 
Led Zeppelin, Genesis, The Police and Dire Straits (sorry if I omitted 
one of your favorites...this is, after all, my opinion) all have musical 
and artistic refinement that seems to be lacking in many musical 
aggregations on EITHER side of the Atlantic. Quite often bands will 
disintegrate at the pinnacle of their success, either because of artistic 
restlessness, or, loss of a key member. Yes encountered both of these 
unbinding threats and, through recruitment of what turned out to be only 
temporary replacements (Bill Bruford is the exception here), managed to 
survive and mature. In fact, portions of this documentary were filmed 
during a Yes "Union" tour in which ALL former members of the band 
participated (with the exception of original guitarist, Tony Banks). 
Every member has recorded solo albums but the musical vision of the band 
seems to hold the strongest attraction to those involved. There have 
been some complaints voiced by other reviewers about the lack of actual 
performance footage or bonus booklets in this DVD. I, for one, didn't 
have to have any frills to appreciate the intent of the filmmakers. 
Nor do I feel shortchanged because the songs were incomplete. In my 
opinion this should not be regarded as a performance DVD. It is a 
documented historical account of one of England's finest, most artistic 
and long-lasting bands.


If you're not familiar with the music of Yes then you will find this DVD 
very frustrating as it doesn't contain any complete songs. For fans of 
the band it's a must. Interviews with all of the band members, as of 1991, 
with no holds barred in terms of conflicts and issues that occured within 
the band during it's history. At times the guys come off as a bit arrogant, 
but why not, in a genre that rewards mindless drivel they were willing to 
push the envelope and wound up succeeding.


Not the tedious YesSpeak. This is a very thorough review of the years 
prior to 1991. Ironic in light of what has come after it. To hear Rick 
inferring that maybe the Union line-up could continue into the 21st 
century is quite touching in a way, considering the number of times he 
himself has come and gone in that time. I don't have a problem with the 
fact that there are no complete songs here... that's not the purpose of 
this. It does beg the question, is there any more of this archival 
footage? Sad that whoever was waving a camera about during the 
Close To The Edge sessions didn't have the sound recording switched on.