Going For The One - Yes > Reviews > Strong Dreams Reign Here

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Musicianship of the highest order
Disadvantages:	sometimes strange lyrics

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Yes adjourned to the famous Mountain Studios in Montreaux, Switzerland (Smoke On The Water, anyone?) during 1977 to record this mangum opus.

There are, by mid 70's Yes standards, a huge total of five (yes 5) tracks on here. Don't panic, fans, there are still three epic numbers to be found though.

Self-produced by the band, released in July 1977, reaching number one in the album charts, and spawning not one but two Top 30 hits, is this Yes' most complete album to date? Let's see.....

Going For The One: title track and second single released, reaching No 24 in November 1977, this seems to me to be a song of two halves, with a rather plodding opening giving way at the bridge to an astonishing free-for-all in which all the band decide to go off in all different directions. Whilst this might not sound very good, it is actually very effective. Steve Howe (guitars) and Rick Wakeman (keyboards) seem to be having a personal duel on this track, as they come in and out of the speakers. Topped by some bizarre lyrics "the truth of sport plays rings around you" for instance. Then the stop-time gap comes in and everyone gets back in line for the last two bars. Incredible record. You won't hear this covered on The X Factor.

Turn Of The Century: A slower beginning to this happy/sad number. Lovely acoustic guitar as the mad pixie Jon Anderson (vox) tells the story of Roan, the sculptor whose wife passes away and he builds a statue of her from stone. Halfway through the band all come in, now an emotional electric guitar solo beckons the second half of this tale, the romantic look back at their time before, complete with a soaring musical backdrop. "When we meet , how we'll look, time will leave me clearly", You should be bawling your eyes out by the end of this.

Parallels: Just time to wipe away a tear before Rick Wakeman comes in with his memorable church organ solo, that underpins this incredible piece of music. Chris Squire (bass) adds a good sound rythym in this tale of, well, not sure exactly, I think two souls joining together spiritually. The chorus is the strongest part, holding the whole thing together, as once again Yes come together after seperately going off in tangents.

Wonderous Stories: a top 10 hit single in the UK. Funnily enough this is the weakest track on this album. A slow piece with excrutiating lyrics "my spirit climbed into the sky, I bid it to return to hear your wonderous stories, la la la la la la", ain't music a funny thing. A nice enough backing track though.

Awaken: All along it seems that the whole record has just been a warm-up for this, 15 minutes plus of musical astonishment. This is a mini-opera of a track, slow start, rock chorus (Awaken, Gentle, Mass, Touch....Suns High Streams Through...Strong Dreams Reign Here...)
before another church organ comes in to slow things down before building up again to a crashing sixth verse. Then a quiet, reflective second half with more muscial twists and turns before another crescendo and finally fading out "wish the sun to stand still, reaching out to touch our own being",

With another brilliant sleeve by Hipgnosis, although not quite up to Roger Dean standards, Yes have come up with another winner. Musicianship in abundance, songs, ideas and craft come together here to create an amazing album.

A real poke in the eye to the punks who were massing, ready to assume the mantle of the New Wave. How shortsighted we are in this country, we had three of the best bands in the world (Zepp, Floyd and Yes) at the same time, and ridiculed them. It took another generation to fully appreciate their brilliance.