With THE YES ALBUM, Yes began an important new chapter in its career and defined much of what the next decade would bring. They had left behind not only their original guitarist, Peter Banks, but also the covers of 1960s tunes by the likes of the Byrds and the Beatles. The arrival of the more hard-edged Steve Howe signaled the group’s ascent into full-blown progressive-rock mode, a style whose parameters Yes helped craft with this recording. Though Rick Wakeman and his classical-influenced arsenal of keyboards had not yet come aboard, Tony Kaye’s roiling Hammond organ and Chris Squire’s busy bass lines perfectly interacted with Howe’s idiosyncratic playing to create a uniquely fugue-like sound, as Bill Bruford’s polyrhythms and Jon Anderson’s angelic voice simultaneously kept things on a more abstract and ethereal plane than almost anything that had been labeled “rock” up to that point. “Starship Trooper” and “Yours Is No Disgrace” would become hallmarks of prog rock and launch a thousand pale imitations by third-string art-rockers for decades to come.

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Full title – Tales From The Topographic Oceans. 2003 remastered, reissue of 1973 album with redesigned booklet (digipak/slipcase), restored LP art, archival photos and new liner notes. Includes 2 bonus tracks ‘Dance Of The Dawn’ (studio through) & ‘Giants Under The Sun’ (studio run through). Elektra.

Recording information: Morgan Studios, North London, United Kingdom (1973).

Yes: Jon Anderson (vocals); Steve Howe (guitar); Rick Wakeman (keyboards); Chris Squire (bass instrument); Alan White (drums, percussion).

Liner Note Author: Mike Tiano.

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A three-disc collection of Yes concert performances dating from the early 1970s to the late ’80s, THE WORD IS LIVE presents the pioneering British prog-rock group in its various incarnations. The first disc features live tracks from ‘70 and ‘71, when organist Tony Kaye’s distinctive Hammond lines figured strongly into the band’s performances, which here include a jam-heavy take on “America” that precedes its studio version. The second and third discs are filled with concert appearances that have Kaye’s replacements, either keyboardist Rick Wakeman or Patrick Moraz, surging through classics such as “Sweet Dreams” and “Roundabout.” The set goes on to include Kaye’s return to the fold, most notably on the high-energy medley of “Make It Easy” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” While hardcore, bootleg-seeking Yes fans have undoubtedly heard some of these recordings before, THE WORD IS LIVE performs a great service by compiling these era-spanning tracks, making the set essential for any enthusiast.

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DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? was digitally recorded live with no overdubs on a 1984 tour. It is not the soundtrack to the video of the same name. Although it has some of the same songs, they are different versions.

Who better than Frank Zappa to ask the question DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? Recorded on his 1984 world tour, this disc is a wonderful documentation of one of Zappa’s best (and smallest) ’80s bands. Long-time Zappa guitarist/vocalists Ike Willis and Ray White, keyboardists Alan Zavod and Bobby Martin, bassist Scott Thunes and drummer Chad Wackerman form an incredibly agile ensemble under the strict baton of their leader. Zappa himself turns in many stunning guitar solos in the midst of continuous shenanigans.

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But if you’re searching for the best known ZZ Top tracks, GREATEST HITS is your best bet. Just about every radio staple that the trio penned is represented here, such as the ’80s synth-meets-blues-rock classics “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Pearl Necklace,” and “Sleeping Bag,” plus such older favorites as “Tush,” “Cheap Sunglasses,” and “La Grange.”

Although it began as an album-oriented, hard-edged blues band, ZZ Top had amassed quite a number of Top 40 hits by the early ’90s. All are featured on 1992’s 18-track GREATEST HITS compilation, making it a more comprehensive career overview than 1977’s shorter THE BEST OF ZZ TOP. The only problem is that it doesn’t contain a single selection from such early ZZ Top classics as ZZ TOP’S FIRST ALBUM, RIO GRANDE MUD, or TEJAS.

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