"Parish?" Whoa, you dudes are French? Awesome.
OK, really, some points to address:
1. Yes, I also thought the "come around" bit in Union was a direct bow to
the Mellotron's influence in shaping the band's sound.
2. I saw the Tales tour at the Montreal Forum in '73, and it was one of the
most extraordinary experiences of my life. Genius, virtuosic playing that
came across as totally sincere about the music, and a stage show that still
haunts my dreamscape.
3. No argument that Moraz has some chops, and I like the golf tee album just
fine, but I always felt it sounded more like "Return to YESever" with him
playing, and I wholeheartedly offer the notion that it is the classical and
continental flavor of the keyboards that make Yes, and that the jazz
hybridization did not benefit the band.
4. Not just that Chris is the only member present in the whole catalog, but
also that he seems to be the only member that can't really be replaced -
AWBH is a great example. It sounds fine, and it's Yes-ish, but it just
isn't Yes, and Fish Out of Water is a better Yes album than Drama or
Relayer.
5. I had no idea how big a fight you could start talking about Tales in this
group.
6. If you can find it, Two Sides of Peter Banks is a terrific solo album,
with some wonderful Yes/Genesis flavor to it.
7. I'm going to have to concur that I've always thought that was some
subtle, distant Mellotron in "Soon" as well, having heard it precisely the
way it was described.
Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...M400 #886