So7 has been a real grower for me. I bought it possibly on the same record-buying trip when I bought Drama. To my teenage ears Drama was a great manly man album. Something I could proudly play for all my Sab and Zep-loving friends. They all liked it BTW. But So7? No way I was gonna play that for my fellow 9th grade headbangers. Way too wimpy.
Over the years though its low-key magic won me over. I can't say So7 is a better album than Olias, but it more soulful and more immediate. Animation continued the streak of winning albums for Mr. Anderson. And then of course he re-joined Yes and (some of the) rest is history.
Is this strictly a CD - format? I assume digital as well - but I don't see any mention of vinyl.
If they produce a vinyl version I would buy that, my original copy is a bit worn. Now that vinyl is (once again) outselling CD's I would think most re-issues would include the LP format
My first ever gig was on the Song of Seven tour at The Royal Albert Hall in 1980 with Jon so this album holds a special place for me. The hall was full as far as I recall although I remember that some of the gigs were cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. Although my old cd sounds pretty good I am tempted to get this new one. After all, I've bought all the Yes albums about 6 times anyway so why not this one
Well, there's the SACD version: https://www.amazon.com/OLIAS-SUNHILL.../dp/B00HB54FUS
Chad
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
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I have to admit, I really enjoyed about 2/3 of this album....Haven't listened to it in forever. I guess it's time to dig the CD out and give it a spin.
"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter" - Yoda
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ISTR Wilson is a big fan of Olias. But who knows if the multi-tracks even still exist.
It’s a shame this cannot be added as a bonus disc, it really is a good recording and performance. I saw the show at The Birmingham Odeon, and to my distant recall it was pretty well attended. I saw Drama there around the same time and it too had a good turnout, but there was some animosity to the then misunderstood Buggles chaps, which was quite horrible to hear. I thought both gigs were great for what it’s worth.
You UK chaps were lucky to see that tour (although it sounds like there was crap promotion.) We US west-coasters had to wait til the Animation tour before seeing post-Yes Jon.
But the first time I heard anything off SoS was 1980 and our SoCal cable TV service was including "Days" as part of their menu background music playlist. I immediately recognized Jon's voice and tracked down the album. I think I bought it and Yesshows.
I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.
Yes although of course Jon never played any more solo uk gigs for a long long time. Ah, I remember buying Yesshows between Christmas and new year late 1980 as a us import, got it sooner than the UK release I think, love that album, especially Gates where the audience just roars it's delight at the end.
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I was re-listening to late 70s/early 80s Yes yesterday so I'll give this another listen.
The missing link between Tormato and Drama/Song Of Seven are those Paris sessions (some of which is still unreleased). I don't really rate any of that stuff and think Drama was far superior. Although the credits on Drama are kind of interesting, given 'Run Through The Light' and 'Does It Really Happen' originate from when Anderson/Wakeman were still there.
Those Paris session recordings are dreadful... About the clearest thing you can hear is the hastening of a band's falling apart by a wholly inappropriate producer!
Here's the Yes medley folks are talking about.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWbugbsgAk
The Medley including;
a. To Be Over
b. Perpetual Change
c. The Prophet
d. Long Distance Runaround
e. Wonderous Stories
f. Rejoice
g. I've Seen All Good People (Pt 1)
h. Revealing Science Of God
i. I've Seen All Good People (Pt 2)
j. The Remembering - High The Memory
k. Ritual - Nous Sommes du Soleil
Olias was the one-off magnum opus so I accepted Song of Seven on its own terms straight away. It was on one of a handful of cassettes I took with me for my first year at college and I just about wore it out.
I loved "God you know he wears a blue T-shirt too / With God inscribed in heaven on both sides", and still do. It's typical head-in-the-clouds but down-to-earth funny Jon.
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