Yes Keys to Ascension released

Keys to Ascension Yes

Released: October 28, 1996 Recorded: March 4-6, 1996 (live cuts) Peak: 99 US, -- UK, -- CN, 22 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock

Tracks – Disc 1 (live): Song Title (Writers) [time] Siberian Khatru (Anderson, Howe, Wakeman) [10:16] The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) (Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White) [20:32] America (Paul Simon) [10:28] Onward (Squire) [5:48] Awaken (Anderson, Howe) [18:33] Tracks – Disc 2 (live/studio): Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Roundabout (live) (Anderson, Howe) [8:30] Starship Trooper (live) (Anderson, Squire, Howe) [13:05] Be the One (studio) [9:49] i. The One (Anderson, Squire) ii. Humankind(Anderson, Squire) iii. Skate (Howe) That, That Is (studio) [19:11] i. Togetherness ( Howe) ii. Crossfire (Anderson, Squire) iii. The Giving Things (Anderson, Howe) iv. That Is (Anderson) v. All in All (Anderson, White) vi. How Did Heaven Begin? (Anderson, Howe, White) vii. Agree to Agree (Anderson, Squire) Total Running Time: 116:16

Rating: 2.822 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Keys to Ascension 2 Yes

Released: November 3, 1997 Recorded: March 4-6, 1996 (live cuts) Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock

Tracks – Disc 1 (live): Song Title (Writers) [time] I’ve Seen All Good People (Anderson, Squire) [7:16] Going for the One (Anderson) [4:58] Time and a Word (Anderson, David Foster) [6:23] Close to the Edge (Anderson, Howe) [19:40] Turn of the Century Anderson, Howe, White) [7:55] And You and I (Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire) [10:48] Tracks – Disc 2 (studio): Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Mind Drive (Anderson, Squire, White, Howe, Wakeman) [18:37] Foot Prints (Anderson, Squire, Howe, White) [9:04] Bring Me to the Power (Anderson, Howe) [7:20] Children of Light [6:02] i. Children of Light (Anderson, Squire, Vangelis) ii. Lifeline (Howe, Wakeman) Sign Language (Howe, Wakeman) [3:26] Total Running Time: 101:42

Rating: 2.821 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Keystudio Yes

Released: May 21, 2001 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] Foot Prints (Anderson, Squire, Howe, White) [9:04] Be the One [9:49] i. The One (Anderson, Squire) ii. Humankind(Anderson, Squire) iii. Skate (Howe) Mind Drive (Anderson, Squire, White, Howe, Wakeman) [18:34] Bring Me to the Power (Anderson, Howe) [7:20] Sign Language (Howe, Wakeman) [3:26] That, That Is [19:11] i. Togetherness ( Howe) ii. Crossfire (Anderson, Squire) iii. The Giving Things (Anderson, Howe) iv. That Is (Anderson) v. All in All (Anderson, White) vi. How Did Heaven Begin? (Anderson, Howe, White) vii. Agree to Agree (Anderson, Squire) Children of the Light [6:31] i. Lightning (Howe) ii. Children of Light (Anderson, Squire, Vangelis) iii. Lifeline (Howe, Wakeman) Total Running Time: 74:21

Rating: 3.850 out of 5.00 (average of 3 ratings)

The Players on All 3 Albums: Jon Anderson (vocals, synth guitar, harp, percussion) Steve Howe (guitar, bass, backing vocals) Chris Squire (bass, backing vocals) Rick Wakeman (keyboards) Alan White (drums, backing vocals) Billy Sherwood (producer) About All 3 Albums: Anderson, Howe, Wakeman, Squire, and White were all featured on the 1991 “Union ‘mega-Yes’ album,” BE but hadn’t really recorded an album together since 1978’s Tormato. When they came together for 1996’s Keys to Ascension, they produced a double album of live cuts and new studio recordings. The live material was recorded at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California over three nights in March 1996. WK-K1 The two new songs are “superior to anything on…Union…with soaring harmonies and very spacious song construction.” BE A companion set, Keys to Ascension 2, followed in 1997. It also paired live material and new studio songs on a double CD. The live material, which is drawn from the same March 1996 live dates as the first album, WK-K2 is really a rehash of “material adequately covered in Yessongs and Yesshows” PC since this “is nothing that you haven’t heard before.” PC In 2001, the “seven superb studio tracks” BA from the two collections were repackaged as the awkwardly-named Keystudio, effectively serving as a studio album which could have been released between 1994’s Talk and 1997’s Open Your Eyes. The studio material is “a welcome return to form for the band.” PC “These songs retain Yes’ trademark instrumental prowess, but there's a maturity to the cohesive arrangements and the melodies. Most tracks push either ten or 20 minutes, ensuring the adoration of Yes diehards who yearn for 1970s-style experimentation.” BA Mind Drive is a “multi-movement suite strongly reminiscent of early Yes;” PC it was their eighth song to exceed the 18-minute mark. WK-K2 The song originated in 1981 when Squire and White were tentatively forming a band with Jimmy Page called XYZ. WK-K2 “The song’s closing instrumental sounds straight out of Tales from Topographic Oceans.” PC The song “stretches out with both soothing, dreamy passages and tough, full-band bombast.” BA “Wakeman’s parts were overdubbed last here, and it shows: the keyboards are solely for atmospheric effect, ceding the melodic drive to the bass and guitar.” PC “Not that Wakeman’s presence goes to waste; structured around a ‘Heart of the Sunrise’-like bass riff, Bring Me to the Power gallops through muscular Moog solos and equally slick harmonies. Like the rest of the studio tracks, it's a perfect blend of vintage art rock craftsmanship and gleaming modern production.” PC “Foot Prints relies largely on the rhythm section drive of Squire and White and Howe’s economical guitar lines. The terrifically tasteful instrumental Sign Language is basically a duet by co-writers Howe and Wakeman.” BA “Prior to this album's release, it was reported that it would have a track called ‘The Second Time Around’. This would have been a version of ‘Sign Language’ that incorporated Jon Anderson’s vocals. However, the track was not included on this disc.” WK-KS “That, That Is resembles Yes’ 1970s work the most, with the exception of Anderson’s lyrics, which address drug and violence problems in inner cities, not his usual mystical topics.” BA “Children of Light was originally written by Jon and Vangelis in 1986 as ‘Distant Thunder’”. WK-K2 It “was later demoed by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe during the recording of their self-titled album. The lyrics…ended up in Yes’ Union tourbook. In 1994, Jon Anderson performed the song on the Tommy Vance show. During a Mother’s Day concert in 1996, Jon Anderson performed ‘Children of Light’ and said he hoped it would appear on a Yes album.” WK-K2 “Lightning, Rick Wakeman’s introduction to ‘Children Of Light’, was mixed out” WK-K2 of the Keys to Ascension 2 version, but was restored on the Keystudio release. WK-K2 The Keystudio version also “omits the opening lyrics found on the Keys to Ascension 2 version.” WK-KS “Keystudio would have been a smash had it been released 25-30 years earlier. Even casual Yes fans from both the 1970s and 1980s should enjoy Keystudio. Highly recommended.” BA

Resources and Related Links: BA Bret Adams, All Music Guide KS PC Paul Collins, All Music Guide K2 BE Bruce Eder, All Music Guide K1 WK-K1 Wikipedia K1 WK-K2 Wikipedia K2 WK-KS Wikipedia KS First posted 6/7/2011; updated 7/25/2021.