My first audition of my Aperion system was to fire up the "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe" DVD. This is one of the many incarnations of Yes. I was absolutely floored with Wakeman's solo that I am still healing from the bruises on the bottom of my jaw when it hit the floor. I have also watched some ELP as well, but pristine footage is not so available from what I have seen.

If there are any prog fans out there, what DVDs are you watching?

-Scott

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Scottiemon

Not so much into prog rock myself, although I do dig Robert Fripp especially his albums with Brian Eno and I've started to appreciate Yes more and more in recent years. 

But I do love concert DVDs and music documentaries.  Some of my faves are:

Pink Floyd- Pulse

Pink Floyd- Live at Pompeii

Beastie Boys- Awesome, I . . . Shot That!

Festival Express (Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band)

Radiohead- Glastonbury '03

My Morning Jacket- Okonokos

Davey Gravey and I were watching my Coachella DVD the other day and there is some really good stuff on there, especially the Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Bjork performances. 

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Jason Hicks
Aperion Audio Guru

I have both of the Floyd concerts, and dig them. Pompeii holds up well, considering its about 35 years old. I do like some Beasties. I have a CD of their instrumental works. I played it once for my Mom (god rest her soul) and did not tell her who it was. She could not believe she liked a Beasties CD, and ended up getting one for herself.

Since you are getting more and more into Yes, you really should check out the DVD I mentioned above. There are a few other good Yes ones, but this one is my favorite. Most likely becuase it is the only one with Bill Bruford. Being into Fripp, thought that might appeal to you.

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Scottiemon

Scottiemon:

I have both of the Floyd concerts, and dig them. Pompeii holds up well, considering its about 35 years old. I do like some Beasties. I have a CD of their instrumental works. I played it once for my Mom (god rest her soul) and did not tell her who it was. She could not believe she liked a Beasties CD, and ended up getting one for herself.

Since you are getting more and more into Yes, you really should check out the DVD I mentioned above. There are a few other good Yes ones, but this one is my favorite. Most likely becuase it is the only one with Bill Bruford. Being into Fripp, thought that might appeal to you.

Ha, awesome that you were able to turn your mom onto the Beasties!  A lot of those instrumentals come from Check Your Head which is my favorite album by them, I think in a way they invented a whole new style of music on that one which effortlessly combined rap, punk, funk and rock.

Bruford is indeed an amazing drummer, I'm thinking I would like to check out some of Yes' studio albums first, I'm thinking Fragile and Close to the Edge would be good places to start or do you have other suggestions? 

Oh yeah and in terms of former proggers I really enjoy Peter Gabriel's Secret World Live video too. 

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Jason Hicks
Aperion Audio Guru

Fragile for sure #1. Of course it has Roundabout, one song I have had enough of, but the rest of the album is great. This one has Bruford at his best with Yes in my opinion.

Before Close to the Edge, I would give "The Yes Album" a shot. Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper are classic. This one has I've Seen All Good People as well, which is good, but a bit overplayed. However, this album is sans Wakeman. This is why I prefer the live versions of these songs, as Wakeman brings it when it comes to keys. Tony Kaye is only so-so. Once you know these songs studio style (which are great), when you see those songs performed with Wakeman, they take on a new dimension.

Then give Close to the Edge a shot. Remarkable album, but you need some patience to get through it. The title track is about 20 minutes and is an epic.

EDIT: Even better option, get Yessongs (Live recording). The CD, not the DVD. The DVD quality is bad, very bad.

Then, get the Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe DVD I recommended.

This is all assuming that you enjoy #1 enough to try #2, and then #3. Yes is not for everybody. They are indeed in my top 5, and is the band I have seen live the most.

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Scottiemon

I saw Yes in concert a long long long time ago.  I believe it was in Indianapolis.  If I remember right (highly suspect that) they had a round stage sitting right in the center of the whatever big building it was in, and I think it actually turned around and around.  I do have a single Yes cd, 90125.  Honestly I never was a huge fan but I did like the punchy sound on that album.  I might just listen to it tonight on the new speakers!

Cheers

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Russ

Joined you!

You do remember correctly, I am sure. Yes was always known for doing their concerts "In the round". Check back and let me know how you like your Yes on the Aperions. I would love to see you get a little deeper into Yes, as 90125 is not their classic lineup. I do have it, and enjoy it. It is just not what I would define as "Yes" as most fans know them.

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Scottiemon

Scottiemon:

You do remember correctly, I am sure. Yes was always known for doing their concerts "In the round". Check back and let me know how you like your Yes on the Aperions. I would love to see you get a little deeper into Yes, as 90125 is not their classic lineup. I do have it, and enjoy it. It is just not what I would define as "Yes" as most fans know them.

I am trying to remember when the concert was, it might of been 74 (my American Graffiti summer) but not later than 79 I am sure.  I have gone to many concerts in my day.  Now I prefer more intimate music venues.

Cheers

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Russ

Joined you!

Scottiemon:

Fragile for sure #1. Of course it has Roundabout, one song I have had enough of, but the rest of the album is great. This one has Bruford at his best with Yes in my opinion.

Before Close to the Edge, I would give "The Yes Album" a shot. Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper are classic. This one has I've Seen All Good People as well, which is good, but a bit overplayed. However, this album is sans Wakeman. This is why I prefer the live versions of these songs, as Wakeman brings it when it comes to keys. Tony Kaye is only so-so. Once you know these songs studio style (which are great), when you see those songs performed with Wakeman, they take on a new dimension.

Then give Close to the Edge a shot. Remarkable album, but you need some patience to get through it. The title track is about 20 minutes and is an epic.

EDIT: Even better option, get Yessongs (Live recording). The CD, not the DVD. The DVD quality is bad, very bad.

Then, get the Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe DVD I recommended.

This is all assuming that you enjoy #1 enough to try #2, and then #3. Yes is not for everybody. They are indeed in my top 5, and is the band I have seen live the most.

 

Cool, thanks for the suggestions.

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Jason Hicks
Aperion Audio Guru

Might offend some of you true music aficionados by buying "Best Of" albums, but I recently added "Ultimate Yes" to my collection.  Wasn't willing to buy all of the CD's individually so this seemed to be a good solution for me.   Found some great deals on Amazon for used and new CD's so I also added Essential Bruce Springsteen. 40 Licks Rolling Stones and Echoes Pink Floyd.  I have LP's in my garage from these bands but doubt they are in very good condition given how they were used back in the day.  Of these four, Yes sounds best on my Aperions in  terms of sound quality.

Mike

 

If you're still listening:

Best New CD: 

Muse "Haarp"

Best DVD's (not necessarily Prog):

Pink Floyd "Pulse"....of course

Alison Krause + US:  "Live"...haven't found anything better musically.  It still delivers the best audio I've heard.

Few more:   AC/DC live a Donnington (sp), Eagles down under (Farewell tour).

 

 

 

Prog Rock...that's a big category.

 You really need to check out Porcupine Tree, the latest CD Fear of a Blank Planet would be a good start...

A sad day for all Prog Rock fans....Rick Wright, keyboardist and founding member of Pink Floyd has passed away.

Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands. I was so hoping for a reunion :(

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Scottiemon

Wow, that is a bummer, didn't see that coming.

Looks like Live 8 is all we will ever get as far as a true Floyd reunion. 

RIP. 

Edit:  The lyrics to the beautiful Wright composition "Remember a Day" from Saucerful of Secrets are a fitting tribute:

"Remember A Day"

Remember a day before today
A day when you were young.
Free to play alone with time
Evening never came.
Sing a song that can't be sung
Without the morning's kiss
Queen - you shall be it if you wish
Look for your king
Why can't we play today
Why can't we stay that way
Climb your favorite apple tree
Try to catch the sun
Hide from your little brother's gun
Dream yourself away
Why can't we reach the sun
Why can't we blow the years away
Blow away
Blow away
Remember
Remember

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Jason Hicks
Aperion Audio Guru

Nice tribute to Rick indeed. Thanks Jason!

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Scottiemon