Yours Is No Disgrace

Last updated

"Yours Is No Disgrace"
Yours Is No Disgrace Italian single cover.jpg
Italian single cover, with part 1 on the A-side and part 2 on the B-side
Single by Yes
from the album The Yes Album
B-side "The Clap"
ReleasedJune 1971 [1]
Recorded1970
Studio Advision, London
Genre Progressive rock
Length9:41 (album version)
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Official audio
"Yours Is No Disgrace" (2008 Remaster) on YouTube

"Yours Is No Disgrace" is a song by English progressive rock band Yes, which first appeared as the opening song of their 1971 album The Yes Album . It was written by all five members of the band: Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford. The song has been a regular feature of Yes' live shows. [2] It has also appeared on many live and compilation albums, including Yessongs , Classic Yes and Yesstory . [3]

Contents

The opening track of The Yes Album, "Yours Is No Disgrace" lasts for nearly ten minutes. [3] According to AllMusic critic Dave Thompson, the length and complexity of "Yours Is No Disgrace" was a tester for Yes' longer songs over their next few albums, most notably "And You and I," although he says "at the time of release, however, it was unique – and, listened to in isolation today, it remains so." [3]

Yes appeared on the weekly BBC show Top of the Pops to perform the song on 1 April 1971, although only as promotion of the forthcoming album, as there was no UK single release. [4] The song was also released as a single, however, in Italy and in the Netherlands.

Lyrics

According to Edward Macan, "Yours Is No Disgrace" "is generally recognized as Yes' first antiwar song" (though "Harold Land" from their debut album deals with the subject of war). [5] Anderson has stated that the theme of the song was recognition that the kids fighting the war had no choice but to fight and that the war wasn't their fault. [6] Author Bill Martin describes "Yours Is No Disgrace" as "a remarkable and subtle song about the Vietnam War." [7] The lyrics make their point by contrasting the suffering of the soldiers in Vietnam with people partying in Las Vegas. [8] The music critic Dave Thompson praises the line "On a sailing ship to nowhere" as "[conjuring] a mental image that the music cannot help but echo." [3]

Composition

The song begins with a staccato introduction, which builds tension right away. [2] [3] The introduction's main riff was contributed by Jon Anderson, and was the subject of an argument in the band since some of the other members thought it was overly derivative of the theme music for the TV series Bonanza . [9] This is followed by Steve Howe's guitar riffs, which have been described by various critics as both joyous and menacing. [2] [3] Howe built up the guitar parts using overdubs, which was a new experience to him. [10] Howe stated that he created "a 'studioized' solo because it was made up in different sections. I became three guitarists." [10] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Ryan Reed describes Howe's playing as "a masterwork of staccato crunch, frenetic lead twang and jazz-rock sizzle." [11] Author Dave Simonelli remarks that the "jagged but simple related pattern of chords" that Howe plays are developed in a manner analogous to a symphony. [12] The Village Voice critic Robert Christgau also praises Howe's playing on the song. [13]

Howe has stated that his guitar solo on the song is one of his favourites because it was the first time he was able to overdub his parts in that manner. [6] Tony Kaye was against the idea of using any kind of synthesizers out of the studio, so Jon Anderson handled Kaye's parts on the Dewtron "Mister Bassman" bass pedal synthesizer for live performances. According to Yes biographer Chris Welch, the vocals by Anderson and Squire "exude a sense of optimism as if all past battles are finally over and nothing can now stop the band's musical odyssey." [2]

Track listing

Italy (1971)

No.TitleLength
1."Yours Is No Disgrace (pt 1)"4:45
2."Yours Is No Disgrace (pt 2)"4:50

Netherlands (1971)

No.TitleLength
1."Yours Is No Disgrace"3:15
2."The Clap"3:07

Netherlands (1972 re-issue)

No.TitleLength
1."Yours Is No Disgrace"5:40
2."Your Move"3:28
3."Sweet Dreams"3:42

Personnel

Band

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Yes Album</i> 1971 studio album by Yes

The Yes Album is the third studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released in the UK on 19 February 1971 and in the US on 19 March 1971 by Atlantic Records. It was the band's first album to feature guitarist Steve Howe, who replaced Peter Banks in 1970, as well as their last to feature keyboardist Tony Kaye until 1983's 90125.

<i>Union</i> (Yes album) 1991 studio album by Yes

Union is the thirteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 30 April 1991 by Arista Records. Production began following the amalgamation of two bands that featured previous and then-current members of Yes: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH), consisting of vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and guitarist Steve Howe, and Yes, at that time comprising bassist and vocalist Chris Squire, guitarist and vocalist Trevor Rabin, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Alan White. The eight musicians signed with Arista and a combination of unfinished tracks by both groups were selected for Union. The album's sessions were problematic from the start, including disagreements between some of the musicians regarding the "merger" of the two bands, strained relations during the recording process, and decisions by the production team of Anderson and producer Jonathan Elias to bring in session musicians to re-record parts that Wakeman and Howe had originally completed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe</span> British rock band

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH) were an English progressive rock band active from 1988 to 1990 that comprised four past members of the English progressive rock band Yes. Singer Jon Anderson left Yes as he felt increasingly constrained by their commercial and pop-oriented direction in the 1980s. He began an album with other members from the band's 1970s era: guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and drummer Bill Bruford, plus bassist Tony Levin.

<i>Classic Yes</i> 1981 compilation album by Yes

Classic Yes is the second compilation album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in December 1981 by Atlantic Records. It was released after the group had disbanded in early 1981, following their 1980 tour in support of their tenth studio album, Drama (1980). The tracks were compiled by bassist Chris Squire and the cover was designed by Roger Dean.

"Starship Trooper" is a song written by British musicians Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Chris Squire, which first appeared on Yes' 1971 album The Yes Album. The song is in three parts, "Life Seeker", "Disillusion" and "Würm". "Life Seeker" was released as a single on the B-side of the UK release of "Your Move".

<i>Fragile</i> (Yes album) 1971 studio album by Yes

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in the UK on 12 November 1971 and in the US on 4 January 1972 by Atlantic Records. It was the band's first album to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye after the group had finished touring their breakthrough record, The Yes Album (1971).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Seen All Good People</span> 1971 song by Yes

"I've Seen All Good People" is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes, written by frontman Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire and recorded on their third studio album, The Yes Album (1971). The almost 7-minute song is in two parts; the first, titled "Your Move", was released as a single in 1971 which peaked at number 40 in the US, which helped the group build momentum. The second part is entitled "All Good People".

"South Side of the Sky" is a song by progressive rock band Yes from their album Fragile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lift Me Up (Yes song)</span> 1991 single by Yes

"Lift Me Up" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes. It was the first single released from their 1991 album Union. It reached the number-one spot on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in May 1991, and stayed in this position for six weeks. It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100, their last single to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saving My Heart</span> 1991 single by Yes

"Saving My Heart" is a song by British rock band Yes, written and produced by Yes vocalist and guitarist Trevor Rabin. It was the second single released from their 1991 "reunion" album Union, following "Lift Me Up". "Saving My Heart" peaked at number nine on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Calling (song)</span> 1994 single by Yes

"The Calling" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes, from their 1994 album Talk. It was a rock radio hit for the band, reaching number 3 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<i>House of Yes: Live from House of Blues</i> 2000 live album by Yes

House of Yes: Live from House of Blues is a live album and video by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 25 September 2000 by Eagle Records in the United Kingdom and by Beyond Music in the United States. It is a recording of the band's performance at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on 31 October 1999 during their world tour supporting their eighteenth studio album The Ladder. By the time of the album's release, guitarist Billy Sherwood and keyboardist Igor Khoroshev were already out of the band, reducing Yes to a four-piece.

The Yes Album Tour was a concert tour by progressive rock band Yes. Though it began more than six months before its release, the tour was named after the band's third studio album. Lasting from 17 July 1970 until 31 July 1971, and including 170 performances, the tour began at the Lyceum in London—Steve Howe's first performance with the band—and ended at the Crystal Palace Bowl, also in London—Tony Kaye's last performance with the band before his 13-year absence.

The Fragile Tour was a concert tour by progressive rock band Yes in promotion of their 1971 album, Fragile. Lasting from 24 September 1971 until 27 March 1972, and including 115 performances, the tour began at the Queen's Hall in Barnstaple, Devon, and ended at the Aquarius Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts—Bill Bruford's last performance with the band before returning for 1991's Union. The tour was Rick Wakeman's first with the band; sources differ as to whether his first live appearance with the band was on 24 September at the Queen's Hall in Barnstaple, or on 30 September—the third tour date—at Leicester's De Montfort Hall.

The Close to the Edge Tour was a concert tour by progressive rock band Yes in promotion of their 1972 album, Close to the Edge. Lasting from 30 July 1972 until 22 April 1973, and including 97 performances, the tour began at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, and ended at the West Palm Beach Auditorium in West Palm Beach, Florida. The tour was Alan White's first with the band.

"Five Per Cent for Nothing" is an instrumental by the English progressive rock group Yes from their 1971 album Fragile. One of five tracks on the album that were meant to showcase individual members’ talents, it was composed by the band's drummer, Bill Bruford. At 35 seconds in length, it is the shortest song Yes has ever recorded and their only song credited solely to Bruford.

<i>The Steven Wilson Remixes</i> 2018 box set by Yes

The Steven Wilson Remixes is a box set by the English progressive rock band Yes. Released on 29 June 2018, it compiles remixed versions of five of the band's albums—The Yes Album (1971), Fragile (1971), Close to the Edge (1972), Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), and Relayer (1974)—overseen by Steven Wilson.

References

  1. ↑ "Yes singles".
  2. 1 2 3 4 Welch, Chris (2009). Close to the Edge: The Story of Yes. Omnibus Press. ISBN   9780857120427.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thompson, D. "Yours Is No Disgrace". Allmusic . Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Top of the Pops: S08E13 1st April 1971". thetvdb.com. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Macan, E. (2013). "Yes: Redemption Through Gnosis". In Friedman, J.C. (ed.). The Routledge History of Social Protest in Popular Music. Routledge. p.  132. ISBN   9781136447297.
  6. 1 2 Yes (1996). Yesstories: Yes In Their Own Words. MacMillan. ISBN   9780312144531.
  7. ↑ Martin, B. (1998). Listening to the Future: The Time of Progressive Rock, 1968-1978. Open Court Publishing. pp. 199–200. ISBN   9780812693683.
  8. ↑ Chambers, S. (2002). Yes: An Endless Dream of '70s, '80s and '90s Rock Music : an Unauthorized Interpretative History in Three Phases. GeneralStore. pp. 21–22. ISBN   9781894263474.
  9. ↑ Stump, Paul (1997). The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock. Quartet Books Limited. p. 103. ISBN   0-7043-8036-6.
  10. 1 2 "10 Heavy Yes Songs That Are Surprisingly Great". Society of Rock. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Reed, Ryan (18 May 2022). "The 10 Heaviest Yes Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Simonelli, D. (2012). Working Class Heroes: Rock Music and British Society in the 1960s and 1970s. Lexington Books. p. 168. ISBN   9780739170533.
  13. ↑ Christgau, R. "Yes". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 16 August 2014.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.