Long Distance Runaround

Last updated

"Long Distance Runaround"
Single by Yes
from the album Fragile
A-side "Roundabout"
Released
  • 26 November 1971 (UK)
  • 4 January 1972 (US)
Genre Progressive rock
Length3:30
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s) Jon Anderson
Producer(s)

"Long Distance Runaround" is a song by the progressive rock group Yes first recorded for their 1971 album, Fragile . Written by lead singer Jon Anderson, the song was released as a B-side to "Roundabout", but became a surprise hit in its own right as a staple of album-oriented rock radio. On Fragile it segues into "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)".

Contents

Yes co-founder Jon Anderson wrote the lyrics to this song while allegedly remembering his encounters with religious hypocrisy and competition he experienced in attending church regularly as a youth in northern England. "Long time / waiting to feel the sound" was a sentiment toward wanting to see a real, compassionate, non-threatening example of godliness. [1] [2]

Composition and recording

The song shifts keys between A minor and B minor and is polymetric in the verses - the drums are playing in 5/8 time against the rest of the group playing in 4/4 time.

Personnel

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yes (band)</span> English progressive rock band

Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by lead singer and frontman Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has undergone numerous line-up changes throughout their history, during which 20 musicians have been full-time members. Since February 2023, the band has consisted of guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes, bassist Billy Sherwood, singer Jon Davison, and drummer Jay Schellen. Yes have explored several musical styles over the years and are most notably regarded as progressive rock pioneers.

<i>Close to the Edge</i> 1972 studio album by Yes

Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 13 September 1972 by Atlantic Records, and is their last album of the 1970s to feature their original drummer Bill Bruford. After scoring a commercial and critical hit with Fragile and touring the album, Yes regrouped to prepare material for a follow-up, ideas for which had been put down some months before. The album's centrepiece is the 18-minute title track, with themes and lyrics inspired by the Herman Hesse novel Siddhartha. Side two contains two non-conceptual tracks, the folk-inspired "And You and I" and the comparatively straightforward rocker "Siberian Khatru". Bruford found the album particularly laborious to make, which culminated in his decision to quit the band after it was recorded, to join King Crimson.

<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 on 19 February 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>Yessongs</i> 1973 live album by Yes

Yessongs is the first live album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released as a triple album in May 1973 on Atlantic Records. After completing their Close to the Edge Tour in April 1973, the band selected live recordings between February and December 1972 on their tours supporting Fragile (1971) and Close to the Edge (1972) for a live album release. They were then edited and remixed with their producer and live sound mixer Eddy Offord. Three tracks feature original Yes drummer Bill Bruford while the remaining tracks feature his replacement, Alan White.

<i>The Ladder</i> (Yes album) 1999 studio album by Yes

The Ladder is the eighteenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released in September 1999 on Eagle Records and is their only studio album recorded with six full time members, following the addition of keyboardist Igor Khoroshev two years prior. The album originated in 1998 when the band visited Vancouver, Canada while touring their previous album, Open Your Eyes (1997). They met producer Bruce Fairbairn, who agreed to work with them on a follow-up album which was recorded at Armoury Studios. During the final recording and mixing sessions Fairbairn died unexpectedly of a heart attack, and Yes dedicated the album to him.

<i>The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection</i> 2003 box set by Yes

The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection is a compilation album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was originally released on 2 CDs on 28 July 2003 by Warner Music in the United Kingdom. A 3 CD edition with additional material, including new recordings from October 2003, was released in the US on 27 January 2004 by Rhino Records.

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

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 12 November 1971 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).

"Heart of the Sunrise" is a progressive rock song by British band Yes. It is the closing track on their fourth album, 1971's Fragile. The compositional credits go to Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, and Chris Squire, though keyboardist Rick Wakeman contributed some uncredited sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roundabout (Yes song)</span> Single by Yes

"Roundabout" is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes from their fourth studio album Fragile, released in November 1971. It was written by singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe and produced by the band and Eddy Offord. The song originated when the band were on tour and travelled from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and went through many roundabouts on the way.

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

<i>Live at Montreux 2003</i> 2007 live album by Yes

Live at Montreux 2003 is a 2007 live album and video from the English progressive rock band Yes. It is a live recording of the group's headlining concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival on 14 July 2003. The performance was filmed and is also available on DVD/Blu-ray.

<i>Symphonic Live</i> 2002 video / live album by Yes

Symphonic Live is a video and live album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on DVD and a single CD on 18 June 2002 by Eagle Vision and subsequently on two CDs and on Blu-ray by Eagle Records. The album documents the group's performance at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam on 22 November 2001 during their Yessymphonic Tour, supporting their nineteenth studio album Magnification, which also featured an orchestra. The tour featured Yes performing on stage with an orchestra; Symphonic Live features the European Festival Orchestra conducted by Wilheilm Keitel.

<i>Songs from Tsongas</i> 2005 live album by Yes

Songs from Tsongas: 35th Anniversary Concert is a live video and album by the English rock band Yes, released on DVD in 2005 and CD and Blu-ray in 2014 by Image Entertainment. It was recorded at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts on 15 May 2004 during the band's 2004 tour in celebration of their 35th anniversary. It is the band's last live album to feature original singer Jon Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make It Easy</span> 1991 single by Yes

"Make It Easy" is a 1991 song by the progressive rock band Yes. An early version of this song from 1981 was written and sung by Trevor Rabin, originally as a demo titled "Don't Give In". It was later re-worked by Yes which included Chris Squire, Alan White and Tony Kaye after Jon Anderson made his departure from the band.

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.

<i>Better Late Than Never</i> (AndersonPonty Band album) 2015 live album by AndersonPonty Band (Jon Anderson & Jean-Luc Ponty)

Better Late Than Never is a live album by the AndersonPonty Band, released in September 2015.

"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.

References

  1. "Long Distance Runaround - Yes". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  2. Steer, M. (1997). Music and Mysticism: Parts 3 and 4. Taylor & Francis. p. 23. ISBN   9780203401538 . Retrieved 12 May 2015.