The Word Is Live
Box set by
Released23 August 2005
Recorded12 March 1970–19 February 1988
GenreProgressive rock
Length3:49:40
LabelRhino
ProducerSteve Woolard
Yes chronology
Songs from Tsongas
(2005)
The Word Is Live
(2005)
Essentially Yes
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Word Is Live is a box set by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in August 2005 by Rhino Records. A triple album, the set is compiled of live recordings from radio broadcasts and concert tours between 1970 and 1988, mostly from guitarist Steve Howe's tape collection.[2]

Background

Many of the tracks were originally broadcast on radio shows and have been bootlegged extensively. In these, it is often the case that the radio show's final mix was the only mix available so few improvements in quality could be done for the release. While a few of the recordings (mostly those from the 1980 tour) do feature a less-than-polished quality to them, The Word Is Live is still considered a fine document of Yes in a concert setting.

The box set also comes with a 52-page book containing images and stories by Yes fans and praising retroperspectives from artists such as John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Geddy Lee of Rush. The opening for the book was written by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The set includes several pieces not originally released as studio recordings by Yes, including "It's Love", an extended cover of a song by The Young Rascals, and "Go Through This" and "We Can Fly from Here" from the tour to support Drama, but which were not released on that album. The latter would eventually be reworked and released thirty-one years later in the album Fly from Here.

The title is a pun on the lyric, "(and) the word is love", from their song "Time and a Word".

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording date and locationLength
1."Then"Jon Anderson12 March 1970 on John Peel's Sunday Show5:25
2."For Everyone"Anderson, Chris Squire12 March 19704:44
3."Astral Traveller"Anderson24 January 1971 at Konserthuset, Gothenburg7:24
4."Everydays"Stephen Stills24 January 197111:01
5."Yours Is No Disgrace"Anderson, Squire, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford31 July 1971 at Crystal Palace, London11:45
6."I've Seen All Good People"
  • a. "Your Move"
  • b. "All Good People"
Anderson, Squire31 July 19717:52
7."America"Paul Simon31 July 197116:21
8."It's Love"Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati31 July 197111:07
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording date and locationLength
1."Apocalypse"Anderson, Squire, Howe, BrufordAugust 1976, Cobo Arena, Detroit3:08
2."Siberian Khatru"Anderson, Howe, Rick WakemanAugust 1976, Cobo Arena, Detroit10:10
3."Sound Chaser"Anderson, Squire, Howe, Patrick Moraz, Alan WhiteAugust 1976, Cobo Arena, Detroit11:17
4."Sweet Dreams"Anderson, David Foster10 May 1975, Loftus Road Stadium, London6:22
5."Future Times/Rejoice"Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, WhiteOctober 1978, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland6:59
6."Circus of Heaven"AndersonOctober 1978, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland4:52
7."The Big Medley" Anderson, Foster, SquireOctober 1978, The Forum, Inglewood25:53
8."Hello Chicago"Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, WhiteJune 1979, International Amphitheatre, Chicago2:11
9."Roundabout"Anderson, HoweJune 1979, International Amphitheatre, Chicago8:42
Disc three
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording date and locationLength
1."Heart of the Sunrise"Anderson, Squire, BrufordOctober 1978, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland10:56
2."Awaken"Anderson, HoweJune 1979, International Amphitheatre, Chicago17:53
3."Go Through This"Steve HoweSeptember 1980, Madison Square Gardens, New York City4:21
4."We Can Fly from Here"Geoff Downes, Trevor HornSeptember 1980, Madison Square Gardens, New York City6:46
5."Tempus Fugit"Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, WhiteSeptember 1980, Madison Square Gardens, New York City5:53
6."Rhythm of Love"Anderson, Squire, Trevor Rabin, Kaye19 February 1988, The Summit, Houston6:42
7."Hold On"Anderson, Squire, Rabin19 February 1988, The Summit, Houston7:24
8."Shoot High, Aim Low"Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Kaye, White19 February 1988, The Summit, Houston8:27
9."Make It Easy / Owner of a Lonely Heart"Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Horn19 February 1988, The Summit, Houston6:09

Personnel

References

  1. Monger, James Christopher (2011). "The Word Is Live - Yes | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  2. "The Word is Live - Yes".
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