The Word Is Live
| The Word Is Live | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Box set by | ||||
| Released | 23 August 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 12 March 1970–19 February 1988 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 3:49:40 | |||
| Label | Rhino | |||
| Producer | Steve Woolard | |||
| Yes chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
The Word Is Live is a box set by the English
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 title is a pun on the lyric, "(and) the word is love", from their song "Time and a Word".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Then" | Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford | 31 July 1971, Crystal Palace, London | 11:45 |
| 6. | "I've Seen All Good People"
| Anderson, Squire | 31 July 1971 | 7:52 |
| 7. | "America" | Paul Simon | 31 July 1971 | 16:21 |
| 8. | "It's Love" | Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati | 31 July 1971 | 11:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Apocalypse" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Bruford | 17 August 1976, Cobo Arena, Detroit | 3:08 |
| 2. | "Siberian Khatru" | Anderson, Howe, Rick Wakeman | 17 August 1976 | 10:10 |
| 3. | "Sound Chaser" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Patrick Moraz, Alan White | 17 August 1976 | 11:17 |
| 4. | "Sweet Dreams" | Anderson, David Foster | 10 May 1975, Loftus Road Stadium, London | 6:22 |
| 5. | "Future Times/Rejoice" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White | 8 October 1978, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland | 6:59 |
| 6. | "Circus of Heaven" | Anderson | 8 October 1978 | 4:52 |
| 7. | "The Big Medley"
| Anderson, Foster, Squire | 5 October 1978, The Forum, Inglewood | 25:53 |
| 8. | "Hello Chicago" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White | 10 June 1979, International Amphitheatre, Chicago | 2:11 |
| 9. | "Roundabout" | Anderson, Howe | 10 June 1979 | 8:42 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | " Shoot High, Aim Low" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Kaye, White | 19 February 1988 | 8:27 |
| 9. | "Make It Easy / Owner of a Lonely Heart" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Horn | 19 February 1988 | 6:09 |
Personnel
- Jon Anderson – lead vocals (1.1 – 3.2, 3.6 – 3.9)
- Peter Banks – guitar, backing vocals (1.1 – 1.2)
- Bill Bruford – drums (1.1 – 1.8)
- Tony Kaye – keyboards (1.1 – 1.8, 3.6 – 3.9)
- Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals (all)
- Steve Howe– guitar, backing vocals (1.3 – 3.5)
- Rick Wakeman – keyboards (2.5 – 3.2)
- Alan White – drums (2.1 – 3.9)
- Patrick Moraz – keyboards (2.1 – 2.4)
- Geoff Downes – keyboards (3.3 – 3.5)
- Trevor Horn – lead vocals (3.3 – 3.5)
- Trevor Rabin – guitar, backing vocals (3.6 – 3.9)
References
- ^ Monger, James Christopher (2011). "The Word Is Live - Yes | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "The Word is Live - Yes".
