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June 2002

YES

The albums Yes recorded back during the mid to late ‘90s are reexamined here on a pair of recent U.K. CD compilations. Keystudio compiles almost 80 minutes of studio tracks originally featured on both Keys To Ascension double albums released in ‘96. The Yes Keys lineup featured strong work from Rick Wakeman, who left the band again after the release of Keys 1 & 2. Essentially the ‘70s Yes lineup—with Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman—the music compiled now on Keystudio was an attempt to rekindle the prog-rock spirit of Yes following more accessible Yes records like Big Generator and Talk. From the standpoint of some Yes fans, the Yes albums that followed in the wake of Wakeman’s departure (again) were more interesting and melodic. Released as a double CD on the U.K.-based Snapper / Recall label, Yes-Today compiles Yes tracks originally found on the late ‘90s Yes classics Open Your Eyes and The Ladder. The double disc Yes-Today rounds things out with a few live tracks from the Yes Live At The House Of Blues CD. Both Keystudio and Yes-Today feature striking cover art, rare photos and on Yes-Today, some key liner notes. Whether you prefer the virtuoso prog-rock sounds of Keystudio or the melodic sounds on Yes-Today, it’s obvious that there’s plenty of great music on each of these fine Yes compilations. www.sanctuaryrecordgroup.co.uk  / www.snappermusic.com

One of the least understood albums Yes ever made, Talk was reissued in March of 2002 by NYC-based Spitfire Records. Adding in one bonus track while keeping most of the original artwork—with added ‘collector’s edition’ notation—Spitfire also added in some fitting liner notes from famed ‘70s Melody Maker scribe Chris Welch. Talk was to be the last album Yes would record (so far) with singer-songwriter-producer Trevor Rabin. Following the Yes big-band album Union, in ‘91, the core Yes nucleus of Alan White, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye and Jon Anderson regrouped with Rabin for another album in the footsteps of 1987's Big Generator. Eight years after it’s ‘94 release, Talk is still a real treat to hear—the pump up the bass volume keeping pace with Rabin’s breakneck electric guitar and Jon Anderson’s cosmic wordplay vocals. Yes would eventually regroup later in the ‘90s—this time with Steve Howe rightfully taking back his lead guitar slot—and make even better albums. But for a time back then in 1994 alot of Yes fans were quite happy to crank up the amp and blow the walls off with the splendid pop-friendly sounds of Talk. www.spitfirerecords.com

In honor of the 70th birthday of country music great Johnny Cash, Columbia / Legacy recently issued The Essential Johnny Cash—a double CD compilation that spans 36 tracks Cash recorded for both Sun Records and Columbia Records between 1955-1983. The Cash influence on late ‘50s Rockabilly and ‘60 country-rock music can’t be overstated. Spotlighting classics like "I Walk The Line" (written and first recorded by Cash in Memphis on 4/2/56), "Get Rhythm" (also from 1956), "Ring Of Fire" (recorded in Nashville on 3/25/63) and countless other Cash favorites like "A Boy Named Sue" and "Folsom Prison Blues", The Essential Johnny Cash is the perfect introduction to The Man In Black. Other collaborations with Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings and U2 (from ‘93) are also included. For Cash fans, the good news doesn’t stop here as Legacy has also recently reissued five more vintage Cash classics—all been previously unavailable on CD in the U.S. Just out on the Legacy American Milestone series are The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1958), Hymns By Johnny Cash (the first Cash album of spirituals - 1959), Ride This Train (an album of narratives and story songs - 1960), the folk influenced Orange Blossom Special (1965) and Carryin’ On With Johnny Cash & June Carter (the Jackson duets album from 1967). Each of Legacy’s American Milestone Cash reissues are packed with bonus material and recent liner notes by Cash. www.legacyrecordings.com/johnnycash 

When it comes to reissuing ‘60s music classics, Rhino Records is still the king. Their catalog reads like an encyclopedia of sound. Among the label’s recent conquests are two double disc mini-box sets from The Association and The Turtles. Rhino’s Association set is amazing, in light of the fact that—barring a decent greatest hits collection—no Association CDs have ever come out in the U.S. Just The Right Sound-The Association Anthology sounds great with 51 tracks taken from the group’s original albums on Warner Bros. Records. Beginning with their huge Summer ‘66 debut hit on Valiant Records, "Along Comes Mary", it was obvious that The Association would be one of the most ambitious and creative of all the ‘60s pop bands, and guess what?—The Association is still playing their unique blend of "Sunshine Pop" live till this very day. A wealth of information and photos are featured in the 40 page booklet. www.theoriginalassociation.com 

Another classic set of ‘60s favorites on tap from Rhino is Solid Zinc-The Turtles Anthology. For anyone under 40 who missed them the first time round, The Turtles were one of the most consistently brilliant pop bands of the ‘60s. Released as they came out way back then on White Whale Records—"Happy Together", "She’s My Girl", "She’d Rather Be With Me" (all written by Garry Bonner & Alan Gordon)—in fact, all the big hits are to be found on the 51 track double disc Solid Zinc set on Rhino. Not only did The Turtles have the double dynamo duo of Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan—a/k/a Flo & Eddie—as lead vocalists, but they also had some of the best session musicians (including founding Turtles member and lead guitarist Al Nichol) and songwriting teams in L.A. working for them. After The Turtles, Volman and Kaylon would form Flo & Eddie and team with Frank Zappa, but these great sides they recorded as The Turtles remain a mainstay on numerous oldies radio stations coast to coast. The 40 page Solid Zinc book supplies all you need to know about the fabulous Turtles. www.rhino.com