Yes - Live in Philadelphia

Amazon.com

Recorded on videotape at the Philadelphia Spectrum on June 21, 1979, this truncated Yes concert (running a mere 51 minutes, or roughly half the concert's actual length) finds the band during the summer leg of their "In the Round" tour, which was the last to feature the band's "classic" lineup of vocalist Jon Anderson, guitar wizard Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Alan White, and keyboardist Rick Wakeman. This is a valuable recording for Yes fans (yours truly saw the Seattle concert of this tour just a month before this Philly gig), but the image quality is definitely sub-standard and the sound mix is barely a notch above awful. Camera access was obviously limited, so the visuals grow rather tedious by the time the DVD reaches the fourth-track performance of "Starship Trooper," and one can only wonder why Alan White's synthesized drum solo was included at the expense of another full-length song. Fortunately this was a good night for the band, and as usual Steve Howe provides an amazing performance on his array of Gibson and Fender guitars. Of course, it all winds up with a closing performance of "Roundabout," and anyone who witnessed the '79 tour will be glad that this DVD--regardless of its marginal quality--was made available. All others may wish to stick to the higher fidelity of Yes's great music on CD. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Live in Philadelphia clearly illustrates the power of Yes music. Recorded in 1979, this concert vivdly chronicles the band's middle era, showing the fragile balance of individual personality, visionary writing, telepathic interaction and brilliant instrumentation that define the timeless music of Yes. Songs: Siberian Khatru, Circus of Heaven, Starship Trooper, The Ancient [excerpt], Your Move/I've Seen All Good People, Roundabout.

Customer Reviews:

Not even worth renting.......2007-01-11

I have bootlegs that sound vastly better. As for the video footage, there is not one frame which is sharp and in focus. The only thing worse is the asinine commentary by journalist Chris Welch, who has nothing to say, and says it for the mercifully short duration of this disc. It's just possible that he was attempting deadpan ironic satire in the manner of This Is Spinal Tap, but the balance of probabilities is against it. I have rated this as a single star because Amazon will not allow me to give it none at all.

Don't listen to the negative reviews .......2006-12-28

A very good representation of Yes in 1979. Sound isn't great but the picture is really good. Loses one star because of sound and it is too short.
Other songs performed that night but not on the DVD:
Heart Of The Sunrise
Future Times/Rejoice
Time And A Word/Long Distance Runaround/Survival/The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)/Perpetual Change/Soon
Clap
Arriving UFO
Tour Song
And You And I
Awaken

I'm sure they were filmed also, were are they???

Woeful sound.......2006-04-14

Why 5.1 sound on an audiance recording ?
The performance is not bad however to fully enjoy Yes you need quality sound and this DVD has none.

Don't waste your money on this DVD.

The Bad and the Ugly.......2006-02-25

Awful....poor recording...poor concert...uninspired...razor deep...the worst thing to come out of Philadelphia since those choking Eagles...for Danschamdroza and the like...shame on the company that produced and sold this ...prog robbers.

Avoid unless you have a really good reason to buy.......2006-02-25

I was at this show, but my memory of it is a little "foggy". So I had a reason to buy the DVD.

Unless you have a similar excuse - or are a diehard fan - avoid this DVD. All the other comments about sound and video quality are absolutely true - only half a notch above a boot.

It only gets 3 stars for it's historical interest.

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