Yes remasters/ HDCD

I must disagree with you Ben campbell and slipknot1; the definitive Yes album is Yessongs. If there is a better live rock/fusion album ever recorded, I want to hear it, IMHO. It is the one I've listened to again and again over the years and am still in awe. I've owned it on album, cassette, and CD. Anderson, Howe, Wakeman and Squire at their best! To accomplish what they did playing Live! is remarkable. If you don't fully appreciate it as quintessential Yes you may want to listen again. Yours Is No Disgrace, Siberian Khatru, Perpetual Change, Close to the Edge, Starship Trooper.... IMO the tracks on this album are far and away better than the studio versions. (which is almost unheard of for most bands) I don't have an SACD player nor does my player have HDCD; I do have Yessongs CD remaster. I would love to hear it at a higher level of sound quality. The real test of any band is how they perform live as opposed to the studio where the music can be tailored and tweaked. The recordings chosen from the Yessongs tour and put on the album were that rarity when everything came together for the group to produce mastered artistry and magic. Their other live albums don't even come close. IMHO this is their shining star.

4yanx
Thanks for the post and the link. As a Yes fan since 1972, I have infrequently looked for new media over the years. I have a few of their remastered cd's. I think I visisted the discography site years ago, but this is a reminder for me to get back to it. By the way, in my previous post I failed to mention Yes' masterful drummer Alan White.

Jsugo:
I am right on board with what you say about Yessongs. Steve Howe was tremendous. I have always thought he was the greatest rock guitarist ever. I've always said that this groups's version of Yes is the only true Yes and they were all masters of their insturments. And, Jon Anderson was a master of rock vocals in his truly unique way. But your're right, Yours is No Digrace, the end ofStarship Trooper and Perpetual Change in my mind were the greatest rock guitar work of all time. What gets me is that I've never really heard that point of view expressed by anyone else. I have always been in awe of all the work on that album. I started out as a soul ryhthm and blues fan, then came rock and I am now a jazz fan. But I'm always loyal to Yes. I occasionally pull out my remastered Yessongs. Unfortunately, as great as they were, they were never again to record work that equaled what they did on Yessongs. Very good work was recorded, but greatness in my mind was only acheived by them on Yessongs. For me as a new audiophile still building a system, I want to get to the point where I can put on Yessongs and have the sound be so awesome that I am transported back to 1972 and the arenas where they performed the music. If there are better formats out there other than the remastered disc I have then I am going to get them. I've got a Simaudio Nova on the way too! Yessongs is not particularly strong in the low end and that's something I've always wanted to hear.

I saw them in 74 in Cleveland at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and then on a recent tour in Columbus Ohio. While the concert had some enjoyable moments that reminded me of the glory days of the 70's I was left disappointed. Jsugo you said it best; it is a different band. Wow, did Steve Howe look frail! But, his playing was masterful. The group lacked the magic of the past, but it was worth it. I would go to see them if they came to Columbus again.