Featuring a pair of 2003 European concerts from Birmingham, England and the Glastonbury Festival, Yes: The New Director's Cut features the classic Yes lineup of singer Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White during their 35th anniversary world tour. Prog rock fans will enjoy the 16-track set (with a couple medleys), which includes such timeless Yes tunes as “And You and I,” “I've Seen All Good People,” “Heart of the Sunrise,” “Roundabout,” “Long Distance Runaround,” “South Side of the Sky,” and “Siberian Khatru,” as well as a handful of lesser-played tunes, including the 19-minute “Awaken” (off 1977's Going for the One) and “Don't Kill the Whale” (from 1978's Tormato). In addition, the band plays “In the Presence Of” and the title cut from 2001's Magnification. The Yes men also get a chance to shine in solo spots, with Wakeman serving up a couple abridged tunes from his own The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Howe doing a wonderful rendition of “To Be Over” and his staple “The Clap,” and Squire and White jamming on “The Fish” (with bits from songs off Tormato and 1980's Drama tossed in). The companion Glastonbury concert offers a 10-song truncated version of the Birmingham performance. Unfortunately, the “director's cut” of the Birmingham set features numerous in-between-song interviews with band members and crew, as well as behind-the-scenes footage (often interesting, but nevertheless interruptions of the music). Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and stereo, this is not as impressive a presentation (visually or musically) as Yes 35th Anniversary Concert: Songs from Tsongas (VL-11/05) or Yes Symphonic Live (VL-9/02), but will still definitely appeal to fans. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Yes: The New Director's Cut
(2003) 2 discs. 256 min. DVD: $19.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 6
Yes: The New Director's Cut
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