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Bill Wolford
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Posted: October 26, 2014 at 4:06pm
Taken from the BBC show "Sounding Out", Yes - Live at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion October, 3rd 1971 is an exercise in contrasts. First of all this should be a budget priced item. At only twenty-three minutes long and no extras, the distributor is banking on the fact that this is rare material to get people to shell out the money for it. Established, long time fans who have most everything that the band has put out will probably pay the price. Those who are newer to the band, and coming to the video side of things for the first time, will undoubtedly look elsewhere to find a better bargain.
This DVD package is just about as well thought out and made as it can be for what it is. Inside the case is a semi replica tour program that talks about each of the band members, and even has a page dedicated to the opening act. It's a pretty nice twelve-page booklet with plenty of pictures. The DVD case is clear, and when you open it up, there are even more pictures of the group in concert, and interviews. There are some stills, obviously taken from the television show. The program is in full frame, and it would have been nice if it had mentioned somewhere on the outside of the case that this was from a BBC half-hour special with partial performances and interviews. I would feel like I was getting ripped off, expecting a concert. The only thing that hints to something unusual is the twenty-three minute run time on the back of the package. Fans know that some of the bands songs are longer than this whole program and would probably wonder what was up. Here is the setlist for the (partial) performances:
1. Introduction
2. Long Distance Runaround Pt. 1
3. I've Seen All Good People
4. Perpetual Change
5. The Fish/Stage Setup
6. Long Distance Runaround Pt. 2
7. Heart Of The Sunrise
8. Long Distance Runaround Pt. 3
9. Mood For A Day
10. Yours Is No Disgrace
Still, we're talking about 43 year old footage here, and it's not in bad shape either. It's fun to see the simple setup of a rock band in the early 70's. Kids today would have a heart attack trying to watch this without the million dollar laser show, dozens of barely dressed dancers, and auto-tune on all the vocals. That's what makes this a little piece of history, a little time capsule that shows that true musicianship was the way to make a living. That talent counted more than an expensive light show for entertainment. This is also the simple reason why the band are still around to this day - almost fifty years on, they're still making music that's worth hearing. 6/10.
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George Snow
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Posted: October 28, 2014 at 10:57pm
I saw them at Madison Square Garden in the late 70s or early 80s. Great musicians.
ELP is still my favorite prog-rock band. Saw them in 78 on their Works tour.
I love punk rock. Been a fan since The NY Dolls. It's a shame how these prof rock bands with magnificent musicians have been forgotten and passed over by most everyone, and lesser musicians are praised for their lack of musicianship. Don't get me wrong, Punk rock is my favorite form of music. But, as far as musicianship goes prog rockmusicians are the best.
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