The Yes Album Tour

The Yes Album Tour was a concert tour by progressive rock band Yes. Though it began more than six months before its release, the tour was named after the band's third studio album. Lasting from 17 July 1970 until 31 July 1971, and including 164 performances,^[1] the tour began at the Lyceum in London—Steve Howe's first performance with the band^[2]—and ended at the Crystal Palace Bowl, also in London—Tony Kaye's last performance with the band before his 13-year absence.^[3][4]

Overview

The tour saw the band play concerts in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, France, Italy, Canada, and the United States over three legs—a European leg, a North American leg and a single-show return to the United Kingdom.^[3] Many of the American shows were shared with Iron Butterfly. Phil Carson, then-European General Manager of Atlantic Records,^[5] decided that as Iron Butterfly could attract enough of an audience to fill the venues on their tour, it would be good exposure for Yes as he was trying to break them into the American market at the time.^[6]

Steve Howe's performance of "Clap" at the London Lyceum on 17 July 1970 was recorded and included on The Yes Album as the second track.^[7]

Reception

Writing in Melody Maker in review of the group's shows^{[nb 1]} on 31 October 1970 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Chris Welch described Howe as "stealing the show", Bruford as a "proverbial tower of strength", and Anderson as "simple but emotive".^[8]

Members

The line-up for the tour unchanged throughout its duration, and was the fifth incarnation of Yes.^[9] Steve Howe joined the band two months previously—all concerts during May and June were cancelled while the band found a replacement—and Tony Kaye was replaced by Rick Wakeman shortly after the tour ended in time for rehearsal sessions for Fragile.^[10]

• Jon Anderson — vocals, harmonium
• Steve Howe — Gibson ES-175, vocals
• Chris Squire — Rickenbacker 4001S, Fender Telecaster bass and vocals
• Tony Kaye — Hammond B3 organ, piano, Moog synthesizer
• Bill Bruford — Ludwig drums, Paiste and Zildjian cymbals

Tour dates

On various dates of the tour, Yes were supported by Black Sabbath,^[2] Uriah Heep,^[2] Supertramp,^[2] Deep Purple,^[2] Wishbone Ash,^[2] The Strawbs,^[11] Iron Butterfly,^[11] Queen,^[12] and Jethro Tull.^[12] At other performances, such as festivals, the band shared the bill with Pink Floyd^[2] and Elton John.^[4]

Beginning with the 1971 dates (when Yes began to be supported by Iron Butterfly), ticket prices were set at 10s^[11]—approximately £10 ($16 USD) in 2012.

Set list:^[11]

• "Yours Is No Disgrace" (Anderson, Squire, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford)
• "I've Seen All Good People" (Anderson, Squire)
• "Clap/Classical Gas" (Howe)
• "Perpetual Change" (Anderson, Squire)
• "It's Love" (only occasionally) (Cavaliere, Brigati)

Also included:

• "America" (Paul Simon) (originally by Simon & Garfunkel)
• "Everydays" (Stephen Stills)
• "A Bass Odyssey" (Howe, Squire)

Cancelled shows

The February 1971 shows in Paris were cancelled due to rioting.^[13] After leaving France, the band had to cancel some UK shows after their van was involved in a road collision.^[13][14]

Footnotes

References