Yes is no disgrace

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 13

Yes is no disgrace

By

NEVIN TOPP

Yes “Going For the One” (Atlantic SD19106):

“Going For the One.” the , tenth Yes album, marks -the triumphant return of Rick Wakeman to the

To some extent Wakeman has floundered on his l«wn doing various solo albums, and he appears to need the presence of other members of a group to discipline his playing. ' At the same time, this ‘album marks a creative high for Yes. It contains rfive separate compositions. and yet has unity — particularly on the best track, "Awaken.” The album opens with the title track, “Going For the One.” and what an opening it is. There is a quiet call of “one, two, three, four” and then follows some heavy rock ’n’ roll, particularly from the drumming of Alan White, over which soars the vocal of Jon Anderson. But the next song is a complete change. “Turn of the Century” shows a quiet side of Yes and especially good is the acoustic guitar work of Steve Howe. I find that this track grows in stature at tach sitting. “Parallels’ 1 is written by bass player Chris Squires.

and he comes through as strongly as he did on “Yours is No Disgrace” off “The Yes album.” Also featured on church organ is Rick Wakeman. However, the best track is a monumental work called “Awaken” lasting for more than 15 minutes. In fact, it is the type of song that Emerson, Lake, and Palmer would be likely to come up with. Beginning with a piano solo from Wakeman, it moves into a mixture of guitar and keyboard effects over an Anderson vocal. It slowly moves to a hymn-like climax featuring Wakeman again on church organ and a choir (also arranged by Wakeman). It displays the diverse talents of each member of the group, and at the same time becomes an almost instrumentally sacred work.

Al DiMeola “Elegant Gypsy” (CBS SPB 234989): Unlike Weather Report, DiMeola does not seem to be consciously chasing a crossover hit from jazz to rock, and by doing so has come up with an album that really sizzles.

A member of Chick Corea’s Return to Forever, he actually seems to be following Corea’s ideas.

Corea comes out with a double album “My Spanish Heart” which explores Spanish/Latin music, and so does DiMeola on “Elegant Gypsy.” But don’t worry, this album really stands out on its own.

“Flight Over Rio” (a Mingo Lewis composition) pits the exciting guitar of the 23-year-old DiMeola against the electric organ of Jan Hammer, while Steve Gadd thumps away on drums. Better still is “Midnight Tango.”

DiMeola seems determined to show that he is an accomplished jazz guitarist, not only on electric but acoustic as well. On “Mediterranean Sundance” he and Paco De Lucia have an acoustic solo each, while backing each other in turn. DiMeola wins out for Lucia seems to hesitate in one place — but that is not bad, for it is a difficult piece. On "Elegant Gypsy Suite” DiMeola features on six and 12 string electric guitars, and again comes up with an accomplished piece. Mingo Lewis also shines on percussion.

Narada Michael Walden “Garden of Love Light” (Atlantic SD18199): Walden was the replacement drummer for Billy Cobham in the now defunct Maha-

vishnu Orchestra which featured John McLaughlin on guitar.

However, while McLaughlin has joined Ravi Shankar in East meets West in Shakti, Walden seems to have been content with the Orchestra. Indeed, on occasions some of the songs on “Garden of Love Light” sound like they could have been taken from “Birds of Fire" or “Apocalypse.”

It is not so much the drumming of Walden but the guitar work on the album that dazzles. This applies especially to Raymond Gomez on a fastmoving track, “White Light,” which he helped compose.

The string arrangements are also sound, and one song that does stand out is “First Love.”

My biggest complaint about the album is not the music — it grows quietly but steadily on each playing — but the fact that through some oversight no cover notes are given as to who is playing what instruments.

A “Rolling Stone” review of the album says that Jeff Beck plays on one track and Devadip Carlos Santana on another, while Raymond Gomez features on four.

Cover notes do help, you know.