When I first became a Yes fan way back in the spring of 1991, there were only three official live releases from the band – Yessongs (1973), Yesshows (1980) and 9012Live – The Solos (1985). At the time, if you wanted to hear live music from the band, you either had those albums or you’d have to comb the aisles of record shows for bootlegs on cassette or CD. They were out there – I remember the first Yes bootleg I ever purchased was a double CD titled Say Yes. It was recorded at Wembley Arena on the band’s 1991 Union tour, and I damn near wore that thing out.
Things have really changed in the 30+ years since I became a fan, as there is a wide range of Yes live albums out there now, everything from multi-disc box sets commemorating the band’s 1972 North American tour and that 1991 Union tour, to shows from the recent incarnation of the band. Some of those prickly Yes fans out there complain about the glut of live releases, but since I can recall the days of being underserved when it came to live albums from my favourite band, I have zero issues when we get something new/old in that department.
Such is the case with Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 1976, a brand new release from Rhino Records that arrives this Friday, July 17. This is the first official release of an oft-bootlegged radio show in front of a capacity crowd. The album was recorded on the “Solo Albums Tour” and features the line-up of Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Alan White (drums), and Patrick Moraz (keyboards).
The sound on Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 1976 is fantastic, and I’d wager it sounds better than any bootleg that came before it. I never had this show in my collection, so hearing this on vinyl was my first experience with this performance. It’s safe to say Yes was on absolute fire – they’re playing at a quick, aggressive pace, which especially suits songs like “Siberian Khatru,” “Sound Chaser,” and the epic “Gates of Delirium.” Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 1976 also features certifiable Yes classics including “Heart of the Sunrise,” “Ritual,” and the beloved “Roundabout.”
Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 1976 marks the first time a full-length concert featuring this particular incarnation of Yes has been released, and what stands out to me, apart from the power of the band, is the playing of Patrick Moraz, who stepped into the lofty shoes of Rick Wakeman following Wakeman’s departure in 1974. To my ears, Moraz is a very different player from Wakeman, and while I appreciate his work on the songs he recorded with the band and how he delivers them live, I do find his take on the earlier work not quite right. Not in his playing, mind you, but in some of the keyboard sounds he uses – this really stood out to me in the version of “I’ve Seen All Good People.” Perhaps it’s that I’m so used to hearing Tony Kaye or Geoff Downes in the role that I haven’t quite taken to Moraz’s takes.
That’s really a minor quibble; every Yes incarnation has its value, and the 1976 version on Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 1976 is as good as any other; it’s just different. For longtime fans, the official release of this exceptional gig is good news and certainly a worthy addition to the Yes catalogue.
Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 1976 arrives this Friday in 2 CD, 3 LP, and digital versions. Folks that order from Rhino or pick up a Spirit of ’76 version from independent retailers will receive an insert with the gorgeous new album cover by Yes’ legendary cover artist, Roger Dean.
