h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

...Pass within and soothe the endless night

[Lyrics: Yes]



So Philosopher Friend, having disappeared off the face of the Earth for four months, eluding all my attempts to track him down, appeared on our doorstep the other day. He was thin as a rake, but everything else about him was overgrown, and he looked as though he had been sleeping in a hedge; but he said he'd been staying with friends in a Snowdonian lakeside village--one I know to be inhabited by the rich avant-garde, and the rich insane--a place where the heroin flows like sugar and masterpieces are made and lives are ruined. Not that Philosopher Friend had partaken of the heroin: alcohol is his poison. He hugged me tightly. I could have wrapped my arms around him twice. He returned my sorely-missed copy of The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook (2005), and pulled a pack of CDs from the depths of his anorak: 'The Ultimate YES'.

"Have a listen to this," he said, so I put it on. Loved it. Very much my sort of thing. Considering my background, I'm amazed I've gone so long without ever hearing them. They reminded me very much of something, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Would you like to hear my funeral music?" he asked.

"Yes, go on."

He put on Disc 2, skipped forward and played me 'Soon'. A soft and uplifting song, it made me think of yellow sunlight falling through church windows; of dancing dust-motes and the echoes of empty buildings.

"Have you told anyone you want this played at your funeral?" I asked.

He shot me a sad little look.

"No," he admitted.

Next morning, he left the CDs in my care and set off on his long walk to the next night's bed.



Soon oh soon the light
Pass within and soothe the endless night
And wait here for you
Our reason to be here...

Cocaine. Not heroin.

Yes, I'm surprised you hadn't come across Yes.

I prefer the (Roger Dean) artwork to (most of) the music though. Hence B3381731 for A959952

Now, there's another funny thing. I now about Roger Dean, and even have a book containing lots of his artwork.

I had heard *of* Yes (on the Science Boards, actually), but never heard their music. Disc 1, which I assume is their early stuff, is by far my favourite.

Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe! THAT's what they reminded me of! I didn't realise they were the same people.

YES!!!!!

zdt

I can't remember what they sound like.

Terri:

Azathoth: I imagine they'd be a bit bright and cheerful for your tastes.

Hmm.

Yes here is the brand name of the Fairy liquid washing up soap...

I find that disproportionatly amusing.

I was equally delighted to find that one of Gothly's exes is a really cheap toilet cleaner.

Am i on the right thread ? YOU HAVE THE ULTIMATE YES ALBUM? as in YES? i'm bowled over,what a great album,although i have only got 2 of theirs,i know Wonderous Stories and is Going For The One,on their?..

Well, I HAD it... I've given it back now. I should have copied it, but I didn't get it together. I agree: it's a good album. I was listening to it every day for a while.

Going for the One is on that album, yes. Wondrous Stories isn't, I don't think.

You have to listen to Wonderous Stories,if you haven't already and Going For The One is a brilliant album,oh. you will love it,i promise.

I'm sure i told you of this band?

You might have done, but as I recall, you told me about... oh, blithering heck, what was the music called? It's on the tip of my brain. Might have a 'V' in it. Or an 'R'. I think the name was about three syllables long. Ends with an 'A', I think. Anyway, you told me about him.

Both those tracks are on the "Yes Highlights - The Very Best Of Yes" album.

SEF! You're alive!

Barely...

Remember the marks and spencers advert ? begins with S...one word?

Hi Sef,
the only two albums i have of Yes,is Going For The ONE and 90125...Jon Anderson really shines