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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
The Word is Live is a box set by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in August 2005 by Rhino Records. A triple album, the set is compiled of live recordings from radio broadcasts and concert tours between 1970 and 1988, mostly from guitarist Steve Howe's tape collection.
Background
Many of the tracks were originally broadcast on radio shows and have been bootlegged extensively. In these, it is often the case that the radio show's final mix was the only mix available so few improvements in quality could be done for the release. While a few of the recordings (mostly those from the 1980 tour) do feature a less-than-polished quality to them, The Word is Live is still considered a fine document of Yes in a concert setting.
The box set also comes with a 52-page book containing images and stories by Yes fans and praising retroperspectives from artists such as John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Geddy Lee of Rush. The opening for the book was written by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
The set includes several pieces not originally released as studio recordings by Yes, including "It's Love", an extended cover of a song by The Young Rascals, and "Go Through This" and "We Can Fly from Here" from the tour to support Drama, but which were not released on that album. The latter would eventually be reworked and released thirty-one years later in the album Fly from Here.
The title is a pun on the lyric, "(and) the word is love", from their song "Time and a Word".
Track listing
Disc one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Then" | Jon Anderson | 12 March 1970 on John Peel's Sunday Show | 5:25 |
| 2. | "For Everyone" | Anderson, Chris Squire | 12 March 1970 | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Astral Traveller" | Anderson | 24 January 1971 at Konserthuset, Gothenburg | 7:24 |
| 4. | "Everydays" | Stephen Stills | 24 January 1971 | 11:01 |
| 5. | "Yours Is No Disgrace" | Anderson, Squire, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford | 31 July 1971 at Crystal Palace, London | 11:45 |
| 6. | "I've Seen All Good People"
| Anderson, Squire | 31 July 1971 | 7:52 |
| 7. | "America" | Paul Simon | 31 July 1971 | 16:21 |
| 8. | "It's Love" | Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati | 31 July 1971 | 11:07 |
Disc two
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Apocalypse" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Bruford | 1976, Detroit | 3:08 |
| 2. | "Siberian Khatru" | Anderson, Howe, Rick Wakeman | 1976, Detroit | 10:10 |
| 3. | "Sound Chaser" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Patrick Moraz, Alan White | 1976, Detroit | 11:17 |
| 4. | "Sweet Dreams" | Anderson, David Foster | 1975, London | 6:22 |
| 5. | "Future Times/Rejoice" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White | 1978, Oakland | 6:59 |
| 6. | "Circus of Heaven" | Anderson | 1978, Oakland | 4:52 |
| 7. | "The Big Medley
| Anderson, Foster, Squire | 1978, Inglewood | 25:53 |
| 8. | "Hello Chicago" | Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White | 1979, Chicago | 2:11 |
| 9. | "Roundabout" | Anderson, Howe | 1979, Chicago | 8:42 |
Disc three
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Heart of the Sunrise" | Anderson, Squire, Bruford | 1978, Oakland | 10:56 |
| 2. | "Awaken" | Anderson, Howe | 1979, Chicago | 17:53 |
| 3. | "Go Through This" | Steve Howe | 1980, New York City | 4:21 |
| 4. | "We Can Fly from Here" | Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn | 1980, New York City | 6:46 |
| 5. | "Tempus Fugit" | Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, White | 1980, New York City | 5:53 |
| 6. | "Rhythm of Love" | Anderson, Squire, Trevor Rabin, Kaye | 1988, Houston | 6:42 |
| 7. | "Hold On" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin | 1988, Houston | 7:24 |
| 8. | "Shoot High, Aim Low" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Kaye, White | 1988, Houston | 8:27 |
| 9. | "Make It Easy/Owner of a Lonely Heart" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Horn | 1988, Houston | 6:09 |
Personnel
- Jon Anderson – lead vocals (1.1 – 3.2, 3.6 – 3.9)
- Peter Banks – guitar, backing vocals (1.1 – 1.2)
- Bill Bruford – drums (1.1 – 1.8)
- Tony Kaye – keyboards (1.1 – 1.8, 3.6 – 3.9)
- Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals (all)
- Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals (1.3 – 3.5)
- Rick Wakeman – keyboards (2.5 – 3.2)
- Alan White – drums (2.1 – 3.9)
- Patrick Moraz – keyboards (2.1 – 2.4)
- Geoff Downes – keyboards (3.3 – 3.5)
- Trevor Horn – lead vocals (3.3 – 3.5)
- Trevor Rabin – guitar, backing vocals (3.6 – 3.9)
References
- ^ Monger, James Christopher (2011). "The Word Is Live - Yes | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2011.