I'd like to give a shoutout to the new Instagram fan account rockrabbitt_ which aims to curate as many images of Rabbitt for fans to enjoy as they can find and their first posting is courtesy of fellow Rabid Rabinite Judy Davis, from a photo session which produced various images used in that period, and I've included a few others below. So follow them on Instagram if, like me, you think Rabbitt Rules, OK!
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
A Guide to Field Recordings: (nice organ)
Uploaded last week on the Yes Source YouTube channel was this recording from Trevor's club tour to support Can't Look Away, featuring the segue into "Promises" which took the form of an instrumental version of Trevor's song "You Know Something I Don't Know" (aka "Carry On") but as most long-time fans know the tour took place in the fall of 1989, rather than 1990 as appears in the video's description.
I've compared this to the bootlegs I have in my collection and determined that it is likely from the November 29th performance at Toronto's Diamond Club, as that is one of the ROIOs which was in circulation years ago (and the intro is the same, but then again Trevor's stage patter was pretty much the same every night as far as I can tell). Trevor introduces his keyboard player and Mark Mancina lets loose with a great Hammond lead. As I've previously noted, the solo spots were edited out of the Los Angeles performance which was recorded for the eventual Live In L.A. album release, save for 30 seconds of Lou's drum solo in "Sludge."
As for the song itself, there is an existing version which has also been in fandom circulation for a number of years and it has been uploaded on the Yes Source channel along with all the other demos and associated recordings of that era. I'm not certain how much documentation exists regarding the sources, but I suspect this is from of one of the many Cinema work sessions to develop the material brought into the collaboration by all involved, as it features a run-through with the band (who are amusing themselves during their rendition). This version does have vocals, though the somewhat poor quality of the recording means it's difficult to make them out. I would assume this is one of the songs Trevor composed sometime after the advent of his solo career.
I've compared this to the bootlegs I have in my collection and determined that it is likely from the November 29th performance at Toronto's Diamond Club, as that is one of the ROIOs which was in circulation years ago (and the intro is the same, but then again Trevor's stage patter was pretty much the same every night as far as I can tell). Trevor introduces his keyboard player and Mark Mancina lets loose with a great Hammond lead. As I've previously noted, the solo spots were edited out of the Los Angeles performance which was recorded for the eventual Live In L.A. album release, save for 30 seconds of Lou's drum solo in "Sludge."
As for the song itself, there is an existing version which has also been in fandom circulation for a number of years and it has been uploaded on the Yes Source channel along with all the other demos and associated recordings of that era. I'm not certain how much documentation exists regarding the sources, but I suspect this is from of one of the many Cinema work sessions to develop the material brought into the collaboration by all involved, as it features a run-through with the band (who are amusing themselves during their rendition). This version does have vocals, though the somewhat poor quality of the recording means it's difficult to make them out. I would assume this is one of the songs Trevor composed sometime after the advent of his solo career.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
#tbt: generating a BIG groove
This past Saturday The Groovy Archives tumblr posted a scan in honor of Trevor's birthday from when Chris and Trevor were the cover story for the September 1987 issue of Guitar World, and Neal Preston's accompanying photos are now-iconic images of the Epic Bromance so I think it's a perfect time to appreciate this particular moment in the spotlight.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Collector's Corner: back catalog deja-vu
With thanks to Yesfans member pat 2 for the heads up - about a month ago, Friday Music announced via their Facebook page that they would be releasing an expanded/remastered version of 9012Live: The Solos on March 9th, and it is available for preorder on their website and other distribution channels.
https://fridaymusic.com/collections/pre-order/products/yes-90125-live-the-solos-expanded-original-recording-remastered-limited-edition
This isn't even the first time Friday Music has reissued this title - as their first release of the expanded version was back in 2011 (which is where part of the above advertising copy comes from). So it's difficult to say if it's just a repressing or a completely new remastering. And there's also a version with the same content reissued last year in Japan through Warner Music Group, which is from its' original release in 2009. So I would assume this is part of the 50th Anniversary observance, or perhaps a way to exploit the greater value of Yes' overall profile of late. If you don't already have this version of the album in your collection, then at least it's a reasonably-priced option to finally obtain it.
https://fridaymusic.com/collections/pre-order/products/yes-90125-live-the-solos-expanded-original-recording-remastered-limited-edition
After the amazing success of the mega platinum 90125, Yes embarked on a grand world tour in 1984. The tour was a stunning smash and luckily tape was rolling as they captured each member in their own cosmic and artistic space. It is with great pleasure to announce the first time North American compact disc release of 9012Live: The Solos (Expanded). For this exclusive CD release, there are two bonus live performances not available on the long out of print album, "City Of Love" and "It Can Happen," as well as original artwork and more great music from Yes: Anderson, Squire, White, Kaye and Rabin.However, this expanded version is nothing truly new.
This isn't even the first time Friday Music has reissued this title - as their first release of the expanded version was back in 2011 (which is where part of the above advertising copy comes from). So it's difficult to say if it's just a repressing or a completely new remastering. And there's also a version with the same content reissued last year in Japan through Warner Music Group, which is from its' original release in 2009. So I would assume this is part of the 50th Anniversary observance, or perhaps a way to exploit the greater value of Yes' overall profile of late. If you don't already have this version of the album in your collection, then at least it's a reasonably-priced option to finally obtain it.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Media Watch: history at a glance
Uploaded last Friday, this video from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's official channel combines a number of archival sources as well as footage from the Induction Ceremony to provide a (brief) historical overview of the evolution of Yes.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
...when he's 64
Joining all family, friends and fellow fans in wishing the Maestro the happiest of birthdays today! And I know we all wish for Trevor another year of good health and happiness and creativity in whatever way he chooses to express it. We're all looking forward to whatever this year may bring for our favorite musician.
Here's to even more musical adventures and lots of fun...whaddya say, Trev - sound good to you?
(photo: Janice Michelle Konigsberg)
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Spot the Poms, part three
Carrying on into 2018 with his musical mission of backing up the best, here we see Lee with Take That's Gary Barlow and musical director Mike Stevens at London's Battersea Evolution for the Swing Low Dinner charity event last night where Take That was the featured musical entertainment.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
The Secret Discography: totally sax-y
One of a series which examines Trevor’s musical career in South Africa.
With thanks to the YouTube channel afrosunny (which curates vintage recordings from Africa of various genres) for recently uploading this lost classic (in great quality)...
1976 was a busy year for Our Trev and The Bull and The Lion is one of various releases featuring Trevor, Ronnie and Neil serving as a backing band for jazz musicians on fusion-minded recordings. Back in 2009 the African music blog ElectricJive published an entry on this album:
http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2009/08/rabbit-meet-bull-and-lion-at-jungle.html
...and I thank the blog's creators for bringing it to my attention then, as it was my first experience hearing Trevor play true fusion from back in the day.
(ElectricJive is a wonderful source for learning more about South African music during the Apartheid era and I highly recommend checking out the blog if you're interested.)
Although the credits don't state it specifically, I believe Trevor is also playing all the keyboards on this album, which beautifully showcases the saxophone talents of Ratau Mike Makhalemele and Winston Mankunku Ngozi with production by Patric van Blerk. The boys backed up Mike on his album of Beatles' covers entitled Mind Games, also recorded in 1976 - among other projects of the time, such as the funk-jazz ensemble You And Me which featured Mike with Trevor and Neil.
With thanks to the YouTube channel afrosunny (which curates vintage recordings from Africa of various genres) for recently uploading this lost classic (in great quality)...
1976 was a busy year for Our Trev and The Bull and The Lion is one of various releases featuring Trevor, Ronnie and Neil serving as a backing band for jazz musicians on fusion-minded recordings. Back in 2009 the African music blog ElectricJive published an entry on this album:
http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2009/08/rabbit-meet-bull-and-lion-at-jungle.html
...and I thank the blog's creators for bringing it to my attention then, as it was my first experience hearing Trevor play true fusion from back in the day.
(ElectricJive is a wonderful source for learning more about South African music during the Apartheid era and I highly recommend checking out the blog if you're interested.)
Although the credits don't state it specifically, I believe Trevor is also playing all the keyboards on this album, which beautifully showcases the saxophone talents of Ratau Mike Makhalemele and Winston Mankunku Ngozi with production by Patric van Blerk. The boys backed up Mike on his album of Beatles' covers entitled Mind Games, also recorded in 1976 - among other projects of the time, such as the funk-jazz ensemble You And Me which featured Mike with Trevor and Neil.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Media Watch: in (many) a word
The Rock Show program on UK-based station GTFM aired a three-hour documentary last week entitled The Story of Yes...In Times and Words which features a collection of interview segments and music covering the entire timeline of the band's history, with the YesWest portion making its' first appearance around the 1:44 mark.
The show is available for listening via this link:
https://gtfmrockshow.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/the-story-of-yes-in-times-and-words/
The show is available for listening via this link:
https://gtfmrockshow.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/the-story-of-yes-in-times-and-words/
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Media Watch: todo bien
A very Happy New Year to everyone! Here's to many good things coming up in 2018.
With massive thanks to Gaby (her tumblr blog is noted below) for sharing this piece of Yesstory, from the South American tour of 1985 - which as we know was both historically significant (playing to the largest crowd of their career at the Rock In Rio festival) and rather dangerous (being the first UK-affiliated band to play in Argentina after the Falklands War of 1982 meant that security was heightened and bomb threats caused three of the dates to be cancelled). There is a mention of the associated drama from assistant tour manager Mickey Heyes on the back cover of the 9012Live: The Solos release. This interview segment is hilariously adorable!
A couple years back Argentinian DJ Guille Petruccelli posted a photo from that same day on his Twitter account and it's the undeniable magic of Trevor which can make this kind of shirt look fabulous.
With massive thanks to Gaby (her tumblr blog is noted below) for sharing this piece of Yesstory, from the South American tour of 1985 - which as we know was both historically significant (playing to the largest crowd of their career at the Rock In Rio festival) and rather dangerous (being the first UK-affiliated band to play in Argentina after the Falklands War of 1982 meant that security was heightened and bomb threats caused three of the dates to be cancelled). There is a mention of the associated drama from assistant tour manager Mickey Heyes on the back cover of the 9012Live: The Solos release. This interview segment is hilariously adorable!
A couple years back Argentinian DJ Guille Petruccelli posted a photo from that same day on his Twitter account and it's the undeniable magic of Trevor which can make this kind of shirt look fabulous.
Murio Chris Squire, el bajista de Yes, alli estuve,Velez 1985 comparto este recuerdo con el guitarrista Trevor Rabin. pic.twitter.com/0XjZ7zyhiQ— Guille Petruccelli (@GuiPetruccelli) June 29, 2015
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