Roundabout

Lockdown 3.0 and I thought I'd write pieces about bits of music that inspire me and that others might enjoy as we all muddle along together.

"Roundabout" first appeared on the Yes album "Fragile" and was released in 1971. That was the second album they released that year ,Taylor Swift isn't unique! They also toured extensively as well, they had no lock down! The song soon became a firm fan favourite and has become the last song they play as an encore. If they haven't played Roundabout, they haven't finished! It was one of two songs they performed when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the other was "Owner of a Lonely Heart").

While there have been many many versions of the band (including a couple of time when there has been 2 versions touring at the same time!), the musicians on this song (and album) were what became known as the "classic" line up. Led by singer/lyricist Jon Anderson, who sings like an angel but whose lyrics made little sense, "purple headed wolfhounds" being an example, (but there are many others).  Steve Howe plays guitar etc, Chris Squire bass, Rick Wakeman is on keyboards and Bill Bruford plays drums. They are each regarded as amongst the best players in their field. Squire is regularly cited as being the bass player that inspired other bass players, Wakeman is regarded as probably the best keyboard player of the 70's (he played on many other records including Cat Stevens, Black Sabbath and most famously David Bowie). Bill Bruford is seen as one of the very best "jazz" drummers of his age and Steve Howe as a guitarist has few peers. (He also has collection of instruments that must be worth thousands). It's that unique blend of skills that won me over in the mid 1970's. 

This is not my favourite Yes song but it's one of the most accessible and it shows both the musicianship of a band at their best and Andersons singing is great and the words sort of make sense. At the bottom I've put a link to a YouTube video by Rick Beato that breaks the song down part by part and it's that complexity that shows how good there are as musicians. I've also put a link to "Lost in Vegas"  hearing it for the first time. Chris Squire died in 2015 (Geddy Lee from Rush played bass on this song at the Hall of fame induction) but it's significant that both videos point out his bass playing that underpins this song. 

The version on my Facebook page that goes with this post (and is linked below too) is the Steve Wilson remix, which I think is the best version of this song now available. There are also lots of live versions!!

Rick Beato - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFisOTDzGuE

Lost in Vegas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw7n4aG0wcw

Steve Wilson remix  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pREDMwfF-kw