Yes / CA, USA 02.27.1988 Soundboard Edition

…Wow. This is truly amazing! It is a superb soundboard album—one that rightfully deserves to be hailed as the “YESSONGS of the 80s” and the definitive masterpiece of the “90125-era” Yes. Captured here is the Oakland performance from February 27, 1988—a full, official-quality soundboard recording from the “Big Generator Tour,” a time when the band was at the peak of its popularity. Historically, live albums from the “90125-era” Yes have been underserved. The official live release, *9012LIVE: The Solos*, was an unsatisfying affair that focused on individual solos, while the *9012LIVE* video release was merely an abridged version running about an hour. Although excellent soundboard recordings exist for the 1994 “Talk Tour,” there was never a soundboard recording from their 80s heyday that could truly serve as a definitive live document—until now. This release puts an end to that unfortunate history. Transcending the boundary between official and unofficial releases, it stands as the finest stereo soundboard recording of the 80s—or rather, one of the absolute pinnacles of Yes’s entire career. While the extraordinary audio quality is a major highlight, let’s first consider where this show fits into the timeline of the world tour that marked the height of their popularity: 1987 (Sept. 21: *Big Generator* released; Oct. 20–Dec. 20: North America #1 [46 shows]) and 1988 (Jan. 19–Mar. 13: North America #2 [37 shows] ← **Here**; Mar. 30–Apr. 13: Hawaii/Japan [8 shows]; May 14: Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary Show). This outlines the full scope of the “Big Generator Tour 1987–1988.” While the tour included their first visit to Japan in 15 years, the Oakland performance featured here took place about a month prior to that leg—marking the 27th concert of the “North America #2” series. This release represents the ultimate, top-tier stereo soundboard recording—deserving of multiple “super” prefixes. It is derived from a recently unearthed DAT master recorded directly from the soundboard console. The sound one might imagine from such a direct feed is only half the story; the reality is both what you’d expect and something more. What matches expectations is, of course, the massive sense of immediacy. It offers an incredible feeling of synchronization—far beyond mere proximity, it allows you to feel completely at one with Yes. Every single note penetrates straight into your brain with perfect separation. It creates an immersive experience, as if the five members of Yes were right inside your head. Moreover, the master’s fidelity is extraordinary. While there are naturally no signs of generation loss from dubbing, the fact that it was recorded on DAT rather than analog tape makes a huge difference. Despite the passage of thirty years, there is virtually no degradation; the sound remains lustrous and unwavering, as if recorded just yesterday. One can only feel gratitude for this miraculous discovery—for the recording itself and for its preservation. On the other hand, what differs from the typical “direct-feed” image is the remarkably polished mix. Usually, direct soundboard recordings lack crowd noise and feature a balance intended for the venue PA, missing the “finished album” feel of a multitrack mix. Yet, this release possesses that very quality. The instrumental balance is flawless, and the ensemble performance is as refined as a work of art. Surprisingly, the recording also captures the roar of the crowd. Of course, it doesn’t feature the intrusive chatter or isolated screams typical of audience recordings, nor is it a constant wall of noise; the cheers erupt at the end of each song and fade smoothly as the next begins. The crowd noise between songs enters at the perfect moment and feels truly expansive. It has a genuine “official release” vibe—even the audience reaction during the opening break of “Heart of the Sunrise” is captured precisely, feeling completely natural rather than forced. It offers a rich (and natural) taste of the band in their prime, all while maintaining the clarity of a direct soundboard feed. This is a soundboard recording of unprecedented quality. It captures the musical utopia of the “90125-era Yes” in stunning fidelity. It serves as a definitive collection of smash hits from the *90125* and *Big Generator* albums, while also featuring Trevor Rabin’s solo piece, “Solly’s Beard.” It highlights tracks like “Big Generator,” “Shoot High Aim Low,” “Holy Lamb,” and “Love Will Find A Way”—masterpieces that dominated the charts at the time but were rarely performed thereafter—now heard here in a live setting with official-grade sound quality. While the first half of the show (Disc 1) focuses on these 1980s greatest hits, the atmosphere shifts dramatically in the second half (Disc 2), transforming into a fantasy-like showcase of epic tracks from the 1970s. Classics such as “Yours Is No Disgrace,” “And You And I,” “I’ve Seen All Good People,” and “Roundabout” are delivered with the band’s signature mastery, yet imbued with the unique character of the “90125-era Yes.” Tony Kaye’s keyboards provide a warm foundation, while Rabin’s guitar work is razor-sharp—cutting through with modern, original phrasing while still honoring the integrity of the source material. They hadn’t simply transformed into a pop band; they were evolving with the times. This progressive live performance is vividly rendered through superb soundboard audio. It is a live album truly worthy of being called the “1980s *Yessongs*.” Not only does it rectify the scarcity of quality live recordings from this era, but it stands as an exceptional stereo soundboard album—a rarity in the band’s entire history. It transcends the distinction between official and unofficial releases, holding a value on par with the *90125* and *Big Generator* studio albums themselves. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA, USA 27th February 1988 STEREO SBD Disc 1 (68:33) 1. Rhythm Of Love 2. Hold On 3. Heart Of The Sunrise 4. Big Generator 5. Changes 6. Shoot High Aim Low 7. Holy Lamb 8. Solly’s Beard 9. Make It Easy 10. Owner Of A Lonely Heart Disc 2 (66:27) 1. Yours Is No Disgrace 2. Bass Solo 3. And You And I 4. Love Will Find A Way 5. I’ve Seen All Good People 6. Roundabout Jon Anderson – Vocal Trevor Rabin – Guitars Chris Squire – Bass Tony Kaye – Keyboards Alan White – Drums STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING