Comments on: Yes – Dramatic Play (Virtuoso 032/033)

By: jabs1960

jabs1960 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:31:47 +0000

I own a few (four or five) DRAMA TOUR b**ts, and this one boasts, by FAR, the best sound quality of all! I still await a soundboard/ambient pressing, but I won’t hold my breath. Truly a must for the collector!

By: chambau

chambau — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:10:51 +0000

This is my first DRAMA bootleg and, most likely, the definitive (unless a nice soundboard sees the light of the day). As the reviewer wisely states, the sound is phenomenal and it’s what I’ve been waiting for. This is a MUST!!

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:05:41 +0000

I would agree that Drama is a better album than is often suggested. I particularly like Machine Messiah and White Car and, of course, Horn’s vocal limitations are covered up by studio technology. It would indeed have been interesting to see where this line-up of Yes would have gone next. I will cetainly be acquiring this title.

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:12:20 +0000

"Video Killed The Radio Star" was released as a single in 1979 and reached #1 in the UK in October of that year. The Age Of Plastic wouldn't be released until 1980, the same year as Drama. What is truly bizarre is that Horn and Downes didn't perform it live together as The Buggles until 1998. I remember listening to the WPLJ broadcast when they played in New York and thought the "White Car Suite" was the coolest part of the show. I liked how they expanded the song from Drama but also added The Buggles' hit. And it is truly beautiful. Drama is one of my all time favorite albums and really wished they continued instead of breaking up.

By: Plomerus

Plomerus — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:28:24 +0000

Just to clarify, The Buggles song “Video Killed The Radio Star” pre-dates their involvement with Yes, despite “The Age Of Plastic” being released the same year as “Drama” and even as recently as the Asia tour for “Aura,” Downes performed a solo version of similar ilk, albeit primarily on piano. Thus, the “White Car Suite” is indeed a hybrid of both “White Car” from the “Drama” album and “Video…” And, quite frankly, when you strip away all the synth-pop layers like Downes did on the “Aura” tour, and even this recording, it’s pretty clear the song truly is beautiful.

By: gsparaco

gsparaco — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:26:53 +0000

I wrote: “Downes follows with his solo set with “Man In A White Car Suite” which is basically an expansion of the “White Car” melody with The Buggles’ hit “Video Killed The Radio Star” sung through a Vocoder.”

That isn’t correct?

“Amazing Grace” is the name of the text written by John Newton. He didn’t write the music though, but his text was adapted to the tune called “New Britain” which was an old Scottish hymn. This is common knowledge in hymnody.

By: Balrog

Balrog — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:18:04 +0000

The review has only one factual error: “Man in a White Car Suite” was based on the track “White Car” from the Drama album. And I’ve never heard of “Amazing Grace” being referred to as “New Britain.” Where did that bit of info come from?