Going For The “Germany” (Highland HL390/391)
Messehalle, Nüremberg, Germany – November 19, 1977
Disc 1 (62:59): Opening (Firebird Suite), Parallels, I’ve Seen All Good People, Close To The Edge, Wondrous Stories, Colours Of The Rainbow, Turn Of The Century, Tour Song, And You And I
Disc 2 (53:59): Going For The One, Awaken A Prelude, Awaken, Roundabout. Bonus track: soundcheck before show
When Yes set out to tour for Going For The One in 1977 they chose to include, in the final month, their first visit to continental Europe in three years. With eleven dates, they toured Germany more thoroughly than another on country other than England and the US and almost all of these shows were taped from the audience.
Going For The “Germany” on Highland is one of several titles on the label from this tour. They use a very good but distant audience recording that is good with the high end but lacks a bit in the bass. Jon Anderson’s little speeches between songs are a bit hard to discern but the music is very LOUD – certainly loud enough to distort at high volumes.
The tape picks up the Firebird suite theme leading into “Parallels” and immediately it’s obvious Yes have been on the road almost none stop for months. Anderson in particular sounds very tired as he sings the songs and the band try hard through the opening numbers to awaken him.
“Danke schön. It’s really good to be here Nüremberg, in this lovely town. Here’s a song for you.” The audience sounds impatient but applaud when they start the song and cameras are fluttering taking many photographs.
It’s right into “Close To The Edge” which again sounds rather tired although Wakeman has fun filling the Messehalle with sound during “I Get Up I Get Down.” While Anderson is describing the next new song “Wondrous Stores” someone by the recorder keeps begging for “Soon, Oh Soon,” obviously refering to “The Gates Of Delirium” from Relayer.
Although Yes toured many times over three years for that album they never did play it outside the English speaking world and the Germans were desperate to hear it. The same guy will beg for “Soon” all night.
Anderson and the band play the Nüremberg tour song:
We’ve been travelling, travelling, travelling, travelling for a long time.
Well it must been ten thousand years or more.
It’s been a long time.
You’ve been travelling, travelling, travelling, travelling, you’ve been travelling to see this band.
And we hope you’ll be delighted as I can hear. It’s really good to be you.
It’s really good to be you. It’s really good to be you.
It’s really good to be you.
It’s really good to be you.
Is this Germany?
Is this Germany?
Gotta hear you.
Gotta hear you.
Gotta hear you.
Is this America?
Is this Nüremberg?
Is this Nüremberg?
Is this Nüremberg?
All I want to hear.
All I want to hear.
Is this Germany?
Right, Is this Germany?
Is this Germany?
Is this Germany?
Am I in the right place?
It’s really good to be you.
It’s really good to be you.
It’s really good to be you.
The audience wakes up and really enjoy the song as do all stops on the tour when Yes play the ditty. The band also seem energized and deliver power versions of “And You And I” and “Going For The One.” But the cap on the evening is an inspired, beautiful version of “Awaken.”
The harp section in the middle of the piece seems to hypnotized everyone in the audience and produces an ecstatic reaction a the end. “Roundabout” is the only encore existing on the tape. Some sources say “Yours Is No Disgrace” was played as a second encore but there is no evidence to support this.
The bonus track Highland include is very interesting. It is a seventeen minute tape of the afternoon’s soundcheck in the Messehalle, taped by the same guy who handled the concert. All of the members of the band are on stage. Jon Anderson plays the harp while the others doodle. Many rehearsal tapes are really not very revealing, but this one fortunately is.
As the jamming continues Chris Squire begins to play, with the band accompanying him, an instrumental version of “On The Silent Wings Of Freedom” which would be recorded the following year for Tormato. It is a compelling bass theme which sounds massive live on this tape. Highland’s artwork is very nice with good use of the Going For The One motifs. In general this is a very good release from Yes’ time in Germany that year and with the soundcheck is very much worth having.
