The One For All (Siréne-115)
Scandinavium, Göteborg, Sweden – November 12th, 1977
Disc 1: Firebird Suite, Parallels, I’ve Seen All Good People, Close To The Edge, Wondrous Stories, Colours Of The Rainbow, Turn Of The Century, And You And I
Disc 2: mc, Going For The One, Flight Jam, Awaken, Roundabout, Yours Is No Disgrace
The Going For The One era is most known for the (first) return of Rick Wakeman back into the fold. It was a time where they seemed weary of the aggressive jazz-fusion they were playing and a desire to return to play music that was a bit more accessible. After recording the LP they embarked on a long world tour beginning in West Virginia that would last until December. The One For All is their only stop in Sweden and comes from an excellent stereo audience recording.
It was previously released as Swan Lake Stories on Highland (HL354/355) but it sounds as if Sirene got hold of a better generation tape. This sounds much more expansive and powerful than Highland. There are many great recordings from this tour and this is among the very best. What makes this tour different from all the others is the complete absence of solo shows cases and individual demonstrations of virtuosity. The arrangements and performances are virtually ego less.
Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman present some Yes humor before “Going For The One” where Wakeman comes to close to playing a solo. ” We’ve called upon a gentleman who has been practicing for at least five minutes for this next piece of music he’ll play for you” Jon Anderson says. “He’s gonna play ‘Rachmoninov’s concerto’ The last four bars of ‘Rachmoninov’s concerto, piano concerto #1 in F# minor’. Mr. Rick Wakeman. As I said, he’s gonna play for you the last four bars of ‘Rachmoninov’s piano concerto in E’….He does know a little bit of Prokeviev as well, but he’s keeping it to himself. These jokes won’t go down in England, never mind Sweden.”
The newer songs sound excellent all around with “Wondrous Stories” and “Turn Of The Century” being very meditative. The highlight of the tour is the set closer “Awaken”, one of Yes’ greatest epics. Since the recording is very detailed the dynamics are very well captured and the song sounds immense, recalling the soaring skyscrapers on the cover of the Going For The One LP. The versions of “Yours Is No Disgrace”, played as the second encore as time allowed are also fun with extended solos by Howe playing off of Wakeman’s flighty synthesizers.
