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Yes - Live in Philadelphia

Yes - Live in Philadelphia

List Price: $19.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Rip-off DVD
Review: It's hard to decide which is worse on this DVD, the sound or the picture quality. Sonics are extremely poor - Howe's guitar playing comes through well, but in general there's no dynamic range, and little bass response. Probably worse though is the film itself. Made in some sort of low resolution video, most of the shots are far from the stage, making it largely impossible to see the individuals or, frankly, much of anything they're actually doing on stage. The stage itself is rotating, which completely confuses whoever's directing the cameras - we end up mostly watching the back of Anderson's head. The film is also slightly out of sync with the sound, negating the experience of watching a live experience. There are inexplicable cuts between numbers, and the video itself drops out at one point during "All Good People".

This is clearly a `rip-off' disk --- the original material is of poor quality, there's been no attempt to clean it up, there are no DVD extras which makes the format so appealing, and the disk lasts only 50 mins. There's nothing here you can't get better on the CDs themselves. For completionists only.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Yes video recorded in my home town nonetheless...
Review: My Dad went to this show when he was 17, and it was one of the best experiences of his life, he says. I have to agree with him because this video is stunning! The song selection the way that it is performed, amazing.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not bad and in some ways very good
Review: Ok - I have no idea how this was filmed, but I'd say it wasn't a bootleg OR it was several people working together as there are what seems to be atleast two cameras. Anyway, whatever, it's here so let's talk about what it is.

It's Yes, live, well before they settled into the "Let's Play the Same 10 songs exactly the way we've played them for years" groove......

I mean, how cool is it to see Rick Wakeman (in a pair of hot leather pants? whoa!) out jammin' with the band members on a portable synth? I mean, it sounds terrible now, but having been to concerts during the late 70s early 80s where they did that, it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, and the crowd there apparently thought the same thing from the their reaction.

And the songs are different! You can hear the band playing the songs more - it was kinda cool watching Rick do weird little keyboard fills during Roundabout that I've never heard before.

I saw yes twice (once at this venue and once in 1976 in RFK stadium NEXT to this venue) in the 70s and they were GREAT shows, I still remember them! And they didn't sound the same for any of the shows - same basic structure of the songs but they jammed more, it was cool! I've seen various versions of yes many times since then but it's always the same songs and about the same setlist they've been playing for the last 20 years and it's good, really, but on this DVD, while they're playing the same songs, they're much FRESHER with the material and it sure looks/sounds like they're having a blast!

BTW, skip the "voice over" thing, some bored english guy talking about the history of yes - pish, just skip it.

Anyway, it's a cool DVD, it's not a GREAT DVD - I dunno if there is one, some of the other reviewers had ideas - I don't typically buy concert DVDs as you haveta WATCH them ;).

what is cool about this is this is Yes in what's probably their best lineup when they're still fresh and groovin' playing some of their alist material, and even tho it's not technically up to the current standards it's still good and it's still Yes at the top.

So take it for what it's worth!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fascinating DVD--I like it!
Review: OK, so the image and sound quality isn't comperable to the House of Blues DVD, but for someone who was only three when this was recorded, this DVD is SOOOOOOO cool! I feel as though I finally have an idea as to what people who saw Yes in the 70's are always talking about. I can't recommend this DVD highly enough, if at least for the interest level. I mean, come on.... Rick Wakeman walking around with the synth/guitar combo... Jon hitting all the notes without having to try at all... Steve actually moving and rocking out... even Alan goes nuts... It doesn't get any better than this folks...My view of Yes has changed drastically since watching this DVD, and believe me, I was a big fan before, but now, I think they supplant Rush in my #1 favorite band spot. Bravo! But the DVD!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Obsolete sound,video; too short.
Review: Only for fans, archivists. Cover does not list enough info. Too few songs and boring camera work. Wait for a new original DVD with the line-up you prefer (if Yes ever puts one out).They must have something newer/better in storage!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Historical Interest Only - Sound, Picture, Shooting Bad
Review: Philadelphia was Yes's home away from home. The Delaware valley was where Yes came to rehearse before their tours. Everyone there was a Yes fan. I saw them in Philadelphia. Why, then, is the only visual document of that time and place this awful film?

My main gripe, besides the low-quality video, and the really sad sound, is that whoever directed the film knew absolutely nothing about the band or its music, missing cues, shooting Chris Squire when Steve Howe is soloing, giving us Jon Anderson pounding on a tamborine as Rick Wakeman burns up the keyboards. What gives?

Yessongs is much better introduction, but for historical/nostalgia purposes, this essay in amatuerism has some interest. Buy it used.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bad Homemovie
Review: Stay away from this piece of garbage!!! I'm a huge Wakeman fan, and had to have it (or so I thought). Audio is beyond poor, and the video looks like a bad homemovie. Add this to a short running time, and you get a real piece of trash. Only get this if you have money you have to get rid of.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWSOME
Review: The 1979 DVD was originally reocorded on 8MM. Be grateful it's
availble. It's way better than 1996 KEYS or 1999 House of Blues. The guy that says forget this label has no clue.
What would you rather watch. That bland version of Starship Trooper from Keys or this mind boggling version from 1979.
The picture & sound are more than tolerable. In fact 11 years ago a friend gave me a 8th generation VHS copy. I've thanked him for years. Now I have the DVD.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Forget It
Review: The DVD format is about excellent video and "better than CD" audio. Neither one of these things are present here. Why buy it? I don't know. Get Keys to Ascension and House Of Yes. Both are excellent. Forget this title. The audio is worse than CD and since CD is dead I guess that this DVD should be buried along with it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great Band, Great Concert - Poor Film Quality
Review: The film quality is poor, as is the sound quality, even for 1979. However, if you're a YES fan that's easily overlooked for the pleasure of the experience. This film captures Yes at the height of their touring and musical catalog. It also was an added bonus that I was actually at this concert (I even checked the ticket stub to verify it - making it a special treat to re-live). All in all it's worth the price!


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