'The Story of i' by Patrick Moraz | ESENTIAL PROG ALBUMS 4K

[@nullfield]

My high school allowed students to bring LPs to be played over the lunch hall stereo. I brought this, because, of course. In the days of the Eagles and Grand Funk Railroad, it took about 7 minutes for them to lift the needle.

[@robertmorgan9205]

Just received my copy of this, ordered because of this video, and loving it.

[@TheProgCorner]

I didn’t understand this album at first but with repeated listens I have come to the conclusion that it is a true masterpiece!!!

[@tonypeake467]

Hi Scott

[@mteufel472]

Saw Yes in California back in '76 during the " Relayer " tour , after they played " Gates Of Delirium " each member had a brief solo & Patrick Moraz played excerpts from that album , very impressive keyboardist & a magnificent concert 🎹

[@arvidsson56]

I bought this album when it came out in 1976, and I have always liked it.

[@howardduck2851]

Alfonse Mouzon drums on one side - Andy Newmark on the other. Jeff Berlin on bass throughout. Ray Gomez on guitar. No slouches here.

[@fusionfan6883]

Ray Gomez is criminally underrated in the pantheon of great fusion guitarists 🎸🤘🏻

[@davidayers362]

I was lucky enough to see two Refugee gigs when they were around, and Patrick Moraz played the electronic slinky and the alpine horn on stage. I believe he had built the electronic slinky himself, which was basically a number of slinkies stretched on a frame which he would hit. They can both be heard on the Refugee album, but I've not noticed them on The Story of I, probably buried in the dense mix that album has. I love both albums.

[@louise_rose]

Yes, a brillliant album indeed with amazing songwriting, musicianship (not least the drumming and rhythm sections: drumming courtesy of Andy Newmark and Alphonse Mouzon!) and a kaleidoscopic montage of songs, instrumental ieces and sounds that still come together into a convincing unity. I first heard it when I was around thrirteen years old, around 1980 - I knew Moraz from the Relayer album, which I absolutely love, and had borrowed a couple of Yes solo records from a guy who was six or seven years older to listen through and get some tracks onto quality cassette tapes. My very first listen through the first side of the Moraz LP left me bewildered by al the thick textures - it was heavier than I had thought it was gonna be - but some passages had caught my attention and I decided to give it another try two days later. On the second listen everything fell into place, I could sense the sweep and interlocking layers of the music - I just loved it and taped the entire album onto one side of a C-90 cassette. It is an album I listened to lots over the following five or six years. At some point I think I lost the cassette, but in the 2000s I rebought the album on CD. A completely unique disc!

[@GlasgowWorrier63]

Wonderful album. The best of that set of mid-70s Yes solo albums. And following the line-up of musicians took me to so many terrific albums and concerts.

[@RobArmiter]

Fantastic album. Yeah "too much", but in all the right ways. One of my go to albums to lift my mood.

[@samcarson8161]

I personally thought this was the standout of the "Relayer" solo LP's. Not for everybody, I admit, but Patrick was a unique talent. His next album "Out in the Sun" was also EXCELLENT, one of the tracks "Time For a Change" was Patrick's composition recycled by Yes for the intro of "Awaken" on "Going for the One." Also gotta offer my praise to the very obscure singer John McBurnie who I first encountered here, recruited from Refugee bassist/singer Lee Jackson's post-Nice band, Jackson Heights. John co-wrote & sang several great moments on both "Story of I" as well as "Out in the Sun." An unfairly overlooked talent, IMO.

[@AssociationAdmirer]

I acquired this album fairly recently, about a year or two ago. It's dense enough that I prefer to listen to it only when I'm in a focused mood, yet lighthearted and playful enough to lift my spirits whenever I hear it. Superb composition, beautiful playing, eye-opening combinations of genres... The only thing to complain about is the title, with it having no obvious pronunciation and no way to type it on a standard keyboard!

[@AntonyRG1]

A modern gloss-monstrosity. The original gatefold was very matt. Also, he made The Story of I while still in Yes. One of the greatest prog albums ever made. The only great prog album he ever made. I brought Timecode. OMFG!

[@francis-808]

This is a leviathan of an album. I can hardly believe I had not heard of it until now. Thanks, Andy!

[@FundamentalsUK]

An absolute classic, prog / fusion album. Ahead of its time. Alphonse Mouzon messaged me just b4 he passed about playing on the album 🤘🏻👍🏻

[@theelektronicompozer6538]

The Story of (i). A masterpiece pure and simple. Easily one of the mammoth prog / fusion albums in synthesizer based music history! I still have the original store bought cassette version from when I was just a lad. This gem never gets old! Not to mention he’s incredibly charismatic on stage. He was more animated than Wakeman. No shade on Rick.

[@southsidesky]

Loved this album when it came out..........................

[@howardduck2851]

The ARP 2600 was affectionately nicknamed the “Blue Meanie” by Edgar Winter (it had a dark blue panel with separate keyboard connected by a cable). Edgar may have been the first guy to wear a keyboard like a guitar, And this synth is what makes all the cool electronic sounds in Frankenstein.

[@TimBennettRightRelationships]

One of my favorite albums in college and ever after. Love it.

[@johnthresher259]

Talking of essential Prog, Andy, you pop up in the latest Frost* video which is a trailer for their forthcoming album. Mr Godfrey appears to have taken a trawl through old Frost* clips and strung them together.

[@oolongoolong789]

Nice to see that Patrick Moraz album getting a plug. Yes, it's wonderfully OTT. I'm particularly fond of the songs with John McBurnie doing the lead vocals.

[@magicruss1]

Great album and Relayer is my favorite Yes album

[@tomhenninger4153]

Thanks Andy! I love Yes Relayer but haven’t heard of this album. Great video!

[@umbertoyltp]

A sophistcated virtuoso, mixing latin passion with moog synth and grand piano. I definitely recommend the album by Refugee, starring Lee Jackson on bass and vocals, another supertrio rooting from the Nice!

[@ElCharvo]

Amazing playing and incredible production-when I feel a bit jaded with music,I put this on the turntable and smile.

[@rnaismith4447]

I met Patrick at a music workshop he had at the now defunked music store in Florida (Thoroughbred Music) and got to yell into his Grand Piano so we could hear the reverberations. I'ld also like to add that I've met Jeff Berlin on several occasions since he runs The Players school Of Music nearby and although I'm not much of a bass player he had time to chat and has a strange sense of humor. Let's also not forget the time.he stood in for Tony Levin at very short notice when he collapsed after playing with Yes.

[@Cr8Tron]

Cool stories! My bass player friend went to the school you're talking about, and was therefore Jeff's student for a while. I was thinking I'd let Andy know here, that I could tell my friend about him wanting to get in touch with Jeff for an interview, if that would possible help? 🤔 On another note; I remember hearing that Jeff didn't have much to say about Levin, other than him being an "alright bassist". 🙄 Maybe Jeff's perspective has changed on that, according to what Andy was just saying at 5:50? 🤔

[@stephenmorton2890]

Really good to see Patrick Moraz getting some much-deserved recognition after all this time. Yes made a lot of bad decisions but dropping a gem like Moraz for that oaf Wakeman was by far their worst one.

[@Darrylizer1]

I have a wonderful Jeff Berlin I found in a used record shop that has both Steve Smith and Neil Peart drumming. Neil Shon plays on a couple songs as well. Great album, can't remember the name and I'm to tired to get out of bed to look. But it's great. Got that Patrick Moraz album in the same shop for 6 bucks in excellent condition. Well worth it.

[@howardduck2851]

Seems I recall a Jeff Berlin interview in which he regrets that this Story Of I album suffered from a poor mix, and was otherwise an incredible album. Patrick Moraz, in a later interview, explained that he was called away to some Yes rehearsals (or some such), and the mixing of Story Of I was left to Moraz’s engineer (also his old friend and former Mainhorse bandmate) Jean Ristori to try to mix by himself. And Atlantic records allowed no extra time for Moraz’s final approval before the release date. And shockingly they didn’t care enough about it to keep the original multitrack tapes!!!

[@johnhoran9840]

Hopefully Steven Wilson is a fan and we can get a proper remix one day.

[@MrStrawberry86]

It's a great album haven't heard it in ages might give it a spin later. Imo moraz was a better keyboard player for yes than rick wakeman. Yes made their best album with Moraz

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

An alpine horn🤣 I was shouting crumhorn at my screen before you gave the answer.

[@KUJayhawkJazz]

Love these 10 minute album review videos!

[@b2tall239]

Me writing "The Story of i" on a post-it note for tomorrow's album of the day....

[@Spock105]

I have Patrick's signature in my Yes book ' Time and a word ' from Rufus Publishing . ARW & Yes signed it also during meet & greet sessions.

[@ronmurvihill5317]

This is my favorite solo album from a member of Yes.

[@lars-akearonsson4772]

Jeff Berlin is out on tour in Europe now with Dennis Chambers on drums and Jorge Vera Aguilera on piano. Jeff says he is at his best now after 18 months of intensive practicing. What I have heard sounds really good.

[@davidmontgomery5047]

Saw the Tour in '76 ,Gentle Giant Opened . I thought Moraz gave Yes a good Kick in the Ass and Relayer was quite Muscular .As mentioned below each member had a Short Solo Section .Quite a Concert !! Played the LP often .

[@cheezruff]

Used to blast this on the turntable when it came out in 1976! Side 1 was killer with Alphonse Mouzon on drums. The fusion section in 7/8 rips!

[@joaomedina1]

It's brazilian music, Mr Edwards.

[@brucefournier2391]

The percussionists of Rio de Janeiro dropped by, during lunch, to lay down some tracks. Classic Prog!!

[@TheLastOilMan]

The prog album !

[@mrinalkundu1521]

Amazing. Now THIS is the group of musicians Freddie Mercury should have worked with.

[@majedalamine4404]

I know the musicians on this are brilliant enough to fill the whole video, but the concept of the album is a prophetic and relevant as any art can be. In the middle of the "Jungle" (i.e the real life), there is a technology platform, or what they refer to with that symbol, which could as well be the Instagram or Facebook or X symbol today, and people from all over the world go inside it because it is the only place where they can fulfill their dreams and ambitions. Those who enter the tower are faced with increasingly difficult challenges as they ascend, and their emotions and experiences are broadcast for the entertainment of those who remain outside the building.... Andy, you should do a video with the title "was Patrick Moraz a time traveler". Or maybe a video about the mind boggling ability of great artists to touch the future. I mean that lyric from Crimson still males me scratch my head everytime (Nothing he's got he really needs, 21st century. ...)

[@AssociationAdmirer]

If Moraz was a time traveler, he must have been strictly visiting the 1950s! The Story of I is a great album, but the story is a collection of standard 1950s science fiction premises.

[@eaglesrule1415]

Thanks for the album name drop. It was ok but super enjoyed Mind Transplant that you mentioned in passing. That was the sh!t. Thanks👍🎶❤I will listen to this alot. The Moraz...not so much but was glad to be exposed to it.

[@davidmontgomery5047]

Right On !!! Mind Transplant kicks Ass!! We used to love playing it for Guys Who thought Peart was the best Drummer in the World .Also Tommy Bolin is on Fire !!

[@aminahmed2220]

😢awesome ❤😊

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Story of i ❤❤❤!!!! Still listen to it after all these years! My big question has always been what the hell is that digitized/pixelated disc on the album cover? I was squinted and squinted at that trying to figure out what it originally was!! Moraz was so badly treated when he was "let go"

[@roydemarais]

Hey Andy!! After he "left" Yes, I saw Patrick Moraz and Bill Bruford, just the two of them, do a whole show of free form jazz at a club in Boston. Loved it! And BTW, I think we have similar taste when it comes to drummers (I'm one, too)...Barriemore Barlow and Narada Michael Walden have been my two favorites since in my teens...AND this guy, in case you never heard of this (Bobby Caldwell)...early 1972 prog, he was only 21!!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5q4k6WvlK2efLM

[@terrydavis5915]

Is that "Close to the Egg"??

[@DrWrapperband]

Eselent .....

[@McCelFru]

PM came to Brazil and became astonished hearing the percussionists of Mangueira’s Escola de Samba at Rio de Janeiro carnival. The sound principal ideia was built over the percussion section with the brasilian rock band VIMANA (formers LuluSantos e Lobão) creating the basis for PM’s keyboards. After a long period recording and illuding the band about an european tour, PM took the tapes to be played over with the mentioned team(Gomez, Berlin, etc) more virtuoses. It was a pitty! Probably the original tapes should be more impressive, creative and synchronized with de central idea. I heard it and I am sure about! Anyway that’s history GONE!!

[@psychicdriver4229]

Hell yes!

[@Truthinshredding1]

Typo on essential. Great album

[@webkahmik]

No less a wizard of the keys in his own right, Michael Iceberg (and his Iceberg Machine) held this album in very high regard.

[@Amptronique]

Will there be a part 2 of this review where you mention the music?

[@eaglesrule1415]

I'm fine with this. I listen to them on my own but like the name drops and brief history, meanderings, tangents, songs that hit good, etc. Everyone looks for their own thing. This ain't yours. As Zappa would say "you are what you is". Keep doing you Andy👍

[@johnstucky2168]

I own it, don’t care for it much. Really uneven, the least best of the 5 Yes solo albums released during that period.

[@ConorHanley]

Shocking , Jeff Berlin expecting Jazz musicians to read music ......worse, know some music theory. No wonder he got the bums rush.

[@Driver2616]

It’s quite a lot better than “Beginnings” and “Ramshackled” but not as good or appealing as “Olias of Sunhillow” or “Fish out of Water” or Rick Wakeman’s “…King Arthur…” and “…Journey to the Centre…” albums, all from that 1974/5/6 era (that’s half a century ago!! 😂).

[@tedmallar4049]

what the heck is an electronic slinky? ~ 😂

[@pedrorocha9722]

A 9 and a half minutes video by Andy? Well, might as well watch it then, even if it is about an album that does nothing for me, althou I perfectly remember the buzz when it came out, enjoying the cover very much... and the album title. And I would have bought it then if I had any money. The listenning of it came much later, but by then, it sounded dated.

[@williambloomhuff3389]

Self-loathing? Speak for yourself

[@AssociationAdmirer]

Holy cow, I was about to post exactly that myself. All my life, I've never had anything but the deepest love and admiration for myself.

[@girthbloodstool339]

Neither the Maya nor the Aztec are from South America.

[@smitlag]

While I enjoy Patrick's piano work not only as brilliant in technique and content, this album suffers from lack of any space. One can go into a studio and overdub track after track of keyboards. This predates midi, so it wasn't unusual to have tons of different keyboards being used. Maybe he was getting some endorsement from both Moog and Arp because some of his choices make no sense. Why even bother with a Micromoog? The Poly Moog and Mini made sense. If anything, use a second Mini, like Rick Wakeman and Eddie Jobson. Two Mellotrons wouldn't have been uncommon since each one was probably loaded with different tapes. The same with the Arp synths. If you are using a 2600 , why bother with the Axxe? Maybe use an Odyssey. His playing is brilliant, particularly two of the more fusionistic piano heavy tracks. The album it just suffers from each track literally having the kitchen sink thrown in. It's actually harder to constrain one's ideas in good writing. Even Allan Holdsworth knew the art of placing space between the various ideas of his solos. A far better prog keyboard album by far is Eddie Jobson's Green Room.

[@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL]

Relayer I would put in top 5 Yes LPs and that is probably down to Moraz. fwiw: yes Album Fragile Drama Relayer Time & a Word that’s my list…