Yes Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil) Live 1975 at QPR

[@tommyd1871]

It's been 45 yrs since I found YES and I'm still amazed at what this music does to me and makes me feel like. This is the true YES not the Trevor Rabin days which I DID NOT like. These guys were so special and are major part of my life. Thank you Chris Squire!!! Thank you Jon Anderson!!! for the soundtrack of my life.

[@rodmcdonough6111]

This is my favorite album of all time. I have listened to it in detail hundreds of times and know every note. I am heartened to see others here who love and understand this masterpiece, as I don't know anyone personally in my life who does! Its amazing to see how close to the recording they are able to play a complex piece like this live. Always blows me away and never gets old...

[@barrypeirson3710]

There's a simple reason it's your favorite album of all time. It's the greatest album of all time.

[@DandbDandb]

A master piece indeed, best album of the best ever Rock Symphonic band

[@silverbeernuts4229]

You can add the artistic influence of Roger Dean's cover art, which gave us the effect that propelled our souls into the music. This was the package we needed to close our doors, prop the headphones, and disappeared. Yes, their greatest album of all time!

[@63Kafka]

Don't if I "understand" this record, but I love it. It communicates to me ...and I can't explain it.

For me, Tales from Topographic Oceans, is the GOAT, too. Long life to this YES formation and album.

[@WinstonGuitar]

I Love Tales!!! I know it gets slammed a lot as being indulgent and wandering nowhere, but I think it's lovely, from top to bottom.

[@nman9139]

Same thoughts as mine. Magnificent album

[@Tsnore]

+Prog Fan Yes, all except for 6 or so intolerable minutes of the Ancient.

[@757flyer]

+Winston Dittos Winston. I Ive been loving it since it was originally released. Good music never dies-it just seems to get better.

[@NGC6144]

+Winston Guitar It think it is largely profound but, probably every song could have been truncated a bit more or less like the god awful drum solo in this otherwise moving piece of music.

[@nman9139]

I like it

[@TheRealTomWendel]

Mind blowing then and now. The musicianship is extraordinary, yes. But to create this piece of music, with all the melodic references to the entire work, the harmonic subtlety (and hammers), dynamics, time signature changes, trajectory, etc. 🤯 🥹☺️

[@thundergod1298]

R.I.P. Chris Squire 1948-2015 We will continue to love you through your magical music....

[@paradoxann]

so true ..♥♡

[@fucheduck]

+Thundergod129 I had no idea. he got the spot light on this one. extremely bass oriented.

[@thundergod1298]

+fucheduck Ritual is the only one they ever play live but being a Yes purist all 4 must be listened to for the complete TOTO experience.Rick,Steve and Alan are all featured in various segments.I especially like Rick's synthesizer work on TRSOG and Steve's acoustic guitar on The Ancient but Chris is great here. When they toured to support this album Roger Dean designed a lot of the fantastic stage art and each musician entered out of these giant mushrooms. Awesome....

[@WeirdMedicine]

agreed, if you don't know TOTO well, the references in this piece will be lost on you. Still a great performance; I saw this tour and this was a highlight. Hard to hear what it was like in the amphitheater on these youtube videos. They were like gawds up on the stage...

[@gorjulin]

DITTO !

[@greekgator01ss]

After long consideration, I've decided this is my most favorite song ever, in the whole wide world. Grateful to have seen them play it numerous times. We will never forget...

[@greekgator01ss]

The entire album was amazing, this song tho...in my heart forever. BTW, I'm really Ruth Diamond. Not sure why I come up as Chris Diamond. Not a wizard, but certainly a Yes lover.

[@nadiaagbi]

i thought my favorite was your move until i found this, on this site, now i can't get enough of it and can't buy this version which i think is better than the recorded version, so i agree this is my favorite as well. i didn't know that until after reading your post.....thanks obama!

[@wallacemay4738]

funny you say that

[@killershrew1]

Awaken is my personal all time favorite rock song but this is a close 2nd...

[@christiancazabonne]

For me the best Yes song ever! And one of the best pieces of music in history!

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

This guitar solo at the end is the definition of crescendo. Amazing, and played without distortion effects. And in 3/4 no less - it's an amazing composition, in addition to the muscianship. Who else could make the hair on my arms stand up like this?

[@turkeysteve2325]

Steve is a singular talent. Absolutely unbelievable writer and musician

[@THE-HammerMan]

Who else? ....... Your mistress, maybe?

[@pepperonihead]

So completely spectacular! This band changed my life. I will never forget the first time I saw them and just sat in awe with my jaw dropped in utter amazement!

[@matthewbradley3395]

John Pirrone Same here. That was 4 decades ago and I still remember the night as one of the most magical experiences in my life.

[@DebWunder]

+John Pirrone Ayep!

[@WeirdMedicine]

me too! I'm old enough to have seen the Yessongs Tour as well as Tales, through Relayer and even later in their smaller gigs. The classic stuff still blows my mind.

[@rodmcdonough6111]

Same here...life changing! (for those who listened!) I was lucky to see them in 1974 continuing Yessongs and introducing Tales of Topographic Oceans which I had memorized... but didn't expect them to play it live or think it was even possible

[@wksydney]

Tales From Topographic Oceans was released almost 41 years ago, and parts of it still resonate. The last section is such a beautiful piece of music, Yes at their finest.

[@richardwilliams1639]

To perform this live and get anywhere near the quality of the album is extraordinary is remarkable. Bought the album in 1973 - best purchase I ever made.

[@davidarchbold5018]

One of my favourite yes songs of all time. Tales of topographic oceans is absolutely amazing, album.

[@christine1921murphy]

I'm 73.....one of the best bands, ever

[@Silvertip1958]

My favorite Yes song seems to always be the one I’m currently listening to. There are just so many amazing Yes tune to hear.

[@TheRedfire555]

Chris Squire's solo is amazing.

[@caroleann_2142]

THE FISH

[@BrendaChristensen]

❤ Chris ❤

[@ogrebattle22763]

What a great live version of this song.... These guys were great each member a huge talent in his own right.... Patrick Moraz was such an excellent replacement they could not have picked a better keyboardist to join them... Appreciate the upload....

[@ogrebattle22763]

Chris Squire was one of the greatest bass players in rock... He will be sorely missed....

[@timallbritton7329]

"Blistering" guitar at the end. Steve How is so under-appreciated. And what more can be said about Chris Squire. My favorite musician, ever. RIP, man - Godspeed.

[@robertedge4183]

My first ever Yes gig. I remember standing on the pitch open mouthed awestruck at these incredible musicians in particular Chris Squire, I didn't think the bass was too important until that day. Chris changed my life for the better, R.I..P. Fish, you went far too soon...

[@anthonyeagle7155]

Well said young Robert, What pitch? I was at QPR in 1975

[@shivapennathur803]

The latter part from the Howe - Squire duel is in Raga Yamuna Kalyani.

[@pepowell]

I was there - it was marvellous. The only time I ever saw Yes.

[@armandoarceo3101]

creo muy difícil que está obra maestra pueda ser superada. Saludos a todos desde Mérida, Yucatán, México. P.d.- les comento que, la ruina arqueológica que aparece en la portada de este disco, se encuentra aquí en mi estado, es la pirámide de Kukulcan, en la zona de Chichen Itza!

[@Kenneth_Fishing]

Wow esta bien interesante eso. Mi padre es de Mexico y yo visité Cancún y playa del Carmen hace poco esto ves estuve cerca de Merida

[@adamss657]

Ritual is one of my favourite songs. I love how they go to all play the drums apart from Steve and then suddenly he comes in with a mind blowing solo before they all start to play again. "Nous Sommes Du Soleil we love when we play" they truely do love whilst playing.

[@gyppy1715]

Amazing Chris--thank you for life changing music. RIP

[@Acujeremy]

John Anderson is needed to have the true Yes spirituality experience where you are blasted to the 5th dimension! There is no replacement for that interesting other worldly indescribable transcendence Jon brings. I was so hoping he would come back and I would experience a proper Yes show again, that takes me to that magical wonderland. I believe, with the passing of Chris, a true Yes experience may not be possible again! Thank you Chris Squire for being part of the space ship that took me to so many magical places all those many Yes shows. May everything for you be wonderful now, wherever you are! Thank you!

[@keithmeyers9566]

I can't believe that we're never going to be able to enjoy this again. RIP Christopher Squire.*

[@tulllguy]

+Noora Youssef Khalil w/o Squire and Anderson, there is no Yes.

[@artcamacho9366]

i grew up with this songs, still have the vinyl record! wow, these guys will remain in our hearts forever. they are immortals. we are of the sun.... we can see....

[@emblemsluck]

this song reminds me of my bridge greyhound, jed...crying tears as I remember him...music is wonderful...we love when we play

[@stillmindster]

Still making new fans after all these years! I've had the pleasure of seeing them in London town in 83

[@jeffogle8207]

i've seen Yes over 35 times in my life,Starting in1971,opening forTull. Then the SunShine Inn,Asbury Park,NJ 72,then convention hall w/ the Eagles opening act for 5.50 a ticket. They were great. Got tickets for the Anderson,Rabin,Wakeman show this March 26 at the Count Basie,Red Bank,NJ

[@ernestogaribay7861]

Lucky guy....

[@johnhall9160]

My favorite from Tales......I bought it on 8 track and played it in my private room when I was 14 years old........Now at 62 I want the last quiet part to be played at my funeral.....going home...so spiritual...yes has always helped guide me through the turmoil of life.....

[@Jesusspop]

What an amazing feat of a performance ! It's miraculous !! I'm speechless ! There will never be another Yes !

[@caroleann_2142]

Thats why I never missed a Show July 76 JFK Stadium was incredible

[@linkone11]

When I was young I liked Yes but did not care for some of their songs, like Ritual-Turn of the Century-Time and a Word-most of Relayer; but I'm little older now I believe that this music is some of their best work.And thank you Chris Squire for making the world a better place

[@dinocamella5940]

there wasent many bands that could let there Bass player take over like Chris Squire, But Yes could, Chris was the master of the Bass and Vocals

[@caroleann_2142]

The BASS Master Oh YES!

[@garyrawlinson1647]

Electrifying every member of Yes were outstanding.

[@gregmore3505]

My brother introduced me to Yes when I was about 15. My brother was a bass player and passed away last year. In heaven My brother is playing bass with all of his favorite bass players that are in heaven.

[@Nightfly3a]

I was there! Amazing to see it again.

[@Jamfjr]

Lucky!

[@M32Encina]

Awesome display of musical brilliance! Just beautiful, I wanna cry!!!

[@brianmcglynn8865]

such a beautiful song, I try to sing it around the house and blast it in my car, but there is only one Jon. One day my kids heard the song on the radio, they were shocked at how great it was, apparently I didn't do a very good job, maybe I'll just lip sync from now on

[@rickvickers3]

Fantastic! It blows my mind that a one of a kind performance that took place when I was only 5 years old can be watched on my telephone in 2014. Thanks for putting it out here!

[@peacepalestinesyria424]

goosebumps. every time I hear it, even more live. Never was and never will be an outfit like YES! Rest in peace immense Alan White! (and Chris Squire)

[@progrock21]

Always been a favourite masterpiece of mine and always will be. Mix the best of Rock and Classical music throw in the best musicians and incredibly talented writing and you have Yes. Too mind blowing for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame they deserve to be in the best category of their own. Perfection.

[@oliasone]

+Ally Mac You are so right...YES deserves their own Hall of Fame...The best there ever was...

[@xeractus]

RIP Alan White 1949 - 2022 RIP Chris Squire 1948 - 2015

[@pennywithers4656]

❤️

[@ripeyellowjockuk]

I was there! 1975 and it cost £2.50... Great band great day enjoy! xxx

[@smilanesi98]

Wasn't that a great 74-75 tour? To be young again and there for this was so special. I never realized how much it would mean through the decades.

[@DrTomoculus]

Chris Squire's genius will one day be seen. He was incomparable. An absolute genius.

[@pschroeter1]

I absolute love the sound Steve uses for the all the solo lines in this. It is silky smooth without a lot of pick attack.

[@ferdelafdea]

He copies Robert Fripp's classic "violin guitar" sound, if you love that sound you need to hear starless and the night watch or exiles soloing ...

[@karstenmichaelis9309]

The best Song ever

[@Randomguy190]

CHRIS FUCKING SQUIRE, PEOPLE. His legend will never die. WHAT a performance this is. RIP good sir.

[@oliasone]

+Zachary You got that right!!

[@TacomaPaul]

I learned this song when it first came out. I was an only child with a stereo and a guitar. Awkward age.. just me and my guitar. "It was the best of times... etc." THEN... a "weird" girl at school said she loved YES. (and she played guitar !) Y E S !!!.......... ;-)

[@BossDrSample]

That's the life, brother!

[@ednewton4455]

TacomaPaul please finish the fairytale by saying she's now your wife?! 😀

[@jmaz1100]

Such a crying shame that they didn't keep Patrick Moraz. Wakeman's playing was of course phenomenal but Moraz brought a whole new depth and dimension with his unique style of synthesis. Moraz,s synths were more exotic and otherworldly.

[@DrTomoculus]

He was their most versatile keyboardist. He fit every genre he had to tackle, whether it was classical, rock or fusion. Wakeman on Hammond sounds like Wakeman on Harpsichord. He's thoroughly classical rooted. Moraz has as much Mozart in him as Herbie Hancock. And there's rarely a moment on RELAYER where he's playing nothing, unlike Tony Kaye or Rick Wakeman, where whole sections go without any keyboard part from them, but .. Steve Howe guitar overdubs. This I don't understand, but Yes has always been a vocal/guitar act, and keyboards were truly never there other than for support. Wakeman was asked to do no more than Tony Kaye. Patrick Moraz on the other hand, was asked to play Hammond as well as Tony Kaye, but pull from the classical that Wakeman mined, and bring in the Hancock/Corea/Hammer/Duke world, and did it authentically. I love Moraz. They should have given him more of a chance.

[@smilanesi98]

You said it. I miss him. I guess it was difficult for the band. You have 3 keyboard players in about 3 years and sometimes the chemistry gets skewed through no fault of anyone.

[@danielceo3904]

The guy did everything they asked of him at 100 percent he deserved better business is cruel

[@acdebiase]

Amazing song. They are so amazing to pull these tunes out in front of a live audience. I love this band. I won't get to see this live anymore. RIP Chris and Alan. The music still moves me!!!

[@donbagley2322]

The Topographic Oceans album could never have been done by any other band. These guys were planet class rockers.

[@keter1234]

When a song gives you goosebumps every time you hear it for thirty years.... you know it's your favorite.

[@smilanesi98]

Yes, it does! That fade out at the very end of the song is so surreal . I feel like I am somewhere so magical that I have never witnessed before.

[@christiancazabonne]

For me the best Yes song ever! And one of the best pieces of music in history!

[@themenace1990]

Geez Squire's bass is on fire! he will forever be the greatest bass player! RIP Chris.

[@keter1234]

I sat here and listened to the whole tune. Again.

[@MarkAhrens-HeritageFilms]

Wow, the respect at the end!!! The audience resisted the orge to express and waitied for the notes to die ... fantastic!

[@DS8379]

The music meant so much to me all my life but now, in these perilous times, it means so much more to me. Gives me so much Hope!

[@dexterdog717]

I liked Tales. Yes the songs were very long and involved but I enjoyed the complexity and still do. Just have to have some time available to enjoy them!!

[@LeeLucas]

Totally love this performance of the song and boy were these guys class or what.

[@giantessmaria]

masterpiece would be an understatement.....miss you Chris

[@martinaxman2033]

Always love the way Steve and Chris went note for note. (on a BASS!) They were all so excellent!

[@elizabethlizzyweiss4306]

This continues to be my favorite yes song😍😍😍😍😍

[@marksilowitz3196]

I saw this tour when they played Providence R.I. 15 thousand people and when they sang Nous Sommes du Soleil you could hear a pin drop. I saw people crying. Thanks for posting this. I'm surprised I remember this show as well as I do, I was SOOOOOOO high!

[@BggProductions]

A wonderful performance captured for posterity :) RIP Chris

[@paradoxann]

amen....: ( -X

[@jeffdawson2786]

Fierce, wild, & beautiful. Watch this and then the Tsongas version almost 30 years later. A joy.

[@michaelflowers5712]

Have used this song to lift me up countless times, Thanks.

[@MaxVonStark]

The yes I grew up on. Saw them in 76 in Atlanta. The end of this song I will have played at my funeral. Going home. Very spiritual band. In my teenage years so much hell...but I found peace in Topographic oceans..it took me away and gave me hope.

[@scitsalcoryp]

We recieve all we venture to give !

[@win100now]

No one can make a guitar cry like Steve Howe can ...

[@torybrown7730]

Next to my Yes faves Gates of Delirium & Awaken, Ritual is definitely my 3rd fave. I've seen Yes do these live FLAWLESSLY over 30 times. They NEVER GET BORING.

[@sheistcoff]

This is the point where they reached the summit! This record and this piece particularly has a spiritual, healing quality. Phenomenal musicianship. Still sounds vital.

[@nedkelly7962]

Gli Oceani Topografici sono qualcosa che solo un entità superiore poteva creare! La meraviglia di quest' album sono i 4 movimenti shastra, le splendide melodie e la musica travolgente! La mia cara Silvana è morta a Febbraio 2020, ed io ogni volta ricordo ciò che noi dicevamo sempre..." Nous sommes du Soleil" Grazie Jon, e alla mia Silvy, le dico che mi manca da morire...🙏❤️

[@glennpmartin]

Yes, indeed. As per comment below: an amazing tour de force from Tales of Topographic Oceans. I first heard it when it was released, now many decades ago. It's exalted and timeless. We are of the sun.

[@Jerrymottster]

Stumbled upon this KZbin the other night and took notice of all the below comments. Frankly, this is not favorite YES album of all time but Ritual is - by far - the best song off of Tales. It’s got that spiritual, musical thing going on with the band arguably at their creative peak. I am very heartened to see many others who love YES too. This guitar work at the end of Ritual is the definition of a crescendo. So talented and their songs never get old

[@sct353]

This just defies superlatives; it's so good. When you think this album was hated by the critics when it was released (although still made no.1 in the UK). It has stood the test of time and this performance with its improvisations is better than the version released on 'Yesshows' (love the brief snatch of 'The Remembering' at around 04:20). Wonderful piece of music to watch and marvel at. Thanks for posting.

[@berryvansevenbergen8583]

Only very very positive review in Dutch leading musicpaper Oor !!!

[@zeebra2012]

Every now and then I have to remind myself why Chris Squire is my absolute favorite bass player of them all, here you have it!

[@johnhamill8687]

Love Chris's sound, that harmonized Rick sound during these years was his best sound IMO. RIP Chris. Whole band sounds great.

[@ricky_rumbo]

I’m aware no one will care about how I interpret this song, but this is literally the only place i can talk about it without boring someone to death about it. Basically i see the parts before the big drum and keyboard solo as like a celebration of some sort from it being so upbeat. The part with the drum and keyboard solo is the actual ritual, and the aftermath is what they see after the event, and their reaction to it

[@chriswakefield9538]

Pretty cool, what do you take the first bit to mean?

[@cameronjirowetz]

I wish more than anything that i could witness this firsthand

[@christithies3217]

Absolutely my favorite song from Yes.

[@markm2190]

Chris Squire , WOW Anderson's vocals is perfection...this moves me

[@michael-davidarrkerns4799]

Simply...out of this world!

[@kevinokeefe5709]

This version of RITUAL will blow your mind! 46+ years ago and I still cannot believe their originality and how they have all mastered their instruments….like toys in their hands. YES is a band that will still be listened to in the 22nd century. “Nous Somme’s Du Soleil” ~”We are from the Sun~”

[@keithplant2860]

Absolutely amazing! Thanks for posting.

[@timallbritton7329]

God, what an impressive piece of musicianship.

[@jmaz1100]

Yes is always better live. Especially due to Steve's far out improvisations.

[@palacerevolution2000]

Absolutely agree. Take 'Yessongs' e.g. The guitar solos on "Perpetual Change" and "Disgrace" are so much tougher. It's rare, but I got to give some props to Alan White for the slow part of "Soleil" here. It' s not easy doing that type of busy drumming in a low pretty section like that

[@caroleann_2142]

YES Was always the Best Band I've EVER Seen Live! & I've Seen them ALL!

[@salswordfish]

The best yes line up.

[@manuelgomessamuel]

Isn't "Ritual" the true pinnacle of YES? Come on all you YES fans, admit it!!!

[@chasr1843]

what total musical masters !

[@devigliero]

Una de las mejores bandas de todos los tiempos, un sonido único y poderoso

[@stofffpv3128]

I was there..Im one of them who loveTopo deffo one of their best, even tho it took some listening to, to get into but really worth the effort when it came out.

[@michaelbyrd7883]

Yes was such a great band back then completely original and Jon was such a beautiful and unique singer and Steve Howe added so many interesting qualities to their music, I just love Yes.

[@georgeraymondwilsoniii8807]

I agree with Winston! I Love Tales! My teenage years were filled with the Wonder of Ancient Cultures, Remembering my past and Revealing the nature & science of God! It all seemed very wonderful and magical culminating in Nous Somme Du Soliel. We are of the Sun or it seems we are from it if our Science teachers are correct. Maybe we knew it all along! Thanks to YES I re-awakened my soul to see God's Magnificent Creation!

[@pjet8042]

I saw that tour. Unforgettable.

[@stephengabrell7158]

WE LOST A GREAT PERSON YESTERDAY.RIP CHRIS.WONDEROUS STORIES!!!!!!

[@doctorvoronoff1504]

Because its ambition and sublime achievements, the greatest band ever...

[@yessmitty777]

One of my favs

[@carlossousa599]

Magnifique!

[@thumbob]

I actually started listening to tales again after 50 years. It's really growing on me. I was disappointed that it wasn't another close to the edge. But it's really an apex of classic yes.

[@jamesklein3103]

Saw them on this tour. Fantastic.

[@shawnduffy3380]

My first ...... you know what they say about your first..............

[@carlpalmer1709]

FANTASTIC! Yes has almost always been my favorite band, and this piece and the performance of it, is just one of the many reasons why. There's only one slight drawback, aside from not being the best sound quality possible. While Patrick Moraz is obviously a genuinely talented guy who, even though, was better suited to play the jazz-rock fusion type of stuff on Relayer, it would have been nice if Rick Wakeman would've stayed with them in that period of time. I've always preferred his style of playing and, for that matter, Keith Emerson's in ELP. Then again, maybe Wakeman's departure was for the better in the name of progress. What is particularly impressive was Yes's ability to duplicate such complex music live, and to induce such emotion by operating on the sublime level, and tapping into that specific blissful realm of the psyche, including Jon's nice little touch of adding those three beautiful lines from "The Remembering." The only other heavy/progressive bands, in my estimation, who could match them in a live setting were The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, ELP, Renaissance (Annie Haslam is still great) and The Who. One of the many groups who certainly couldn't come anywhere near matching Yes, or the others I just referenced, is the absolutely RIDICULOUS AeroSHIT. When I hear the occasional idiot mention heavy metal and hair/glam metal comic book acts such as little Stevie "Miss Tallarico" Tyler and THE OTHER 4 IDIOTS FROM BOSTON in the same breath as what were the genuinely talented "classic rock" bands like the ones mentioned above, it drives me fucking nuts! Those horrible acts that appeared in the mid-seventies such as AeroSHIT, Piss (aka Kiss), Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Judas Priest, The New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, etc. ruined "album-oriented rock," because they had to focus on "image," histrionics and theatrics much more than actual music to cover up the fact that they couldn't play that well at all, and it obviously hasn't been the same ever since. Perhaps the nadir was descended to in the 1980s by all of those even more absolutely laughable hair metal acts, including the aforementioned AeroSHIT; the others are even less worth naming, but you know who they are. By the way, Miss Tallarico looks like a disgusting little tranny ape; I just couldn't resist getting in that little shot. (Laughs)

[@carlpalmer1709]

Well, "a seasoned 'which' " (or did you mean to say "witch;" although I do like the Close To The Edge reference), yeah, Led Zeppelin, even though Jimmy Page is the most blatant of plagiarists, and Deep Purple, were also good, sometimes great, live bands. As were Traffic, the various Jeff Beck Groups, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, CSN/Y, Pink Floyd, Genesis, King Crimson and Jethro Tull, and obviously quite a number of others from that great late 60s/early 70s era of heavy/progressive rock. With no dearth of such talented bands, it goes without saying that any determinations of the "best" are highly subjective, thus quite difficult to make. However, in any event, what I did say was that, in my own estimation, the only others who could MATCH Yes live were Hendrix, The Who (particularly 1968-1974), Cream, Renaissance and ELP. As for Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, the latter never really "jumped the shark" musically speaking between the years of '68 and '80, although, aside from the 1969 debut album, I actually prefer their more acoustic and prog rock-sounding stuff. Whereas Deep Purple "jumped the shark" when David Coverdale arrived in 1973 with his high-pitched screeching associated with "heavy metal." Prior to that, they were a very good band with a good amalgam of blues, classical and psychedelia, not that dissimilar in this respect to early (1968-1971) Black Sabbath, when they were good. But with Jon Lord's knowledge of classical music, Deep Purple was much more eclectic than Black Sabbath. In fact, my favorite Deep Purple albums are Deep Purple (their third album released in '69) and Concerto For Group And Orchestra. It's just too bad that when Ian Gillan and Roger Glover left in 1973, they ran out of really good ideas so, like Black Sabbath, they went down that very dirty, muddy heavy metal road, so to speak, joining the very lowly likes of AeroSHIT, Kiss, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, AC/DC, etc. From this point on, unfortunately, "album-oriented rock" has pretty much, for the lack of a better term, sucked. Well, except for the bands/artists like Yes, The Who, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, ELP, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Renaissance and Jethro Tull, who continued on through the seventies and beyond.

[@irisdainter6507]

This is beautiful.

[@slidetek]

Cool - this is the stage setup from the Tales From Topographic Oceans tour, but not the one I saw the following year with Moraz. Neat to see the electric ribs and the giant scarab (or whatever that is) over Alan again. When I saw this stage setup in 1974 it warped my 16 year old brain. When we saw them in Winterland, they played all of TFTO back to back, and everybody shut the F* up and sat down. They don't do that any more!

[@buffbiker3]

***** Jersey City