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Product Description
CD Description
Recorded in 2010, The Living Tree is Jon Anderson’s and Rick Wakeman’s debut studio release. It features nine tracks of original material which will be welcomed by the massive and devoted fan base still commanded by these two artists who to many represent the true spirit of Yes. The duo will be touring the UK in October and November. Despite both artists having extensive successful solo careers stretching back to the mid seventies both Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman will probably forever be associated with the classic line up of British rock band Yes. Throughout the seventies, and for various periods in the nineties and beyond, both musicians enjoyed a fruitful working relationship as part of Yes. The duo however have worked together outside of Yes performing in the UK in 2006 both classics from the Yes catalogue as well as selected items from the pair’s individual solo catalogues. In 2010 it was announced that Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman were to tour together once more. The Living Tree, released at the end of the tour, is the duo’s debut studio release and features nine tracks of original material. Titles include The Living Tree (Parts1&2), Morning Star, Anyway and Always, Forever and Just One Man. The duo has been featured recently in the popular Classic Rock Prog magazine and on TV in the BBC4 Prog Britannia programme and, together with the UK tour, this will ensure high interest both in the press and amongst the fan base.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I went to see these two in concert in October where they played the album in full. I bought the album after the gig which Rick signed for me. Top Man! Basically it's a decent enough album as you would expect from these two. The only thing that lets it down slightly is the mastering on the album. As they explained during the gig, Rick recorded his keyboard parts in the UK and sent the music over to America where Jon put his vocals on. Unfortunately you can hear the sound difference between the two studios and Jon's vocal performance was better live then it is on the CD. Having said that the songs themselves are well written and Ricks keyboard playing is as legendary as ever. It's more straight forward piano and keyboard based rather then experimental sounding so it won't take 10 listens to get into the songs. The album progresses nicely and it gets better as it goes along, saving my personal favourite songs for last.
A nice mixture of songs appear on the album although as it is just vocal and keyboard there is no drum, guitar or bass to accompany the songs so don't go expecting it to sound like a classic Yes album.
It's nice to hear these two musical legends making quality music still and showing that they are both far from past it. If you are new to either artist then I would recommend starting off with some early Yes albums (Anything between 70-78 for personal preference or Journey to the centre of the earth by Rick Wakeman). However if you are already a fan then you won't be disappointed with this album
A nice mixture of songs appear on the album although as it is just vocal and keyboard there is no drum, guitar or bass to accompany the songs so don't go expecting it to sound like a classic Yes album.
It's nice to hear these two musical legends making quality music still and showing that they are both far from past it. If you are new to either artist then I would recommend starting off with some early Yes albums (Anything between 70-78 for personal preference or Journey to the centre of the earth by Rick Wakeman). However if you are already a fan then you won't be disappointed with this album
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Such a disappointment - 2 icons; nigh on legends and this.
Sorry - I found this twee and trite; it just drift aimlessly from song to song.
Believe me - I would have loved to have given a better review, but I cannot in all conscience do so; I did not enjoy this.
Both artists are capable of much, much better. To be honest - I found it boring.
I take no pleasure in submitting this review as I greatly admire Jon and Rick. Having listened to this I restored and comforted myself with "Olias of Sunhillow" and "Six Wives of Henry VIII".
. . . Oh dear!
Sorry - I found this twee and trite; it just drift aimlessly from song to song.
Believe me - I would have loved to have given a better review, but I cannot in all conscience do so; I did not enjoy this.
Both artists are capable of much, much better. To be honest - I found it boring.
I take no pleasure in submitting this review as I greatly admire Jon and Rick. Having listened to this I restored and comforted myself with "Olias of Sunhillow" and "Six Wives of Henry VIII".
. . . Oh dear!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to say that having looked forward to this album I was a touch disappointed. Ok, there's no doubt that Jon Anderson's voice is back to what it should be after a terrible illness and it's great to hear him singing on a new record. The issues for me are that I would have liked to hear more vocal harmonies along with some acoustic guitar and some percussion to really lift the tracks on offer.
Rick Wakeman's keyboards are a bit of a let down too. There's not enough swirl and flair in his playing, so much so that although he plays beautifully at times, his performances are a bit on the dull side by his own considerably high standards.
The songs are a bit too twee for my taste. The problem with Jon Anderson is that if you let him loose and put him in charge of all the lyrics, you know that there's going to be plenty of 'love is everything' sugar and honey coated goodness and buddhist style philosophising, which I find highly pretentious. In the past, there's always been someone like Steve Howe, Chris Squire or Trevor Rabin on hand to reign him in. Not here.
That's not to say that there aren't some excellent tunes on offer. 'The Living Tree' parts 1 and 2 are wonderfully melodic and should point to the direction of the album.
'24/23/11' is a highly thought provoking song about war from a soldier's perspective and 'Forever' is a gorgeous ballad sung quite beautifully by Anderson.
I'm afraid that the rest is fairly 'in one ear and out the other' fare that never quite catches fire.
I was expecting an album along the lines of the first Jon and Vangelis album, an album that would be lyrically wistful and romantic in places, but with some fantasy and cosmic imagery thrown in.
Musically I expected lush, dreamy keyboards with loads of classical chops along with bags of acoustic guitar and exotic percussion with those instantly recognisable soaring vocal harmonies to give the music real majesty, drama and power.
The fact that 'The Living Tree' didn't deliver what I envisaged, considering the traditions of the two artists concerned left me feeling a little short changed and a little empty inside despite one or two highlights.
Rick Wakeman's keyboards are a bit of a let down too. There's not enough swirl and flair in his playing, so much so that although he plays beautifully at times, his performances are a bit on the dull side by his own considerably high standards.
The songs are a bit too twee for my taste. The problem with Jon Anderson is that if you let him loose and put him in charge of all the lyrics, you know that there's going to be plenty of 'love is everything' sugar and honey coated goodness and buddhist style philosophising, which I find highly pretentious. In the past, there's always been someone like Steve Howe, Chris Squire or Trevor Rabin on hand to reign him in. Not here.
That's not to say that there aren't some excellent tunes on offer. 'The Living Tree' parts 1 and 2 are wonderfully melodic and should point to the direction of the album.
'24/23/11' is a highly thought provoking song about war from a soldier's perspective and 'Forever' is a gorgeous ballad sung quite beautifully by Anderson.
I'm afraid that the rest is fairly 'in one ear and out the other' fare that never quite catches fire.
I was expecting an album along the lines of the first Jon and Vangelis album, an album that would be lyrically wistful and romantic in places, but with some fantasy and cosmic imagery thrown in.
Musically I expected lush, dreamy keyboards with loads of classical chops along with bags of acoustic guitar and exotic percussion with those instantly recognisable soaring vocal harmonies to give the music real majesty, drama and power.
The fact that 'The Living Tree' didn't deliver what I envisaged, considering the traditions of the two artists concerned left me feeling a little short changed and a little empty inside despite one or two highlights.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
beautiful
I keep playing this again and again and again. It is sublimely beautiful, the very best of what Rick Wakeman does ( gorgeous solo piano) and Jon's beautiful singing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Richard Thomas
Only a word
There was a time and the time is not now and it isn`t right for me,
It isn't right for me, and the time is not now. Read more
It isn't right for me, and the time is not now. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. B. Fresno
Better with Time....
The beauty of this album comes only with repeated listening. A must for Anderson and Wakeman fans.
My main reason for contributing here is for whose who didn't enjoy... Read more
My main reason for contributing here is for whose who didn't enjoy... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Billybobs
Superb, as always!
Well, I cheated a bit, because first I went to see their gig at the O2 in London, so I knew exactly what I was getting. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Yannis
Two Old Favourites-Something New
Having recently become a very big fan of Yes and Rick Wakeman I was very excited to discover this album on amazon. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Greg Boyd
Exposed and heartfelt album
The Living tree
This album is a duet from two key Yesmen, now in their sixties they have both had serious health issues and they share a deep friendship. Read more
This album is a duet from two key Yesmen, now in their sixties they have both had serious health issues and they share a deep friendship. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Borris
Living Tree - preferable to a dead one!
Pleasant enough - though not high on the excitement factor - you won't be tapping your feet or dancing around to this! Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. N. A. May
Pretty, but pretty disappointing.
Given their talents, output, history and friendship, this album should have been a perfect pairing. But instead it's limp and bland. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Jason Mills
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