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Topographic Drama – Live Across America

Topographic Drama – Live Across America is a double live album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 24 November 2017 by Rhino Records.

Topographic Drama – Live Across America
Live album by
Yes
Released24 November 2017 (2017-11-24)
RecordedFebruary 2017
VenueVarious Venues Across America, February 2017[1]
GenreProgressive rock
Length136:44[2]
LabelRhino
ProducerYes
Yes chronology
Like It Is: Yes at the Mesa Arts Center
(2015) 		Topographic Drama – Live Across America
(2017) 		Fly From Here – Return Trip
(2018)

It is the first Yes release following the death of founding bassist Chris Squire, and by extension, the first release with no original members. He was replaced by American multi-instrumentalist Billy Sherwood, making this album his first release with the band since 2000's House of Yes: Live from House of Blues.

It was recorded in February 2017 in several locations across the United States during their 2016–2017 world tour that featured Drama (1980) played in its entirety, plus half of their double album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973).

Background and album

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In March 2013, the Yes line-up of bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and singer Jon Davison kicked off their first tour with a live set formed of select past studio albums performed in their entirety and in track order.[3] The idea came about in the second half of 2012 when the group discussed their future touring plans; Howe felt playing a selection of songs from their history had run its course and suggested one with a specific concept, one that was discussed for several years prior, but was not materialised.[4][5]

The album documents Yes on the final leg of their world tour that ran between July 2016 and February 2017 that saw the band continue with their album-themed tours. It was recorded in various locations across the United States in February 2017. White sat out for most of the tour to recover from back surgery and was replaced with Jay Schellen,[6] before White returned on the drums on a part-time basis in time for the Japanese leg in November 2016.[7][8] Schellen continued to play with the band on most shows for the remainder of the tour.

The tour's set included Drama (1980) played in its entirety and in track order with "The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)" and "Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)" which forms half of their double album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973).[9] In addition, it featured performances of "Leaves of Green", an excerpt of "The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun)" from Tales from Topographic Oceans, "And You and I" from Close to the Edge (1972), "Heart of the Sunrise" and "Roundabout" from Fragile (1971), and "Starship Trooper" from The Yes Album (1971).[10]

Topographic Drama was first announced in early September 2017 in conjunction with the band's announcement of their 2018 European tour in celebration of their fiftieth anniversary. They revealed the album was "on its way",[11] and officially announced the album on 28 September.[10][12][13] Its artwork was designed and illustrated by Yes's longtime cover designer Roger Dean.

Release

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The album was released on 24 November 2017, available in 2-CD, 3-LP, and digital versions.[10]

Track listing

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Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Machine Messiah"Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White11:17
2."White Car"Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, White1:25
3."Does It Really Happen?"Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, White7:22
4."Into the Lens"Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, White9:11
5."Run Through the Light"Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, White5:08
6."Tempus Fugit"Downes, Horn, Howe, Squire, White5:58
7."And You and I"
  • I. "Cord of Life"
  • II. "Eclipse"
  • III. "The Preacher, the Teacher"
  • IV. "Apocalypse"
Jon Anderson; themes by Bill Bruford, Howe, Squire11:24
8."Heart of the Sunrise"Anderson, Squire, Bruford12:14
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)"Anderson, Howe, Squire, Rick Wakeman, White21:57
2."Leaves of Green"Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, White6:04
3."Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil)"Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, White24:39
4."Roundabout"Anderson, Howe8:35
5."Starship Trooper"
  • a. "Life Seeker"
  • b. "Disillusion"
  • c. "Würm"
Anderson, Howe, Squire11:45

Personnel

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Yes

with

Production

  • Billy Sherwood – mixing
  • Maor Appelbaum – Mastering Engineer
  • Roger Dean – cover painting, cover design, logos
  • Douglas Gottlieb & Glenn Gottlieb (Gottlieb Bros.) – photography, package design
  • Jerry and Lois Photography – additional photography

Charts

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Chart (2017) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 94
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[15] 8
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[16] 91

References

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  1. ^ "Topographic Drama – Live Across America". Yesworld. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Topographic Drama: Live Across America by Yes on Amazon Music - Amazon.com". www.amazon.com.
  3. ^ Kielty, Martin (18 December 2012). "Steve Howe Wanted 3-Album Yes Tour For Years". Progrockmag. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. ^ Gradd, Gary (9 April 2013). "Yes brings back album-oriented rock on current tour". The Oakland Press. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  5. ^ Graff, Gary (11 April 2013). "Yes' Steve Howe Talks Three-Album Tour: 'We Wanted Some Challenges'". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. ^ Stutz, Colin (18 July 2016). "Yes Drummer Alan White Bows Out of Summer Tour After Surgery, Will Rejoin 'In the Near Future'". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  7. ^ "YES announce Japanese Tour in November 2016". yesworld.com. September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Alan White rejoins YES for Japan Tour & Cruise To The Edge". Facebook. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  9. ^ Gallucci, Michael (11 April 2016). "Yes Announce 2016 'The Album Series' Tour". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Munro, Scott (28 September 2017). "Yes announce new live album Topographic Drama". Team Rock. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  11. ^ Whetstone, David (5 September 2017). "Yes make a 50th anniversary date with the North East". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  12. ^ Kielty, Martin (28 September 2017). "Yes Announce 'Topographic Drama' Live Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  13. ^ Sinclair, Paul (28 September 2017). "Yes / Topographic Drama: Live Across America / new live album". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Yes – TOPOGRAPHIC DRAMA - LIVE ACROSS AMERICA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
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