by Alexandra Mrozowska
– Sr. Columnist —
Although it would have surely been a crime to put any labels on a writer – any bookworm whose shelves sag under a load of the Martin Popoff-penned books usually associate the Canadian-born scribe with coverage of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres. Surprisingly enough, for what is the 50th book in his catalog, he shows a slightly different side to his music interests. The subject matter this time around is Yes – one of the most well-known Progressive Rock groups ever. Entitled Time And A Word – The Yes Story, the aforesaid book saw the light of day this year via Soundcheck Books.
In a self-penned foreword to Time And A Word, Popoff details the creative process behind writing the volume, giving an explanation of some of his authorial choices behind it as well as revealing his personal interest in the band. Further into the book, the showcase of his narrative are the lengthy introductions to each chapter, covering both the personal and artistic situation of Yes in the respective decade the chapter is devoted to as well as the state of the music industry in the particular era. Those are both the sketch of challenges the band members had to face in the particular decade and the reflection of their reality at a certain point in their existence as a musical unit. Also, a number of reviews of Yes’ output is included, some by Popoff and some quoted to show possible multitude of views. Elsewhere in the book, the author’s journalistic craft is certainly limited – by choice – to the timeline format. It thus has the band story all organized with a clear, chronological and logical system which leaves little place for digression and anything other than scrupulous work of a chronicler. Thorough as usual in his research especially within the amazingly concise format of the book, Popoff delivers delivering detailed information on every period of Yes’ history. A reader can, therefore, trace the sequence of events from the musicians’ formative years to the current incarnation of Yes, both their vast studio work and their concert activity. Popoff makes also side projects and guest performances of Yes’ members a parallel and equally valuable element of their collective catalog, therefore portraying the band members as exceptionally prolific and creative. Challenging though it certainly was, he manages even not to lose the track of Rick Wakeman’s non-Yes (pun unintended) activity which resulted in a huge number of performances on other artists’ albums and side projects. He also pays attention to little details that complement the Yes story – such as chart performance of particular albums, promo videos or the cover art accompanying their works. The important events of the musicians’ private lives – such as weddings or birth of their children – are also not to be omitted, although the author certainly doesn’t dwell on them.
As the reader is soon to find out, this timeline for Yes turns out, in fact, to be a timeline for all things Progressive Rock. Popoff offers a broad outlook onto the entire genre, including also other important bands and albums in his research. He also refers to events related to the subject matter in any way possible – even the release date of a particular yet obscure piece of literature the band members will draw inspiration from later on! By utilizing those methods, he traces Yes’ intellectual and cultural influences as well as places them within a sphere of Rock music.
The photo insert let the reader trace the changes of time and line-up, walking down the memory lane with Yes’ members. The graphic retrospective starts with the vintage 1970s pictures of the classic line-up to end up with the contemporary live shots. The inclusion of promo posters in the book, apart from its value to the group’s own history, is also the graphic testimony of the music scene throughout decades.
Scholarly, an almost encyclopedic overtone of the volume is somewhat balanced and complemented by lengthy quotes from band members and other musicians involved. Throughout the book, Popoff has them expanding on particular topics and sharing their personal views on particular people, events or recordings. Almost every line-up change or personal perturbation is, in a way, sanctioned and justified by the interested parties themselves. Those quotations also reveal the personalities of the respective band members by showing their views on particular albums in terms of creative process, artistic content, and reception. Even though the interviewees refer mostly to their own pieces of work, they simultaneously reveal their general views on making music and performing it live, sources to draw inspiration from, the music business in general or even non-musical issues, such as spirituality or lifestyle choices. The slogan on the book’s back cover which reads “(largely) in their own words” is therefore not an exaggeration.
Time And A Word symbolically ends with news of Yes’ founding member and bassist Chris Squire succumbing to leukemia in 2015, contrasted with his 2014 quote where he expressed no desire to retire from the music business. This entire book, in fact, is a tribute to Squire – the only Yes member to appear on all Yes albums and “the heart and soul” of the band – that goes much beyond the authorial dedication. After all, there’s no better way to commemorate a musician than to acknowledge his merits and works. Time And A Word may thus be one of the finest memorials ever created in memory of this lost talent.
Though it sounds like a cliché, Time And A Word – The Yes Story is a must for every Yes fan indeed – as well as every Progressive Rock fan in general. Focused mostly on music and the craft of its making, the concise but thorough volume shows how the following decades – from the turn of the 1960s and the 1970s to the 2010s – shaped Yes and what was the band’s influence on each era. As for Martin Popoff – with his 50th book the prolific writer simply couldn’t have gone wrong. Recommended.
ISBN: 9780993212024
Publisher: Soundcheck Books
Website: http://www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk
