Keys to Ascension

Infobox Album
Name = Keys to Ascension
Type = Live album
Longtype = (double, with studio tracks)
Artist = Yes


Released = 28 October 1996
Recorded = Autumn 1995 - Spring 1996
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 116:12
Label = Essential Records
Producer = Yes, Tom Fletcher
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jn91z82aoyvn link]
Last album = "Talk"
(1994)
This album = "Keys to Ascension"
(1996)
Next album = "Keys to Ascension 2"
(1997)

"Keys to Ascension" is a double album by the British progressive rock group Yes and was released in 1996. The last time Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White had worked together on officially released studio recordings was 1978's "Tormato".

The first seven of the album’s nine tracks were recorded live in San Luis Obispo, California’s Fremont Theater during three nights in March 1996. The purpose of these concerts was to capture the spontaneity of a live performance under controlled conditions, similar to that of a studio. These performances were also filmed and released as a live video under the same title.

The last two tracks are studio recordings of new compositions recorded in the autumn of 1995 until early 1996. Other live recordings not released on this album were held over for release in 1997 on "Keys to Ascension 2".

Track listing

Disc one

#"Siberian Khatru" (Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Rick Wakeman) – 10:16
#"The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Steve Howe/Rick Wakeman/Alan White) – 20:31
#"America" (Paul Simon) – 10:28
#"Onward" (Steve Howe/Chris Squire) – 5:40
#* "Features a new intro by Steve Howe entitled "Unity"
#"Awaken" (Jon Anderson/Steve Howe) – 18:29

Disc two

#"Roundabout" (Jon Anderson/Steve Howe) – 8:30
#"Starship Trooper" – 13:06
##"Life Seeker" (Jon Anderson)
##"Disillusion" (Chris Squire)
##"Würm" (Steve Howe)
#"Be the One" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Steve Howe) – 9:50
##"The One"
##"Humankind"
##"Skates"
#"That, That Is" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Steve Howe/Alan White) – 19:15
##"Togetherness"
##"Crossfire"
##"The Giving Things"
##"That Is"
##"All in All"
##"How Did Heaven Begin?"
##"Agree to Agree"
#* "The above two tracks are studio recordings"

Production

*Produced By Yes & Tom Fletcher
*Mixed By Kevin Dickey, Billy Sherwood, Tom Fletcher & Bill Smith
*Engineered By Zang Anglefire & Tom Fletcher

Chart Success

"Keys to Ascension" (Essential EDF CD 417) reached #48 in the UK. It also reached #99 in the US during a chart stay of 2 weeks.

Personnel

*Jon Anderson - vocals, harp, guitars
*Chris Squire - bass (piccolo bass on "Be The One"), backing vocals
*Steve Howe - guitar, backing vocals (6 string bass on "Be The One")
*Rick Wakeman - keyboards
*Alan White - drums

ources

* AllMusicGuide.com
* "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002