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Mark and I were preparing to enjoy another round of our Yes Guess Who game this week. Unfortunately, Mark was ill and couldn't join me to record. Happily he is home now and on the mend. So I decided to change this episode into a version of the quiz you can join in with yourself. I even have an actual prize to give away. I have a 'spare' copy of the expanded From A Page album on CD which could be yours if you can answer my somewhat obscure and devious Guess Who questions. To continue our celebration of the first 15 years of the YMP, I have come up with 15 dastardly questions, the answers to which are all Yes musicians. If you would like to have the chance to win the fabulous prize (and I may well add in some lovely YMP goodies as well), please send your 15 answers by email to YMP Towers - that's [email protected] in time for us to do the draw on next week's episode.

This week Mark and I embark on a little navel-gazing. It's the first part of our celebrations of 15 years of the Yes Music Podcast and we look back to what YMP was up to and what Yes were doing 5, 10 and 15 years ago. We remind ourselves of several things we had forgotten, get trapped for a short time in a rabbit hole when I mention my new copy of Olias of Sunhillow and reminisce about how poor my presentation skills were when I started the podcast back in 2011. It's amazing that YMP still exists after all these years and it certainly wouldn't without your support and dedication to the world's greatest progressive rock band and the world's longest-running Yes podcast. When did Mark join the YMP team? Does it seem like years since the episodes we mention? Is Jon Anderson still a prog god?

This week Mark and I discuss the latest special edition of Record Collector magazine which is dedicated to the world's greatest progressive rock band. I was surprised and pleased to be asked to contribute some articles to the publication and the publisher came back and asked for more so I assume they liked what I had done. I ended up writing 4 pieces: An article on Close to the Edge A profile of Jon Davison A roundup of the most interesting extra tracks on remastered and expanded albums An overview of Yes members' side projects This is the first time I have been published in a nation/international periodical and I am delighted that the edition has turned out to be the best of this type of special I have seen. YMP Patrons Dave Watkinson and Stephen Lambe also contributed major sections of the magazine so it's wonderful that Record Collector magazine have chosen to engage with real Yes fans. The other authors featured are clearly knowledgeable and experienced as well, for example Jerry Ewing, editor of Prog Magazine. Do try and get hold of a copy of this edition after listening to Mark and me banging on about how good it is. Let us know what you think of it and leave us a comment below. What does this magazine contain? Is it worth the money? Is the whole of Yes' history covered?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Jeffrey Crecelius, and Doug Curran This week, Mark and I spoke to Chris Clark, thanks to YMP Patron, Mark Lang who put us in touch with him. We asked Chris about his experiences working with Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks live and in the studio. Now a veteran of approaching 100 concerts with the Yes co-founder, we were keen to know what it's been like, how it came about, how the first album, True, was born and what the future might hold for the collaboration. If you listen carefully, I think you might be able to pick up some tantalising clues as to what the forthcoming second album might be like and we had a great time getting to know Chris. I will be seeing him with Jon Anderson and the Geeks in September so I am looking forward to that.   How did Chris become involved with the Band Geeks and then Jon Anderson? Has it been fun? How has the band evolved?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Jeffrey Crecelius, and Doug Curran This week, Mark and I have been taking a somewhat forensic look at the newly-released Roosevelt Stadium Jersey City 17 June 1976 live set. We go rather deeply into the weeds around the quality, sources, presentation and packaging, all for your edification. Mark uncovers some surprising aspects of the (rather expensive) vinyl version of this release and we both enjoy the actual performances of the band which featured Patrick Moraz rather than Rick Wakeman at this time, during the Solo Albums Tour. What does this recording sound like? Where did it come from? What are the troubling aspects of the vinyl version?

This week, Mark and I were unable to get together so we both recorded separately, like we used to do years ago. Here we have 'retro' or 'classic' YMP I suppose. Anyway, we both enjoyed listening to/watching 2 different versions of And You And I - one from the brilliant Symphonic Live DVD and the other from the BBC Prog Prom event last week. I have embedded both versions into the show notes for this week so do watch those and see what you think of our reactions. Which version is 'better'? Is it fair to compare them? What was the rest of the concert like?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius This week Mark and I listened to 2 medleys - the Big Medley from the The Word Is Live box set, recorded on 5th October 1978 at The Forum, Inglewood and a recording of Jon Anderson and The New Life Band playing their Yes medley in 1980 at The Royal Albert Hall from a BBC recording broadcast the same year.  Yes Medley - Jon Anderson - Royal Albert Hall Event 1980  The Big Medley (Time & a Word, Long Distance, Survival,The Fish, Perpetual & Soon) (Inglewood 1978) It was a very entertaining process and, as you'll hear, Mark has a particularly interesting reaction to the rather different style of the New Life Band's interpretations, on a tour that Jon Anderson arranged to promote his recently-released second solo album, Song of Seven. Having just left Yes for the first time, he ended up being out on tour at the same time as the Yeggles version of Yes, who boasted Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn as part of their (fairly hastily assembled) lineup. For his part, Anderson collected together brilliant musicians but with a rather different instrumentation to the classic rock band arrangement. The Big Medley wasn't played on The Drama Tour (unfortunately, some would say) so we can't compare these two performances directly, but they are very close in time. What songs were included in each medley? How does the New Life Band instrumentation work? Which ends up being a better Yes medley (and do we even make a decision on that)? Do take a listen to the recordings I have embedded into the show notes for this week and let us know what you think in the comments over at YesMusicPodcast.com

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius It's the 50th Anniversary of Jon Anderson's masterpiece, Olias of Sunhillow this month, so it was highly appropriate that we spoke to the album's biggest fan, David Watkinson, this week. Dave helps us plot the musical development of Yes' co-founder to the point at which he felt able to create his first solo album - entirely on his own. We also discuss the amazing packaging and the album's influence on Anderson and Yes. Do watch Dave's interview with artist, Jeff Cummins, which is embedded into the show notes for today's episode and check out the photos of my copies of the album and a small selection of Dave's memorabilia collection. Was Jon Anderson ready to create Olias? Did he play everything on the record? Why isn't Roger Dean the artist?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius This week, we return to our occasional series on YesKit, this time featuring the instrument Tony Kaye used, briefly, in 1968 before he upgraded to a Hammond M100. It was the 1960s iconic keyboard, the British-made Vox Continental. The story of this revolutionary instrument is fascinating and we are indebted to the undisputed expert in the field, Chris Dale, for a great overview I read out at the end of the episode. It was huge fun to both research and then chat about the Vox Continental and I'm sure you will enjoy Mark's demonstrations as much as I did. How did it become the most iconic keyboard of the 1960s? What was the keyboard Tony Kaye had when he joined Yes? Why did he disguise it? Please do add your own comments in the show notes for this week's episode.

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Doug Curran and Jeffrey Crecelius This week, I have been researching one of the sets of photos that will be in the Barry Plummer book - Master of Images. It was labelled 'Roundhouse' but, as you will hear, that wasn't as straightforward a venue as I thought it was going to be. Once I get it all sorted out, I was delighted to discover that there is a crowd recording of the concert available over at: https://forgotten-yesterdays.com/downloads.asp?ftype=1&qsectionid=2&qdownloadid=37 After I told the story about what I found out, Mark and I compared notes on this early outing for songs from The Yes Album. It's a fascinating concert to listen to and we both spotted some great features. How many Roundhouses were there? Which one is this? How does Steve Howe fit into his new-ish band role?

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius It's time to post our full review of the latest Yes album, Aurora. Mark and I spoke - quite a lot - about the record and our reactions to it. As you will hear, we both like it a lot and we go into depth about why. There are a couple of aspects I'm not so keen on and there is even a [Shock! Horror!] minor disagreement between your two favourite podcast co-hosts! However, we agree that Aurora has some wonderful features and it's a hugely enjoyable record. What are the best features of this new album? Does it feel like a Yes album? Are there any less enjoyable aspects? Please do add your own comments to the show notes for this week's show.

It's been a week of huge contrasts. Aurora was released and Mark and I chat about the physical copies later in the episode but I also had the news from CLive Ayer that Yes' first manager, Roy Flynn died this week. Clive kindly agreed to come and share his recollections of Roy but before that, here are two tributes, the first from Yes' current management team and the second from Dave Watkinson: All of us at QEDG are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Roy Flynn, Yes's very first manager, there at the beginning, "beyond and before," when everything was still forming, still becoming. Roy believed in the band at a time when the path was uncertain, when the music was still finding its voice. He gave not just guidance, but energy, faith, and his own resources, helping to spark something that would grow far beyond those early days. In those first steps, from small stages to a recording contract, he helped set the course, quietly shaping the direction of a journey that would travel many roads.  He saw the light in it, the possibility, the dream… and helped carry that "astral traveller" out into the world. His time with Yes was only a moment in the greater story, but like all true beginnings, it mattered, deeply and permanently. The echoes of that belief remain, still moving, still reaching. We send our love and condolences to his family and friends. And with gratitude, we remember Roy.   One of those who stood at the dawn, when the music first turned and began to flow, when "love makes the world go round," and the journey of Yes first found its wings. Martin Darvill Chairman, QEDG Management _________________________________ We are all very thankful for his dedication, money, foresight, and for unknowingly helping start such an important band.    We look back fondly to those early days, so fresh and new, with big dreams and relentless energy.    Thank you, Roy.    David Watkinson

Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius Mark and I are looking forward to talking about the new Yes album, Aurora, next week but this time, we have gone right back to the first ever Yes compilation album, Yesterdays, because we mentioned the first song on the record a couple of weeks ago, in the context of The New Age of Atlantic album. We enjoyed listening to the 1975 release again, particularly the first and last songs. There is a bit of audio geekery and lots of enthusing about this great collection from us both. Please do let us know what you think of Yesterdays and what's in your deadwax, of course. Why was this album released when it was? Are there any undiscovered songs on here? Who is actually on the record?

This week we welcomed bass maestro Miguel Falcão back onto the YMP, this time to talk about the bass that appears in Barry Plummer's photo set from Redan Recorders in February 1980. Chris shows off his new instrument to the camera so we have a great insight into his feelings, shortly after he received his customised Electra MPC bass. He seems rather pleased with it, as you can see in the photos I have included, appropriately watermarked, in the show notes for this week. I kick off the conversation by explaining what Yes were doing in Redan Recorders and why Barry Plummer's visit was fortuitous, at least for those of us interested in the history of the world's greatest progressive rock band. Miguel then takes us through all the details of the Electra bass, delving deeply into the weeds in the way we enjoy very much on the YMP. What was special about this bass guitar? Where and how did Chris use it? What happened to the instrument in the end?

This week, Mark and I had a very interesting chat about collecting Yes music - different pressings, different versions, different formats. I had come up with several categories of Yes collectors and here they are: Musical completist Artist/Band Supporter Band historian Audiophile History fanatic Tactile fanatic Emotional collector So which category do you think you fit into - or perhaps you consider yourself in several, all or none. Please do let us know in the show notes for this week. This topic came up because I have just received several new (to me) Yes and Yes-related items. I have put some photos in the show notes for this week.