Yes have always been a visual prog band.  From their cover art to their stage shows, they have always given extra care to the presentation of their music.  There have been previous books that focused on their story from inception to the height of fame but many books only pepper the words with photos of the band and memorabilia.  Martin Popoff has taken the other approach and has given us a visually stunning book on the band with information and quotes in a chronological order starting in 1982. 

This hardcover tome provides many previously unpublished live photos and memorabilia through the years.  He even touches on some of the off-shoot bands like GTR and Asia.  He curated the timeline of import Yes dates and touched upon all the important information without making this too textbook-like.  Popoff has a knack for clearing out the mundane and focusing on the facts that matter to Yes-heads.   I’ll be honest with you though, the main focus and charm of this book are the photos which bring the history of the band to life.  The best way to enjoy this volume is to put on a Yes record from that time period, kick back in a comfortable chair, and read along while gazing at the pictures.  Even if you have other books on Yes, I would recommend getting this one as well because you won’t see many of the photos anywhere else.


This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.