Album: A Life in Yes—The Chris Squire Tribute
Artist: various artists
2018 Purple Pyramid Records
CD: CL00914
With:
Billy Sherwood: bass (1-10), guitars
(1-3, 7, 10, 12), sitar (6), keys (3, 8, 12), vocals (4, 6), lead
vocals (12), backing vocals (1, 3, 7-9)
Jay Schellen: drums (1-10)
Jon Davison: lead vocals (1, 7)
Patrick Moraz: keys (1)
Steve Hogarth: vocals (2)
Larry Fast: keys (2)
Annie Haslam: lead vocals (3)
David Sancious: piano (4), keyboard solos (11)
Steve Stevens: guitar (4)
Sonja Kristina: vocals (5)
Steve Hackett: guitar (6)
Steve Porcaro: keys (6)
Tony Kaye: keys (7, 9)
Nikki Squire: lead vocals (8)
Dweezil Zappa: guitars (8)
Todd Rundgren: lead & backing vocals (9)
John Wesley: guitars (9)
Candice Night: lead vocals (10)
Brian Auger: keys (10)
David Hussey: backing vocals (10)
Chris Squire: bass (11, 12), lead vocals
(12)
Alan Parsons: lead vocals (11)
Gary Green: lead guitar (11)
Alan White: drums (12)
Jordan Berliant: additional acoustic guitars (12)
Produced, recorded and mixed by Sherwood
Additional engineering: Scott Walton (drums recording), Roger King
(for Hackett), Robert Norton (for Kristina), Mark Wallis (for N
Squire)
Art by Charlie Roy
Tracks:
1. "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" [Anderson/Squire]
2. "Hold Out Your Hand" [Squire]
3. "Onward" [Squire]
4. "South Side of the Sky" [Anderson/Squire, credited as Squire
on CD booklet]
5. "The Fish" [Squire]
6. "The More We Live—Let Go" [Squire/Sherwood]
7. "Parallels" [Squire]
8. "Owner of a Lonely Heart" [Anderson/Squire/Horn/Rabin]
9. "Roundabout" [Anderson/Howe]
10. "Don't Kill the Whale" [Anderson/Squire]
11. "The Technical Divide" [Sherwood] (bonus track)
12. "Comfortably Numb" [Gilmour/Waters, credited as Gilmore/Water
on CD booklet] (bonus track)
Notes: Released 9 Nov 2018. (11) and (12) were previously released,
the former on The Prog Collective; and the latter originally
on Pigs & Pyramids—An All Star
Lineup Performing the Songs of Pink Floyd and
subsequently several other releases.
In Jan 2017, Sherwood announced that he had signed on to produce a
tribute album to Squire. In a Mar 2017 interview, he said he had 25
or 26 guests, including several he met on the Cruise to the Edge,
although the final total was only 18. (There was talk of Jordan
Rudess appearing and he is not on the final product.) He described
working on the album in the break between the two Asia tour legs, i.e.
5 Apr-4 Jun 2017. Social media updates in Apr described guitar
tracking. Sherwood described working on "The More We Live—Let Go" in
an 11 Apr 2017 Facebook message, saying "Came up with a very cool
acoustic 12 string part, using this very cool miniature 12 string
made by Fret King Vintage, its called "VIATOR 12". Very unique tone
and fits great into the sonic picture going on for this track...."
He also used the VIATOR 12 on "Onward". On 16 Apr, he was recording
"On the Silent Wings of Freedom". Sherwood then had a long period
touring, with Asia and then Yes, before returning to the project in
Oct 2017. On 4 Dec, he said he had begun mixing the album.
Preliminary mixing and some additional recording appears to have
continued through the month. However, mid-Feb 2018, Sherwood posted
to Facebook that, "Wish I was mixing the Chris Squire Tribute record
I produced and recorded but for reasons unknown the record company
thinks it will be better if I don't.... still completely stunned by
that logic or lack there of. Needless to say I'm most unhappy with
their decision." However, on 17 May 2018, he posted, "I'm extremely
happy to announce the label decided to use my Mixs for the Chris
Squire tribute I've produced !!!"
Asked late Dec 2017 whether any of Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin would
be on the release, Sherwood said on Facebook: "this record is a
labor of love and being made to honor my very dear friend Chris....
this is the last place where I would let ugly politics muddy the
waters. In case you're not up in current events .... and so since
it's my baby, I've invited all those who loved Chris and truly were
motivated by the spirit of Squire. Those you wished to participate
have the talent skills and finances to do their own tribute to
Chris... Hope that puts this line of questioning to bed." (HP, 16
Sep 18).
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