The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection is a compilation album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was originally released on 2 CDs on 28 July 2003 by Warner Music in the United Kingdom. A 3 CD edition with additional material, including an acoustic EP with new recordings from October 2003, was released in the US on 27 January 2004 by Rhino Records.
The album was a commercial success in the UK, reaching No. 10 on the UK Albums Chart to become their highest performance on the chart since Union in 1991, selling more than 19,000 copies in its first week of release and 80,000 at the end of 2003. It was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry for selling 100,000 copies. In the US, it peaked at No. 131 on the Billboard 200. The Ultimate Yes was supported with a one-off acoustic performance recorded on Yes Acoustic: Guaranteed No Hiss (2004) and their 35th Anniversary Tour, covering Europe and North America through 2004.
Contents
Personnel
This list is in chronological order by who first joined the band (or when they joined the band for the first time).
Jon Anderson – Lead vocals (1969–1980, 1983–2004)
Chris Squire – Bass guitar, Backing vocals (1969–1981, 1983–2004)
Peter Banks – Lead guitars (1969–1970)
Bill Bruford – Drums, Percussion (1969–1972, 1990–1992)
Tony Kaye – Keyboards (1969–1971, 1983–1994)
Steve Howe – Lead guitars, Backing vocals (1971–1981, 1990–1992, 1995–2004)
Rick Wakeman – Keyboards (1971–1974, 1977–1980, 1990–1992, 1995–1996, 2002–2004)
Alan White – Drums, Percussion (1973–1981, 1983–2004)
Patrick Moraz – Keyboards (1974–1976)
Trevor Horn – Lead vocals (1980–1981)
Geoff Downes – Keyboards (1980–1981)
Trevor Rabin – Lead guitars, Backing/Lead vocals, Keyboards (1983–1994)
Billy Sherwood – Rhythm guitars, Keyboards, Backing vocals (1997–2000)
Igor Khoroshev – Keyboards (1997–2001) (except on track 13 of Disc 2, U.S. Release)
Additional personnel
Steve Porcaro – keyboards on track 13 of Disc 2, U.S. Release
Personnel on Disc 3, U.S. Release
Jon Anderson – lead vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar (tracks 1–3)
Chris Squire – acoustic bass guitar (tracks 1–3), electric bass (track 5), backing vocals (tracks 1–3)
Steve Howe – lead acoustic guitar, backing vocals (tracks 1–4)
Rick Wakeman – piano (tracks 1–3)
Alan White – drums, percussion (tracks 1–3)
New recordings
The later US release included a third disc of new recordings. These included three semi-acoustic band recordings, similar to what the band had been playing live: two versions of old Yes songs ("Roundabout" and "South Side of the Sky") and one new song by Anderson ("Show Me"). Also included was a Howe solo recording, a new version of his solo piece from the 1970s, "Australia", recorded with the help of Oliver Wakeman, Rick's son, who would later join Yes. Finally, "New World Symphony" was a solo recording by Squire, an adaptation of Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E min.
The lyrics to "Show Me" are about the Gulf War.