Prog Yes’ 1969 debut unveiled the band’s ambitions, powered by the seemingly rocket-fuelled bass playing of the 21-year-old Squire. sets out the band template: sugar-sweet vocal, lead guitar and keyboards playing tag, and Squire’s thunderous Rickenbacker running rings around the lot of them. In 1969, America landed a man on the Moon – but it sounds like Yes were following close behind.
Arguably their first big anthem, is the perfect mix of starry-eyed wonder and pure bombast. Squire’s spacebound bassline seems to float over the whole thing, like the titular astronaut in a gravity-free environment. Squire’s nickname was The Fish, after his habit of taking long baths in the band’s shared house.
It was also the name he gave to his solo showcase on Yes’ 1971 album, . With each band member allowed a solo spot, the potential for musical masturbation is vast – but Squire keeps it in his pants. This is simply a great track, with funk-rock bass lines weaving around ’s almost motorik drumming.
’s lead-off song was almost a hit single, combining as it does head-spinning time signatures and a perfect pop melody. Squire’s elastic bassline is the glue that holds everything together. And despite his bandmates falling over each other to display their virtuoso skills, he still finds time to show off.
Sample the fancy little run at 4:34. Yes’ salute to the elemental power of nature was another standout on . Squire’s jousting bass slogging it out with ’s keys on th.
