Time And A Word (1970)

Time And A Word (1970)

The second Yes album kicks off with another cover — this time, it’s a song by folk singer Richie Havens, “No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed.” It’s transformed into a hard-driving, full-speed-ahead soul-rock cannonball, occasionally interrupted by orchestral flourishes. The use of an orchestra on almost every track here was a major bone of contention between Jon Anderson (who came up with the idea) and Peter Banks; ultimately, the guitarist was fired before the album’s release, and in came Steve Howe. But the concept actually bears fruit at times, particularly on “Then,” where the strings give the music a surprising weight. Still, Bruford is easily the MVP here; his hard-swinging drums give the music a suppleness and groove that Chris Squire’s stiff virtuosic-but-stiff bass and Banks’ at times proto-metallic guitar can’t weigh down.

Most of the material here surges and blasts, layers of organ and doubled vocals sitting atop the churning rhythm section, occasionally punctuated by a burst of guitar — plus the aforementioned orchestra. The sole exception is the two-minute “Clear Days,” which is basically Anderson and strings, and serves as a nice palate cleanser before the heaviness of “Astral Traveller” and the title track, on which the band tones down and the orchestra soars. Time And A Word is definitely a “difficult second album,” a document of a band attempting to expand its sonic purview and simultaneously figure out exactly where it fit into an at-the-time wide-open rock music landscape. As such, it shouldn’t be anybody’s first Yes album. But once you’ve heard and absorbed the classic early- to mid-’70s work, Time And A Word will be there waiting for you.