Awaken (song)
Encyclopedia
Awaken is a song by the British progressive rock
band Yes
released on their acclaimed 1977
album Going for the One
. At 15 minutes and 31 seconds it is the longest track on the album, occupying most of the second side of the LP
.
Many Yes fans, as well as lead singer/songwriter Jon Anderson
himself, consider this song to be the best track in the band's entire recorded output: "We had a hit record! I loved listening to 'Awaken', at last we had created a Masterwork." Like many extended Yes pieces, the song has a very complex harmonic and rhythmic structure and enigmatic lyrics.
Along with the track "Parallels", also released on Going for the One, the song features a church organ played by Rick Wakeman
. According to the booklet of the 2003 CD reissue, these parts were recorded at St. Martins Church, Vevey
, Switzerland
. In addition the track features a harp played by Jon Anderson
, especially prominent in the quiet middle section beginning at 6:38 in the song.
An embryonic version called "High Vibration" had already been played at some concerts back in 1975 when the band was promoting their previous album Relayer
. Lasting something over one minute it only featured the starting lyrics (up to "Where Can I Be") and melody by Jon Anderson
with a gentle layer of Steve Howe
's guitar
and Patrick Moraz
's mellotron
. At that time the tune was used as a melodic announcement to "The Gates of Delirium
".
Since 1977 the song´s staple in concerts has been Chris Squire
playing a triple neck bass guitar
featuring two fretted necks (6- and 4-string) and a 4-string fretless one. From the first verse on up to the short bass interlude he would be playing the fretless bass using a pick. For the "Master of Time" parts (both before and after the long organ solo) he would be fingerplucking the fretted 4-string, while the 6-string one would be picked during the organ solo. The instrument had originally been commissioned by Rick Wakeman
for Roger Newell, the bass player in his solo band English Rock Ensemble, but was handed over to Squire
, much to Newell's irritation. The original instrument was a Wal
, built by Electric Wood in England, and it is currently on loan to the Hard Rock Cafe
in New York. The instrument Yes
has been using for many years is a Japanese-made replica.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
released on their acclaimed 1977
1977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
album Going for the One
Going for the One
Going for the One is the eighth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released in 1977 on Atlantic Records. It was produced after an extended break for solo activity from the group, and marks the return of keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had departed in 1974 after the Tales from...
. At 15 minutes and 31 seconds it is the longest track on the album, occupying most of the second side of the LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
.
Many Yes fans, as well as lead singer/songwriter Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
himself, consider this song to be the best track in the band's entire recorded output: "We had a hit record! I loved listening to 'Awaken', at last we had created a Masterwork." Like many extended Yes pieces, the song has a very complex harmonic and rhythmic structure and enigmatic lyrics.
Along with the track "Parallels", also released on Going for the One, the song features a church organ played by Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
. According to the booklet of the 2003 CD reissue, these parts were recorded at St. Martins Church, Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In addition the track features a harp played by Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, especially prominent in the quiet middle section beginning at 6:38 in the song.
An embryonic version called "High Vibration" had already been played at some concerts back in 1975 when the band was promoting their previous album Relayer
Relayer
-Personnel:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Steve Howe – acoustic and electric guitars, vocals*Patrick Moraz – keyboards*Chris Squire – bass guitar and vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion-Production:*Produced By Yes & Eddie Offord...
. Lasting something over one minute it only featured the starting lyrics (up to "Where Can I Be") and melody by Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
with a gentle layer of Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
's guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and Patrick Moraz
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
's mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
. At that time the tune was used as a melodic announcement to "The Gates of Delirium
The Gates of Delirium
"The Gates of Delirium" is the first track on Yes’s 1974 album, Relayer. Based on Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, the song begins with a prelude, which leads into a lengthy instrumental section representing the battle...
".
Since 1977 the song´s staple in concerts has been Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
playing a triple neck bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
featuring two fretted necks (6- and 4-string) and a 4-string fretless one. From the first verse on up to the short bass interlude he would be playing the fretless bass using a pick. For the "Master of Time" parts (both before and after the long organ solo) he would be fingerplucking the fretted 4-string, while the 6-string one would be picked during the organ solo. The instrument had originally been commissioned by Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
for Roger Newell, the bass player in his solo band English Rock Ensemble, but was handed over to Squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
, much to Newell's irritation. The original instrument was a Wal
Wal (bass)
Wal is a brand of electric bass manufactured by Electric Wood Ltd. in High Wycombe, England. It was started in 1974 by electronics expert Ian Waller and luthier Pete Stevens...
, built by Electric Wood in England, and it is currently on loan to the Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
in New York. The instrument Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
has been using for many years is a Japanese-made replica.