One of the most radical and revolutionary numbers in the history of popular music. I didn't get it back in '74 when I first heard it, but it's exceptional. RIP Alan.

I've been chasing this song for nearly fifty years...

my friends and i decided to drive from worcester to providence to see Yes on this tour. got there only to find out the concert was in boston. so we went to boston and somehow ended up in 9th row at the garden

Relayer broke a lot of people's brains because it was so unlike other Yes albums. An amazing change of pace for Yes! Love it! Can't believe people were hating on Yes because Alan White died. Oh well, it takes all kinds. Nice review!

Relayer - An underrated and neglected masterpiece of an album, over-shadowed by Close To The Edge, but just as original and good in its way. Gates Of Delirium is incredible. This track is like a soundtrack to an epic movie. The keyboards of Patrick Moraz definitely bought a jazzier feel to the music, and to great effect. x

Yes always delivers a remarkable feast for the senses. Each member contributed sheer pleasure for the ears. The longer it went on the better it got! RIP Alan! Much thanks for your talent.

How can you not like this or at the very least the TALENT AND IMAGINATION! They have more masterpieces than ANY band by a long shot. I had to get it off my chest, because some of my friends went to see Motley Crue and I laughed at them. They think I’m a nerd because I don’t like the crew! I’m 61! MOTLEY CRUE??

Yes is still touring. White had not been sitting in on full sets for several years. He was at every gig, but basically only went behind the kit towards the end of each show. The band is going ahead with their UK tour, with Jay Schellen drumming. Schellen has been touring with the band during the past few years when White only played at the end of each gig. I believe it was Squire's dream that Yes would continue as a constantly evolving band.

Sound Chaser is in my Top Ten YesSongs, and now you know why 🙂 Other amazing music by YES that you've yet to hear, Daniel, are 'Everyday and Today', 'Everydays', 'Every Little Thing' 'Heart of the Sunrise', 'We Have Heaven/South Side of the Sky', 'Long Distance Runaround', 'Mood for a Day', 'That, That Is', 'Mind Drive', 'Tempus Fugit', 'Into the Lens', 'To Be Over', and maybe 20-30 more, so... just a few 🙂

Thank you for doing this! Sound Chaser is an underrated song, and White kills it on this song. One of my favorite Yes tracks. There is a video of Yes performing this live at Queens Park Rangers stadium in 1974. It was the opening number for that tour. You can see Alan perform this live.

Did get to see him with Yes in '78 (Tormato tour). Very nice reaction and touching tribute. Gracias Daniel.

I love this band so much, too. Thank you for allowing me the chance to relive those many true summers ago...

I borrowed hubby's good headphones to listen to your new album ( total score ) and ended up listening to both, several times. Anyhow I still had them when I saw this, well, I don't think he's getting them back anytime soon! Perfect guitar bite, drums and synth. Thanks again Daniel 🎶 you made my day

Ah... Yes meets jazz fusion. "cha-cha-cha cha cha!" : settling in to watch :

A pleasure to see you ! I was like you when listening to this wonder in 1978 (at 14) ... "Relayer" (and the other YES albuls !) are always a treasure I listen to until this day ...

It's always great to see people discovering music that I love so much. Wish I had a buck for everyone I played this album for in the first couple months of its release.

Thanks for returning to this album. I await your reaction to the final track To Be Over - a song Steve Howe often refers to with comments like "who IS this band?" And "How on earth did we ever do this?"

It’s about time!!! 👍👍👍

RIP Alan and Chris

No matter what they're playing, the musicianship of YES is incredible.

I don't believe you've reacted to Endless Dream yet? A later epic (1994 I believe) from them in a different iteration. Many will disagree with me but I put it up there as a Yes classic that seals their ability to make great music over multiple decades. Go for it Daniel 😊

Nice tribute, Daniel. "Relayer" is a 'mad as a box of frogs' album... and I love it. I like frogs too. Anyway, You should check out the film, "Imagine". It's about the making of the album and is an intimate portrait of the recording process -which, as a musician you will find interesting!. Alan White is there, with a smile on his face in every scene. As far as the line up changes of this band, well Jon Anderson did mention perpetual change, did he not? After all, these people don't have to listen if they disapprove. Bless you Alan White❤

Imagine pulling THIS song off night after night on tour, and 15-20 more over a 2-3 hour concert. This band deserves a special place for innovation, technical mastery, while weathering revolving iterations over six decades. And unfortunately, only through various passings does the band seem to get increased proper due. RIP Mr. Alan White.

Thank you for doing this, Daniel. Rest in Peace 🎶🥁 Alan White 🥁🎶 💔🥺

Zappa's band continually evolved, Jefferson Airplane evolved, Jefferson Starship evolved and is still evolving, The Who evolved, The Rolling Stones evolved, Pink Floyd evolved. People still go to classical concerts even tho Bethoven, Chopin, Wagner have died.

08:21 "I love this band so much!" Me too, since 1974.

To go in a different direction, I strongly recommend The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset." Beautiful melody coupled with beautiful lyrics.

Alan told the story of how he met John Lennon. Lennon saw him playing in a show and wanted him in the Plastic Ono Band. He called White, who thought a friend was pranking him. He hung up on John Lennon! Playing with John Lennon led him to a meeting with George Harrison, who asked him to play on his first solo album, "All Things Must Pass", many of those songs written while with the Beatles (and rejected by the group). Alan can be heard on songs such as "My Sweet Lord".

Aahhh…, finally. I was waiting for you to get to this one. Gonna enjoy watching your reaction. Great excuse for me to listen to the exquisite SOUND CHASER.

I was probably about 15 the first time I heard this album. My reaction was about the same as yours. I became a lifelong fan and hope you get to see them someday. They did say that thing about the band living indefinitely through new members. It’s a cool concept and although I appreciate the value of the original members, I hope they go on forever! It was fun to watch you go through the movements of this song. Im glad that you acknowledge the loss of the great Alan White. I found your video on his Twitter page maintained by his family. You have cool videos! Keep making them!

The intro was composed on Vangelis' fender rhodes that was still in the studio. He briefly auditioned for Yes when Wakeman left. I like most people didn't care for it when it first came out but learned to appreciate it after getting an album that Patrick Moraz did called Refugee with Brian Davidson and Lee Jackson who had been with Kieth Emerson in the Nice

RIP Alan White one of the greats, you will be very missed. Sound chaser is Yes at their experimental best with a fusion of several influences in one dazzling song. But it hangs together with all its layers and changes so very well and is true to the title of a band chasing a sound. Relayer is different to other Yes album's because of Moraz's jazz influence. But this album stands very tall in the Yes library of gems. I would recommend that you explore the Yes live material for two reasons. One Yes never disappointed on stage they were brilliant and could extend and elevate the studio versions of their songs. Second and most unfortunately, you will not be able to see the 70's Yes line-up live and the live recordings are the only for you to understand what Yes fans rave about. Many thanks for your reaction and tribute to Alan White.

I didn't discover Yes until 1983 with the 90125 album and then I worked my way backwards through their catalogue. Relayer, Close to the Edge and Fragile are still my favorites. So much great music.. I enjoy your musical analysis and I completely agree with you about the toxicity on Twitter..

This song was a master class on jazz--rock fusion.

This is exactly why I’m here! Great choice, and definitely something you won’t hear anywhere else and spot on commentary. Keep up the great work it’s coming through loud and clear!

Exactly the right reaction to Sound Chaser, it’s a roller coaster of a track from the band!

...and bluesy. Don't forget bluesy... Saw Yes twice plus Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. Once was the Union tour which involved Anderson, White, Squire, Howe, Rabin, Kaye, Wakeman and Bruford all on one stage! So the only members I've not seen play with Yes are Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. (they were on Drama which is a truly great album and one of a kind) Edit: I wasn't aware Patrick Moraz also played with the band. I'm a Moraz from his solo material. So another member I've not seen. I guess there's Peter Banks also. Lots of members over the years...can't keep track.

I was lucky enough to see them on the Union tour. Everyone but Peter Banks was there. Tinley Park Illinois 91 our so. Totally awesome!

I love this band soooooo much too.

Cha cha cha still cracks me up. Great track with amazing drums. Alan white was excellent. This song sounds like a tribute to some of the other great bands of that time. Moraz always kicked it up a notch. Great reaction.

Yes meets Mahavishnu Orchestra. The tempo changes are nuts. Lets go!

Incredible start to this piece. The band firing on all cylinders. Especially Alan! This could have been their absolute masterpiece track, until it crashes to a halt in the middle and never recovers the momentum.

That was the literal sense of Chasing Sound! MACH 1!

The second most frantic song of all time, just behind The Last Seven Minutes by Magma. If you don’t know this you are in for a whole new world of music. 😃👍

Alan White's drum "cadenza" during the intro of Sound Chaser is simply incredible drumming for 1974. Beautiful. I've never heard anybody transcribe and accurately play it.

Bob Seger Roll Me Away...great song great lyrics

Transition album when Wakeman left the band and was replaced by Patrick Moraz for only this album after that Wakeman returns for the next album Going For The One

I didn't know You had not done this Masterpiece. It's a Mind Bending Experimental Mixture that overwhelms the listener. "To Be Over" slows it down, and makes the ultimate statement. "And After All Your Soul Will Still Surrender, And After All Don't Doubt Your Part Be Ready To Be Loved". The lyrical spoiler will not diminish the experience. Enjoy another Masterpiece.

Ein absolutes Meisterwerk ❤🎉

Although I most definitely prefer the older more classic style of YES, than this..... God bless Alan White's soul. R.I.P.

I'm impressed. You read the lyrics and understood.

Well, bummer. I just saw a local news station's coverage (Fox13 in Seattle) about White's passing. Apparently someone had stolen White's drums a few weeks ago...

The idea of a "Yes Collective" without original members doesn't make sense to me, if the music is what comes first, i.e. the ones who wrote the stuff and performed it. There are tributes bands out there, some very good, that strive to sound as much alike as the band they're paying tribute to - nothing wrong with that, i saw a very good Genesis tribute band, Cinema Show, a few times - but if the original band ends up being entirely made up of ANY musician, what then is Yes but another tribute band ? Page and Plant decided that there was no Led Zep without Bonham, one could argue that the Stones can go on as long as Jagger and Richards remain in place. As for me, Yes could simply not be Yes without Jon Anderson's voice. He was the link to all first five incarnations of the band, and a major contributor to the writing. He can perform a Yes song with TodMobile and make it sound like a Yes concert just by singing a note.

Yep. The idea is that the band could continue forever. King Crimson has proceeded in this manner also, bringing in younger members that will no doubt take over in the future.

*_SOUND CHA-CHA-CHA-CHASER._*

saw this at COWPALACE !!!!

Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. Relayer tour was my first time seeing Yes I was so impressed I saw Chris and his band 35 more times over the next forty yrs. Alan was a brilliant musician that could nail it to the floor while painting a beautiful sound. RIP 🙏 Alan. Onward to To Be Over!

a really logical musical progression for YES at the time - and one that saw them take some risks and do something different and challenging (and also give their interpretation on the jazz fusion music floating around at the time from bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra). A fitting tribute to Alan!

Yes.. fantastic

My 2nd favorite Yes song is “South Side Of The Sky” from Fragile. They are all my second favorite because I can’t pick a favorite. Also: “Brother of Mine” from Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe

To answer your question on YES music being played long after all original members are gone: It was Bill Bruford who said (and I paraphrase), "YES music will go on forever." This had already happened numerous times before "Relayer". Steve Howe for Peter banks, Rick Wakeman for Tony Kaye, Alan White for Bill Bruford, Patrick Moraz (who played keyboards on Relayer) for Rick Wakeman. I could go on, but Bruford was right. YES continues to this day and there are several very talented cover bands that are playing YES music somewhere tonight.

Yes is one of the original Progressive bands, always thought alot of their music sounds like RUSH. But YES stands alone, and marched to there own sound. and never compromised their direction for anyone !! Weird song but Great Band !

Good reaction to an amazing piece of music by Yes. Relayer is definitely one of my fave albums

it holds up so well... just put it on and you'll be transported to hyperland

6:24 Patrick Moraz used string synthesizers. By contrast Wakeman only used mellotrons. That is one of the reasons Relayer sounds so different from earlier Yes albums. Supposedly there was a disagreement over this section of the song. Moraz claims he had written a more elaborate part to accompany the guitar solo but Steve Howe was adamant that Moraz play exactly what he wanted him to play.

I remember when the album came out and I first listened to that song, I said to myself, what will be the next step in rock music ? What will bring more in that direction ? But it never went more… Nobody went further as much a s I know. Some great tunes (by Yes and other bands) but none went further in this agressive and complex and powerful directions.

I missed the obit about Alan White's death. I don't know why it wasn't in the NYT. Or was it? He definitely was "big" enough to be in there.

A great Yes album is "The Ladder" from 1999.

Soundchaser includes amazing composition and musicianship and one of the finest guitar solos ever recorded in popular recorded music. Steve Howe could play this note perfect live too. as could the rest of Yes. And check out the funky jazzy moog solo By Patric Moraz at the end too. amazing.....

For me Relayer is actually the best Yes album. (Controversial i know) As a fan of all Yes work up to Tormato I base that simply on the number of times i reach for this album over all the others. Close to the edge is amazing and i am one of the Yes fans who also loves Tales, but this was for me the pinnacle of their powers as an album. I would however pick ‘Awaken’ as their best ever track (from ‘Going for the one’)

CHA CHA has nothing to do with dancing. It's just another abstract sound but if you've ever heard or seen Indonesian tribal Monkey Chant performed by 100s of Balinese singers/dancers you'd see the influence.. First time, one time listen to this always results in young newer fans making obscure references. (most Westerners only know the Latin chacha LOL) The song is simply about how music (sound) moves and can take us a magical wondrous journey within our heart and souls. Another of Jon's lyrically visionary & imaginative style of writing. As you've obviously been notified already, Patrick Moraz took over the keys from Rick Wakeman here, adding his Jazz Fusion style and influences taking YES into another brilliant unexpected direction. This was Alan's favorite album and one of my top 3 as well.

So GREAAATTT !

Mad River - Mad River ... 1968 ... full album

You got to be a virtuoso musician to play in yes music so complicated and progressive is from another world other dimension

The most "Yes" song in the Yes catalog which is why I would never recommend it to a newbie, but it's a dream for a hardcore fan, might by my all time favorite of their's. Everybody is showing off, the parallel bass & guitar lines, the wonderful Moraz synth work, Alan's kettle drums, Jon's pennywhistle madness- it's a massive adrenaline hit.

No doubt about Alan Whites drumming skills (given what an astounding track this is, maybe we should be calling it "percussion"?). However, the thing that instantly grabs my attention is Chris Squires bass playing; its just out there with the greatest of them IMHO. RIP two outstanding prog rock musicians.

Relayer is my number one yes album. Tempo changes near the end oh my goodness. Moraz solo was killer as was Howe's . Squire at his best . Love it.

I love the fact that they made four gigantic albums back to back from CTTE to GFTT, each one with a different line up.

Your comment about swapping members of Yes so the band can continue indefinitely has already happened with another classic 70s prog band - Gong. The last original (and founding) member, Daevid Allen, passed away a few years ago. Since then the band has continued successfully fronted by Kavus Torabi and most of the fans seem on board with it.

Showing my age, Sound Chaser was my CB handle in the 70’s . Only one person ever inquired if it was because of this tune.

This is a bit late, but if you want to hear a song that Alan had a large part in the composition of, check out _Turn of the Century_ . Alan and Pat worked out the intro during Pat's audition. They just clicked. I think that cha cha cha part is based on a tribal chant. Jon is very much into off the beaten track religions. However, I can't find it now. TBH, I may have been "heavily medicated at the time" to misquote Pink Floyd.

I support one of the users: you should listen to "Endless Dream" (1994) from the album "Talk" (by the way, the whole album is worth listening to). RIP Alan White.

I always thought this song was one of Allan’s best work with Yes…RIP

I like...

To Be Over..........next!

Relayer their best album ,on par with Close to the edge - both exceptional masterpieces - but i dont get why Relayer was always so underrated. Gates of Delirium , To be over, Sound Chaser - such a beutiful songs.

I hope you're going to go for The Gates of Delirium next!

First time I heard this track I felt like I’d been bashed repeatedly over the head with a mallet. It was mind boggling. Love it now though. My favourite Yes album.

He has already been replaced in YES by Jay Schellen who has been doing 75% of the drumming on the past several tours. Alan has been limited in his endurance for a while now.

Daniel, I'm guessing that little write-up from VinylGinger is a translation! But this song has always been slightly controversial. It's another one of those Yes songs that can clear a room, while hardcore Yes fans adore it. Each band member is pushing themselves to the max, and it's a crazy ride that even most bonafide fusion bands of the era couldn't have imagined (Return to Forever was probably the closest at the time.) It's easy to see why Steve Howe started raking in awards in various guitar publications around this time. The audacity of inserting a solo flamenco performance -- played on a Fender Telecaster! -- into the center of the song was off the charts. That sort of risk-taking has been sadly absent from Yes music over the past 20-30 years.

So many people are passing. May Jesus watch over them and there familys. No are you sure that was ten minutes??

Please do ‘To be over’ without too much delay its an amazing conclusion to an amazing album.

Try the 'Instant Karma' video, Alan White is featured prominently in it along with Lennon of course. Side 3 of "Tales from Topographic Oceans" has a lot of percussion on it as well. This song was a shock when I first heard it, especially the funky bits. This is the Steve Howe that's lacking on more recent albums. I find the most recent 2 unmemorable, sadly. They need to refresh themselves and do what comes natural, forget trying to write hits singles to please modern listeners.

Free Jazz Prog Rock.

I'm kindly asking you to complete Talk Talk's "The Colour Of Spring" album, so that you can get to their "Spirit Of Eden" masterpiece sooner than later! Do i sound impatient Daniel? If so, i'm afraid i have no control over that. ;-)

Sorry to butt in Daniel but I wanted to mention something about Dire Straits. Thanks

It's been way more than a minute since you've done any 1970s Kansas! May I suggest Icarus-Borne on Wings of Steel or The Pinnacle from the album Masque; Song for America or Lamplight Symphony or Incommudro from Song for America; The Wall or Miracles out of Nowhere from Leftoverture; Hopelessly Human from Point of No Return; and Hold On or Curtain of Iron from AudioVisions. Please!

Now can I ask you all Nicely NOT to set the hounds on me after this comment ? I love and cherish an awful lot of what YES has produced in the last 50 years but that doesn’t mean I have to like every single thing they put out or that sometimes they push out fillers that even they aren’t that fond of , so I’m gonna say it now !! This track is pure bollocks !! Not worthy of their name tbh… it smacks of “ we need one more track to finish the album “… “ let’s just do a jam and see what happens okay ? “…… I hate it , always did and nothings happened to make me change my mind . Remember now … I’m only being honest and I DID ask you not to set the hounds on me . 👀 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

u r so cute

Average music. Wot ?