The advert is notable because it features photos of the band members, one of whom - Steve Howe - didn't actually play on the record.
As the story in the front section of the paper (shown below) revealed, Yes had not split up as some had suspected, but had taken a break while they parted ways with original guitarist Peter Banks, hiring Steve Howe to replace him.
"Steve is a fine guitarist and very cooperative," said Bill Bruford. "Peter was a player who never said anything. Steve talks about it, so we know where we stand."
Bruford also mentioned how Steve Howe's singing allowed them to do three part harmonies. "We are also doing Simon & Garfunkel's 'America', which has been given a great Yes arrangement."
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| Yes introduce their new guitarist - and Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly of The Humblebums |
With hindsight, it is possible to discern some tension still in the band. The interviewer asks whether they had added any new instruments. "Yes, Tony Kaye now plays electric piano," said Chris Squire, slowly and precisely.
The following year, Kaye was also asked to leave Yes, because of his refusal to learn instruments other than the piano and organ. At which point, Squire called synthesiser wizard Rick Wakeman, to see if he was interested in the job.
Back in July 1970 though, in another part of town, Rick Wakeman was talking to Melody Maker about joining The Strawbs.
The headline suggested he was the 'Pop Find of 1970'.
Rick was starting to become known for his amazing piano and organ playing. He talked about how he had gone from a face in the crowd to suddenly being in the spotlight.
He originally planned to be a concert pianist but then realised how little they get paid. He started to get offers from rock groups and was spotted by Dave Cousins of The Strawbs, playing seven nights a week for £40 at a pub in Ilford, Essex.
Tony Visconti,
who produced The Strawbs, gave Rick some session work. Gus Dudgeon, who
took on the job of producing David Bowie's song Space Oddity
after Visconti turned it down, hired Wakeman to play the Mellotron, for a £9 fee.
Rick also played the piano
on Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, but went uncredited and unpaid for
years, until Stevens rectified his error. It's unmistakably Rick
Wakeman.
Other session work for Rick during 1971 included the T. Rex song Get
It On, Elton John's Madman Across the Water album and most
famously, David Bowie's album Hunky
Dory.
In fact, later on in 1971, Rick almost became a member of the Spiders From Mars, Bowie's live band, a role that eventually went to Mike Garson.
That same
day as Bowie offered him the job, Rick got the call from Chris Squire. He met
with Yes and the chemistry was instant. They recorded Heart of the Sunrise
and parts of Roundabout
in their first rehearsal.
Perhaps this July 1970 gig at the Lyceum, reviewed in the same edition, was the one where they recorded The Clap, the guitar instrumental that featured on their next record, The Yes Album. It was certainly recorded at that venue.
Not a particularly good gig, according to the review.
"Looking very nervous and sounding it, the band with their new guitarist Steve Howe played a selection of old and new songs.
"Howe is extremely good and played some nice lead guitar on Astral Traveller."
The
review is also notable for the support bands, Black Sabbath and Uriah
Heep. Not a bad line-up. The reviewer suggested Sabbath played a good
set of hard rock music, "although they could have turned their amps down
a little."
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