Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm not sure if this has already been posted, but I found this while perusing tonight: footage of YES recording 'America' with what sounds like a rough no-FX mix. Squire's bass cuts through with amazing clarity.

Great clip! Thanks for posting, I always loved Yes' version of America and Chris's bass sounds fantastic here.

Nice close ups of the RM at 2:55 and 4:52 showing the pickup selector in the UP position, it seems Chris got a lot (maybe even most?) of his sound from the Toaster. If I'd not seen that I'd have sworn the HS was adding a lot of that crunch from an amp set to overdrive.

Still one of my favorite tracks, especially Steve's solo, which he plays on his (impossible to find one) Hayman 2020.

I believe Chris uses both pickups almost all of the time, any video shot, unless a true live performance, can't really tell the story. But even when Chris selects the neck pickup, he still plucks below the HS, which has a great deal to do with his sound. Normally, if I use a neck pickup on guitar or bass, I tend to also play near the pickup, but Chris seems to do just the opposite.

just_bassics wrote:...any video shot, unless a true live performance, can't really tell the story.

I agree. And this footage in particular really looks like a lip-synch promo vs a capture of the actual recording session, the more I look at it. Evidence of this possibility is the absence of headphones on most of the band members, and the incredible amount of goofing by Wakeman.

just_bassics wrote:Still one of my favorite tracks

Mine as well!
Thanks for posting that, Mark!

rickenbrother wrote:

just_bassics wrote:Still one of my favorite tracks

Mine as well!
Thanks for posting that, Mark!

VERY COOL INDEED!

Thanks Mark!

Great old video.

walker wrote:

just_bassics wrote:...any video shot, unless a true live performance, can't really tell the story.

I agree. And this footage in particular really looks like a lip-synch promo vs a capture of the actual recording session, the more I look at it. Evidence of this possibility is the absence of headphones on most of the band members, and the incredible amount of goofing by Wakeman.

Hehe, fair point! In my defence I was watching it pre-caffeine-hit this morning

Even as a "mockumentary," the audio is still a rough mix different from the album-released version.

Regardless of what it is.... it sounds good and is fun to watch. Thanks for posting Mark!

I think Chris Squire was born with killer tone in his blood. This clip that demonstrates just how obvious it is.

When my band covered "America" and "Yours is No Disgrace" back in the '70s, I always used the neck pickup of my 4001 for the "softer" bits -- during the "Laughing on the bus" section of "America," and the first "Death defying mutilated" section of "YIND."