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YES: Going For The One | Extended Play Lounge Ep. 97 (Patreon)

Published:
2025-08-20 01:09:28
Imported:
2026-06
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This was a very special listen, y'all. What an incredible album! It was wonderful to return to Turn of the Century and Awaken...and I very much enjoyed the other album tracks. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Files

YES: Going for the One | Extended Play Lounge Ep. 97

Comments

Tom (the soggy one)

As my sister has always appropriately called it, "Going For The Buns".

Tom (the soggy one)

Funny you mention the cover artwork. It was produced by the graphic studio Hipgnosis, of which Martyn Dean, Roger's brother, was a primary. So, literally still in the family.

Tom (the soggy one)

While they had St. Martin's booked for this recording, Wakeman took advantage and recorded all the bits for his "Criminal Record", covered in EPL #41. Or the reverse. Whatever, both albums recorded at the same time.

Tom (the soggy one)

Personally, I've heard the lyrics to "Parallels" as a cautionary tale to the whole slightly-post-boomer generation that had fueled the band's success. That there was a much better love, a much better, more permanent high than what was typically... um... consumed at Yes concerts and the like. A more direct take on the Topographic message, if you will.

Gary Thobaben

Thanks for being so vulnerable Doug. I fully agree w you about CTTE and Awaken. They are both pieces with a transcendent quality that I rate with Mahler and others. They are the two main pieces of non-classical music that give me the exact same feeling. A sort of communion with the divine. Beautiful, contemplative middle sections that really allow for a feeling of arrival at the end. The form really makes the journey earned and satisfying.

Paul Dunsmoor

What a wonderful and touching episode. The music was sublime and your vulnerability at the end was incredibly courageous. Thank you for everything you have done with this channel. I have gained a whole new appreciation and understanding of my favorite music from you and it’s brought so much joy into my life. I’m a K-12 music teacher and I went through an identity crisis during the pandemic that had me questioning everything. Listening to music with you has helped me to rediscover the joy that music brings to people. Thank you Doug!

Allen

Thanks for sharing your personal reaction. Yes, I've been there before (emotions take over). ELP's "Take a Pebble" is very moving to me (at times; it depends on my situation). I also just turned 50 and went through a similar path (PhD but having to rely on numerous adjunct jobs for last 10 years). I feel like these experiences have made me realize that our life really is "fragile" and apt to end anytime. Now that I've gone through the hard times, my stoic and Calvinist sensibility makes more sense than ever before. I hope you figure out the next step in your life.

Allen

By the way, any hints as to what to expect for #100? King Crimson or Moody Blues?

Bill Coonley

If I had to pick an absolute favorite Yes track, it would be "Awaken". Every time I've heard them play it in concert, it was pure magic! If you are still into doing more solo Yes albums, I'm still going to ask for Patrick Moraz' "Story Of I", mainly for its genre-bending explorations.

Charles A Herndon

Thanks for sharing, Doug, both your wonderful analysis of this amazing album as well as a bit of your own wondrous story. And I do so enjoy your reaction to "Awaken," a favorite of mine and something that means more to me as the years pass - I'm now 65 and have been listening to Yes since I was a teenager. All of this music is transcendent, but "Awaken," for me, comes very close to touching the face of God, a true spiritual experience that I will be forever grateful to Jon, Chris, Steve, Alan, and Rick for creating. I appreciate your tears - I also weep with emotion when I hear this piece now - and I, and no doubt many others on your channel and those who know you and love you, appreciate you and your work. Here we can be.

Neale Brassell

Hey, nice to see the Lambert's Cafe (Sikeston, MO) mug!! A Missouri institution, home of throwed rolls! (For those who've never been there, they aren't kidding... I've seen their servers throw a roll a good 30+ feet across the restaurant! But don't worry; if you're not sure about your catching skills, they'll lob you one from a couple feet away. Oh, and... the rolls are delicious!)

Illume Eltanin

Thank you, Dr. Doug, for playing side 2 of Going For The One straight through without stopping. That was the reaction by you to Awaken I have been hoping for in all of the times I watched you listen to it! As I said many times, Olias of Sunhillow by Jon Anderson is my favorite album of all time. However, side 2 of Going For The One is my favorite album :side: of all time, including both sides of Olias. The music is entrancing, spiritual, enveloping, moving, and many more accolades too numerous to list. But, for me, the music is :not: why these two tracks together, in chronological order, is my favorite album side of all time. For me, personally, it's all about the lyrics. I know, I know... Everyone says to not try to interpret Anderson's lyrics; that he wrote more for the sound of how the words flow together than for meaning. But for me, not in the case of Wonderous Stories and Awaken. I have seen Yes live several times, starting with the in-the-round tour for Tormato. I don't recall ever hearing these two tracks played live in succession. I once read somewhere that Steve Howe considers the two tracks to be a single piece of music. But where or when eludes me. So, this is a very personal interpretation... These tracks are about the journey of a spiritual seeker. In Wonderous Stories the seeker has found his guru, his teacher, his spiritual Master. He is inflamed with the desire to learn all he can from his teacher, and greets each day with anticipation to be in his teacher's presence and perhaps make further progress on his spiritual journey. And yet at this point the seeker is still material bound. As he attains higher and higher enlightenment, he is not quite ready to reach beyond the need for his teacher. But then... Awaken begins. Finally, our seeker has attained Nirvana. He is overwhelmed and consumed with the joy and bliss of merging with the Source of All and revels in the experience, taking us along with him. When he begins to return to the mundane, he comes to the further realization that Nirvana/The Source has been within him all the time, and will always be there. Like the time I ran away And turned around ...and you were standing close to me To be brought back to the mundane in a peaceful and blissful place by Howe's final lick at the very end. For me, this interpretation of the lyrics, hand-in-hand with the glory of the music is timeless. I personally don't think anything else will ever top it. Is it any wonder my first alarm in the morning to take my fasting medication is Anderson singing: I awoke this morning Love laid me down by a river. Drifting I turned on upstream Bound for my forgiver. In the giving of my eyes to see your face. Sound did silence me Leaving no trace. I beg to leave, to hear your wonderous stories. Beg to hear your wonderous stories. Lala... To be followed 2 hours later, skipping the piano intro, by: High vibration go on To the sun, oh let my heart dreaming Past a mortal as me Where can I be? Wish the sun to stand still Reaching out to touch our own being Past all mortal as we Here we can be Here we can be I hope I never need to change my alarm tones, and continue to be able to transfer the files to each new phone as I receive. It is a marvelous way to start my day each and every morning.

Rhesus Perplexus

Forty-eight years and thousands of listens later and i still tear up listening to Awaken. An incredibly absorbing piece of music. Such a great album. Thanks Doug.

Greg Goddu

It's interesting that the I IV V VI progression in Parallels that is so striking is the same one used by Bowie in the hand clap section of Space Oddity on which Rick Wakeman also plays. I don't know why, but I think about that when I hear this song.

Bill Brinkmoeller

One of my favorite parts of the lyric in the title song is the part where Jon Anderson seems to be poking fun at (the public perception at least) himself. As he muses that he may not have got his point across in the lyrics, he thinks he "should go and write a punchline/But they're so hard to find in my cosmic mind/So I think I'll take a look out of the window." Also, the steel guitar that Steve Howe plays is a "lap" steel. Even though he plays his standing up, it's usually played sitting down, often literally in the player's lap. Thanks, Doug (and thanks to all the Doug (and Megan) lovers in Patreon-land) for this wonderful experience. "Awaken" never fails to get to me, too. Thanks for being our musical pal. It's so cool that you can make a living now doing this thing you do so well, which is be your lovable self and listen to great music.

John Osgood

You also must hear keys to the Studio the compilation of studio tracks from the keys to ascension albums.

Mark Hehir

Is it Going For The One, or as the structure is going - Going Four To One? LOL!

Joe Harley

Doug, this is absolutely my new favorite of your videos! Yes is my favorite band, and GFT1 is a magnificent album. I can't listen to Awaken without tearing up. But not only did you give us your reaction to the music, you were so moved by it that you shared some very personal stories, (not very wondrous), about your rough times. In another context, that sharing might have seemed out of place, but the uplifting, positive vibe given off by Yes at their best makes your opening up on camera a natural extension of the analysis. Thanks for trusting us enough to do that! And I truly enjoyed your explanation of the circle of fifths. See? You are still teaching!

Mark Parker

Rick has a lovely story of the local priest(?) gently extorting him for the use of the organ.

Ricky

Really enjoyed that. It's a tremendous album. Life goes places we least expect , but it normally goes to the exact place we're meant to be. Family can hurt the most , I've been there . If you need to talk , I'm a good listener.

me_you

Very interesting listen. I think that when the album first came out, I was put off by hearing Going For The One on the radio and decided that buying the album would not be a good use of my meager funds. Definitely wrong, I love all the other songs on the album, but I didn’t get to them until much later. On a humorous note, Doug needs the jacket Rick was wearing in the Wondrous Stories video.

Steve Hall

When my kids were still young (I'm guessing my daughter was about 13 at the time) I played Tales From Topographic Oceans while we were on a long drive. My daughter complained that the songs were too long, and I mentioned that she was quite a fan of 2112, which was just as long as the songs on Tales. She cocked her head at me and said "Daddy, 2112 tells a clear story from beginning to end. Anyone can listen along and know what is happening. I think that Yes needs to do some work on their narrative." I will be sure to remind her that Turn of the Century is clearly the product of Yes having worked on their narrative.

Margaret Barnes

We loved your reaction to this album. For so few tracks, it really packs a wallop!! Thank you for trusting us with your heart, Doug. It is a very special privilege to be a part of this community that you have gathered around you. You are our very own Pied Piper telling us your wondrous stories!! Just think, if things had gone to plan, and you had stayed with your teaching gig, you wouldn’t know ANY of us!! Can you imagine such a deprivation? These things mostly work out just as they should. 😉🙋‍♀️💖

Philip Briddon

This is a great reaction video and does get down to the grass roots of why we listen to the music that we do. I am sorry to hear about your personal issues, having been around this channel for quite a while now I was aware of some of what was going on. Likewise, life is not so easy on this side of the fence either, while I do have some highs to celebrate I do have some massive issues in my life that I cannot easily fix. For these reasons music becomes so important. It is a place to escape into when the world is becoming too much to cope with in real life. Bands like Yes can take you away from the harsh reality for a while and into a place of serenity when you can gather your thoughts, shed a few tears if you need to and prepare to face the world again. You could easily release this as episode 1000. It's right up there.

Adie

I think of GFTO as Yes' "Abbey Road" album. The album where they relived their previous glories, and could even surpass them, while they awaited the future. IMO this is an underated Yes album, that does stand next to their best. I think the band is rejuvenated by having all the spent time away from the band and found more of themselves to bring back to the alchemy. I agree with you that it stands next to Close To The Edge in achievement. Over time I have come to think that this has some of the best Yes music ever created. It was a real treat to experience this album with you.

kjdarch1 .

Thank you Doug, As a life long TFTOceans devote since 1974 I dismissed this album until discovering Awaken from thr Montreax 2003 video...IT IS NOW my #1 Yes Album...IMO, Awaken is one of mankind's greatest musical compositions..Thank you for sharing it with us....

Paul Hoyle

Bless you Doug...Yes are THE band like no other, as you've experienced these past five years, and AWAKEN is the most beautiful piece of music/song EVER...your reaction to it 'this time' is just like mine every time I've listened to it, and that has been for 48 years since it was released ...it's simply amazing, angelic and life affirming and Jon just has the unique spiritual gift to connect with our true SOUL...I've never heard any singer touch me the way he does. CTTE and GFTO do fluctuate between 1st and 2nd for me too...and CTTE and Awaken are simply twins. Please listen to the four Jon and Vangelis albums at some stage as they will move you to, especially the Private Collection. X

grnmntl

You were obviously touched by the power of Awaken; I could see your emotion. I grew up with this music and it hits me hard now, especially since some of my favorite players have passed.

Si

God bless you for the magical and memorable video!

Nick J

This video is just so good. How special indeed.

Adrian Goodrich

I am just blown away by Doug's video here. I had tears too, seeing how it affected Doug. At at how wonderfully honest and genuine he has expressed and explained his current feelings and situation. Its not just about this wonderful album; it goes beyond that. This must be the most wonderful Doug video ever? And I have never been more proud to be a long time supporter. I have stepped back in recent months, for various personal and medical reasons. I need to get back on board.

David Marshall

Out of the blue, 4 years ago, I got into song writing. The reason? Doug's review of CTTE, then classes with him, then lessons, on and on. As a teenager and college kid, I was so disillusioned with and scornful of anything smelling even slightly like religion. It took me decades to realize that the spiritual hole that left was filled in those years by Yes music. Seeing them live in '75 was a transcendent experience. When I stumbled upon Doug's CTTE reaction 45 years later - holy crap. He gets Yes (and Anderson's lyrics) like no other music 'reactor' out there. So thanks Yes, and especially, thanks, Doug. CCTE and Awaken are also my #1, depending on the day you ask. You are a great teacher - at levels that maybe you don't fully appreciate. You sure as heaven have made a big difference in my life.

Jeff Norman

I get why you'd think "Parallels" is in C and the A is the major VI...but there's another way to think of this song...which relates it to, of all things, "Michelle" by the Beatles. If you think of "Parallels" as being in A minor, then aside from that last chord in the progression, it's simply III-VI-VII. But Squire substitutes an A *major* for the minor i. Underlining this idea is his bassline...which just riffs on the A minor pentatonic scale (e-g-a-c-a-g-a c-a gaca) beneath the C F G A progression. As for "Michelle"? All of its chords make the most sense in F minor...but Paul uses major I at the opening of each verse to fool you. Unorthodox, of course, to wrongfoot the mode on the I chord...but I think, for both songs, the chord *sequence* makes a lot of sense thought of in this way.

Jeff Norman

Given the depth of Jon's lyrics elsewhere on this record, I've always been tickled by the fact that he actually makes a joke in the lyrics of "Going for the One": Now the verses I've sang Don't add much weight to the story in my head So I'm thinking I should go and write a punchline But they're so hard to find in my cosmic mind So I think I'll take a look out of the window. I love that self-deprecating reference to his "cosmic mind"...and realizing that, hey, y'know...maybe I should just look outside instead of living in my own head all the time? A joke...but a pretty insightful one.

Karl Egil Stubsjøen

Doug shared a gripping story that explained how he ended up with what i regard as a success story; The Daily Doug. I started listening just about when he started, during the pandemic. I thought I finally found I guy who knew what he was talking about. Not just the «Oh I didn’t expect that» comment, which most of the people reacting to music expresses.

Estefanía Sucre

Dear Doug: I found you when you started during the pandemic time. Watching you react to YES, Genesis, ELP, Gentle Giant, Reinanssance, and all of the other Prog Masters., has always felt to me like showing the music that is more dear to my heart, and a piece of my own identity, to a smart, kind, and appreciative friend. It feels like "you were standing close to me" in every reaction, and it is a joyful experience that I do not have very often, being in my 30s and listening to music that is poorly known and seriously underappreciated by my generation. Watching you today, getting touched with one of a trillion songs in the Universe, Awaken, (that has made me weep so many times as well), and the story you shared afterwards, makes me want to say again THANK YOU for everything you do. THANK YOU for appreciating this wonderful music, THANK YOU for being yourself, for being honest, for being fun, for being a music sage, for sharing with us, for listening, for talking, for expressing yourself. THANK YOU.

Tamás Polyák

Mike Oldfield based his Incantations album mainly on circle of fifths. It's really nothing like he did before or after it. It's worth a listen.

Christopher Arters (relative timeworx - Mr.A)

Going For The One holds such a powerful place in the history of progressive rock. In effect - the end of the classic era of Yes. Tormato sounded like a band that had run short on inspiration. Drama and the YesWest albums were never really Yes, IMHO. From there, it was a lot of disappointing attempts at re-igniting the flame. Even so, surpassing most bands but never reclaiming their own standard. But Awaken is a track that has a singular level of grandeur - unsurpassed in the history of rock. With the power to make grown men cry - even after countless listens. Remarkable

ax o'lotl

what a great reaction... thanks for sharing. I personally find Awaken to be the single greatest thing any band has achieved. hard to imagine how to challenge it... working on it. :-). thanks again... this was therapeutic.

James Geckle

Doug, as a new guy in town I’m just beginning my trip thru the Lounge and this was my first stop. I’m totally with you re: my top Yes albums, I usually say CTTE but Going for the One is a coin flip away. Also, I was getting a bit misty toward the end there myself. I’ve been listening to Yes since the 70s, so I have a lot of old memories associated with this album but more ‘recent’ events were on my mind. About 25 years ago, literally the turn of the century, I went thru some troubling times trying to dig myself out of a deep depression. My condition was almost as trying for my mrs. I was in a way running away from our life and the strain was awful. It took several years for me to straighten out, I doubt I would have managed without her, but when I did she was standing close to me. ✌️

kjdarch1 .

"We love this band"...since New Years eve 1973 -74 and everyday since...thanks Doug and the community, for sharing your journey with us....