"The Solution" is a song by Yes. It appeared as the closing track of the 1997 album Open Your Eyes. The song itself was never played live, but the closing ambient section opened every show of the album's tour, followed by a tape recording of "Firebird Suite" by Igor Stravinsky. It did not see a single issue.[1]

"The Solution"
Song by Yes
from the album Open Your Eyes
Released24 November 1997
RecordedSummer 1997
Length23:47 (5:26+2:00 (silent)+16:21)
LabelAtco Records
Composer(s)Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Billy Sherwood, Chris Squire, Alan White
Lyricist(s)Jon Anderson
Producer(s)Yes

On the album

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The work is the last track on the disc. While the recording's index lasts for 23 minutes and 47 seconds, the song itself is only 5:26. The remainder of the composition is consumed by an atmospheric section consisting of a two-minute break and 16:21 of nature sounds and clippings of vocals from each track. As such, it remains the longest studio track in the Yes catalogue, but not the longest studio recording (the title work from Fly From Here, a series of six songs, took this title in 2011, beating it by 2 seconds), despite being essentially two separate compositions.

Alternate issues

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Surround sound

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When the album was first released, a surround sound edition was available which excluded the ambiance ghost track.[2]

Japanese issue

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The Japanese issue of the album also includes this ambiance track.[3] In addition, the radio edit of "Open Your Eyes" appears before this song and after "Somehow, Someday".

Personnel

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  • Jon Anderson – vocals
  • Chris Squire – bass, vocals
  • Steve Howe – lead guitars, vocals
  • Billy Sherwood – keyboards, guitar, vocals
  • Alan White – drums

Notes and references

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  1. ^ Yesworld Archived 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Yes official site, retrieved 4 February 2007.
  2. ^ Allmusic review, retrieved 4 February 2007.
  3. ^ Allmusic review of Japanese version, retrieved 4 February 2007.