This morning I listened to this song on the way to work:

Yes - Time and a Word

Not the greatest Yes song...a decent late 60s pop song with a catchy chorus. Anderson's vocals are surprisingly soulful compared to his later elf-pop style.

But the reason I am blogging about such a non-interesting topic is Chris Squire's bass playing. On the chorus ("There's a time...") the song follows a really basic chord progression, something like the following:

| C * G/B * | Am * * * | F * G# * | C * * * |

But the bass line Squire invented over this very simple chord pattern (I say simple, but some of that little G# turnaround gives it great character) is the sort of stuff that inspires me as a musician. Driving, melodic, and musical. It's that sort of musical genius that makes me forgive his 1980s "I'm a pop star!" phase, preening around the stage and the like.