Chris Squire - Fish Out of Water

By 1975, Yes already achieved success with The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, and Relayer. By that time period, the band took a hiatus after they finished touring during the promotion for Relayer as they decided to focus on solo projects. Steve Howe released Beginnings, Patrick Moraz did The Story of I, Alan White released Ramshackled, and Jon Anderson did his mind-boggling release of Olias of Sunhillow.

But then Chris Squire released his debut Fish Out of Water. Originally released on the Atlantic label in November of 1975, Chris’ debut album was like a breath of fresh air. And for him, on the album showing Squire’s support including Bill Bruford, Patrick Moraz, King Crimson’s Mel Collins, Caravan’s Jimmy Hastings, and childhood friend Andrew Pryce Jackman, who was with Chris in his first band, The Syn, worked on the orchestration for the album.

Hermann Hesse once said, “Solitude is Independence.” Squire knew he achieve his independency both of the bands and now in the solo chair. And since dawning upon this album back when I was in Houston Community College 11 years ago, and nearly forgot about until Esoteric making the announcement of reissuing Chris’ magnum opus, it was time to ride up on the ship once more by both discovering and the understanding that he was more than just an incredible bass player, and more than just being a member of both The Syn and Yes.

The name, Fish Out of Water, means that Chris whose nickname was “Fish”, wanted to be away from the Yes context and be “Out of Water”. For him to open the door to show the landscapes and beyond the topographic oceans that were close to the edge.

This year, Esoteric Recordings have brought the doors open and bringing Chris’ legacy alive with the amazing 2-CD reissue set that the first disc contains the new stereo mix by King Crimson’s Jakko Jakszyk, the second disc containing the original mix, and four bonus tracks including single versions (Lucky Seven and Silently Falling), and A and B-sides (Run with the Fox and Return of the Fox) of a Christmas single that he did with Alan White.

The opener Hold Out Your Hand, featuring the St. Paul cathedral organ done by organist Barry Rose and Squire’s killer introduction from his Rickenbacker before Bruford kicking into overdrive thanks to Jakko’s mix as the clavinet come to the center as Chris sings “You can feel it/coming with the morning light/And you know the feelings/gonna make you feel alright/Almost close enough to Hold Out your Hand/span the distance/store resistance/to attack is to retreat.”

The lyrics have a spirituality vibration as if Chris is giving the listener to search for their inner self and be at peace with themselves to move forward. Jackman’s orchestration is lifting and soaring to be following Squire’s vocalizations and heading upwards to the heavens before coming back down to Earth by seguing into a romantic ballad of You By My Side.

Chris and Jackman share this emotional walking line that they do between their instruments. Chris’ lyrics tugs your heart as he’s bringing love and hope throughout his singing. And knowing that he’s always by your side and understanding that a brand new day is upon them.

The flutes are clearer in the new mix along with the Tubular Bells and its gives this warmth feeling that is almost letting the listener that everything’s going to be okay. The horn sections that Jackman’s arrangement gives, is in one word, hope. Silently Falling feels like something straight out of the sessions between Close to the Edge and The Moody Blues’ In Search of the Lost Chord.

I feel this nod to Ray Thomas’ flute playing that Jimmy Hastings does as if he’s honoring Ray’s improvisation as Chris opens the door to see what lies ahead between the band and the piano work as if the heavens are opening up for us to see what is to come. The improvisations shine brightly throughout the midsection as Squire gives each of the members some free-rein including some incredible organ work.

While Jackman helps out, Chris is very much like a conductor. And what he does is that he gives them ideas and some brainstorm moments by giving directions on where he wants them to go next. And it’s a great opportunity for his support team by letting him know, they’ve got his back. Lucky Seven is the song being in the time signature of 7/8. First it starts off with some Rhodes-like intro before Squire, Bruford, and Jackman go into space and time.

Mel Collins helps out on the controls through his sax while you hear this clapping rhythm in the background throughout the midsection as Bill himself is laying down some incredible work on his kit. Mel creates these improvisations throughout his sax as if he’s making sure the ship is ready to head back towards Earth. Knowing that he’s got back up, he and the members give Chris an amazing landing.

The closing track, Safe (Canon Song), is taking an example of closing the book and starting a new chapter. You have this amazing pastoral introduction from the string and harp section before Chris sings “When your savior lets you down/who will mind?/when your lover turns around/joy in the morning/love in the stars/peace and understanding/standing right beside you when you’re walking down the street/walk in time.”

The symphonic beauty gives this warmth sun rising atmosphere as if a new day has arrived. And everything has to come full circle. Jackman’s arrangements really bring the hope of the new beginning. It’s a shape-shifting composition clocking in at 15-minutes and it is a great finale to close the album off. The bonus tracks on the second disc as I’ve mentioned earlier contains the original mix, single versions, and two bonus tracks that were released as singles in October of 1981 containing Run with the Fox and the instrumental version of Return of the Fox featuring Nikki Squire on vocals.

The song has this pop flavored touch that you can imagine this could have been written during the sessions for Supertramp’s Crisis? What Crisis? Squire and Alan White do well on the Christmas single and makes you feel that you were home on that December snowy evening to watch the trees, having hot cocoa, and opening your presents while seeing the snow coming down outside.

The 24-page booklet contains liner notes by Sid Smith describing the history of the album, interviews with Bill Bruford, Gregg Jackman (Andrew’s brother), Patrick Moraz, and Jakko Jakszyk about the album. Jakko’s new stereo mix on disc one is like a breath of fresh air. He’s not trying to re-write history on the album, but to honor Squire’s legacy and staying true to the multi-tracks on disc one.

He brings clarity that’s on Fish Out of Water. And I can imagine Chris would have been thrilled of seeing his 1975 solo album bring another life and Esoteric Recordings brings it back to give Chris the recognition he deserves. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, “Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.”