Peter Banks was the original guitarist in Yes, appearing on their first two records (although, oddly, not on the album cover of their second album, which was photographed after Banks had been replaced by Steve Howe). If that were the end of Banks, he might be a mere footnote in prog’s storied history. Instead, he forged on as a founder of the in-all-ways-excellent progressive rock group, Flash, releasing three albums with them. He was also one of the first progressive rock guitarists to release a solo album, Two Sides of Peter Banks.
Unfortunately, by the mid-Seventies Banks had largely faded from view. His next venture, Empire, failed to get a record deal, and the guitarist remained silent until a series of instrumental guitar records were released in the Nineties. The first of these, Instinct, is good as instrumental guitar records go. While his contributions to the canon appear destined to be overshadowed by an unfair comparison to Howe, Banks’ work between 1971 and 1973 is deserving of its own pedestal on which to be admired, apart from (if parallel with) the music of Yes. He passed on in 2013.
TWO SIDES OF PETER BANKS (1973)
Visions of the King / The White House Vale: a) On the Hill b) Lord of the Dragon / Knights: a) The Falcon b) The Bear / Battles / Knights (Reprise) / Last Eclipse / Beyond The Loneliest Sea / Stop That! / Get Out of My Fridge. Released on elpee in August 1973 in the UK (Sovereign, SVNA-7256), the US (Capitol/Sovereign, SMAS-11217) and the Netherlands (Sovereign, 5C 062 94664) with gatefold cover; reached #152 on the US charts. Re-issued on compact disc in 1994 in the US (One Way, S21-18009).
INSTINCT (1993)
No Place Like Home / All Points South / Fogbound / Sticky Wicket / Shortcomings / Code Blue / Angels / Anima Mundi / Swamp Resort / Instinctive Behavior / Dominating Factor / Never The Same. Released on compact disc in 1993 in the US (Wild Cat, WLD-9205). Re-issued on compact disc in 1999 in the UK (Transatlantic, TRACD-309) and the US (Castle Music America, 517).
SELF-CONTAINED (1995)
Radio Foreplay / Endless Journey / More Foreplay / Massive Trouser Clearance / Lost Days / Away Days / Two-Rides / Self-Contained / Clues / Three Realms / Tell Me When / Funkin’ Profundity / It’s All Greek To Me / Thinking of You. Released on compact disc in 1995 in Canada (One Way, OW-30339).
REDUCTION (1997)
Dimuendo In Bloom / Tone Down / The Age of Distortion / Fade To Blue / Fathat / As Night Falls… / Consolation In Isolation / Dirty Little Secret / As Ever / Pirate’s Pleasure / Rosa Nova. Released on compact disc in 1997 in the UK (HTD, HTDCD-76). Re-issued on compact disc in 1999 in the UK (Transatlantic, TRACD-338) and in November 1999 in the US (Castle Music America, 542).
CAN I PLAY YOU SOMETHING? (1999)
Can I Play You Something / Bang-Crash / Peter Gunn / Hippie Loop / 14 Hour Technicolour Dream / You Better Move On / Beyond And Before (Demo) / Beyond And Before (What Bass Mix) / Lima Loop / Grounded / For Your Love / Flowerman (Demo) / Flowerman / Yesterdays / Electric Funeral (Demo) / Electric Funeral (Radio Fun Mix) / Cinnamon Touch / Get Yourself Together (Demo) / Created By Clive / Images of You And Me (Radio Fun Mix) / I Saw You (Bang-Crash) / No Time. Released on compact disc in 1999 in the UK (Blueprint, BP-301CD).
The cover of Yes second album was not showing Steve Howe but a drawing by Barrie Wentzell on the original U.K. cover, the american version of that same album was showing a photo taken of the band after Peter Banks left the band and was replaced by Steve. His first solo album ”Two sides of Peter Baks” is a great album, and starring real good musicians, Jan Akkerman and Steve Hackett on guitars, John Wetton and Ray Bennett on bass, and Phil Collins and Mike Hough on drums. And his band Flash with Colin Carter on vocals, Ray Bennett on bass and Mike Hough on drums, while he also received help from Yes’ keyboardist Tone Kaye on their first album.