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Yes
If you are looking for the quintessential progressive rock band, a simple word
"Yes," the legendary group formed in London in 1968, fit the bill perfectly.
While most rock bands at the time were carving their respective niches with
garage-rock mixed with R & B, Yes were expert the experimentalists, especially
with their incomparable keyboard work.
The band was formed in a London music industry pub when vocalist and song
writer Jon Anderson met up with bass player Chris Squire. Adding the raw
guitar energy of Peter Banks, the stalwart drumming of Bill Bruford and
inventive keyboardist Tony Kaye, one of their first gigs was opening for the
iconic rock band Cream, on Cream's farewell tour.
The group was an instant success. The band were experts at mixing Anderson's
vocal acrobatics, compelling harmonies and a specialized "space" rock sound
that would be one of the characteristics that would help define the group's
ultimate success.
After a couple of well-received albums (Yes 1969) and (Time and a Word 1970),
Banks left the band and was replaced by guitarist Steve Howe. With the fantasy
landscape album cover illustrations of artist Roger Dean, the "Yes" sound was
formulated by mixing mystical lyrics with exceptional folk melodies and soaring
keyboards. Their breakthrough release, simply entitled "The Yes Album" (1971)
was filled with expert musicianship on songs like "Starship Trooper,""Yours Is
No Disgrace" and the single "Your Move" and this mixture of great music
garnered the group perpetual FM radio air play and propelled the band into the
mainstream music market, even though the music was quite different from what
was considered "mainstream."
When Kaye left the group in 1971, he was replaced by flamboyant keyboard player
Rick Wakeman (formally with the Strawbs) and he dominated the intoxicating
album "Fragile." Hastily put together, old fans embraced the album and Yes
entertained new fans with songs like the imaginative "Long Distance Runaround"
and the sophisticated cohesiveness of their major hit "Roundabout." With vivid
bass lines, pristine acoustics, exquisite vocals and Wakeman's multidimensional
distinctive keyboard work, many say that this was the song of the decade.
The group peaked even higher with their next release, "Close To The Edge" in
the fall of 1972. Consisting of only three extended cuts, the release allowed
all the members a unique forum in which indulge themselves musically. Filled
with electronic-synthesizer zest, Howe's crafty guitar work, inspired drumming
(although drummer Bruford would exit the band after this album and join King
Crimson) and consistently inventive vocals, this is Yes at its complete best.
The album peaked at number seven in the U.K. and number twelve in the U.S.
"Yessongs," one of the best live albums from the 70's, was released in 1973 and
allowed Wakeman's multi-instrumental solos to shine and fuse with Yes's sound
fingerprint. This release is a staple for any fan of rock and roll. In 1974,
the band released "Tales From Topographical Oceans," a double live lp set that,
because of the high expectations and Yes's growing fan base, earned the group
gold status, just from the sales of advanced orders. The album broke new
boundaries, consisting of only four long songs, each taking up a whole side of
each record. The lp explored Anderson's increasing interest with eastern
religions and blended perfectly with Yes's signature progressive sound and even
dabbled into jazz fusion. But, it was thought to be "over the top" by some,
yet critically acclaimed by others and was certainly snatched up by the record
buying public.
Unfortunately, Wakeman's solo career was his priority and he left the band and
was replaced by Patrick Moraz. But how would the band do without the
multi-instrument genius of Wakeman? In late 1974, the group released the album
"Relayer"which peaked at number four in the U.K. and number five in the U.S.
Moraz was certainly an adequate player, but he lacked the sonic personal
characteristics of Wakeman. Yes set out on an extended tour to promote the
release and upon coming home, took an extended rest with each member pursuing
solo projects. They also released the compilation lp "Yesterdays" (1975) which
included songs from their first two albums.
Wakeman returned in late 1976 to assist the band in the studio, but sessions
were very productive and compelling, so he decided to rejoin the group
permanently. 1977's lp "Going for the One" marked Wakeman's return and the
band was able to recapture some of their earlier magic as Anderson was at his
balladeer best and Wakeman went to another level musically.
The band's next release, the 1978 album "Tormato," was fueled by the single
"Don't Kill The Whale" and secured Yes top ten positions in both the U.K. and
U.S. After finishing off a tour to promote the record, the group members again
started working on solo projects. In 1980, while working on a new album, both
Wakeman and Anderson walked out of the studio. Two months later, vocalist
Trevor Horn and keyboard player Geoff Downes joined the remaining band members
(Howe, Squire, White) to release the record "Drama." This line up lasted a
year, but fans of Yes wanted more, so Atlantic records released "Yesshows," a
double live set that included concert selections from 1976-78.
In 1981, the inevitable occurred and the group disbanded with Squire and Downes
forming the rock band Asia. For one and a half years, Yes was more or less
dead until Squire and White teamed up with the original keyboard player Tony
Kaye and guitarist Trevor Rabin. They then invited Anderson to join up with
them and it was essentially the "core" of Yes and they wisely revived the name.
In 1983, this line up released a surprise Billboard number one single called
"Owner Of A Lonely Heart," which was from the album "90125" (named after the
catalogue number). Under the direction of Rabin's song writing style and
producer Trevor Horn, the album saw the band change its style to more of a pop
rock and dance band.
Four years later, the million seller release "Big Generator" would be the
band's last major hit album. (Anderson quit the band after this album) In
1989, there was more turmoil as they could not figure out who had the legal
rights to the group name. Squire, Rabin, White and Kaye continued on as Yes,
while Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe also toured but they used their
surnames as a group name, presenting the show as "An Evening Of Yes Music."
But all the legal squabbles were mute when they all reconciled and formed a
"mega" version of Yes, featuring eight members from the various Yes era's. In
1991, they topped this all off with a highly successful album and tour,
appropriately entitled "Union."
A 1994 album entitled "Talk," was one of the group's poorest selling releases,
but CBS late night talk show host David Letterman heard the song "The Calling"
and asked the band to perform on his show. The group obliged, playing the cut
"Walls" from the lp. Anderson and Rabin's collaboration appealed to many fans
as it fused the "old" Yes with a more modern approach.
For the 1994 tour, the band added guitarist/vocalist Billy Sherwood, but by the
end of 1995, he left, as did Tony Kaye and Trevor Rabin, who went on to become
a highly successful film composer.
But the band was not finished. In 1996, the group surprised the music world by
performing with the classic 70's line up (Anderson, Squire, white, Howe and
Wakeman) for a three-night live performance in California. The resulting live
recording was released together with forty-eight minutes of new music on the
"Keys to Ascension" album series (parts one and two). Wakeman left the band
yet again before part two was released and Billy Sherwood rejoined for the live
lp "Open Your Eyes" in 1997. The tour that followed mostly concentrated on a
revival of classic Yes material and featured exceptional keyboard work by
recruit Igor Khoroshev (who would later be made a full-time member). The group
would release "The Ladder" with the 1999 tour resulting in a Yes DVD. Sherwood
was fired prior to the 2000 Masterworks Tour and Khoroshev was let go as well
following a sexual assault charge.
In 2002, Wakeman returned for a Yes World Tour and the group was revitalized,
especially during the celebration of their 35th anniversary in 2003. Since
2004, Yes has been on indefinite hiatus, but Jon Anderson was quoted as saying
that the band will possibly reunite in 2008 for their 40th anniversary. Even
illustrator Roger Dean is on board, creating projections for the live shows.
Yes has come full circle and their longevity is what legends are made of. It
is a testament to their vision, being able to adapt, their musicianship and
their ability to put personal issues aside that has made Yes one of the
greatest progressive rock and roll bands of all time.
Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and
operates www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can secure your
copy of his
ebook called "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."
Robert can be contacted at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com. |
