Yes has proved to be the most successful and long-lasting of the 1970s' progressive rock groups.
Created in 1968, the group has overcome drastic musical changes in the industry during the late `70's/`80's (punk/new wave), later the grunge/rap `revolution,' (or devolution), as well as changes in the band's line-up.
Unlike bands such as: Genesis and King Crimson who altered their sounds radically, alienating their original fans, Yes has retained a constant sound and though their style varies from album to album, the band performs the songs that loyal fans want to hear- many from the early `70's.
Jon Anderson, born in Oct. 25, 1944, in Accrington, Lancashire started out during the British beat boom as a member of the Warriors and later was in the band Gun, before going solo in 1967 with two mostly ignored singles. One day at the bar, he met bassist/vocalist Chris Squire (former member of the band the Syn), and having similar musical tastes, including an appreciation for the harmony singing of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel- and they started to write songs together.
They recruited Tony Kaye- formerly of the Federals, on keyboards, Peter Banks (previously a member of the Syn), on guitar and Bill Bruford (drums), who had only just joined the blues band Savoy Brown a few weeks earlier. The name Yes was chosen for the band, a word short and direct.
Progressive rock, with a heavy dose of late-19th-century classical music, was also starting to make a noise that was being heard; through the recommendation of The Nice's manager, Tony Stratton-Smith (later the founder of Charisma Records), Yes filled in for Sly & the Family Stone at the Speakeasy Club in London. Cream selected Yes to open for their November 26, 1968 farewell concert at Royal Albert Hall. With gigs and radio play happening because of the exposure, Yes soon signed to Atlantic Records.
Their first album (self-titled- `Yes'), was released in November, 1969. The showed the group's high harmonies and folk and classical influences, fused into pop-music context. Yes supported the Nice at their Royal Albert Hall show, while they were preparing their second album,- `Time and a Word.'
Released in June of 1970, Peter Banks had left the group and was replaced by guitarist Steve Howe (ex- Syndicats/the In Crowd/Tomorrow). The record was far more sophisticated than its predecessor and included an overdubbed orchestra on some songs (Yes would not add an orchestra again until 30 years later). The group's fame in England continued to rise as they opened up for groups like- Iron Butterfly.
Yes' next album- the self-titled `Yes album,- became more complex as the group expanded their musicality to a higher level. "Your Move" became the group's first U.S. chart entry, at number 40), and "Starship Troopers" (taken from a Robert Heinlein novel) and "All Good People," gave the band ample opportunity to extend instrumental passages. The album reached # 7 in England and # 40 in America during the spring of 1971. Yes supported the album with their firsy US tour, opening up for Jethro Tull.
In august, 1971, Tony Kaye quit in August of 1971, to join Peter Banks' group Flash. He was replaced by the flamboyant and classically-trained keyboard player Rick Wakeman (Strawbs).
In December 1971, the band released- `Fragile,' the new album featured only four tracks by the group as a whole, "Roundabout," "The South Side of the Sky," "Heart of the Sunrise," and "Long Distance Runaround." The rest of the tracks showcased each member of the band individually. `Fragile,' again rose to # 7 in England and even higher in the US (to #4). "Roundabout," reached # 13 on the U.S. charts (and their most successful single for 12 years). The album's design started to pair artist Roger Dean's surreal landscape with their music.
`Close to the Edge,' was recorded in the late spring of 1972 and released in September. The album consisted of only three long tracks: "Siberian Khatru," the cosmic "And You and I" and epic masterpiece `Close to the Edge. The album reached # 4 four in England and # 3 in America without help from a hit.
Shortly after `Close to the Edge's release, Bruford had left to join King Crimson, and was replaced by drummer Alan White (John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band). As the band toured, Rick Wakeman had completed his first solo LP, `The Six Wives of Henry VIII,' and Rick played excerpts during his featured solo spot during tour.
`Yessongs' was a 3-LP live album released in May of 1973, at over 120 minutes,all of it was uncut and reviews were good. The live album reached # 7 in England and # 12 in the United States.
`Tales from Topographic Oceans,- a double LP, was released in January of 1974 (earning a gold record from its advanced orders alone). Hardly light listening, (inspired by Jon Anderson's reaction to a set of Shastric scriptures), the dramatic album reached # 1 in England and # 6 on the American charts. After the tour, plans were announced for each member of the group to release a solo album of his own. Wakeman, privately unhappy with `Tales,' content, produced an epic second solo album, released in May of 1974 `Journey to the Center of the Earth,' was very successful and Rick left the band in June to pursue a solo career.
In August of 1974, Patrick Moraz (Refugee), took over Wakeman's position and three months later, `Relayer,' was released, reaching the top 5 in both the UK and US. Though not as flamboyant as Wakeman, Moraz proved solid replacement at keys. The band toured did not record together again for two and a half years.
Howe and Squire recorded solo albums- `Beginnings,' and `Fish Out of Water.' While White and Moraz added their own solo ventures, in July of 1976, Jon Anderson's `Olias of Sunhillow,' created a fantasy-based epic with a 12 page elaborated packaging of beautiful art. It reached # 8 and # 47 in America.
Wakeman replaced in late `76. The resulting album- `Going for the One,' (released in August of 1977), showed a more restraint and rock-oriented Yes with shorter songs. Te album was #1 for two weeks in the UK (# 8 in the US). Yes embarked on a massive tour shortly after the album's release, including their most successful American appearances ever.
`Tormato,' released a year later made the Top Ten in both England and America in the fall of 1978. Tafter a tour, the group members began working on solo projects, which saw the release of `The Steve Howe Album,' while Jon Anderson hooked up with keyboard player Vangelis in 1980 and released an album called- `Short Stories. Both albums reached the British Top Ten. Jon & Vangelis, went on to make several more records together.
After an unsuccessful attempt to start work on a new album, s Wakeman and then Anderson left the band in 1980. Squire (who owned the Yes name), brought in Trevor Horn (vocals, guitar) and Geoff Downes (keyboards), and the result- `Drama,' was released in August of 1980 and rose to the # 2 in the UK. And the top twenty in America. In January of 1981 Atlantic Records released `Yesshows,' a double live album which showed live performances from 1976 through 1978.
In April of 1981, the breakup of Yes was announced. Geoff Downes formed Asia with Steve Howe and the rest of the band pursued various projects. Later on, Chris Squire and Alan White announced the formation of a new group called Cinema, with Tony Kaye and guitarist Trevor Rabin, but proving unsatisfactory, Squire invited Jon Anderson to join. Yes was alive again.
In late 1983, the group released an unexpected #1 single "Owner of a Lonely Heart," which was quiter danceable. With this success, `90125,' was released and sold well.
In 1987 Yes released `The Big Generator,' which sold only moderately well. Critics were not kind. In 1986, Steve Howe reappeared as a member of the quintet GTR with ex-Genesis axe man Steve Hackett, the album hit # 11 in America. After an on-going legal dispute over who owned the group name- Yes; Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe released an album together which sold well, even getting MTV airplay. Their tour- "An Evening of Yes Music," sold out houses all over the country, including a 1990 gig at Madison Square Garden and a pay-per-view telecast (in which master bassist- Jeff Berlin (ex-Bill Bruford), filled in for an sick Tony Levin).
In the spring of 1991, a multi-year composite of Yes consisting of Anderson, Howe, Wakeman, Squire, Kaye, White, Rabin, and Bruford embarked on a blow-out world tour ( including the filming of a video historical documentary of the band, Yesyears: The Video) called Yesshows 1991. The album,- `Union,' which displayed a harsher sound reached # 7 in the UK and #15 in America. This mammoth three-hour shows which included album and solo material were well received
`Union's follow-up- `Talk,' was recorded by Anderson, Kaye, Squire, Rabin and White, and was not a success despite the solid tracks- "The Calling" and "I Am Waiting." Two live albums were issued in the mid-90s, and although well recorded, they failed to sell beyond the fans of Yes. Wakeman, with health issues, departed and was replaced by a young Russian keyboardist- Igor Khoroshev. 1997's disappointing `Open Your Eyes,' was released to little fanfare. Their next album- `The Ladder, was critically acclaimed, showing a more daring Yes.
Yes has never been idle, whether group or solo material, the band has always tried to continue different ventures. Their next medium? Video games for soundtrack to the hit PC strategy game- Homeworld.
"We've always been interested in the modern, the avant-garde," says Jon Anderson. "We were the first band to use lasers onstage."
The video game theme, "Homeworld (The Ladder)," was the title track on Yes' `The Ladder.'
`House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues,' was released as a live CD and DVD concert showcasing the band's `The Ladder,' tour.
The following year, the band went back thirty years ago to go outside the group, to produce'YesSymphonic' recorded with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Rick Wakeman said he was asked to play on the YesSymphonic tour. He refused, as he didn't want to play on orchestral arrangements that he wasn't involved with, and that he preferred the orchestra to be much bigger. A tour with a 50-piece symphony is garnishing excellent reviews and a DVD of the tour will be forthcoming. The band wrapped up their North American tour at Radio City Music Hall on September 8, three days before the tragic events in NYC of September 11. `Magnification,' the latest album was released in October 2001 and has gotten good reviews by the Prog comminity. The album has no formal keyboardist (though White does play piano) and A Magnification tour is planned in 2002.
A Yes boxset: In a Word: Yes (1969 - ) will be out soon.
Yes Discography
Yes (1969)
Time And A Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1972)
Close To The Edge (1972)
Yessongs (1973)
Tales From Topographic Oceans (1974)
Relayer (1975)
Going For The One (1977)
Tormato (1978)
Yesshows (1980)
Drama (1980)
Classic Yes (1982)
90125 (1983)
90125 Live - The Solos (1985)
Big Generator (1987)
Union (1989)
Yesyears (1991)
Yesstory (1991)
Highlights: The Very Best Of Yes (1993)
Talk (1994)
Keys To Ascension I (1996)
Keys To Ascension II (1997)
Open Your Eyes (1997)
Yes, Friends And Relatives (1998)
The Ladder (1999)
House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (2000)
House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (video) (2000)
Yes, Friends and Relatives - Volume Two (2001)
YesSymphonic (ep) (2001)
Magnification (2001)
For the sake of brevity, I am only including a Jon Anderson solo works and appearances.
If more is demanded, I will include the rest.
Jon Anderson Solo Albums
Olias of Sunhillow, 1976
Song of Seven, 1980
Animation, 1982
3 Ships, 1985
In the City of Angels, 1988
The Power of Silence, 1992
The Best of South America, 1993
Deseo, 1994
Change We Must, 1994
Angels Embrace, 1995
Toltec, 1996
The Lost Tapes of Opio, 1996
The Promise Ring, 1997
Earthmotherearth, 1997
The More You Know, 1998
Guest Appearances
King Crimson: Lizard, 1970
Johnny Harris: All to Bring You Morning, 1971
Colin Scot: Colin Scot with Friends, 1971
Vangelis: Heaven and Hell, 1975
Alan White: Ramshackled, 1976
Vangelis: Opera Sauvage, 1979
Vangelis: See You Later, 1980
Fundamental Frolics, ?1981
Rick Wakeman: 1984, 1981
John Paul Jones: Music from the Film Scream for Help, 1985
Tangerine Dream: Legend-Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1986
Gowan: Great Dirty World, 1987
Toto: The Seventh One, 1988
Requiem for the Americas-Songs from the Lost World, 1989
Toto: Past to Present 1977-1990, 1990
Kitaro: Dream, 1992
Symphonic Music of Yes, 1993
Mike Oldfield: Crises, 1993
Charlie Bisharat: Along the Amazon, 1993
Charlie Bisharat: Along the Amazon Sampler, 1993
C2tHype: C2tHype, 1994
Tadamitsu Saito: It's About Time, 1994
Milton Nascimento: Angelus, 1994
The Deseo Remixes, 1995
Cielo y Tierra: Heaven and Earth, 1996
Steve Howe: Portraits of Bob Dylan, 1999
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: Outbound, 2000
WAKEMAN Guest Appearances
Elton John: Madman Across the Water, 1971
Colin Scot: Colin Scot, 1971
Lou Reed: Lou Reed, 1972
David Bowie: Space Oddity, 1972
Al Stewart: Orange, 1972
Dave Cousins: Two Weeks Last Summer, 1972
Black Sabbath: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973
David Bowie: Hunky Dory
Wally: Wally, 1974
Alexander Mezek: To a Friend (single): 1991
Ozzy Osbourne: Ozzmosis, 1995
Wonderous-A Tribute to Yes, 2001
