I absolutely loved the classic Yes lineup and their prog masterpieces, but I have to admit I played 90125 to death and came to really appreciate what Trevor Rabin brought to the group as an alternate voice and guitar. This song was just about my favorite from the album. Rabin is an excellent guitarist and rather than being underrated, I think he suffers from being compared to Steve Howe which is unfair for almost any guitarist.
Rabin is a better guitarist than Steve Howe, but the Steve Howe purists will attack you for saying that. Ever notice how Trevor Rabin can cover Steve Howe well (and often improves the song), but Steve Howe can't cover him?
This was the first Yes album I heard, and I've always thought it among their best. They didn't sell out at all IMO. They just made something new and fresh. Nothing else sounds like this album, despite having an '80's sound'
True. They were considered dinosaurs and came back with the biggest fuck you ever. Loved this modern Yes. Been a fan since i heard this age 16. i'm now nearly 54, RIP Chris Squire.
@@Katehowe3010 Cool. How many new fans did Yes get after 90125 then discovered their back catalogue? You didn't have to wait a year for new releases, i just plundered second hand shops for the old stuff. By 1985 i had everything they released on vinyl. First live concert was ABWH in Edinburgh 1989.
@@Katehowe3010 Nice one. Iv'e got the cd of the Birmingham gig. Favourite album, i dunno, probably have to be Going for the one. I saw Rainbow in 1983 and in the tour program some members mentioned Yes as an influence, first concert etc, i asked my sisters boyfriend if he'd heard of them. He went out to his car and gave me a cassette of Going for the one. I was blown away by Awaken. The Gates... is epic as is the whole album. From Close, Topographic and Relayer, only 10 songs!!! Who could do that today? Glorious times in music that will never be repeated.
I lived in a boys childrens home from june 74 to January 1980. I remember them taking me to 3 concerts in Edinburgh. I kid you not...Hot Chocolate, The Corries and... Thin Lizzy. The Lizzy gig was prob 77/78 in Edinburgh.
A decent song written by Rabin with the intro/outro written by White and Anderson adding some ideas to the mix. Another great duel vocal song with Anderson and Rabin is Shoot High, Aim Low from the next album, Big Generator. The next two tracks on 90125, Cinema and Leave It kind of go together and you might want to consider having a single reaction video for them both....
Definitely do "Cinema" (which this line up was called, until Chris brought Jon in) along with "Leave It." Then if you can, preferably in the same video if it will work with your format, do the vocal isolation tracks version of "Leave It." I believe even Yes calls it the "a capella" version, although technically it isn't. It just sounds like it since it is vocal isolation.
I hope Justin then does the vocal isolation track version of "Leave It" after the album versions of "Cinema" and "Leave It" together. It's known as the a capella version, and does sound like a capella. But technically, it's not.
Some say it’s “selling out” but Prog was dying a quick death so this is just how they had to survive. At the time I’d heard Starship Trooper enough to want to explore other things so this album actually brought me and many others back who may have drifted. Context is everything here but I enjoyed this line up.
To be honest 90125 wasn't suppose to be a Yes album. It was recorded as an album from the band Cinema. When Anderson joined to sing on it, they changed it to a new Yes album, which Rabin wasn't happy with. It doesn't really sound like a Yes album because it wasn't originally suppose to be a Yes album.
I feel like prog is a symptom of technological evolution. Once a whole load of new toys and techniques come out things get experimental. Once experimentation has been largely exhausted the mainstream absorbs what worked while leaving the rest to be forgotten. I think that is why there is a similar phase of modern prog going on currently despite the "death" of classic prog. I hope that if and when modern prog dies out, mainstream music will have taken on many of the dynamics that are being experimented with nowadays.
This is my favorite song on the album. I saw them at that time. Parts of the concert In Dortmund are available on yt. I am the one in the audience you can neither see nor hear. They played older songs and this album and it was absolutely no problem. Trevor Rabin played the Howe stuff obviously without great effort but there was one difference: Rabin got a little bit more of showmanship. It was a fantastic show as usual. I think the whole album is a proof that it is very diffcult to divide music into genres. Where does prog end and where does pop start?
Great song, really took me by surprise when listening to it for the first time. Love the gentle and cleaner echoey guitar moments in the riff. Next two songs I feel you really have to listen to together, Cinema leads directly into Leave it (Which is my personal favorite on the album.)
This album helped bridge the gap between the music I liked to listen to at the time and the music that my brother (who was 10 years older than me) listened to. Until he moved out, there were only two albums that we shared in our separate collections, Yes - 90125 and Genesis Abacab. This song was in a set list that my band in college played.
I've always liked this song. The intro on what sounds like a marimba (probably a synth re-creation) is fantastic. I've always liked the combination of Trevor's and Jon's voices, I think the go together quite well. My personal feeling is that I like the 'classic' Yes, and I like the new more 'rock/pop' Yes. They excel at both.
@@lukenettle492 My son played a marimba so I thought that is what it sounded like, but even in the 80's you just never know what was real, and what was synth. Thanks for the clarification!
The album overall is superb..changes and the mighty hearts give the album the backbone Yes really never were bigger than at this stage Biggest tour and album sales...rabin being involved from the start ..only bringing anderson into the fold when it became apparent that it was shaping up to be something much greater
Hello, Justin. Dave from Somewhere (over the Rainbow). You're right that it's a big change from Toppers, but I was pleasantly surprised when 90125 came out. True, it's essentially 80s AOR in the style of Toto, but like Toto there is an added element of jazz and prog (I believe the initial intention was to be a jazz/rock instrumental band called Cinema but then Jon agreed to join). Trevor Rabin is a very underrated guitarist in my view, as he is so versatile. He can rock and shred with the best, but he also adds subtlety and atmosphere.
I actually really enjoy their 80's albums (save for Drama, which I just can't get into). There really isn't a bad song on 90125 , and both Hold On and Cinema are some of my absolute favorite Yes pieces, even including their 70's catalogue.
I think it's one of the most thrilling openings of YES, as the sound gradually thickens with percussion, keyboards, bass, drums, and guitar! This song has the essence of Police and TOTO, but with the gimmicky performance and chorus work of YES. I like it more than "lonely heart" on the album 90125!
LOVE Jon's voice and how when he came in, your smile appeared. I like the back and forth of Rabin and Anderson. When I first got into Yes it was this version and then I dug back into their old stuff and was captivated. Have seen concerts with both eras. I didn't realize until I saw Trevor a couple of years ago with Jon A and Rick Wakeman, how much I missed the back and forth between them vocally and some of these songs.
Hi JP. This is your ever chakra spinning YES fan. Now that you have leaped from the sacred prog days to the 90125 days your next part of the journey is straight into the hidden gem ( and most overlooked and underrated YES album ) that is the “ Talk” album. Immense production where Jon’s voice just jumps out at you. Every track is just sublime culminating in the timeless masterpiece that is “Endless Dream”..... Enjoy. Keep those chakras spinning.
This is the only tour I saw YES on, and while I'd loved a lot of their earlier work, I was a huge fan of this album. Tons of memories here for me. Thanks - There should be a love button on this one. Good review.
Pop with prog elements. Notably the time signature changes, unusual chord structures and some Anderson mysticism! Music is to be enjoyed whatever it’s description. Sure I prefer Tales or Close to the Edge to most of their later stuff but that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy 90125 or Talk.
One of the best songs from the 80s reformation period of Yes. Loved it. This was like a statement to the newer Owner of a Lonely Heart fans: "Thanks so much for buying our record. BTW, we're still a Prog band.
Well said. I don’t understand why anyone would not enjoy this LP whether a fan of Yes or not. Everything about this record is incredible. It’s masterfully crafted to satisfy the hard core music fan and to appeal to a wider audience.
Many groups that moved from prog to pop, mostly later in their careers, upset a lot of fans. However we have to remember this newer music became a gateway for the younger listeners to discover the older clasic albums. Great review as usual Justin, thanks.
With Howe and Wakeman leaving the band, the 80's group had a transformation to more pop /rock with a YES flair! It helped the band have some hits and kept them active with concerts etc. Not the classic lineup but Rabin had a great voice and was a great guitarist. All in all some good songs and a bridge for the band to come back with the classic line up around 2000. Easier music for new fans. One of the reasons YES now has two bands performing in 2019 and hopefully back after pandemic. My first show was 1973. Huge part of my music life with over 30 concerts. YES
Yes was effectively dead, until Trevor Rabin's project with Squire and White (Cinema) ended up bringing most of them back together for 90125. I love early Yes, but I really liked, for different reasons, this stage in their careers. Like or dislike some of the 80s production elements, the musicianship was still light years beyond most any of their contemporaries.
I saw this tour in Jacksonville, FL. This was my favorite of the new material in the show. I may be mistaken, but my memory of the opening for this song was a grid on a screen behind the band flashing different colored squares. Alan may have played marimba on the album, but I recall Tony watching the grids flash, and synching the marimba sound on the keyboard to match it. Totally took my breath away.
I sort of get this prog vs. pop war, but mostly I don't care. If music is good who cares what the format is. Is it a battle about what gets played on the radio? Is it about what sells a can of Coke better? This is a good song. Even King Crimson had a pop song, Heartbeat, and it's also a good song, so...
Yes, I was totally thinking of King Crimson as this played. Embracing the new sound but bringing their past experience with them to bounce off of or incorporate.
“It’s not War it’s just the end of love “ as the Manics used to sing. PopRockPunk&Soul is all we need & Steel Pulse & Prince just in case oh And Sufjan And Joni And Phil on drums🦆🤣
Another great song by Yes Justin.. Changes captures Trevor Rabin at his best imho. ❤️ That intro still gives me chills butty.. Kudos to Alan definitely. ♥️ Instrumentation his just perfect. 😊 Atmosphere.. Superb.. Love the dual singing on this Justin. Maybe, my fav off 90125. Great review my friend, hope you have a stellar weekend butty. 😊 😊 😊
Talk is my favorite with Rabin. I love the 80's stuff. Much of this stuff is superiorly better than their other stuff in my opinion. Do this whole album, it's a'll good stuff. Poppy, maybe? But it is good.
This is my favorite song by them. I grew up with this album and Big Generator, didn't hear things like Roundabout until I started listening to my dad's record collection in the late 80s.
I really like this album...I know a lot hardcore Yes people who don't that say it is mundane and ordinary.....but I welcome the "Newness" and "Freshness" of the sounds of the 80's and putting Yes spin on their music. Still deep lyrics.....complex music compositions......vocal arrangements.....excellent......the flexibility of their changes of their style made them get a whole new audience......and new popularity in the 80's because once again dance bars and clubs were playing these song every where because they were danceable......and the 80's was all about dancing. Changes is one their masterpieces because of the layers and synergy of different instrumentation. Brilliant.
I got to see Yes on the tour for this album and they sounded exactly like the album live. They also had lasers with hearts and shapes floating above them. I was in my twenties then and it was the most amazing concert I had seen to that point,
JP, to add to your point about how YES has progressed from prog to pop. YES has always had a rich history. There music has always reflected the trends in music from decade to decade. 60's, psychedelic rock, 70's prog rock, 80's pop arena rock, and 90's and beyond, modern rock. That is why I love their catalog. It is a good representation of rock music of the last 50 years. This song is such an example of the 1980's arena pop rock that YES was know for at that time in history.
Nice to hear YES from you again. If you continue with the album; it's good to hear "Cinema" and "Leave It" right after each other. For the next album I suggest "Tormato". Nobody (except me) seems to like it, but it's so beautifully different and yet typically YES.
Love Steve Howe but Rabin is a beast!...From his vocals to his guitar playing to his arranging...It's all just genius...And shout out to Alan White...Maybe the most underrated drummer in prog.
OK, it's not Close to the Edge, Fragile or Tales, but I loved this album! I'm probably repeating myself, but I'll always remember going to see Genesis in Montreal at the old Forum (Dec 83) and the music that was playing as people were arriving and getting to their seat, was.... 90125! :). It had just came out, and I only knew Owner of a lonely heart. But man oh man, the rest of the album's a gem!
I like it. Pathetic how some Yes fans are all negative about this song and the Album. Not Classy. Kicking a band when they're going through a tough time. Like I said; Pathetic Fans.
Trevor Rabin had previously written this entire album before approaching YES. At a time when the band was fragmented and in a dry time for the band. It was Trevor's entire written music that really did SAVE Yes at the time of meeting and adding Trevor into the band. Years later Trevor re-recorded the music of 90125 as it does sound like Yes kind of took advantage of Trevor in order to resurrect the band !
Yes, I agree with you. No pun intended. I think many people like me who grew up in the 80s were introduced to bands like yes, Genesis, Rush with their 80s sound and then went back and checked out the earlier stuff and learn to love their Music regardless of the era.
Trevor is way underrated in all aspects; as a guitarist, vocalist, composer. He’s phenomenal on everything I’ve heard him do. He was great Live when I saw them in the Union Tour.
This album was fun. Wasn’t even meant to be a Yes album, but once Anderson jumped back aboard, it was Yes. The new guy was Rabin. All the rest where members of Yes at least one time (yes, I’m looking at you Tony Kaye!) Trevor Horn produced even.
Yes is Jon Anderson, but I thought Trevor Rabin did a great job in Yes, very talented guy. Great song! "Hearts" from this album is my favorite. Check out Jon Anderson's solo album "Olias Of Sunhillow" sometime. :)
Yeah. Possibly my favourite on the album. Bands like Yes Genesis and Queen were still great musicians in the 80's. As the 80's progressed being a musician wasn't essential to being a pop star. This songs lyrics a lot simpler for Yes but it's still got heart and depth. You'll probably want to listen to Cinema and Leave It together Justin as Cinema is just a short intro piece .
I played 90125 to death, and yes indeed one of my favs. It's still on my playlist to this day. I still listen all all the tracks on this album, and its what eventually got me to take a backward look at yes later. Of course I knew of Roundabout and other radio friendly tune of it age, but the 80s and MTV reintroduced me to them. Glad you liked it JP!
When I went to see Yes for the 90125 tour in Lakeland, Florida, a few in the crowd yelled Where's Steve Howe? when Yes took the stage. What a shame that they couldn't appreciate Trevor for what he contributed to Yes. Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes led to Trevor Rabin, which led to the Union tour. If it wasn't for those three members of Yes, there'd be a much less interesting catalog to listen to.
That massive keyboard note played by Tony Kaye was done on an E-mu Emulator. I have an evolved version of it that has a preset called Metal Cables which sounds very similar.
I think Trevor is appropriately rated, but perhaps under appreciated. His solo on this song is one of my favorites. It is clean, melodic, fits the mood of the song perfectly, and he doesn't try to cram in a thousand notes at the end like he seems to do on so many other solos. The trio of songs Hold On, It Can Happen, and Changes are the real meat of 90125, at least for me. It's not that the other songs aren't good, they certainly are, But those three just have the most going on.
This song, Changes, drives an optimistic message to the listeners in creative fashion. The 90125 album has good flow...and this song fits perfectly within the sequence. Great listen in stereo!!
Good memories when this album came out with Genesis éponyme album. I was playin those very often in my tape cassette walkman. Still love today. have a Nice Day JP
90125 gets dissed a lot but for me it was the gateway into Yes and prog. I was 12 when it came out, just starting to really get into music, and this was a great relief from the synth pop that was super popular at the time. It led me into the older Yes material.
The intro and the spooky pad sounds are the Fairlight C.M.I. IIx.The Fairlight was programed and played by J.J. Jeczalik. J.J. Jeczalik was a member of Trvor horn's production team. J.J. Jeczalik was also a member of The Art Of Noise.You should listen to Beat Box, Close to The Edit, Moments In Love and Legs
I had been so depressed about what had happened to Yes from 1979 until this album came out! This album gave me something to fell much better about! It wasn't "Yes" that I worshipped, but it was so enjoyable and a lovely transition! Great reaction, Justin! Hope you are having a beautiful day!
I totally agree on this one, maybe the best song on the album. I'm surprised you didn't mention Squire's bass line, love the dark tone of it, something we weren't used to getting from Yes. The odd percussion signature was great and Rabin's vocals were fresh. I'd have bought an album of songs like this even if it wasn't Yes. The entire album didn't measure up which is why I prefer the "Drama" album to this one but it has its moments. Definitely a talented group and I like the rejoining of Tony Kaye.
This tour was when I first got to see them. Songs like this one kept the flame burning for us prog nerds. When they started playing Owner of a Lonely Heart... I was just embarrassed... (Can enjoy it more now though)
Transformative album for them in ‘83 and every track on this album is great!!! Next album “Big Generator” has one of the best tracks (harmoniously speaking) I’ve ever heard - “Love Will Find A Way”.
I'm not sure if Trevor Rabin is considered a so-called guitar hero, but he comes close IMHO. Oh and BTW he has a great voice too. Trevor 's demo of this song is OK but when the whole band comes in with Trevor Horn's production work, it's on another level 👏👏👏
Jon was only recruited as the album was being completed which is why Trevor has lots more vocals and a lot of his more straightforward lyrics. Most Yes fans acknowledge Trevor’s guitar prowess( plus his multi playing of other instruments and production techniques) but many think that a lot of his guitar playing is too heavy/ metal !
Says a lot about Rabin that Rick Wakeman has said that there was a missing iteration of Yes with Rabin on guitars and him on keyboards. I would love for that album to have happened.
The one song on the album that harked back to their prog past - likewise "I'm Running" on their next album Big Generator, and "I Would Have Waited Forever" and "Shock To The System" on Unison. These tracks made the albums worth buying.
I think Union was hilarious but "Unison" would've finished me off. (Socialist YES.Power to theAllGood People) Can't wait for Justin to hear it. In fact you've prompted me to assess it 's depth and as i get to Saving My Heart it dawns on me that the Pop turned Sour. However at the time we all loved Jon's voice- even on his RnB pop solo album only to discover later that we'd all been led up the garden path (including Jon). By 2001 they sorted it all out -so JP must check out the nostalgic Magnification LP too. But Union is also an entertaining listen, just so that listeners and Justin can judge whether tech and musical technicality really is the essence of Progressive Art.
Trevor Horn is probably the biggest no-mention for this album. When listening to the Art Of Noise stuff, his production of this really then stands out to me. I'd like to think alot of rappers that came out in the 80's+ owe the beat box sampling, horn blasts and synths, to him. There are some really cool dj remixes of some of these 90125 tracks out there. The ones they were playing as house music before the shows on that tour is really cool (along with bugs bunny cartoons) iirc..
An excellent song. My favorite off the album is Hearts. Majestic. You would probably love the album ABWH (Anderson, Bruford, awake man, Howe). Brother of Mine is an amazing song off that album. Your comment on Yes and Genesis changing is accurate. They both successfully changed from prog to pop. Their problem, as with many bands, is that they stopped changing once they hit mainstream pay dirt. Yes did try taking a step back into prog but not very successfully. Genesis just ground to a halt with the 80s pop sound.
This album still has great musicianship and progressive elements (the opening rhythm reminds me of a Bruford intro). As always JP, I enjoyed your educated reaction. On another note, you won't be disappointed with the Strawbs "Round and Round".
This is one of the best songs Yes made when they were with Trevor Rabin. This album isnt bad its just different but in a good different way.
It's too clean and synth-y for me.
Correction: Trevor Rabin, Was With Them.
@@mrnobody3161 stfu
I absolutely loved the classic Yes lineup and their prog masterpieces, but I have to admit I played 90125 to death and came to really appreciate what Trevor Rabin brought to the group as an alternate voice and guitar. This song was just about my favorite from the album. Rabin is an excellent guitarist and rather than being underrated, I think he suffers from being compared to Steve Howe which is unfair for almost any guitarist.
Rabin is awesome! He helped provide Yes with a new beginning
Rabin is a better guitarist than Steve Howe, but the Steve Howe purists will attack you for saying that. Ever notice how Trevor Rabin can cover Steve Howe well (and often improves the song), but Steve Howe can't cover him?
I liked your smile when Jon had his solo. He has that effect.
I LOVED that sweet smile of recognition and.....well......LOVE! Yes, Jon will do that to a person!
Yes, from one of the best prog bands to one of the best pop bands.
Succinctly put, my friend. Case closed.
This was the first Yes album I heard, and I've always thought it among their best. They didn't sell out at all IMO. They just made something new and fresh. Nothing else sounds like this album, despite having an '80's sound'
True. They were considered dinosaurs and came back with the biggest fuck you ever. Loved this modern Yes. Been a fan since i heard this age 16. i'm now nearly 54, RIP Chris Squire.
@@Katehowe3010 Cool. How many new fans did Yes get after 90125 then discovered their back catalogue? You didn't have to wait a year for new releases, i just plundered second hand shops for the old stuff. By 1985 i had everything they released on vinyl. First live concert was ABWH in Edinburgh 1989.
@@Katehowe3010 Nice one. Iv'e got the cd of the Birmingham gig. Favourite album, i dunno, probably have to be Going for the one. I saw Rainbow in 1983 and in the tour program some members mentioned Yes as an influence, first concert etc, i asked my sisters boyfriend if he'd heard of them. He went out to his car and gave me a cassette of Going for the one. I was blown away by Awaken. The Gates... is epic as is the whole album. From Close, Topographic and Relayer, only 10 songs!!! Who could do that today? Glorious times in music that will never be repeated.
I lived in a boys childrens home from june 74 to January 1980. I remember them taking me to 3 concerts in Edinburgh. I kid you not...Hot Chocolate, The Corries and... Thin Lizzy. The Lizzy gig was prob 77/78 in Edinburgh.
@@Katehowe3010 Don't normally talk about my childhood but music is part of it. Thank you to a fellow Yes fan.
A decent song written by Rabin with the intro/outro written by White and Anderson adding some ideas to the mix. Another great duel vocal song with Anderson and Rabin is Shoot High, Aim Low from the next album, Big Generator. The next two tracks on 90125, Cinema and Leave It kind of go together and you might want to consider having a single reaction video for them both....
Definitely do "Cinema" (which this line up was called, until Chris brought Jon in) along with "Leave It." Then if you can, preferably in the same video if it will work with your format, do the vocal isolation tracks version of "Leave It." I believe even Yes calls it the "a capella" version, although technically it isn't. It just sounds like it since it is vocal isolation.
What about "Final Eyes" with both Jon and Trevor on vocals ? My favorite from "Big Generator"
@@SebGeddy Final Eyes is fantastic!
I'm probably not the first to say this, but you should do the next two songs together: Cinema and Leave It. Cinema is a short instrumental.
essential. hope it's not too late. Good Advice. Well done.
@Paul-Martin Scheib cinema is live
Leave it is a Processed Cheese Board Perfection Production 🧀
I hope Justin then does the vocal isolation track version of "Leave It" after the album versions of "Cinema" and "Leave It" together. It's known as the a capella version, and does sound like a capella. But technically, it's not.
Good call. I suggested he do the same with White Car and Does It Really Happen when he listened to Drama. They just go together.
The perfect fusion between prog and pop
This song was on constant reply on my Sony Walkman in the eighties. Love Trevor and Jon's voices on this masterpiece.
Some say it’s “selling out” but Prog was dying a quick death so this is just how they had to survive. At the time I’d heard Starship Trooper enough to want to explore other things so this album actually brought me and many others back who may have drifted. Context is everything here but I enjoyed this line up.
I agree totally 👍🏻
To be honest 90125 wasn't suppose to be a Yes album. It was recorded as an album from the band Cinema. When Anderson joined to sing on it, they changed it to a new Yes album, which Rabin wasn't happy with. It doesn't really sound like a Yes album because it wasn't originally suppose to be a Yes album.
I feel like prog is a symptom of technological evolution. Once a whole load of new toys and techniques come out things get experimental. Once experimentation has been largely exhausted the mainstream absorbs what worked while leaving the rest to be forgotten. I think that is why there is a similar phase of modern prog going on currently despite the "death" of classic prog. I hope that if and when modern prog dies out, mainstream music will have taken on many of the dynamics that are being experimented with nowadays.
this was still a really good album I remember thinking it was going to suck then again I thought Asia was going to be the next great thing so...
@@maxmaidment96 that’s a terrific appraisal.
This is my favorite song on the album. I saw them at that time. Parts of the concert In Dortmund are available on yt. I am the one in the audience you can neither see nor hear. They played older songs and this album and it was absolutely no problem. Trevor Rabin played the Howe stuff obviously without great effort but there was one difference: Rabin got a little bit more of showmanship. It was a fantastic show as usual.
I think the whole album is a proof that it is very diffcult to divide music into genres. Where does prog end and where does pop start?
Great song, really took me by surprise when listening to it for the first time. Love the gentle and cleaner echoey guitar moments in the riff.
Next two songs I feel you really have to listen to together, Cinema leads directly into Leave it (Which is my personal favorite on the album.)
This album helped bridge the gap between the music I liked to listen to at the time and the music that my brother (who was 10 years older than me) listened to. Until he moved out, there were only two albums that we shared in our separate collections, Yes - 90125 and Genesis Abacab.
This song was in a set list that my band in college played.
I'll always be a 70s Yes fan, but I fully embraced the "Changes" they went through over the decades. How could they not remain great? Fantastic tune!
Alan White's sound and style is very unique!. He is one of my favorite drummers.
Love Alan White...One of progs most underrated drummers.
This might be my favorite on the album,I saw this tour and they're a great band,it is so different from Steve Howe, but cool, and he has a great voice
I've always liked this song. The intro on what sounds like a marimba (probably a synth re-creation) is fantastic. I've always liked the combination of Trevor's and Jon's voices, I think the go together quite well. My personal feeling is that I like the 'classic' Yes, and I like the new more 'rock/pop' Yes. They excel at both.
Yes 👍
It is a marimba! Alan White played it
@@lukenettle492 My son played a marimba so I thought that is what it sounded like, but even in the 80's you just never know what was real, and what was synth. Thanks for the clarification!
The album overall is superb..changes and the mighty hearts give the album the backbone
Yes really never were bigger than at this stage
Biggest tour and album sales...rabin being involved from the start ..only bringing anderson into the fold when it became apparent that it was shaping up to be something much greater
Hello, Justin. Dave from Somewhere (over the Rainbow). You're right that it's a big change from Toppers, but I was pleasantly surprised when 90125 came out. True, it's essentially 80s AOR in the style of Toto, but like Toto there is an added element of jazz and prog (I believe the initial intention was to be a jazz/rock instrumental band called Cinema but then Jon agreed to join). Trevor Rabin is a very underrated guitarist in my view, as he is so versatile. He can rock and shred with the best, but he also adds subtlety and atmosphere.
I actually really enjoy their 80's albums (save for Drama, which I just can't get into). There really isn't a bad song on 90125 , and both Hold On and Cinema are some of my absolute favorite Yes pieces, even including their 70's catalogue.
I love this song, another great deep cut from this album is City of Love
I think it's one of the most thrilling openings of YES, as the sound gradually thickens with percussion, keyboards, bass, drums, and guitar!
This song has the essence of Police and TOTO, but with the gimmicky performance and chorus work of YES.
I like it more than "lonely heart" on the album 90125!
100%!!
Best song of the album, together with Hold On and City of Love
Please listen to City of Love, badass Yes song
City of Love is my fave from this album.
LOVE Jon's voice and how when he came in, your smile appeared. I like the back and forth of Rabin and Anderson. When I first got into Yes it was this version and then I dug back into their old stuff and was captivated. Have seen concerts with both eras. I didn't realize until I saw Trevor a couple of years ago with Jon A and Rick Wakeman, how much I missed the back and forth between them vocally and some of these songs.
Hi JP. This is your ever chakra spinning YES fan. Now that you have leaped from the sacred prog days to the 90125 days your next part of the journey is straight into the hidden gem ( and most overlooked and underrated YES album ) that is the “ Talk” album. Immense production where Jon’s voice just jumps out at you. Every track is just sublime culminating in the timeless masterpiece that is “Endless Dream”..... Enjoy. Keep those chakras spinning.
This is the only tour I saw YES on, and while I'd loved a lot of their earlier work, I was a huge fan of this album. Tons of memories here for me. Thanks - There should be a love button on this one. Good review.
Love this period of Yes. Probably my favorite song by them
They nailed every single epic version of themselves. ❤️
Pop with prog elements. Notably the time signature changes, unusual chord structures and some Anderson mysticism! Music is to be enjoyed whatever it’s description. Sure I prefer Tales or Close to the Edge to most of their later stuff but that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy 90125 or Talk.
One of the best songs from the 80s reformation period of Yes. Loved it. This was like a statement to the newer Owner of a Lonely Heart fans: "Thanks so much for buying our record. BTW, we're still a Prog band.
Well said. I don’t understand why anyone would not enjoy this LP whether a fan
of Yes or not. Everything about this record is incredible. It’s masterfully crafted
to satisfy the hard core music fan and to appeal to a wider audience.
One of my absolute favourite YES titles. the Bolero-style beginning and final alone capture your mind and the soul quickly follows!
Many groups that moved from prog to pop, mostly later in their careers, upset a lot of fans. However we have to remember this newer music became a gateway for the younger listeners to discover the older clasic albums. Great review as usual Justin, thanks.
Yes! What you said!
Big transition for the Great YES in this album ☝️❤️ thanks for the reaction JP ☝️
This album was like, '83. Me and all of my (cool) classmates listened to this whole album endlessly Senior year High School 1988. So awesome!
With Howe and Wakeman leaving the band, the 80's group had a transformation to more pop /rock with a YES flair! It helped the band have some hits and kept them active with concerts etc. Not the classic lineup but Rabin had a great voice and was a great guitarist. All in all some good songs and a bridge for the band to come back with the classic line up around 2000. Easier music for new fans.
One of the reasons YES now has two bands performing in 2019 and hopefully back after pandemic.
My first show was 1973. Huge part of my music life with over 30 concerts. YES
Yes was effectively dead, until Trevor Rabin's project with Squire and White (Cinema) ended up bringing most of them back together for 90125. I love early Yes, but I really liked, for different reasons, this stage in their careers. Like or dislike some of the 80s production elements, the musicianship was still light years beyond most any of their contemporaries.
I saw this tour in Jacksonville, FL. This was my favorite of the new material in the show. I may be mistaken, but my memory of the opening for this song was a grid on a screen behind the band flashing different colored squares. Alan may have played marimba on the album, but I recall Tony watching the grids flash, and synching the marimba sound on the keyboard to match it. Totally took my breath away.
I sort of get this prog vs. pop war, but mostly I don't care. If music is good who cares what the format is. Is it a battle about what gets played on the radio? Is it about what sells a can of Coke better? This is a good song. Even King Crimson had a pop song, Heartbeat, and it's also a good song, so...
Yes, I was totally thinking of King Crimson as this played. Embracing the new sound but bringing their past experience with them to bounce off of or incorporate.
“It’s not War it’s just the end of love “ as the Manics used to sing. PopRockPunk&Soul is all we need & Steel Pulse & Prince just in case oh
And Sufjan
And Joni
And Phil on drums🦆🤣
Another great song by Yes Justin.. Changes captures Trevor Rabin at his best imho. ❤️ That intro still gives me chills butty.. Kudos to Alan definitely. ♥️
Instrumentation his just perfect. 😊 Atmosphere.. Superb.. Love the dual singing on this Justin.
Maybe, my fav off 90125.
Great review my friend, hope you have a stellar weekend butty. 😊 😊 😊
Talk is my favorite with Rabin.
I love the 80's stuff. Much of this stuff is superiorly better than their other stuff in my opinion.
Do this whole album, it's a'll good stuff. Poppy, maybe? But it is good.
This is my favorite song by them. I grew up with this album and Big Generator, didn't hear things like Roundabout until I started listening to my dad's record collection in the late 80s.
I really like this album...I know a lot hardcore Yes people who don't that say it is mundane and ordinary.....but I welcome the "Newness" and "Freshness" of the sounds of the 80's and putting Yes spin on their music. Still deep lyrics.....complex music compositions......vocal arrangements.....excellent......the flexibility of their changes of their style made them get a whole new audience......and new popularity in the 80's because once again dance bars and clubs were playing these song every where because they were danceable......and the 80's was all about dancing. Changes is one their masterpieces because of the layers and synergy of different instrumentation. Brilliant.
Changes is one of my favorite Yes songs. Lyrically it helped me through some tough times.
Justin great vid! Please listen to Yes' album Talk! Its so good and very underrated.
I got to see Yes on the tour for this album and they sounded exactly like the album live. They also had lasers with hearts and shapes floating above them. I was in my twenties then and it was the most amazing concert I had seen to that point,
JP, to add to your point about how YES has progressed from prog to pop. YES has always had a rich history. There music has always reflected the trends in music from decade to decade. 60's, psychedelic rock, 70's prog rock, 80's pop arena rock, and 90's and beyond, modern rock. That is why I love their catalog. It is a good representation of rock music of the last 50 years. This song is such an example of the 1980's arena pop rock that YES was know for at that time in history.
Love this 80s throwback ness!!!
Here, we not only feel the music, we argue about how feel about it.
@@-davidolivares I can't argue with that statement, David!
@@MissAstorDancer
Not only do we argue, we make mistakes... when I say we, I mean me. ;)
@@-davidolivares Hugs, David!!
;)
Nice to hear YES from you again. If you continue with the album; it's good to hear "Cinema" and "Leave It" right after each other. For the next album I suggest "Tormato". Nobody (except me) seems to like it, but it's so beautifully different and yet typically YES.
Love Steve Howe but Rabin is a beast!...From his vocals to his guitar playing to his arranging...It's all just genius...And shout out to Alan White...Maybe the most underrated drummer in prog.
OK, it's not Close to the Edge, Fragile or Tales, but I loved this album! I'm probably repeating myself, but I'll always remember going to see Genesis in Montreal at the old Forum (Dec 83) and the music that was playing as people were arriving and getting to their seat, was.... 90125! :). It had just came out, and I only knew Owner of a lonely heart. But man oh man, the rest of the album's a gem!
I like it. Pathetic how some Yes fans are all negative about this song and the Album. Not Classy. Kicking a band when they're going through a tough time.
Like I said; Pathetic Fans.
Trevor Rabin had previously written this entire album before approaching YES. At a time when the band was fragmented and in a dry time for the band. It was Trevor's entire written music that really did SAVE Yes at the time of meeting and adding Trevor into the band. Years later Trevor re-recorded the music of 90125 as it does sound like Yes kind of took advantage of Trevor in order to resurrect the band !
Along with Hold On , my favorite tracks from 90125
Check out the live version too
Yes, I agree with you. No pun intended. I think many people like me who grew up in the 80s were introduced to bands like yes, Genesis, Rush with their 80s sound and then went back and checked out the earlier stuff and learn to love their Music regardless of the era.
I personally think this is one of YES best songs. The whole album was epic to me.
Trevor is way underrated in all aspects; as a guitarist, vocalist, composer. He’s phenomenal on everything I’ve heard him do. He was great Live when I saw them in the Union Tour.
This album was fun. Wasn’t even meant to be a Yes album, but once Anderson jumped back aboard, it was Yes. The new guy was Rabin. All the rest where members of Yes at least one time (yes, I’m looking at you Tony Kaye!) Trevor Horn produced even.
Yes is Jon Anderson, but I thought Trevor Rabin did a great job in Yes, very talented guy. Great song! "Hearts" from this album is my favorite. Check out Jon Anderson's solo album "Olias Of Sunhillow" sometime. :)
Yeah. Possibly my favourite on the album. Bands like Yes Genesis and Queen were still great musicians in the 80's. As the 80's progressed being a musician wasn't essential to being a pop star. This songs lyrics a lot simpler for Yes but it's still got heart and depth. You'll probably want to listen to Cinema and Leave It together Justin as Cinema is just a short intro piece .
I played 90125 to death, and yes indeed one of my favs. It's still on my playlist to this day. I still listen all all the tracks on this album, and its what eventually got me to take a backward look at yes later. Of course I knew of Roundabout and other radio friendly tune of it age, but the 80s and MTV reintroduced me to them. Glad you liked it JP!
This song is is my favorite on the album. It is the most progressive song on the album, imo.
When I went to see Yes for the 90125 tour in Lakeland, Florida, a few in the crowd yelled Where's Steve Howe? when Yes took the stage. What a shame that they couldn't appreciate Trevor for what he contributed to Yes. Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes led to Trevor Rabin, which led to the Union tour. If it wasn't for those three members of Yes, there'd be a much less interesting catalog to listen to.
That massive keyboard note played by Tony Kaye was done on an E-mu Emulator. I have an evolved version of it that has a preset called Metal Cables which sounds very similar.
I think Trevor is appropriately rated, but perhaps under appreciated. His solo on this song is one of my favorites. It is clean, melodic, fits the mood of the song perfectly, and he doesn't try to cram in a thousand notes at the end like he seems to do on so many other solos. The trio of songs Hold On, It Can Happen, and Changes are the real meat of 90125, at least for me. It's not that the other songs aren't good, they certainly are, But those three just have the most going on.
This song, Changes, drives an optimistic message to the listeners in creative fashion. The 90125 album has good flow...and this song fits perfectly within the sequence. Great listen in stereo!!
When they first started, this wasn't Yes album, they were called Cinema which was lead by Rabin. Anderson joined last.
Do the whole album!
It’s Awesome!
My favorite Yes Album for sure!
When you have an over abundance of talent, you can do anything.
Good memories when this album came out with Genesis éponyme album. I was playin those very often in my tape cassette walkman. Still love today. have a Nice Day JP
Yep, Changes has always been my fave track from 90125, and in fact my fave of YesWest. Jon Anderson with marimbas and power chords...and it works!
Trevor Rabin made an immediate impression in this lineup.... 90125 is truly superb.
The best song on the album in my opinion. The second best being « owner of a lonely heart »
90125 gets dissed a lot but for me it was the gateway into Yes and prog. I was 12 when it came out, just starting to really get into music, and this was a great relief from the synth pop that was super popular at the time. It led me into the older Yes material.
The intro and the spooky pad sounds are the Fairlight C.M.I. IIx.The Fairlight was programed and played by J.J. Jeczalik. J.J. Jeczalik was a member of Trvor horn's production team. J.J. Jeczalik was also a member of The Art Of Noise.You should listen to Beat Box, Close to The Edit, Moments In Love and Legs
I had been so depressed about what had happened to Yes from 1979 until this album came out! This album gave me something to fell much better about! It wasn't "Yes" that I worshipped, but it was so enjoyable and a lovely transition! Great reaction, Justin! Hope you are having a beautiful day!
YES!!JUST JP!!WHAT ABOUT THE COLLABORATION OF MIKE OLDFIELD AND JON ANDERSON "SHINE"
Great song. I like High Places from Crises too.
@@BackLooking exactly, both “Shine” and “In High Places” are great Mike & Jon collaborations.
@Paul-Martin Scheib Yeah exactly. Simon Phillips on the drums - top level
I didn't listen to Yes after the 1970s. Thanks for showing me what I missed.
I totally agree on this one, maybe the best song on the album. I'm surprised you didn't mention Squire's bass line, love the dark tone of it, something we weren't used to getting from Yes. The odd percussion signature was great and Rabin's vocals were fresh. I'd have bought an album of songs like this even if it wasn't Yes. The entire album didn't measure up which is why I prefer the "Drama" album to this one but it has its moments. Definitely a talented group and I like the rejoining of Tony Kaye.
This tour was when I first got to see them. Songs like this one kept the flame burning for us prog nerds. When they started playing Owner of a Lonely Heart... I was just embarrassed... (Can enjoy it more now though)
Transformative album for them in ‘83 and every track on this album is great!!! Next album “Big Generator” has one of the best tracks (harmoniously speaking) I’ve ever heard - “Love Will Find A Way”.
If you ever want to jump ahead to this century with YES, the album "Fly From Here" is well worth a listen.
Such a great song
I’d highly recommend checking out Yes - Keystudio!
Trevor Rabin is also a film composer who has won numerous awards
Great song! Great album! And I started on Yes in the early ‘70’s.
you took it out of my mouth. It's just perfect music. Do not worry. There is no such anymore
I'm not sure if Trevor Rabin is considered a so-called guitar hero, but he comes close IMHO. Oh and BTW he has a great voice too. Trevor 's demo of this song is OK but when the whole band comes in with Trevor Horn's production work, it's on another level 👏👏👏
City Of Love is one I like from this album for some reason.
love this song , it is so much more than just pop
Jon was only recruited as the album was being completed which is why Trevor has lots more vocals and a lot of his more straightforward lyrics.
Most Yes fans acknowledge Trevor’s guitar prowess( plus his multi playing of other instruments and production techniques) but many think that a lot of his guitar playing is too heavy/ metal !
Says a lot about Rabin that Rick Wakeman has said that there was a missing iteration of Yes with Rabin on guitars and him on keyboards. I would love for that album to have happened.
this is still prog in my opinion. listen to those glorious poly rhythms haha
the best thing that ever happened to yes was trevor rabin joining them. A great guitarist and great vocalist.
Superb Album Always Loved It.
Saw Anderson, Wakeman & Rabin a couple of years ago and they were outstanding ❤🎸🎶
The one song on the album that harked back to their prog past - likewise "I'm Running" on their next album Big Generator, and "I Would Have Waited Forever" and "Shock To The System" on Unison. These tracks made the albums worth buying.
I think Union was hilarious but "Unison" would've finished me off. (Socialist YES.Power to theAllGood People)
Can't wait for Justin to hear it. In fact you've prompted me to assess it 's depth and as i get to Saving My Heart it dawns on me that the Pop turned Sour. However at the time we all loved Jon's voice- even on his RnB pop solo album only to discover later that we'd all been led up the garden path (including Jon). By 2001 they sorted it all out -so JP must check out the nostalgic Magnification LP too.
But Union is also an entertaining listen, just so that listeners and Justin can judge whether tech and musical technicality really is the essence of Progressive Art.
Trevor Horn is probably the biggest no-mention for this album. When listening to the Art Of Noise stuff, his production of this really then stands out to me. I'd like to think alot of rappers that came out in the 80's+ owe the beat box sampling, horn blasts and synths, to him. There are some really cool dj remixes of some of these 90125 tracks out there. The ones they were playing as house music before the shows on that tour is really cool (along with bugs bunny cartoons) iirc..
An excellent song. My favorite off the album is Hearts. Majestic. You would probably love the album ABWH (Anderson, Bruford, awake man, Howe). Brother of Mine is an amazing song off that album.
Your comment on Yes and Genesis changing is accurate. They both successfully changed from prog to pop. Their problem, as with many bands, is that they stopped changing once they hit mainstream pay dirt. Yes did try taking a step back into prog but not very successfully. Genesis just ground to a halt with the 80s pop sound.
This album still has great musicianship and progressive elements (the opening rhythm reminds me of a Bruford intro). As always JP, I enjoyed your educated reaction. On another note, you won't be disappointed with the Strawbs "Round and Round".
This song, and the other songs from Trevor, were going to be released under the band name Cinema, before Jon came back and made it YES again.