I guess it could be viewed as analogous to the first Asia album with a bunch of top tier prog players doing something intentionally commercial, but still employing some interesting musical creativity. Your comparison with what Toto was doing at this time is also valid.
Actually...it did get played on MTV. :) Probably off the strength of Owner Of A Lonely Heart... but this song got mild rotation at the time it came out. Chris is playing this cool Mourdian(sp?) Bass in the video too.
The next song, "Changes" features Rabin on lead vocals. But Jon also gets a verse of lead and for the most part does backing vocals. Just to get you prepared. 😉
I love production of this album. Trevor Horn did a great job. And Trevor Rabin was the catalyst they needed - Yes we're pretty much parasitic on his talent. That said, Yes transformed his songs into some form of demented pop.
Bought cassette at the “ship store”, McMurdo Station Antarctica. We had no contact with outside world basically, so I had no idea what to expect. Pleasantly surprised.
Nothing new to add. It’s an 80’s poppy version of Yes but I love it. Love this song too. All these songs live are great too. Enjoying hearing Chris sing some on this song. Still thinking that if they put out an album as Cinema without Jon with Chris and Trevor on vocals it would still have been a great album. The next song you’ll hear Trevor more on vocals. Changes is a great song too.
This is a Cinema song and there’s a version with only Chris on YesYears box set. Also Tony on that, I think. It’s fantastic ❤ Changes live is electric.
Rabin once described his appearance in the video for this song as "Freddie Mercury in drag." Also, if you aren't very familiar with Yes's vocal sounds, a lot of folks might not have noticed where Squire's voice is basically the lead on the bridge and chorus. If you really want to compare '80's Yes to what it could have been (and actually was) had Steve Howe still been on guitar, the next thing you will need to check out is the album "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe". While not technically a "Yes" album (legal reasons), for all intents and purposes it most definitely IS a Yes album -- Jon Anderson on vocals, original drummer Bill Bruford behind the kit, Rick Wakeman on keyboards, and Steve Howe on guitar. Added bonus: Tony Levin on bass!! That group (minus Levin) eventually ended up getting blended into an eight-man version of Yes for the album "Union" (looooong backstory on that record ... it's a novel all by itself) and Union Tour ... which I got to see and was actually pretty cool. I think you've reacted to at least one performance from that tour.
It's not just 80s Yes, it's Trevor Rabin(ray-bin)flavored Yes. There is so much of Trevor's fingerprints all over this album, it's more like a Trevor Rabin album with some Yes thrown into the mix. Also, you can clearly hear Trevor Horn's influence as producer on this album.
Very valid points. For better and worse (mostly better but he was very manipulative), Trevor Horn was the glue that held the project together and gave it such a sparkly finish. It’s a Rabin album for sure. I accept that he is a true Yes man. The Anderson Rabin Wakeman shows were very good 😊
This album was definitely a Diamond of The 80s! Big Yes fan a sophomore in HS when this album came out and caught the tour in KC. Great times, great music and definitely a great bunch of kids during that decade. 80s forever!!!
The sound of this album to me was completely different from anything else at the time in my opinion. I enjoy most of the tracks on it as well as Big Generator. Their music just puts me in a good mood.
This is a Cinema band song IIRC. There is a very/as good version with Chris Squire on lead vox on the YesYears box set. It’s the first of a run of mega-gems among a sea of gems to me ❤ Just full of beauty regardless of the style or era
They played the whole album during that tour. They sounded great. There's a video called 9012Live. Be sure to watch the directors cut- the one without the added visual effects.
I don't know how much of this is true, but... I always felt I could tell when a tune from this album switched from bits Rabin wrote and bits Jon wrote. I think Jon's stuff is rhythmically more interesting.
Funny, you say too complex for MTV. This is one of the MTV singles with a video. Wait until you get to the song leave it. It is poppy as hell I must warn you, I still love it!. Rabin and Trevor Horn have had a huge impact on my producing and song writing with this album. They were supposed to do th xyz project. I dare say this album cemented them as the Zeppelin of the eighties with Rabin's rock guitar. He still is classically trained, he just uses it in a different way than Howe. I could go on and on about my love for this album.
Over the years people who know me to be a huge Yes fan, have asked me what kind of music does Yes make. I have always answered, they make Yesmusic. Sometimes it sounds like the height of 70s progressive rock, sometimes it sounds like 60s psychedelic jazz rock, sometimes it sounds like 80s rock, sometimes it sounds like 90s Yes, and sometimes it just sounds like what it is, Yesmusic. No matter which decade it is, or whatever the lineup of the band is it’s still always seems to just sound like Yes. There are some people that will say it all comes down to Jon being there, others will say that it is all down to Chris being there, but even the albums without Jon, and the albums without Jon and Chris all still sound like Yesmusic, as you said, Yes put through a different filter. I can’t say enough good things about 90125, not only is it a good album, one of the best of the 80s, but for me, it is also the album that unlock the world of Yesmusic.
Ooh, that’s good. Aged 16 I had Close to the Edge and Fragile on cassette. Loved them. Then I saw 9012Live on TV and I loved that too. I was bowled over as soon as “Cinema” kicks in. All among my first Yes experiences 😊
@@mattleppard1964 Fragile, and Close to the Edge were the next two albums I got after I got 90125. In fact they came together on one cassette, Fragile on side one, and Close to the Edge on side two. There was a big 2 on the front of the cassette case it had a name, but I can’t remember quite what it was, something in me says it was titled A Nice Pair, or something like that. I may be confusing it’s title with the cassette of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and A Saucer Full of Secrets, which I also had on a single cassette.
@@christianschoenewald I had the double cassette too! Can’t remember much about the cover now. I also had Saucer and Ummagumma and so many more on original cassette. Great days ❤️
This song has Chris' fingerprints all over it, and he even takes over the lead vocal for the "Look up. Look down. Look out. Look around..." parts. We even get actual bass leads during the instrumental bridge preceding the final verses. And you're right, Justin -- it IS more complex than just straight pop. This album brought in a huge new audience for Yes, who then discovered this vast back catalog when they went to Tower Records to buy the album ("Wow -- look at this cool artwork..." 😉) BTW, Queen fans might want to check out the video for this one because a lot of people at the time were commenting on how much Trevor Rabin's makeup made him look like Freddie Mercury!
Just so you know - my college roomate in 84 was one of the those new fans - he bought a candy apple red strat just like Trevor, he quickly discovered The Yes Album when he explored the back catalog...
No! Yes’ Grace Under Pressure. Why? Retains the soul of the past and embraces the *now* Power Windows (& Hold your Fire, sans Open Secrets) is what Disney is doing to their fans currently. Am I wrong?
Rock guitar vs. jazz guitar influence. Insightful. Never thought of it in that context, but I think you nailed it…I think Rabin has some interesting melodic lines , but it’s not as meandering/exploratory. More straight ahead..
I like it regardless, just not quite at the level of much of the earlier stuff. Proggy pop, so be it. (Poppy prog?) Yes it's trippy that's why I like it. Sitar, right?
I do love this album, but it's very pink Floyd which isn't a bad thing at all. Sarm studios was not only used for this album but also power windows, by you know who. I did buy Rabins solo album wolf and still have it to this day. 31 years ago 😂love you doing this JPan 😊
Yeah, a rather mediocre Chris Squire written song IMO, but you should listen to his solo album, *Fish Out Of Water,* which is really quite excellent. It was recorded after the *Relayer* album, which IMO was their best post-Close To The Edge album (cue the Awaken fanatics🙄) featuring one of their most glorious epics *The Gates Of Delirium* in which Chris dominated once again in outstanding fashion. You'll see...
Fyi...it's Rabin like Raven. Not like rabbit. And yes, its far different from 70s Yes. Pop Yes is excellent pop. 😂. This whole album , as well as Big Generator, are top 80s albums imo.
I'm surprised Camilla hasn't divorced you because of this Yes Review series. I'm emailing We are gonna do some Queen...live at Wembley ( Friday night) Not sat,the official release. Fri was also done professionally as a warm up,Queen on steroids. You will love it,the Cat will say it's about F ing time and we can move forward.Jon Anderson is Getty Lee's screech twin.Both suck
I couldn't disagree more but I understand how you feel. I felt the same during the Kate Bush, Sparks. Tragically Hip era. What a pile of crap especially the first two...
@@robshaw2639 there are no 10,000 maniacs reactions to reply to, because you don’t request any, and Justin only does whole discographies of a small number of artists on his channel.
All I know is we played the crap out of this album in high school when it came out. Not just prog heads but anybody with some musical inclinations.
I guess it could be viewed as analogous to the first Asia album with a bunch of top tier prog players doing something intentionally commercial, but still employing some interesting musical creativity. Your comparison with what Toto was doing at this time is also valid.
Actually...it did get played on MTV. :)
Probably off the strength of Owner Of A Lonely Heart... but this song got mild rotation at the time it came out.
Chris is playing this cool Mourdian(sp?) Bass in the video too.
The next song, "Changes" features Rabin on lead vocals. But Jon also gets a verse of lead and for the most part does backing vocals. Just to get you prepared. 😉
One cannot be prepared when Alan White invokes Bill Bruford. It is like: “Hey! Why are you driving mini r
I love production of this album. Trevor Horn did a great job. And Trevor Rabin was the catalyst they needed - Yes we're pretty much parasitic on his talent. That said, Yes transformed his songs into some form of demented pop.
Bought cassette at the “ship store”, McMurdo Station Antarctica. We had no contact with outside world basically, so I had no idea what to expect. Pleasantly surprised.
This is one of my favorite songs on the album. There is a version with Squire singing lead that is great 👍 too!
I could be wrong but I believe Rabin is pronounced with a long A... Like rake.
It is
Loved your MTV punch.
Nothing new to add. It’s an 80’s poppy version of Yes but I love it. Love this song too. All these songs live are great too. Enjoying hearing Chris sing some on this song. Still thinking that if they put out an album as Cinema without Jon with Chris and Trevor on vocals it would still have been a great album. The next song you’ll hear Trevor more on vocals. Changes is a great song too.
This one I remember being really good live. Sort of a Yes version of a rock anthem. The crowd really got into singing along at the shows I was at.
This is a Cinema song and there’s a version with only Chris on YesYears box set. Also Tony on that, I think. It’s fantastic ❤ Changes live is electric.
Rabin once described his appearance in the video for this song as "Freddie Mercury in drag." Also, if you aren't very familiar with Yes's vocal sounds, a lot of folks might not have noticed where Squire's voice is basically the lead on the bridge and chorus. If you really want to compare '80's Yes to what it could have been (and actually was) had Steve Howe still been on guitar, the next thing you will need to check out is the album "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe". While not technically a "Yes" album (legal reasons), for all intents and purposes it most definitely IS a Yes album -- Jon Anderson on vocals, original drummer Bill Bruford behind the kit, Rick Wakeman on keyboards, and Steve Howe on guitar. Added bonus: Tony Levin on bass!! That group (minus Levin) eventually ended up getting blended into an eight-man version of Yes for the album "Union" (looooong backstory on that record ... it's a novel all by itself) and Union Tour ... which I got to see and was actually pretty cool. I think you've reacted to at least one performance from that tour.
It's not just 80s Yes, it's Trevor Rabin(ray-bin)flavored Yes. There is so much of Trevor's fingerprints all over this album, it's more like a Trevor Rabin album with some Yes thrown into the mix. Also, you can clearly hear Trevor Horn's influence as producer on this album.
Very valid points. For better and worse (mostly better but he was very manipulative), Trevor Horn was the glue that held the project together and gave it such a sparkly finish. It’s a Rabin album for sure. I accept that he is a true Yes man. The Anderson Rabin Wakeman shows were very good 😊
One of my favorites from 90125 along with Our Song and Hearts. And all giant 70's prog band trapped to "80's sink hole"
'Changes' is up next and the best track on the album!🤩
I had totally forgotten about this album. I really enjoyed it when it came out. I think I lost my copy and will have to pick one up again.
This album was definitely a Diamond of The 80s! Big Yes fan a sophomore in HS when this album came out and caught the tour in KC. Great times, great music and definitely a great bunch of kids during that decade. 80s forever!!!
Good analysis. I agree with you on this one.
Another great one along with the next one IMO. This Album along with VH 1984, Shout at the Devil, and Dio Last in Line was everywhere in HS
"Radio friendly", still great.
The sound of this album to me was completely different from anything else at the time in my opinion. I enjoy most of the tracks on it as well as Big Generator. Their music just puts me in a good mood.
Love this one. Love Trevor’s solo, especially with that clean tone, which is kind of the opposite of what you’d expect.
This is a Cinema band song IIRC. There is a very/as good version with Chris Squire on lead vox on the YesYears box set. It’s the first of a run of mega-gems among a sea of gems to me ❤ Just full of beauty regardless of the style or era
I think of this as Yes decides to do a Beatles song.
They played the whole album during that tour. They sounded great. There's a video called 9012Live. Be sure to watch the directors cut- the one without the added visual effects.
9012Live is a must ❤
Nice ! I like to call it YES-ified
I don't know how much of this is true, but...
I always felt I could tell when a tune from this album switched from bits Rabin wrote and bits Jon wrote.
I think Jon's stuff is rhythmically more interesting.
Pop music needed this. More complex than trash pop. It is - and isn’t - still yes. Just stop worrying about it and enjoy it!
Funny, you say too complex for MTV. This is one of the MTV singles with a video. Wait until you get to the song leave it. It is poppy as hell I must warn you, I still love it!. Rabin and Trevor Horn have had a huge impact on my producing and song writing with this album. They were supposed to do th xyz project. I dare say this album cemented them as the Zeppelin of the eighties with Rabin's rock guitar. He still is classically trained, he just uses it in a different way than Howe. I could go on and on about my love for this album.
Over the years people who know me to be a huge Yes fan, have asked me what kind of music does Yes make. I have always answered, they make Yesmusic. Sometimes it sounds like the height of 70s progressive rock, sometimes it sounds like 60s psychedelic jazz rock, sometimes it sounds like 80s rock, sometimes it sounds like 90s Yes, and sometimes it just sounds like what it is, Yesmusic. No matter which decade it is, or whatever the lineup of the band is it’s still always seems to just sound like Yes. There are some people that will say it all comes down to Jon being there, others will say that it is all down to Chris being there, but even the albums without Jon, and the albums without Jon and Chris all still sound like Yesmusic, as you said, Yes put through a different filter. I can’t say enough good things about 90125, not only is it a good album, one of the best of the 80s, but for me, it is also the album that unlock the world of Yesmusic.
Ooh, that’s good. Aged 16 I had Close to the Edge and Fragile on cassette. Loved them. Then I saw 9012Live on TV and I loved that too. I was bowled over as soon as “Cinema” kicks in. All among my first Yes experiences 😊
@@mattleppard1964 Fragile, and Close to the Edge were the next two albums I got after I got 90125. In fact they came together on one cassette, Fragile on side one, and Close to the Edge on side two. There was a big 2 on the front of the cassette case it had a name, but I can’t remember quite what it was, something in me says it was titled A Nice Pair, or something like that. I may be confusing it’s title with the cassette of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and A Saucer Full of Secrets, which I also had on a single cassette.
@@christianschoenewald I had the double cassette too! Can’t remember much about the cover now. I also had Saucer and Ummagumma and so many more on original cassette. Great days ❤️
This song has Chris' fingerprints all over it, and he even takes over the lead vocal for the "Look up. Look down. Look out. Look around..." parts. We even get actual bass leads during the instrumental bridge preceding the final verses. And you're right, Justin -- it IS more complex than just straight pop. This album brought in a huge new audience for Yes, who then discovered this vast back catalog when they went to Tower Records to buy the album ("Wow -- look at this cool artwork..." 😉) BTW, Queen fans might want to check out the video for this one because a lot of people at the time were commenting on how much Trevor Rabin's makeup made him look like Freddie Mercury!
Just so you know - my college roomate in 84 was one of the those new fans - he bought a candy apple red strat just like Trevor, he quickly discovered The Yes Album when he explored the back catalog...
I should've read this before posting my own comment.
Yes's Power Windows
No! Yes’ Grace Under Pressure.
Why?
Retains the soul of the past and embraces the *now*
Power Windows (& Hold your Fire, sans Open Secrets) is what Disney is doing to their fans currently. Am I wrong?
Exactly! PW all the way. Just like Alex disappeared for a while, Chris goes missing!
@@brianvernon249nah, not dark like Grace Under Pressure. Much more positive vibe, like PW.
Rock guitar vs. jazz guitar influence. Insightful. Never thought of it in that context, but I think you nailed it…I think Rabin has some interesting melodic lines , but it’s not as meandering/exploratory. More straight ahead..
Nothing happens to no-where and no-where. Mend the wires.
I like it regardless, just not quite at the level of much of the earlier stuff. Proggy pop, so be it. (Poppy prog?) Yes it's trippy that's why I like it. Sitar, right?
I do love this album, but it's very pink Floyd which isn't a bad thing at all. Sarm studios was not only used for this album but also power windows, by you know who. I did buy Rabins solo album wolf and still have it to this day. 31 years ago 😂love you doing this JPan 😊
Pink Floyd? Explain yourself please. 😁
Listen from 1.10 min to 1.40 min very the wall 😂
@@stevepreece2931 ok, I hear now. Cool
I agree it is yes but not classic yes, maybe this album is complex but radio friendly so not to lose the crowd.
Yeah, a rather mediocre Chris Squire written song IMO, but you should listen to his solo album, *Fish Out Of Water,* which is really quite excellent. It was recorded after the *Relayer* album, which IMO was their best post-Close To The Edge album (cue the Awaken fanatics🙄) featuring one of their most glorious epics *The Gates Of Delirium* in which Chris dominated once again in outstanding fashion. You'll see...
Fyi...it's Rabin like Raven. Not like rabbit. And yes, its far different from 70s Yes. Pop Yes is excellent pop. 😂. This whole album , as well as Big Generator, are top 80s albums imo.
Does it Really Happen?
I always play both Yes tracks back to back.
Pop or rock....doesn´t matter. There´s a lot of rubbish in rock music too. This is some of the best pop ever.
I'm surprised Camilla hasn't divorced you because of this Yes
Review series.
I'm emailing
We are gonna do some
Queen...live at Wembley ( Friday night)
Not sat,the official release.
Fri was also done professionally as a warm up,Queen on steroids.
You will love it,the Cat will say it's about F ing time and we can move forward.Jon Anderson is Getty Lee's screech twin.Both suck
Are you kidding? Kitty Ho loves her some Yes. She'd rip Daddy a new one if he stopped playing it. 😸
I couldn't disagree more but I understand how you feel. I felt the same during the Kate Bush, Sparks. Tragically Hip era. What a pile of crap especially the first two...
It's prog pop
Or pop prog?
Why do you looked pissed off in the thumbnail
Hey Evan - I thought you only replied to 10k reactions. lol. Nice to see you again.
@@robshaw2639 there are no 10,000 maniacs reactions to reply to, because you don’t request any, and Justin only does whole discographies of a small number of artists on his channel.
Apparently Rush and Yes discovered the digital delay around this time, lol
Floydy
I didn't care for it.