Listening to YES: 90125, Side 1 

I don't care what other Yes fans say..... I LOVE this album...and always will. As a stand alone album , this is an exceptional album. So many high points, ending with the emotion of Hearts

This is the album that introduced me to the band at the age of 13. Then I dove into the back catalogue, and needless to say I was completely enthralled, and my musical tastes were forever changed as a result. While, as you say, it is different from their prior material, I think the band did exactly what was necessary to reinvent their sound for the 1980s market while still remaining true to their progressive roots. And regardless of whether or not one believes it to be "authentic" Yes, it's still damn good music!

This album literally saved my life. It’s energy and uplifting songs moved me at a time when difficult decisions had to be made! I will forever remember this album with Love and gratefulness! Yes my Fav band! I’m a big Yes memorabilia collector and have seen them live >50x(includes solo tours), and had the pleasure of meeting the guys many times!❤️ Glad your checking it out!😉

The highlight of these 80's Yes records are the vocal harmonies between Anderson, Squire and Rabin imo. Sooo well produced

Jim - this was recorded as an album by the band Cinema (Squire, White, Rabin) with Horn producing. But in the last 3 weeks of recording Atlantic management cunningly thought that by getting Anderson to listen to the tapes and add some very last-minute vocals, and also getting ex-Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye involved (and so dumping Eddy Jobson formerly keyboardist of U.K.) they could then convincingly rebrand Cinema as Yes and sell far more records. It worked, and the rest is history.

What a great pop album!!!

It's a throw everything in and see what sticks album. But for me it all sticks and its brilliantly mad...but mainly just brilliant.

This was one of Yes' tours I actually caught twice: coming in at the Forest Hills (the neighborhood I had previously grown up in) tennis stadium, then on their way back to England at Madison Square Garden. Both concerts were amazing.

Love 90125

The change of time signatures in "Changes" is just genius

ahh my highschool days... great live show. Trevor Horn produced it. It is a resurgence of YES, certainly with a new sound, but without departing from the signature components of YESs traditional sound. They were harnessing the energy of the day and a new pop sensibility while not abandoning what YES fans would expect. the remix in 2004 adds some sonic punch, not to take away from this 1983 original. Trevor Horn as you mentioned is phenomenal. I still prefer other early YES to this, mainly because I played this out as kid and in college... and thereafter, I really did play the whole LP a lot... Probably because I was able to catch 2 shows live this tour.. made an impression. cool laser light show. probably went through 3 CDs... I only took a deeper dive than the hits when I found RU-vid reactions about 2 years ago... I have enjoyed the YES deeper journey... I enjoyed your reaction. thanks

Your comments exquisitely right on target with most Yes fans that started with them in the late 60s and early 70s. It's good for what it is, but completely below the royalty of music that's preceded it. If you continue on with your Yes journey, hang in there. The Keys to Ascension records are the final return to both the glory days and the classic line-up. Keep up the great work, it's been a joy to travel with you.

Excellent! I'll be right back after a 1.3km swim. I'm just a fish out of water.

Have always loved this album. Both key eras of Yes were powerful in their own ways. Rabin was a major acquisition. He brought so much to the band at this point. This album is one of my top examples of tasteful 80s production (along with Peter Gabriel’s So).

The many layers of music in Changes is amazing

Yeah, Steve was doing Asia. He also hooked up with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett to form GTR for a one album, one tour gig. This is certainly worth considering as well.

Well I remember all those songs like they were yesterday. I know I bought the album when it came out. Can't remember the last time I actually heard some of these songs.

Interesting what you say about the emotional connection. I've always struggled to put my finger on why it isn't up there with the best and I think that's it. Sounds like it was written and produced to a formula to be as commercial as possible. I've always liked it and bought it the day it came out, went to see the shows etc etc, but, but, but........

Great choice! I I found myself thinking, again, this must be one of 10 best albums of 80's...and maybe not only that! Thank you for your very sympathetic and music enjoying approach too:)

It’s all awesome in concert of course, I think that goes without saying!! By the way I love seeing your turn table and Vinal! Memories!!

I chuckle a tad Jim as to your well-earned "don't ruin it" trepidation. Would like to assure does not. Different, so much and never an Awaken again. :-) or CTTE, but beautiful, complex, clean, well-placed with yet thick bass. All the better to pluck out the incredible musicians you knew where there anyway. AND, I believeJon's voice is never so perfect in the mix then from 90125 out. Just incredible vocal showcases.

Steve Howe was hitting the big time touring with the awesome Asia, as you said Jim. I love this album, it was a transitional album, a new beginning almost.

First time I heard "Owner of a Lovely Heart" on the radio I thought it was by The Police. Took me ages to find out it wasn't from them :)

I saw them during this tour in Chicago. A very fine show.

Noticed you had the proper coffee mug for the occasion. I've listen to YES from 1973 love classic YES, but I also love this era of YES also this whole album is just great.

Y'bastard....listening to this hath forced me into digging the cd out and ready for the car....I have a weekend away and this is now on the playlist.....Nice Juan Jim....

This is when Yes became more spiritual to me. More touching my soul and less just plain wonderful music. It is elevated.

I’m excited for you to hear Hearts. By far the best song on the album 👍

Trevor Horn production is front and center.... A glimpse of things to come

I like your Yes mug Jim. Your hooked...Nice!

I remember this tour-they used lasers high above the crowd in neon green-forming really cool shapes and integrating it throughout the concert. There was a woman dressed in a white flowing dance costume that danced throughout the concert among the crowd -with a spot light on her ! She was great, ethereal and a nice addition to the night!! This concert was the last time I seen Yes in a balcony! From here on…front rows!✌️❤

*YES* is back, and more different than ever :)

I bought the newly released Acoustic Sounds reissue of this album part of the Atlantic 75th anniversary series in 45 RPM and man oh man! It just simply sound so much better than my 1983 copy. I highly recommend it.

You should check out Trevor Rabin's solo album that came out a bit later in the 80s - Can't Look Away - produced by Bob Ezrin - some great stuff there too!

Truly a real Masterpiece. No Filler - all Killer. Not only one bad Song on this Record. And what a fantastic sounding Album this is! Progressive Rock and Metal at it's best. And I don't really care what all the other Band's saying. About their I'nfluences. Their just all influenced by this one Album. Everything after this came out. Not Rush! Not King Crimson! They're lying! In my opinion. Because I hear a lot of Yes in Dreamtheater for example Fates Warning and Queensryche as well! And in a lot of other Band's Music too! Not Rush or KC. That was always a Lie! I bought this one when it came out. Listened a thousand times to it. The Story about the Production of this is also amazing. Produced on this lonely beautyful lovely Island... Far away from everything... So a Dream can be come true... This is definitely one the greatest Album's ever made. One of the greatest Records of all time. Definitely Top-5. It has influenced so many other Band's. That's exactly is, why it so Important in the History of progressive Music. Melodies and Harmonies... So many... This is what I called Music. These incredible Drumming. So much better than everything Rush ever made. Or KC. And all the other Band's that just only playing this boring, uninspired, unmotivated Stuff! This is so much more! Next Stop? Mike Oldfield's Crises? With the incredible Simon Philipps on Drums! (Last 8 Minutes of the Title Song!) And also very well produced! An fantastic sounding Album. Something, a Band like Dreamtheater never ever has made in Sound. Just listen to the last Song on Dreamtheater's Album Scenes from a Memory. The Drumming by Mike Portnoy. And than listen again to the Song Crises. With the great Simon Philipps on Drums Can you hear it? Can you see it? I'nfluences... Real I'nfluences! And not this boring Neill Peart Jazz Standards no one need! Yes. A lot of people now would love to see me bunting in Hell for this... But I'm always listening very carefully. And try to figure out what I'm already listen to.

So loved it when it came out I think there was a interview video with the band hearing the final edit for the first time and they were stunned by the sound

Yeah jamming right with you I got this record in the 80's, have to look for it in the big Stack....it is probably completely scratched up loved it...stll do.Fav.on this record is Leave it .. Changes reminds me a lot of the Survivor American heartbeat vibe...

Yes, I love this Album. CHANGES!!!

There's some interesting link ups here, as Trevor Horn was in Art of Noise but also in Yes. Seems like he was using some sounds in Yes that he'd later go on to use in Art of Noise.

Changes and city of love are my favourite tracks but like all the songs and after 90125 came big generator

Saw Trevor Rabin when I was at college. His band was pretty heavy. Saw the new Yes on my birthday as present from my brother. They had had ridiculous makeovers and reminds me of Punky Whips by FZ. The 80s a decade when taste was abandoned. The music was good though.

Only an opinion, but "Hold On" is my favorite form this wonderful album. Glad you enjoyed.

I love this record - thanks as always for sharing your thoughts.

The best part of Owner is the intro.

Hey Jim! A very different YES album, but exactly what the band needed at the time. I like this album, know every word by heart. My favorite song is the last of the album named Hearts. Jon's voice is phenomenal! Well, love it or hate it 90125 gave YES their only number one song in the history of the band. By the way, this was a great tour that seemed to last FOREVER!!😎

Roger Dean mug!

Ok. Giving this a go. Other than “the single,” I love this album ❤

To complete this album you should listen to the acapella version of Leave It. It's just amazing…

Much less guitar driven without Howe. That was tough to get used to back when this came out. And we thought it kind of trite as prog at the time. But...it was the best of prog still anyway. Chris Squire was the longest member being in every variant of YES until his death. Put together Squire and White? Those guys were so familiar with each other. And then Jon. What a voice. But again, part of the vocal magic was that it was always Anderson AND Squire on vocals. Not only was Chris phenomenal as bassist/composer, he and Jon sang together soooo well. For decades. At the time it was kind of a hard sell to hard-core YES fans. But...change happens. You should check out "Magnification", YES's 2001 album. With full orchestra. Best of late era YES. This is a fabulous album.

I still have this on vinyl. Probably my favorite YES album. Holds many wonderful memories for me. Thrilled you're playing this ❤️.... I don't mind the crackling. Changes is my favorite on this album.

YesWest... a different band for sure, but for my money, a much stronger attempt at progPop than Asia ever accomplished. The high points are very powerful. "our song" stands out for me.

Dare I say it? Hell yeah. This might very well be my favourite album of all time... And I'm not even that much of a hardcore Yes fan, go figure.

I remember A Bugs Bunny cartoon opened this release's tour shows.. (the one where Bugs was being chased in a slow motion Opera or something.. while on ether) 😎

Trevor Rabin was the one man that turned yes around he could play keyboards, guitar and his vocals are also very good. The next album big generator came up with their 2 best songs( shoot high aim low) and (I'm running)

This came out my 1st yr. of Uni and was my intro to Yes. Very much of that time but served as a gateway to some of the most adventurous music of my lifetime.

When I first heard Owner of a lonely heart I thought this was The Police. When a friend said "oh no this is Yes!", then a love story began ....Yes fan forever!

I'm a devout Yes fan - I absolutely love Fragile, Close to the Edge and Going for the One, but 90125 is a different beast. I still love it. Great album with a genius mix.

Jimmy me boy, now that was an honest reaction.

After all this time, my first listen to this album is a listen-along-a-Jim.

3 members of the production team on this album worked on the Frankie Goes To Hollywood album Welcome To The Pleasure Dome. The three members are Trevor Horn, Gary Lanigan, and Jonathan Jeczalik. All three did form a band called The Art Of Noise. Jonathan Jeczalik Programed and played the Fairlight C.M.I. IIx on the 90123 album

I remember watching the Owner Of A Lonely Heart video where they stop the song and Jon starts talking and the band converts into different animals. Mind blown. I love this album and Big Generator. I call it the California years Yes.

Jim, first I must say that for the last couple of years I have truly enjoyed being a guest at your RU-vid channel. When you first found Yes I was hooked. Today I had my new audio system installed complete with turntable. I pulled out my vinyl records that have not seen the light of day for 20 years. I was amazed to find over 500 records. Now I have a new hobby. Thank you for so many hours of enjoyment. Paul from Arizona

Given how I loved your BG reaction in which you sort of said you didn’t like 90125 you seem to be enjoying it. I’m relistening today. This from the archives would be good.

I remember Jon Anderson saying he liked singing for the two versions of the band, the Chris Squire band and the Bruford, Wakeman, Howe band. He sang for both during my teen years in the 80's so I tend to look back on that era fondly.

I gotta say, Jim, that I feel about this edition of YES pretty much as you related at the end of this side. I think my biggest disappointment was Chris stepping back & being more "polite" as you put it. I mean, as good as the other musicians in early YES were, I really think Chris Squire's *_dominating_* Industrial-melodic inspirations were what made YES special early on. Indeed, I think it would have been _very_ appropriate if they had started marketing themselves on the release of *The Yes Album* as YES: featuring Chris Squire on bass. Having said all that, I'll give you an early heads up on *I'm Running* (on the Big Generator album following this one) which I consider the one composition of YES in this Rabin-era edition that measures up to the high standard achieved by the Classic Yes line up. It's special. I even put it in the Top 10 of all YES creations overall. You'll see... :)

I really like It Can Happen and Changes off side one, they along with the side two closer Hearts sound like a follow-up to Drama but with Jon singing to me.

お疲れさまです! Haha your Monday thoughts are always so chipper... Love "owner of a lonely heart", didn't love the music video as much, from memory, the sound is kind of reminiscent of post-gabriel genesis... Wonder if that similarity will play out.

TALK is my favorite Trevor Rabin Yes album. Gotta check that one out.

Such a great album! I owned it when it came out. I think it dose stand up in it's own way. I love it.

I have some mixed emotions with this LP from Yes. I like many songs, some others not. But after many years without listening to it, I kinda "rediscovered" it and, as you said, It's a great album in its entirety, according to its era when it was launched. Thank you, Jim!

This was the summer, in high school, on a walkman, walking to the bus stop after a shift at McDonalds. 😬

you should have seen the tour. it was great.

You are experiencing the Yes divide. Although that has lessened over the years, initially this was a controversial shift. For me it was the introduction - the first Yes I heard, and a year later, the first concert I attended. By then I had already gotten Fragile, Yessongs, and Drama and loved the older Yes (and Howe) more. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like this. Drama still sounded like the old Yes, even without Jon. Steve, Chris and Alan were still writing like they used to, and a decent amount of that music was from when Jon and Rick (and even Patrick Moraz) were still in the band. This started as a project from an outsider - Trevor Rabin. Chris and Alan wanted to continue working (and had tried a brief stint with Jimmy Page and, at least initially, Robert Plant - some of that music ended up in Yes, some with The Firm). They liked what they heard on Trevor Rabin’s tape and decided to call. The album was largely “complete” and ready to be recorded as Cinema when Chris played a tape for Jon who liked it and thought he would like to sing on it. There was some collaboration and re-writing to accommodate Jon, mostly in melodies and lyrics, but Hearts is the primary song where his influence is really felt. Although Jon’s solo efforts at this time were pretty pop-oriented too. But it sounds so different precisely because it was driven primarily by a non-Yes writer. Trevor Rabin was familiar with Yes and has said that if he knew they were going to be Yes, he would have written different, more symphonic songs. His other gig is writing movie soundtracks. While the album doesn’t connect in the same way as older Yes, it’s a near perfect album without any really weak tracks. The next album would suffer as Jon and Trevor struggled to determine which direction they should really be going. I think it was very hard for them to really look to incorporate the larger Yes approach when the label was fully behind trying to get 90125 II. Of the three albums with this lineup, Big Generator was the least focused and weakest. Talk was a good blend of the old Yes approach with a new Yes sound. Neither could have happened without this one, and without it being so successful. I’m also not sure the classic Yes would have happened either. Or at least not as soon as it did. I don’t put this on as often as some of the others, but I know every word and every note. For a more pop-oriented ‘80s direction it is still as vital today as it was then, and it’s hard to just listen to one song without listening to the whole album.

I remember listening very briefly to the radio and the announcer said "This is the number 1 from Yes....." I thought, "What? Yes has a number 1?" It was duly shocked how different it sounded but there was the familiar voice of Jon Anderson. Strangely though I liked it. I got the album and really liked it, Yes a very different Yes sound but I liked the different sound that Trevor Rabin added and the harder rock guitar he added. I did like this album but overall didn't like the next album "Big Generator"

Trevor Rabin has a great solo record called "I Can't Look Away", released in 1989. I would highly recommend checking that out if you like his style! :)

I worshiped this album when it came out, and I was already a fan. Fragile, etc., were of course already battery by then, but I also came up with Tormato and Drama, and consider them great work too. Especially Drama. Machine Messiah, the opening epic, is one of my favorite Yes songs, even though that was maybe the only album on which Jon Anderson didn’t sing (Trevor Horn did). And, I saw the Union tour with the mix of the original Yes and this version playing together. Phenomenal. Anyway, I kinda grew up thinking of Yes as a fluid project with Chris Squire being the anchor. I like the changes in personality of their music with the addition and subtraction of players. Btw, love the vinyl approach.

90125 was YEs' ABACAB- transition to the New Wave/80s sound vs the art rock of the 70s.

Its a must , hear the hole lp peace by peace ! 🌹🌹🌹😎

Nice reaction Jim, I think from memory someone in management recommended Trevor Rabin as a replacement for Steve Howe who had left to form Asia. Trevor was also a writer & penned "Owner", "Hold on" & "Changes" on side 1. Early on the plan was to play as a four piece with Trevor doing lead vocals. Jon who had been soloing & collaborating with Vangelis called Chris to see what they were up to, came down, liked the vibe, sang on a few songs in rehearsal & bingo re-joined the band. Add to the mix Trevor Horn, lead vocalist from "Drama" on production. I remember at the time being so glad they were still alive, Rabin re-charged the band, the music was nothing like the brilliance of the 70's but it was enjoyable & interesting & drove them forward, best wishes.

Everyone remembers 3 vocalists on this album. There are in fact 4. The former lead singer and their producer on this album is singing backup on almost every song. Trevor Horn’s vocals are more to the forefront on Leave It. Listen to the a cappella version to hear Rabin hit a high note of insanity.

Trevor Horn, who sang on the Drama album was the producer on this album.

One last comment for you Jim, but only because I know how much you enjoy my stellar commentary 😃😱lol When you get to their albums 'Keys to Ascension', I recommend that you listen to 'Keystudio' instead. The Keys to Ascension albums are half live, half studio. They then took both halves of the studio side and made a compilation album called Keystudio. Had they released that, instead of Keys to Ascension, I think it would've sold a ton.

Hey Jim, always good to see you getting back to Yes. While this version of Yes was fine at the time it hasn't dated at all well. Their earlier albums are timeless but the 80's albums, like a lot of stuff from that era are very much of their time. If you're wondering what Steve Howe was upto around then , you're right he was doing a few albums with Asia and also at about 1985 he did an album with Steve Hackett as GTR before reuniting with Jon, Rick and Bill Bruford for ABWH

So you've finally reached 90125 Jim! We've been waiting for this one... I think your opinion will be more positive after listening to side two, which is a stronger side melodically and emotionally than side one. Hold On and It Can Happen are a little overcooked, the rest is top notch.

Chris Squire once said something along the lines of "Trevor Rabin writes Foreigner songs better than Foreigner". That pretty much sums up this album, a selection of Trevors tunes, filtered through Chris and Jon, and the squeaky clean Trevor Horn production. And yes, there is a massive Art Of Noise connection here, a lot of the samples were reused on the early Art Of Noise releases via Horn working with Fairlight sampler genius JJ Jeczalic at Sarm studio. Despite it being a little too airy (it could do with a little more bottom end in the production, it is absolutely made for radio) this is my favourite post-prog Yes album. PS, the confusing spoken word stuff at 6'00 on "It Can Happen" is taken from a radio dramatisation of "The Importance Of Being Earnest". Loving the channel as always, when are you going to review some Cardiacs? :)

One of my favorite albums of all time

love the Roger Dean Coffee cup

This is my sixth form all over! I’d got into Yes before this and also enjoyed this. Rather like a Old Yes meets Mr Mister? Mr Mister … another one for you to check Jim! Their last album (Pulll) has Trevor Rabin on it

Ooo cant wait for this one. I absolutely love love LOVED your Mastodon Hushed and Grim full album listen. (I hope you do more Mastodon in the future!) I am a fan of Yes' more mainstream hits, Roundabout, Owner of a Lonely Heart etc. When my Dad and I were driving down to go see Volbeat and Ghost a few months ago he put on Leave It and that song stuck with me. I've been meaning to look more into them but I've been transfixed by Ghost's new album for a bit. This may just be the push that I need!

Jim, in answer to your question regarding Jon Anderson. The band had made their album (no Jon Anderson), they presented the album to the record company, firstly they were a bit concerned about the lyrics and them being being "very left field", they also said it needed someone on vocals not just Trevor Rabin. So Chris Squire invited Jon Anderson to come and listen to the demo tapes and Jon liked it. So Jon rejoined the band and then of course the only name the band could be then was "Yes". Rabin had already written the words. So their were certain sections of the song that didn't fit Jon's vocal range so that's why the vocals are shared. I have to say this era was a very Trevor Rabin driven Yes and that is also partly the reason for the difference in sound. Jon was an add on to provide extra vocals. So Jon had little input on the creative side but he seemed happy to be part of it.

Good catchy songs, beautiful harmonies, high quality musicianship. A good album. Only for the song Hearts, you have to hear the side 2. It’s THE song of this album. Love your honest reaction, Jim.

As I grew up with Yes and other bands, I just grew with them, as you say if they hadn't changed... but they pushed forward with the record companies encouragement, and this album was hugely successful. Where the previous stuff needed a few listens, this was; direct, accessable, catchy, if not as complex, but hey it sounded great and it was the eighties... gone is the church organ and sweeping orchestration that it often had. I have been following along with you as we travel with Yes and other bands through the years, I think from now on we are are going to hear more commercially acceptable material. The previous Yes stuff did not particually lend itself to be listened in the car, 90125 works well there. As always Jim a great assessment, there's more good stuff to come, it is Yes, but flavoured to the time period it was released in.

Desert island disc, right here. And that's coming from a 'classic Yes' fan (I even adore their debut)! The pop-focused writing - with progressive elements! - , impeccable performances and stunning production make this a real world-beater. The positive influence of the two Trevors here can't be overstated. Hot take: 90125 > Tales From Topographic Oceans!

I can never get over how awesome Chris squire sounds in It Can Happen. He’s practically screaming in that prechorus

Jim a little context, during this era both the record industry and music critics (Rolling Stone, Circus, Creem etc) had declared Progressive Rock music dead. Their fan base was mostly still with them with this record, as well as the new fans from Owner of a lonely heart. I took it in stride, glad that they were still mostly intact as a band and happy they didn’t go the route of Genesis after Steve Hackett left. What a long strange trip it’s been…

This version of Yes is missing Steve Howe who was Jon's main writing partner and his guitar. Asia has Howe's sound but also gets stuck in the 80's five minute prog songs and John Wetton is no Jon Anderson as a writer. Pre internet I was just glad to hear that these musicians were still able to put something out.

The Moody Blues and Renaissance, radically changed their sound around the same time. Renaissance did not survive, but Yes and TMB did. Genesis had started changing after Peter Gabriel left, but became much more commercial around the same time.

Anderson was presented fully formed demos for quite a few of the songs including owner by the trio at that moment going under the name ...cinema....it just had to be and anderson signed on....fun fact...Eddie jobs on briefly joined the band...he's in the video for owner of a lonely heart.

Saw Jon Anderson with the Paul Green Rock Academy (School of Rock) last night. Great covers of Led Zeppelin, Eminem, Lenny Kravitz plus awesome renditions of Close to the Edge, America, Heart of the Sunrise, Long Distance Runaround, And You and I, Owner of a Lonely Heart and a dozen other songs. Between 2 and 16 musicians/singers on stage depending on the song. The energy from the kids was through the roof. Highly recommend seeing this show if you get the chance!

This is one of my favorite albums from the 80's. I firmly believe if the band had changed their name many of the old Yes fans would have given it more of a chance as they did with Asia which to me is a far inferior group. (Basically the record company felt it was easier to market the name Yes and forced it on them.) The "it's ok for what it is" attitude is exactly my point. It is something completely different and should be viewed as such. A new name would have reflected that instead of inviting comparison. Although other prog bands were expanding their sounds at the same time, like Rush, Kansas and King Crimson, only the Yes fans came off looking butt hurt about it.