Pope, YES we're finally inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. 25 years after they were first eligible. Such a travesty that they had to wait so long. RUSH had the honors of inducting them. Geddy actually played bass on Roundabout, filling in for the late great Chris Squire. 😎🔈🔉🔊
All time best acceptance speech is Rick Wakeman or Alex Lifeson. As hilarious as Rick is, Alex is pure creativity of hilariousity and frustration. Can you imagine drinking with either one of those guys?
As much as I’m in the “if it ain’t Jon, it ain’t Yes” club, I happily welcome this song into the Yes songbook. The combo of Steve’s guitar alongside Geoff’s sweeping keyboards with Chris’ bass and Alan’s drums setting the pace just makes it shine.
It's only 60% YES, and 40% cheap imitation. Actually Geoff's keyboards suck and are NOT compatible with the YES sound at all. At least this is better than the horrid Rabin era CRAP, such as "Owner of a Piece of Garbage".
Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. The true genius of Squire comes to the front on this album and Howe is at this best. The Pope of prog. If you continue with this album Tempest Fugit has your Yes cheer.
This was a great time for the yeggles. An amalgumation that again, gave the band new direction and impetus. I saw them at the Deeside leisure centre in the city of Chester, i.e. during the Drama tour. Amazing show - as always . Some snobby yes fans calling for Jon and Ric during the quiet bits. I had no such prejudices or hang ups . loved it all the same. I love the way you feel the music the way I and countless others do. You are blessed and in tune dear chap.
Drama was a damn fine album, I think Chris, Steve, and Alan were wanting to find a balance between the classic YES sound and a slightly harder, more stark approach that would be in keeping with the new decade. I think some of these songs were being developed by the band before Jon and Rick actually left, so the spirit of the group was still very much alive.. Check out 'Tempus Fugit' and 'Does It Really Happen?" these are two of the 'other' best songs from Drama.
Making Changes to "be in keeping with" what everybody else is doing at the time is NOT what real arts ever do. That is called selling out, going commercial, going pop, and going trendy which I cannot respect.
@@nonrepublicrat This was by no means a sell-out album. The sell-out would happen three years later, followed by those 'shotgun wedding" attempts to force the 'classic YES' sound and lineup in order to reclaim their former glory. Drama was NOT one of those albums,this was YES exploring new territory, and it was NOT particularly trendy or 'doing what everyone else was doing. In 1980 it was New Wave/Punk/Pop, or manicured, sterilised version of Punk. There is nothing like that here. Besides, the blame for any desperate compromise toward marketability lay squarely with the corporate 'Owners', always. In every single instance. Genesis were so badly in debt by the end of the 70s, they clung to Phil Collin's new pop sound and defiled Genesis with it. They should have stopped the whole thing right then and there.
Pope, keep it going brother. Do 'White Car' and 'Does It Really Happen' next which are the last two songs on Side 1 of Drama. Do them together because 'White Car' is only 1:18 long. Then do Side 2 at your convenience.
"Machine Messiah" is the opening track off the final true prog rock album and sets the pace for the entire record. It was wild seeing Yes live in San Diego in 1980. They played the concert "In the Round" where the stage was divided into 4 quadrants. The singer, Trevor Horn was in the center raised up a little and Steve, Chris, Alan and Geoff each in their own quarter. As the stage revolved, I could see each member close up (we were maybe 4 rows back). They played the entire 'Drama' album!! Awesome!! ✌💜👄
YES is a language of its own :) In fact haha, a 1999 album, "the ladder" has a really cool song called "new languages". Love it :) another unique LP, period. Pre Howe, classic yes, tormato, drams, Rabin era, koroshev, wakeman return... all unique and wonderful!
Mate, you are a crack up "What button on the key pad was that?" love it, seriously though, that was a synthesizer effect from new keyboardist Geoff Downes (the other half of the Buggles along with new vocalist Trevor Horn). As fate would have it, Steve, Chris and Alan were rehearsing some new material in a studio at the same time The Buggles were doing the same in a room next door at the same studio. They met, Chris asked Trevor and Geoff if they'd like to have a jam and before they knew it the next incarnation of Yes was born. Drama is a great album, it's a fabulous synergy of the writing and playing styles of the two bands combined, it's a pity it only lasted for one album. I think the main reason why it disbanded was Trevor struggled with Jon's very high register parts on tour. "Does it really happen" , "Into the Lens" and "Tempus Fugit" from the same album are also fabulous tracks and are well worth a listen. Cheers
Constant reinvention. One of Yes' signatures was Perpetual Change. Not every version was to every fan's taste but the sound was there. Every time. Every lineup. It took me a while to get that (being a 70s Yes fan) and it took me several listens to get Drama but now, all these years later, its one of my favorites.
I was 12 when 1980 when I first heard Machine Messiah and the whole Drama album. I had heard early Yes albums, but this was different, harder, funky, dark. And my mind was ready for all of it. I can only imagine I reacted the same way. Music is music and it’s excellent to see you truly grooving on every twisting turning moment of this. That is what the band intended! That is why Trevor Horne stepped in to take the lead vocals… to keep this pure enjoyment and fascination going! Great reaction! You didn’t just listen. You heard it.
This version of Yes had JON and Rick replaced with The Buggles who had a massive hit with Video Killed The Radio Star and it’s Yes’s “punkiest” music as Punk was very big in Europe at the time. The last track on this album is Tempus Fugit which has one of Chris Squire’s best bass lines ever !
For those who don’t know (and the few who might care) the “satanic mills” line is a reference to the anti-industrialization sentient from a 1809 poem by William Blake. Set to music in 1917 in the form of the hymn “Jerusalem.”
Some say it sounds like Pink Floyd The Wall, but that came out 2 years later :) But that sound, I think their bass player is on another level, and that probably makes a big difference. I know other bands of great bass players, of course RUSH, but what about the band Talking Head? XD It's good !
I thoroughly enjoy this channel. Appreciate what you do. You play music i haven't heard in ages. Reminds me how lit the songs were. I'm still waiting to hear your reaction to "The Garden". It will blow your mind. There is a live version which should be watched first. Not sure if lyrics are included. If they are not then i highly recommend doing a back to back live then lyric.
This is such an incredible piece of music. I was shocked when I realized that Wakeman and Anderson weren't on this album. They all sound fantastic. Hey man, have you heard the Beatles tune 'Every Little Thing'? If not, go listen to it and then I'd love to see you react to YES doing a cover of it, from their first album. They also did a cover of 'I See You' by The Byrds, on their first album too. Good stuff : )
Yes did great covers. Don't forget they also did Simon & Garfunkel's "America" and in their live shows during the 70s they would do a raucous version of The Beatle's "I'm Down" and Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour".
"Drama" was both stylistically and personally a violent upheaval. Anderson and Wakeman replaced by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Horn and Downes were previously "The Buggles". Their hit "Video Killed The Radio Star" was the very first song to be aired on music network MTV. But when you listen to the song and compare it to Yes's songs from the 70's, you can't help but think: they don't add up. Measured by that, a really exciting album came out of it. Horn later became a very well-known producer, Downes has been the regular keyboardist for Yes since 2010 and has also played for Asia and Icon and made solo albums in between.
What a fantastic Masterpiece of Music.....this album was one of my gift on my 25th Birthday......and I really Enjoy listen to it.....now if you are into some heavy metal Yes music....check out "City of Love." Absolute FIRE Bro!!!!! FIRE!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
You have made your mark on Yes and Genesis. An artist I’d like you to try would be XTC. They’re not prog but accomplished writers and musicians. Three to choose from: wrapped in grey; chalk hills and children; the last balloon
My favorite band since 1980. More songs....Season Cycle, Love on a Farm Boy's Wages, Senses Working Overtime, Towers of London, Helicopter, Then She Appeared etc......................
I TOLD YOU MAN! Ha Ha! I’m going to rub it in, but you finally got to Drama! Now do you see? It takes a couple of listens before it sinks in just how badass, Rock and Roll this record is. Always do it LOUD when you’re really in the mood and there’s no better pick me up. I’ve been doing it for years. Just put it on, crank it up and let it ride. The whole thing is excellent. It’s a unique, stand alone record period. That’s why I’ve owned it since 1980 and why it’s in my top ten. I know that’s saying a lot, but I have to have this album. It’s that good. And I have high standards for that short list, like ZEPPELIN one, RUSH 2112 etc… AEROSMITH, Toys in the Attic. It’s hard to narrow it down to ten.
Can i request Marillion - Easter for the time of year (its not actually a religious song thank god :)- I think you would like them, they came along in the eighties with the original singer Fish being more theatrical along the lines of Peter Gabriel, an amazing poet of a song writer. This one was with the second singer Steve Hogarth who has some transcendent vocals similar to Jon Anderson.
Jon A comes back several times. This song is still good in my opinion. There's a video version of this with Benoit David singing. (He replaced Jon A in mid 2000s for a few years). Tempus Fugit next?
I saw the Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman version of Yes on the "In the Present Tour" in 2010. It was incredible! I also saw the "Drama Tour" in 1980. Both times, "Machine Messiah" was my favorite song played live on both tours. Additionally, I saw the Jon Anderson fronted Yes in 1976 and 1984. Lastly, I saw the final 2 tours with Chris Squire in 2013 and 2014, and the current incarnation in 2016 and 2019. I don't know how many Yes fans have seen all 4 lead singers live. Sound off!!'✌😊🎸🎤🥁🎹🎼
@@justineapril7922 That's great. I kept following Yes from the 80s through 2018--in fact, both Yeses. Saw ARW four years ago and they were incredible along with various other Jon A projects like with the Ponty Band and Wakeman. Also ABWH in the 80s. All great times. I've seen Anderson, David and Davison singing but no Horn. It was before I was a fan.
I love your prog reactions, dude !!! Great to sea you react to songs like this. I recommand you some French prog, especially "Cannabis" by Nino Ferrer (1971). It's a fabulous trip I know you'll enjoy. I hope some more ELP reactions too, especially tunes like "Trilogy", "The barbarian" or "Take a pebble". Thanks for all your videos. Hi from France.
One of your subscribers suggested checking out XTC and I want to validate that. A vast library of unique songs to explore. XTC has on occasion been compared to The Beatles, but I would like to dispell that notion and say they are better. Sacrilegious? Only one way to find out. Thanks for the review. Drama like no other Yes album.
Yes, this was much heavier than Yes' usual sound, almost bordering on hard rock. The rest of the album is pretty heavy too. Instrumentally Yes were just on fire with this one. Btw, what do you think of the artwork on Yes album covers?
I hate the lame keyboards on this inferior recording. The only reason to listen to this is Steve's Guitar. Sadly, even Chris's bass is not very good here. I find it funny that the vocalist is trying so hard to sound like Jon, but he just makes it obvious how very inferior his singing is.
