90125
Encyclopedia : 9 : 90 : 901 : 90125
90125 is the eleventh album by progressive rock group Yes, released in 1983. It was the first album since the breakup of Yes in 1980. It is also the first album to feature Trevor Rabin, and also features the return of vocalist Jon Anderson, who quit the band in 1979. It also marks the first time in twelve years that original keyboardist Tony Kaye has appeared with the group. The album is notable for marking a radical shift in style, with Yes largely trading in their trademark symphonic progressive rock sound for contemporary, synthesized 1980's pop. The title of the album, incidentally, refers to its original catalogue number.
This new incarnation of Yes came about almost by accident. After their late 1980 disbanding, Chris Squire and Alan White began recording as a duo, even releasing a single in 1981. After acquiring South African musician Trevor Rabin, the trio were joined by none other than original Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye, who had left in 1971. They christened themselves "Cinema" and began recording what they thought was their debut album, comprising mainly of original music Rabin had originally earmarked for a solo album, and produced by Drama-era singer Trevor Horn.
Everything changed in the spring of 1983 when Jon Anderson was played some of Cinema's recordings by Squire. When Anderson professed interest and became keen to join, it was realized that Yes, essentially, were reforming. Rabin was dubious at first, not wanting to be perceived as Steve Howe's replacement, but rather, the lead guitarist for a new group. However, he quickly changed his mind once Anderson brought in some new lyrics and put his distinctive vocals on the existing music tracks. Thus, after a three year gap, Yes was back.
Released that fall on Atlantic Records' subsidiary, Atco, 90125 launched Yes to the MTV age and to a whole new breed of fans. The music was catchy, contemporary and well-liked by reviewers and their new fans (many of whom had little clue of the band's previous incarnation). Lead single, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" became the band's first (and only) US #1 hit, driving 90125 to the Top 5 and selling three million units, by far Yes's most successful album. The British sales were not as spectacular, but still solid, and succeeding hits, such as "Leave It" and "It Can Happen" ensured 90125 had a lengthy chart life. In addition, "Cinema" won the 1984 Grammy for the best rock instrumental.
The album's logo was created and designed on an Apple IIe computer, and would be used on Yes's next studio album Big Generator as well.
90125 (Atco 790 125) reached #16 in the UK. It also reached #5 in the US during a chart stay of 53 weeks.
Recently in 2005, a Max Graham remix of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" reached #9 in the UK singles charts, bettering the original's #28 peak.
Remix Albums
Yes released an album on the Atlantic label (ATCO Records) in 1984 called "Twelve inches on tape" (released on album as well, title unavailable). This (now) rarity offered listeners 4 remixes of their top charting singles of "Leave It" and "Owner Of A Lonely Heart." The track listing from "Twelve inches on tape" (4 "mixes" in total):
- "Leave It" (Remix) (Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Trevor Horn)
- "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (Red and Blue Mix) (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Horn)
- "Leave It" (Hello, Goodbye Mix) (Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Trevor Horn)
- "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (Album version) (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Horn)
Source: ATCO 7-90156-4-A Barcode #: 7567-90156-4
Track listing
- "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Horn) - 4:29
- "Hold On" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) - 5:16
- "It Can Happen" (Chris Squire/Jon Anderson/Trevor Rabin) - 5:29
- "Changes" (Chris Squire/Jon Anderson/Alan White) - 6:20
- "Cinema" (Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Alan White/Tony Kaye) - 2:08
- "Leave It" (Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Trevor Horn) - 4:14
- "Our Song" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Alan White/Tony Kaye) - 4:18
- "City of Love" (Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson) - 4:51
- "Hearts" (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Rabin/Alan White/Tony Kaye) - 7:39
90125 was remastered and reissued in 2004 with several bonus tracks. Bonus tracks include:
- "Leave it (Single Remix)"
- "Make it Easy"
- "It Can Happen (Cinema Version)"
- "It's Over (Previously Unissued)"
- "Owner of a Lonely Heart (Previously Unissued Extended Remix)"
- "Leave It (A Capella Version)"
Personnel
- Jon Anderson: Vocals
- Chris Squire: Bass guitars, vocals
- Trevor Rabin: Guitars, Keyboards, vocals
- Tony Kaye: Keyboards
- Alan White: Drums, percussion, vocals
Sources
- 90125, CD booklet essay, Brian Ives, c.2004.
- AllMusicGuide.com
- "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c.2002
| Yes |
|---|
| Jon Anderson | Chris Squire | Steve Howe | Rick Wakeman | Alan White |
| Peter Banks | Tony Kaye| Bill Bruford | Patrick Moraz | Geoff Downes | Trevor Horn | Trevor Rabin | Billy Sherwood | Igor Khoroshev |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Yes | Time and a Word | The Yes Album | Fragile | Close to the Edge | Tales from Topographic Oceans | Relayer | Going for the One | Tormato | Drama | 90125 | Big Generator | Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe | Union | Talk | Open Your Eyes | The Ladder | Magnification |
| Live albums: Yessongs | Yesshows | [[9012Live: The Solos]] | Keys to Ascension | Keys to Ascension 2 | [[House of Yes: Live from House of Blues]] |
| Compilations: Yesterdays | Classic Yes | Yesstory | [[The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection]] |
| Remix albums: Yes Remixes |
| Box sets: Yesyears | [[In a Word: Yes (1969 - )]] | The Word is Live |
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