Yes - Drama


Year of Release: 1980
Label: Atlantic
Catalog Number: 16019-2
Format: LP
Total Time: 36:54:00

It always surprises me how few Yes fans own this one, and that many dismissed it because Jon Anderson was not involved. Well, many fans have listened to Yes after the departures of Banks, Bruford, Wakeman, Moraz, then Wakeman (sorry...), so why not this one? Opening with the epic "Machine Messiah," this song has an intensity that was not present on the lackluster Tormato. Howe and Downes run through their lines with a furious purpose. Yes had something to prove to their fans, and this track alone proves the band was correct to continue. My initial reaction was that this was the heaviest (and still is) in the band's history.

"Tempus Fugit" contains an instantly memorable bass lick from Chris Squire. Horn and Squire are very compatible vocally, and sound great together. The song is propelled by Squire's bass, but Downes and Howe add a considerable contribution. White holds down a very solid straight-ahead rhythm, but it is what the song calls for, and allows the music to drive. Speaking of bass lines, "Does It Really Happen" also has an excellent bass riff. Howe plays a slashing trebly slide guitar. To me this represents the last truly progressive record the band produced. Howe and Downes would go on to form the multi-platinum Asia and Horn would work with YesWest on 90125 as a producer. If you are a Yes fan, don't let this one fall through the cracks, as it contains some truly great Yes songs.

Released by Atlantic in 1980, reissued in 1994 (82685), 1995 (7567826872) and, by Rhino, in 2004 (73795). The Rhino reissue was released on February 24 and features the bonus tracks as indicated. ** Recorded at the Town House, London in April and May 1980. *** from the "Paris Sessions" in November 1979; "Produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Performed by Jon, Steve, Chris, Rick & Alan" (according to the Yesworld site)


Tracklisting:
Machine Messiah (10:27) / White Car (1:21) / Does it Really Happen (6:34) / Into The Lens (8:31) / Run Through The Light (4:39) / Tempus Fugit (5:14)

Musicians:
Geoff Downes - keyboards, vocoder
Trevor Horn - Vocals & bass
Steve Howe - guitar & vocals
Chris Squire - bass,vocals & piano
Alan White - percussion & vocals

Discography:
Yes (1969)
Time And A Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1972)
Close To The Edge (1972)
Yessongs (1973)
Tales From Topographic Oceans (1974)
Relayer (1975)
Going For The One (1977)
Tormato (1978)
Yesshows (1980)
Drama (1980)
Classic Yes (1982)
90125 (1983/2004)
90125 Live - The Solos (1985)
Big Generator (1987)
Union (1989)
Yesyears (1991)
Yesstory (1991)
Highlights: The Very Best Of Yes (1993)
Talk (1994)
Keys To Ascension I (1996)
Keys To Ascension II (1997)
Open Your Eyes (1997)
Yes, Friends And Relatives (1998)
Beyond And Before: BBC Recordings 1969-1970 (1998)
Something's Coming (1998)
Friends & Relatives (1998)
The Ladder (1999)
Millennium Collection (1999)
House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (2000)
Yes, Friends and Relatives - Volume Two (2001)
YesSymphonic (ep) (2001)
Magnification (2001)
Keystudio (ep) (2001)
3 For 1 Box Set (2001)
Original Members Of Yes (2001)
Extended Versions (2002)
Friends And Relatives: Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 (2002)
Yestoday (2002)
In A Word (2002)
Yes Remixes (2003)
Friends And Relatives: Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2 (2003)
Roundabout: Best Of Yes Live (2003)
The Yes Story Gold (2003)
The Ultimate Yes - 35th Anniverary Collection (2004)
(Re)Union (2004)
Topography: The Yes Anthology (2004)
Inside Yes 1968-1973: A Critical Review (2004)
The Word Is Live (2005)
Live And Solo: The Collection (2006)
Greatest Hits Live (2006)
An Evening Of Yes (2006)
Yesstories: Group & Solo Tales (2006)
Essentially Yes (2006)
The Definitive Rock Collection (2007)
Roundabout & Other Hits (2006)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)
Works (2007)
The Best Of Yes: 1970-1987 (2007)
Symphonic Live (2009)
The BBC Recordings 1969-1970 (2009)
Introducing Yes (2009)
Wonderous Stories: The Best Of Yes (2009)
Union Live (2011)
Fly From Here (2011)
In The Present - Live From Lyon (2011)
Heaven & Earth (2014)
Songs From Tsongas (2014)
Like It Is: Yes At The Bristol Hippodrome (2014)
Progeny: Seven Shows From Seventy-Two (boxset) (2015)
Like It Is: Yes At The Mesa Arts Center (2015)
Topographic Drama - Live Across America (2017)
Fly From Here - Return Trip (2018)
From A Page - Studio Tracks Plus In The Present Live From Lyon (2019) Yes50 Live (2019)

9012LIve (VHS/DVD) (1985/2005)
Greatest Hits Video (VHS/DVD) (1991/2001)
Yesyears: A Retrospective (VHS/DVD) (1991/2003)
Yes: Live - 1975 At Q.P.R. (VHS) (1993)
Live In Philadelphia 1979 (VHS/DVD) (1996/2003)
Keys To Ascension (VHS/DVD) (1997/2001/2009)
The Union Tour Live (DVD) (1999)
House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (VHS/DVD) (2000)
The Best Of MusikLaden Live (VHS/DVD) (2000/2003)
Live In Amsterdam (VHS/DVD) (2002)
Symphonic Live (DVD+CD) (2003)
Yes: Special Edition EP (DVD) (2003)
YesSpeak (DVD) (2003)
YesAcoustic (DVD) (2004/2006)
35th Anniversary Concert: Songs From Tsongas (DVD) (2004)
YesSpeak - YesAcoustic - 35th Anniversary Edition (DVD) (2005)
Critical Review 1968-1973 (DVD) (2005)
Greatest Video Hits (DVD) (2005)
Inside Yes Plus Friends And Family (DVD) (2006)
Acoustic Live (DVD) (2006)
Total Rock Review (DVD) (2006)
Close To The Edge: Rock Milestones (DVD) (2007)
Live At Montreux (DVD/BR) (2007)
The Lost Broadcasts (DVD) (2009)
Rock Of The 70s (DVD) (2009)
Union Live (2011)
Live Hemel Hempstead Pavilion October 3rd 1971 (2014)

Genre: Symphonic Prog

Origin UK

Added: March 7th 2004
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.yesworld.com
Hits: 2718
Language: english

  

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