The original line-up consisted of Jon Anderson (vocals), Chris Squire (bass, vocals), Peter Banks (guitar, vocals), Tony Kaye (keyboards), and Bill Bruford (drums). Personnel changes brought musicians Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman into the group in 1970 and 1971 respectively. Steve Howe appears on the cover of Time and a Word, even though soon-to-be-ousted Pete Banks is the guitarist on the album. Alan White then replaced Bill Bruford in 1972. These changes had arguably the biggest influence on their music and subsequent success. The early 1970's saw Yes as one of the few influential mainstream progressive acts.
For some fans, the double-album, four-track 1973 recording Tales from Topographic Oceans - symphonic and oddly mystical, marked a point of departure. It generally received a critical mauling in the press yet went straight to No. 1 in the UK album charts. Those listeners taken by the Tales album would be enthralled by 1974's Relayer - the only album that Patrick Moraz played keyboards on - which mixed progressive rock and a jazz fusion style that at times was very free in tunes such as "The Gates of Delirium". Far from their pop beginnings, this album marked a milestone for the band and for progressive rock as a whole.
During the rise of the progressive genre, Yes pioneered the use of synthesizers and sound effects, gaining large popularity with their unique brand of mysticism and grand-scale compositions. Fragile (1971) and Close to the Edge (1972) are considered their best works - symphonic, complex, cerebral, spiritual and moving. These albums featured beautiful harmonies and strong, occasionally heavy playing. Also, Fragile contained the popular hit song "Roundabout". With the advent of punk in 1977, many considered progressive rock dead in the water. Yes, however, proved them wrong by releasing one of their most successful albums - Going for the One, which contained "Awaken", a rhythmic tour-de-force.
In 1979, Anderson and Wakeman left the band after unsuccessful recording sessions in Paris. Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes (from the new-wave band The Buggles of "Video Killed the Radio Star" fame) were recruited to replace them, and the band recorded Drama, their first album without Anderson on vocals. The resulting sound was much heavier than previous albums, particularly the opening track Machine Messiah, and a strong synth-pop influence due to the involvement of Downes and Horn, which drew some criticism and the dismissive label "Yuggles". While the new Yes was well-received in America, the band encountered more hostile audiences in England. The group split up in 1981.
The band reformed in 1983 with a new lineup featuring Squire, White, South African guitarist Trevor Rabin, and the return of Jon Anderson on vocals and Tony Kaye on keyboards. This line-up, which was eventually nicknamed "Yes West", recorded 90125 and Big Generator and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. During these years, Yes championed digital sampling technologies and sold millions of records, influencing a generation of digital musicians with hits such as "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Rhythm of Love".
By the end of the 1980s, Jon Anderson formed a side project with former Yes members Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Bill Bruford, releasing Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe in 1989. This led to a merger in 1990 and the album Union and the following tour with all 8 members. However, while the tour and album were commercial successes, many of the band members were dissatisfied with the album. Union was comprised of a demo recorded by the "Yes West" lineup attached to what was originally recorded as the second Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album, and was finished using session musicians. Bruford has disowned the album entirely, and Wakeman was reportedly unable to recognise any of his keyboard work in the final edit.
The "Yes West" lineup went on to release Talk in 1994, but sales were poor, and in 1995 Rabin and Kaye left the band. Howe and Wakeman re-joined to produce the albums Keys to Ascension in 1996 and Keys to Ascension 2 in 1997, which featured both live performances and new studio tracks, returning to their progressive style of the 1970s. Wakeman left the band shortly thereafter due to disagreements about the albums and tour.
The band collaborated with Billy Sherwood to produce the album Open Your Eyes in 1998, and Sherwood became an official member at the end of the sessions due to his significant contributions. Igor Khoroshev also performed on a few tracks and performed on the following tour, eventually becoming a full member as well.
Moving through the 1990s and into the new millennium, the band has moved back towards progressive influenced music and today keeps pushing the boundaries by using the latest hard-disk recording techniques.
In 1999 they worked with Relic Entertainment, providing the song "Homeworld (The Ladder)" for the PC game Homeworld. Although Sierra Entertainment later released a CD with the soundtrack they, for no apparent reason, chose not to include this song on the CD. It can however be found on the 1999 album The Ladder.
After the departure of Sherwood in 2000 and Khoroshev in 2001, Yes recorded Magnification in 2001 without a keyboardist, instead featuring a full orchestra. Rick Wakeman re-joined the band the next year, and in 2003 the band recorded five tracks that were added as a 3rd CD in the compilation Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversay Collection, including acoustic versions of "Roundabout" and "South Side of the Sky".
In 2008, when the band was about to begin their 40th anniversary tour, Jon Anderson suffered from a throat infection and was unable to participate. Benoit David, from Canadian Progressive Rock band Mystery and Yes tribute band Close To The Edge, was recruited to fill in on vocals for the tour. In 2009, he was named as Anderson's permanent replacement. Rick Wakeman's son Oliver Wakeman also joined the band on keyboards.
The band recorded Fly From Here in 2011, their first new album in 10 years, with David on vocals and Trevor Horn as producer. Before the album was completed, Wakeman was replaced by Geoff Downes, bringing together the Drama lineup and a similar sound. The title track was originally conceived in 1981, and it was refined and extended into 20-minute six-part epic.
In February 2012, after contracting a respiratory illness, David was replaced by Glass Hammer vocalist Jon Davison who, like David, was discovered while fronting a Yes cover band. In 2014, Yes released Heaven & Earth with Davison performing vocals.
On May 19, 2015, Chris Squire announced that he would be unable to join the band on their North American tour with Toto due to being diagnosed with Acute Erythroid Leukemia (AEL), an uncommon form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Billy Sherwood would perform with the band in his place.
On June 28, 2015, Yes released the following announcement:
It’s with the heaviest of hearts and unbearable sadness that we must inform you of the passing of our dear friend and Yes co-founder, Chris Squire. Chris peacefully passed away last night (27 June 2015) in Phoenix, Arizona.
RIP Chris Squire 1948-2015
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart position Certifications
(sales thresholds)
UK
[1] US
[2] CH
[3] NOR
[4] NL
[5] SWE
[6] AT
[7] AUS
[8]
1969 Yes - - - - - - - -
1970 Time and a Word 45 - - - - - - -
1971 The Yes Album 4 40 - - 15 - - -
Fragile 7 4 - - 12 - - -
1972 Close to the Edge 4 3 - - 1 - - -
1973 Tales from Topographic Oceans 1 6 - 8 13 - - -
1974 Relayer 4 5 - 18 14 - - -
1977 Going for the One 1 8 - 7 10 10 - -
1978 Tormato 8 10 - 9 14 18 - -
1980 Drama 2 18 - 11 15 19 - -
1983 90125 16 5 3 8 2 7 9 -
CAN: 2× Platinum[11]
1987 Big Generator 17 15 22 - 21 14 - -
1991 Union 7 15 16 - 13 32 - -
1994 Talk 20 33 29 - 31 31 - -
1996 Keys to Ascension (live/studio) 48 99 - - - - - -
1997 Keys to Ascension 2 (live/studio) 62 159 - - - - - -
Open Your Eyes 105 151 - - - - - -
1999 The Ladder 36 99 - - - - - -
2001 Magnification 71 186 - - 81 - - -
2011 Fly from Here
2014 Heaven & Earth
2021 The Quest
2023 Mirror to the Sky
Give & Take
yes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there again reflected on the dreams of everyone
Out of the starlight night the telling of all our lives
And racing faster than the Northwestern World
Starpoint to signal our endlessness
Starpoint to signal this evermore
Starpoint to compass: We look to the North
The above lyrics are from the song "Angkor Wat" by Yes, a progressive rock band from England. The opening line, "Out of the brightest tree, the moon became the morning sun," is a metaphor for new beginnings and transformation. The moon, traditionally a symbol of femininity and intuition, is associated with darkness and the unconscious. However, in this line, the moon transforms itself into the sun, which is associated with clarity, consciousness, and the masculine. This could be interpreted as a call to embrace change and to embrace both the feminine and the masculine aspects of oneself.
In the next line, "And there again reflected on the dreams of everyone," the singer suggests that this transformation is not just personal but universal; it is a reflection on the hopes and dreams of all people. This might be understood as an invitation to connect with others and to recognize our shared humanity.
The following two lines, "Out of the starlight night the telling of all our lives / And racing faster than the Northwestern World," suggest a sense of urgency and speed. The phrase "Northwestern World" may refer to the Western, industrialized countries that are often associated with progress and development. By "racing faster" than these countries, the singer may be suggesting that there are other, deeper ways of living that are being lost or forgotten in the rush of modernity.
Overall, the lyrics of "Angkor Wat" seem to be calling for a deeper connection with oneself, others, and the natural world. It invites listeners to embrace change, to recognize their interconnectedness, and to seek a more authentic existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of the brightest tree the moon became the morning sun
From a previously bright situation, a new opportunity arises, just as the moon transforms into a new day's sun.
And there again reflected on the dreams of everyone
This fresh start inspires and reflects the hopes and aspirations of individuals across all groups.
Out of the starlight night the telling of all our lives
The seemingly dark or challenging periods of our lives can also give us the opportunity to learn and gain perspective on our experiences.
And racing faster than the Northwestern World
We move swiftly and ambitiously towards our goals, driven by determination and curiosity.
Starpoint to signal our endlessness
Our potential and possibilities are limitless, like a star that signifies infinity.
Starpoint to signal this evermore
We recognize the importance of progress and continue to signal our commitment to achieving and surpassing our previous accomplishments.
Starpoint to compass: We look to the North
We set our sights on improvement, direction and the unknown, charting new paths towards uncharted territories.
To return to the centre: Angkor Wat
We ultimately strive has to return to a point of balance, finding inspiration and significance in the historical and spiritual center that is Angkor Wat.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN ANDERSON, STEVE JAMES HOWE, JONATHAN ELIAS, WILLIAM SCOTT BRUFORD, RICK WAKEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carboot Studios
This album deserve some love for once
Carboot Studios
@Steven Haywood
Okay.
I can get why many would see it as less perfect, if even that, considering what happened behind the scenes.
Steven Haywood
Yes, after thinking it their least good album for years I find myself starting to like this a lot more recently. And Lift Me Up is a masterpiece.
cttgargoaktd
😛😛😛😛
Ernest
thanks for posting this. I was always curious about this album. Now I know.
gramonstershow
@Dave Webb It was on the original European & Japanese editions.
Pim Pam Boum
💛💛💛
randle robbertson
first time Ive heard this track. and Ive got the 'onion' as Ric calls it. glad I heard it but hmmmmmmmm.
Jackson Teller
that's cause it was a bonus track on the European and Japanese editions of this album.
Mark Alloway
Beware of the thought police
PutItAway101
Bit of a low-effort mix, compared to the huge and complicated sounds elsewhere on the album.