Yes released 90125

90125 Yes

Released: November 7, 1983 Peak: 5 US, 16 UK, 3 CN, 27 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 0.1 UK, 3.88 world (includes US and UK) Genre: progressive rock

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Owner of a Lonely Heart [4:27] Hold On [5:18] It Can Happen [5:25] Changes [6:16] Cinema [2:07] Leave It [4:10] Our Song [4:13] City of Love [4:46] Hearts [7:36] Total Running Time: 44:49 Other Songs from This Era: Run with the Fox [4:09] Make It Easy [6:08] The Players: Jon Anderson (vocals) Trevor Rabin (guitar, keyboards) Chris Squire (bass) Alan White (drums, percussion) Tony Kaye (keyboards)

Rating: 3.938 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

The New Yes “A stunning self-reinvention by a band that many had given up for dead, 90125 is the album that introduced a whole new generation of listeners to Yes.” PC The album featured longtime members Chris Squire on bass and Alan White on drums as well as the return of vocalist Jon Anderson (after sitting out the 1980 Drama album) and “the first time in twelve years that original keyboardist Tony Kaye had appeared with the group.” WK The 11th album by Yes was a surprise since the band had officially called it quits after 1980’s Drama. Anderson, the only singer the group had ever known, left in the early making of that album, as had Rick Wakeman, who’d been the keyboardist for most of the band’s classic ‘70s albums. In their place came singer Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes of the Buggles (“Video Killed the Radio Star”). After that short-lived lineup, Squire and White worked on the aborted XYZ project with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and released a single as a duo in 1981. Cinema Squire and White then started working with South African guitarist Trevor Rabin. “There had been various attempts to place Rabin in a band, including a proposed quartet with Rick Wakeman, John Wetton and Carl Palmer in 1980 and a proposed trio with Keith Emerson and Jack Bruce. Rabin tried out in Asia, alongside Wetton, Palmer and former Yes members Steve Howe and Geoff Downes.” WK The new trio decided they needed a keyboardist and Squire suggested Kaye. They called themselves “Cinema” and started recording their anticipated debut album in early 1983. The material consisted mostly of music Rabin had intended for a solo album produced by Horn. WK Horn brought a slick production while Rabin offered a “distinctly ‘80s guitar sound.” PC Jon Anderson Comes on Board Squire played some of the group’s demos for Jon Anderson, who then came on board. At this point, they revived the Yes name. “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.” WK The Album Name The album, which was released in the autumn of 1983, was “simply titled after its Atco Records catalogue number (for example, 7-90125-1 for the LP).” WK It “launched Yes to the MTV age and to a whole new breed of fans.” WK The new musical direction was “was catchy, contemporary and well liked by reviewers and their new fans (many of whom had little clue of the band’s previous incarnation). The Logo “The album’s logo was created and designed by Garry Mouat at Assorted Images on an Apple IIe computer, which would be used on Yes’ next studio album Big Generator as well.” WK Reissues The album has been reissued multiple times. The most notable addition to the album is “Make It Easy,” a Trevor Rabin song which came about in 1981 before Yes had reformed. 90124 Trevor Rabin released an album in 2003 called 90124 which was comprised of demos from the 90125 sessions.

Run with the Fox Chris Squire & Alan White

Writer(s): Chis Squire, Alan White, Pete Sinfield Released: single (Dec. 1981), Yes Years (box set, 1991) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming About the Song: This single by Chris Squire and Alan White came in the interim between Yes’ 1980 Drama album and the reformation of Yes for 1983’s 90125 at a time when the band’s future was unclear.

Make It Easy Yes

Writer(s): Trevor Rabin First Recorded: 1981 Released: single (10/6/1991), Yes Years (box set, 1991), Yes Story (compilation, 1992), Yes Singles 2 (compilation, 2024) First Charted: 8/24/1991 Peak: 36 AR, 27 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.19 streaming About the Song: Before Yes had officially reconvened, this 1981 Trevor Rabin demo, originally called “Don’t Give In,” was eventually reworked by Chris Squire, Alan White, and Tony Kaye as “Make It Easy.” It was included as a bonus track on a remastered version of 90125.

Owner of a Lonely Heart Yes

Writer(s): Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Trevor Horn (see lyrics here) Released: single (10/24/1983), 90125 (1983), Yes Years (box set, 1991), Yes Story (compilation, 1992), Highlights: The Very Best of (compilation, 1993), In a Word (box set, 2002), Ultimate Yes: The 35th Anniversary Collection (U.S. version, 2003), Ultimate Yes: The 35th Anniversary Collection (compilation, UK version, 2003), Yes Singles (compilation, 2023) B-side: “Our Song” Peak: 12 BB, 12 CB, 12 GR, 12 RR, 14 AR, 28 UK, 2 CN, 14 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.2 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 46.0 video, 329.55 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: Based on their musical output in the 1970s, who would ever have guessed Yes would land a #1 pop hit? They practically defined progressive rock with songs based on classical music pieces infused with space-themed lyrics that took up entire album sides. This was “a band who “where often criticized for being overindulgent and pretentious,” FB who made songs “that couldn’t become hits, almost by design.” SG As Stereogum’s Tom Breihan said, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” is “a total betrayal of everything that the band had done before…It also kicks ass.” SG It didn’t start out as a Yes song. After their 1980 Drama album, it looked the band was done. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White hooked up with South African singer/songeriter Trevor Rabin to form a group called Cinema. Interestingly, Rabin had turned down an offer to join Asia – a band which featured Yes members Steve Howe and Geoff Downes. Tony Kaye, who’d formerly been a keyboardist with Yes, also signed on and Trevor Horn, who’d also been with the 1980 version of Yes, was tapped as the producer. When the group invited lead singer Jon Anderson to participate, “it seemed ridiculous to call the band Cinema when they had unintentionally re-formed Yes.” FB Rabin wrote the song in 1979 while going to the toilet. WK In 1981, the song was included amongst demos he pitched to Arista Records’ Clive Davis WK who said it “was too weird to be a hit in America” SG but Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records insisted it was a hit. SF In 1983, the toilet played a role yet again in bringing “Owner of a Lonely Heart” to fruition. While Rabin was in the bathroom, his demo tape was running and Horn heard it. He pleaded with the band to record it. WK Rabin’s version already sported the “big synth sounds and its central riff,” SG but had other parts that were later deleted. Other members of the band polished it and made it “sound bigger and weirder.” SG It may be the first rock hit to use a sample. The drum break at the beginning of the song and the horn stab from several times in the song are similar to a bit from 1971’s “Kool Is Back” by Funk, Inc. SF Subsequently, the song’s “orchestral break has been relentlessly sampled by rappers ever since.” PC The lyrics expressed the idea that “it’s OK to be on your own and that you can decide your own destiny rather than putting all your energy into falling in love.” SG It “describes the paradox of loneliness> Once you’ve been hurt, loneliness is better than a broken heart.” SF While this was #1 in the United States, “Relax” by Frankie and Hollywood topped the charts in the UK. Both songs were produced by Trevor Horn, giving him the distinction of being the only producer to have simultaneous #1 songs on both sides of the pond by different artists. SF

Hold On Yes

Writer(s): Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire Released: single (11/20/1985), 90125 (1983), Yes Years (box set, 1991), In a Word (box set, 2002) First Charted: 3/17/1984 Peak: 27 AR, 17 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.55 streaming About the Song: This was released as a single in support of the follow-up live album, 9012Live.

It Can Happen Yes

Writer(s): Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin Released: single (1/24/1984), 90125 (1983), Yes Years (box set, 1991), In a Word (box set, 2002), Ultimate Yes: The 35th Anniversary Collection (box set, U.S. version, 2003), Yes Singles 2 B-side: live version of “It Can Happen” First Charted: 12/3/1983 Peak: 51 BB, 5 AR, 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 7.90 streaming About the Song: This was released as a single, but it didn’t fare so well on the Billboard Hot 100. However, along with “Changes” this song helped establish Yes as a critical part of the album rock radio format.

Changes Yes

Writer(s): Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Alan White Released: single (6/9/1984), 90125 (1983), Yes Years (box set, 1991), Yes Story (compilation, 1992) First Charted: 11/26/1983 Peak: 6 AR, 4 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 16.03 streaming About the Song: Songs like “’Changes’ marked the band’s definitive break with its art rock roots.” PC While the brunt of attention for the new version of Yes was on the #1 single “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” it was songs like this and “It Can Happen” that gave the band its real clout at album rock radio.

Cinema Yes

Writer(s): Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Alan White, Tony Kaye Released: 90125 (1983) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.44 streaming About the Song: This instrumental serves as a lead-in to “Leave It,” the album’s second single. Cinema was the name of the band before Jon Anderson came on board and the group realized they’d basically reformed Yes.

Leave It Yes

Writer(s): Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Trevor Horn Released: single (Feb. 1984), 90125 (1983), Highlights: The Very Best of (compilation, 1993), In a Word (box set, 2002), Ultimate Yes: The 35th Anniversary Collection (box set, U.S. version, 2003), Ultimate Yes: The 35th Anniversary Collection (compilation, UK version, 2003), Yes Singles (compilation, 2023) B-side: 7-inch single remix, a capella remix First Charted: 12/29/1983 Peak: 24 BB, 24 CB, 11 GR, 17 RR, 3 AR, 56 UK, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 11.49 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “The vocal harmonies of ‘Leave It’” ae one of the “high points” on the album “but there’s nary a duff track on the album.” PC Prior to 90125, Yes had only landed two top-40 hits (“Roundabout” and “Your Move,” an excerpt from “I’ve Seen All Good People”). After “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” the lead single from 90125, gave the band their first #1 single, Yes followed it up with “Leave It,” another top-40 hit.

Our Song Yes

Writer(s): Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Alan White Released: B-side of “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (10/24/1983), 90125 (1983) First Charted: 11/12/1983 Peak: 32 AR, 12 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.52 streaming

City of Love Yes

Writer(s): Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Alan White Released: 90125 (1983) Peak: 13 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.27 streaming

Hearts Yes

Writer(s): Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Alan White, Tony Kaye Released: 90125 (1983) Peak: 20 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.59 streaming About the Song: “The beautifully sprawling ‘Hearts’” is one of the “high points” on the album “but there’s nary a duff track on the album.” PC

Resources and Related Links: PC AllMusic.com review by Paul Collins FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 582. SF Songfacts page for “Owner of a Lonely Heart” SG Stereogum “The Number Ones” by Tom Breihan WK Wikipedia page for 90125 WK Wikipedia page for “Owner of a Lonely Heart” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 6/7/2011; updated 9/20/2025.