Yes in 1991:left to right: Trevor, Rabin, Tony Kaye, Rick Wakeman, Alan White, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, and Steve Howe |
A Brief History:The progressive rock band Yes formed in 1968 in London, England. They originally consisted of Anderson, Squire, Kaye, Bruford, and guitarist Peter Banks, but have had various members through the years. This page offers snapshots of all of the band’s studio albums from 1969 to 2002 and highlights five compilations covering those years. The Players (from 1968-2021):
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Yes (1969): The debut album from Yes featured Jon Anderson (vocals), Peter Banks (guitar), Bill Bruford (drums), Tony Kaye (keyboards), and Chris Squire (bass). The album featured mostly original songs, including singles “Sweetness” and “Looking Around” as well as covers of the Beatles’ “Every Little Thing” and the Byrds’ “I See You.” The album did not chart in the UK or U.S.
Time and a Word (1970): The same lineup returned for Yes’ sophomore album, which included singles for the title cut and “Sweet Dreams” and a cover of Richie Havens’ “No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed.” Like its predecessor, the album failed to chart in the UK or U.S.
The Yes Album (1971): Peter Banks left the group and was replaced by Steve Howe, who would be come the group’s most celebrated guitarist. The album marked the debut of guitarist Steve Howe and became the band’s breakthrough, reaching the top 10 in the UK. “Your Move,” an excerpt from “I’ve Seen All Good People” reached the top 40 in the U.S.
Fragile (1971): Keyboardist Tony Kaye left the band and was replaced by Rick Wakeman. Fragile pushed Yes to even greater commercial success. “Roundabout” reached the top 20 in the U.S. and became the group’s signature song. The album reached the top 10 in the UK and U.S.
Close to the Edge (1972): Close to the Edge featured the Anderson-Bruford-Howe-Squire-Wakeman lineup which also recorded Fragile. The album, which has been celebrated as a progressive rock masterpiece, reached the top 5 in the UK and U.S. The album was comprised of three cuts, running 18, 10, and 9 minutes.
Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973): Yet another shake-up in the Yes family. Drummer Bill Bruford left, replaced by Alan White. This double album featured only four songs, each taking up a full side of an LP. It went to #1 in the UK and top 10 in the U.S.
Relayer (1974): Wakeman left the group and was replaced by keyboardist Patrick Moraz. The album was another top 5 success in the UK and U.S. and was supported by the single “Soon,” an excerpt from the 21-minute “The Gates of Delirium.”
Going for the One (1977): After a three-year break, Yes returned with Wakeman back in tow giving them the same lineup which recorded 1973’s Tales from Topographic Oceans. The album topped the charts in the UK, where the single “Wonderous Stories” also went top 10. In the U.S., the album reached the top 10.
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Classic YesYes |
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Released: November 30, 1981 Recorded: 1970-1978 Peak: 142 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.06 UK, 1.06 world (includes US and UK) Genre: progressive rock |
Tracks: (1) Heart of the Sunrise (2) Wonderous Stories (3) Yours Is No Disgrace (4) Starship Trooper (5) Long Distance Runaround (6) The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) (7) And You and I (8) Roundabout (9) I’ve Seen All Good People Total Running Time: 65:14 |
Rating: 3.855 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings)
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About Classic Yes: While released in 1981, Classic Yes did not include any cuts from the previous two albums, 1978’s Tormato and 1980’s Drama. It also skipped over the band’s first two albums, covering from 1970 to 1977. Even with those years, however, the Tales from Topographic Oceans and Relayer were not represented on the collection. Also, “Roundabout” is a live version. Tormato (1978): The ninth Yes album featured the Anderson-Howe-Squire-Wakeman-White lineup which had also recorded Going for the One and Tales from Topographic Oceans. This was the sixth consecutive Yes album to hit the top 10 in the UK and U.S.
Drama (1980): Jon Anderson, who’d been with the band since the beginning, departed as did Rick Wakeman. Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, both from the Buggles (“Video Killed the Radio Star”) came on board. This was the first album since 1971’s The Yes Album to miss the top 10 in the U.S., but it hit #2 in the UK.
90125 (1983): It looked like Yes would break up after 1980’s Drama, but Chris Squire and Alan White managed to assemble the most commercially successful version of the band yet. They’d initially started to form a new band called Cinema with South African guitarist Trevor Rabin. When Jon Anderson and Tony Kaye returned to the fold, it became a full-fledged Yes album. It was their best-seller, moving 3 million copies on the strength of #1 hit “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and three more songs which hit the top 10 on the album rock chart.
Big Generator (1987): The same lineup as 90125 returned with another platinum-selling release and two more top-40 hits in the United States.
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989): Jon Anderson had tired of the more commercialized product from the last couple of Yes albums and reunited with past bandmates Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe. Alas, the rights to the Yes name belonged to the lineup that released 90125 and Big Generator so this was released under the name Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe.
Union (1991): This album brought together the two different versions of Yes that existed at the time. The Anderson-Kaye-Rabin-Squire-White lineup had official rights to the name and were coming off the successes of 90125 and Big Generator. Anderson, however, wasn’t too excited by the commercialization of those albums and reunited with bandmates Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, and Rick Wakeman to record 1989’s Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. When the two entities found themselves working on separate albums at the same time, they joined forces for this project.
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Yes YearsYes |
| Released: August 6, 1991 Recorded: 1969-1991 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock |
Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Something’s Coming (2) Survival (3) Every Little Thing (4) Then (5) Everydays (6) Sweet Dreams (7) No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (8) Time and a Word (9) Starship Trooper (10) Yours Is No Disgrace (11) I’ve Seen All Good People (12) Long Distance Runaround (13) The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Roundabout (2) Heart of the Sunrise (3) America (4) Close to the Edge (5) Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) (6) Sound Chaser Tracks, Disc 3: (1) Soon (2) Amazing Grace (3) Vevey, Part One (4) Wonderous Stories (5) Awaken (6) Montreaux’s Theme (7) Vevey, Part Two (8) Going for the One (9) Money (10) Abilene (11) Don’t Killl the Whale (12) On the Silent Wings of Freedom (13) Does It Really Happen? (14) Tempus Fugit (15) Run with the Fox (16) I’m Down Tracks, Disc 4: (1) Make It Easy (2) It Can Happen (3) Owner of a Lonely Heart (4) Hold On (5) Shoot High Aim Low (6) Rhythm of Love (7) Love Will Find a Way (8) Changes (live) (9) And You and I (live) (10) Heart of the Sunrise (11) Love Conquers All Total Running Time: 291:23 |
Rating: 4.093 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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About Yes Years: The first of several Yes box sets. The versions of “Then” and “Everydays” are BBC live recordings. The versions of “Changes,” “And You and I,” and “Heart of the Sunrise” are live recordings. Another dozen tracks (listed below) make their first album appearance on this collection, including the single edit of “America.” The collection included cuts from the first dozen Yes albums. Only 1991’s Union wasn’t represented – although the unreleased “Love Conquers All” was from the sessions of that album. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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Yes StoryYes |
| Released: September 15, 1992 Recorded: 1969-1987 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock |
Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Survival (2) No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (3) Time and a Word (4) Starship Trooper (5) I’ve Seen All Good People (6) Roundabout (7) Heart of the Sunrise (8) Close to the Edge Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) (2) Soon (3) Wonderous Stories (4) Going for the One (5) Don’t Kill the Whale (6) Does It Really Happen? (7) Make It Easy (8) Owner of a Lonely Heart (9) Rhythm of Love (10) Changes (live) Total Running Time: 137:52 |
Rating: 3.709 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)
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About Yes Story: After the release of their first box set in 1991, Yes whittled the collection down to this 2-disc version in 1992. While the box set had a live version of “Heart of the Sunrise,” this set goes with the original studio version. |
Highlights: The Very Best ofYes |
| Released: September 21, 1993 Recorded: 1969-1987 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK Genre: progressive rock |
Tracks: (1) Survival (2) Time and a Word (3) Starship Trooper (4) I’ve Seen All Good People (5) Roundabout (6) Long Distance Runaround (7) Soon (8) Wonderous Stories (9) Going for the One (10) Owner of a Lonely Heart (11) Leave It (12) Rhythm of Love Total Running Time: 65:57 |
Rating: 3.574 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings)
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About Highlights: The Very Best of: After 1991’s Yes Years box set, the collection was whittled down to the two-disc Yes Story in 1992. In 1993, the collection was trimmed even more, this time to the single-disc Highlights. “Time and a Word” and “Long Distance Runaround” were on the box set, omitted from Yes Story, and brought back here. “Leave It,” from 90125, makes its first compilation appearance here. |
Talk (1994): This was the fourth and final Yes album to feature the Anderson-Kaye-Rabin-Squire-White lineup first featured on the three-million selling 90125 in 1983.
Keys to Ascension (1996): After Talk, Rabin went to work on a solo album, ending the band’s most commercial era from 1983’s 90125 to 1994’s Talk. Anderson, Squire, and White tapped Howe and Wakeman for the latest incarnation of Yes. This was actually a throwback to the same lineup that recorded Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Going for the One (1977), and Tormato (1978). In 1996 and 1997, they recorded Keys to Ascension and Keys to Ascension 2. Both were double albums featuring live recordings as well as new studio material.
Open Your Eyes (1997): Rick Wakeman’s return was short-lived. Billy Sherwood, who produced the Keys to Ascension albums, stepped in to replace him.
The Ladder (1999): The same lineup who recorded Open Your Eyes returned for The Ladder adding Russian keyboardist Igor Khoroshev to the mix as an official member after he had guested on the last album.
Magnification (2001): Billy Sherwood and Igor Khoroshev were gone, leaving Anderson, Squire, Howe, and White. It was the first time in the band’s history that they worked as a quartet. They decided to tour and record with an orchestra.
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In a WordYes |
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Released: July 30, 2002 Recorded: 1969-2001 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: progressive rock |
Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Every Little Thing (2) Sweetness (3) Survival (4) Then (5) Sweet Dreams (6) Astral Traveller (7) Time and a Word (8) Dear Father (9) Yours Is No Disgrace (10) The Clap (11) Perpetual Change (12) Starship Trooper (13) I’ve Seen All Good People Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Roundabout (2) South Side of the Sky (3) Heart of the Sunrise (4) America (5) Close to the Edge (6) The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) Tracks, Disc 3: (1) Siberian Khatru (2) Long Distance Runaround (3) The Gates of Delirium (4) To Be Over (5) Going for the One (6) Turn of the Century (7) Wonderous Stories (8) Don’t Kill the Whale (9) Release, Release (10) Arriving UFO (11) Richard Tracks, Disc 4: (1) Tango (2) Never Done Before (3) Crossfire (4) Machine Messiah (5) Tempus Fugit (6) Owner of a Lonely Heart (7) It Can Happen (8) Leave It (9) Hold On (10) Rhythm of Love (11) Love Will Find a Way (12) Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence) (13) Brother of Mine (14) Fist of Fire (alternate version) (150 I Would Have Waited Forever (full uncut version) Tracks, Disc 5: (1) Lift Me Up (2) The Calling (3) I Am Waiting (4) Mind Drive (5) Open Your Eyes (6) Universal Garden (7) Homeworld (The Ladder) (8) The Messenger (9) Last Train (10) In the Presence Of Total Running Time: 399:27 |
Rating: 3.607 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)
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About In a Word: The second Yes box set comes a decade after the first one and stretches things out to five discs. Among the songs not featured on any previous studio albums are the 1970 B-side “Dear Father,” the full-length version of “America,” an alternate version of “Fist of Fire” (originally from Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe) and the full uncut version of “I Would Have Waited Forever” (originally on Union). Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary CollectionYes |
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Released: July 28, 2003 (UK version); January 27, 2004 (US version) Recorded: 1969-2003 Peak: -- US, 10 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK Genre: progressive rock |
Tracks, Disc 1 (US version): (1) Time and a Word (2) Starship Trooper (3) Yours Is No Disgrace (4) I’ve Seen All Good People (5) Roundabout (6) Long Distance Runaround (7) Heart of the Sunrise (8) South Side of the Sky (9) And You and I (10) America (11) Wonderous Stories Tracks, Disc 2 (US version): (1) Siberian Khatru (2) Soon (3) Going for the One (4) Don’t Kill the Whale (5) Tempus Fugit (6) Owner of a Lonely Heart (7) Leave It (8) It Can Happen (9) Rhythm of Love (10) Big Generator (11) Lift Me Up (12) The Calling (13) Open Your Eyes (14) Homeworld (The Ladder) (15) Magnification Tracks, Disc 3 (US version): (1) Roundabout (2) Show Me (3) South Side of the Sky (4) Australia (5) New World Symphony Tracks, Disc 1 (UK version): (1) Yours Is No Disgrace (2) Survival (3) Roundabout (4) Then (5) I’ve Seen All Good People (6) Heart of the Sunrise (7) Starship Trooper (8) Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) Tracks, Disc 2 (UK version): (1) Siberian Khatru (2) Long Distance Runaround (3) Wonderous Stories (4) And You and I (5) Soon (6) Going for the One (7) Don’t Kill the Whale (8) Owner of a Lonely Heart (9) Leave It (10) Big Generator (11) The Calling (12) Homeworld (The Ladder) (13) Awaken Total Running Time: 2:38:01 (UK version, 2:59:07 (US version) |
Rating: 3.147 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)
Awards: (Click on award to learn more). |
About The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection: After the 5-disc collection the year before, it’s hard to know who thought another box set was in order. Nonetheless, this 3-CD set was released in the United States. In the UK, it was trimmed to a two-disc version and hit the top 10 and sold 100,000 copies. The third disc of the U.S. version featured acoustic versions of “Roundabout” and “South Side of the Sky” as well as new songs “Show Me,” “Australia,” and “New World Symphony.” Both versions included the single edit version of “America,” a remixed version of “Big Generator,” a single edit of “The Calling,” and an edit of “Homeworld (The Ladder).” Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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First posted 9/19/2020; updated 10/5/2021. |
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