Exposé Online banner

Yes

Yes
Country
England
Profile
For listeners outside the community of progressive rock, Yes is probably the progressive rock band. Their string of influential albums in the 70s more or less define the genre for many people. The classic lineup of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White recorded an unprecedented series of albums that brought together rock with Classical music and great grandeur (some would say pomp). The band was originally formed in 1968 by bassist Chris Squire and singer Jon Anderson, who quickly recruited drummer Bill Bruford, guitarist Peter Banks, and keyboardist Tony Kaye. After the recording of their second album, Banks departed, the first of many personnel changes. Banks was replaced by Steve Howe; before long, Kaye was replaced by Rick Wakeman, resulting in the first "classic" lineup. The band's momentum continued unabated through the turnover that brought Alan White in Bruford's place. This was the second "classic" lineup, and lasted until Wakeman's departure in 1974. In the decades since then, Wakeman, Howe, White, Kaye, and Anderson have all been in and out of Yes, with Squire carrying on until his death in 2015, when he left the band in the hands of surviving members.
Website
http://www.yesworld.com
Related articles (32)
Releases on file (36)
Various Artists — Side Effects Various Artists — Side Effects
(Fruits de Mer crustacean 61-64, 2015, 4LP)
Yes — Heaven and Earth Yes — Heaven and Earth
(Frontiers Records , 2014, CD)
Yes — Fly from Here Yes — Fly from Here
(Frontiers Records FR CD 520, 2011, CD)
Yes — In the Present - Live from Lyon Yes — In the Present - Live from Lyon
(Frontiers Records FR CDVD 537, 2011, 2CD+DVD)
Yes — Songs from Tsongas Yes — Songs from Tsongas
(Warner Bros 5050467-5073-2-6, 2004, 2DVD)
Yes — In a Word: Yes 1969- Yes — In a Word: Yes 1969-
(Elektra PRCD 400059, 2002, 5CD)
Yes — Magnification Yes — Magnification
(Eagle Records EDGLT189, 2001, CD)
Yes — The Ladder Yes — The Ladder
(Eagle Records EAGLT 088, 1999, CD)
Yes — Keys to Ascension 2 Yes — Keys to Ascension 2
(Purple Pyramid CLP 0159-2, 1997, CD)
Yes — Open Your Eyes Yes — Open Your Eyes
(Eagle Records EDL EAG 013-2, 1997, CD)
Yes — Keys to Ascension Yes — Keys to Ascension
(CMC 0607686208-2, 1996, 2CD)
Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales
(Rhino Records R2 72451, 1996, 5CD)
Tim Morse — Yes Stories: Yes in Their Own Words Tim Morse — Yes Stories: Yes in Their Own Words
(St. Martin's Press 0-312-144, 1996, TPB)
Rick Wakeman — Say Yes! Rick Wakeman — Say Yes!
(Hodder & Stoughton, 1995, PB)
Various Artists — Tales from Yesterday Various Artists — Tales from Yesterday
(Magna Carta MA-9003-2, 1995, CD)
Yes — Talk Yes — Talk
(Victory 383-480-033-2, 1994, CD)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe — An Evening of Yes Music Plus Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe — An Evening of Yes Music Plus
(Gonzo Multimedia HST025CD, 1993/2010, 2CD)
Yes — Union Yes — Union
(Arista ARCD-8643, 1991, CD)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe — Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe — Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
(Gonzo Multimedia HST004CDSE, 1989/2011, 2CD)
Yes — Big Generator Yes — Big Generator
(ATCO A2 90522, 1987, CD)
Yes — 90125 Yes — 90125
(Rhino Records R2 73796, 1983/2004, CD)
Yes — Drama Yes — Drama
(Friday FRM 16019, 1980/2010, CD)
Yes — Yesshows Yes — Yesshows
(Friday FRM-2510, 1979/2011, 2CD)
Yes — Tormato Yes — Tormato
(Rhino Records R2 73794, 1978/2004, CD)
Yes — Going for the One Yes — Going for the One
(Atlantic SD 19106, 1977, LP)
Yes — Relayer Yes — Relayer
(Atlantic SD 18122, 1974, LP)
Yes — Tales from Topographic Oceans Yes — Tales from Topographic Oceans
(Rhino Records R2 73791, 1973/2003, 2CD)
Yes — Yessongs Yes — Yessongs
(Atlantic 82682-2, 1973/1994, 2CD)
Yes — Close to the Edge Yes — Close to the Edge
(Atlantic SD 7244, 1972, LP)
Yes — Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two Yes — Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two
(Rhino Records 081227956417, 1972/2015, 14CD)
Yes — Fragile Yes — Fragile
(Atlantic SD 7211, 1971, LP)
Yes — The Yes Album Yes — The Yes Album
(Atlantic SD 8283, 1971, LP)
Yes — Beyond and Before - BBC Recordings 1969-1970 Yes — Beyond and Before - BBC Recordings 1969-1970
(Purple Pyramid CLP 0246-2, 1970/2011, 2CD)
Yes — Something's Coming - BBC Recordings 1969-1970 Yes — Something's Coming - BBC Recordings 1969-1970
(Purple Pyramid CLP 0246-2, 1970/1997, 2CD)
Yes — Time and a Word Yes — Time and a Word
(Rhino Records R2 73787, 1970/2003, CD)
Yes — Yes Yes — Yes
(Rhino Records R2 73786, 1969/2003, CD)

Latest news

2017-09-06
Holger Czukay RIP – Holger Czukay, a musical experimentalist without boundaries who has been involved with expanding the sound palette of rock music since the late 60s, has died at the age of 79. After studying with Karlheinz Stockhausen in the early 60s, he became fascinated with the possibilities of rock music, and was a co-founder of the pioneering group Can. He leaves behind an impressive body of work both as musician and producer. » Read more

2017-08-22
John Abercrombie RIP – Another of the greats of jazz guitar has left us. John Abercrombie plied his way through a beautiful series of albums on the ECM label as well as bringing his talent to bear on albums by many of jazz's greatest artists. From his early work in the group Dreams to Gateway and outstanding work with Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Wheeler, and many more to his own trios and quartets, he brought a unique instrumental voice to the world. » Read more

2017-07-27
Yestival Dates Beef up the Beat – Word reaches us that Dylan Howe (son of guitarist Steve Howe) will be joining Yes on their "Yestival" tour, drumming alongside longtime band member Alan White. » Read more

2017-05-19
First ProgStock Festival Set for October – October 2017 will see the inaugural edition of a festival called ProgStock in Rahway, New Jersey at the Union County Performing Arts Center. With a definite slant towards neo-progressive music, the event is sure to please many fans with the inclusion of such artists as Echolyn, Glass Hammer, and Aisles. The festival will take place October 13-15. » Read more

2017-05-05
Clive Brooks RIP – Word reaches us today of another sad passing in the music world. Drummer Clive Brooks, best known as a member of such Canterbury bands as Egg, Uriel / Arzachel, and Groundhogs, has died at the age of 67. Details are sketchy at this point. The news was reported on Nick Mason's Facebook page — Brooks was Mason's drum tech. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Asgard - Imago Mundi – This, Asgard's fourth album, covers plenty of new territory, recaptures some of the lost ground from their original sound, and offers a quite a bit more accessibility - while maintaining a generally...  (1994) » Read more

Dirty Projectors - The Getty Address – Dopamine on crutches flying straight to the heart of freak-folk Americana. Welcome to the song cycle of a cloth cut from the same material as Van Dyke Parks' most evangelized piece of work, updated...  (2007) » Read more

The Cheebacabra - Metamorphosis – An instrumental funk outfit from the U.S. west coast, The Cheebacabra is led by a drummer/keyboardist named Cheeba, who is joined by six other musicians on keys, guitar, sax, and percussion. The...  (2004) » Read more

Fukkeduk - Ornithozozy – Well the name may cost this group some listeners, but I guess it could be said that anything in the Art Zoyd / Univers Zero axis may do the same anyway! Fukkeduk sure aren't shooting to be popular...  (1996) » Read more

Grey Lady Down - Forces – This is the second album for this British five-piece with a dedicated lead vocalist, whose style is firmly in the neo-progressive camp of bands like IQ and others who drive their sound with brite and...  (1996) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Better Than an Actual Transformers Soundtrack

More recommendations
ProgStock 2017

Print issues