August 13, 2008
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Music Commentary – The Return
Song #001 on my Panasonic Music Player – “Hearts” by Yes (90125 – Atco Records)
90125 was the first “serious” album I ever bought, at a Target next to the Ford dealership in Torrance, CA, 1983. I remember that vividly. Dad had given us some of his jackpot winnings and grandma was buying a new car.
I’m not the biggest fan of “prog rock”, but I loved the quality and crafting that went into 90125. It was a last hurrah by a very influential band, and as far as swan songs go, this certainly qualifies as one of the greatest. The final track, “Hearts” is excellent. It cranks in at over seven minutes, something not all that unusual for album tracks from this genre, and features several transitions and style changes. There’s some clashing chords, romantic lyrics, societal musings, a soaring guitar solo, and a triumphal climax with a lyrical coda. It pretty much sums up the entirety of “90125″, and is one of the most fitting end tracks to an album I’ve ever heard. It might be a somewhat romantic song, but it’s also a song for the fans, letting them know how much Yes appreciated their support over the years.
Comments (4)
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Swan song? Dude, “Big Generator” was a totally kick ass album.
@MoparMessiah - Yes, but 90125 was the last time they’d record under cordial circumstances. After 90125 they were a band much the same way Genesis was after Invisible Touch: “Whenever our solo projects don’t get in the way, maybe we can play together.” That’s why I consider 90125 Yes’ ‘swan song’, as Atlantic was probably wondering if they could keep them together and it had a ridiculous production value for the time.
Big Generator, despite all the problems getting it made, did indeed rock, but struggled in the charts. But a good sign was it’s longevity, chugging along until Platnum status. I don’t much care for the earliest Yes stuff, but everything after their third album was darned good.
@Doug_Glendower -
I find that very ironic since they started doing solo stuff on Fragile.
And their best album, IMHO, is “Drama” and that was before 90125 and contained none of the original members.