90125
90125
[edit]90125 is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 7 November 1983 by Atco Records. It marked a radical departure from the band’s 1970s symphonic rock sound, embracing a polished, high-tech New Wave and hard rock aesthetic. It remains the band’s best-selling album, with over three million copies sold in the US alone.
The album is notable for the return of original vocalist Jon Anderson and the introduction of South African guitarist and songwriter Trevor Rabin.
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Background and Cinema
[edit]Following the band's initial breakup in 1981, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White formed a new group called Cinema with guitarist Trevor Rabin and original Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye. During the recording sessions, produced by former Yes vocalist Trevor Horn, Jon Anderson was invited to hear the material. He was so impressed that he joined the project, leading to the decision to market the album under the "Yes" name.
The title 90125 refers to the album's original catalog number on Atco Records (7-90125-1).
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Critical and Commercial Success
[edit]The album’s lead single, "**Owner of a Lonely Heart**," became a global hit and is the band's only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also earned the band their first and only Grammy Award, winning **Best Rock Instrumental Performance** for the track "Cinema."
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Track Listing
[edit]Side One
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Owner of a Lonely Heart" | Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Trevor Horn | 4:29 |
| 2 | "Hold On" | Rabin, Anderson, Squire | 5:16 |
| 3 | "It Can Happen" | Squire, Anderson, Rabin | 5:29 |
| 4 | "Changes" | Rabin, Anderson, White | 6:20 |
Side Two
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Cinema" | Squire, Rabin, White, Tony Kaye | 2:08 |
| 2 | "Leave It" | Squire, Rabin, Horn | 4:14 |
| 3 | "Our Song" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin, White | 4:18 |
| 4 | "City of Love" | Rabin, Anderson | 4:51 |
| 5 | "Hearts" | Anderson, Squire, Rabin, White, Kaye | 7:39 |
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Personnel
[edit]Yes
- Jon Anderson – Lead vocals
- Trevor Rabin – Guitars, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals (on "Changes")
- Chris Squire – Bass guitar, backing vocals
- Tony Kaye – Keyboards
- Alan White – Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Production
- Trevor Horn – Producer
- Gary Langan – Engineer
- Garry Mouat – Sleeve design (Assorted Images)
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Charts
[edit]| Chart (1983–84) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 5 |
| UK Albums Chart | 16 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 2 |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) | 3 |
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Legacy
[edit]90125 is credited with reinventing Yes for the MTV era. While some "purist" fans of the band's 1970s work were initially alienated by the pop-oriented production, the album is now highly regarded for its innovative use of Fairlight CMI sampling and Rabin's distinctive guitar work.