Yes – 90125 (Rhino Reserve Edition) (Rhino/Atlantic)

Pivotal album still sounds adventurous 40 years later

After monster success in the early 70’s, Yes had run out of gas by the end of the decade and called it quits.  Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White joined forces with guitarist Trevor Rabin, originally dubbing their band Cinema.  But, after asking original Yes vocalist, Jon Anderson, to rejoin, the group reverted back to Yes.  90125 marked a stylistic shift toward more commercial-sounding pop, and boy did it pay off.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, 90125 introduced a whole new generation to Yes. Rhino has chosen it for the Rhino Reserve series for Rocktober.

The album leads with the bold single, “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” complete with samples, blips, backwards guitars, and a dance beat, the song went to #1 on the Pop charts and even received some airplay on Urban radio (something unthinkable for a Prog Rock band).  The killer riff is undeniable, and once Anderson starts singing, you’re hooked.  

Ear candy abounds throughout the album – from the sitar on the shimmering “It Can Happen” to the marimba that opens  “Changes.” Rabin’s heavy rock leanings distinguish him from his predecessor, Steve Howe.  Yet, he shares Howe’s gift of melody, and it shows up in the great flourishes on “Hold On.”

One of the most underrated aspects of Yes has always been their group vocals, and the mostly acapella, “Leave It” is phenomenal.  There’s not a bad song on this record.  Everything works, from the effervescent pop of “Our Song,” (which has a cold start instead of a fade up from the original vinyl) to the dark “City of Love” to the tender closer, “Hearts.”

The album would go on to sell over 3 million copies in the US, and is still the group’s biggest record.  

The Rhino Reserve edition faithfully reproduces that classic album cover (it just looks great in the 12 x 12 format).  The vinyl is 180-gram and quiet.  The new transfer is more even than my original pressing (my 1983 copy is a little heavy on the high end).  You even get the original inner sleeve, complete with lyrics.

One of those essential albums from the Eighties that still sounds great – 90125 should be in your collection.  —Tony Peters