This Day in Music History:Yes/Drama (08/22)

Released on this day in 1980, Drama is the tenth studio album by British progressive rock band Yes. It is also the first Yes album without vocalist Jon Anderson (gasp!).

In early 1980, after rehearsing music for the follow-up to the not so great album Tormato, both Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman (RW!) departed the band over creative and financial differences. Reportedly they were the most enthusiastic about creating a new album, and the rest of the band was lukewarm over the idea, given the relative failure of the last album. This in turn discouraged both Anderson and Wakeman, with the latter at times refusing to leave his room, and both men dejectedly spending time at a local bar. They quit the band soon afterwards.

The remaining members, Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White carried on. Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes of The Buggles (who had recently had a #1 hit in the UK with "Video Killed the Radio Star") were working in an adjacent studio, and, being Yes fans, introduced themselves. As it happened, Squire owned and enjoyed the Buggles' first album, and the pair were invited to sit in during rehearsals. They were soon asked to join the band.

Recorded that spring and released in August, Drama featured a harder-edged Yes with a distinct new wave flavor. Roger Dean (!) was commissioned to design his first Yes cover in six years.

The writing of all songs on the album is credited to all the band members. However, "Into the Lens" and "White Car" are basically Buggles compositions. An alternate version of "Into the Lens" appeared on the second Buggles album Adventures in Modern Recording as "I am a Camera". The song is based on Christopher Isherwood's Berlin stories.

"Does It Really Happen?", "Run Through the Light" and "Tempus Fugit" were developed by Squire, White, and Howe before Horn and Downes joined the band; Horn added lyrics. "Machine Messiah" was based on another Buggles composition, but with considerable input from Squire, White, and Howe.

The two demo songs "We Can Fly From Here" and "Go Through This" did not end up on the album, although the band did play both of them on the subsequent tour. Live recordings of these songs were released on The Word is Live. "We Can Fly From Here" was eventually expanded into the 20+ minute title track of 2011 album Fly from Here.

Drama fared very well in the UK charts, reaching #2 there, but in America it became Yes's first album there since The Yes Album not to reach the Top 10 or earn a gold record. The US tour, however, was a big success which was not the case with the UK tour, with some fans angry over Anderson's replacement and Horn's voice suffering from his first experience of major touring, as well as his efforts to match Anderson's higher register. Horn subsequently quit the band, and Yes officially ended in early 1981 (although they would reform two years later with a very different sound). Howe and Downes then joined Asia and Trevor Horn began a highly successful career as a record producer (next working with Yes as producer of their 1983 album, 90125).

I have previously covered this album in more depth here (Side One) and here (Side Two)

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