This Day in Music History: Yes/Big Generator (09/17)

On this date in 1987, Yes finally (after over four years!) released a follow up to the massively popular 90125. Their 12th studio album was called Big Generator.

A laborious album to make, Big Generator's sessions dragged on for two years, largely because of creative differences. Guitarist Trevor Rabin was aiming to progress beyond 90125, while founding lead vocalist Jon Anderson was beginning to yearn for more traditional Yes music. Trevor Horn, who was a major factor in the success of Yes's previous disc 90125 was part of the early recording sessions, but dropped out after a few months due in major part to his inability to get along with keyboardist Tony Kaye. In a 2011 interview, Anderson stated that Horn had told Anderson to stay away from the rehearsal and recording sessions for three months, presumably so that Horn could develop material with the other band members. The band recorded some material in Italy ("Shoot High Aim Low"), moved to London to produce "Rhythm of Love", and finally to Los Angeles to produce the final tracks for the album. Rabin assumed the production duties after the departure of Horn, and is credited for pulling together the final line-up of music on the disc.

The result was an album that was successful commercially, with two songs reaching the US Top 40: "Love Will Find a Way" (#30) and "Rhythm of Love" (#40). Two additional singles, "Shoot High, Aim Low" (#11) and "Final Eyes" (#20) charted on the Mainstream Rock tracks chart. Because of the long delays, the album was not as popular as 90125, and feeling that the band was going in a direction he didn't want to pursue, Jon Anderson began working on other projects at the conclusion of the Big Generator tour in 1988. This was the beginning of ABWH.

A more detailed coverage of the songs on each side can be found here (Side 1) and here (Side 2)

Track Listing

1) Rhythm of Love

2) Big Generator

3) Shoot High, Aim Low

4) Almost Like Love

5) Love Will Find a Way

6) Final Eyes

7) I'm Running

8) Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence)

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