------------------------------------------------------- JANUARY 1984 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Asbury Park Press Yes -- Things better for Yes the second time around By Mary Campbell NEW YORK -- They were a cult group of the last decade, holding the official record for the act that played Madison Square Garden the most -- 16 times. Today, the British rock group, Yes, after trying another name, has regrouped, taken back its old name and started the year with its biggest selling LP ever and its first hit single. "Yes never actually had a hit single," says bassist Chris Squire, an original Yes member in 1968. "The single, 'Roundabout,' from the 'Fragile' album in the early 1970s has been constantly played on radio. But it never really was a very big hit in the charts." The group's Atco Records LP, "90125," is its first in three years. It was No. 11 and climbing on the best-selling record charts as 1984 began. The first single released from it, "Owner of a Lonely Heart," was No. 4 and climbing. "There was tension in some phases of making the album," Squire said. "We were all trying to pull the best out of each other to create the thing. I think probably getting back together is usually a panic situation." Yes will start a 50 or 60-show tour in Cleveland Feb 6 that will keep the British group in the United States for about three months. In the beginning, Yes was known for the classical influences in it rock. It's still there. "We always lean toward the more arty side of it," Squire says. Yes started in 1968 with vocalist Jon Anderson, Squire, Keyboardist Tony Kaye, guitarist Peter Banks and drummer Bill Bruford. Rick Wakeman replaced Kaye in 1971, was replaced by Patrick Moraz in 1973. Wakeman replace Moraz in 1976. Anderson and Wakeman had left the group, and been replaced, by the time the LP, "Drama," was made in 1980. "That band was supposed to go on to make another album. There were internal problems," Squire said. "We decided we should just have a break." "Yes had been very heavily toured and we'd made at least a dozen albums in the 1970s. We were working all the time. I personally sensed a little bit of the edge was going on the creative level, toward the end of that time." Squire says he spent 1981 doing not much work, spending time with his family, which includes three daughters. "Alan White, the drummer, and I kind of stuck together at that time, " he said. They worked together writing music and recorded a Christmas single, "Run with the Fox." Eventually they had to decide if they should remain a double act or put a band back together. "We decided to get involved with other musicians again," Squire said. "We were introduced to Trevor Rabin, our new guitarist. We got on well with him. I got Tony Kaye, who was our original keyboard player, to come back. I saw there would be a very good compatible style between Trevor's and Tony's playing." They rehearsed, tried different songs and would up calling themselves Cinema. Music Television announced the group. "About two weeks later, we got a letter from a lawyer in San Francisco saying a group there was already called Cinema," Squire said. "Two weeks later, we got a letter like that from Iowa and then came one from Minneapolis. There was a fourth one, too, all threatening to sue." They went back to Yes. Trevor Horn, who had been the singer in the 1980 version of Yes, heard the group and wanted to do an album. "We though that would be great, too," Squire said. "We laid down tracks for the whole album. The intention was that Trevor Rain and myself would share lead vocals. I've sung harmonies for years and some lead vocals, but it was a daunting prospect." Anderson joined them. "I'd told him I thought we'd go under another name, sort of a brave new attitude kind of thing," Squire said. "When he sang, it sounded just like Yes. We thought, people are going to think we're stupid if we don't call this Yes." The rewrote some of the lyrics and made the album. I'm thrilled about it because we tore the bones apart and put it together again in a way that took a lot of effort," Squire said. "And that's where we are now." Yes. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com