Track Listing

1. Machine Messiah
2. White Car
3. Does It Really Happen?
4. Into The Lens
5. Run Through The Light
6. Tempus Fugit
7. Into The Lens (I Am A Camera) (Single Version)
8. Run Through The Light (Single Version)
9. Have We Really Got To Go Through This
10. Song No. 4 (Satellite)
11. Tempus Fugit (Tracking Session)
12. White Car (Tracking Session)
13. Dancing Through The Light
14. Golden Age
15. In The Tower
16. Friend Of A Friend

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11226 in Music
• Released on: 2004-02-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
It was widely assumed that when vocalist/songwriter Jon Anderson left Yes at the end of the '70s, the band was doomed. Most folks forgot that bassist/composer Chris Squire was theother founding member of the band, and he had as much to dowith their sound as Anderson. It was surprising enough whenthe band decided to continue with a new vocalist and keyboardist. It was even more surprising when the new members turned out to be Trevor Horn (later a famed pop producer) and Geoff Downes (who would soon depart with Steve Howe for Asia).And it was downright shocking when the resultant album DRAMA turned out to be a great one.
While Horn's voice is in the same general range as Anderson's, he tends to blend morewith the vocals of Howe and Squire for a distinctive three-part harmony sound. Similarly, the individual instrumental statements of Howe and Downes avoid grandstanding in favour of the group dynamic. Consequently, DRAMA is one of Yes' mostdirect, concise offerings, full of relatively short songs that still maintain all the Yes hallmarks. Anderson diehards should leave their inhibitions at the door.

Customer Reviews

UNFAIRLY NEGLECTED
Reading again and again how this recording is derided by comparing it to Anderson-era-Yes is particularly depressing, since this is a hell of a record in its own terms. Nobody seemed to like it when it appeared, while now more and more people realize how unjustly Drama was treated at the time. "Machine Messiah" and "Tempus Fugit" are sensational tracks. The rest is simply very good. Chris Squire's bass playing and Alan White's drumming in this CD are simply astounding. Yes, Jon Anderson is not there, but just listen to this music for what it is, without prejudice, and what you get is one of the prog-classics of all time.

A Forgotten Classic.
On the opening track, "Machine Messiah", I could have sworn Jon Anderson was still there. Prog purists had already dismissed this album before it was even released. They never gave poor Trevor Horn a chance, but I feel he made a valiant effort, and feel that he, and Geoff Downes, gave Yes the kick up the arse it badly needed. In my opinion, "Drama" was a vast improvement on "Tormato", and should take it's rightful place as a classic Yes album.
Chris Squire is in superb form, and along with Geddy Lee from Rush, confirms his place as one of the best bass players in the world. Squire and White, are one the tightest rythm sections you will find anywhere. Steve Howe, however, does not get to showcase his talents, as in previous albums, but is still in fine form. Downes, even though he is no Rick Wakeman, makes an excellent contribution, and should be applauded.
I feel saddened that none of this album was included in the 35th anniversary collection, because quite a few tracks on "Drama", are better than some of the tracks that were included.
If you are a true Yes fan, and have not listened to this album since it's release in 1980, give it a chance, it's a grower!!!.

Prog, but...
So there was this hugely successful prog-rock group, their star perhaps no longer in the ascendant; and there was this overnight sensation of a bubble-gum electro-pop song by a couple of geezers in shiny suits blazing a brief flash of light across the top of the singles charts.

Now, not even Harvey Goldsmith would put forward Cilla Black and Hawkwind as the ideal musical partnership - so how in the name of all that's holy could you put Yes in the studio with the Buggles? It still seems unlikely today, but that's exactly what happened, for "Drama": the band's first album after the departure of their signature voice, Jon Anderson.

With the benefit of hindsight, "Drama" is a novel outing, an oddity in the canon, and yet one that is very successful in itself. The key is discipline: there's altogether less showing-off, though the music retains all the rhythmic diversity and the skilled playing that makes Yes music interesting. Each member of the band is focussed on the project in hand, not all playing as fast as they can all-at-once like some overcharged electronic Dixie Jazz combo. Alan White's drumming is clear and full, and Chris Squire's bass excels. Though as intelligent and creative as ever, the interplay between these two has tightened almost to perfection: White can hold the square fours without boring you, yet still fascinate by setting contrasting rhythms against the rest of the band; Squire dazzles, but just as much with the control of simple phrases as anything virtuoso. Guitarist Steve Howe mostly sticks to electric, with a bit of slide and steel, but is right there with rhythmic figures to complement the expected flashes of brilliance. Not surprisingly, this pre-echoes the work he was soon to do with the band Asia, where he would play with Yes's new man on the keys, Geoff Downes. Downes, too, keeps it solid, from chunky, almost Keith-Emerson-but-reined-in Hammond organ to the very last note of fiery synthesiser runs. Buggles's frontman, Trevor Horn, of course, went on to huge success as a producer, but it's clear that fronting Yes daunted him ("I'm not standing up on that stage and singing "Starship Trooper" instead of Jon Anderson!"). Still, his creative input is apparent, even if his voice isn't quite designed to be as high as they make him sing.

As ever, the lyrics are opaque, although they generally sound like they mean something (and anyway it's not for a band like Yes to start singing songs about the Queen being a [...] Regime). One great bonus track is "Have We Really Got To Go Through This", where Squire, Howe and White jam to a boogie beat, and it's more like "Thank God We Don't Have To Play `Ritual' Just Now"; but even as you get into how they've got it going on, you also notice and appreciate their skill and control.

So "Drama" is the album where proper riffs return to Yes music, giving it a bit of backbone, as though the band are aware that their near future success depends on the rock market in the USA. Prog with an edge, Rock with brains. Not bad, if you like that sort of thing.