YES - Big Generator (1987)

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 20 2024 at 04:43

I've made no secret that I enjoy this album very much. I listened to it first in the 90s, still enjoy it today. 

I haven't played this album in years. I will give my CD a spin now (if I can find it). 

Octopus II wrote: I haven't played this album in years. I will give my CD a spin now (if I can find it).

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 20 2024 at 05:14

Big Generator is a bit of a mixed bag. I'm Running, Final Eyes and Shoot High Aim Low compare favorably with anything off of 90125. They are good songs. I personally think Big Generator is more Proggy than 90125. The issue is that the songs selected for radio and MTV play from 90125, Owner, Leave It and It Can Happen are far superior to those selected from Big Generator, Love Will Find a Way and Rhythm of Love. I never got the feeling that the songs from 90125 were overtly poppy. Same can't be said of the tracks from Big Generator selected for radio. 90125 does not have the lows that Big Generator has.

I bought Big Generator upon its initial release in 1987 when I was in college. When I saw 3 of the 8 tracks had love in the title I had an Uh-Oh moment. Was this going to be Journey album? Had Yes shed its prog past like Genesis and was going to be a hit machine?

Rabin has said there are to many Journey moments with Big Generator. Rhythm of Love and Almost Like Love were two songs that Rabin felt were not Yes songs. Rabin disagreed with the horns being added to Almost Like Love and said the song reminded him of Phil Collins song Sussudio. Rabin felt Almost Like Love was a substandard song and should have been left off Big Generator.

Another issue was with Trevor Horn who was producing the album. Jon Anderson thought Big Generator should be more adventurous than 90125. Rabin thought the album could have a number of songs stitched together like what was done on Abbey Road or Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey (that would have been interesting). Horn and the label disagreed. Anderson was left out of the writing process by Horn until the songs had taken form.

It's no secret that Anderson and Tony Kaye did not care for Horn. I think the relationship between Horn and Kaye was described as mutual hatred. Lot of infighting with the band caused the album to be delayed. I think this hurt Yes with Big Generator being released nearly 4 years after 90125 missing the striking the iron while hot moment. The infighting eventually caused Horn to leave the Big Generator project toward the end. It was left to Rabin to mix the album at his home studio.

The album cover sucks too.

Nonetheless, while not as successful as 90125, Big Generator went Platinum in the US and Canada and Gold in Japan. Everybody made money.

progaardvark wrote: Union and Open Your Eyes are the only Yes albums I would rate lower than Big Generator. The only three songs I can tolerate are Shoot High Aim Low, Final Eyes, and Holy Lamb. I'm still a bathroom cup.

One of my least favourite Yes albums, though I do love Holy Lamb and like Shoot High Aim Low.

^^ I agree with all of that (although I've not heard Rio)... I think I've said before, the only 70's big beasts whose music I continued to listen to all through the 80's and into the 90's were/ are Rush and Eloy. Some, like Mike Oldfield & TD make it to the mid 80's, but in general, my collection would suggest the decade is a barren wasteland.. 

Edited by Jared - January 21 2024 at 01:18

Cristi wrote: Is Eloy's Ra from 1988 better than Yes's Big Generator though?

Cristi wrote: Eloy's Ra feels more outdated to me than BG, with the programmed drums that are too upfront .  Presto was a step in the right direction IMO coming after Hold Your Fire.  I haven't listened to Destination in a very long time, I don't remember it being weak or bad, I'll give it a listen soon, to see what i think in 2024.