Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989)

ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE: THE YES ALBUM that never was, although it's generally regarded as a YES album in all but name amongst fans. Interestingly, the album has the Arista catalogue number 90126, indicating in a subtle way that the ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE album was a follow up to the commercially successful 90125 YES album. In the sometimes FRAGILE relationship between band members, TIME AND A WORD has it that there was a MAGNIFICATION of tensions within the band and Jon Anderson wasn't happy with the musical direction YES was taking with Trevor Rabin's strong influence in the band. There was even TALK of Anderson being CLOSE TO THE EDGE of leaving the YES line-up altogether. In the ensuing DRAMA, Jon Anderson regrouped with sometime YES members Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Bill Bruford. Unable to use the YES name for legal reasons, and maybe lacking inspiration for a new band-name, this new YES line-up found themselves GOING FOR THE ONE most obvious band-name of all and named the band after themselves. And so, in something of a YES re-UNION in the constant RELAYER race of YES line-ups, the four erstwhile band members set off for London, Paris & Montserrat to record the album. Upon the album's release in the summer of 1989, it may not have moved HEAVEN & EARTH, but it was a BIG GENERATOR of album sales and ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE climbed THE LADDER of success to reach No. 14 in the U.K albums chart.  The album also went on to sell over 500,000 copies in the USA alone, equalling sales of the legendary TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS album in the first year of its release in the USA. The future for YES was glowing as brightly as a bright red TORMATO and the stage was now set for a full re-UNION of eight YES members in their following album in 1991. And so, it's time now to gather the KEYS TO ASCENSION and OPEN YOUR EYES and ears to this rather splendid album we have here. There are nine YESSONGS on the ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE album and I'll post the videos below before I FLY FROM HERE.

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - August 24 2020 at 08:45

ABWH was not released as a Yes album because no Squire, no Yes. 

We get Tony Levin instead of Chris Squire.
Side 1 of ABWH is a winner. Side 2 not so much.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: I think it's a solid album. 3.5 stars. The DVD - Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe An Evening of Yes Music Plus, if you can find it, is superb. Something all Yes fans should own.

It's a good album, slightly marred for me now by the outdated drum sounds. Probably 3.5 stars.

I actually took this one out of mothballs recently.  Not my favorite but there is some good stuff on it. 

Superb album, and it was hearing Bruford’s drum sound that convinced Anderson he should be part of the project.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: lazland wrote: Superb album, and it was hearing Bruford’s drum sound that convinced Anderson he should be part of the project. It is a real shame that Union marked the end of this collaboration, because this album showed huge potential. As usual, the egos got in the way. I've yet to hear the Union album, but I really enjoyed seeing the eight-member Yes Union tour recently, so I hope the album lives up to the promise of the tour.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: lazland wrote: Superb album, and it was hearing Bruford’s drum sound that convinced Anderson he should be part of the project. It is a real shame that Union marked the end of this collaboration, because this album showed huge potential. As usual, the egos got in the way. I've yet to hear the Union album, but I really enjoyed seeing the eight-member Yes Union tour recently, so I hope the album lives up to the promise of the tour.   spoiler alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it does not...  Awww. You burst my bubble now, when I was so much looking forward to hearing Rick Wakeman's self-proclaimed "Onion" album for the first time.

Too many lightweight moments (the concert with Jeff Berlin was excellent though).