Yes Union

[pbenn2112]

I'd like to know what others think about this album. I think it is generally considered to be a low quality effort from the band. Personally, it is one of my favorites from Yes. Lots of great guitar playing and a lot of great songs. Of course, if you don't like the Yes with Trevor Rabin, you probably don't like this album. Just curious...

 

[Bluplirst]

I think the Rabin compositions stand out. I wish they had done a full ABWH and separate Yes album instead of a mash up with a lot of filler.

 

[sulrichs]

I think the Rabin compositions stand out. I wish they had done a full ABWH and separate Yes album instead of a mash up with a lot of filler.

Agree. Lift me up and miracle of life stand out as all Rabin and albeit a bit cheesy I do like aspects of those songs.

 

[PatrickE_FenderADV]

I like it, but then again I love both Howe and Rabin eras. The tour was quite the spectacle... I saw it twice and loved the fire with some of the clashes on stage.

 

[Gretsch 5120]

I love the Rick Wakeman quote on that album:

"I call it the Onion album because every time I hear it, it brings tears to my eyes"

 

[tim gueguen]

The album is rather a mess. There was quite a bit of controversy when it came out that producer Jonathan Elias had used session musicians to replace parts originally attempted by Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman when he decided those parts didn't cut it, and Wakeman and Howe weren't available, or unwilling, if things were as bad as Elias seemed to indicate, to provide better versions. Most of the "Steve Howe" guitar parts on the album are apparently Jimmy Haun, while multiple players overdubbed in place of Wakeman.

 

[slopeshoulder]

Bruford said it had a cast of thousands and was quantized to death. They disavow it.

 

[Pietro]

I liked the album, but don't listen to it a lot at this point.

The tour was awesome. I also saw it twice, very beginning and very end. The difference between those two points was amazing. At the beginning, people who hadn't played together in Yes (except Bruford and White, who seem to really get along) didn't seem to appreciate each other, by the end it looked like they were all best mates.

 

[jammybastard]

...and if you haven't seen it...
get on YouTube and search "yes union denver rabin edit".
(you have to see the "Trevor Rabin Edit", better than the original boot video footage)
and then enjoy the "interplay".
Like in this clip...watch Bruford. He's bored out of his mind, not *really* playing and/or he's waaaaay down in the mix.
I don't think there's a single shot of Howe.



So how many of you Yes fans actually bought a Westone Pantera?
I tried one at a shop in '90. Not a fan, always like Rabin's strat better.

 

[IGuitUpIGuitDown]

Bruford said it had a cast of thousands and was quantized to death. They disavow it.

ONION

And some think that's where Jon REALLY started to piss off the rest of the band, they all became disposable for whatever executive decision du jour was made. Supposedly a large part of the "going on without Jon" mentality of the current YES.

 

[PatrickE_FenderADV]

I don't think there's a single shot of Howe.

Howe sighting at 1:19.

EDIT - saw him again at 3:12 and 3:22 and 3:43 and 4:22
(I'll stop now )

 

[jammybastard]

Howe sighting at 1:19.

Yup, and I bet that's it!


After posting that clip I watched half the show on YT.
The audio is sh*t, but it's funny to hear Rabin try to squeeze into the "classic" Howe dominant songs.
Not that he can't play them, but just trying to fit something into a piece of music that is canon for Yes.

In the "Classic Artist: Yes" documentary, which really is exhaustive, Howe confesses that he and Rabin clashed on "Union" tour over what to play.
It's in PT.2, but any Yes fan should watch the whole thing. Bloody brilliant band.

 

[sixty2strat]

Saw the tour and it was one of the first rock shows to play AC. Which now means acts skip Philly and go there now, weird tailgating at a casino. Still it was a great show, I knew better than to even listen to the album after ABWH album.

 

[6Tones]

Really like Rabins contributions to YES,some good tunes on that album.

 

[Rick N Boogie]

Just finished all 3+ hrs of that Yes doc. Not for the casual fan, but to a diehard, lifelong fan as myself, that was brilliant. As to the op's question re: Union, I think it was an interesting experiment, and resulted in some interesting re-interpretations of some classic Yes material, but not in anyway a stand out performance, or album.
I've seen Yes live many times, but that classic 70's line up, and the albums of that era, will always rank at the top, imo.

 

[slopeshoulder]

I adore(d) Yes, but they should have retired after Going for the One. I don't like anything after that, but even if I did, it should be under a different name given the changes and circus of the whole thing. Also, they should knock it off with the live albums.

 

[Fezziwig]

ONION

And some think that's where Jon REALLY started to piss off the rest of the band, they all became disposable for whatever executive decision du jour was made. Supposedly a large part of the "going on without Jon" mentality of the current YES.

I'm not sure about that. The producers had a large hand in the mess that was the Union album, and they actually were the driving force to bring the "band" together. I think Jon is a unique individual and that "spirituality" he exudes can probably be a bit tricky at times to be around all the time while on tour and in the studio. And, Squire is very protective over the "Yes" name and the "Yes" business, having craftily taken ownership of the name back in the early stages of the band.

However, probably the biggest reason is that the rest of the guys are all about touring and making money right now, and Anderson doesn't really want to tour at that pace. As we've seen with the recent crop of singers, singing those Anderson parts over a lengthy tour can be challenging. I also wonder how much of the "spoils" Squire and the rest of them would have to share with Anderson--I'm sure they are making a larger cut on tour and album sales with him out of the band, and I also wouldn't be surprised if they kind of like not having to share the decision-making with Jon.

Overall, it's very disappointing. I saw Yes on every tour since the late 80's through the 35 Anniversary Tour. It just doesn't feel the same without Jon's spirit in there somewhere. I wish people could just make things work and get along.

 

[MrX]

I pretty much lost interest after "Going for the One" so this is just an OK album for me.

 

[atquinn]

Thanks for posting the links to the documentary; that was great!
-
Austin

 

[Valtyr]

I like a few songs on Union. I think Trevor had two of the best (Lift Me Up, Miracle of Life), but both camps released some major stinkers on that album too.

I think the tour was great though, it was cool seeing the different players and approaches (Rabin playing some of the older material, Howe playing some of the newer, etc) in the same songs.