Recorded during their 1984 world tour in support of their eleventh studio album, 90125 (1983), the album features a selection of solo tracks performed by each of the five band members [Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Alan White and Tony Kaye], plus live versions of two songs from 90125. The album was an accompany release to the band's 1985 concert film, 9012Live.
In March of 1984, the long overdue show went on the road. Aside from seeing three continents, three tour managers, one small army of Argentinean security, encountering numerous threats, one ticket office bombing, some minor bickering and moaning, one squadron of flying saucers over Denver, lots of vodka and surviving two international escapes, the tour went smoothly and without incident. In spite of, or perhaps as a result of this, what ensued was a series of shows that delighted audiences everywhere.
The Album
This album (or mini-LP) was released to promote the then forthcoming VHS video called "9012LIVE".
"City of Love" - as the B-side of "Rhythm of Love" (from 9012Live - Edmonton '84)
...and they're nice to have, certainly, but I think it would have been possible and also desirable to include something from that tour which technically had never been released before, such as a recording of "Hearts." We know there is audio of complete shows in the archives, even though it's very likely it will simply remain there. I also think it's entirely reasonable to state that "Cinema" should have been included as the first track as it represents a collective solo set piece of sorts and makes for a nice overture.
Final Say
I recall when the LP was first released back in the mid 80s and having purchased it in good faith, was somewhat pissed to discover that it was a 30 minute album selling at full price. It really is a pity they didn’t include more of the live 90125 tracks they played on that tour on this vinyl release. The two additional tracks included on the CD release come across well (and could have fitted on the original vinyl release) but it is a real shame this is the only official release from this tour.
Tracks Listing:
In March of 1984, the long overdue show went on the road. Aside from seeing three continents, three tour managers, one small army of Argentinean security, encountering numerous threats, one ticket office bombing, some minor bickering and moaning, one squadron of flying saucers over Denver, lots of vodka and surviving two international escapes, the tour went smoothly and without incident. In spite of, or perhaps as a result of this, what ensued was a series of shows that delighted audiences everywhere.
Yes chose to redefine their image: dispensing, for the second time, with Roger Dean, and embracing a new design style based on computer graphics. The 1980s Yes utilised a new updated YES logo and released only their second promotional video in sixteen years, a live recording of their tour. The young filmmaker Steve Gottenburg produced 9012Live for the Charlex Company, using state-of-the-art video technology – incorporating over 60 stunning visual effects. Nominated for various awards, 9012Live provides an accurate portrait of the reformed band.
With a massive hit album and a number one single, the finances were available to put on a big show. To complement their new sound, Roger Dean’s eerie landscapes were replaced by starker, but still spectacular lasers and computer graphics. Playing only in large arenas on this tour, the stage was multi-levelled, and sparse, its high-tech design reflecting the new album cover. The front of the stage sloped down to the audience while the rear sloped upwards, all band members on the same level except for Alan, whose drum pedestal was raised above the rest.
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| Rabin, Anderson, Squire |
This album (or mini-LP) was released to promote the then forthcoming VHS video called "9012LIVE".
This album could have been better if it was released with more songs played by the entire band and not with the solo performances by each member of the band which were omitted in the video.
"Hold on" is a good live version, but Tony Kaye`s keyboards are more in the background. The other song performed by the whole band is "Changes", with very good keyboards by Tony Kaye (with brief additional keyboards by Jon Anderson, as seen in the video) and better mix.
The other tracks are performed as solos by each member. Tony Kaye`s solo is brief and it seems that he doesn`t like very much to do this kind of performances on stage. He plays with Trevor Rabin in Rabin`s acoustic guitar solo called "Solly`s Beard", the best of the solos. Jon Anderson`s solo is the "Soon" part of "The Gates of Delirium", played differently with Tony Kaye on keyboards. Chris Squire`s solo is a brief and distorted bass guitar and bass pedals version of "Amazing Grace", followed by "White Fish", which has Chris Squire and Alan White playing their "solos" in a medley of fragments of songs like "The Fish", "Tempus Fugit", "Sound Chaser" and others.
In 2009, the album was reissued in Japan by Isao Kikuchi for Warner Music Japan, with two bonus tracks. These two additional songs had both been previously released:
"It Can Happen" - as the B-side of the studio version "It Can Happen" (Atlanta 4/16/84)
"Hold on" is a good live version, but Tony Kaye`s keyboards are more in the background. The other song performed by the whole band is "Changes", with very good keyboards by Tony Kaye (with brief additional keyboards by Jon Anderson, as seen in the video) and better mix.
The other tracks are performed as solos by each member. Tony Kaye`s solo is brief and it seems that he doesn`t like very much to do this kind of performances on stage. He plays with Trevor Rabin in Rabin`s acoustic guitar solo called "Solly`s Beard", the best of the solos. Jon Anderson`s solo is the "Soon" part of "The Gates of Delirium", played differently with Tony Kaye on keyboards. Chris Squire`s solo is a brief and distorted bass guitar and bass pedals version of "Amazing Grace", followed by "White Fish", which has Chris Squire and Alan White playing their "solos" in a medley of fragments of songs like "The Fish", "Tempus Fugit", "Sound Chaser" and others.
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| Rabin and Squire |
"It Can Happen" - as the B-side of the studio version "It Can Happen" (Atlanta 4/16/84)
"City of Love" - as the B-side of "Rhythm of Love" (from 9012Live - Edmonton '84)
...and they're nice to have, certainly, but I think it would have been possible and also desirable to include something from that tour which technically had never been released before, such as a recording of "Hearts." We know there is audio of complete shows in the archives, even though it's very likely it will simply remain there. I also think it's entirely reasonable to state that "Cinema" should have been included as the first track as it represents a collective solo set piece of sorts and makes for a nice overture.
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| 1984 Tour T-Shirt |
I recall when the LP was first released back in the mid 80s and having purchased it in good faith, was somewhat pissed to discover that it was a 30 minute album selling at full price. It really is a pity they didn’t include more of the live 90125 tracks they played on that tour on this vinyl release. The two additional tracks included on the CD release come across well (and could have fitted on the original vinyl release) but it is a real shame this is the only official release from this tour.
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| 1984 Tour Programme Booklet |
To me this is such low hanging fruit - a full live recording would be the perfect accompaniment to the popular film (released on Video) and would be a nice way to celebrate their best selling studio album. I know there are probably good boots available but the Rabin era deserves more official live releases than the solos album and the handful of songs on the Word is Live . I guess if I'm shooting for the stars, I'd also want an official BG, and Talk tour release, but I suspect those are less appealing from a commercial standpoint.
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| Tony Kaye |
Side Note
On the 9012Live album, an extra credit is found for keyboardist Casey Young. It was revealed that while Kaye played keyboards on stage for the tour, Young played additional keyboards backstage, while remaining unseen from the audience. This is not surprising given the technology of the time and the demands placed on the keyboards by the intricate 90125 songs.
On their 1984 World Tour, Tony Kaye was using a bank of synths and samplers hidden under the stage, all triggered from a pair of Yamaha remote MIDI control keyboards (KX-76 or KX-88 would be the model). Well, this was still the early days of MIDI, and sometimes the keyboard sends a note on but forgets to send the note off message. Thus, there's a couple bits where the instrument is sustaining notes that it's not supposed to, and during Tony's solo no less! So you see him reaching over and trying to retrigger the "stuck" notes, so that they'll silence. He must have been thinking, "Bollocks to all of this high tech MIDI gear!".
On the 9012Live album, an extra credit is found for keyboardist Casey Young. It was revealed that while Kaye played keyboards on stage for the tour, Young played additional keyboards backstage, while remaining unseen from the audience. This is not surprising given the technology of the time and the demands placed on the keyboards by the intricate 90125 songs.
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| Jon Anderson |
This post consists of FLACs ripped from my mint condition vinyl which I purchased from a pop up record stall at the Victoria Market in Melbourne, back in the mid eighties. It is an import pressing as it features a trademark hole punch in the top corner of its cover. Even though I felt cheated when I bought it (due to the short play time), I still enjoy the recordings - although I think Jon Anderson's edited rendition of "Soon" was far too short, and does no justice for this beautiful song.
Full album artwork for both vinyl and CD media are included along with the usual obligatory label scans. I have also decided to include those two additional tracks from the CD release (as listed above), as bonus tracks.
1. Hold On (6:57)
2. Si (2:40)
3. Solly's Beard (4:39)
4. Soon (2:18)
5. Changes (7:00)
6. Amazing Grace (2:10)
7. Whitefish (8:40)
Bonus tracks
8. City of Love (6:31)
9. It Can Happen (6:29)
Line-up / Musicians:
- Jon Anderson / vocals
- Chris Squire / bass, vocals
- Tony Kaye / keyboards
- Alan White / drums
- Trevor Rabin / guitars, vocals
9012 Live Link (294Mb)
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