Ranking the Discography: Yes Part IX: Tormato (1978)

Tormato was the last album to feature Jon Anderson until his return on 90125, and the last album to feature Rick Wakeman until his return on Union. It had one single, and reached #10 in the US, and #8 in the UK.

Members:

Jon Anderson: Vocals, 10-string guitar

Steve Howe: guitars and mandolin, vocals

Chris Squire: bass, piano, vocals

Rick Wakeman: Birotron, Hammond organ, Polymoog synthesizer, piano, harpsichord, RMI Electra Piano

Alan White: drums, military snare drum, glockenspiel, crotales, cymbals, bell tree, drums synthesizer, gongs, vibraphone, vocals

The Tracks:

1. “Future Times”/”Rejoice”: I love the pedal effect on Squire’s bass. The lyrics are great.
2. “Don’t Kill the Whale”: As the title suggests, this was Yes’s contribution to the “Save the Whales” movement. It’s got a beautiful keyboard solo.
3. “Madrigal”: I love the harpsichord on this.
4. “Release, Release”: One of the best songs on the album. I love the variety of percussion instruments on this one. I actually looked up YouTube videos to hear how some of them sound. Howe sounds great on the guitar.
5. “Arriving UFO”: This was inspired by Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Wakeman’s work is excellent.
6. “Circus of Heaven”: I love the wonder of this song.
7. “Onward”: Howe’s acoustic guitar is beautiful. Squire has a good bass effect.
8. “On the Silent Wings of Freedom”: Another song with some beautiful effects.

Final Verdict: This alalbum has an excellent variety of instruments and innovation. It seems underrated.

Grade: A

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Ranking the Discography: Yes Part VIII: Going For the One (1977)

Going For the One marked the return of Rick Wakeman, who had begun his solo career during his absence from the previous album. It also temporarily replaced Roger Dean as cover artist, instead using Storm Thurgeson and Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis.

While I normally like Hipgnosis artwork, I don’t think this is one of their better pieces. I think Dean’s landscapes fit Yes better.

Members:

Jon Anderson: lead vocals, harp

Steve Howe: steel guitar, electric and acoustic guitars, vachalia, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals

Chris Squire: bass guitar, fretless bass guitar, 8-string bass guitar, vocals

Rick Wakeman: piano, electric keyboards, organ, Polymoog synthesizer, choral arrangement on “Awaken”

Alan White: drums, percussion

The Tracks:

1. “Going For the One “: The title track has some beautiful steel guitars and bass. The lyrics make the song feel like it’d fit a training montage.
2. “Turn of the Century”: This song is inspired by the myth of Pygmalion. The rhythm changes create some nice flourishes.
3. “Wonderous Stories”: This single has beautiful guitars and some good rhythm from Squire, probably some of his best work on the album.
4. “Parallels”: I like the hopeful feel of Aquifers lyrics.
5. “Awaken”: While this doesn’t have a conceptual structure like the long songs from the previous albums, I love Wakeman’s keyboards and organ parts.

Final Verdict: I feel like this album doesn’t get enough love. It’s not as conceptual as the previous albums, but it shows the start of transitions into shorter material that still allows the band to experiment.

Grade: A