JON ANDERSON is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable voices in progressive rock as the lead vocalist and creative force behind Yes. Anderson was the author and a major creative influence behind the series of epics produced by Yes and his role in creating such complex pieces as Close to the Edge, Awaken, and especially The Gates of Delirium was central to the band’s success. Additionally, Anderson co-authored the group’s biggest hits, including I’ve Seen All Good People, Roundabout, and Owner Of A Lonely Heart. In 1962, Anderson joined The Warriors, where he and his brother Tony shared the role of lead vocalist. He quit this band in 1967, released two solo singles in 1968 under the pseudonym Hans Christian Anderson, and then briefly sang for the band The Gun. In March 1968, Anderson met bassist Chris Squire and joined him in a group called Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, which included guitarist Peter Banks.
Anderson, Squire, and Banks went on to form Yes, with drummer Bill Bruford and keyboardist Tony Kaye. Their eponymous debut album was released in 1969. Amongst the line-up changes (Rick Wakeman would replace Kaye in 1971 and Alan White would replace Bruford in 1972) Jon stayed with the group until 1980, and this period is now known as the classic period of Yes. Jon was a major creative force and band leader throughout the period (describing himself as the ‘team captain’ and ‘catalyst’; nicknamed by his band mates Napoleon for his diminutive stature and leadership of the band) and is recognised as the main instigator of the series of epics produced by Yes at the time. His role in creating such complex pieces as Close to the Edge, Awaken, and especially The Gates of Delirium is central, despite his limited instrumental abilities. Yes released 11 critically acclaimed albums (including one live album ‘Yessongs’ and one early compilation ‘Yesterdays’) between 1969 and 1979, including such classic titles as ‘Fragile’ (which contained the band’s first hit “Roundabout”), ‘Close To The Edge’, ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans’, ‘Relayer’ and ‘Going For The One’.
In a recent interview, by Blake Maddux, Jon Anderson had this response to what we could expect from his upcoming album True. “You’re going to enjoy it. It’s called True. We had a great tour together; then a couple of months later I suggested that we make the record that everyone is waiting for that Yes hasn’t made yet. And that’s what we’ve done. We’ve created the album that Yes would have made if they were together”. Of course, Yes are ‘together’, and I imagine I am at risk of losing readers before I have even started using that quote as an intro. However, onward. It is a bold statement, and we all know that Jon is not shy of trading his wares by way of a Yes-offshoot band, so just what has Jon delivered to prog fans and Yes acolytes this time round?
This collaboration with The Band Geeks started when Jon Anderson was sent a video of the group performing Heart of the Sunrise and he was so impressed that they were soon joining up for a mini-tour playing Yes classics. The positive vibes emanating from both the audience and the band was the catalyst for this album, which contains a mix of contemporary Anderson compositions, a couple archived from sessions in Nashville 10 years ago, and also a couple written by The Band Geeks musical director and bassist Richie Castellano.
The Yes maestro is 79 years old now but his voice retains its timeless qualities and he has no problem keeping pace with the energy that drives the song-writing and musical arrangements. The album is full of life and full of uplifting choruses, it is a joyful listen from start to end, the quality is consistently high and the balance between originality and Yes-inspiration is delivered to perfection.
