What is Tony Kaye's contribution to TALK?

[Cosmic_Hippo]

I was wondering if anyone knows what Tony Kaye contributed to this album. Upon a careful listen, it seems like he did some hammond organ in "The Calling" and that's about it. It sounds like Rabin did the rest of the keyboards.

Which leads to my next question, was Tony Kaye listed as a member of the band on this album basically just to keep the 90125 line-up intact for promotional reasons?

[artrocker1974]

I think Tony was part of TALK the same reasons everyone else was. The TALK line-up was essentially YES back before the UNION debacle. THIS BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION----has anyone else heard Tony was dating/seeing Chris's daughter? I'm, not sure where I heard that, I could have been drunk...

[marklovesyes]

There is some Hammond Organ on Endless Dream as well. I think Walls has some of Tony's playing, too.

[ycantibu]

I can't say for sure, but at the very least, he was still needed for touring.

Which leads to my next question, was Tony Kaye listed as a member of the band on this album basically just to keep the 90125 line-up intact for promotional reasons?

[BrianD]

I was going to say that he appears in the group photo....but then remembered there is no group photo on Talk.

[Jackaranda]

Tony is also on Real Love. He did play most of the keyboards on the tour, with help from Rabin and Billy Sherwood.

Apparently, he left the 90125 sessions after about a month and returned for the tour. He originally joined Chris and Alan when Rabin did. I remember TR saying that they flew to England together. It's actually Eddie Jobson in the OOALH video.

Tony had a fiance in Nashville at the time of the Talk tour, some country singer at the time.

[yarstruly]

On a tangent...There are no Pictures of the band on any YesWest albums...Think about it....

[jimmygtr]

Tony is also on Real Love. He did play most of the keyboards on the tour, with help from Rabin and Billy Sherwood.

Apparently, he left the 90125 sessions after about a month and returned for the tour. He originally joined Chris and Alan when Rabin did. I remember TR saying that they flew to England together. It's actually Eddie Jobson in the OOALH video.

Tony had a fiance in Nashville at the time of the Talk tour, some country singer at the time.

I believe Tony played pretty much all organ parts, but not much else (if anything)

There WAS a rumor floating around during the 90125 tour that a "2nd keyboard player" was under the stage, but I've never seen that substantiated.

Tony was not in the OOALH video because he left the band due to a personality conflict with Trevor Horn. As usual though Eddie Jobson's ego kept him from being in band more than 60 days...

[prem895]

I think the keyboards was an issue on the Yeswest albums. Was it Tony, Trevor,Billy or jobson. I don't think we will ever get the real answer

[Orbert]

As usual though Eddie Jobson's ego kept him from being in band more than 60 days...
That's not entirely fair to Eddie. The way I understand it, Eddie was brought in because Tony took off. It was during that time that the video for "Owner" was shot. Then Tony came back. They gave Eddie the option of staying in the band anyways, which was actually pretty sporting of them - Yes of old would've just kicked him out. I suppose it was ego, but being one of two keyboard players (three if you count TR) in a band that was becoming increasingly guitar-driven didn't sound like that much fun, so he left.

Orbert

[jimmygtr]

That's not entirely fair to Eddie. The way I understand it, Eddie was brought in because Tony took off. It was during that time that the video for "Owner" was shot. Then Tony came back. They gave Eddie the option of staying in the band anyways, which was actually pretty sporting of them - Yes of old would've just kicked him out. I suppose it was ego, but being one of two keyboard players (three if you count TR) in a band that was becoming increasingly guitar-driven didn't sound like that much fun, so he left.

Orbert

With the exception of Roxy Music I don't think Eddie has really lasted too long with people. I've heard there are other bands he tried out for that didnt' want to deal with him either. Now whether that's his ego or other people's jealousy I don't know, but he does seem to have an attitude.

[BlueEagle]

Quote Jimmygtr:"There WAS a rumor floating around during the 90125 tour that a "2nd keyboard player" was under the stage, but I've never seen that substantiated."

In an interview in KEYBOARD magazine during the 90125-BIG GENERATOR era, Tony showed the under-stage set up. He had roadie/tech who programmed the synths AND played some of the "backing" keyboard parts.

[Orbert]

With the exception of Roxy Music I don't think Eddie has really lasted too long with people. I've heard there are other bands he tried out for that didnt' want to deal with him either. Now whether that's his ego or other people's jealousy I don't know, but he does seem to have an attitude.
I guess I tend to give keyboard players, and anyone who can last three or four years with Zappa, a little slack. You look at some of the people he's played with, and a lot of them are raging egomaniacs as well, or at least known control freaks. Holdsworth, Wetton, Ferry, Zappa, Fripp. I'm not doubting you, I've just never heard the stories, and guys who play at that level do tend to have more than their share of ego conflicts. Also, other than Roxy Music and U.K., he was generally a hired gun, not a full-fledged member, so his lasting only one album isn't necessarily indicative of a problem getting along with people. I'll grant you the possibility, though.

Again, I'm not doubting you or calling you on it, I just never looked at his tendency to move around a lot as an inability to get on with people. More like playing the field. If there are stories, I'd actually like to read a few, 'cause I love that kind of stuff. Get to know the musicians a bit better, and I've followed Eddie for a long time.

Orbert

[Orbert]

In an interview in KEYBOARD magazine during the 90125-BIG GENERATOR era, Tony showed the under-stage set up. He had roadie/tech who programmed the synths AND played some of the "backing" keyboard parts.
That's a riot! :sofunny: I always thought it was just a rumor.

Not only that, but even in the mid-80's, there were programmable analog synthesizers. The Prophet 10, or Oberheim 8, for example. It's just not that hard to punch in a two-digit code to switch voices during a song. Incredible that he needed someone else to do even that.

As for the playing, I guess I can believe it. Tony has stated that he's comfortable playing organ or piano, but synthesizers aren't his bag. He says he was okay with leaving Yes after The Yes Album because the band was moving more toward synthesizers, and he wasn't into that.

Orbert

[ycantibu]

I thought Kaye's roadie only played on one song (Hold On) because it had something like three lines going at once at some parts? That's what I've read anyway.

[jimmygtr]

I thought Kaye's roadie only played on one song (Hold On) because it had something like three lines going at once at some parts? That's what I've read anyway.


That makes a little more sense. I've watched the 9012 Live video and tried to tell if I could hear more than 1 key player but never really thought so. So maybe there is some truth to the urban myth.

[snnrissrvd]

The following recent interview with Trevor Rabin clears up a lot of 90125-lineup questions, including keyboard issues:

http://www.innerviews.org

Kevin
http://www.cdbaby.com/caffrey

[Orbert]

Thanks, snnrissrvd! (Is there a way to even pronounce that?)

Interesting interview. It's always cool to get another take on what "really" happened. While I can't say I'm a big fan of Trevor Rabin, he has always come across as an honest guy and excellent musician. He is careful to say things like "but that's just my take - ask someone else and you'll get a different story" which with Yes is generally true. But it doesn't come across as waffling; I think he's just being honest. He's not gonna speak for someone else, but he can tell you what he thinks is the truth, and that's about the best you can do.

Orbert

[snnrissrvd]

Hi Orbert,

'Snnrissrvd' is just short for 'Sinner is Served.' My friends call me 'Sinner' ;o)

I like Rabin's tendency to highlight the positive aspects as opposed to the negative aspects of particular situations in Yes' history. Many times when I read interviews or hear quotes from those on the outskirts of Yes (the infamous Jonathan Elias interview from a few years ago comes to mind), I often think that the person saying disparaging things has an agenda, but Rabin seems very honest with things. I mean, it could be in his nature to simply not stoop to the level of criticizing others, but he seems like he is being honest. Or it could be that he simply wasn't a part of the band when more "underhanded" things were going on, but regardless, he's a good interview.

Kevin
http://www.cdbaby.com/caffrey

[Full Tilt Boogie]

THIS BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION----has anyone else heard Tony was dating/seeing Chris's daughter? I'm, not sure where I heard that, I could have been drunk.......


.....and thus began the great 'Yes Fans Vs Chris Squire's daughter Vs Tony Kaye' law suit: and all based on a drunken rumour...oh the humanity.... :D

[with acknowledgements to our very own 'Byroan' 26-Feb-'04)

[Full Tilt Boogie]

Question: 'What was Tony Kaye's contribution to TALK?'

I should imagine the same as every other Rabin-era Yes record on which he played - an appalling dress-sense and even more questionable hair style!! :D

The poor chap always looks like he's in need of a good meal.

[relayer_1]

If my memory serves me well, I read in the "Yes in Their Own Words" book by Tim Morse, that Trevor Horn (not Rabin) never really got it off with Tony. In fact, during the that time it was said that " Tony Kaye is credited on Hammond organ but you'd be hard-pressed to hear an organ on most of 'Talk'. Trevor Rabin plays all the other keyboards." The reason being that his organ parts we almost inaudible, he was lost in the mix. I can't understand why he hung around for so long! but his days with Yes were numbered by then anyway.
And while on the Tony subject, I have been browsing through David Bowie sites recently due to his concert here in Houston tonight and noticed that Tony Kaye was the keyboard player on Bowie's Station to Station tour! I saw that show and was surprised at knowing this, now there is a really good Yes-Bowie connection that is not mentioned in the Yes family tree from the Yesyears box set in 1991. well, just sharing some Tony memories.

relayer

[Orbert]

If my memory serves me well, I read in the "Yes in Their Own Words" book by Tim Morse, that Trevor Horn (not Rabin) never really got it off with Tony.
I have that book too, and that does sound familiar. You'd think that by the third album together, they'd learn to get along. Or maybe Trevor Rabin could have said something to him about it. But apparently he was fine with the overall result.

And while on the Tony subject, I have been browsing through David Bowie sites recently due to his concert here in Houston tonight and noticed that Tony Kaye was the keyboard player on Bowie's Station to Station tour! I saw that show and was surprised at knowing this, now there is a really good Yes-Bowie connection that is not mentioned in the Yes family tree from the Yesyears box set in 1991.
I didn't know that! D'ya think Bowie has a thing for hiring former/future Yes keyboard players for his bands? Most people are aware of the Wakeman-Bowie connection, but the Kaye-Bowie thing is new to me. Thanks for the info!

Orbert