Come on, I know you're out there!!!

[yesskater]

Hey, I have a special place for Drama, as this was my first exposure to Yes in the spring of 1981. I know, without Maestro Anderson or King Richard why bother, but you have to admit that Steve, Chris and Alan flat out ROCKED on this album. You have to give them credit for making a punchy, enticing album in spite of all the chaos that was going on at the time. And Geoff Downes is really NOT that bad of a keyboard player, more atmospheric a la Tony Banks than flashy.
This was a VERY relevant album - if not for Drama, would there have been a 90125, where Troopers and Generators would unite?
I know of a certain pro sports team in Colorado that still plays the opening of "Does It Really Happen" before cutting to a commerical!

[seyyes 2]

Drama had its moments..but not enough..I loved "Into the Lens"..that intro...what power!!....T.Fugit moved ,too!!..Machine Messiah overbearing...can't remember much about the rest.......did not see the live act

[Dragonfly]

"Tempus Fugut" remains one of my favorite YesTunes - right up there with "Siberian Khatru", "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" and "Sound Chaser".

I read a review of that tour (which, sadly, I missed) that said that when the band sang "from the moment you tell me......YES!!!" the audience went nuts!

Of all the songs in their back-catalogue that I wish they'd play today, "Tempus Fugit" stands out at top of that list.

Dragonfly:yesbird:

"If we wait for an answer will the silence be broken? Should we wait for an answer? Do we leave it unspoken?"

[Hobbsy]

I remember at the time being horrified at the thought of The Buggles joining Yes (what, instead of THE Jon Anderson and THE Rick Wakeman?! A joke, surely?!) I also remember the debate in some of the music press amongst Yes fans about the album - it certainly provoked strong feelings!

Having said all that , I gave it a listen and really liked it - and still do. It still stands up as worthy of the Yes name even today. My favourites are "Does it Really Happen?" and "Tempus Fugit".

[Dangermouse]

This one has always been one of my favorites. I think it's the first one that I bought on my own, that is, one that my friends didn't have and I had never heard anything from. I like the whole thing, even Machine Messiah (although it takes a bit toget going).
Good guitars, good bass, good rhythm, and Mr. Horn didn't do that bad of a job on the vocals. Cool stuff.

[fragile34]

the playing on this album is extremely tight, steve chris and alan are definitely at the top of their games. geoff plays pretty well and trevor sings fine for these songs, this is a good one.

[Erdy1]

Jon could do such a good job with these songs, I wish he'd be willing to give it a go! Tempus Fugit and Does it Really Happen are awesome songs.

[jcraig]

Saw the show, not much to write about

Drama had its moments..but not enough..I loved "Into the Lens"..that intro...what power!!....T.Fugit moved ,too!!..Machine Messiah overbearing...can't remember much about the rest.......did not see the live act

[the'YES'kid]

Jon could do such a good job with these songs, I wish he'd be willing to give it a go! Tempus Fugit and Does it Really Happen are awesome songs.

That would be great!! Jon would sound great on Tempus & Into the Lens,

Rick would sound great on Machine Messiah

[Jonah]

I have always thought it was an excellent album, but has to be seen as being played by an entriely new Yes, not a continuation of an old one. I have always wondered whether there were ever any tracks that were produced at that time that never saw the light of day.
Presumably this line-up was never intended to be a one-off ?

[Gerard]

I'm ashamed to say I've never heard it as I thought "Buggles, Oh no!". I've since learnt to be thankful for Trevor & Geoff for if they hadn't stepped in who knows what would have happened.

Reading the above has convinced me I need to hear it and I will buy it when I go into town next week

[upbgirl]

out of my league, here!!
this is the ONLY yes i do not have..
if i can still buy it, i will request it in march-i always get my way for the month of march!
[tell the moon dog, and the march hare, too, ok?]

[Suzy]

I love this album - out of all the trevor rabin stuff in the 80's, I would have bought more if it was this line up - I love Into the Lens and would really like Jon to sing this on tour. (I think Steve would agree with me here). A slighlty different sound but keeping in line with the yes feel, not 2 minute pop songs!

[bender]

I've always been a Drama fan. I think it's a lot better than anything Yes put out in the 80's or early 90's.

[prem895]

Drama Has It's Moments. With All That Was Going On At That Time, It Is Amazing That The Boys Were Able To Put This One Together As Well As They Did. If Trevor & Geoff Had Not Stepped In The Final Yes Album May Have Been Gfto. Thank God That Did Not Happen. Then What Would We Have Done?

[Dantalion Rides Again]

. . . If Trevor & Geoff Had Not Stepped In The Final Yes Album May Have Been Gfto. Thank God That Did Not Happen. Then What Would We Have Done?

. . . We would have hoped for Yes to record Tormato maybe? ;)

[Sonoacustico]

I really love this album, and I remember before I had the chance to listen to it I used to say to it when i was at the record store "You Drama, have no right to be a YES album!!" then i accidentaly listened to a song of it and i couldn't believe how good was it.
Well, I believe this album is very often judged by what it is NOT, instead of what it IS. What is a shame. I know there are people that doesn't like the album for what it is and that's fine for me, but to say this album is bad because there is no jon and no rick, it's no good to my eyes.

Greetings

Claudio

[stevepenn]

There are, IMHO, some legitimately great moments on Drama. It's an album with some of Squire's most rocking bits, especially the end of DIRH. I like it. It's no CTTE mind you, but I'll take Drama over BG any day with the exception of ROL which I really like.

FWIW.

[prem895]

I Don'know What I Was Thinking. Tormato Would Have Been The Last. Must Have Been A Brain Fart. Thanks Kevin Prem895

[R'tanys]

Well, I believe this album is very often judged by what it is NOT, instead of what it IS. What is a shame. I know there are people that doesn't like the album for what it is and that's fine for me, but to say this album is bad because there is no jon and no rick, it's no good to my eyes.

This is an excellent point. How many Yes fans were willing to write off the band when Bill left? Or Rick (the first time)? Understanding that Steve, Chris, and Alan don't have to play with just anybody to keep working. Just the fact that they were willing to make an album with Horn and Downes should be enough of a seal of approval for the most discriminating fan. I was willing to trust their judgement, and I'm glad I did. Drama is a fine album. Different, unquestionably, yet the quality is still there.

[gathernear]

When the re-issue comes out next week, I'll buy it, due to what you guys have said, and my CD shop buddy that says it's their best album.

Larry

[Scooty]

Ill take it over BG and Talk And OYE..anyday of the week. It rocks, ok ok Jon aint there..this we know...but lets give credit to Uncle Squire here...he is after all the keeper of the flame.."Damn the Torpedoes" He wanted to keep YES alive and I think without Drama..and to an extent 90125...we wouldnt be celebrating their 35th anniversary with a tour folks. I enjoy it so much simply for the fact that it does have a harder edge to it..."happening" as Squire called it on Yesyears. Its a great sound..an alternate universe YES...Bizarro Yes..lol....DIRH and TF...even machine messiah..all top notch

[gathernear]

good point

[Ron Drummond]

I really like Drama and I absolutely love "Machine Messiah" and "White Car". MM is a masterpiece, and one of my all-time favorite Yes songs. I love Trevor Horn's singing on that song, and indeed I think he sounds good on most of the album.

It was mainly Horn's honest and courageous attempt to sing Jon's lines on older Yes songs on the tour that really got him into trouble with fans. And though he failed to pull it off, he gave it his best shot, knowing full well the fans would hate it -- and indeed he got booed at every show. Imagine how that would make you feel, suddenly put in the position of fronting your all-time favorite band, and having the fans hate your guts for your honest but inadequate efforts. Trevor has said it was the most painful experience of his life.

But on Drama, Horn sounds good.

Because MM has a palindromic structure, I like to compound that by having "White Car" come both before and after "Machine Messiah". Try it -- program tracks 2, 1, and 2 again, in that order. Crank it up, lower the lights, get into a trance. It sounds great!

As for the rest of the album, I think all of the songs are flawed, but they all have good things at the core, and overall the album is excellent. A wonderfully quirky moment in Yes history that far from regretting I am grateful for.

It's also important to remember that Trevor Horn produced 90125 and made a major contribution to the sound of that album, including songwriting credits on several of the tunes.

Yes started out as the ultimate cover band. That's how Jon should approach doing "Machine Messiah" -- like he's doing a cover. It would sound great.

[Dantalion Rides Again]

I Don'know What I Was Thinking. Tormato Would Have Been The Last. Must Have Been A Brain Fart. Thanks Kevin Prem895

Sorry for pickin' on ya dude. I guess I felt bad for good o'l Tormato.

**************

Hey, Drama's good. Experts agree. I really liked Machine Messiah immediately. Some real geeky moments (I am a camera, camera, camera!), but sure. I think it's a sweet sounding heavy record with a good cover. :thumbup:

And Downes rocks. I think he sounded great with Yes.

Does anyone else feel like we're somehow experiencing 'Alternate Reality Yes' sometimes? Like, the Yes that REALLY happened is on a different plane of existance somehow, and we're stuck on the weird one that finds them joining up with the Buggles?? And later with Tony Kaye back in the band? And with a number one pop radio hit, and a period of two yesses to follow?? Their history seems more imagined than real sometimes!

[Gerard]

I said I'd get it this week and I have.

HMV, £5.99, re-mastered with bonus tracks! Yahoo!

[ham]

Just had it on the stereo - remastered and sounding great... The real bonus is the "Paris" sessions we all heard so much about back then... Oooooooooooooops a daisy :1svader: They sound like a band in trouble...
As for "Drama," I liked it then, and still like it... "Into the Lens" is still a piece which I adore and I still laugh at the "rip-off" in "Machine Messiah".... Widor's Tocatta from his 5th Organ Sympony. No, I'm not an organist but sing in a choir and have some good friends who play the piece - one of them laughed his head off when he heard it...

[gathernear]

OK you guys, Drama ROCKS! I ignored it all these years, but it is a great album. It doesn't sound like any other Yes album, for obvious reasons, I guess. It's got kind of an arena rock thing going, which makes 90210 make more sense to me.


Larry

[jim665]

In my mind, this was the last great Steve Howe album. What has he done that compares to the power and dexterity of Machine Messiah and Tempus Fugit since ? Please don't give me Mind Drive, anything with Asia or GTR, none of it is as good as his work on Drama.

[Dafty Boy]

I said I'd get it this week and I have.

HMV, £5.99, re-mastered with bonus tracks! Yahoo!

Great isn't it? I actually went into HMV to buy Tormato and Drama, all ready to pay £11.99 each or whatever, and there they were in the sale, the week they were released!
And Drama sounds fantastic. Tormato is great but patchy. Drama actually tramples it. Steve, Chris and Alan really go for it on this one.
If Drama and what follows prove anything to me, it's that to have a classic Yes line-up you need those three players on it.
Jon is nice, Steve is essential!!
Dafty

[gleeman]

I totally agree jim665, this is the last great Steve Howe album. His playing (as well as the whole band's) is sharper, more focused, and harder edged than it had been in years, at least since Relayer. In fact, the hard edge of Drama was only possible without Rick and Jon--I mean Jon's songs on the (pathetic) Paris Sessions and his solo album Song of Seven are pretty airy fairy. I can hardly blame Chris and Steve for wanting to rock out again!

[Orbert]

In fact, the hard edge of Drama was only possible without Rick and Jon--I mean Jon's songs on the (pathetic) Paris Sessions and his solo album Song of Seven are pretty airy fairy. I can hardly blame Chris and Steve for wanting to rock out again!
Whoa, careful there, you're gonna upset a few fans with comments like that!

On the other hand, I completely agree with you. ;) Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums, and its "hard edge" is one of the big reasons for that. Something about the chemistry between Yes and The Buggles resulted in something really powerful that I really like.

Orbert

[Mr. Holland]

Drama is a great album and in all honesty I don't miss Jon and Rick one bit on that album. But I do think that them leaving was a big influence on how well this album turned out, because I think that it provided a lot of motivation to the other guys in the sense of "Hey, we gonna show the world that we can still make great music without them". I surely hope we'll see something of it live one day again, hopefully this upcoming tour!! On the remastered cd, there is a version of "Does it Really Happen?" with Jon on it, so maybe that one wouldn't be to much of a stretch.......

[About The Round]

Drama is a great. Not the greatest by Yes, but compared to other things issued that period of time, It's a well done album. Machine Messiah, Into The Lens, Man In A White Car and Tempus Fugit are classics. I've always thought about MM as a bit "heavy". I dream about a version where the beginning starts not so "dramatic" but developes into this sombre theme later in the development. But that's my taste.

[Dale Cleary]

Drama is one of my favourite Yes albums.

[soulsearcher]

i was introduced to drama early on by one of my wacky boyfreinds back in 1979.
i know every word..every guitar and bass riff, every note by heart.
i love it.
is it yessongs???
no,obviously not.
did i eat a green saint patricks day cake with my bare hands while stoned listening to tempis fugit?
yes.
these are the memories that just stay with you. :smksml:

[Snarly]

I certainly hope that this post doesen't seem contradictory in light of my usual hard line stance of "Yes without the current line-up is not really Yes, to me..." Maybe I have changed my mind (thanks to Yesfans) or it is my mood right now.

Come to think about it, Drama is a really good Yes album, as such. The songwriting on it rivals Tormato and 90125, the studio albums that came before and after (all three are totally diferent sounds and moods, however). Really good songwriting and different than anything else they've done. Certainlly more deserving of the Yes name than some other Yes albums that will remain nameless (don't ask).

I haven't listened to it in probably close to 20 years, but this thread made me remember how great those songs were. Geoff Downes was a better keyboard player than most other than Ricky Baby. Trevor Horn, however, was another matter. I attended the Drama Tour and he just could not sing classic Yes songs. At one point in the show I caught Chris singing the lead part and Horn singing Chris' part!

Still the album has GREAT SONGS and I would be glad to hear the Jon / Rick version of any of them live.

[Oreb]

This was the first album Yes released after I discovered them, so it's sort of special to me.

Listening to the re-master (for the first time in many years) I am surprised at how fresh it still sounds. there is a sense of challenge and excitement and risk that I don't think I've heard from the band since.

The bonus tracks on the re-master were my first chance to hear the "Paris Sessions" material. What can I say except "Thank the Gods for the "Skip" button".