90125 Writing Credits

[Yescelt]

This was mentioned in another thread recently. I thought some people might be interested in something I found on a trip to Mexico 3 years ago.

Here is the distribution of Writing Royalties for 90125, as documented on
the Contract on display at HRC in Guadalajara.
Owner - TR 65, CS 10, JA 10, TH 15
Leave It - TR 40, CS 45, TH 15
It Can Happen - TR 10, CS 70, JA 20
City of Love - TR 75, JA 25
Hearts - TR 30, CS 30, JA 40
Our Song - 20 each (TH 0)
Cinema - TR 25, CS 25, JA 9, AW 25, TK 16
Changes - TR 65, JA 31.4, AW 3.6
Hold On - TR 50, CS 25, JA 25

I hope that makes sense.
The document was worded in such a way by the Record Company (Warner Bros)
that it would seem that the Contract was drawn up due to a dispute between
the Members over what the Royalties should have been.

Regards, Brian

[JaneEyre]

Huh. Interesting.

[cinderella]

Yep sounds about right Brian.

I thought Alan would have gotten more for writing that annoying beginning to Changes though.

[brotherofmine]

Very Interesting Brian....so 'Our Song' really WAS 'OUR Song' 20% royalties going to each member.

[Orbert]

Thanks for the info. More Yestrivia to clutter my mind!

Some of those numbers look pretty "normal" I guess, but how does one decide that someone gets 9%? Not 10%, just 9%. Or 3.6%? Talk about splitting hairs.

But I suppose it had to be documented to settle any future or ongoing disputes.

[yarstruly]

Hmmm~ Funny thing to be in the HRC, but very illuminating...I wonder if any other such contracts are out there for the public to view?

[BrianD]

Interesting information.

I'm wondering what Jon did to earn his 9% for Cinema.

[cinderella]

It Can Happen - TR 10, CS 70, JA 20



Yeah, Trevor said "It Can Happen" was Chris Squire's baby.http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage28/2.gif

[kirklott]

This was mentioned in another thread recently. I thought some people might be interested in something I found on a trip to Mexico 3 years ago.


This is very interesting. Some comments:

Here is the distribution of Writing Royalties for 90125, as documented on
the Contract on display at HRC in Guadalajara.

Owner - TR 65, CS 10, JA 10, TH 15 (Trevor song, Chris wrote bridge, Jon modified lyrics, Horn's share is solely for arrangement/producing)

Leave It - TR 40, CS 45, TH 15 (This was a Chris song, so I'm surprised Rabin got so much. Horn's share is for arranging/producing)

It Can Happen - TR 10, CS 70, JA 20 (Chris song)

City of Love - TR 75, JA 25 (pretty big share for Jon for modifying lyrics)

Hearts - TR 30, CS 30, JA 40 (surprisingly big share for Jon - was this recorded after he joined?)

Our Song - 20 each (TH 0) (I know this song came out of Cinema jams, so makes sense)

Cinema - TR 25, CS 25, JA 9, AW 25, TK 16 (It's weird that 9 percent of Kaye's was given to Anderson, which probably happened after he temporarily quit the band)

Changes - TR 65, JA 31.4, AW 3.6 (Alan wrote the intro, which is the best part of the song; I know he's miffed he didn't get more)

Hold On - TR 50, CS 25, JA 25 (Trevor song)

[cinderella]

Changes - TR 65, JA 31.4, AW 3.6 (Alan wrote the intro, which is the best part of the song; I know he's miffed he didn't get more)


Changes is one of my favorite Yes songs. I even have it on my license plate.

But.......I find the intro quite annoying and forward through it when I play the song.

[Wild Westie]

Changes is one of my favorite Yes songs. I even have it on my license plate.

But.......I find the intro quite annoying and forward through it when I play the song.

I'm just the opposite. I love the intro and really don't like the rest of the song. I guess it's the trooper blood in me.

[EricPfaff]

Our Song - 20 each (TH 0) (I know this song came out of Cinema jams, so makes sense)

As a native of Toledo, Ohio, I had always heard that the lyrics to Our Song were about a concert on July 30, 1977 (I think that's the right date) at the Toledo Sports Arena. This was the first show of the GFTO tour, with Rick back in the mix. It was a hot night in Toledo with temps in the high '90s. The air conditioning went out at the old Sports Arena and 7000 people, including Yes, were sweating their nads off. Steve suffered the most in the sense that he was having difficulty keeping his guitars tuned. From what I understand, the crowd was incredible and the guys played their butts off despite the sauna-like conditions. Legend has it that Jon thought this was one of the best shows Yes ever put on and he was amazed by the energy of the crowd.

I'm not sure if this concert really was the inspiration for the lyrics of Our Song, but a lot of hardcore Yes Fans from the Glass City would like to believe it was. I was only 7 years old at the time, but if I could travel in time, I would love to have seen this concert.

Toledo was just another good stop
Along the good king's highway
My fortification took me by surprise
And hit me sending me sideways
Spellbound - Roundly - Good for sunshine
Can't help thinking

Singing the Rule Britannia
And this is where it grabs you
There's method in the key of C
Toledo's got to be the silver city
In this good country

Our song
It gives us a reason
Our song
That good remedy
Music has magic
That stuff of syncopation

Ever tried driving it to golden heights
Just simply jiving it
My mystification it got a
Jewel skies crazy spacing it
Hot sun - Crowded - Screams high voices
Singing speechless

Touching of the healing heart
So this is where we really start
Music is a shout of foregone conclusions
As long as music plays its part
Good good part

Our song
It gives us a reason
Our song
That good remedy
Music has magic
It's good clear syncopation

Treat it good
Treat it rightly
And if you get it flowing
The harmony is glowing
So get ready
So get ready
Don't go toledo toledo don't go
Music - Good to you
Music - Good to you

[relayeire]

I've never understood Jon's writing credits on this, as it sounds like he came in at the tail end of the sessions...

[flatopfreak]

Something seems messed up to me on 3 of the songs-

According to the liner notes:

Hearts-listed as a group (5 members but not Horn) composition
Our Song-credited to 4 members (not Kaye)
Cinema-credited to 4 members (not Anderson)

The others look correct.

[Ajay]

Something seems messed up to me on 3 of the songs-

According to the liner notes:

Hearts-listed as a group (5 members but not Horn) composition
Our Song-credited to 4 members (not Kaye)
Cinema-credited to 4 members (not Anderson)

The others look correct.

I know Tony Kaye wrote a significant part of 'Hearts' - the foundation of the song, which Jon then expanded. It's a shame he doesn't get any credit for it.

[BrianD]

Something seems messed up to me on 3 of the songs-

According to the liner notes:

Hearts-listed as a group (5 members but not Horn) composition
Our Song-credited to 4 members (not Kaye)
Cinema-credited to 4 members (not Anderson)

The others look correct.

Liner notes are not always an accurate reflection of how royalties are split.

[Starsong]

Not too suprised to see Jon high % on Hearts - If you were to pick a 'Jon' song from the album, which one would it be.....Hearts for me !

[GLee2112]

interesting thread. i'd love to see something like this for their other albums.

[tardistraveler]

Not too suprised to see Jon high % on Hearts - If you were to pick a 'Jon' song from the album, which one would it be.....Hearts for me !

It's my favorite song from the album, and I'm not surprised Jon figured a lot in it . . . :hearts: