I never knew DRAMA was such a great album!!! [Archive]

The Fish

07-29-2002, 02:20 PM

I bought it a few days ago and didn't expect TOO much of it, because it was without Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, but ......

It's a GREAT record!!! Such great music! MACHINE MESSIAH is a real epic and I love Trevor Horn's voice!

WHITE CAR is pure magic... Never heard such a song..

DOES IT REALLY HAPPEN is cool. The intro and the way it's been sang. Great melody and a very unforgettable sound!

INTO THE LENS (i am a camara - Buggles) is very nice, although not my favorite.

RUN THROUGH THE LIGHT. I like this one with Chris singin' the chorus. Nice song!

But:

The highlight.........

TEMPUS FUGHIT!!! Now this is YES-music! I see this as a sequel to ON THE SILENT WINGS OF FREEDOM, although less strong, of course..... Yeah I love the vocoder in it (i'm wondering what it sais ???) and the track rocks my room!!

Yes, I give DRAMA 8 points for being such an album with very well-written songs on it!!!

07-29-2002, 02:34 PM

Drama ROCKS, from first to last ... the fact that it lacks Wakeman and Anderson may be attributed to Wakeman and Anderson. It's not like they were kicked out.

Drama went places Yes had never gone before, yet retained Yes's relentless musical invention and articulation ... all your points regarding the songs are right on the money.

A Yes classic!

Q

SEYYES

07-29-2002, 02:44 PM

CAN'T GET ON THE DRAMA TRAIN.....HAD A FEW "YESLIKE" MOMENTS..."MESSIAH"-TOO HEAVY HANDED--I THOUGHT "INTO THE LENS" WAS THE BEST TUNE...."FUGIT" GOOD,TOO,BUT A LOT OF SCARY STUFF ON THIS ONE............

RobAdams

07-29-2002, 03:30 PM

Dale Cleary

07-29-2002, 07:55 PM

They needed to kick some but after Tormato ! Anything with that rythym section is gonna be good.
When I bought it 20 something years ago it became one of my favourite records.

Joedude

07-30-2002, 01:27 AM

I loved this album when I first got it. The Drama album was actually the third or fourth Yes album I bought, so maybe that's why I don't have any bias against it. Crisp harmonies, great rhythm section playing, very Yessish tunes. What's there not to like about this album?

YYY

07-30-2002, 02:51 AM

Sorry If I'm repeating myself but since there is now a thread dedicated to rediscovering Drama, I'll say it again.

When Drama was released I just assumed that YES were on a down spiral. Without Jon & Rick it seemed logical that I wouldn't
like Drama. In fact I really didn't think much of it at the time because in 1980, GFTO, Relayer, Tormato were still fresh in my heart and Drama just couldn't compare to those classic works.
So its been almost 2 decades since I've listened to Drama. I too was very surprized that Drama was so good. Honestly compared to the Classic 70's YES, it still doesn't transcend to the next level of higher consciousness. but there is that YES style & attitude which pervail in the shortened but powerful songs. In some ways the album benefited from not having Jon. Chris energy and influence on this album is very obvious. Something that I think gets overlooked when Jon is around. I was very surprized that I could finally appreciated it after all these years. Unfortunately I still have a big problem with YES during the rest of the 80's.

Hobbsy

07-30-2002, 09:01 AM

I think Drama is a strong album.

I can understand YYY's sentiments - at the time it was so hard to accept that members of the Buggles were joining a group of this calibre (especially given that they were replacing Jon & Rick!) I remember thinking at the time why not go the whole hog and replace Steve with Tony Iommi?! It seemed like a joke at the time, an insult to a great band.

However, when I came down from my high horse and listened to the album, I loved it! Horne & Downes worked well, & Steve, Chris and Alan were in fine form.

Yes, I'm glad Jon returned, but I do think Drama is worthy of being called a Yes album (and I realise that kind of thing is dicussed on various other threads!)

rhammill

07-30-2002, 09:32 AM

This was the third album I got (90125 - Fragile - Drama), so it always sounded awesome to me. Machine Messiah was one of the first Yes songs that I actually learened to play all of it.

And here's an interesting thought (especially with some of the great guitar work Steve did on the first Asia album) - what would Yes in the 80's have been like if Jon had come back to this lineup with Trevor Horn producing?

Anderson, Downes, Howe, Squire, White would have rocked!

Randy

Purple Wolfhound

07-30-2002, 11:30 AM

The first song I ever heard from Drama was Into The Lens. I remember it distinctly – I was on a Lake Superior beach in Michigan’s U.P. in the early ‘80’s . I was visiting a friend who was attempting college at Northern Michigan University. He pops in this cassette and says listen and try to guess who this is. At that point in my musical odyssey my taste had veered towards punk/new wave sounds and I kind of went away from progressive music for awhile, including Yes. The music that emanated from the player was certainly not altogether punk or new wave – it was obviously progressive but with a beefier sound that had a little new wave-ish tinge to it. Yet it was the vocals that really threw me off. The backing vocals sounded familiar, but the lead singer – who the heck was that? I was stumped and gave in, “Who is this band?”, I asked. “Yes”, he replied. No way, it was too different than the Yes I had come to know. The more I listened, though, it became clear that this was indeed Yes. Until I eventually bought the album I always referred to that song as “I Am A Camera”. For some reason, though, the album as a whole never impressed me as much as Into The Lens had that day. I listened to that song and Tempus Fugit (which definitely was Yes) a lot and let the rest suffer from lack of interest.

That is until about a year ago when I finally purchased a remastered copy of Drama. From Steve Howe’s opening guitar chord salvo on Machine Messiah to the last elfin “yesyesyesyes” on Tempus Fugit, I thought to myself – WOW, what have my jaded ears been missing all these years?!? A wonderful album that is worthy, imo, of the Yes logo. The ironic thing is Into The Lens is no longer my favourite song from Drama – Machine Messiah is! A true Yes epic that unfortunately (as I have stated in another thread) is not long enough.

Peace,

Phil

Gustavo

07-30-2002, 12:54 PM

My roommate in graduate school had a tape of it lying around and I decided to listen to it out of curiosity. Wow! I could not believe that I had ignored it for so many years. I have not heard it in a long time since I have it on tape, (technically my ex-roommate's tape :D) but one of these days I’ll get the re-mastered CD.

What I really can’t understand is how Machine Messiah leads the way in the worst epic thread! The song is awesome! Fans are so… Fanatical! If it were Jon singing it would be rated up there with the classics.

Have you seen Dream Theatre play MM with Steve as a guest? Check it out at
http://yesmuseum.org:8080/video/index.html

RobAdams

07-30-2002, 01:45 PM

Well, it was hard to accept DRAMA as true Yes back then...I discovered my love for Yes in 77, and felt that Jon, Chris, Steve, Rick, Bill and Alan were the greatest combination of musicians ever assembled! Took me years to finally embrace DRAMA for what it was.

Johnni

07-30-2002, 01:58 PM

I've always like Drama from the first listening and felt it reflected many elements of Yes though w/o Jon it has a certain leaning, so to speak. The playing is fantanstic on Machine, Tempus and Into the Lens (my favorite track). It is more accessible to the average listener as well. This is quite true of Chris' endeavor in Conspiracy as well as Steve with Asia. The one slight on the album is that it doesn't stand up to the repeated listeneings that GFTO or CTTE may but still has a lot of merit. The album that truley is Yes' low point IMHO is Big Generator. Trevor has contributed the most forgettable jam oriented Yes material to date.

Emops

12-28-2003, 01:55 AM

Behind Relayer and Close To The Edge, Drama is my favorite Yes album. That’s right, I think more of it than I do The Yes Album, Fragile, or Tales From Topographic Oceans. Very little of it has to do with the presence of Downes and Horn, although they could’ve ruined the album- in fact, there was about a 99% chance that they would- but they didn’t. There is not a single weak moment on the entire album.

Another observation: with Geddy Lee’s voice, Drama could’ve easily passed for Rush.

headrott

12-28-2003, 08:29 AM

DRAMA was once the Yes album I most hated!!!!

I like it a lot now....It's fun. It Rocks!!! Jon & Rick weren't on it, but at least Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes tried to fill in as best they could. Even I hated them at the time for 'daring to step into the missing shoes'.

It's pretty decent compared to a lot of what was out there for prog fans in 1980. I must admit, though, had Jon not ever returned to the band I don't think I'd be bothering with this forum.

DRAMA is an interesting snapshot of Yes in a unique short lived era.

My favorite moment on DRAMA? In DOES IT REALLY HAPPEN, the music stops and the song seems to have ended. Soon Geoff comes in with a keyboard riff and Chris does some Fishy things for about two minutes, leading to the fade out. Nice bass work there!!!

Rob,
I noticed (the other day, while listening to the YESYEARS Boxed set) that the part you talk about on Does It Really Happen? is edited wrong. It doesn't fade back in, the fade in is cut off! :mad: Joe Gatworst is exactly that. The worst person to possibly remaster anything. Luckily on the version of the album I own it;s all right. Gatworst also cut off the end of Fragile (We Have Heaven, Reprise) on the 24K gold version. And, I think there were a few other screw up he's done with YES material (I can't think of them right now though).

Greg

yessongs72

12-28-2003, 08:32 AM

I owned trauma for about 4 or 5 listenings,thats all I could take.The parts I liked the best was Sounds of Silence between tracks.

Mr. Holland

12-28-2003, 09:28 AM

Well, I'd never heard of Yes at the time the album was released, I was 7 year old then, but with two mates of mine (who are still my best mates btw), I discovered Yes in 1986, through 3 albums one of my mates Dad owned, Fragile, CTTE and Relayer. And we were so amazed by all this music and loved it. Drama was the 4th Yes album I got to know, somebody gave it to me on tape and the funny thing is, at the first couple of listens I didn't even notice that jon wasn't singing on it. I loved the album though and still do, I think Does it Really Happen is the best track, my god what a powerfull bass!!

I've noticed that there are quit a few of you, who follwed Yes from the 70's on that didn't like the album when it was released, but listened to it 20 years later and do like/love it now. I had about the same thing with Talk, which is still very much underated by Yesfans I think. When I bought the album, when it was released in 1994, after a couple of listnenings I put it away on my cd shelf, because I just couldn't get into it, didn't like it. After about 5 years not listening to it, I gave it a chance and ever since the album has grown on me and is in my top 5 of favorite Yes albums right now. So the fact that some of you have grown to love drama, after 20 years, well that means there is still hope for Talk, we'll see in about 10 years....... :D

PeterCologne

12-28-2003, 09:30 AM

Drama was the first proove, that Yes got bigger than the musicians in it. It needs only Chris as the heart and soul. Maybe without Drama, the would not have been a Yes with Trevor Rabin. After the disaster with that Paris-Album, engaging the Buggles was a spontaneous move by Chris. He was right again. Dramas colourful energy is still gorgeous. But to revive Yes after the disband in 81 was much more tougher. Maybe the Drama-Experience gave Chris and Alan the confidence to try it with Trevor. Even if they first planned it to be Cinema. To get Jon into that lineup and then call it Yes again was still tough.

Whatever, I think, Drama was the attempt, to sound more modern and still be Yes, with all the virtuosity. And it worked. Like Yes-West worked. Wish, Yes would renew that spirit again with their next album. To transform the Yes-Idea again into a modern frame, that turns out to be timeless.

But I also want to praise the Drama-tour. The most vibrating and energetic one. Those boots I have, belong to my favourite ones. Machine Messiah, Into The Lens and Does it really happen for example sound like tamed thunderstorms even more than on the album. Like God is playing with the elements.

Greetings

Peter

R'tanys

12-28-2003, 01:09 PM

A fine album and a fun listen. I think ITL is probably the weakest track and yet quite good. DIRH, and TF are the standout tracks, IMHO.

ranyart

12-28-2003, 03:52 PM

I listen to Drama quite a bit. I like the whole album, with the exception of "Into the Lens", i just don't care for that song at all. That is a rarity though, usually, I can't really say that about any Yes song. I think whenever you get Squire any where near the helm, your going to get a great project!

Dragonfly

12-28-2003, 06:34 PM

After I was introduced to Yes around 1979/1980, DRAMA was the fourth or fifth album I got. I don't think I realized that it wasn't Jon and Rick then, either. My first three had been RELAYER, TORMATO and THE YES ALBUM each of which had different keyboardists, so Geoff’s work was just fine by me. And I guess having Chris' voice still in the mix and the occasional similarities between Trevor’s and Jon’s sounds were enough for me not to give much thought to Jon's absence.

I’ve always had a list of Fave Yes Prog Tracks with titles like “Siberian Khatru” and “Release Release”. “Tempus Fugit” has always had a place on that list. That group of songs – not generally referred to as “epics” as they’re about 10 minutes or less – which rock in full Prog mode has grown to include tracks from, essentially, every era of the band:

“Something’s Coming”,
“The Prophet”
“Yours is No Disgrace”
“5% for Nothing”,
“South Side of the Sky”
“Siberian Khatru”,
“Sound Chaser”,
“Parallels”,
“On the Silent Wings of Freedom”,
“Release Release”,
“Tempus Fugit”,
“I’m Running”,
“Miracle of Life”,
“Silent Talking”,
“The Solution”,
“New Language”
“Dreamtime”

(Did I forget anything?)

For me, inclusion on this list means that the DRAMA team rocked! They still employed the Prog, Jazz and Classical styles Yes had utilized so successfully on earlier albums. True, Trevor’s voice wasn’t as good as Jon’s on the older material, but Jon would have just as much trouble doing justice to Trevor’s vocals on songs from this effort (should we ever be so lucky as to hear that happen!)

Dragonfly :fly:

bender

12-29-2003, 06:59 AM

Good to see so many positve comments about this excellent album.

The "advantage" of not growing up listening to Yes allowed me to listen to this album without thinking "it won't be any good without Jon" - and so I've always appreciated Drama for what it is, not what it isn't.

abrahamck

04-22-2004, 09:27 PM

EMOPS...
i guess i'm agree with everybody about the power behind DRAMA, is totally
underated and i think it has the best chris squire work he ever did in a yes
album. but i must admit that you made me laugh about this quote:
"Another observation: with Geddy Lee’s voice, Drama
could’ve easily passed for Rush".

i'm totally disagree, it simply sounds bizarre the idea to put the two
elements together... anyway.
cheers, abe

Jackaranda

04-22-2004, 09:34 PM

I've always liked Drama a lot. It's very original, and not like anything else they've done.

Keith Perks

06-11-2004, 04:06 AM

Scooty

06-11-2004, 04:10 AM

I still remember to this day buying Drama when it first came out, knowing that Jon was no longer on vocals. For days i kepy playing it, listening really close to TH vocals, then i play CTTE or GFTO or another album (no cd's in those days) to listen to Jon vocals. After many days of listening i really felt and still feel to this day that it was a good album. I have always said that the downfall of TH in Yes was trying to sing like Jon on stage, trying to hit those high notes.

Ive said it before and i will keep saying it..Drama is an amzing accomplishment and thank God Chris decided to "go for it"

I love Drama..its an incredible YES album..and unfortunately it is a mere footnote, if that in YESHISTORY...Chris fully proved who the piss and vinegar was of the band...man, the cohones it took for him to go ahead wtih the project proves to me in no uncertain terms that he is THE MAN!!

Scoot

Earl Grey

06-11-2004, 04:41 AM

Again, Chris told Smatt... quote:

"Drama was a great album, Steve played some of the best rock guitar EVER on that one..."

There ya go!

I got Smatt drunk after he came off the road with the guys, and I picked his brain for a couple of hours, and I wrote down notes...

Bye the way... Where's Smatt?

:ele:

Nellsalot

06-11-2004, 10:43 PM

The "advantage" of not growing up listening to Yes allowed me to listen to this album without thinking "it won't be any good without Jon" - and so I've always appreciated Drama for what it is, not what it isn't.

Same for me. I did put off buying this one for a while because I was skeptical, and on first listen it didn't do much for me (though I didn't dislike it). Then I rediscovered it a little while later and fell in LOVE with it. I really love this album. Oh my gosh! So great. It gets cheesy at times and I wouldn't say it's perfect, but on the whole it is a great listen and the songs are just addictive. And I do think of it as Chris's Yes album, in a way.

Gabriel

08-18-2004, 07:50 AM

Totally agree with the title of this thread; This album is fantastic and I cant believe I didnt want to buy it at first! Just as good, if not better, than Tormato for me I think its fantastic. Chris is fantastic on this record I can see why Tempus Fugit is 'his' song! Trevor is a fantastic vocalist and I really enjoyed Geoffs keyboards, especially on Run Through The Light.

InverYes

08-18-2004, 08:20 AM

Mr. Holland

08-18-2004, 08:36 AM

Is that a cloud on the horizon?

Yup, the sky is darkening

Rain on parade coming........

Only one thing wrong with Drama - Trevor Horn cannot sing!

I held off buying it until last week and bought the extended version. So far, and I suppose it may grow on me, the best feature of the extended version is that Jon makes an appearance and saves the day. Had I bought the original version I would have been sorely disappointed.

It's not that the album doesn't have it's good points, but Trevor Horn's voice?
I put it on in the car and the whole family, almost in unison, asked who on earth was that singing? C'mon guys, even if you like the album, can you honestly say he has a good voice?

It's put me off actually buying Big Generator, another one I've avoided so far.

I'll give it some more plays and it may grow on me, who knows.

Well, I won't say Horn has got a great voice, but good enough for the material on Drama. The older Yes stuff played on tour was more of a problem (but also not always) as I've been hearing on some boots. Really, Trevor's vocals don't bother me one bit on Drama and playing wise there is so much good stuff on this album. It is one of Chris's best (if not the best) Yes albums, Alan is a tied as he's ever been, some fantastic keyboard parts form Geoff and Steve hasn't played this good on any Yes studio album since. Exellent songwriting, exellent production (where Trevor easily made up, for what he is maybe lacking in vocals). All right, Trevor's vocals maybe the weakest link on this album, but weakest that if you have to rate everbody on this album, he's the 7 1/2, where everybody else is a 9+.

I do not really understand the link you make to purchasing BG, Horn doesn't sing on that one......

InverYes

08-18-2004, 08:39 AM

I do not really understand the link you make to purchasing BG, Horn doesn't sing on that one......

It's just another one where I'm afraid the band will sound just like any other of that time, which generally was pretty bad musically.

Koko

08-18-2004, 08:48 AM

Ive said it before and i will keep saying it..Drama is an amzing accomplishment and thank God Chris decided to "go for it"

I love Drama..its an incredible YES album..and unfortunately it is a mere footnote, if that in YESHISTORY...Chris fully proved who the piss and vinegar was of the band...man, the cohones it took for him to go ahead wtih the project proves to me in no uncertain terms that he is THE MAN!!

Scoot

Actually it was Steve who was the 'main' driving force behind continuing and the realisation of Drama...admittedly Chris Squire & Alan White had great say in the whole process and situation too.....BUT...and not a lot a peeps know this...but it WAS Steve Howe - who was the main man in the coming together of Yes & Buggles and the Musical outcome....and Yes,,,I agree most of the album IS Excellent....I would dearly dearly Love to hear the present line-up do Machinne Messiah and Into The Lens...

the only duff track is Man In A White Car...mainly the theme and P Poor lyrics....though the music is OK.

Koko

rickweber

10-14-2004, 09:16 AM

rickweber

10-14-2004, 09:25 AM

If Geddy Lee ever sings on a Yes album, the world wide suicide rate would sky rocket! I'd be the first to call it quits.

BredYes

10-14-2004, 10:01 AM

It's amazing to me that Drama never went gold. It remains their least selling album to date. It is a great album, though. I've always enjoyed it. Yes was never a band afraid to do something different. "Talk" only sold 300,000 copies world wide. This is surprising considering how good it is. It is now out of print from what I hear.

I am sorry but that is not true: Drama was not their least selling album to date. It reached number 2 in the UK-album charts. In the USA Drama never went gold. But that's the same for Talk, Keys to Ascension I & II, The Ladder, Open Your Eyes, Magnification and Keystudio, Yes and Time and a Word. I think Magnification, OYE or the KTA albums were the least selling Yes albums.

It is also not true that Talk is out of print. It was some years ago, but today you can buy it in many stores or by internet.

But I agree: Talk and Drama are both great Yes-albums as you said

altaeria

10-14-2004, 11:35 AM

For me ... depending on my mood for the day ...
DRAMA battles with RELAYER for personal favorite YES album overall.
Both albums are completely unique ... and both absolutely kick @ss !!

Orbert

10-14-2004, 02:13 PM

the only duff track is Man In A White Car...mainly the theme and P Poor lyrics....though the music is OK.
Wow, you're being pretty rough on a tune that's maybe a minute and a half long. It's just a vignette, an anti-epic. Just a short idea. Obviously, there's no time for any development, so you take it for what it is. Downes-as-orchestra, a sterling performance by Horn, and a snare drum. I like it a lot, and prefer it to the longer version where they attempted to develop it further (and failed, in my opinion).

One time I was in the kitchen with Drama cranked, and just a fraction of a second before that last oboe line comes in (the high note after the vocals have finished) the microwave went off, and the beep was the exact same pitch. It came in "early" but just about nailed it perfectly. Not bad for an inaminate object.

Orbert

Scooty

10-20-2004, 03:38 AM

For me ... depending on my mood for the day ...
DRAMA battles with RELAYER for personal favorite YES album overall.
Both albums are completely unique ... and both absolutely kick @ss !!

This is a post!!

Relayer and Drama combating for fav album...cool!!

Drama IS a Yes album...
Chris, Steve and Alan..made sure of it...
it has balls the size of boulders, it rocks....

Drama deserves a lot more respect than it gets...trust me. it will come to pass..Drama will win over some fans who thought otherwise...soon!

Scoot

the'YES'kid

10-20-2004, 04:11 AM

hello Scott,

DRAMA!!! one of my fav topics.

I like Drama MUCH more than Relayer.

Definitelly in my top 5 fav Yes albums.

pianozach

10-20-2004, 04:12 AM

Scooty

10-20-2004, 04:15 AM

hello Scott,

DRAMA!!! one of my fav topics.

I like Drama MUCH more than Relayer.

Definitelly in my top 5 fav Yes albums.

RENIET!!!

Miss ya Brother!!

Drama is a fantastic album...
I don't know what most people's problem with it is.....(ok ok ..Jon isnt there..GET OVER IT!!..)

Its a GREAT Yes album..no mater what...Squire shines...Chris is phenomenal on it..Alan plays hs butt off..and Steve (dare I say?) almost ROCKS OUT!!..LOL

I wish some fans would give DRAMA the respect it deserves...
It is a fantastic Yes album, and it needs to be acknowledged live...;)

Scoot

overState2004

11-06-2004, 12:21 AM

Having ignored most of the comments on this particular thread, I will only say this.

This is a great record, through and through.

My rationale? Not a weak song on either side, which is more than I can say for other proggy-bands like ELP, and I've only heard Genesis's Foxtrot for the same reason (trust issues, but also a great listen).

I just can't hold with the purist talk of how TH and GD went in over their heads (which, unfortunately, the UK tour made obvious) because in the end, it comes down to one, and only one thing: This is a great record.

However, my girlfriend has my copy right now, so excuse me while I interrupt the BT CD I've been tentatively enjoying to blast Relayer (the new remaster) at concert-level volume.

slazman

11-06-2004, 02:21 AM

I'm ashamed to say I don't have it in the collection but it is on the 'to buy' list alongside 90125 when the next credit card period comes around.

overState2004

11-06-2004, 03:31 AM

You don't have 90125?!?!? Blasphemy!

Anyways.... No dude, You've got to get 90125 first. Get it on Half.com, and make sure it's the newest remaster. Outside of my worship of the band in general, it's a prime example of what an extremely good record looks and sounds like.

Of course, my opinion on the whole is biased, since I liked that record since I was like...2?

Scooty

11-06-2004, 03:34 AM

Slazman..

Buy Drama first...

Im just being a pill...LOL

But I enjoy Drama way more than 90125..

Scoot

rickweber

11-06-2004, 07:22 AM

It's a shame Drama never went gold. Not too many people bought it. But those who did really enjoy it. It's one of my favorites, for sure! There's several different versions of Run Through The Light - between box sets, singles, & Yesspecial radio broadcasts, it was quite a challenge to collect all of them. There's also a couple of different mixes of Tempus Fugit. (Interesting)....

Scooty

11-07-2004, 01:58 AM

I do think of it as Chris's Yes album, in a way.

That's what Ive always felt.
Ive already made it known to him that the next thing he signs for me is a copy of Drama on LP...just to show my respect for his work, his gumption, and pure tenacity for making it happen...

He appreciated that immensley :)

Scoot

cinderella

11-07-2004, 02:24 AM

I have Drama on vinyl. It's one of the albums I need to upgrade to CD. I love Machine Messiah, Into The Lens and Tempus Fugit. I loved hearing Trevor Horn sing. I've always felt it was underrated.

Scooty

11-07-2004, 02:26 AM

I have Drama on vinyl. It's one of the albums I need to upgrade to CD. I love Machine Messiah, Into The Lens and Tempus Fugit. I loved hearing Trevor Horn sing. I've always felt it was underrated.

:)

Now I feel bad...

Thats so cool to know Cinderelly!!

Thanks for your honesty about Drama...

Im gonna put it on now I think..

umgekehrt

11-07-2004, 05:03 AM

I find that it is usually bad to approach an album with some kind of expectation towards it. For example if you listen to PC Genesis and expect to get a PG Genesis, you're gonna be disappointed. Same thing here: if you listen to Drama thinking "this has to sound like CTTE, this has to sound like Relayer", you're gonna be looking for something that's not there. Free your mind, surprise yourself, and you'll find the greatness of DRAMA

overState2004

11-07-2004, 05:28 AM

Yeah, or start listening to it at a very young age. :)

flep

11-07-2004, 07:59 AM

Drama is an excellent Yes album. It stands on it's own. I would love to hear Jon attempt Machine Messiah. Maybe next tour eh?

I still think of the first Asia album as a Yes album it is similar in many ways to Drama.

I've got all Yes Albums on CD apart from Key Studios but I've got that on Keys 1 and 2 so I'd only get that to be a completist.

Drama - Great Album - Buy it. (Better than 90125)

slazman

11-07-2004, 09:45 AM

You don't have 90125?!?!? Blasphemy!

OK ... but think of the experience I'm going to have when I get it for the first time !!!!!!!!!!

cinderella

11-07-2004, 11:35 AM

Free your mind, surprise yourself, and you'll find the greatness of DRAMA

Exactly. It's different, but that's what's great about it. Even without Jon, it's still Yes to me. I thought it was a very solid album.

I'm ashamed to say I don't have it in the collection but it is on the 'to buy' list alongside 90125 when the next credit card period comes around.

Get em both Peter!! http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage40/15.gif

Oh and Scoot, I accept your apology! ;)

InverYes

11-07-2004, 12:19 PM

Drama could be deleted from the Yes back catalogue and not be missed.

Apart from Tempus Fugit it's an absolute shocker !!

If anyone hasn't bought it yet, make sure that IF you do, you get the remastered version - it comes with ten bonus tracks on top of the original six ( which speaks volumes in itself).

Vic Anderson

11-07-2004, 12:53 PM

if trevor hot didn't have that stupid accent it would have been so much more
but as it is all i can hear is horn yelling trying to imitate jon
now the one song i like is mashine messiah
but the album just doesn't have soul in it or at least i don't feel it...
hell i would have enjoyed better an instrumental album or just chris singing!!!!

tommc

11-07-2004, 01:24 PM

Machine Messiah -The most rockin of epics
Does it Really Happen &Tempest Fugit-Chris at his best
Into The Lens-Get past the lyrics' great guitar work by Steve.
Drama Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scooty

11-07-2004, 03:22 PM

Drama could be deleted from the Yes back catalogue and not be missed.

No way.
Id miss it.
And it seems a few people here dig Drama enough to not have it deleted...

Big generator and Union...now there's some deletion issues we can talk about...

brotherofmine

11-07-2004, 03:29 PM

Now ....Scott....You can't delete Union...or let you keep Drama in if I can keep Union in...agreed? I can't understand why people don't like Union...it is a great album.

Scooty

11-07-2004, 03:32 PM

Now ....Scott....You can't delete Union...or let you keep Drama in if I can keep Union in...agreed? I can't understand why people don't like Union...it is a great album.

Just trying to make a point BOM :)

cinderella

11-07-2004, 03:42 PM

I can't understand why people don't like Union...it is a great album.

Love it!! :valintine

I am getting so brave today!!

smatt

11-07-2004, 03:46 PM

Drama was, is a great work! Now the tour that was another story altogether! I'd say, by far the WORST Yes shows I've seen. Union, rather sucky album, not really Yes as there's about 1,000 other musicians on it. There were some moemnts that worked well, but we really don't know who actually played what, where or when. On the other hand the Union shows were pretty good, at least the 2 shows I saw were of respectable quality. Now if you want to delete a Yes album form history, I'd say O........ Oh never mind ;)

BTW Scoot, just got a disc of the jam from the Yesfans preshow at Will's last time around. About as good as the Drama shows, :)

Scooty

11-07-2004, 04:30 PM

BTW Scoot, just got a disc of the jam from the Yesfans preshow at Will's last time around. About as good as the Drama shows, :)

That's what I figured..
But it was fun anyway

smatt

11-07-2004, 04:40 PM

Hey It does have it's moments though. Wonderous stories is good, Owner has a good jam going for a while as well. Earl's LittleWing turned out good to. I'll get it too you.....

Scooty

11-07-2004, 04:42 PM

Oh man...that means Scootfish did suck..LOL (and everybody seemed to like it..must have been the demon alcohol..;))

oh well, it was a blast....and totally id still like to hear it!!

InverYes

11-07-2004, 05:04 PM

I really have tried to like Drama. Usually after I read all these posts raving about it I have to go and play it to try and work out what it is I'm missing. It's not just the absence of Jon's vocals ( although it doesn't help ) but Trevor's vocals are nothing short of painful. Even just listening to them for what they are and not trying to compare them with Jon's, they are just appaling! But I don't think even WITH Jon singing it would help it all that much.

I promise I'll play it again tomorrow and try again. I don't like having a Yes album that I don't play and this is the only one.

smatt

11-07-2004, 05:12 PM

Oh man...that means Scootfish did suck..LOL (and everybody seemed to like it..must have been the demon alcohol..;))

oh well, it was a blast....and totally id still like to hear it!!

Oh man, Scoot, you're so down on yourself. I didn't say it sucked, it was an off the cuff backyard jam. It is what it is, but of course it will alwaysbring back memories. And you know, with only 1 brain cell left, "How they fade so fast" I'm sure we'll "Look back" with fondness. :smurf:

No worries InverYes, everybody has their own particular likes and dislikes. I happen to like about 96% of what Yes has done over the years. Some, no matter how many times I listen to it, I just can't stand.....

overState2004

11-07-2004, 10:10 PM

Totally hear ya there, smatt.

Scooty

11-09-2004, 06:55 PM

bump

umgekehrt

11-09-2004, 07:01 PM

Union...now there's some deletion issues we can talk about...
Over my dead, rotten body Scoot! :1svader:

Or as Cinders would've said it: "Go to the corner!"

overState2004

11-10-2004, 01:13 AM

Over my dead, rotten body Scoot! :1svader:

Or as Cinders would've said it: "Go to the corner!"

(sigh) Now I've got to see what's crackin' in the Union threads.......

Scooty

11-10-2004, 01:21 AM

Over my dead, rotten body Scoot! :1svader:

Or as Cinders would've said it: "Go to the corner!"

LOL!
You crack me up Umgy...

Like I would ever have anything produced and recorded by YES deleted from the catalog...

Geeeeeeeeeeeeez

;)

Scoot

Thoughtbecontact

11-10-2004, 01:25 AM

LOL!
You crack me up Umgy...

Like I would ever have anything produced and recorded by YES deleted from the catalog...

Geeeeeeeeeeeeez

;)

Scoot

You mean you WOULDN'T delete anything from the OTHER Trevor if you were given the power. No, you had better not. And I still want to hear Scootfish--someone needs to find a bass for you. :sephiroth

Scooty

11-10-2004, 01:27 AM

You mean you WOULDN'T delete anything from the OTHER Trevor if you were given the power. No, you had better not. And I still want to hear Scootfish--someone needs to find a bass for you. :sephiroth

Of course I wouldnt...Im not that hateful...boy, Do I really come off that bad?..LOL

And Arlene I hope against hope that I can be there for you...and procure a bass :)

Thoughtbecontact

11-10-2004, 01:34 AM

Of course I wouldnt...Im not that hateful...boy, Do I really come off that bad?..LOL

And Arlene I hope against hope that I can be there for you...and procure a bass :)

No, you don't come off as that hateful, of course not. It's just that I have been order to give you grief from a certain Trevor Rabin fan--especially if you DO make it to Wings' house on Friday. Oh Pleeeeeze! :crybby:

Scooty

11-10-2004, 01:37 AM

No, you don't come off as that hateful, of course not. It's just that I have been order to give you grief from a certain Trevor Rabin fan--especially if you DO make it to Wings' house on Friday. Oh Pleeeeeze! :crybby:

LOL! Hmmmm I wonder who that could be...

I want to be there more than anything in the world darlin'...and it will kill me if i dont make it..Im trying..I really am..:)

This is sooo off topic..lemme try to get it back in line..

DRAMA KICKS A**!!!

:)

cinderella

11-10-2004, 01:55 AM

Over my dead, rotten body Scoot! :1svader:

Or as Cinders would've said it: "Go to the corner!"

Hey Umgy, wanna borrow my whip? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Cinderella528/N99/maikwhip.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Cinderella528/N99/begood.gif Scoot however prefers the ball bat.

Just kidding honey. You've been very good lately.

Oops! Back on topic.

overState2004

11-10-2004, 02:12 AM

lol :)

smatt

11-10-2004, 06:48 PM

bump

Ass kisser, butt sniffer Scoot! :lmao:

Scooty

11-11-2004, 04:54 AM

Ass kisser, butt sniffer Scoot! :lmao:

LOL!!!
I only bumped it so Chris and Scotty could see this...

Dont be a butthead Smatt...You're my Bro!
Hope to see ya Friday!!

Scooty

11-11-2004, 05:41 AM

overState2004

11-11-2004, 01:00 PM

I hate to pry, but what takes place Friday? I only ask cos I happen to have the day off.

smatt

11-11-2004, 01:40 PM

LOL!!!
I only bumped it so Chris and Scotty could see this...

Dont be a butthead Smatt...You're my Bro!
Hope to see ya Friday!!

:bncy: That's exactly what I meant Scooterdude!

You'd better be down here tommorow!

smatt

11-11-2004, 01:43 PM

I hate to pry, but what takes place Friday? I only ask cos I happen to have the day off.

The West Coast "Liquor Locusts" are having a little party at Kathy's (SilentWings) house. Arlene (Thoughtbecontact) is visiting with her son from the ChiTown area. Us "Western Liquor Locusts" will come up with anything in order to have a party! :cheers:

smatt

11-11-2004, 01:44 PM

DAMN!!!
I didnt even think of the opportunity I have ...had?? for a complete signed DRAMA LP or CD tonight....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Trevor Horn, Chris, Steve, Geoff and Alan will be there....
Damn it!!
Sometimes i just dont think ahead..LOL

Scoot

Get on the phone you knucklehead! :stick: Call Scotty and tell her you REALLLLLYYYYYY REEEEAAAAALLLLYYYYY want a signed copy of Drama. I bet you get one! According to my estimation, with the U.K. 8 hours behind us. Right about now would be perfect timimg to get that call through........ Although I'm sure ther'll be ampl time in the coming months for such an endeavor ;)

pianozach

11-11-2004, 01:45 PM

True, Trevor’s voice wasn’t as good as Jon’s on the older material, but Jon would have just as much trouble doing justice to Trevor’s vocals on songs from this effort (should we ever be so lucky as to hear that happen!)

Let's start a petition. I want to hear three songs from Drama (and four songs from ABWH (and a couple from Talk)) at the next concert! How about Tempus Fugit, Machine Messiah and Run Through the Light? Pleeeeeease?

smatt

11-11-2004, 01:51 PM

Let's start a petition. I want to hear three songs from Drama (and four songs from ABWH (and a couple from Talk)) at the next concert! How about Tempus Fugit, Machine Messiah and Run Through the Light? Pleeeeeease?

They did attempt some Drama, during rehearsals for the last tour. I'm of the opinion that there's a very good chance of some in the future. :smurf:

It's also very possible that some other EARLY/MID 80's material may show up as well. But you just never know till that happens. I think we've had a pretty good dose of the Classic era stuff. IMHO, about 1/2 the next show should be devoted to Drama/Mid-80's stuff. That would change it up a bit and I think maybe get a few of the 80's fans into the shows to hear the NEW Rocking stuff! ;)

pianozach

11-11-2004, 02:02 PM

"Exxxxcelent!" he said, tenting his fingers.

slazman

11-11-2004, 02:57 PM

Great News fellow Yesfans ... I've got it AND I love it

Enlightenment!

smatt

11-11-2004, 03:28 PM

Great News fellow Yesfans ... I've got it AND I love it

Enlightenment!

A direct quote to me from Chris "The best rock guitar playing Steve ever did was on Drama" I love Drama, not classic Yes, but Yes nevertheless, and one heck of an album. I just wish the tour would've been better. But hey there's still time for some it to resurface live!

overState2004

11-12-2004, 12:55 AM

Trevor Horn should've gotten more recognition for his work on this album. To judge it badly on the sole basis of the lead singer not being Jon, well that goes against what (at least) I've come to believe Yes music has been about.

Deano

11-17-2004, 05:33 AM

I listened to Drama all the way through yesterday for the first time in quite a few years.
I loved it!

sparky

11-17-2004, 06:16 PM

I agree that Trevor Horn should've gotten more recognition for his work on this album. Sometimes I wonder if Drama would´ve been even more interesting if it had even more of a Buggles flavour to it. Maybe it would´ve been even more unique...

rememberer

11-18-2004, 12:42 AM

I think Drama really is a good album, and it really is a Yes album...

It was the first Yes CD I got after my sweetheart got me Ultimate Yes, which helped get me out of being stuck on the "essential six" of Yes Album through Relayer plus Yessongs... I think I was there when GFTO through 90125 came out, I know I liked Drama, and I can remember my great delight that the Roger Dean covers were back with that album, but I think it says a lot about Drama that that was the first one of those that I thought I really wanted to have on CD.

The Rhino version of Drama was good because some of the bonus tracks clear up a lot of wrong ideas I had about Trevor and Geoff, I respect them a lot more now than I knew to before... They worked at being in Yes... Also heard a recording of a Drama show for the first time a couple of months ago, and that was really impressive too, both Geoff's solo and Trev's remarkable efforts to fill Jon's enormous shoes... Finding out that even Jon had a hand in writing some of the songs on Drama helped a lot, too...

I probably owe Trev and Geoff both an apology for half thinking all this time that the Buggles version of Yes was some kind of cheap marriage of convenience cooked up by management, they really are talented.

Now if I could only figure out what anybody sees in Asia... I know that's Steve and Geoff playing, but... maybe it's Asia's singers? I try, but I just hear an Asia song and go, "blecch!" :-)

Orbert

11-18-2004, 02:09 PM

I probably owe Trev and Geoff both an apology for half thinking all this time that the Buggles version of Yes was some kind of cheap marriage of convenience cooked up by management, they really are talented.

Now if I could only figure out what anybody sees in Asia... I know that's Steve and Geoff playing, but... maybe it's Asia's singers? I try, but I just hear an Asia song and go, "blecch!" :-)
I always thought it was a "marriage of convenience" but a good one. Yes watched their singer and keyboard player walk, and here's this duo, a singer and keyboard player, and the singer even sounds kinda like Jon. I thought it was great.

Ditto on the Asia comment. So much talent there, so much potential, but I change the station whenever Asia comes on. I actually like Wetton's voice with King Crimson and U.K., but that same voice singing lame Asia dreck just annoys me.

Orb