Drama, if it wasn't YES

[Bill M]

What if Drama wasn't YES? but instead, it was billed as a new (New Wave) group that combined former Yes members with the techy duo known as the Buggles.

[patrickq]

Interesting question!

I didn’t hear Drama until 1988, but since the early 80s I had been (and still am) a fan of new wave music (Human League, Eurythmics, Culture Club, and many, many others.) In fact I knew very little about Yes. So in my case I’m nearly certain that I would’ve loved Drama regardless of billing.

[soundchaser09]

yeah I would've loved the music, the question is would I have even come to be aware of it if it wasn't Yes proper?

I most likely would have, given that know ABWH though, (and since i class that as a Yes record, I may have done the same with this)

[Enlighten]

No matter, this album is a ten.

[Bill M]

As far as concerts, Trevor could be Trevor and Geoff could be Geoff. I could see them doing some Yes material but with their own spin. There would be no pressure for Trevor to be Jon Anderson.

[Bill M]

No matter, this album is a ten.

Great album, but the unit unfortunately imploded with the pressure to be Yes in live settings.

[rePete]

As far as concerts, Trevor could be Trevor and Geoff could be Geoff. I could see them doing some Yes material but with their own spin. There would be no pressure for Trevor to be Jon Anderson.

I was just about to say, that might have even led to a longer run and maybe even son of Drama... They wouldn't have had the pressure to perform Yes the way everyone expected Yes to perform, and so the concerts, while likely smaller, wouldn't have taken so much heat.

[Enlighten]

Great album, but the unit unfortunately imploded with the pressure to be Yes in live settings.

They did but no one can take that classic album away from us, it’s here for all time. It’s a brilliant, brilliant album and it proves that great Yes music isn’t dependent on certain people being in the band. It’s a certain spirit, a certain energy, a certain mojo and you know it when you hear it. It’s up to the musicians present in the band at any given time, to embody that spirit.

[pianozach]

You know, Yes fans generally love the album NOW, but many hated it when it first came out because "No Jon, no Yes".

However, it was the TOUR that put the fork in it. Horn couldn't faithfully sing Jon's parts to fans' expectations. And as I recall, there was no real announcement that Jon WOULDN'T be the vocalist when tickets were first put on sale. I think.

So . . . if Drama had been released by "Band X", and had not attempted so many Yes songs, it might have been more long-lived.

[rePete]

You know, Yes fans generally love the album NOW, but many hated it when it first came out because "No Jon, no Yes".

However, it was the TOUR that put the fork in it. Horn couldn't faithfully sing Jon's parts to fans' expectations. And as I recall, there was no real announcement that Jon WOULDN'T be the vocalist when tickets were first put on sale. I think.

So . . . if Drama had been released by "Band X", and had not attempted so many Yes songs, it might have been more long-lived.

I said the same. You were far more eloquent than I was.

[luvyesmusic]

It/the album/ the different lineups is exactly why I love YES and individuals whether together, solo, groups and side projects, and why “YES” music has continued, along with the various tours. I was late to the party with Drama, too.

[Yorkshire Square]

I'm sure I would. The eighties were my teenage years and I like a whole variety of stuff from that decade. I was a fan of the Buggles before I was a fan of Yes.

But they had to be Yes, as I understand it, to honour the tour that had already been booked before Jon and Rick bailed.

[Yesed]

I wouldn’t know it was Buggles, unless I made the connection with the Video Killed song. Never got into them. And the music is a direction turn enough for me to not know they were Yes, probably, except for Steve’s guitar work which is sort of a giveaway.

[Somis Sound]

Interesting question!

I didn’t hear Drama until 1988, but since the early 80s I had been (and still am) a fan of new wave music (Human League, Eurythmics, Culture Club, and many, many others.) In fact I knew very little about Yes. So in my case I’m nearly certain that I would’ve loved Drama regardless of billing.

I stumbled upon it after hearing many other Yes albums and it was like finding the holy grail. A kick ass, heavy, dark, modern, colorful, energy filled, cool, masterpiece. I too liked a lot of 80's new wave bands, but this album kicked nearly everybody's ass in the production, performance, modern, department. So ahead of it's time and still sounds fresh today

[Yesed]

Would I like it? Probably, but knowing it’s Yes it’s given so much more opportunity, as a fan of the band. Not sure what I would feel about it if Steve, Alan and Chris hooked up with Geoff and Trevor, and called it a Buggles album.