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Episode 14 – ‘Union’

CD purchased 1991 (click to enlarge)

The fourteenth episode of the Yes Music Podcast featuring the thirteenth studio album, ‘Union’.

  • Does a union of forces produce an unbeatable Yes album?
  • Is this Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe 2 + Big Generator 2?
  • Was it all worth it?

Listen and see if you agree with me then let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me via the different routes on the right hand side!

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Show links

Tony Levin:
Angkor Wat:

Theme music

The music I use is the last movement of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. This has been used as introduction music at many Yes concerts. My theme music is not take from a live concert – I put it together from the following two creative commons sources:

thanvannispen and archive.org

Yes Music PodcastHomework for next time:

Llisten to Talk:

Talk on Spotify

Talk on iTunes – can’t find it!

Talk on Amazon (UK)

Talk on Last.fm

Buy Yes music, don’t steal it. Take a look at this but then go out and buy the album:

Talk on YouTube (Start here with ‘The Calling’)

10 replies on “Episode 14 – ‘Union’”

Thanks for the comment, Ben. I assume you are volunteering to write that book 😉

Thanks also for the interview link – really fascinating stuff!

Spot on with Union and wen and seen this show live and I must say this could have been three records for sure
and you could see the dislike between Trevor and Steve butt whats funny about that is when they did that show for Trevor Horn I must say that Steve was rather awesome when they were playing Owner of a lonely heart,sorry did not want to get side track from Union. But yes I agree I would have rather had something a little more defined than this mix that really was more confusing than flowing. Great job really enjoyed hearing from other great Yes fans and as like me I know when someone is a True Yes fan they bleed Yes from there heart and soul can’t wait to hear your take on Talk and oh yes I will be listing
Take care

Regards

Paul Tomei

Thanks do much for the comment, Paul! It’s great to know you are listening. I was fascinated to hear about Steve and Trevor. Wouldn’t an album with those two really working together be fantastic?

I would most sincerely like to p*** all over your review of this album! You’re dead wrong and jaded!!!

Nah, just kidding. I can see your points… and you justify each so politely (a feature of your show I admire).

This was one of the first Yes albums I got into as a kid, so it has sentimental value to someone like myself. I never heard anything like Yes before and this was my real introduction and Miracle Of Life was my first real Yes Moment.

I feel I should point out to you that most of the harmonies on I Would Have Waited Forever are not in fact Jon Anderson, they are Ian Lloyd. Listen closer!

Anyhoo, I love this record… in hindsight looking back, its a shamble. A rotten mess of corporate proportions. It does however hold some value to my Yes Journey and felt I needed to stand up for it a bit.

Saving My Love For You…You Do What You Wanna Do,
Scott.

Thanks for the information on I Would Have Waited Forever, Scott – that’s really interesting to know. As you know, I don’t claim to be the world’s most knowledgeable Yes Fan – just a passionate one who likes sharing his passion – as I can see you do!

It’s also great to hear someone standing up for Union – that’s what I like to see – a bit of dialogue. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

Listened to this album again just yesterday. It is truly terrible. Very few songs even seem to have melodies. The only exceptions are Masquerade, Lift Me Up, which are truly good songs, and Miracle of Life, Saving My Heart, and Shock to the System, which are listenable. A big disappointment. (FWIW, my favorite YES albums are TYA, CTTE, and GFTO)

Union was always a sentimental album to me. Mainly because it was the first album I listened to. Shock to the System always brings back a burst of nostalgia for me.

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