Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
This week, Mark and I continue our mini series about solo songs that could have been Yes songs and this time it’s Jon Anderson’s turn. As we did last week with Steve Howe, we listened to Jon’s first three solo albums – Olias of Sunhillow, Song of Seven and Animation. We chose just one song from each record that we think could have worked on a Yes album and discussed our reasons. It was very interesting, once again, to note the dramatic differences in approach that Jon went through from 1976 to 1982. In some ways, I think Anderson went the opposite direction to Howe, as you’ll hear.
- How does Jon Anderson’s solo approach change over the years?
- How easy is it to spot songs that could have been on yes albums?
- Who collaborated with Jon on these three records?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
From the Discogs page for the 2006 double CD, Jon Anderson With The New Life Band – Live In Sheffield 1980:
- Barry De Souza
- Christopher Rainbow
- Dick Morrissey
- Joe Partridge
- John Giblin
- Lee Davidson
- Morris Pert
- Ronnie Leahy
Barry Plummer 2026 Calendar is still available!
YMP Listener discount code – KVKBKC8Z
Enrich your Prog year with iconic images of Yes in the 1970s, taken by the legendary rock photographer, Barry Plummer.
Enjoy 12 beautiful colour and black and white photographs of Yes in the studio and live, capturing the essence of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. With this limited-edition calendar on your wall throughout 2026, you’ll agree that Barry Plummer is, indeed, the Master of Images!
(A flat shipping fee will be added at checkout depending on your location.)
Yes – The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans – Yes Album Listening Guide
Available now!
YMP Patrons:
Producers:
- Joseph Cottrell
- Wayne Hall
- Ken Fuller
- Jeffrey Crecelius
Patrons:
| Aaron Steelman | Lind |
| Al Dell’Angelo | Lobate Scarp |
| Barry Gorsky | Mark Baggs |
| Bill Whittaker | Mark James Lang |
| Bob Martilotta | Mark Slater |
| Brian Harris | Martin Kjellberg |
| Brian Sullivan | Michael Handerhan |
| Chris Bandini | Michael O’Connor |
| Craig Estenes | Miguel Falcão |
| Dave Owen | Paul Hailes |
| David | Paul Tomei |
| David Heyden | Rachel Hadaway |
| David Pannell | Robert Nasir |
| David Watkinson | Robert Vandiver |
| Declan Logue | Ronnie Neeley |
| Dem | Scott Colombo |
| Doug Curran | Simon Barrow |
| Fergus Cubbage | Stephen Lambe |
| Fred Barringer | Steve Dill |
| Gary Betts | Steve Luzietti |
| Geoff Bailie | Steve Perry |
| Geoffrey Mason | Steve Rode |
| Guy DeRome | Steve Scott |
| Henrik Antonsson | Steven Roehr |
| Hogne Bø Pettersen | Terence Sadler |
| Todd Dudley | Thomas DeVries |
| John Cowan | John Thomson |
| John Holden | John Viola |
| Jamie McQuinn | Tim Stannard |
| Douglas Caldwell |
Discover more from Yes Music Podcast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
6 replies on “Solo songs that could have been Yes songs – Part 2 – Jon Anderson – 706”
Another great episode. I wonder did Mark realise that rather than pondering what Yes might make of Everybody Loves You, the album track is actually Jon de-Yesifying a track from the 1979 Paris sessions.
Hi Mark and Kevin
Another excellent and thought provoking episode.
Trying to play music off Olias in Yes style would be a challenge. It would risk becoming less progressive, less transcendent and more conventionally musical.
Jon’s sonic textures in 1976 were far ahead of what the band was doing at that time. While not an expert musician (but maybe not as bad as some would claim!) Jon’s musical vision and creativity was unrivalled.
First time I heard Olias I was convinced Vangelis plays on it. We know that Jon had been in touch with Vangelis since the very early 70s. He famously brought Vangelis to rehearse with the band when Rick first left the band.
From Song of Seven I’m surprised neither of you suggested the title track. With it’s more conventional musical structure, discrete movements, instrumental passages and positive spiritual themes, it has always struck me as more stylistically akin to classic Yes music than Steve Chris and Alan performed on Drama at the same time. However I agree with Kevin that ‘Here It’ could certainly be developed as a Yes song, although it wouldn’t sound out of place on Olias either.
Mark’s selection of Animation is likewise spot on. The movements and instrumental passages would lend themselves well to Yes performance, especially by the contemporary Yes West of the time.
Kevin, thanks for adding your reflections on Jon and Vangelis. I think those two blokes had a unique musical chemistry not unlike the one Jon shared with his Yes band mates, and some of his best work was expressed through that partnership.
Like many fans of classic Yes music I’m looking forward to Jon’s next studio album follow-up to True. The combination of Jon’s simple songs and their musical development by young virtuosos faithful to the Yes style really worked the first time around!
Keep up the great work guys!
Excellent chat. Olias live on stage with Yes playing any of it probably didn’t work as its just not rocky enough to pull off, it was unique music never to be repeated.
Geoff and Alan make good points.
Oh BTW, the Jon Anderson image shown was taken by myself from the original artwork, by the artist Jeff Cummins.
Thanks for another great episode, not least because of your interesting choice of tracks that encouraged me to re-listen to all three albums over the last couple of days. Apart from Animation I would not intuitively have chosen any of the other songs but on re-listening I can see why you did.
Re-listening to Song of Seven took me back to the Royal Albert Hall in 1980 when I saw Jon and the New Life Band perform a glorious evening of music. The highlight of that show was without question the performance of Song of Seven which culminated in a 10 year-old Deborah Anderson joining John on stage for the harmonies in the closing stages of the song. It was one of those moments that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and it’s a memory that has remained with me ever since.
There’s very little live footage from this tour on YouTube. However, I’m puzzled by the footage that exists of Song of Seven which includes a large orchestra at the front of the stage. I don’t know where this was recorded but to my knowledge there was no orchestra at any of the gigs on this tour. If there are any of the 5% community that can shed light on this I’d be very grateful.
And finally, Kevin the link you’ve provided to the Jeremy North episode seems to go to episode 77 which is about Yes ‘objects’. My searches for the correct episode have been in vain but I’d be grateful if you could provide the correct episode number. Thanks.
Lovely episode and thought provoking.I’d never have thought of Jon’s music as Yes
I’m going to listen to them again . All three are excellent. The Song of Seven tour I saw in December 1980 (as na aside John Lennon had been murdered a few days before and being a Lennon fan I’d made a black armband with RIP Lennon whichI handed to Jon between songs, he put it on his music stand)
Then a few days later the Yes Drama tour. Jon’s had no fancy lights or anything but it was by far the better, magical even. I don’t know who was in the band. I’m sure I have a programme somewhere which lists them.
I love this album,
A correction to what you said re Vangelis. Jon worked with him in 1975. I bought Heaven and Hell then way before Olias came out. I remember the article too in Melody Maker talking about their cooperation saying that rather than Vangelis joining Yes, Jon would work with him, then several months later Heaven and Hell came out
Great episode and as a JA fan – very interesting choices.
For the record, I believe that Olias , despite being highly regarded by many Yesfans, is perhaps one that would be really tricky to Yes-ify bizarrely enough to which you alluded. Good choice with Moorglade – and the path to Wonderous Stories. My choice would be To The Runner, much for the same reason as I saw links to WS.
I would always be tempted to go for the obvious title track to Song Of Seven. An album I love although the variety of genres from jazzy, to RnB etc is quite challenging in a way.
Animation (agreed – great side 1), again the title track is tempting in the same way as SoS, but I’d love to hear Ye stake up Olympia. I can see/hear some great Howe licks kicking in and think of the track in a sort of Parallels/Future Times direction.
And finally – like may Yes fans, i also did the late 1980 trips to Manchester Apollo for the New Life Band and both Drama shows. Took my girlfriend (now wife) to see JA (as you do….) for her first gig experience. Enjoyed all the gigs tb be fair, but wonder if anyone recalls the second Manchester Drama gig and Chris’ bass cutting out right at the start of Does It Really Happen for the opening bass run and the song having to start with Alan’s drum roll?!