Yes – Talk [30th Anniversary: 4CD Boxset]

Talk, the fourteenth studio album by British progressive rock legends Yes, was first released on 21 March 1994 and is often referred to as the ‘lost’ Yes album. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the album has been reissued as a 4CD Deluxe Edition with bonus studio material and a previously unreleased live show from New York.

After the artistically and commercially failed Big Generator, and the in many respects disastrous album Union, a new Yes was born: Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire, Alan White & Rick Wakeman. The latter had to drop out for legal reasons and with Tony Kaye on keyboards, the line-up of 90125 was back together. The new album was to be released on a new label, Victory Records. The music and lyrics for Talk were mainly written by Trevor Rabin and Jon Anderson, who deliberately sought each other out to make music together. It is therefore not without reason that it’s Anderson’s favourite album from the Yes era with Rabin. But there were more novelties notable: Talk was also one of the first album to be recorded and edited entirely digitally, without using traditional audio tape. A groundbreaking decision by Yes (i.e. Trevor Rabin). Talk is probably the most coherent Yes album from the Rabin era in terms of sound, and the album that comes closest to the classic Yes sound from the 70s.

What is particularly striking when (re)listening is the fact that it all sounds so heavy, perhaps this is the band’s most fierce album ever. This is partly due to Rabin’s guitar and production, but also to Alan White’s hard-hitting drums, almost Bonham-like. Anderson sometimes has trouble rising above all this brute force. On the other hand, there are these beautiful melodies that Rabin/Anderson conjure up. And let’s not forget the great multi-harmony vocals of the duo plus Chris Squire. Together with the sound effects that Rabin adds, this makes for a special album that would appeal to both old and new fans. This is particularly illustrated by the stunning, sixteen-minute album closer Endless Dream. But The Calling, I Am Waiting and the poppy Walls also amply qualify. The Anderson-written and sung Where Will You Be is the odd one out in this regard. I am even quite impressed by Real Love, while State of Play also has that modern touch that Rabin seems to have patented. Not just any old-new record from these guys, even thirty years later it still stands on this solid, somewhat heavy metal, foundation. Compliments.

A minor disaster was imminent when Victory Music, the original label, went bankrupt shortly after the album’s release and the album died a quiet death in promotional terms. Nevertheless, Yes started the American tour for Talk in June and played 77 shows in the US, Canada, South America and Japan. Unfortunately, the tour never made it to Europe, much to the regret of both Rabin and Anderson. Therefore CDs 3 and 4 are all the more interesting, especially for true Yes fans. After all, these are never-before-released recordings of a concert on 19 June 1994 in Canandaigua, New York. At least, never officially released before. I happen to know of a bootleg called Endless Dream that sounded great, with only a little bit of noise.

Back to the live concert. The music is tight and solid, the energy is palpable. The multi-harmony pieces are striking, often three- and sometimes even four-part (Billy Sherwood). Anderson’s voice is absolutely top-notch, powerful and high-pitched, Rabin’s guitar work is unparalleled, especially on his own material. The setlist is a kind of ‘best of Rabin’s Yes’, with only a few ‘golden oldies’. In the intro to And You And I, guitarist Rabin shows that he has some Wakeman-like talent on the piano. When compared to the original setlist, not only has the order been changed, but Perpetual Change is even left out. OK, it can happen. But that does not detract from the fact that an excellent, passionate Yes is at work here. With the special feature that this tour would also see the end of the collaboration between Rabin and Kaye on the one hand, and Yes on the other.

The bonus tracks: the box set contains four versions of The Calling, five even if you count the live performance. Successively five, six, seven and eight minutes long. Well, what can you say about that? At best, that the final album version sticks out the most and that there is apparently a difference between a single and a radio version. Untitled sounds like On The Silent Wings of Freedom with Rabin under the influence of amphetamine. The Endless Dream demo consists of a drum computer, Rabin on keys and Anderson with a so-called ‘guide vocal’ in a long jam. If the instrumental versions make anything clear, it is that Anderson’s voice is indispensable, and Rabin is simply an extraordinary talented musician, but we’ve already known that for quite a long time.

Is this new 4CD box edition of the 30-year-old material worth purchasing? I’m inclined to say yes: I share the opinion that Talk is an underrated album and now, deservedly, being rescued from oblivion. In addition, I’m happy with the live show, which shows Yes in top form. And finally, the (instrumental) bonus tracks confirm once again how well the music was put together at the time. So thumbs up for this ‘rediscovered’ masterpiece.

TRACK LISTING
CD1: Original Album
01. The Calling (6:55)
02. I Am Waiting (7:24)
03. Real Love (8:46)
04. State Of Play (5:00)
05. Walls (4:55)
06. Where Will You Be (6:08)
07. Endless Dream (15:43)
a) Silent Spring (Instrumental)
b) Talk
c) Endless Dream

Time – 54:55

CD2: Talk Versions (Bonus Tracks)
01. The Calling (Special version) (8:07)
02. The Calling (Single Edit) (4:40)
03. The Calling (Radio Edit) (5:59)
04. Untitled – Trevor Rabin Instrumental (2:53)
05. Endless Dream (Demo) (9:26)
06. Where Will You Be (Instrumental) (6:35)
07. Walls (Instrumental) (5:16)
08. Endless Dream (Excerpt) (Instrumental) (1:58)

Time – 44:58

CD3: Live in Canandaigua, New York 19/06/94
01. I Am Waiting (7:44)
02. The Calling (3:07)
03. Rhythm Of Love (4:58)
04. Hearts (8:14)
05. Real Love (10:23)
06. Changes (8:43)
07. Heart Of The Sunrise (11:18)
08. Roundabout (8:36)

Time – 63:07

CD4: Live in Canandaigua, New York 19/06/94
01. Cinema (2:37)
02. City Of Love (6:47)
03. Make It Easy (1:54)
04. Owner Of A Lonely Heart (6:21)
05. Trevor Rabin Piano Solo/And You And I (12:03)
06. Where Will You Be (8:21)
07. I’ve Seen All Good People (6:54)
08. Walls (6:43)
09. Endless Dream (18:02)

Time – 69:45

Total Time – 232:45

MUSICIANS
Jon Anderson – Lead & Backing Vocals
Tony Kaye – Hammond Organ
Trevor Rabin – Guitars, Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals
Chris Squire – Bass, Backing Vocals
Alan White – Drums, Percussion
~ With:
Billy Sherwood – Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals (Discs 3 & 4)

ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Cherry Red Records | Spirit Of Unicorn
Country of Origin: U.K.
Date of Release: 24^th May 2024

LINKS
Yes – Website | Facebook | YouTube | X