Background and formation In 1983, singer
Jon Anderson returned to
Yes to record lead vocals on their 1983 studio album
90125, which saw Yes adopt a musical direction that was more commercial and pop-oriented. The line-up during this time included bassist
Chris Squire, drummer
Alan White, keyboardist
Tony Kaye, and guitarist
Trevor Rabin, who wrote the majority of
90125. The release of
90125 saw Yes reach their greatest commercial success. It was followed by their 1987 album
Big Generator, also a significant commercial success. In September 1988, Anderson left Yes citing his growing dissatisfaction with the band's commercial direction. He had also felt sidelined from the creative process due to the machinations of other band members and producer
Trevor Horn. Anderson spent his summer on the Greek island of
Hydra writing songs with
Vangelis, where he first came up with the idea of making music with other members of the
1971–72 Yes line-up of guitarist
Steve Howe, keyboardist
Rick Wakeman, and drummer
Bill Bruford. The only missing member from that line-up was Chris Squire, who remained in the then-current version of Yes.
Studio album On his return trip from Hydra, Anderson met Howe in London who presented him with his musical ideas including the chorus of "Brother of Mine" It was there when Bruford suggested to have his
King Crimson bandmate
Tony Levin play bass on the album. and number 30 in the US. The suit was based on a separation agreement entered into by each past and present member of Yes in May 1984 that specified who was entitled to use the Yes name; any "withdrawing partner" from the group could no longer use the name or mention they were in the band before, after a specified date. Yes argued that Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe had "wrongfully converted" the Yes name in an advertisement for
Los Angeles Times that promoted their upcoming concert as "an evening of Yes music plus". Anderson stressed, "
we never said we were Yes. It was the record company." ABWH named the tour An Evening of Yes Music, Plus. Rehearsals took place at Nomis Studios in London.
Cancelled second album, merger with Yes and Union ABWH and Yes produced a Yes album titled
Union. The album includes recordings originally intended for separate albums by both groups. Several songs originally intended for the second ABWH album, tentatively titled
Dialogue, surfaced on the 1990s bootleg
We Make Believe and the underground
Yesoteric bootleg compilation. This material included demos by Anderson but without the other three that were subsequently released as part of
Jon Anderson's
The Lost Tapes box set series as
Watching the Flags That Fly. Songs from the
ABWH album have been included on subsequent Yes compilations and Yes concerts. ==Personnel==