Yes - Going for the One
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
On July 15, 1977, "Yes" released their eighth studio album "Going for the One".
Following the increasingly ambitious scope of "Tales from Topographic Oceans" and the jazz fusion intensity of "Relayer", "Going for the One" represented a deliberate recalibration rather than a retreat. It welcomed the return of Rick Wakeman after Patrick Moraz's departure, reuniting the classic lineup of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White. Produced collectively by the band, the album abandoned sprawling conceptual structures in favor of concise songwriting without sacrificing the musical sophistication that defined "Yes" during the 1970s.
The title track "Going for the One" opens with one of Steve Howe's most unconventional guitar performances. His slide guitar work injects a raw, almost country-infused swagger that feels startlingly physical for a progressive rock band. Chris Squire's bass remains thunderous beneath the surface while Alan White locks the shifting rhythms together with remarkable restraint. Jon Anderson wrote the song around two or three years before the album was recorded. His soaring vocal lines prevent the muscular riffing from becoming earthbound, maintaining the band's unmistakable sense of uplift.
"Turn of the Century" is among the finest examples of "Yes" balancing technical precision with emotional storytelling. The gradual build from delicate acoustic guitar and piano into a full band crescendo feels completely earned. Anderson delivers one of his warmest vocal performances, while Wakeman's piano avoids unnecessary virtuosity in favor of elegance. It is progressive rock at its most human. The song tells the story of Roan, a grieving sculptor who loses his wife during the winter. In his sorrow, he carves a statue in her likeness, which is miraculously brought to life. The narrative was inspired by elements of the opera "La bohème" and the Greek myth of Pygmalion.
"Parallels" introduces church organ played by Wakeman, giving the song enormous harmonic weight. Built around one of Squire's strongest bass-driven compositions, it combines symphonic grandeur with genuine rock power. It was part of a collection of songs that Squire had written for his solo album "Fish Out of Water" released in 1975, but was left out due to the running time limitations of vinyl.
The second side opens up with the album's commercial breakthrough "Wonderous Stories", solely written by Anderson while living in Switzerland. In barely four minutes, "Yes" distilled their celestial aesthetic into an accessible piece without compromising identity. Anderson's layered harmonies float above Howe's acoustic textures, creating a sense of quiet transcendence. Its simplicity is deceptive, supported by intricate vocal arrangements and subtle instrumental interplay.
Everything culminates in "Awaken", arguably one of the defining compositions of progressive rock. The song originated when Jon Anderson heard Steve Howe repeatedly playing a guitar chord progression in a hotel, prompting him to improvise melodies and lyrics over it. Inspired by Calvin Miller's The Singer, a poetic retelling of the life of Jesus, and a biography of Rembrandt, Anderson shaped the piece into a deeply spiritual journey, while Howe's previously written guitar solo, rich keyboard arrangements by Rick Wakeman, harp, and choral performances gave it a majestic, symphonic character. Spanning over fifteen minutes, the composition unfolds patiently through contrasting movements rather than relying on spectacle. Wakeman's monumental pipe organ section, recorded at St Martin's Church in Vevey, becomes the spiritual centerpiece, while Howe moves effortlessly between acoustic intimacy and electric grandeur. The closing sequence achieves an almost liturgical atmosphere, with Anderson's voice functioning less as a lead singer and more as another instrument within the composition. Few epics of the era sustain their emotional trajectory so convincingly.
What distinguishes "Going for the One" is its confidence. Earlier "Yes" albums often sought to impress through scale. Here, the band demonstrates that maturity sometimes means knowing when not to overplay. Every musician remains virtuosic, but the performances consistently serve the songs first. The result is an album that feels simultaneously more immediate and more enduring than many of its predecessors.
"Going for the One" offers perhaps the most balanced portrait of "Yes". It combines technical brilliance, memorable songwriting, emotional depth and remarkable ensemble playing into a concise five-track album that rarely wastes a note.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music