In my humble opinion Yes deserves a good deal of credit for the making '80s music what it was. Not the Yes of 1983, mind you, but the members of the group's finer days in the early/mid '70s.

Personal Note: As I see it, just about everyone has to go through a Beatles phase, a Pink Floyd phase, a Hendrix phase and a Led Zeppelin phase. The important part is to eventually come out of that phase, 'cause you really don't want to find yourself listening to The Wall for the rest of your life (for that matter you don't want to find yourself listening to the Human League for the rest of your life either). Just as I got over the Cure after a couple years of wearing black in high school, I was fortunate enough to get over the aforementioned groups, but there are a few seventies artists I'll probably always keep in my collection. This list includes Bowie, T-Rex, the Velvet Undergound, the Who, and Yes.

Jon Anderson and Chris Squire were among the founding members of Yes in 1968, and it was these two that would stick it out as Yes members through the '70s and into the '80s. As did their contemporaries Roxy Music and King Crimson, Yes emerged as an art rock supergroup, creating music that was as much classical as rock. The band attracted diverse talents through the decade and regularly stole musicians from, and lost musicians to, other '70s art rock bands: drummer Bill Bruford departed in '72 to become a part of King Crimson, playing with the likes of Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp, both of whom would later work with David Bowie; early Bowie-collaborator Rick Wakeman, who in the '70s was doing things on keyboards most '80s bands could only dream about, left to follow a solo path; Patrick Moraz took over for Wakeman before leaving and joining the Moody Blues; Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes put their one-hit wonder Buggles aside to join Yes in 1980; Downes and long time Yes guitarist Steve Howe (who had earlier played with Jeff Beck's future bassist Junior Wood as well as future Attraction Bruce Thomas) left to form Asia with Carl Palmer and ex-Roxy Music/King Crimson bassist John Wetton; even vocalist Jon Anderson left for a while to work with Vangelis (of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner fame), who had himself considered joining Yes in the early '70s.

The Yes that we hear on 1983's "90125" album has little to do musically with the Yes that helped pioneer the use of synthesizers and classical themes in rock music. The new sound was clearly less pretentious and more commercial than that of earlier incarnations of Yes, with songs shortened to accomodate radio play. While "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Leave It" made for great early '80s pop songs, the group is sure to be better remembered for such early 'modern rock' gems as "Starship Trooper," "Long Distance Runaround," "Roundabout," and "Wonderous Stories." Old members of the band still occasionally tour and play Yes classics as well as the '80s stuff.

Move yourselfYou always live your lifeNever thinking of the futureProve yourselfYou are the move you makeTake your chances win or loserSee yourselfYou are the steps you takeYou and you - and that's the only wayShake - shake yourselfYou're every move you makeSo the story goesOwner of a lonely heartOwner of a lonely heartMuch better than - aOwner of a broken heartOwner of a lonely heartSay - you don't want to chance itYou've been hurt so beforeWatch it nowThe eagle in the skyHow he dancin' one and onlyYou - lose yourselfNo not for pity's sakeThere's no real reason to be lonelyBe yourselfGive your free will a chanceYou've got to want to succeedOwner of a lonely heartOwner of a lonely heartMuch better than - aOwner of a broken heartOwner of a lonely heartOwner of a lonely heartAfter my own decisionThey confused me so                                      Owner of a lonely heartMy love said never question your will at allIn the end you've got to goLook before you leap                                     Owner of a lonely heartAnd don't you hesitate at all - no noOwner of a lonely heartOwner of a lonely heartMuch better than - aOwner of a broken heartOwner of a lonely heart(repeat)Owner of a lonely heartSooner or later each conclusionWill decide the lonely heart                             Owner of a lonely heartIt will excite it will delightIt will give a better start                              Owner of a lonely heartDon't deceive your free will at allDon't deceive your free will at all                      Owner of a lonely heartDon't deceive your free will at allJust receive it