Spot the Connection:
Manfred Mann's Earth Band 'Chance' (1980)
Yes '90125' (1983)
Got it? Well the link is South African musician/producer Trevor Rabin who came to London in the late 70's looking for fame and fortune, he met up with fellow South-African Manfred Mann who invited him to play on his newest album project. Rabin made such a significant contribution to 'Chance' that he is credited as co-producer, with his commercial flair and grasp of the 'modern' sound that was developing as the 80's opened.
'Chance' is decried by the MMEB old-guard as a weak, commercial sellout. I have always liked it and find it to be a tight, poppy and playful album - an example being the song 'No Guarantee' where the lyrics are the warranty card from a heating system, hilarious! And Manfred Mann had been an icon of the 60's single charts, churning out hit after hit. No stranger to pop music.
After this, Rabin relocated to LA to record a solo album, the demos of which came to the attention of Chris Squire and Alan White (of the recently defunct Yes) who were looking for a guitarist for their new band 'Cinema'. Recording began, based on Rabin's songs, and the album '90125' started to take shape. Trevor Horn was asked to produce but declined to sing, as he had done on 'Drama'. Needing a front-man the band called up Jon Anderson, who was looking for a gig, so he added lead vocals to the songs and the album was ready to go. Initially promoted as the band Cinema, the marketing men quickly decided that the new record should be released as a Yes album and the cover was altered accordingly at the last minute.
'Owner of a Lonely Heart' was an international hit, Yes were reborn for the 80's.
The rest is history.
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