Yes - Going for the One (1977)
🎸 Going for the One — Full Album Guide
📀 Tracklist
- Going for the One
- Turn of the Century
- Parallels
- Wonderous Stories
- Awaken
🎤 Credits & Line-up
- Jon Anderson – Lead vocals
- Steve Howe – Guitar
- Chris Squire – Bass, backing vocals
- Rick Wakeman – Keyboards (returning to the band)
- Alan White – Drums
Production:
- Yes
- Eddy Offord
Artwork:
- Roger Dean
🎶 Musical Style & Sound
Going for the One marks a return to a more concise and melodic progressive rock approach after the experimental Relayer. The album blends classic Yes virtuosity with accessible song structures.
Key characteristics:
- Shorter, more focused tracks with clear melodies
- Integration of symphonic keyboards and acoustic textures
- Jazz and classical influences in instrumental passages
- Layered vocal harmonies and sophisticated arrangements
- Balance of epic storytelling and commercial accessibility
This album highlights the restored chemistry of the classic Yes lineup with Rick Wakeman back on keyboards.
🎧 Standout Tracks
- “Going for the One” – Opening track with dynamic shifts and dramatic guitar solos
- “Wonderous Stories” – Folk-inspired, melodic, and one of Yes’s few charting singles
- “Awaken” – 18-minute epic blending piano, guitar, and spiritual lyrics; often considered a pinnacle of Yes’s progressive work
- “Turn of the Century” – Emotional narrative-driven track with acoustic and symphonic textures
🤓 Fun Facts
- Rick Wakeman returned to the band specifically for this album, bringing grand piano and Minimoog expertise.
- Going for the One features one of the last epic-long tracks of classic Yes (Awaken).
- Roger Dean’s artwork for the album includes cosmic landscapes and symbolic imagery, reinforcing the thematic depth.
- The album’s mix of short and long tracks made it more accessible to radio without losing prog complexity.
🧠 Trivia
- “Awaken” was developed from Jon Anderson’s spiritual explorations and meditation practices.
- Steve Howe’s guitar work incorporates acoustic, electric, and steel guitar, highlighting his versatility.
- “Parallels” was later performed live with an extended instrumental jam, becoming a concert favorite.
- The album was a commercial success, reaching high chart positions in the UK and US.
💡 Did You Know?
- Going for the One was the first Yes album to feature both short, radio-friendly songs and epic compositions on the same record.
- The album marked a creative revival after the experimental Relayer era.
- Critics often cite “Awaken” as one of Yes’s most emotionally powerful works, comparable to Close to the Edge.
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