Yes - Tormato (1978)
🎸 Tormato — Full Album Guide
📀 Tracklist
- Onward
- Release, Release
- Future Times/Rejoice
- Don't Kill the Whale
- Crazy Talking
- Arriving UFO
- Onward (Reprise)
🎤 Credits & Line-up
- Jon Anderson – Lead vocals
- Steve Howe – Guitar
- Chris Squire – Bass, backing vocals
- Rick Wakeman – Keyboards
- Alan White – Drums
Production:
- Yes
- Eddy Offord
Artwork:
- Roger Dean (infamously altered with “splat” paint effect by the band)
🎶 Musical Style & Sound
Tormato represents Yes’s late-1970s phase, where they experimented with more raw and edgy production, moving slightly away from the polished symphonic sound of Going for the One.
Key characteristics:
- Mix of prog rock, pop, and experimental textures
- Prominent use of synthesizers and organ alongside guitar and bass
- Occasional funk and jazz-fusion rhythms, especially on Release, Release and Future Times/Rejoice
- A less polished production due to creative tensions and Edgy “splat” artwork attitude
- Shorter, more radio-friendly songs interspersed with extended instrumental passages
This album captures Yes in a playful, experimental mood, reflecting internal band conflicts and changing musical trends.
🎧 Standout Tracks
- “Don't Kill the Whale” – Environmental message combined with catchy melodic hooks
- “Future Times/Rejoice” – Jazzy, energetic instrumental showcase
- “Crazy Talking” – Funk-influenced bass-driven rock with complex rhythmic shifts
- “Arriving UFO” – Brief, atmospheric instrumental highlighting synthesizer textures
🤓 Fun Facts
- The album title Tormato was chosen as a play on words between “tomato” and “torn”, reflecting tensions during production.
- The original Roger Dean cover was paint-splattered by the band as a prank, creating the album’s iconic look.
- Internal disagreements during recording led to unusual production decisions, giving the album a rawer sound.
- Despite mixed reviews, Tormato was a commercial success, reaching the UK Top 10 and US Top 20.
🧠 Trivia
- Rick Wakeman clashed with the band over keyboard overdubs and mixing, contributing to a rougher sound.
- “Don't Kill the Whale” was inspired by environmental awareness, predating widespread ecological activism in rock.
- “Onward” and “Onward (Reprise)” bookend the album, providing a cohesive thematic frame.
- The album features a mix of studio experimentation and traditional prog techniques, making it divisive among fans.
💡 Did You Know?
- Tormato is considered one of Yes’s most polarizing albums, praised for creativity but criticized for inconsistent production.
- The “splat” effect on the cover art was done by throwing paint at the original artwork, a rare prank in album history.
- Tracks like Future Times/Rejoice and Crazy Talking showcase Yes experimenting with funk and jazz, unusual for the band’s core progressive style.
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