1978 Albums

Duncan Browne's career began in the 1960s under the management of Andrew Loog Oldham and the Immediate album. His earliest albums offered folk and classic guitar music, but deeper listening reveals a compositional style that recalls Genesis' more gentle moments. He also provided a choral arrangement for The Nice's version of Tim Hardin's "Hang On to a Dream." Browne's self-titled 1973 album yielded a minor hit with the single "Journey" b/w "In A Mist," which rose to No. 23 on the UK charts.

One look at the album cover and once again you'd have to figure something was different inside Yes' latest album. Recorded at London's RAK Studios, Tormato was another step away from the band's epic-length proportions, as it contained nine (count ‘em) songs. "Future Times" kicks in immediately and races along in fine Yes tradition; Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman trade leads, while Chris Squire delivers one rubbery bass. In fact, that bass tone would lend a unique signature to the album.

Following the demise of King Crimson in 1974, the rhythm section—the formidable duo of Bill Bruford and John Wetton—took some journeyman work (separately, for Gong, Genesis, National Health, Roxy Music and Uriah Heep) and then tried to form a trio with Rick Wakeman; scuttled by management, the keyboardist opted to return to Yes. Then, in 1977, the pair decided to each pick a bandmate: Wetton brought in violin and keyboard man Eddie Jobson, while Bruford recruited guitarist Allan Holdsworth.