Onward (song)
| "Onward" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Yes from the album Tormato | ||||
| Released | 29 September 1978 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
| Label | Atlantic Records | |||
| Writer | Chris Squire | |||
| Composer | Chris Squire | |||
| Producer | Yes | |||
| Tormato track listing | ||||
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| "Onward (orchestral)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Yes from the album Tormato (remastered) | ||||
| Released | 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 3:06 | |||
| Writer | Chris Squire | |||
| Composer | Chris Squire | |||
| Producer | Yes | |||
| Tormato (remastered) track listing | ||||
| ||||
"Onward" is a song performed by the British band Yes. It is the seventh track on their ninth studio album, Tormato. The writing credit goes to bassist Chris Squire, and it is the only song on the album for which singer Jon Anderson gets no writing credit.
It was covered by American singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek on his 2013 covers album, Like Rats. His version features in the 2015 film "Youth" starring Michael Caine.
On the album
The song is vastly different in style than the rest of the album, being heavily padded by an orchestra and containing much lower-pitch instrumentation from the band members. The lyrics are also atypical of most progressive rock music; it is a very direct love song from Chris Squire to his then wife, Nikki Squire. The orchestral arrangement was by Andrew Pryce Jackman, who also worked on "Madrigal" on the same album. Jackman had recently worked with Squire on his Fish Out of Water solo album and had been in The Syn with Squire many years before.
In the live setting
The song was performed live on the album Keys to Ascension. The live version contained an introduction written and performed by guitarist Steve Howe. It was performed again, apparently on Benoît David's request, when the Canadian singer joined and toured with Yes in 2008.[1]
The song was featured as an opening tribute to Chris Squire for the Yes 2015 tour.
Remaster
On the 2004 remaster of Tormato, an unlisted bonus track was included of the recording of the orchestral part of the song.
Personnel
Original
- Jon Anderson: Vocals
- Steve Howe: Gibson Les Paul guitar
- Chris Squire: Rickenbacker bass and vocals
- Rick Wakeman: Polymoog synthesizer
- Alan White: Vibraphone and Crotales
Orchestral
Not listed.
Notes
- ↑ Forgotten Yesterdays Yes tour log, retrieved December 28, 2006
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