Magnification (album)

Magnification
Studio album by Yes
Released	20 September 2001
Recorded	Spring–summer 2001
Studio	Santa Barbara Sound Design, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Genre	Symphonic rock, progressive rock
Length	60:32
Label	Eagle (UK) Beyond Music (US)
Producer	Yes, Tim Weidner
Yes chronology
Keystudio (2001) Magnification (2001) Yesspeak (2004)

Magnification is the nineteenth studio album by the English rock band Yes, released in September 2001 on Eagle Records. Following their 2000 Masterworks Tour and the departure of keyboardist Igor Khoroshev, the remaining four members, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, and Alan White, decided to write material for a new album with added orchestral arrangements, something they also did for Time and a Word (1970). It marks the only Yes album recorded as a four-piece and without a dedicated keyboardist (although White does play piano on the album). It is also Anderson's final studio album with the band.

Magnification was not a commercial success upon its release, peaking at No. 71 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 186 on the Billboard 200. Yes toured the album with the six-month Yessymphonic Tour, playing each show with an orchestra. Magnification was reissued several times with bonus tracks. Yes returned to a five-member formation with the return of keyboardist Rick Wakeman in April 2002.

Recording

Following the departures of guitarist Billy Sherwood and keyboardist Igor Khoroshev, and Rick Wakeman's decision not to rejoin the band, remaining members Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White decided to fill the keyboard role with an orchestra, and hired film composer Larry Groupé to compose and conduct original orchestrations and musical bridges.

"Can You Imagine" is sung by Squire on lead vocals with Anderson on backing vocals. It was originally recorded as a demo in 1981 entitled "Can You See" for the proposed supergroup XYZ with Squire, White and Jimmy Page.

Release

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Magnification received a warm reception from critics and fans, although not on the level of older albums such as Fragile or Close to the Edge. It reached No. 71 in the UK and No. 186 in the US during a chart stay of 1 week.

The album was reissued in 2002 as a 2-disc limited edition set with alternate artwork; the second disc contains three live tracks and a CD-ROM with an interview with Anderson, a music video of "Don't Go", and a live video performance of "The Gates of Delirium". Magnification was also included as part of the compilation studio album box set Essentially Yes in 2006.

Track listing

All songs by Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White.

Reissues

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

• Jon Anderson – lead vocals, MIDI guitar, acoustic guitar
• Steve Howe – acoustic and electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
• Chris Squire – bass guitars, lead vocals on "Can You Imagine", backing vocals
• Alan White – drums, percussion, piano, backing vocals

Additional musician 

• Igor Khoroshev – keyboards ("Close to the Edge" on 2001 Borders reissue, and "Close to the Edge" & "The Gates of Delirium" on 2004 reissue)

Production

• Yes – production
• Tim Weidner – production, engineering, mixing
• Nick Sevilla – additional engineering
• John Elder – additional engineering
• Steve MacMillan – mixing
• Kris Solem – mastering
• Larry Groupé – orchestral composition and arrangements, conductor
• Bruce Donnelly – orchestral arrangements
• Frank Macchia – orchestral arrangements
• Larry Czoka – copyist
• Charlie Bouis – orchestra recording
• The Left Bank Management Organization – management
• Bob Cesca – artwork
• Roger Dean – original Yes logo design

References