YES Leave It 90125 ALBUM | REACTION

[@rockodilechannel3509]

I resisted this album only because Owner of a Lonely Heart was constantly overplayed on the radio. But when I saw the Leave It video on MTV, I had to hear the whole album and it was worth it.

[@JJ8KK]

I really liked this one on that album. It may take a few listens [without a lot of analysis] to appreciate how welcome the acapella singing & the production values were (innovative to a pop audience). Whatever the struggles to record it, I think the end product was rather appealing & just enough Squire to sustain my attention...

[@toddc28]

When I first heard this I didn’t care for it and thought it didn’t fit on the album. But it grew on my. I do like it very much. Not as much as anything on side one. The MTV video for this was very popular and ahead of its time. The video regular play I’m sure contributed to my eventually liking the song.

[@mattleppard1970]

This after Cinema is the highlight of the album for me. They open 9012Live ❤

[@dhfenske]

Yeah, the segue from Cinema into Leave It is very pleasant.

[@yar9333]

A the time it was released we had never heard anything quite like it. I love this song. Theres also a version with just vocals, thats somewhat interesting as well. Listening to it now with all thats come since I see where you might not like it but in real time, great song.

[@figgybass]

Love it ❤

[@bearndesertllc6561]

Man, I thought you’d like this one. I love it. With the layered cappella vocals sung by Rabin, Squire and Anderson I think it’s totally unique and memorable. At least it was back in the day (and was a big hit).

[@kentnottingham9635]

This had to have been so much work! A Capella version would show you all the work, arrangement wise, crazy! Eighties sounding? Someone invented that 80’s sound BECAUSE it was the 80’s! Guess you had to be there. They defined and owned the 80’s because of this song! MTV played it non stop UPSIDE DOWN the whole day on April fools day!

[@j_omega_t]

I was in college when MTV played every video upside down that day. My brother lived in the dorm room that adjoined mine (four dudes, two bedrooms, and one bathroom in the suite). The TV was in his room, so my roommate and I turned it upside down (TVs were heavy back then). Then we had the idea we should turn everything else upside down, too. And did. The beds, desks, posters, chairs, dart board, etc. My brother and his roommate were not amused. I concede now that it was an asinine move. Leave It had been in the MTV rotation for several weeks at that point - it was the five guys from Yes dressed in black suits singing the song (one was tapping his foot). That was the whole video. As I recall, late in the day on April 1, they dropped the new version which started the same, but then went in a wildly different direction. It was pretty cool. I loved every song on 90125 and still do.

[@jeffcappelletti1986]

The Synclavier II is a wave table and FM synthesizer. the Sync lacked II was released before the Yamaha DX-7. In 1982 sampling was added to the unit. One note on the keyboard could trigger four voices at once. The unit also had a 32 track sequencer. The voices of yes were sampled into the Synclavier II. The unit could do things that the Fairlight used on the album could not do. Some drums on Leave It were done on the Fairlight. A Linn Drum drum machine was also used on the chorus of the song. You saw the Synclavier II in the Abacab live video. Tony bank's did not have the sampling option

[@kato0828]

Listening to you read the about the mess in production about vocals, I was already thinking OMG this entire song IS vocals.

[@Kiaburra]

The MTV premiere of this was a weird event. Each day at 4pm a new version of the video was aired and - I think- fans could call in their feelings on today's take. Finally they aired the strangest, most digitally processed MV and that became the official Yes "Leave It" video. As for the song - I loved this album too much. My dorm neighbor came in and just handed me The Yes Album and said I could keep it if I just listened to that tape instead of 90125.

[@Tranquillado]

Call me a heretic but 90125 is my favorite Yes album, I just love it. Bangers, top to bottom, and “Leave It” is near the top of the list.

[@mattleppard1970]

Not quite my favorite but it was the third Yes album (cassette) I had after Fragile and Close to the Edge after I saw 9012Live. I love all these as well as Big Generator, Drama, Fly From Here, Relayer, etc. ❤️

[@Tranquillado]

Yeah, Big Generator is extremely good too, almost like 90125 Pt. II.

[@mattleppard1970]

@@Tranquillado It has I’m Running ❤️

[@Tranquillado]

@@mattleppard1970 And “Shoot High Aim Low”!

[@mattleppard1970]

@@Tranquillado So good an album; so underrated 😢

[@fattypneumonia]

it aint high art, but goddamn if it aint a catchy banger! whenever this single came on the radio (or the video came on mtv), i stopped what i was doing and turned it up.

[@yes_head]

This was a production experiment that made heavy use of then groundbreaking sampling technology. In hindsight it comes off as a bit heavy handed, but at the time it was insanely fresh and jiggy. MTV had the video for this in constant rotation (there was even a Making of... because the video itself was also a digital tech breakthrough). I agree the song itself is fairly thin, one of those where the chorus is the verse and vice versa. Thank goodness there's a bridge. And as you can imagine Yes needed a bit of... 'augmentation' when they played this live. Just one of many reasons they had a second keyboard player under the stage for this tour!

[@bookhouseboy280]

Producer Trevor Horn in 2016: "I loved the finished product (90125), yeah, absolutely ... I think the album as a whole is a really good record, and I could point to loads of things and go; that’s brilliant, that’s absolutely brilliant. For example; Alan White’s sampled drums on ‘Leave It’ ... He just came up with that out of the blue; you know, bam! Bub-a-bub bam bam, bam! Do, do, do, do, do! We fell on the floor laughing, laughing so hard, and I said; “oh we can’t do that”, and Chris squire said; “we’re f*****g doing that!”"

[@reneelyons6836]

I like this whole album. It was so much fun when it was released. I saw them in concert. Good concert. They showed Bugs Bunny cartoons for their opening act.

[@rumourhats]

One of the most unusual Yes songs out there, but one of the most sublime.

[@vernshumway5939]

I love this entire album.

[@TheReaperMan275]

"Leave It" is not exactly my favorite on the album, even though it's catchy as hell and MTV practically wore out the music video, they played it so often. The next three, "Our Song", "City of Love", and "Hearts" are real bangers and finish out the album on a strong note.

[@lionoftwo]

Vocals wow. Always loved this and still do.

[@jeffschielka7845]

YES❗️The greatest band on this or any other planet❗️❗️❗️🪐🪐🪐⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍😎

[@TONE11111]

once you are introduced to 'Gentle Giant'... all other acapella stuff is a non -story.

[@TigerMtnKing]

Don't mean to beat a dead horse Justin but Trevor's last name is pronounced 'Rabin' with a long 'A' like in table, not 'Rabbin' like in Rabbit. Anyway, this another great song from the greatest band there ever was or will ever be!🤩

[@JustinPanariello]

I know. Its because i film all at once. The entire album. And upload it all at once.

[@JohnnyLaps]

We should have just left it

[@miguelbotelho2613]

I remember when this album came out, was very different than there classic sound, but I loved it. They transitioned into the 80s very well indeed.to re name the song...ahhhh Love It.

[@jameswarner5809]

I think this and the preceding instrumental track, Cinema, should really be played together.

[@antoniokofoed7139]

Hahaha the look on your face when the verse comes in is classic 😂

[@jasonwilliams6005]

I always loved this song. May be in the minority here, but I thinks it's amazing and unique.

[@mpkelley20]

It was hard enough playing Yes in my dorm in college as it was all grunge back then but this song, no matter the time, you could NOT be cool listening to it. This was a put the headphones on or quickly skip! LOl I actually had people come to my room and say WTF are you listening to when I would through Rush, Caress of Steel on.... hahahahaha

[@JustinPanariello]

Mostly don't have that problem in music school lol or the reaction is different

[@GTO4now]

YES! 😊

[@mightyV444]

For some reason, Justin doesn't believe us viewers it's "Nine _Oh_ One Two Five" and "Ray-Bin"! 😄 Maybe he'd enjoy the A-capella version more, too?! 😊

[@JustinPanariello]

It's not that.. its that I film the whole album all at once and upload it all at once so I can't fix my speech..its already been recorded lol. I do whoever fix it on the next album when I say Raybin and acknowledge the proper annunciation. So when people say do Cinema and Leave It together, its too late lol already been filmed and uploaded for a week before you see it.

[@mightyV444]

@@JustinPanariello - Ah yes, of course! 🙄 Sorry Justin, I forgot that's the way you work! 😅

[@mattleppard1970]

@@JustinPanariello Will you do Big Generator? Much to love (and loathe for many) on that one 😎

[@jeffhauf5598]

Always loved this song, but totally understand when other people don’t like it. You reacted pretty close to what I thought. As I watched you listen to it, I was thinking at least it’s not Whodunnit and then you said the same thing. 😂

[@mattleppard1970]

@@jeffhauf5598 😂

[@christopherhuot2826]

❤️ LUV YES

[@manhattenman6075]

The Intro and chorus to me sound like a kinda 80s Beach Boys only better and extreme 80s production. Great tune though, Album is Good after this Hearts is the best song on the side though.

[@mattleppard1970]

The Beach Boys were a huge influence on Yes, especially the harmonies

[@Rifkinn]

There were at least 18 variations of the video for this song, lol.

[@nancymjohnson]

Such a great song!! Yes is the best!! 😎❤️☮️

[@kennethmckinney2532]

This one I was on the fence whether you would like it or not sort of like Red Lenses. I figured you would love it or hate it. Sounds like somewhere in the middle. Ambivalence...

[@JustinPanariello]

i love Red Lenses lol

[@kennethmckinney2532]

@@JustinPanariello oh I know. The words from that video are etched in my brain..."What are they doing!!?...lol

[@dannyholloway2007]

Like someone else said, you really need to listen to this without an analysis. You talked through most of the first verse bro lol. Yes has always been a vocal group. This song just takes that to the extreme. This song is vocal genius and yes, they were pioneers of this stuff.

[@halphillips1775]

I bet if you listened a few more times, it's stick with you and improve your opinion. Who knows? It was in heavy rotation on MTV when I was a kid so it definitely stuck with me!

[@raymondregis6219]

Sonically, there wouldn't be room for what Howe used to play - especially with the power chords.

[@toddgilleylen3438]

A classic!

[@mark-be9mq]

Its different but it works. I'll take it.

[@kennethmckinney2532]

It beats Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Never could stand that one being an old school Yes fan. It was all over the radio and didn't like it the first time I heard it or now. Leave it is cool and different at least...

[@stevepreece2931]

It's the Tai Shan 😅 on this album for me. Fantastic writing but not something you like to listen to much. I know how much u like a bit of Tai Shan 👍

[@charleswagner2984]

It's good. Not great, not bad. Still Yes.

[@christianschoenewald]

I have never hated this song, but I’ve also never really liked it. When I listen to the album, I don’t skip it, but I do have to tolerate it. On the plus side, the story of the songs video for MTV is quite interesting, there are apparently lots and lots of different versions of the video.

[@kato0828]

Lots of video versions. All underwhelming. Just an enormous marketing ploy at the time.

[@PalimpsestProd]

It's mostly samples and programming.

[@tonys2899]

Interesting opinion. Personally I love this song. 🤷

[@richierich398]

Those vocal “beats” were kind of a thing in the 80s.

[@Saurles]

The acapella version is much better.

[@jeffin8127]

Acapella version is so much better.

[@kevinhampton6986]

Whodunnit? Leave it.

[@justinkinkade2063]

Too 80s as you review a song from the 80s.....This song blew me away in 1983 as it sounded like nothing else. Guess its hard to experience that perspective 40yrs later.

[@kingvii7250]

No, it's not Stevie Wonder... it's YES. I really don't like when people compare and refere to others, because it diminishes the current artist. And hey... we've got 12 tones available in Western music culture. Of course it's gonna be similarities.

[@JustinPanariello]

Normal / natural to compare Is what it is. Its not to diminish its to make a connection.

[@donnelson6694]

This song has some interesting bits but now that I hear it again for the first time in many years, I don't really care for it. The synclavier, bass and drums scream 80s way too loudly for me.

[@cobbycaputo3332]

I never really liked this one. There are some interesting parts but as a whole it just never worked for me. Strange it was made a radio hit single.

[@1mbpdf33]

Leave It is definitely better than Who Dunnit? (what isn't?) But Leave It is easily the poorest track on this album imo.

[@raymondregis6219]

Live Alan and Tony also sang. I never liked the drums either.

[@dhfenske]

Can anyone explain why people "don't like the '80s drum sound"? I just don't understand. I must be missing something. From my perspective it's just another sound of an instrument. It's like all the different sounds that people get out of an electric guitar. What is it about the technology that people used in the '80s which resulted in certain timbres that people hate so much? Did something happen that has scarred people? I've been listening to classic rock since 1970, when I was 6, so I'm no newbie to the whole scene.

[@toddludwitzke6471]

Video is awesome check it out

[@toddludwitzke6471]

Video for Leave It

[@dyrkeschaefer]

My least favorite track on the album. I dig the bassline, though.

[@deboraclark5791]

Leave it. Lots of vocals but the lyrics are not good. I know you're more into the music, but to me if you're going to have lyrics make them meaningful.