Drama (Yes album)

Drama is the tenth studio album from the English rock band Yes, released in August 1980 on Atlantic Records. It is the only album to feature The Buggles (singer Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoff Downes) in the band's line-up, following the exit of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman in March 1980 after differences during the band's failed album recording sessions in Paris in late 1979. Horn would later produce some of Yes' work, while Downes ultimately rejoined the band in 2011.

Drama reached No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 18 in the United States, their lowest charting album there since The Yes Album (1971). The album was supported with a 1980 tour across North America and the UK; the group disbanded at its conclusion.

Background

Following the conclusion of their 1979 North American tour, Yes took a break and proceeded to work on their tenth studio album with producer Roy Thomas Baker in Paris, France in November that year. Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman were the most enthusiastic about producing a new album, writing more songs together than they had before. The remaining members – Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White – were lukewarm to the project after the production issues and critical reception of their previous record, Tormato (1978). This discouraged both Anderson and Wakeman with the latter at times refusing to leave his room, and both men dejectedly spending time in a local pub. The two decided to leave in March 1980.