Yes, “Holy Lamb” from Big Generator (1987): YESterdays

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The Jon Anderson-penned “Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence)” almost seems like a palette cleanser after “I’m Running” on Yes’ 1987 album Big Generator. Anderson provides a simple and delicate melody which is conveyed by Trevor Rabin’s synthesizers and acoustic guitar.

The song, based on a world-wide meditation event, starts in a spiritually up lifting way. Initially, “Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence)” seems as if it could have fit on one of Anderson’s solo albums. Unfortunately, Yes’ bombastic Rabin-era production does the song no favors.

Over-caffeinated drums and bass quickly overwhelm Jon Anderson’s voice and the acoustic guitars.
It is said that by the time Yes finished recording Big Generator in Los Angeles, Anderson had had enough of the in-fighting with Squire and departed producer Trevor Horn, and was ready to move on.

Perhaps with different sonic sensibilities, “Holy Lamb” could have been great. Anderson went on to lead the Yes off-shoot Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe while the main band flirted with a young California-based singer-songwriter-guitarist named Billy Sherwood. It would be almost three years before both sides collapsed into each other for the schizophrenic album known as Union.


YESterdays is a song-by-song feature that explores the unforgettable musical legacy of Yes. The series runs every other Tuesday.

Preston Frazier