“Leave It,” the second single from Yes’ 1983 album 90125, ranks as one of the most oddball tracks in the canon of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. But what a glorious oddball it is!
The song started as a bassline by the great Chris Squire, and was then further developed by cowriters Trevor Rabin and Trevor Horn. “Leave It” also owes a debt to the technology of the time, with a Synclavier synthesizer being utilized to synchronize the Yes vocal choir of Jon Anderson, Squire and Rabin.
Trevor Rabin gets to kick things off in fine fashion, handling the first verse which follows the opening chorus. Alan White drums are sampled, while live percussion is added to augment the vocal foundation. Chris Squire’s bass sounds wonderfully modern and tied to the melodic core of the song. By the time Jon Anderson contributes his verse, it’s easy to be swept away of the beautiful complexity of “Leave It”:
“Goodbye, goodbye goodbye bad
Hello hello heaven…”
Yes’ “Leave it” is simply a gem.
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Is that it? Is this supposed to be a critical analysis of the song? Did you have something else (no pun intended) to do and therefore just wrote a placeholder? I’m fairly sure you can do better, Please.
Yes, that’s its. That’s what I wanted to say. Feel free to share your thoughts. My views vary song to song.
Just discovered this song. Absolute banger.