Union (Yes album)

Union
Studio album by Yes
Released	30 April 1991
Recorded	1989–1991
Studio	Miraval (Correns, France) Guillaume Tell (Paris, France) SARM West (London, England) Record Plant, The Jacaranda Room, Cherokee (Los Angeles, California) Vision Sound, Platinum Island (New York City, New York) Langley (Devon, England)
Genre	Pop rock progressive rock art rock progressive pop
Length	59:37 (LP) 65:00 (International CD) 69:29 (European, Japanese CD)
Label	Arista
Producer	Jonathan Elias Steve Howe Trevor Rabin Mark Mancina Eddy Offord
Yes chronology
Big Generator (1987) Union (1991) Yesyears (1992)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe chronology
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989) Union (1991) An Evening of Yes Music Plus (1993)
Singles from Union
"Lift Me Up" Released: 20 May 1991[1] "Saving My Heart" Released: 1 July 1991[2]

Union is the thirteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 30 April 1991 by Arista Records. Production began following the amalgamation of two bands that featured previous and then-current members of Yes: Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH), consisting of vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and guitarist Steve Howe, and Yes, at that time comprising bassist and vocalist Chris Squire, guitarist and vocalist Trevor Rabin, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Alan White. The eight musicians signed with Arista and a combination of unfinished tracks by both groups were selected for Union.

The delivery of the final album was problematic from the start, including late-stage disagreements between some of the musicians regarding the "merger" of the two bands. ABWH had already been suffering from strained relations during the recording process for their second, ultimately unfinished album (which eventually made up the bulk of Union), and the production team of Anderson and producer Jonathan Elias had made the decision to bring in session musicians to re-record parts that Wakeman, Bruford and Howe had originally completed, causing further friction and resentment. The Squire/Rabin-led Yes had little material available, resulting in some Rabin solo demos and a Squire/Billy Sherwood track being added to the album as "Yes" work. Squire sang extra vocals on some ABWH tracks in an attempt to provide a bridging factor.

Union was released to a decidedly mixed critical reception, and the majority of the band have openly stated their dislike of the material. Despite all this, it fared relatively well commercially, reaching No. 7 in the UK and No. 15 in the US. After two months, Union was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 500,000 copies. The first single, "Lift Me Up", was number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for six weeks. Howe's acoustic guitar piece "Masquerade" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Yes supported Union with their 1991–1992 ‘Around the World in 80 Dates’ show that featured all eight members playing on stage; Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe left the band after the tour.