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Going for the One

by Yes

Released: July 15, 1977

Progressive rock

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Going for the One" is the eighth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on July 15, 1977, by Atlantic Records. After a hiatus in 1975, during which each member released solo albums, and following their 1976 tour of the United States and Canada, Yes regrouped in Montreux, Switzerland to work on their next project. Yes supported the album with a six-month tour across the US, Canada, and Europe.

Inside the Recording

This album marked a shift from the band's previous works, featuring shorter and more straightforward songs compared to their usual complex and conceptual pieces, except for the fifteen-minute track "Awaken." The album was produced with new engineering personnel and cover artists, reflecting a fresh direction for the band. In 2003, a remastered edition of the album was released, including previously unreleased tracks from the recording sessions. During the recording process, keyboardist Patrick Moraz left the band, leading to the return of Rick Wakeman, who had previously left due to disagreements over the band's earlier concept album, *Tales from Topographic Oceans* (1973).

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Yes - Going for the One

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Reception

It achieved commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for two weeks and No. 8 on the US Billboard 200. The singles "Wonderous Stories" and "Going for the One" were released, with "Wonderous Stories" hitting No. 7 in the UK, making it Yes's highest-charting single in the country. "Going for the One" received a largely positive reception from critics, who appreciated the band's move towards more accessible music.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Going for the One" is the eighth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on July 15, 1977, by Atlantic Records. After a hiatus in 1975, during which each member released solo albums, and following their 1976 tour of the United States and Canada, Yes regrouped in Montreux, Switzerland to work on their next project. During the recording process, keyboardist Patrick Moraz left the band, leading to the return of Rick Wakeman, who had previously left due to disagreements over the band's earlier concept album, *Tales from Topographic Oceans* (1973).

"Going for the One" received a largely positive reception from critics, who appreciated the band's move towards more accessible music. It achieved commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for two weeks and No. 8 on the US Billboard 200. The singles "Wonderous Stories" and "Going for the One" were released, with "Wonderous Stories" hitting No. 7 in the UK, making it Yes's highest-charting single in the country. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) within a month of its release. Yes supported the album with a six-month tour across the US, Canada, and Europe. In 2003, a remastered edition of the album was released, including previously unreleased tracks from the recording sessions.