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“It came on the radio. None of us knew it had been edited. We all sat up and said, ‘What’s going on?’”: Yes’ record label hacked an eight-minute track into a three-minute single without telling them. Jon Anderson, for one, couldn’t be happier
In 1972, Yes's record label released an edited three-minute-27-second single version of their eight-minute-29-second track Roundabout without informing the band beforehand, a move that initially shocked the group but ultimately proved pivotal to their commercial success. Singer Jon Anderson has since credited the unsanctioned edit with helping secure the band's future at a time when their prospects were uncertain, calling it one of the best things to happen to them.
The single went on to reach number 13 in the US charts and later won a BMI songwriting award. Anderson made the comments while reflecting on his career after being named Prog God 2016 at the Prog Awards, describing the era as a "dream world" in which he was developing the band's distinctive, classically-influenced compositional structure alongside guitarist Steve Howe.
In short
- Yes's label secretly edited Roundabout into a 3:27 single in 1972
- The unauthorised edit hit US chart number 13 and won a BMI award
- Jon Anderson later called it a turning point for the band
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The record label's decision reflected sound commercial judgement for the era, when radio formats strongly favoured shorter tracks. The three-minute single proved commercially astute—it reached number 13 on the US charts and earned industry recognition—vindicating the label's strategic instinct. Labels invested substantial resources and took real financial risks in promoting artists; making editorial decisions to optimise commercial viability served legitimate business interests. That Jon Anderson eventually recognised the edit as beneficial suggests the label's unilateral action, however unconventional, ultimately served the band's interests and future prospects.
The case against
Editing an eight-minute artistic work to under four minutes without artist consultation represents a fundamental breach of creative autonomy and respect. The band's shock upon hearing the edited version indicates they had not consented to such a substantial alteration of their artistic vision. Regardless of eventual commercial success, the principle that artists should control and be consulted on major changes to their work matters independently of outcomes; success achieved through circumventing an artist's agency does not retroactively justify the process. Artist integrity and creative control are values that extend beyond pragmatic commercial calculations.
Explained simply
Yes is a rock band that emerged in the early 1970s, known for their complex, multi-layered compositions inspired by classical music. By 1972, the band was still establishing itself in the music industry and searching for commercial breakthrough.
In 1972, Yes's record label took an unusual step: they edited the band's eight-and-a-half-minute track Roundabout down to three minutes and 27 seconds for release as a single, without first informing the band. When the band heard the shortened version on the radio, they were shocked and confused by the dramatic change to their work.
The edit, rather than damaging the band, proved commercially successful and helped establish Yes as serious contenders in the mainstream music market. The single reached number 13 on the US charts and eventually won a BMI songwriting award, with singer Jon Anderson later reflecting that the label's decision was instrumental in securing the band's future during an uncertain period.
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