# The 1983 song that saved Yes from oblivion: “This is going to be a hit”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1983-song-that-saved-yes-from-oblivion-this-is-going-to-be-a-hit/
- Published: 2026-08-03T17:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-25T12:06:27+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1983-song-that-saved-yes-from-oblivion/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Yes scored an unexpected US number one in 1983 with "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
- The song began as guitarist Trevor Rabin's solo demo before becoming a Yes track
- Jon Anderson rejoined to write lyrics, reviving the band from near collapse

## Summary

In 1983, British prog-rock band Yes achieved an unlikely US number one with "Owner of a Lonely Heart," a track that revived a group many had written off after years of splits, line-up changes and punk's rise pushing prog rock out of fashion. The song's success marked a dramatic reinvention for a band once known for sprawling, complex albums such as "Close to the Edge" and "Tales from Topographic Oceans," and it proved pivotal in extending their career into a new era of mainstream pop appeal.

The track originated as a solo demo by South African guitarist Trevor Rabin, dating back to 1979, before being adopted by his band Cinema, which included former Yes members Chris Squire and Alan White. Record label Atco pushed for original singer Jon Anderson to rejoin and rebrand the project as a full Yes release, with Anderson later recalling how he and Rabin co-wrote the lyrics together over a few weeks. Backed by a striking Storm Thorgerson-directed video for the MTV era, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100, and both it and its parent album, "90125," remain the band's most commercially successful releases.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.