The “astounding” 1977 song that helped create an iconic Yes album: “A furthering of the connection”
Yes guitarist Steve Howe said ‘Turn of the Century’ was central to shaping the band’s 1977 album Going for the One. He described the song as a demanding, layered and “magical” project whose softer musical character helped define the record’s direction.
The article places the song within Yes’s broader reputation for ambitious progressive rock and long-form live performances. Howe said Jon Anderson’s lyrics, about a sculptor called Roan, strengthened the song’s sense of connection, while its sound drew on earlier Yes tracks such as ‘And You And I’ and ‘Wonderous Stories’.
- Steve Howe calls ‘Turn of the Century’ central to Going for the One.
- The song helped establish the album’s softer, layered sound.
- Jon Anderson’s sculptor-themed lyrics shaped its narrative.