SOME ARE BORN

Both tracks of this single were released in Jon Anderson`s "Song of Seven" album, an album released in late 1980, a short time later than YES` "Drama" album (their only album on which Anderson didn`t participate). And while the "Drama" album was heavier than Anderson`s (a thing that maybe showed why Anderson left the band), Anderson`s "Song of Seven" album was much lighter, with even more Pop influences than "Drama". Also both songs were released in 2004 in diferent versions ("Some are Born"recorded by the whole band and "Days" as a shorter a capella demo sung by Anderson) as Bonus Tracks in the remastered version of YES` "Tormato" album. And again, both songs sound in the remastered "Tormato" as very diferent to YES`s musical style. "Some are Born" recorded by YES sounds in a very New Age / Pop style influenced a bit by the work that Anderson did with Vangelis later. The version of this song in this single has some differences: it is more Pop influenced and more upbeat, with an added chorus ("towa taya taka tai", etc., sung by Anderson, Ian Bairnson and Chris Rainbow, as the LP sleeve notes say). It was easily the best choice for a single from the "Song of Seven" album. The B-side, "Days", has a very good vocals arrangement sung by Anderson and Rainbow, a harp played by Anderson, keyboards, but no drums, and the voices of his children playing in the background. The a capella version is only similar in the melody that Anderson sings. Maybe many YES fans didn`t like Anderson`s new solo album in 1980. As I wrote in the review for the "Song of Seven" album, that album was Anderson`s "Family Album", with him maybe wanting to show his family life after leaving YES in early 1980. Both songs in this single are good, but not in the traditional YES`s musical style, a thing that maybe the members of the band didn`t like for the next album and caused some fricitions with Anderson, with him leaving the band, and YES becoming a heavier band for "Drama".

This is not as good as anything off of OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW, but it is still far better than most of what Jon has done since.From 1980, this single has "Some are Born" and on the flip side is "Days" both coming from the pretty good SONG OF SEVEN album. These are nothing like Yes, so don't expect that, but they are pretty good pop-folk kind of tunes."Days" has help from Chris Rainbow, who has sung on about a billion albums, notably The ALan Parsons Project. He has a good pop voice, but I don't think he would help much as a prog singer. I gave the album 3 stars, so I guess these 2 number deserve the same. Good but not earthshattering.