Yes "Magnification"

Magnification is the nineteenth studio album by the English rock band Yes, released in September 2001 on Eagle Records. Following their 2000 Masterworks Tour and the departure of keyboardist Igor Khoroshev, the remaining four members, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, and Alan White, decided to write material for a new album with added orchestral arrangements, something they also did for Time and a Word (1970). It marks the only Yes album recorded as a four-piece and without a dedicated keyboardist (although White does play piano on the album). It is also Anderson's final studio album with the band.

Magnification was not a commercial success upon its release, peaking at No. 71 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 186 on the Billboard 200. Yes toured the album with the six-month Yessymphonic Tour, playing each show with an orchestra. Magnification was reissued several times with bonus tracks. Yes returned to a five-member formation with the return of keyboardist Rick Wakeman in April 2002.

Following the departures of guitarist Billy Sherwood and keyboardist Igor Khoroshev, and Rick Wakeman's decision not to rejoin the band, remaining members Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White decided to fill the keyboard role with an orchestra, and hired film composer Larry Groupé to compose and conduct original orchestrations and musical bridges.


"Can You Imagine" is sung by Squire on lead vocals with Anderson on backing vocals. It was originally recorded as a demo in 1981 entitled "Can You See" for the proposed supergroup XYZ with Squire, White and Jimmy Page.

Magnification received a warm reception from critics and fans, although not on the level of older albums such as Fragile or Close to the Edge. It reached No. 71 in the UK and No. 186 in the US during a chart stay of 1 week. Exact sales numbers have not been tabulated, but the album is acknowledged to be the poorest performing release of the band with Anderson.


The album was reissued in 2002 as a 2-disc limited edition set with alternate artwork; the second disc contains three live tracks and a CD-ROM with an interview with Anderson, a music video of "Don't Go", and a live video performance of "The Gates of Delirium". The band added keyboard player Tom Brislin to their lineup for the live concerts. Magnification was also included as part of the compilation studio album box set Essentially Yes in 2006.