Billy Sherwood’s newest concept album Citizen is the upcoming album by the Yes member. The album due out on Nov 6th includes 11 songs written with a theme being about “a lost soul reincarnated into various periods of history, he is the citizen…” The songs describe the individual experiences through his own eyes: a conscript legionnaire in the Roman Army at the end of the Empire, a trench runner in WW1, A friend to Galileo, as he discovers the Earth is not flat and many more.
The album also features an impressive list of guest stars which includes Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Steve Hackett, Geoff Downes, Colin Moulding, Steve Morse, Jerry Goodman, Alan Parsons, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, Jon Davison, Jordan Rudess and John Wesley.
Handpicked by original founding member Chris Squire before his untimely death in June 2015 Billy has been on tour with the band since this past summer. He originally joined YES for the first time as touring member on the “Talk” tour in 1994 before becoming a full time member from 1997 to 1999. He also recorded two albums with Chris Squire himself on the “Conspiracy” project and released six albums with CIRCA, the band he formed with the other YES former member Tony Kaye.
Billy Sherwood says: “For me the most special track on the record is the title track “The Citizen,” which sets the stage for the concept behind it all, on this track is the last recording of Chris Squire and he’s larger than life on it! I recorded him not too long ago in a Holiday Inn when I went to visit with him just before he fell ill. Tony Kaye is playing hammond and keys on the track and sounds great as always!!! There are many sonic treats in the production and if you put yourself in the mind of the citizen… it’s quite a journey !!”
Credits
1: The Citizen
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Guitars / Drums
Chris Squire Bass
Tony Kaye Keyboards & Hammond Organ
2: Man & The Machine
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Keyboards / Bass / Drums
Steve Hackett Guitar
3: Just Galileo And Me
Colin Moulding Lead Vocals
Billy Sherwood Backing Vocals / Keyboards / Guitars / Harmonica / Bass / Drums
4: No Mans Land
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Keyboards / Bass / Drums
Steve Morse Guitar
5: The Great Depression
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Guitars / Bass / Drums
Rick Wakeman Keyboards & Grand Piano
6: Empire
Alan Parsons Lead & Backing Vocals
Jerry Goodman Violins
Billy Sherwood Backing Vocals / Keyboards / Guitars / Bass / Drums
7: Age Of The Atom
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Guitars / Bass / Drums
Geoff Downes Keyboards
8: Trail Of Tears
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Guitars / Bass / Drums
Patrick Moraz Keyboards
9: Escape Velocity
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Guitars / Bass / Drums
Jordan Rudess Keyboards
10: A Theory All it’s Own
Billy Sherwood Vocals / Keyboards / Bass / Drums
John Wesley Guitar
11: Written In The Centuries
Jon Davison Lead Vocals
Billy Sherwood Backing Vocals / Keyboards / Guitars / Bass / Drums
Based only with “No Mans Land”, which was pretty nice with a single listen & a impressive guest list & the last recording of Chris Squire before his death, this is a MUST have for me!