Can't Look Away
Encyclopedia
Can't Look Away is the fourth studio album
by former Yes
guitarist
Trevor Rabin
, released in 1989 through Elektra Records
; a remaster
ed edition was reissued in 2006 through Voiceprint Records
. Lyrically, the first and third tracks deal with the apartheid regime in South Africa
, with the latter having direct references to the "armed struggle" strategy of the African National Congress
in the 1970s–80s and the Soweto riots of 1976. The lyrics strongly imply that the increased repression following the riots was one major factor in Rabin's decision to leave South Africa two years later.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by former Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
, released in 1989 through Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
; a remaster
Remaster
Remaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
ed edition was reissued in 2006 through Voiceprint Records
Voiceprint Records
Voiceprint Records is a company and record label based in England, founded in 1990 by Rob Ayling. They specialise in re-releasing old material, especially progressive rock, but also have new releases, all under the Voiceprint and other imprints....
. Lyrically, the first and third tracks deal with the apartheid regime in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, with the latter having direct references to the "armed struggle" strategy of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
in the 1970s–80s and the Soweto riots of 1976. The lyrics strongly imply that the increased repression following the riots was one major factor in Rabin's decision to leave South Africa two years later.
Track listing
Personnel
- Trevor RabinTrevor RabinTrevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, guitar synthesizer, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bassBasslineA bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(tracks 2, 3, 5, 7–9), engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Lou Molino IIILou Molino IIILouis Molino III is an American drummer. He is best known for many years working with Trevor Rabin. He was also a member of Cock Robin and Yoso with Bobby Kimball, Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Jimmy Haun....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(tracks 1–3, 8, 10) - Alan WhiteAlan White (Yes drummer)Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
– drums (tracks 4, 11) - Denny Fongheiser – drums (track 7)
- "Basil" – drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
(tracks 4, 5, 9, 11) - Duncan FaureDuncan FaureDuncan Caldwell Faure is a singer from Pretoria, South Africa.-Early life:Faure was born in 1956 to William and Antonio Faure in Pretoria, South Africa. Faure was a championship swimmer around the age of ten. In 1975, at age 18-19, Faure joined the popular South African band Rabbitt...
– background vocals (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7–9) - Tsidii Le LokaTsidii Le LokaTsidii Le Loka is an actress, vocalist, and composer originally from South Africa and The Kingdom of Lesotho. She is best known for creating the role of Rafiki in the original Broadway production of Disney's stage musical, The Lion King.-Theatre:...
– background vocals (tracks 3–5, 7) - Beulah Hashe – background vocals (tracks 3–5, 7)
- Faith Kekana – background vocals (tracks 3–5, 7)
- Marilyn Nokwe – background vocals (tracks 3–5, 7)
- Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
– background vocals (tracks 3, 7), engineering, production - Stan Katayama – engineering
- Rick Butz – engineering
- Julian Stoll – engineering
- Dave Subklewe – engineering
- Julie Last – engineering
- Tom Banghart – engineering
- Ringo Hrycyna – engineering
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
111 |