Olias of Sunhillow
Encyclopedia
Olias of Sunhillow is a progressive rock
concept album
by Jon Anderson
, the lead singer of the band Yes
. Released in 1976, it was his first solo album and the most successful of Yes band member solo efforts to that date, reaching No. 8 in the UK charts and breaking into the US Top 50.
The album tells the story of an alien race and their journey to a new world (the story printed in the LP jacket calls it "the earth", lowercase 'e') due to catastrophe. Olias, the title character, is the chosen architect of the glider Moorglade, which will be used to fly his people to their new home. Ranyart is the navigator for the glider, and Qoquaq is the leader who unites the four tribes of Sunhillow to partake in the exodus.
had auditioned to be a part of Yes, there has been widespread speculation that Vangelis contributed to the album, with some fans going so far as to say that Olias represents the kind of sound that Yes would have created if Vangelis had in fact joined the band. However, both Vangelis and Anderson have denied that they collaborated on the album.
This was one of five solo albums released by members of Yes in 1975 and 1976, along with Chris Squire
's Fish Out of Water, Steve Howe
's Beginnings
, Alan White
's Ramshackled
, and Patrick Moraz
's Story of I
.
The album's concept was inspired by the cover art by Roger Dean for the 1972 Yes album Fragile
, which depicts a tiny planet breaking apart and a glider escaping into space. Another link to Fragile lies in the fact that both albums have pieces (Fragile's "We Have Heaven") consisting of multiple vocal parts, with Anderson singing all of them. Anderson has stated that works by J.R.R. Tolkien and Vera Stanley Alder
were also an influence, underlying the epic scope of the narrative compressed into the album.
The album sleeve features a series of artworks by the artist David Fairbrother Roe, RA (whose other work included graphics for the Isle of Wight Festival
, Nazareth
– Hair of the Dog
, and the Dragonflight novels of Anne McCaffrey
).
The album has been re-released several times, most recently with a US CD release by Wounded Bird Records
on 28 February 2006.
Side B
In a Rockline interview on 20 July 2011, Jon was asked about the sequel by Eddy from Wisconsin. He said that he would (hopefully) have the first bits of Zamran out in a year.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, the lead singer of the band 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...
. Released in 1976, it was his first solo album and the most successful of Yes band member solo efforts to that date, reaching No. 8 in the UK charts and breaking into the US Top 50.
The album tells the story of an alien race and their journey to a new world (the story printed in the LP jacket calls it "the earth", lowercase 'e') due to catastrophe. Olias, the title character, is the chosen architect of the glider Moorglade, which will be used to fly his people to their new home. Ranyart is the navigator for the glider, and Qoquaq is the leader who unites the four tribes of Sunhillow to partake in the exodus.
Production
The album was one of Anderson's most acclaimed solo works both by critics and fans. Since Anderson produced Olias soon after VangelisVangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
had auditioned to be a part of Yes, there has been widespread speculation that Vangelis contributed to the album, with some fans going so far as to say that Olias represents the kind of sound that Yes would have created if Vangelis had in fact joined the band. However, both Vangelis and Anderson have denied that they collaborated on the album.
This was one of five solo albums released by members of Yes in 1975 and 1976, along with Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
's Fish Out of Water, Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
's Beginnings
Beginnings (Steve Howe album)
Beginnings is the title of Yes guitarist Steve Howe's first solo album. It was released in 1975.The five Yes band members each did a solo album in 1975/6 and then current Yes members Alan White and Patrick Moraz guest on Beginnings, while Howe guested on White's Ramshackled album...
, Alan White
Alan 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...
's Ramshackled
Ramshackled
Ramshackled is the debut solo album by Alan White, drummer for British progressive rock band Yes. It was released in 1975 on Atlantic Records, during a period when all five of the Yes band members released solo albums.-About the album:White had worked with Pete Kirtley and Kenny Craddock in the...
, and Patrick Moraz
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
's Story of I
Story of I
Story Of i is the title of a 1976 album by former Yes keyboard player Patrick Moraz. After the success of Relayer, the band made a decision that next, each member would make a solo album. Story Of i is the first solo album by Moraz, and by the time it was released he was no longer a member of Yes,...
.
Artwork
Fragile (Yes album)
Fragile is the fourth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye in 1971, and the first to feature cover art by Roger Dean, who would design many of the band's records.Upon its...
, which depicts a tiny planet breaking apart and a glider escaping into space. Another link to Fragile lies in the fact that both albums have pieces (Fragile's "We Have Heaven") consisting of multiple vocal parts, with Anderson singing all of them. Anderson has stated that works by J.R.R. Tolkien and Vera Stanley Alder
Vera Stanley Alder
Vera Dorothea Stanley Alder was a portrait painter and mystic. She wrote several books and pamphlets on self-help and spirituality. She founded the World Guardian Fellowship.-Background and family life :...
were also an influence, underlying the epic scope of the narrative compressed into the album.
The album sleeve features a series of artworks by the artist David Fairbrother Roe, RA (whose other work included graphics for the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
, Nazareth
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975...
– Hair of the Dog
Hair of the Dog
-Bonus track information:The remastered editions include both "Guilty" and "Love Hurts" plus the following bonus tracks:* Some editions include also "Holy Roller" and "Holy Roller "...
, and the Dragonflight novels of Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey
Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born Irish writer, best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. Over the course of her 46 year career she won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award...
).
The album has been re-released several times, most recently with a US CD release by Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
on 28 February 2006.
Vinyl
Side A- Ocean Song
- Meeting (Garden of Geda)
Sound Out the Galleon - Dance of Ranyart
Olias (To Build the Moorglade) - Qoquaq Ën Transic
Naon
Transic Tö - Flight of the Moorglade
Side B
- Solid Space
- Moon Ra
Chords
Song of Search - To the Runner
8-Track
- Ocean Song
- Meeting (Garden of Geda)
Sound Out the Galleon - Dance of Ranyart
Olias (To Build the Moorglade)
- Qoquaq Ën Transic
Naon
Transic Tö - Flight of the Moorglade
- Solid Space
- Moon Ra
Chords
Song of Search (Part 1)
- Moon Ra
Chords
Song of Search (Part 2) - To the Runner
CD
- Ocean Song – 3:05
- Meeting (Garden Of Geda) / Sound Out The Galleon – 3:34
- Dance Of Ranyart / Olias (To Build The Moorglade) – 4:19
- Qoquaq Ën Transic / Naon / Transic Tö – 7:08
- Flight Of The Moorglade – 3:24
- Solid Space – 5:21
- Moon Ra / Chords / Song Of Search – 12:48
- To The Runner – 4:29
Personnel
- Jon AndersonJon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
: Lead & Backing Vocals, Guitars, Harp, Synthesizer, Percussion - Brian "It's Going Now" Gaylor – Electronics, Synthesisers
- Strings by Ken Freeman
Production
- Engineered by Mike Dunne
- John Martin – Co-ordination, equipment, goodies
- Mastered at RCA by Brian East
- Recorded at Seer Green
- Illustrated & Designed by Dave Roe
- Art direction by HipgnosisHipgnosisHipgnosis was a British art design group that specialized in creating cover art for the albums of rock musicians and bands, most notably Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Pretty Things, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, ELO and XTC...
- Portrait – Jeff Cummings
- Portrait colouring – Richard Manning
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Billboard Pop Albums | 47 |
| 1976 | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
8 |
Sequel
In 2004, Jon Anderson called for collaborators to contact him via his website. He described a project that would be a "return to Olias". In 2006, around the time Olias of Sunhillow was re-released, Jon announced that he was making a sequel called The Songs of Zamran: Son of Olias. In late 2008, he announced on his Myspace page that he was hoping to finish the sequel soon. In 2009, he posted messages on his Twitter and Facebook pages indicating that he was still working on the project.In a Rockline interview on 20 July 2011, Jon was asked about the sequel by Eddy from Wisconsin. He said that he would (hopefully) have the first bits of Zamran out in a year.
In popular culture
In 2008, the song "Flight of the Moorglade" was used in the Rob and Big season 3 episode "Mini-horse Rode Trip".External links
- Olias of Sunhillow lyrics