On this day May 17, 1988, Jon Anderson released his fifth solo album In the City of Angels. Best known as the lead vocalist of progressive rock band Yes, Anderson took a more pop oriented direction with this release, blending smooth production, melodic hooks and West Coast studio polish into one of his most accessible solo efforts.
In the City of Angels featured contributions from top Los Angeles session musicians and members of the band Toto, including Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro. The album included tracks like Hold On to Love and Sundancing which showcased Anderson’s uplifting vocals and spiritual lyricism in a radio friendly format.
While it was a departure from his progressive roots, the album highlighted Anderson’s versatility and ability to adapt his sound to new musical landscapes without losing his distinctive voice and message.
Fun fact: The music video for Hold On to Love received regular rotation on MTV and marked one of Jon Anderson’s rare solo appearances on the channel.
In the City of Angels featured contributions from top Los Angeles session musicians and members of the band Toto, including Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro. The album included tracks like Hold On to Love and Sundancing which showcased Anderson’s uplifting vocals and spiritual lyricism in a radio friendly format.
While it was a departure from his progressive roots, the album highlighted Anderson’s versatility and ability to adapt his sound to new musical landscapes without losing his distinctive voice and message.
Fun fact: The music video for Hold On to Love received regular rotation on MTV and marked one of Jon Anderson’s rare solo appearances on the channel.
