Animation (Jon Anderson album)

Animation
Studio album by
Jon Anderson
ReleasedMay 1982
Recorded1981–1982
Genre
Length41:32
Label
Producer
Jon Anderson chronology
Song of Seven
(1980) 		Animation
(1982) 		3 Ships
(1985)
Singles from Animation
  1. "Surrender"
    Released: April 1982 (UK)
  2. "All in a Matter of Time"
    Released: November 1982[1]
  3. "Boundaries"
    Released: 1982 (NL)[2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]

Animation is the third solo album by Jon Anderson, a founder-member and former lead singer of Yes. It was released in May 1982.[4] In June 2021, a "Remastered and Expanded Edition" was released by Esoteric Recordings.

Overview

Animation was recorded during a busy time for Anderson when he was collaborating with Vangelis and Mike Oldfield and exploring new age and electropop.

As with the previous album Song of Seven, several well-known musicians were involved in Animation, including Simon Phillips, David Sancious, Jack Bruce and Morris Pert. Anderson also worked with Ian Wallace on this album, who played drums in his band The Warriors in the 1960s before Yes.

The album was produced by producer Neil Kernon who had worked with acts such as Daryl Hall and John Oates and was released on vinyl but no CD version was published until 2006, when a limited edition CD re-release of the album with two bonus tracks was issued by Opio Media. Unfortunately the CD was not made from the original masters but from a worn copy of the vinyl, which led to complaints from purchasers. The song "All God's Children" was produced by producer Tony Visconti (who had worked with more mainstream British acts such as David Bowie and T. Rex)

The album was promoted with a world tour on which Anderson performed songs from the album as well as several Yes classics, mostly in medley form. A follow-up album entitled Chagall was recorded but not released.[5]

One track on the album, "Boundaries", later appeared on other works by Anderson (entitled "O'er" on The Promise Ring) and Yes (entitled "Somehow, Someday" on Open Your Eyes). "Surrender" and "All in a Matter of Time" were released as singles.

Track listing

Side One

  1. "Olympia" (4:58)
  2. "Animation" (9:07)
  3. "Surrender" (3:53)
  4. "All in a Matter of Time" (3:06)

Side Two

  1. "Unlearning (The Dividing Line)" (4:56)
  2. "Boundaries" (3:20)
  3. "Pressure Point" (3:20)
  4. "Much Better Reason" (4:27)
  5. "All Gods Children" (4:25)

Bonus tracks

  • "The Spell" (previously unreleased) (11:40)
  • "Spider" (B-side of the Atlantic 7" single issue of "Surrender") (2:51)

Personnel

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] 97
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 43
US Billboard 200[9] 176
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] 67
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] 22

References

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 925. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ "Boundaries".
  3. ^ Hill, Gary (2011). "Animation – Jon Anderson | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  4. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 925. ISBN 9780862415419.
  5. ^ "Blog Archive » Jon Anderson – Chagall (Highland HL242/243)". Collectors Music Reviews. 13 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jon Anderson – Animation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  9. ^ "Jon Anderson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2021.