Yield (album)

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Yield
Yield cover
Studio album by Pearl Jam
Released February 3, 1998
Recorded February 1997–September 1997 at Studio Litho and Studio X, Seattle, Washington; Southern Tracks Recording and Doppler, Atlanta, Georgia
Genre Alternative rock
Length 48:37
Label Epic
Producer Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
Professional reviews
Pearl Jam chronology
No Code
(1996)		 Yield
(1998)		 Live on Two Legs
(1998)
Singles from Yield
  1. "Given to Fly"
    Released: January 6, 1998
  2. "Wishlist"
    Released: May 5, 1998

Yield is Pearl Jam's fifth album, released on February 3, 1998 through Epic Records. Following a limited tour for its previous album, No Code (1996), the band went into the studio in 1997 to record its follow-up. The music on the record was proclaimed as a return to the band's early, straightforward rock sound.

Yield debuted at number two on the Billboard charts, but like No Code soon began dropping down the charts. However, the album was well-received critically, and eventually outsold No Code. The band did more promotion for the album, including a return to full-scale touring and the release of a music video. The album has been certified Platinum in the United States.

Contents

[edit] Recording

For its fifth album, Pearl Jam again worked with producer Brendan O'Brien. Yield was recorded throughout 1997 in Seattle at Studio X and Studio Litho, the latter of which is owned by guitarist Stone Gossard. The album was then mixed by Brendan O'Brien at O'Brien's mixing facility at Southern Tracks in Atlanta.

Compared with Vitalogy and No Code, Yield represented a true collaboration between all members of the group. Frontman Eddie Vedder had made the final decisions for Vitalogy and No Code, however at the end of the No Code sessions Vedder suggested to bassist Jeff Ament that it would be great for the other members to bring in more complete songs in order to take pressure off of him.[1] Ament said that "everybody took that to heart."[1] Ament revealed that Vedder's reaction to the individual member's new material made "everybody energized about their place in the band."[2] Vedder worked with the other band members on their own material before work was started on his.[3]

Guitarist Mike McCready noticed a change in Vedder's attitude during the making of Yield, stating, "I used to be afraid of him and not want to confront him on things...We talk more now, and hang out...He seems very, very centered now."[4] Vedder said that the band was able to "team up" for the album.[1] The band spent a large amount of time rehearsing the songs until they had a good take.[2] Ament stated that "Yield was a superfun record to make. And so much of it was Ed kind of sitting back."[3] Ament said that "everybody really got a little bit of their say on the record...because of that, everybody feels like they're an integral part of the band."[1] The music documentary, Single Video Theory, features interviews with the band about the making of the album and was filmed in November 1997 during the band's rehearsal sessions for its shows opening for The Rolling Stones.

[edit] Music and lyrics

Audio samples of Yield
  • "Given to Fly"
    Sample of "Given to Fly", the first single released from Yield. The song features Vedder's distinctive baritone vocals and McCready's prominent lead guitar throughout.
    "Wishlist"
    Sample of "Wishlist", the second single released from Yield. The song's lyrics are about seeking fulfillment of wishes desired.
  • Problems playing the files? See media help.

Overall, Yield resembles the straight-ahead rock approach of the band's early work.[5] Guitarist Stone Gossard said, "The songs were a little bit more structured. I don't know if it was poppier, but it seemed more professional."[6] Producer Brendan O'Brien said that the band made a conscious effort "to really put together the best, most accessible songs they possibly could."[3] Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly stated that the band has "turned in an intermittently affecting album that veers between fiery garage rock and rootsy, acoustic-based ruminations. Perhaps mindful of their position as the last alt-rock ambassadors with any degree of clout, they've come up with their most cohesive album since their 1991 debut, Ten."[7] "Given to Fly", the album's first single, was noted for its similarity to Led Zeppelin's "Going to California".[7]

Lyrically, Yield continued with the more contemplative type of writing found on No Code.[8] Several songs on the album were inspired by literary works, including Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael ("Do the Evolution"),[9] Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita ("Pilate"),[4] and the writings of Charles Bukowski ("In Hiding").[10] Guitarist Stone Gossard penned the lyrics for the songs "No Way" and "All Those Yesterdays", and bassist Jeff Ament, making his first lyrical contributions to a Pearl Jam album, penned the lyrics for the songs "Pilate" and "Low Light". Ament said, "[to] watch Eddie put his heart into singing lyrics that I wrote, was an experience I can't put into words."[4] According to Vedder, "Given to Fly" is about "rising above anybody's comments about what you do and still giving your love away,"[2] "Do the Evolution" is about "someone who's drunk with technology, who thinks they're the controlling living being on this planet,"[2] and "In Hiding" is about "taking a fast from life."[2]

[edit] Release and reception

The album was proclaimed as a return to the band's early, straightforward rock sound. Yield sold 358,000 copies during its first week of release,[11] and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 album chart. Yield became Pearl Jam's first album not to peak at number one on the Billboard charts since Ten in 1991. However, the album achieved Platinum status,[12] and eventually outsold its predecessor No Code, selling 1,500,000 copies in the United States.[13]

Rolling Stone gave Yield four out of five stars. Reviewer Rob Sheffield said that "before, the band's best songs were the change-of-pace ballads...Yield marks the first time Pearl Jam have managed to sustain that mood for a whole album." He added that "Vedder is singing more frankly than ever about his life as an adult," and that the album "shows that Pearl Jam have made the most out of growing up in public."[14] Jon Pareles of The New York Times stated that the band "applies its introspection to spiritual possibilities and its guitars to chomping, snarling, exuberant riffs." He said "the songs sound bolder and more confident, even when they invoke private crises."[15] Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B, saying that "the overall tone is less pretentious than in the past, reflecting a looser, even marginally whimsical, worldview."[7]

Two singles were released from Yield. The lead single "Given to Fly" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 21. The album's other commercially released single, "Wishlist", charted on the Hot 100 at number 47. "Given to Fly" was the most successful song from Yield on the rock charts, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts and spending a total of six weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. Album tracks "In Hiding" and "Do the Evolution" also charted on the rock charts. The band hired comic book artist Todd McFarlane to create an animated video for the song "Do the Evolution" from the album. It was the band's first music video since 1992. In 1999, the song "Do the Evolution" was nominated for the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance and its music video was nominated for the Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form.[16]

[edit] Imagery and design

The cover art image for the album shows an empty road underneath a bright blue sky with a yield sign on the right-hand side of the road. The front cover art image was taken from a photograph of a road outside Billings, Montana.[17] The photograph was doctored to form a 360° panorama, as in reality there is a curve in the road.[18] The cover of the cassette version has slightly different artwork, moving the yield sign from the right of the road to the left side and reversing the picture of the road. Regarding the liner notes art, there is a yield sign hidden in every picture in the booklet.[19] In 1999, the album received a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package.[20]

The album title is rooted in the idea of "yielding to nature", a theme central to Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael.[21] The band members read the book while working on the album.[22] Regarding the title, guitarist Mike McCready said, "I think the title Yield has to do with maybe being more comfortable within ourselves, with this band....we're all a little bit older and a little more relaxed and maybe just kind of yielding to those anxieties and not trying to fight it so much...That's what it kind of feels to me -- yielding, letting something else happen and going with it."[23]

[edit] Yield tour

Main article: Yield Tour

Pearl Jam promoted the album with tours of New Zealand, Australia, and North America in 1998.[24] Following the band's tour of Australia and before its summer tour of North America began, drummer Jack Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring.[25] He was replaced with former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron. Cameron learned over 80 songs in two weeks.[26]

Pearl Jam's summer tour of North America marked the band’s return to full-scale touring and the use of Ticketmaster.[27] Pearl Jam once again began using Ticketmaster in order to "better accommodate concertgoers."[27] The first leg of the tour focused on the West Coast of the United States and the Midwestern United States, and then the band moved to the East Coast of the United States for the tour's second leg. The North American summer tour was a tremendous success,[28] and after it was completed the band released its first live album, Live on Two Legs, which featured select performances from the tour. Guitarist Mike McCready stated that the band released the live album due to the strength of Pearl Jam's shows on the tour.[29]

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Brain of J." (Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder) – 2:59
  2. "Faithfull" (McCready, Vedder) – 4:18
  3. "No Way" (Stone Gossard) – 4:19
  4. "Given to Fly" (McCready, Vedder) – 4:01
  5. "Wishlist" (Vedder) – 3:26
  6. "Pilate" (Jeff Ament) – 3:00
  7. "Do the Evolution" (Gossard, Vedder) – 3:54
  8. "●" (Jack Irons) – 1:06
  9. "MFC" (Vedder) – 2:27
  10. "Low Light" (Ament) – 3:46
  11. "In Hiding" (Gossard, Vedder) – 5:00
  12. "Push Me, Pull Me" (Ament, Vedder) – 2:28
    • Contains a sample of "Happy When I'm Crying", a song written by Jack Irons and released on Pearl Jam's 1997 Ten Club Christmas single.
  13. "All Those Yesterdays" (Gossard) – 7:47
    • "All Those Yesterdays" contains the hidden track "Hummus" at 5:04

[edit] Outtakes

The album's singles featured two B-sides from the Yield recording sessions that weren't included on the album, "Leatherman", which is about the Leatherman vagabond from the 19th century,[30] and "U". "Leatherman" was a B-side on the "Given to Fly" single and "U" was featured on the "Wishlist" single. Neither of the original recordings were included on the Lost Dogs collection of rarities, although a re-recorded version of "U" was included.[31] "Whale Song", sung by drummer Jack Irons, was also recorded during the Yield sessions and was eventually included on the Music For Our Mother Ocean Vol. 3 compilation as well as Lost Dogs. "Happy When I'm Crying" was recorded around this time and was released on the band's 1997 fan club Christmas single.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Chart positions

Information taken from various sources.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]

Album
Year Chart Position
1998 Australian Albums Chart 1
New Zealand Albums Chart 1
Norwegian Albums Chart 1
US Billboard 200 2
Top Canadian Albums 2
Belgian Albums Chart 3
Swedish Albums Chart 3
Austrian Albums Chart 4
Dutch Albums Chart 4
Finnish Albums Chart 4
German Albums Chart 4
French Albums Chart 6
Swiss Albums Chart 6
UK Albums Chart 7
Hungarian Albums Chart 8
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1998 "Given to Fly" Canadian Singles Chart 2
Finnish Singles Chart 5
Norwegian Singles Chart 6
New Zealand Singles Chart 12
UK Singles Chart 12
Australian Singles Chart 13
Irish Singles Chart 18
US Billboard Hot 100 21
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
US Modern Rock Tracks 3
Swedish Singles Chart 29
Dutch Singles Chart 36
Swiss Singles Chart 39
German Singles Chart 67
"Wishlist" Canadian Singles Chart 7
UK Singles Chart 30
US Billboard Hot 100 47
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 6
US Modern Rock Tracks 6
Australian Singles Chart 48
"In Hiding" US Modern Rock Tracks 13
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 14
"Do the Evolution" US Modern Rock Tracks 33
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 40

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "Pearl Jam Talks About New Approach To Yield". MTV.com. February 4, 1998.
  2. ^ a b c d e Moon, Tom. "Calling Off the Crusades". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 8, 1998.
  3. ^ a b c Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". Spin. August 2001.
  4. ^ a b c Garbarini, Vic. "All For One: Pearl Jam Yield to the Notion That United They Stand and Divided They Fall". Guitar World. March 1998.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Yield. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  6. ^ "Interview with Stone Gossard and Mike McCready". Total Guitar. November 2002.
  7. ^ a b c Sinclair, Tom. "Last Band Standing". Entertainment Weekly. February 6, 1998.
  8. ^ Mulvey, John. "Interview with Pearl Jam". NME. May 13, 2000.
  9. ^ Quinn, Daniel. "Questions and Answers...". Ishmael.com.
  10. ^ "The Sky I Scrape: Pearl Jam FAQ". theskyiscrape.com.
  11. ^ Hasty, Katie. "Tool Tops Album Chart With 10,000 Days". Billboard.com. May 10, 2006.
  12. ^ Gold and Platinum Database Search. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
  13. ^ Barnes, Ken (2007-03-23). Sales questions: Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  14. ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Pearl Jam: Yield". Rolling Stone. February 19, 1998.
  15. ^ Pareles, Jon. "Edging Off Rock's High Road". The New York Times. February 8, 1998.
  16. ^ 41st Grammy Awards. Rockonthenet. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
  17. ^ OfTheSea and DigitalKat. "Pearl Jam Rumor Pit: Issue #31". SonyMusic.com. March 31, 1998.
  18. ^ "The Sky I Scrape: Pearl Jam FAQ". theskyiscrape.com.
  19. ^ "Hidden Yield Signs". yield.8m.com. 1998-1999.
  20. ^ OfTheSea and DigitalKat. "Pearl Jam Rumor Pit: Issue #35". SonyMusic.com. January 11, 1999.
  21. ^ "Pearl Jam Album "Yield" Based On Ishmael". friendsofishmael.org.
  22. ^ Papineau, Lou. "20 Things You Should Know About Pearl Jam". VH1.com. June 30, 2006.
  23. ^ Schulps, Dave. "Doing the Evolution". RockDaily.com. 1998.
  24. ^ Pearl Jam: Set Lists. pearljam.com.
  25. ^ Fischer, Blair R (1998-04-17). Off He Goes. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  26. ^ Cartwright, Keith Ryan. "Mike McCready of Pearl Jam". theywillrockyou.com. March 2003.
  27. ^ a b Symonds, Jeff. "Pearl Jam Yields to Ticketmaster". E! Online. February 14, 1998.
  28. ^ Hinckley, David. "Vedder's Not Finished". New York Daily News. August 10, 1999.
  29. ^ Aledort, Andy. "Aural Exam". Guitar World. July 2000.
  30. ^ Hudson Valley Ruins (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  31. ^ (2003) Album notes for Lost Dogs by Pearl Jam, [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music.
  32. ^ Pearl Jam – Billboard Albums. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  33. ^ Chartverfolgung / Pearl Jam / Longplay. musicline.de. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  34. ^ EveryHit.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
  35. ^ Pearl Jam – Billboard Singles. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  36. ^ The Irish Charts - All there is to know. Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  37. ^ Chartverfolgung / Pearl Jam / Single. musicline.de. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  38. ^ Schweizer Hitparade. hitparade.ch. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  39. ^ Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  40. ^ Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  41. ^ Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  42. ^ Austrian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. austriancharts.at. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  43. ^ French Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  44. ^ Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. finnishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  45. ^ Schweizer Hitparade. hitparade.ch. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  46. ^ Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  47. ^ Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  48. ^ Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  49. ^ Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. finnishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  50. ^ Belgian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay. belgiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  51. ^ Pearl Jam in Australian Charts. Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
  52. ^ Pearl Jam in New Zealand Charts. Charts.Org.NZ. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
  53. ^ Pearl Jam in Hungarian Charts. Hungarian chart Retrieved on June 4, 2008.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture
by Celine Dion and James Horner		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
February 15, 1998 - February 21, 1998		 Succeeded by
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture
by Celine Dion and James Horner
Preceded by
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture
by Celine Dion and James Horner		 RIANZ number-one album
February 15, 1998 - February 28, 1998		 Succeeded by
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture
by Celine Dion and James Horner
v • d • e
Pearl Jam
Jeff Ament · Stone Gossard · Mike McCready · Eddie Vedder · Matt Cameron
Additional personnel: Boom Gaspar
Former members: Dave Krusen · Matt Chamberlain · Dave Abbruzzese · Jack Irons
Studio albums
Ten · Vs. · Vitalogy · No Code · Yield · Binaural · Riot Act · Pearl Jam
Live albums
Compilations
Videos
Singles
Tours
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