Earthworks I
A.B.W.H. continues on the road in Japan and America, but the band, which is just finding its musical legs and the beginnings of an identity distinct from its distinguished parentage, is about to succumb to the expected management and record- company idiocy. It is deemed that the “European Yes” should be sired with the “Californian Yes” in an arranged marriage, which, goes the thinking, will double the sales. Yes? Well, no, actually. The European Yes find their initially promising second album sessions in Miraval, France, hi-jacked by Roy Lott at Arista, who wings the tapes to Los Angeles for the Californian Yes to add its doubtful contribution.
This Frankenstein monster is fixed, sampled, quantised and generally massaged into life with every conceivable studio gimmick and an army of session musicians. The now purposeless sessions in France turn into “Une Grande Bouffe”, a gluttony to relieve the boredom as empty day follows empty day. Bill puts on weight and plans an escape. As May turns into June, there are Earthworks dates to be fulfilled as merciful relief. This miserable project finally grinds to a conclusion in the late summer, long after Bill lost any interest, and he finally escapes to a refreshing US tour with Earthworks, through October, in support of “Dig?”.
Modern Drummer votes Bill into their Hall of Fame.