Yield (album)

Yield
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)		 Binaural
(2000)
Singles from Yield
  1. "Given to Fly"
    Released: January 6, 1998
  2. "Wishlist"
    Released: May 5, 1998

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

Yield debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, 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 by the RIAA in the United States.

Contents

Recording

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

Compared with Vitalogy and No Code, Yield represented more of a team effort between all members of the group. Lead vocalist Eddie Vedder had made the final decisions for the albums Vitalogy and No Code; however, at the end of the No Code recording sessions, Vedder suggested to bassist Jeff Ament that it would be better for the other members to write and bring in more complete songs so Vedder would be under less pressure to finish the songs.[1] Ament said that "everybody took that to heart."[1] Ament also said that Vedder's reaction to the rest of the band's new material kept "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 recording 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" while the album was being recorded.[1] The band spent a large amount of time rehearsing the songs to get the best takes possible.[2] Ament stated that "Yield was a superfun record to make. And so much of it was Ed kind of sitting back."[3] He added 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.

Music and lyrics

Overall, Yield resembles the straightforward rock approach of the band's early work.[5] Gossard said, "The songs were a little bit more structured. I don't know if it was poppier, but it seemed more professional."[6] 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" from the 1971 album, Led Zeppelin IV.[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 Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita ("Pilate"),[4] Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael ("Do the Evolution"),[9] and the writings of Charles Bukowski ("In Hiding").[10] Gossard penned the lyrics for the songs "No Way" and "All Those Yesterdays", and 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]

Gossard said "No Way" expresses the idea that "maybe we all need to just live life and quit trying to prove something."[2] 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] Ament said that "Pilate" concerned a question he was asking himself, and that it deals with a "recurring dream about being old and just me and my dog sitting on the porch," while "Low Light" was the answer, and that it deals with "a kind of gratefulness at finding that place of calm and peace at my center and getting a glimpse of the person I could choose to be."[4]

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. It was held off the top spot by the Titanic soundtrack.[12] 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,[13] and eventually outsold its predecessor No Code, selling 1,500,000 copies in the United States.[14]

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."[15] 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."[16] 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 "Do the Evolution". It was the band's first music video since 1992. At the 1999 Grammy Awards, "Do the Evolution" received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance and its music video received a nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form.[17]

Imagery and design

The album's cover art 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.[18] The photograph was doctored to form a 360° panorama.[19] 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.[20] At the 1999 Grammy Awards, Yield received a nomination for Best Recording Package.[21]

The album title is rooted in the idea of "yielding to nature," a theme central to Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael.[22] The band members read the book while working on the album.[23] Regarding the title, 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."[24]

Tour

Main article: Yield Tour

Pearl Jam promoted the album with tours in New Zealand, Australia, and North America in 1998.[25] Following the tour of Australia and before its summer tour of North America began, drummer Jack Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring.[26] He was replaced with former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron. Cameron learned over 80 songs in two weeks.[27]

Pearl Jam's summer tour of North America marked the band’s return to full-scale touring and the use of Ticketmaster,[28] when previously the band had protested against the use of Ticketmaster. Pearl Jam once again began using it in order to "better accommodate concertgoers."[28] The first leg of the tour focused on the West Coast of the United States and the Midwest, and then the band moved to the East Coast for the tour's second leg. The North American summer tour was a big success,[29] and after it was completed the band released its first live album, Live on Two Legs, which featured select performances from the tour. McCready stated that the band released the live album due to the strength of Pearl Jam's shows on the tour.[30]

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 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.

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,[31] 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 2003 Lost Dogs collection of rarities, although a re-recorded version of "U" was included.[32] "Whale Song", sung by Irons, was also recorded during the Yield sessions and was eventually included on the 1999 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.

Personnel

Chart positions

Album
Year Chart Position
1998 Australian Albums Chart[33] 1
New Zealand Albums Chart[34] 1
Norwegian Albums Chart[35] 1
US Billboard 200[36] 2
Canadian Albums Chart[37] 2
Belgian Albums Chart (Vl)[38] 3
Belgian Albums Chart (Wa)[38] 34
Swedish Albums Chart[39] 3
Austrian Albums Chart[40] 4
Dutch Albums Chart[41] 4
Finnish Albums Chart[42] 4
German Albums Chart[43] 4
French Albums Chart[44] 6
Swiss Albums Chart[45] 6
UK Albums Chart[46] 7
Hungarian Albums Chart[47] 8
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1998 "Given to Fly" Finnish Singles Chart[48] 5
Norwegian Singles Chart[49] 6
New Zealand Singles Chart[34] 12
UK Singles Chart[46] 12
Australian Singles Chart[33] 13
Irish Singles Chart[50] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[51] 21
US Mainstream Rock Tracks[51] 1
US Modern Rock Tracks[51] 3
Canadian Singles Chart[52] 24
Swedish Singles Chart[53] 29
Dutch Singles Chart[54] 36
Swiss Singles Chart[55] 39
German Singles Chart[56] 67
"Wishlist" UK Singles Chart[46] 30
US Billboard Hot 100[51] 47
US Mainstream Rock Tracks[51] 6
US Modern Rock Tracks[51] 6
Australian Singles Chart[33] 48
"In Hiding" US Modern Rock Tracks[51] 13
US Mainstream Rock Tracks[51] 14
"Do the Evolution" US Modern Rock Tracks[51] 33
US Mainstream Rock Tracks[51] 40
Canadian Singles Chart[57] 50

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Pearl Jam Talks About New Approach To Yield". MTV.com. February 4, 1998.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Moon, Tom. "Calling Off the Crusades". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 8, 1998.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". Spin. August 2001.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 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". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Stone Gossard and Mike McCready". Total Guitar. November 2002.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 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 Unofficial Pearl Jam FAQ". vitalogy.de.
  11. ↑ Hasty, Katie. "Tool Tops Album Chart With 10,000 Days". Billboard. May 10, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Pearl Jam Can't Bounce "Titanic" On Album Chart". MTV.com. February 11, 1998.
  13. ↑ "Gold and Platinum Database Search". Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
  14. ↑ Barnes, Ken (2007-03-23). "Sales questions: Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam". Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  15. ↑ Sheffield, Rob. "Pearl Jam: Yield". Rolling Stone. February 19, 1998.
  16. ↑ Pareles, Jon. "Edging Off Rock's High Road". The New York Times. February 8, 1998.
  17. ↑ "41st Grammy Awards". Rockonthenet. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
  18. ↑ OfTheSea and DigitalKat. "Pearl Jam Rumor Pit: Issue #31". SonyMusic.com. March 31, 1998.
  19. ↑ "The Unofficial Pearl Jam FAQ". vitalogy.de.
  20. ↑ "Hidden Yield Signs". yield.8m.com. 1998-1999.
  21. ↑ OfTheSea and DigitalKat. "Pearl Jam Rumor Pit: Issue #35". SonyMusic.com. January 11, 1999.
  22. ↑ "Pearl Jam Album "Yield" Based On Ishmael". friendsofishmael.org.
  23. ↑ Papineau, Lou. "20 Things You Should Know About Pearl Jam". VH1.com. June 30, 2006.
  24. ↑ Schulps, Dave. "Doing the Evolution". RockDaily.com. 1998.
  25. ↑ Pearl Jam: Set Lists. pearljam.com.
  26. ↑ Fischer, Blair R (1998-04-17). "Off He Goes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  27. ↑ Cartwright, Keith Ryan. "Mike McCready of Pearl Jam". theywillrockyou.com. March 2003.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Symonds, Jeff. "Pearl Jam Yields to Ticketmaster". E! Online. February 14, 1998.
  29. ↑ Hinckley, David. "Vedder's Not Finished". New York Daily News. August 10, 1999.
  30. ↑ Aledort, Andy. "Aural Exam". Guitar World. July 2000.
  31. ↑ Hudson Valley Ruins (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  32. ↑ (2003) Album notes for Lost Dogs by Pearl Jam, [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Pearl Jam in Australian Charts. Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Pearl Jam in New Zealand Charts. Charts.Org.NZ. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
  35. ↑ "Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  36. ↑ "Pearl Jam – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  37. ↑ "Canadian Charts". RPM. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Belgian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". belgiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  39. ↑ "Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  40. ↑ "Austrian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". austriancharts.at. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  41. ↑ "Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  42. ↑ "Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  43. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Pearl Jam / Longplay". musicline.de. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  44. ↑ "French Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  45. ↑ "Schweizer Hitparade". hitparade.ch. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 "EveryHit.com". Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
  47. ↑ Pearl Jam in Hungarian Charts. Hungarian chart Retrieved on June 4, 2008.
  48. ↑ "Finnish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  49. ↑ "Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  50. ↑ "The Irish Charts — All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 51.6 51.7 51.8 51.9 "Pearl Jam – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  52. ↑ "Canadian Charts - "Given to Fly"". RPM. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  53. ↑ "Swedish Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  54. ↑ "Dutch Single/Album Chart / Pearl Jam / Longplay". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  55. ↑ "Schweizer Hitparade". hitparade.ch. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  56. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Pearl Jam / Single". musicline.de. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  57. ↑ "Canadian Charts - "Do the Evolution"". RPM. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.

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
Ray of Light by Madonna
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
Ray of Light by Madonna
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
Live on Two Legs · Official Bootlegs · Live at Benaroya Hall · Live in NYC 12/31/92 · Live at Easy Street · Live at the Gorge 05/06 · Live at Lollapalooza 2007
Compilations
Lost Dogs · rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991–2003
Videos
Single Video Theory · Touring Band 2000 · Live at the Showbox · Live at the Garden · Immagine in Cornice
Filmography
Vote for Change? 2004
Singles
"Alive" · "Even Flow" · "Jeremy" · "Oceans" · "Go" · "Daughter" · "Animal" · "Dissident" · "Spin the Black Circle" · "Not for You" · "Immortality" · Merkin Ball · "Who You Are" · "Hail, Hail" · "Off He Goes" · "Given to Fly" · "Wishlist" · "Last Kiss" · "Nothing as It Seems" · "Light Years" · "I Am Mine" · "Save You" · "Love Boat Captain" · "Man of the Hour" · "World Wide Suicide" · "Life Wasted" · "Gone" · "Love, Reign o'er Me"
Tours
Mookie Blaylock 1991 U.S. Tour · 1991 U.S. Tour · Ten Tour · Lollapalooza 1992 · 1993 European/North American Tour · Vs. Tour · Vitalogy Tour · No Code Tour · Yield Tour · Binaural Tour · Riot Act Tour · Vote for Change · 2005 North American/Latin American Tour · 2006 World Tour · 2007 European Tour · 2008 U.S. Tour
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