''In the City of Angels'' is the fifth solo album by Yes lead singer Jon Anderson, released in 1988. Unlike most of Anderson's previous solo works, this album contains many additional songwriters. Consequently, it is the most straight-ahead commercial pop album in his oeuvre. Members of the band Toto perform on several songs. Jon reciprocated the favor by performing on their album '' The Seventh One'' (recorded about the same time as ''In the City of Angels''). Two songs from the album ("Hold on to Love" and "In a Lifetime") were co-written by

Lamont Dozier Lamont Herbert Dozier (; June 16, 1941 – August 8, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Detroit, Michigan. He co-wrote and produced 14 US ''Billboard'' number-one hits and four number ones in the UK. Career Doz ...

, of Motown records. A music video for "Hold on to Love" aired on TV. In the video, the album is titled ''In the City of Lost Angels''.

Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having r ...

has a cameo appearance in the video as acoustic bass player.

Track listing

Personnel

* Jon Anderson - Vocals, Harp, Drums, Percussion * Steve Lukather - Guitar (Track 10) * Steve Porcaro - Keyboard programming (Track 10) *

Jeff Porcaro Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro (; April 1, 1954 – August 5, 1992) was an American drummer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work with the rock band Toto but is one of the most recorded session musicians in history, working o ...

- Drums (Track 2, 4 & 10) *

Mike Porcaro Michael Joseph Porcaro (May 29, 1955 – March 15, 2015) was an American bass player known for his work with the rock band Toto. He retired from touring in 2007 as a result of being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was t ...

- Bass (Tracks 2 & 4) * David Paich - Keyboards, Orchestration (Tracks 2, 4, 6 & 10) * Joseph Williams - Backing vocals (Track 10) *

Larry Williams Larry Williams (born Lawrence Eugene Williams, a.k.a. Lawrence Edward Williams; May 10, 1935 – January 7, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Williams ...

- Keyboards, Programming (Tracks 1, 3, 5 & 9) * John Robinson - Drums (Tracks 1, 3, 7–9) * Paul Jackson Jr. - Guitar (Tracks 1 & 5) * Jimmy Haslip - Bass (Track 1, 5, 7 & 8) * Lenny Castro - Percussion (Tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7) *

Dann Huff Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer and songwriter. For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the ''Musician of the Year'' award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Co ...

- Guitar (Tracks 2, 4 & 8) * Michael Landau - Guitar (Tracks 2, 4, 7-9 & 11) * Marc Russo - Saxophone (Track 4) * Paulinho Da Costa - percussion (Tracks 4 & 8) * Gordon Peeke - Drum programming (Track 7) * Don Freeman - Keyboards (Tracks 7 & 8) *

Jerry Hey Jerry Hey (born 1950) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Michael Jackson's ''Thriller'', '' Rock with You'' ...

- Trumpet (Track 7) * Gary Grant - Trumpet (Track 7) *

Bill Reichenbach Jr. William Frank Reichenbach Jr. (born November 30, 1949) is an American jazz trombonist and composer. He is the son of Bill Reichenbach, who was the drummer for Charlie Byrd from 1962 to 1973. He is best known as a session musician for television, ...

- Sax, Trombone (Tracks 7 & 9) * Kim Hutchcroft - Sax (Track 7) *

Rhett Lawrence James Everett "Rhett" Lawrence is an American record producer and songwriter. He has produced, mentored, and helped launch the career of 5 artists amongst the top 200 artists to be featured on Billboard magazine's top charts from 1955-2012, who ...

- Keyboards, Programming (Tracks 9 & 11) * The Cathedral Choir - Backing vocals (Track 11)

Reception

Paul Robicheau of ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...

'' wrote a mixed review, referring to the album as "Jon goes to Hollywood". He criticized Anderson's "smarmy lyrics" and the album's commercial production, likening the album's sound to Toto. Robicheau singled out the track "Hold On To Love" as having a "perky appeal" and noted the "interesting rhythm" on "Sundancing". Robicheau concluded his review by writing "this is a record you can both love and hate."

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1988 albums Jon Anderson albums Albums produced by Stewart Levine Columbia Records albums