| "The Calling" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byYes | ||||
| from the albumTalk | ||||
| B-side | "Real Love" | |||
| Released | 16 March 1994 (JPN)[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 4:40 (single edit) 5:58 (radio edit) 6:56 (album edit) 8:05 (original version) | |||
| Label | Victory Music | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Trevor Rabin | |||
| Yes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Calling" is a song by theprogressive rock bandYes, from their 1994 albumTalk. "The Calling" was a number-three Mainstream Rock hit for the band in 1994, their last (as of 2024) top-ten hit on that chart. Yes had two subsequent Mainstream Rock hits: 1994's "Walls" (also fromTalk) and 1997's "Open Your Eyes" fromthe album of the same name.[2]
"The Calling" has appeared on several Yes compilations. The 2002 boxed setIn a Word: Yes (1969–) included the album-length version, and the 2003 greatest hits packageThe Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection included the single edit.[3]
In 1992, eight current and former members of Yes toured to support their 1991 albumUnion. Following the completion of the tour, guitaristSteve Howe, keyboardistRick Wakeman and drummerBill Bruford left the band, leaving the five members who had performed as Yes during the 1980s: singerJon Anderson, guitaristTrevor Rabin, bassistChris Squire, drummerAlan White and keyboardistTony Kaye.[4]: 235
"The Calling" was written by Rabin, Anderson and Squire, with Rabin producing. As with the other tracks onTalk, "The Calling" was recorded and mixed digitally, rather than on tape as was done with previous Yes recordings.[4]: 237 The song has been described as featuring a modern sound, with heavy focus on Rabin's guitars,[4]: 237 and a three-part vocal harmony featuring Anderson, Rabin and Squire.[5]: 100
According to Anderson, the song's lyrics were inspired by the concept of "local history", the current three-thousand year window of history, outside of which mankind has little visibility or understanding.[5]: 99–100
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USMainstream Rock (Billboard)[6] | 3 |