"Yes" is the debut single of English music duo McAlmont & Butler, released on 15 May 1995 and later included on their debut album, The Sound Of... McAlmont & Butler. The soul ballad was their first UK hit, peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and remains their most successful single, selling over 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom to earn a silver sales certification. The song also charted in Ireland, reaching number 24, and in New Zealand, peaking at number 40. British magazine NME ranked the song at number 174 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2014.
Background Bernard Butler had departed from Suede in acrimonious circumstances. In 2013, Butler spoke to NME about the song's genesis:
Butler made demo recordings of the music used in the song with Julianne Regan, formerly of All About Eve, singing alternate lyrics. The demo tape is attributed to an act called "Mrs Decorating Bike" with the song titled "What the girl should do?" on the tape. This demos surfaced online in 2023 and were acknowledged by Regan on her twitter account.
David McAlmont had departed his previous band, Thieves, at around the same time that Butler had left Suede. Butler described to the NME how they met:
The song was recorded utilising the Wall of Sound technique, and the lyrics of the song are a thinly disguised attack on their former colleagues.
Critical reception Reviewing the song in his weekly UK chart column, James Masterton wrote that McAlmont "sings like an angel" and described the song as "one of the most utterly wonderful records you have heard in ages". In a retrospective review, Patrick Corcoran of music website Albumism called McAlmont's vocal performance on the song "incredible" and noted that "Yes" is "perhaps, one of the most joyously uplifting songs of all time". In 2014, NME ranked the song at number 174 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Track listings UK CD1 and European CD single "Yes" (edit) – 4:00 "Don't Call It Soul" – 3:56 "How About You?" – 5:49
UK CD2 "Yes" (full version) – 4:53 "What's the Excuse This Time?" – 5:07 "Disappointment" – 7:32
UK cassette single "Yes" (edit) – 4:00 "Don't Call It Soul" – 3:56 Another UK cassette was issued including "How About You?" as a bonus track.
Credits and personnel Credits are taken from the UK CD1 liner notes.
Studio Engineered at Chateau de la Rouge Motte (Normandy, France)
Personnel
David McAlmont – writing, vocals Bernard Butler – writing, guitars, "things", string arrangement, production Makoto Sakamoto – drums Gini Ball – violin Jote Osahn – violin Anne Stephenson – violin Johnny Taylor – violin Claire Orsler – viola Joss Pook – viola Billy McGhee – string arrangement Mike Hedges – production Ian Grimble – engineering
Charts Chart (1995)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)39
Sales and certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom15 May 1995HutAustralia17 July 1996CD
References