EP: Wonderous Stories
Artist: Chris Braide
2025 Bandcamp
Digital

Chris Braide: vocals (all), piano (2, 3), all instruments (1)
The Producers (4)


Tracks:
1. "Wonderous Stories" [Anderson] (3:54)
2. "The Smile has Left Your Eyes" [Wetton] (2:45)
3. "Wonderous Stories - Piano Version" [Anderson] (3:54)
4. "Owner of a Lonely Heart - Live in London" (4:46)


Notes: This is dated on Bandcamp as 1 Apr 25. The Bandcamp page initially said it would be released on 1 Mar 26, then it was updated to say it was released 1 Mar 2025, but I think it only appeared in Dec 2025.

The liner notes describe this as, "Performed and recorded especially for Yamaha in Tokyo." Braide writes that, "Jon Anderson has been my favourite singer for as long as I can remember — a beacon of wonder, melody and spiritual joy". He explains how, "My own connection to the YES world has threaded through my career in unexpected ways: from my years in The Producers with Stephen Lipson, to creating albums as one half of the Downes Braide Association with Geoff Downes. Those collaborations only deepened my admiration for the artistry, adventure and emotional generosity that Jon, Chris, Steve, Alan, Rick, Geoff and the entire family of YES have given the world." It seems a slightly odd wording to make a Yes tribute and then describe The Producers as "with Stephen Lipson" with no mention of Trevor Horn! Was Braide still sore about what happened with Producers' Made in Basing Street?

If you go to Bandcamp as I write this, you will find this EP with tracks 1-3. However, on initial release, it had the fourth track, a live recording by The Producers from "many years ago" (presumably from around the late 2000s). I presume, therefore, the line-up is Braide, Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson, Lol Creme and Ash Soan. However, track 4 soon (by the end of Dec 2025) disappeared from the Bandcamp listing.

Braide's "The Smile has Left Your Eyes" is nice, but I don't think he has the voice for "Wonderous Stories". "Owner of a Lonely Heart" isn't a great recording in terms of sound quality, but does capture The Producers' interpretation of the song. (HP, 23 Aug 26)

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