"Hold On" is a song by the progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 band Yes

Yes (band)

Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

, from their 1983 album, 90125

90125

-Yes:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Tony Kaye – keyboards*Trevor Rabin – guitars, additional keyboards, backing vocals*Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion, backing vocals- Studio personnel :...

. It reached number 27 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart in 1985.

History

The core of "Hold On" was written by Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin

Trevor Rabin

Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...

, prior to his joining the band, as two separate songs: "Hold On" and "Moving In".
Once Rabin joined the band, the two songs were combined, with band members Chris Squire

Chris Squire

Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...

 and Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...

 contributing additional music and lyrics. All three are credited as writers.

Unlike the other songs on 90125, which are credited as "Produced by Trevor Horn

Trevor Horn

Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....

" exclusively, Yes shares a production credit with Horn for "Hold On".

"Hold On" has also appeared on several of Yes' later compilations, including the Yesyears and In a Word: Yes (1969–) box sets.

Alternate versions

Yes' 1985 follow-up album, 9012Live: The Solos

9012Live: The Solos

† – Recorded at Edmonton, Canada at Northlands Coliseum, 28 September 1984, as part of the soundtrack of the movie "9012Live"‡ – Recorded at Dortmund, Germany, 24 June 19849012Live: The Solos reached #44 in the UK...

, features a live version of "Hold On".
A live version is also included on 2005's The Word Is Live

The Word is Live

The Word Is Live is a live box set by progressive rock band Yes and was released in 2005 through Rhino Records.Considered the live companion to 2002's studio In a Word: Yes box set, The Word is Live serves to document the band's live story from early BBC recordings in 1970 with Peter Banks to 1988...

, and a live performance of "Hold On" is included on the 1991 Greatest Video Hits

Greatest Video Hits (Yes video)

Greatest Video Hits is a 1991 compilation DVD of promotional videos from progressive rock group Yes. It contains the majority of MTV videos filmed by the band, as well as a few early promotional videos that pre-date MTV...

DVD.

Demos of Rabin's early versions of "Hold On" and "Moving In" were released in 2003 on Rabin's solo album 90124

90124 (Trevor Rabin album)

90124 is an album by Trevor Rabin consisting of previously unreleased demos and session work prior and during to his time in the progressive rock supergroup Yes. The name 90124 references Yes' 90125 album.- Track listing :...

.