I decided to do a little research on the matter since I have nearly every album Yes has ever put out. First off, Bill Bruford played on exactly 6 Yes albums - the first 5 and the reunion album called Union:
I examined each record to see who writer's credit was given to. The great majority of Yes' music was written by Jon Anderson - not just on the first 5 albums, but spanning the entire catalog of Yes.
On their first two albums entitled Yes and Time & a Word , Yes did not write all the songs but actually did some cover tunes - By whom ?
I See You- by Jim McGuinn and David Crosby
Every Little Thing by Lennon & McCartney
No Opportunity necessary, No Experience Needed by Richie Havens
Everydays - by Stephen Stills
Sweet Dreams and Time and a Word by Jon Anderson with David Foster
Bill Bruford received a writing credit for the song Harold Land along with Jon Anderson and Chris Squire on Yes.
He received no writer's credits on Time and a Word.
The third album was entitled The Yes Album and all songs were written by Anderson, Squire, and Howe except for Yours is No Disgrace which was credited to the entire band as Yes which included Bruford.
Their 4th album was Fragile. Again most of the music was written by Anderson, Squire and Howe. Bruford got writing credit alone for Five per cent For Nothing, and also got credit with Anderson and Squire for Heart of the Sunrise
The Fifth album was Close to the Edge. Again all lyrics by Jon Anderson. And music by Anderson, Squire, Howe and Wakeman, Bruford given writing credit for one movement of the song And You And I entitled Eclipse, alongside Chris Squire.
The last album Bruford played on was entitled Union and was recorded in 1991 when 8 members of Yes got together to put that album together along with many other musicians and outside vocalists and producers. Bill Bruford received writing credit on two songs : Silent Talking, and Evensong . There were 14 tracks in total on this CD.
So Bruford received writing credit on at least one song on 5 of the 6 Yes albums he played on meaning he received royalties on sales of those albums.
I really dont' understand this statement about not being paid for his drum parts - writer's credit is given to the person or persons who compose the lyrics and/or the melodies for songs. If it's a drum solo, then yes, the drummer can be given credit for composing that. However, giving a drummer credit for writing his drum parts is just not done - should Ringo be given writing credits for all the Lennon/McCartney songs he played drums on ? Should Charlie Watts be given writing credits for all the Jagger/Richards songs he played on ? Maybe they should but I think it's figured that you get paid for that as the BAND gets paid - for gigs and the mechanical for records sold. Writer's credit [ or the publishing as it's called ] gets you paid when the song you write is played on the radio or performed by another artist either live or an a recording.
At least that's my understanding of it. Now , as I said , I didn't read Bruford's book so maybe he is complaining about not being paid for his drum parts. But you need to tell me that Kenny if that's the case. Or please tell me where you are getting the information from. Because my info comes from the records themselves.
Hope this clears things up a bit ! Peace, TED