Why YES! Close to the Edge is indeed progressive rock’s FINEST masterpiece
Support me on Patreon, if ya like: / mickybeatz I forgot to mention that their version of S&G's America is one of my favourite Yes cuts. And before any guitar nerds come at me, I'm aware that I played Mood for a Day incorrectly (it's been a few years). Chapters 1. Introduction 00:00 2. About Yes 16:58 3. Themes 33:18 4. Close to the Edge 51:11 5. And You and I 01:15:29 6. Siberian Khatru 01:22:43 7. Final thoughts 01:26:09 Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. Founded by Anderson, Squire, Bruford, Kaye, and guitarist Peter Banks, Yes began performing a mix of original songs and covers of rock, pop, blues, and jazz songs, as showcased on their first two albums, Yes (1969) and Time and a Word (1970). A change of direction in 1970 after the replacement of Banks with Howe led to a series of successful progressive rock albums, with four consecutive US platinum or multi-platinum sellers: The Yes Album (1971); Fragile (1971), which included the successful single "Roundabout"; Close to the Edge (1972); and the live album Yessongs (1973). Further albums Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Relayer (1974), Going for the One (1977), and Tormato (1978) were also commercially successful. Yes earned a reputation for their elaborate stage sets, light displays, and album covers designed by Roger Dean. During this time, Kaye and Bruford were replaced by Wakeman and White respectively, while keyboardist Patrick Moraz joined for Relayer and its subsequent tour. In 1980, growing musical differences led to Anderson and Wakeman's departures; Yes recruited Downes and singer Trevor Horn for the album Drama (1980) before first disbanding in 1981. Yes are one of the most successful, influential, and longest-lasting progressive rock bands. Their discography spans 23 studio albums, with 13.5 million Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified albums sold in the US and more than 30 million worldwide. In 1985, they won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance with "Cinema". They were ranked No. 94 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. In April 2017, Yes—represented by Anderson, Bruford, Kaye, Howe, Wakeman, White, and Rabin, with Squire honored posthumously—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in the UK on 8 September 1972 and in the US on 13 September 1972, by Atlantic Records. It is their last album until Union (1991) to feature original drummer Bill Bruford, who found the album particularly laborious to make and felt unable to contribute better ideas, which influenced his decision to join King Crimson once recording had finished. After scoring a critical and commercial hit with their previous album Fragile (1971) and touring the album, Yes regrouped with producer and engineer Eddy Offord to record a follow-up. The album's centrepiece is the 18-minute title track, with lyrics inspired by the Hermann Hesse novel Siddhartha. Side two contains two non-conceptual tracks, the folk-inspired "And You and I" and the comparatively straightforward rocker "Siberian Khatru". The album's cover, designed by Roger Dean, marked the debut of the band's "bubble" logo. Close to the Edge became the band's greatest commercial success at the time of release, reaching No. 4 in the UK and No. 3 in the US, where it sold over one million copies. The album's 1972–1973 tour comprised over 90 dates worldwide and marked the debut of drummer Alan White, who joined the band three days before it started. It was reissued in 1994, 2003, and 2013; the latter release includes previously unreleased tracks and new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes. Close to the Edge has since received widespread critical acclaim; in 2020, it was ranked 445th on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Names dropped/discussed: Led Zeppelin J. R. R. Tolkien Fleetwood Mac Bee Gees Wings ABBA Kate Bush Bob Dylan Lou Reed Billy Joel Paul McCartney Neil Young The Who The Velvet Underground The Rolling Stones The Beatles Genesis King Crimson Jethro Tull The Beach Boys Pink Floyd The Mars Volta Elton John The Kinks Jon Anderson Chris Squire Peter Banks Tony Kaye Bill Bruford The Move John Entwhistle The Byrds Vincent Gallo Steve Howe Rick Wakeman David Bowie Roger Daltrey Pete Townshend Keith Moon Eddie Offord Roger Dean Peter Gabriel Simon and Garfunkel John Bonham Hermann Hesse Johann Sebastian Bach Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Robert Fripp Elvis Costello Bodast Isaac Asimov Frank Zappa Jean Sibelius John Lennon Alan White Patrick Moraz Trevor Horn Metallica Spinal Tap Todd Rundgren Scott Walker
