YES - Close to the Edge (1972)

YES, it's the best-selling YES album to date - at least until 90125 in 1983 - And You and I know it's not just the best YES album, but the best Progressive Rock album of all time, having remained at the top of PA's Top 100 Albums Chart almost since the Turn of the Century. The making of every YES album is not without its usual Drama and this album was no exception, which inspired drummer Bill Bruford to come up with the album title as a reflection of the Fragile state of YES at the time, where tensions sometimes came Close to the Edge of tearing the band apart. Indeed, this would be the last YES album to feature Bill Bruford - having described Close to the Edge as being particularly laborious to make - before departing for the cheerful insanity of being a member of King Crimson. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - December 08 2023 at 07:30

The woman at the front of that convoy looks like one of Monty Python's 'Hells Grannies' 

Edited by Octopus II - December 08 2023 at 08:08

It's the highest rated Prog album for a good reason. (Although not Yes's best )

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Am I alone in thinking "And You and I" is mediocre at best?

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Am I alone in thinking "And You and I" is mediocre at best?

The only thing I can possibly grumble about is the order of the tracks, totally reverse it works better imo. Siberian Khatru was used to open many Yes shows for a reason. And You And I despite it's length managed to get onto mainstream radio in the UK. It's a magical track. The title track is a delightful multipart epic that flows beautifully and shows the band's first dip into fusion territory. Prog perfection.

Edited by richardh - December 10 2023 at 20:43

If someone asked you to define prog rock, you'd tell them to listen to 'Close to the Edge'.

Jon Anderson & the Prog Geeks with a medley of classic Yessongs. Yours is No Disgrace if you can't name them all. 

Edited by David_D - December 17 2023 at 17:09