YES - Going for the One (1977)

YES, today we're Going for the One album that's arguably the most approachable YES album to date - at least until 90125 came along in 1983 - when many new fans would Awaken to the new sound of YES. Undoubtedly, Going for the One was a Big Generator of new interest in YES, and to reflect the change of sound, there was a Dramatic change of album artwork too (from Roger Dean to Hipgnosis), represented by a naked man looking up at the the twin towers of Century City in California, which closely Parallels the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City that stood for just 28 years, up until the terrible events of 9/11 at the Turn of the Century. Going for the One featured the Dramatic re-Union of the line-up from Tales from Topographic Oceans, when Patrick Moraz was "let go" after the recording of the previous Relayer album, and when Heaven & Earth had to be moved to persuade Rick Wakeman to return after the torturous recording of the Topographic Oceans album, when there was Talk of Rick being driven Close to the Edge of breaking point. Going for the One features the most successful YESsong so far: Wonderous Stories, which climbed to #7 in the UK singles chart. Surprisingly though, Going for the One is only the 9th best-selling YES album of all time, despite ascending The Ladder of success to reach #1 in the UK album charts for two weeks back in 1977. Going for the One also includes one of YES' best-loved songs: Awaken, with Rick Wakeman's magnificent church organ solo rocking the aisles  at St. Martin's church, near to where the album was recorded at Mountain Studios in the picturesque Swiss town of Montreux. Going for the One features just five songs, but after the side-long epics of the last three albums, five songs seems like a relative abundance of Yessongs. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 08 2024 at 16:23

I used to have issues with the title song.  Rael's documentary gave me deeper insights into  "Going For The One".  Paul posted the documentary video below.  Highly recommended. 

Edited by omphaloskepsis - January 07 2024 at 08:13

Rael NYC, great channel.

For me, in my top 3 Yes albums, behind 1) TFTO, and 2) CTTE, I really like the production on this album. I've heard it described at Going For the One Side 2 is the best side in Prog Rock history, as it contains the greatest short prog song (Wonderous Stories) and the Greatest long song, (Awaken)

'Going for the One' is my favorite Yes album. The only weak track is "Parallels," which isn't even bad. It just pales in comparison to the greatness that surrounds it. "Awaken" is my favorite Yes song. "Turn of the Century" is one of the most beautiful Yes songs that I have a personal connection with. I can't praise 'Going for the One' enough. Absolute masterpiece.


Edited by Magog2112 - January 07 2024 at 21:40

I got this album for Christmas in 1977 and have loved it ever since. 

Edited by Octopus II - January 08 2024 at 01:50

Octopus II wrote: I got this album for Christmas in 1977 and have loved it ever since.  I thoroughly enjoyed that documentary on the making of the album.

I seem to be the only one who loves the production on this album 

Psychedelic Paul wrote: And the worst-selling YES album of all time? Open Your Eyes, with total worldwide album sales of just 3,450   Why am I not surprised.

No kidding? Ouch.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: YES, today we're Going for the One album that's arguably the most approachable YES album to date - at least until 90125 came along in 1983 - when many new fans would Awaken to the new sound of YES. Undoubtedly, Going for the One was a Big Generator of new interest in YES, and to reflect the change of sound, there was a Dramatic change of album artwork too (from Roger Dean to Hipgnosis), represented by a naked man looking up at the the twin towers of Century City in California, which closely Parallels the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City that stood for just 28 years, up until the terrible events of 9/11 at the Turn of the Century. Going for the One featured the Dramatic re-Union of the line-up from Tales from Topographic Oceans, when Patrick Moraz was "let go" after the recording of the previous Relayer album, and when Heaven & Earth had to be moved to persuade Rick Wakeman to return after the torturous recording of the Topographic Oceans album, when there was Talk of Rick being driven Close to the Edge of breaking point. Going for the One features the most successful YESsong so far: Wonderous Stories, which climbed to #7 in the UK singles chart. Surprisingly though, Going for the One is only the 9th best-selling YES album of all time, despite ascending The Ladder of success to reach #1 in the UK album charts for two weeks back in 1977. Going for the One also includes one of YES' best-loved songs: Awaken, with Rick Wakeman's magnificent church organ solo rocking the aisles  at St. Martin's church, near to where the album was recorded at Mountain Studios in the picturesque Swiss town of Montreux. Going for the One features just five songs, but after the side-long epics of the last three albums, five songs seems like a relative abundance of Yessongs.   1977: YES - Close to the Edge - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nIFWHKVs0t-mEq-GZ3xEVE1kqqYiV4wZo YES line-up:- Jon Anderson; Steve Howe; Chris Squire; Rick Wakeman; & Alan White Track Listing 1. Going for the One  (5:30) 2. Turn of the Century  (7:58) 3. Parallels  (5:52) 4. Wonderous Stories  (3:47) 5. Awaken  (15:38) Top 10 Best-Selling YES Albums 01. 90125   (Sales: 4,128,370) 02. Fragile  (Sales: 2,300,00) 03. Close to the Edge  (Sales: 1,475,687) 04. Yessongs  (Sales: 1,327,480) 05. Tormato  (Sales: 1,115,380) 06. Classic Yes  (Sales: 1,060,000) 06. The Yes Album  (Sales: 1,060,000) 08. Big Generator  (Sales: 1,022,910) 09. Going for the One  (Sales: 726,380) 10. Tales from Topographic Oceans  (Sales: 672,680) And the worst-selling YES album of all time? Open Your Eyes, with total worldwide album sales of just 3,450   Why am I not surprised.

Paul,

Those sale figures are no doubt inaccurate. The Yes Album you have listed as having 1,060,000 sales. The Yes Album went Platinum in the US (1,000,000) and Silver in the UK (60,000). If what you have listed about the Yes Album is correct that would mean Yes did not sell one single album more from the date it was certified Platinum by the RIAA or Silver by the BPI or one copy in any other country.The Dutch Charts show that the Yes Album charted as high as #7 in that country and year end was the 52nd best selling album in that country. So, it appears there were some copies of that album sold in that country.

Close to the Edge is listed as having 1,475,687 copies sold. CTTE went Platinum in the US (1,000,000), Britain (300,000) and Canada (100,000). That is 1,400,000 copies sold. The RIAA last certified CTTE on April 10, 1998. The BPI certified CTTE Platinum on May 12, 1984. If you look at the BPI chart, it shows not one single copy sold since that date as it is just a flat line since that date. You can see that here:

https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/1381-1295-2

CTTE charted #1 in the Dutch Charts, #16 in Japan, #14 in Italy, #36 in Germany and #21 in Australia.

I would suspect that the figures you have listed are probably far lower than what the real figures would be.

Another example is the Kansas albums Leftoverture, Point of Know Return and Best Of are listed by the RIAA as going 4x Platinum respectively. Howeve, Kansas has stated those albums sold each more than 6,000,000 copies in the US.

My understanding is that the certification process is expensive and bands feel like it is not worth the cost. Some labels don't want to do the certification process not only because of cost but, want to keep the actual real sales figures hidden from the band.

^^ It looks like my album sales figures have turned out to be as dodgy as one of Arthur Daley's motors. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 08 2024 at 16:12