Yes: Album Ratings
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123476
Printed Date: March 13 2025 at 07:00
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Topic: Yes: Album Ratings
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: Yes: Album Ratings
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 07:51
Undoubtedly, THE YES ALBUM that's been the BIG GENERATOR of the most controversy over the years is TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS. YES, it's a long double album with four long YESSONGS which was treated like a rotten TORMATO by the music press, but if you OPEN YOUR EYES, you'll gain THE KEYS TO ASCENSION and realise what a classic album this is. The album came CLOSE TO THE EDGE of splitting the band up, when there was a MAGNIFICATION of tensions within the group with so many FRAGILE egos at stake. In the ensuing DRAMA, TIME AND A WORD has it that Rick Wakeman threatened to walk out during the recording of the album. The album climbed THE LADDER of success though, topping the UK album charts for two weeks. Rick Wakeman left the band and didn't appear on the following RELAYER album. There was TALK of a re-UNION, but HEAVEN & EARTH had to be moved to persuade Rick to return for the GOING FOR THE ONE album in 1977. The best-selling YES album of all, released in 1983, was famously named after its catalogue number, 90125. It's time now for a Yes Album Ratings thread before I FLY FROM HERE.   How many PA stars would you assign to each Yes album listed below? I remembered to include the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album this time.  These are my album ratings in chronological order....  Yes (1969) Time and a Word (1970) The Yes Album (1971) Fragile (1971) Close to the Edge (1972) Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) Relayer (1974) Going for the One (1977) Tormato (1978) Drama (1980) 90125 (1983) Big Generator (1987) Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989) Union (1991) Talk (1994) Keys to Ascension (1996) Open Your Eyes (1997) The Ladder (1999) Magnification (2001) Fly from Here (2011) Heaven & Earth (2014) |
Replies:
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 07:59
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I'd say the ones I've heard (Yes to Relayer) are all around 4 stars. I've never been a massive Yes fan... ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 08:37
If they're all around 4 stars then I'd say you were a bit of a fan. I would call myself a massive Yes fan but I would not give the first 2 albums 4 stars.
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FatherChristmas wrote:Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 10:04
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Just the ones I know well... Time and a Word - 3 The Yes Album - 5 Fragile - 4 Close to the Edge - 5 Tales from Topographic Oceans - 3 Relayer - 3 Going for the One - 4.5 Tormato - 2.5 Drama - 4 90125 - 4 Big Generator - 3 Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe - 3.5 Union - 3.5 ( I actually like this a little more that most people do) Talk - 2.5 |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 10:34
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I'm not too much of a fan of the later releases....to me it just seems like they are trying to hard, you can't record a Fragile every release. 3.5 Yes (1969) 3 Time and a Word (1970) 5 The Yes Album (1971) 5 Fragile (1971) 4.5 Close to the Edge (1972) 4 Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) 4.5 Relayer (1974) 3.5 Going for the One (1977) 2 Tormato (1978) 4 Drama (1980) 4 90125 (1983) 3.5 Big Generator (1987) -------------   
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 10:46
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The 5 albums from Fragile to Going For The One are 5 stars. It's Yes for Christ's sake. The Yes Album, Yessongs and Drama are 4 and all the rest are 3 with the exception being Union at 2 stars.
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 11:34
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CTTE - 4.5 Fragile - 4 Relayer - 4 TFTO - 4 GFTO - 3.5 ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 13:22
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Yes 4 Time and a Word 5 the Yes Album 5 Fragile 5 Close To the Edge 5 Yessongs 5 Tales From the Topographic Oceans 4 Relayer 5 Going For the One 4 Tormato 3 Drama 4 Yesshows 4 90125 4 90125 Live: the Solos 3 Big Generator 4 Union 3 Talk 3 Keys To the Ascension 4 Keys To the Ascension II 4 BBC Sessions 1969-1970 Somethings Coming 5 Open Your Eyes 3 the Ladder 3 House Of Yes: Live From the House Of Blues 4 Magnification 4 Live at Montreaux 2003 4 Symphonic Live 4 In the Present - Live From Lyon 4 Union Live 4 Fly From Here 4 Heaven & Earth 3 Like It Is: Yes at the Bristol Hippodrome 4 Progeny: Highlights From Seventy-Two 5 Like It Is: Yes at the Mesa Arts Centre 4 Topographic Drama: Live Across America 3 Yes 50 Live 3 And AWBH 3
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 14:11
^^ I thought my Yes albums list was long, but you've almost managed to double it. 
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Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 22:44
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Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: July 13 2020 at 23:59
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Yes 3 Time and a Word 2 the Yes Album 5 Fragile 5 Close To the Edge 5 Yessongs 5 Tales From the Topographic Oceans 5 Relayer 3 Going For the One 3 Tormato 2 Drama 4 Yesshows 3 90125 1 Big Generator 1 Union 2 Talk 2 Keys To the Ascension 4 Keys To the Ascension II Open Your Eyes 2 the Ladder 2 House Of Yes: Live From the House Of Blues 4 Magnification 4 Live at Montreaux 2003 4 Symphonic Live 5 In the Present - Live From Lyon 3 Fly From Here 3 Heaven & Earth 2 Like It Is: Yes at the Bristol Hippodrome 3 Progeny: Highlights From Seventy-Two 3 (Sound quality issues) Like It Is: Yes at the Mesa Arts Concert 3
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 00:44
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Yes (1969) - 4/5 Time and a Word (1970) - 4/5 The Yes Album (1971) - 4/5 Fragile (1971) - 4.75/5 Close to the Edge (1972) - 5/5 Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) - 5/5 Relayer (1974) - 5/5 Going for the One (1977) - 4/5 Tormato (1978) - 3/5 Drama (1980) - 4.75/5 90125 (1983) - 4.5/5 Big Generator (1987) - 2/5 Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989) - 2.5/5 Union (1991) - 3.5/5 Talk (1994) - 2.5/5 Keys to Ascension (1996) - 3.25/5 Open Your Eyes (1997) -2.5/5 The Ladder (1999) - 3.5/5 Magnification (2001) - 3.5/5 Fly from Here (2011) - 3/5 Heaven & Earth (2014) 2.75/5 ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 02:56
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My Yes collection only goes up to the late 80s as I started losing interest after that. They're not that highly rated on here but I enjoy the first two albums with Peter Banks and Tony Kaye at least as much as the 'classic' era stuff. Yes 5 Time and a Word 5 The Yes Album 4 Fragile 5 Close to the Edge 5 Yessongs 5 Tales from Topographic Oceans 4 Relayer 4 Going for the One 5 Tormato 2 Yesshows 3 Drama 4 90125 3 Big Generator 3 AWBH 2 ------------- "And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!" "He's up the pub" |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 04:18
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There's a five album gap of Yes albums between 1989 and 1997 that I still haven't got around to listening to yet, although I will do soon. I only heard The Ladder album for the first time just over a week ago, and very good it is too.
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Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 04:40
Will have to check out some of the later Yes albums. I did a similar thing with Deep Purple of losing interest in their new material during the 80s, but Pete Pardo at the Sea of Tranquility You Tube channel has been re-enthusing me to check out their later albums. The recent ones produced by Bob Ezrin are pretty good! ------------- "And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!" "He's up the pub" |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 06:12
Maybe I'll do a Deep Purple album ratings list at some point in the future.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 14 2020 at 15:52
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Yes 3 Time and a Word 3 The Yes Album 4 Fragile 4 Close to the Edge 5 Yessongs 4 Tales from Topographic Oceans 3 Relayer 4 Going for the One 3 Tormato 3 Yesshows 4 Drama 4 90125 3 Big Generator 2 AWBH 3 Union 2 Talk 4 Keys to Ascension 4 The Ladder 3 Magnification 4 Open Your Eyes 2 Fly From Here 3 Heaven and Earth 3
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Posted By: bender99
Date Posted: July 18 2020 at 00:33
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Going to stick to studio releases only: Yes 3
Time and a Word 4 the Yes Album 5 Fragile 5 Close To the Edge 5 Tales From the Topographic Oceans 5 Relayer 5 Going For the One 5 Tormato 4 Drama 4 90125 2 Big Generator 2 Union 1 Talk 3 Keys Studio 3 Open Your Eyes 1 the Ladder 3 Magnification 3 Fly From Here 3 Heaven & Earth 2 |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 18 2020 at 00:38
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^ I wonder if Open Your Eyes is really that bad, considering it's had such dismal ratings here. I guess I'll have to open my ears and listen to the album.
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Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 08:40
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My take (also sticking to the studio releases): Yes 3.5 Time and a Word 4 the Yes Album 5 Fragile 5 Close To the Edge 5 Tales From the Topographic Oceans 5 Relayer 5 Going For the One 4.5 Tormato 4 Drama 4.5 90125 4 Big Generator 2 Union 2.5 Talk 4 Keys Studio 2.5 Open Your Eyes 2 the Ladder 3.5 Magnification 3.5 Fly From Here 2 Heaven & Earth 1.5 ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 09:08
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3.5 - Yes 4 - Time and a Word 4 - The Yes Album 5 - Fragile 5 - Close to the Edge 3.5 - Tales from Topographic Oceans 5 - Relayer 4 - Going for the One 2 - Tormato 4 - Drama 4 - 90125 3.5 - Big Generator 3.5 - ABWH 2.5 - Union 3 - Ladder 3 - Magnification ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Muskrat
Date Posted: July 28 2020 at 11:03
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Yes 3 Time and a Word 3 the Yes Album 2 Fragile 5 Close To the Edge 4 Tales From the Topographic Oceans 5 Relayer 5 Going For the One 4 Tormato 2 Drama 3 90125 2 Big Generator 2 Union 2 Talk 0 Open Your Eyes 0 I've stopped hearing (and buying) Yes albums at that point...
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 28 2020 at 11:34
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^ I still haven't got around to listening to the more recent Yes albums, Talk & Open Your Eyes, but based on your zero ratings for both albums, I don't think I'll be in for an enjoyable listening experience with either album, but then again, The Ladder album has been given low ratings too on occasion, and that's one of my favourite Yes albums.
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Posted By: paisanojac
Date Posted: July 28 2020 at 13:27
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Studio albums (not including From A Page CD1 since I've only heard one song from it): YES 3 Time And A Word 3 The YES Album 5 Fragile 5 Close To The Edge 5 Tales From Topographic Oceans 5 Relayer 5 Going For The One 5 Tormato 4 Drama 5 90125 3 Big Generator 3 ABWH 3 Union 1 Talk 4 KeyStudio 4 Open Your Eyes 3 The Ladder 3 Magnification 3 Fly From Here 4 Fly From Here Return Trip 4 Heaven & Earth 2 |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 28 2020 at 13:35
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^ That looks like pretty good judgement to me, but not having heard the "Union" album yet, is it really THAT bad!?? I recall the "Union" album is the Yes album that Rick Wakeman calls the "Onion" album, because it makes him cry every time he hears it, so maybe it really IS that bad.
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Posted By: paisanojac
Date Posted: July 28 2020 at 14:32
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I could take the 1-star rating I gave Union and lift it up and take it higher to a 2-star rating because of the YES West (Rabin version) contributions which were, oddly enough, better than the rest of the album which indeed was an "onion" as Wakeman accurately said. Wakeman also said that while listening to Union he couldn't even recoginize if the keyboard work on the album was actually even his. Look at all the musicians listed, including at least 11 different keyboard players other than Rick. It's ridiculous. Even the much maligned "Open Your Eyes" was better than this (Heaven & Earth too!). Too many other chefs involved in this "onion soup" of an album: With:
- Jimmy Haun / guitar (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Jonathan Elias / synthesizer & keyboards & addit. vocals & producer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Alex Lasarenko / synthesizer & keyboards (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Jim Crichton / synthesizer & keyboards (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Sherman Foote / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Brian Foraker / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Chris Fosdick / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Rory Kaplan / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Steve Porcaro / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Gary Barlough / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Richard Baker / synthesizer (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Jerry Bennett / synthesizer & percussion (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Tony Levin / bass (1,2,5,8,10) - Billy Sherwood / bass, guitars, keyboards, vocals & co-producer (9) - Allan Schwartzberg / percussion (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Pauline Cheng / Cambodian poetry reading (10) - Gary Falcone / addit vocals (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Deborah Anderson (Jon's daughter) / addit.vocals (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Ian Lloyd / addit. vocals (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Tommy Funderburk / addit. vocals (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Michael Sherwood (Billy's brother) / addit. vocals (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Danny Vaughn / addit. vocals (1,2,5,8,10-14) - Mark Mancina / programming (4), co-producer (7) - Eddy Offord / co-producer (7,9) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 28 2020 at 14:38
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^ It looks like a proverbial case of too many cooks spoiling the scotch broth, or the onion soup.
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Posted By: Muskrat
Date Posted: July 29 2020 at 03:30
Ranking albums doesn't mean great thing. I'm a huge fan of first Yes period and Relayer is one one my favorite album of all time, so... I don't like modern prog and i'm not relevant to rank Yes albums after Drama.
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