CLOSE TO THE EDGE

1980-1 was my vinyl procurement heyday and because of what I bought then has finally influenced what I listen to now. Not being a big fan on New Romantics, and flirting with the Ozzy/Sabbath/Saxon sounds of the time, I found myself spending most of my free cash in Sirrels Second Hand shop (incl records) on the Oxford Road in Reading. Prog and 70's rock was cheap; by some chance I managed to avoid lots of crap and bought Jethro Tull, Uriah Heep and, Yes. At the time, Yes had gone off the boil, and I was looking for a harder sound (Gillan was the best live act I saw that year). Yes, therefore always troubled me, Jon Anderson's vocals for me always used to mask some great guitar and I never became a big fan. I had a couple of Wakeman LP's also and I guess I found it all ok orchestral for my young rebellious ears.

However, crawling through my old vinyl and out pops Close to the Edge. I've now listened to it over the weekend a couple of times (and listening to it as I work today). Its good. Though my 'harder edge' has taken my closer to Dave Brock and Lemmy than Steve Howe and Chris Squires. I can see that there is a certain quality that made these guys the leaders of prog.

Its got a feel of magnificence, love it (for most), loathe it (for the non-prog community). You could argue that's the best way to test potential wives/girlfriends/husbands/boyfriends about compatibility with your record collection.

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