CLOSE TO THE EDGE

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this record. Possibly the highlight of Yes' career. The Beatles had a seven year run with incredible creative powers, almost unearthly, from 63 to 69. Then Yes came a long and had a similar 7 year run making extraordinary music. It's a bit unfair if people think Yes should have continued on that same level of breaking new ground forever. You can't expect anyone to change he muical scene twice! They did as good as the Beatles in many ways, and that's good enough for me. Now adays I'm pleased with every new good effort from the Yes men, just as a new McCartney album always will please me. But this is Close to the Edge, probably the highlight of their career. What still amases me is that music like this was the most popular in that periode of time. Yes could sell out any arena 10 times over and they topped the charts. Looking at what sells these days it sound like pure science fiction.

CTTE is in many ways the perfect prog record. Some reasons why: 1. Bill Bruford is still in the band. Nothing wrong with Alan White, but Bruford gave Yes a little jazzy touch which made it all perfect. 2. 3 classic tracks. NO weak ones. 3. Perfectly structured. Possibly due to Wakeman's classical background, the title track is like Overture, First movement, Second movement with variations of the first, a slow Third Movement, A Forth movement with a grand finale. Just perfect. Why didn't they do this more often? (For the next release came 'Tales' which was a total mess structure wise, to Wakeman's grief (But me personaly, I really love it, it still surprises you after years and uears of listening). 4. It's not just excellent music. It's ROCK music. High energy. 5. Beautiful vocals incl. harmony singing (Yes are superb at that).

Most albums I would give 5 stars would probably really be 4.something. This is pure 5.00