Yes - where to start?

ghost_of_morphy wrote: dreadpirateroberts wrote: Dellinger wrote: Sorry to insist, but when you choose to start digging live Yes, don't discard keys to ascension. That one's got some of my favourite versions from some of my favourite songs, particularly Starship Trooper (you'll hear it on The Yes Album), Awaken, and Time and a Word. It's got many other of their better songs too, but they don't add so much as this ones... and only Close to the Edge I find less satisfying to the original (but the version on Symphonic is a killer, so if you get that live album too you won't miss CttE so much in a live context).   Have now noted 'keys' too! Thanks, Dellinger  Getting both sets of keys is quite an investment but it gives you some of their best live material along with some of their best prost-Rabin studio stuff.  I personally think well of Live at Montreaux for a first live album.

You can now get both parts, plus the DVD and the studio tracks in one convenient package:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keys-Ascension-4CD-DVD-Yes/dp/B003Q6BSTW

I'd say if you want to start with their best than its close to the edge. If you want to have the music grow on you and evolve your understanding at the same rate the band was evolving before they screwed up, start with the yes album followed by fragile, close to the edge, tales from topagrpahic oceans and end with relayer. Some say going for the one is good too, I still need to listen to it myself but what I've listened to from what comes after is just horrid.

I actually started off with a compilation album called Classic Yes which was originally released back in 1981. It doesn't have Close To The Edge or Perpetual Change but it does have their most celebrated tracks right there like And You And I, Starship Trooper and a live version of Roundabout from 77 (which in my opinion is better than the studio version). I think Classic Yes is an excellent album to start with but if you want an actual LP then Close To The Edge, no doubt about it.

I started with

The Wall IMHO can't be considered within the realm of "golden era" Floyd. A mish-mash of an album that, thank Jesus my Lord and Savior, was salvaged and enhanced by an even better live version years later. I think a couple of albums before Dark Side' could have been included on your golden era-list, and ix-nay on The Wall.

either Fragile or Close To The Edge.

Drama is half bad/ half good.  I wouldn't say avoid it, but get the all good stuff first.   Consider it when you are thinking about exploring the first two albums (or Tales)  Same for 90125 or Talk.  And you have better grabbed something from the post-Rabin era first.  (excepting Open Your Eyes first, of course.)

All right, after many moons waiting for Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge to arrive in the mail, I have finally had a chance to do some listening over the last week or so, and wanted to share some initial thoughts, and to thank everyone once again for their recommendations.

First up, really enjoying them all. I like Anderson's voice and Steve is a fantastic guitarist who probably deserves even more credit, but perhaps what stands out most in the band, for me as a new listener, is Squires' bass. On these three albums, at least, it's got a distinctive tone, is almost too busy, but remains effective. So he's clearly an integral part of the Yes sound (along with songwriting duties etc). I couldn't imagine, say, 'Roundabout' without him.

I listened to the cds as they hit my mailbox, Yes Album,Fragile and Close to the Edge' (which suited me fine, chronological is best).  In brief, I think Fragile is my least favourite (in that, I liked the others more and didn't dislike Fragile) with several standouts and the interludes not being as memorable for me. With the Yes Album I almost find myself preferring Kaye's style to Wakeman's. 'Yours is No Disgrace' and 'A Venture' were my favourite moments, but it was all pretty great. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, I found Close to the Edge to be a work of art almost - the title track has great passage after great passage and the remaining songs are superb too. I think 'Siberian Khatru' is actually my favouriote 'Yes' piece so far - been thrashing that song a bit, actually.

Anyway, there's my early thoughts - and thanks again for the help! Looking at everyone's Live recommendations next.

dpr

richardh wrote: Close To The Edge and Fragile are their highest rated albums and also the only albums to feature the classic line up of Wakeman,Anderson,Bruford,Squire and Howe.   Going For The One is where I started and is a very good rounded album that displays what Yes were about and is perhaps a little easier to listen to with hit radio songs Wonderous Stories and the title track.   Another highly rated album is Relayer.This was the only album with Patrick Moraz and appeals to those tastes more on the jazz fusion side of things.   If you are very brave try Tales From Topographic Oceans!

dreadpirateroberts wrote: All right, after many moons waiting for Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge to arrive in the mail, I have finally had a chance to do some listening over the last week or so, and wanted to share some initial thoughts, and to thank everyone once again for their recommendations. First up, really enjoying them all. I like Anderson's voice and Steve is a fantastic guitarist who probably deserves even more credit, but perhaps what stands out most in the band, for me as a new listener, is Squires' bass. On these three albums, at least, it's got a distinctive tone, is almost too busy, but remains effective. So he's clearly an integral part of the Yes sound (along with songwriting duties etc). I couldn't imagine, say, 'Roundabout' without him. I listened to the cds as they hit my mailbox, Yes Album,Fragile and Close to the Edge' (which suited me fine, chronological is best).  In brief, I think Fragile is my least favourite (in that, I liked the others more and didn't dislike Fragile) with several standouts and the interludes not being as memorable for me. With the Yes Album I almost find myself preferring Kaye's style to Wakeman's. 'Yours is No Disgrace' and 'A Venture' were my favourite moments, but it was all pretty great. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, I found Close to the Edge to be a work of art almost - the title track has great passage after great passage and the remaining songs are superb too. I think 'Siberian Khatru' is actually my favouriote 'Yes' piece so far - been thrashing that song a bit, actually. Anyway, there's my early thoughts - and thanks again for the help! Looking at everyone's Live recommendations next. dpr