Yes - where to start?

The Quiet One wrote: 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 Good to hear that! I really can't think of listening Yes for the first time! Gees, good times. Keep listening to them, if you're interested in more, I'd say give a try to Tales From Topographic Oceans. The other definite classic of the 70s Prog, although it has controversy.  Relayer, on the other hand, is excellent but some can consider it less cohesive. It's probably their most adventurous work, with very slight jazz influences due to keyboard player, Patrick Moraz. If you like Kaye, which I also do like his playing, Yes' first two albums are not bad at all. Although maybe that's stretching things for someone who just started liking them. Take this advise: if you ever see Time and a Word or the debut cheap, don't doubt in getting them, they're fun and show the Yes' evolution, as well as Kaye's great potential.

It was pretty amazing actually - after having so many other prog and 70s rock giants in my collection for decades but having overlooked Yes for some reason, it was like discovering a big heap of gold in my backyard. I'd known about them for so long, yet never really look!    I reckon I will go for Tales next - and have Relayer in the mail.

Cool, I will definitely add the first two albums to the list - thanks for the recommendation. Part of me will definitely one day feel compelled to buy the rest of the 70s catalogue too, as I tend to try and complete a decade of a band before taking stock and investigating the next.

Big Generator...movin to the left....Big Generator...movin to the right...Big Generator...movin through the night.  

No really, don't start there.  But I did start with the current album out at the time, 90125. 

Big Generator, I think, everything will be up hill from there.

Slartibartfast wrote: Big Generator, I think, everything will be up hill from there.

Not sure I'd have liked Yes much if I'd started with that one

The Doctor wrote: Big Generator...movin to the left....Big Generator...movin to the right...Big Generator...movin through the night.   No really, don't start there.  But I did start with the current album out at the time, 90125.

Hahah! Interesting album that one (90125) - had it leant to me, and it's pretty slick and I'm not a fan of the production, though some of the songs are certainly catchy pop tracks - like 'Owner...' of course. It's a bit 'arena rock' for me overall - though 'Hearts' has some interesting moments

omphaloskepsis wrote: ABWH I feel is the best album Yes has recorded since Going for the One.  ABWH is in a three way tie for my girlfriend's favorite Yes disc, with Close to the Edge and The Yes Album.       Om

Will check it out one day, thank you! Loved Yes Album & CTTE, definitely

Proggernaut wrote: As a long time fan of Yes, I'm keen to hear how you are going with your exploration of their work. I was pleased to hear you immediately loved 'Yours is no Disgrace' - one of the truly awesome songs of the era, considering the instruments and recording technology.   I would also like to recommend some exploration of earlier albums as it really gives you a greater understanding of what the different musicians brought to the table with the various line-up changes throughout the bands career.   And now a question, have you listened to any Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe? I personally loved their first album and think if you are loving Yes then you may just enjoy that too!

Yeah, stellar track! I've actaully not long ago been given A,B,W&H - and despite the production which I find a little dated, I'm checking it out with some interest - 'Themes...' I liked and found 'Order of the Universe' has some great passages. Guitar is not as prominent as I like though    I will definitely be getting the first 2 'Yes' albums as well, I've heard a track or do and I reckon I'd like them

progistoomainstream wrote: Start off with "Fragile" it may be a little comercial and mainstream but it is a good starting point. When you have come to love it, move into "Close to the Edge" (generally considered to be thee best prog album) or "The Yes Album." By the sound of your musical tastes you probably would not like "90125" It is very pop and they moved completely out of the prog genre when they decided to do this song. Although by 'Little bits of yes over the years' you probably know owner of a lonley heart. The final test is if you can like "Tales from topographic oceans" (generally considered to be thee worst prog album). But "Fragile" was their most comercially sucessful so it's a good place to start.

Got a few albums a few months ago and this is what I liked   Found 90125 a little too pop, a bit too clean production-wise too (yeah, definitely heard 'Owner...' great pop song there'  - and I will check out 'Tales' for sure - the amount of hate it can get makes me very interested hahaha

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.


Edited by dreadpirateroberts - November 12 2011 at 22:37

dreadpirateroberts wrote: Slartibartfast wrote: Big Generator, I think, everything will be up hill from there. Not sure I'd have liked Yes much if I'd started with that one

I had to make that joke because I haven't ever listened to it but I'm fairly sure if it had been my first it might have been my last.

I began with 90125, then listened to proper Yes with The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge 

AtomicCrimsonRush wrote: Tales from Topographic Oceans is NOT the worst prog album...........

It's one of the all time finest.
It's something that Neal Morse and TFK have been trying to replicate for years, to no avail.

If you are a prog beginner definitely start with Yes Album and Fragile.

My first new release experience was Tormato.  I liked it then and still do.  By that time I had heard all or most of the older ones.

I first heard the single version of Roundabout on the radio, so it would be difficult to replicate that now.  When I got the album, I liked the long tracks, but the solo tracks were relatively poor and seemed to reflect the lack of cohesiveness in the band.  Close to the Edge (which is consistent) and Tales From Topographic Oceans are great, but they are all long tracks and take a bit of 'getting into'.  90125 and Drama are perhaps  the most accessible, but not entirely representative. I have not heard a Yes compilation, but they might be the best place to start, if they contain the single version of Roundabout, along with Yours is No Disgrace and Soon (edit from Relayer).