Tales From Topographic Oceans

dr wu23 wrote: not to mention the fact I had my copy of TFTO 20 years before you were even born.

 

Padraic wrote: dr wu23 wrote: not to mention the fact I had my copy of TFTO 20 years before you were even born.   How is this in any way relevant?

I think this has become a very silly argument, somebody even mentioned the second coming of some fictitious character for some strange reason   
TFTO was a significant symphonic prog release in 1973, and at the time I think that it took a bit of a pounding - A lot of people slated the release and slated Yes when they performed it live. Mr Wakeman didn't like it, that's very true and he apparently ordered a curry whilst performing in Manchester's Free Trade Hall and ate it whilst the performance of Tales...
However, since then TFTO has significantly got better with Age and I would seriously say that it would have to be in the top ten symphonic releases of all time - no questions asked!
In the past 12 months I have played Yes twice - and both of those times it was the full TFTO experience. I think that Close to the edge is brilliant also, but it is let down by the last track which is very weak when compared to the other two tracks! (IMO).
It's all about opinion folks! Opinions are like ARSEHOLES, everybody has one!

Edited by M27Barney - February 19 2014 at 10:22

The ratings system is intrinsically flawed. But, like you said it is one metric we have to compare two releases! I think that TFTO is such an acquired taste it would always score a whole star point below where it should be.

I bought a vinyl version in the late 70's can say for sure, I was into Genesis before Yes, somebody played me Going for the One and I wasn't impressed at first - but Yes grew on me and when I went to college in 1981 - they were my favourite Band! I found the Yes releases a lot harder to get into than the Genesis/Camel albums I bought!
I must have played TFTO - hundreds of times, and it has grown on me as I got older - thus that's why I think it's like a fine wine !! (although I drink Beer not wine!)
You don't Like it and I do - I can live with that !

If you play C.T.T.E. in a band..you will immediately discover that each individual section was timed out and constructed to end quickly. The segment which runs into the melodic "I Get Up, I Get Down" is a pre-planned sequence with Bill Bruford tapping on the rim of his snare with open and close high hat, Wakeman playing church organ, and Squire producing a counterpoint line on bass. There is a huge difference between C.T.T.E. and T.F.T.O. when considering this detail on the insight of the composition. All the individual sections of C.T.T.E. are quickly performed and no bleeding or desire to hang on a atmospheric section is evident ...except for the slow atmospheric prog type ballad..."I Get Up, I Get Down". Topographic was not written or pieced together in that way and it is a completely diverse type of album and only reveals traces of ideas once used on C.T.T.E.

chopper wrote: M27Barney wrote: Mr Wakeman didn't like it, that's very true and he apparently ordered a curry whilst performing in Manchester's Free Trade Hall and ate it whilst the performance of Tales... What actually happened was that Rick shouted to his roadie during a bit he wasn't playing on "we must go for a curry after the gig" (him being the only non-veggie in the band I believe). The roadie misheard him and went out and got a curry straight away. Rick didn't want to waste it so... Apparently Jon Anderson wasn't too impressed when Rick offered him a poppadum though.

cstack3 wrote: chopper wrote: M27Barney wrote: Mr Wakeman didn't like it, that's very true and he apparently ordered a curry whilst performing in Manchester's Free Trade Hall and ate it whilst the performance of Tales... What actually happened was that Rick shouted to his roadie during a bit he wasn't playing on "we must go for a curry after the gig" (him being the only non-veggie in the band I believe). The roadie misheard him and went out and got a curry straight away. Rick didn't want to waste it so... Apparently Jon Anderson wasn't too impressed when Rick offered him a poppadum though. Sir Richard speaks all about it in this interview....it was chicken vindaloo, actually!  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1045969/Yes-original-Spinal-Tap-says-Rick-Wakeman-Seventies-prog-rock-supergroup.html#ixzz1Ss5rspNu

M27Barney wrote: ...Listened to the whole she-bang tonight - fantastic four movements, enjoyed all 82 minutes of it!!! .

lazland wrote: M27Barney wrote: ...Listened to the whole she-bang tonight - fantastic four movements, enjoyed all 82 minutes of it!!! . Hey Barney. Without wishing to start another interminable atheist v believer debate, I do find it strange that you enjoy Tales, with its extremely long, and impenetrable (to all accounts, including Jon) spiritual lyrics, based as they were on that Yogi chappy whose name escapes me this late. I know Morse is rather "in your face" as regards his spirituality, or Christianity, but at least it is possible to glean what he goes on about. It is a matter of record that all in Yes and crew, barring Howe, did not have a bloody clue what Jon was Wittering on about, and I say that as a huge fan.

Well it's based on the "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda) (and no I haven't read it!) a bit of eastern spiritual writing - and surprisingly - I'm not against human spirituality - where you use your mind/breathing to control all kinds of real conscious experiences - clearly the mind is capable of some very strange things. I know that Anderson was also a Christian - and even mentions Young Christians in the lyrics! However, the lyrics are typically esoteric and basically he plays with the words to make them fit the music - I have always liked Yes's lyrics. I also think that Anderson is more into thinking of his personal god as more of a spirit-of-the-cosmos type of power. Now I don't happen to believe that any consciousness is controlling the vastness of space and think that we are here as a very fortunate consequence of the rules of physics - and that we all should realise how precious and unlikely each of our lives is and not hanker for some nonsense preached to us by (usually) men with ulterior motives (usually personal power and avarice)! Anderson's lyrics are refreshingly life-affirming and his total abhorrence of war is a most commendable theme for any right thinking humanist! Religious people perpetrate child torture every day both mentally (telling children that they will burn in hell) and literally (circumcision), So I don't want any arguments from religious nuts or even worse - liberal apologists!

Edited by M27Barney - February 23 2014 at 06:46