Are The Yes Album, CttE and GftO the best 3 of Yes

BrufordFreak wrote: IMO, only CttE and Relayer stand as complete masterpieces with Fragile and Going for the One standing in line just behind. I find both of the band's first two albums more enjoyable to listen to than The Yes Album.

Edited by richardh - August 27 2024 at 19:49

I'd vote CTTE, Tales and Relayer.  

The Yes Album really signalled a sea change in their sound, featuring amazing and classic Yessongs like Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper, and Close to the Edge, with its grand structure and spiritual themes—not just the title track but also other songs like it—is frequently regarded as the peak of early 1970s prog-rock in general. Going for the One, on which the real Yes-keyboardist returned to the band and the jazz-rock tendencies showcased on the confused Relayer were abandoned regarding new material, indeed successfully combines accessibility with complexity, featuring standout "easy listening" songs such as the beautiful Wonderous Stories and the drumless masterpiece Turn of the Century, while on the other side, Yes was demonstrating their fully grown ability to create a perfect intricate yet still pleasant long-form with Awaken, featuring a church organ instead of jazz-rock bursts like on the side-long track from the previous studio album.

Yesshead wrote: Hello! I just made an account because of this excellent thread. Well, I agree with the OP's premises. As a long-term Yessfan, I, for one, do consider The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, and Going for the One to be truly the best three studio albums by the band. The Yes Album really signalled a sea change in their sound, featuring amazing and classic Yessongs like Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper, and Close to the Edge, with its grand structure and spiritual themes—not just the title track but also other songs like it—is frequently regarded as the peak of early 1970s prog-rock in general. Going for the One, on which the real Yes-keyboardist returned to the band and the jazz-rock tendencies showcased on the confused Relayer were abandoned regarding new material, indeed successfully combines accessibility with complexity, featuring standout "easy listening" songs such as the beautiful Wonderous Stories and the drumless masterpiece Turn of the Century, while on the other side, Yes was demonstrating their fully grown ability to create a perfect intricate yet still pleasant long-form with Awaken, featuring a church organ instead of jazz-rock bursts like on the side-long track from the previous studio album.

richardh wrote: That phrase 'the real Yes keyboardist' is very interesting! It seems that Rick seriously got the hump after TFTO so left. Relayer is then a fearless bold step into the future and everything that progressive rock should be. Fast forward a few years and the management are begging Wakeman to return. This can't possibly be for commercial reasons as Wakeman was shifting serious amounts of units with Six Wives, Journey, King Arthur and the White Rock albums all charting high? Perhaps I'm just a natural born cynic

Moraz would've left, anyway. The tense atmosphere (or maybe whatever tension was directed at him) wasn't conducive to his participation. He'd gone from a trio to a quintet, one ruled by much larger egos. Wakeman was initially supposed to be a session player, strictly for pay, not reinstated as a full-time member, though Yes' manager decided to go ahead and do it (without Rick's consent, though he didn't mind). Any which way we cut it, it was the right move. "Awaken" is my favorite Yes epic.

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: cstack3 wrote: I'd vote CTTE, Tales and Relayer.   Tales continues to impress me, years after its release.  I always seem to hear something new whenever I listen to it.   Inconsistent, perhaps, but its best moments are Yes' best moments.   Aren't you the one that posted a long time ago that Tales inspired you to become a  forest ranger?  Maybe I'm thinking of someone else though.

Edited by cstack3 - August 28 2024 at 15:44

cstack3 wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: cstack3 wrote: I'd vote CTTE, Tales and Relayer.   Tales continues to impress me, years after its release.  I always seem to hear something new whenever I listen to it.   Inconsistent, perhaps, but its best moments are Yes' best moments.   Aren't you the one that posted a long time ago that Tales inspired you to become a  forest ranger?  Maybe I'm thinking of someone else though. Close!!  Inspired me to switch academic paths from medicine to environmental science.   Interesting story....the Yes tour for TFTO was going to arrive in my university town (Champaign, Illinois USA), but the show was canceled because they said the tour buses & trucks didn't think they would find fuel on the way down (this was during the "Arab Oil Embargo" of that year).  I was PISSED and decided to tackle the fuel crisis on my own.  Since then, I have become a leading figure in generation of alternative fuels (mostly biofuels) that do not harm the environment.  Awards from the UK, US and others.  "Let them rape the forests?"  Over my cold, dead body.   http://www.neochloris.com is my consultancy.   Look at "Projects."

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - August 28 2024 at 20:02

CttE, Fragile and TYA are my top three, Relayer and GftO are just behind.

Edited by someone_else - August 29 2024 at 00:50

^ commercially speaking I agree which was partly what I was saying in my earlier post. At least Pink Floyd understood what a prog album was