Need Yes Recommendations
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23562
Printed Date: February 09 2025 at 22:20
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Need Yes Recommendations
Posted By: leafinator
Subject: Need Yes Recommendations
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 08:30
| I recently picked up 'Highlights, The Best of Yes' and liked what I heard. I'm fully aware that Best Of albums often times show off the bands most popular radio songs and not necessarily their best songs so I'm leaving it to you - the experts. Which album(s) should I pick up next to get a true feel for Yes? I'm relatively new to Prog Rock so Dream Theater and Rush are about all I know so feel free to expand my horizons. Thanks in advance for your input. |
Replies:
Posted By: Chicapah
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 08:36
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If you like DT and Rush I'd say go for "Relayer," "Close to the Edge" or "Going for the One." I think you'd like anything prior to Tormato in general. ------------- "Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 08:38
| You can't go far wrong with anything from "The Yes Album" to "Going For The One". This is generally regarded to be their classic period. |
Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 08:38
| Yes try Relayer, CTTE, & GFTO, also maybe The Yes Album and Fragile. Slight word of warning - many people on this site have Relayer as their fave Yes album, and it is great, but the 1st track "Gates of Delirium" is 20 minutes of sometimes discordant noise, being the sound of warring armies. Can take a bit of getting used to. |
Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 08:39
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Yeah, "The Yes Album" "Close To The Edge" and "Relayer". Top notch. ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: leafinator
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 08:42
| Thanks everyone for the really quick reply!! |
Posted By: V0lcaN0
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 09:30
|
Yes is a quite difficult band to get into, at least it was for me. Long songs, complex arrangements and so on. I'd say that Close to the Edge, Relayer, Fragile and Tales from Topographic Oceans are albums you should try, but I'd recommend that you started with Fragile, mainly because of the shorter songs, and the less "epic" approach. It was the first album I liked from this band that gave me the urge to move on. ------------- waiting for the showers to stop... |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 10:04
| Relayer and Close to the Edge are their best albums, but Fragile and The Yes Album are probably easier to get into. |
Posted By: bruin69
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 16:47
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A word of warning Leafinator - I and most of my friends found that we ALWAYS hated each new Yes album as it came out, and had to persevere with it for at LEAST 10 listens before it started to grow on us! My favourite album is Relayer, yet at first I thought it was horrible...
The most easily accessible albums though are The Yes Album - my introduction to Yes back in 1971 - and Fragile. Just don't give up if you think at first that you're not getting it! Happy listening
 |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 17:21
go for the Yes Album...
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Antennas
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 19:37
|
Everyone already said what's to be said here, but I'd like to add that Going For The One is not just one of Yes' best albums, but it's also fairly easy to get into.
Check it out, you won't be disappointed! ------------- 
Jesus never managed to figure out the theremin either |
Posted By: _sam_
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 20:48
| Just make sure you don't start with Tales (not so sure about starting with Relayer either), you might find it too sprawling/immense before you've experienced their more "accessible" works like those mentioned above. You're making a great choice by embarking on the journey of Yes, it's extremely rewarding! |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 20:57
| You say you like Dream Theater so I would defineatly give 'DRAMA' a listen. It is very heavy in parts & Dream Theater have covered MACHINE MESSIAH in concert on a couple of occasions. The song is also mentioned in the DT song OCTOVARIAN! |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 21:12
hahaha good advice...you don't give a starving man fillet mignon and wine, you work 'em up to it with bread and water. and not only is it a good choice.. it really is essential (like the others of the big 5 or 6) to get a grasp of prog. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
_sam_ wrote:Posted By: Ghandi 2
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 21:26
|
Relayer! CTTE is an uninteresting, repetitive, annoying mess; but Relayer is wonderful. Go Moraz!
*runs away from Yes fanbois* ------------- "Never forget that the human race with technology is like an alcoholic with a barrel of wine." Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: Because in their hearts, everyone secretly loves the Unabomber. |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 21:30
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Relayer and Close to the Edge together. That's how I got into Yes. ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 21:35
*yawn* we all know you don't like it. However you are in the vast minority.... he'll listen to it and make his own mind up. If you are a prog fan and DON'T own a copy of Close to the Edge... you aren't a prog fan. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Ghandi 2
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 21:46
I think he still should get it (especially since I don't think there's anything I could say that would stop him, since I'm the lone dissenter and it is number one), but he should get Relayer first, because it's a great album. And maybe, just maybe, if he wasn't going to like CTTE before, he might like it after he has heard Relayer first. I'm sorry if I'm overdoing the I don't like CTTE edge thing; I only brought it up because it's relevant
Actually, if you liked the Best of Yes, you'll probably like CTTE, so you should get both CTTE and Relayer. (which, I must warn you, sounds different from the rest of Yes; but in a good way) ------------- "Never forget that the human race with technology is like an alcoholic with a barrel of wine." Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: Because in their hearts, everyone secretly loves the Unabomber. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 21:50
I agree... I'm one of the few that thinks Genesis's The Lamb isn't half as good as everyone says... but I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. It's essential just like CTTE. Millions of prog fans can't be all wrong hahah.... it's just something about it escapes me. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 22:12
Agreed, start here and go chronologically until you hit Drama... ...and along the way, if you're hooked, grab the first two albums. Some quality material there. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 22:19
agreed.... in general I see that those that don't like that album.... aren't going to like Yes period. Win-Win situation either way. Get yourself a great album even if you don't like where Yes took off to later or save yourself some dough and realize that Yes isn't your cup of tea right off the bat. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Sacred 22
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 22:58
|
The Band YES,................ I can't imagine being a YES fan and not liking anything the band did say up to 90124 when in actuality they were going to go with a different name for that line-up anyway. It was to be called Cinema. Aside form that. The early years up to Tormato or Drama if you like and starting with the YES Album are all essential for any YES fan. Personally, I would start with Fragile first. Fragile gives you a clue of what they would become but also gives you the earlier flavour. Fragile to me is the real transition album. |
Posted By: bhikkhu
Date Posted: May 19 2006 at 23:18
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Even though I am repeating what others have said, I think it helps to have a concensus. I'd say start with "Fragile." It will be familliar, but the ones you don't know will help with what is to come. Then "The Yes Album," for similar reasons. Next go to "Close to the Edge." It has a similar feel to what you have already heard, but is much grander in scope. These are what I consider the essential albums. You still may, or may not, like "Tales From Topographic Oceans," and Relayer. These are subjects of much controversy (as you can already tell). I think they are great, but I can understand why others may not agree. I look at them as symphonies. If you like collections of shorter songs, they're probably not for you. ------------- a.k.a. H.T. http://riekels.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow - http://riekels.wordpress.com |
Posted By: progadicto
Date Posted: May 20 2006 at 01:02
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According with your original post my recommendations are:
THE YES ALBUM
CLOSE TO THE EDGE
RELAYER
DRAMA
ANDERSON WAKEMAN BRUFORD HOWE (It counts!)
KEYS TO ASCENSION 1 AND 2
Peace and love... ------------- ... E N E L B U N K E R... |
Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: May 20 2006 at 07:23
I second (or fourteenth?) that motion...
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Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: May 20 2006 at 13:17
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1) Fragile
2) Close To The Edge
3) The Yes Album
4) Relayer
5) Tales From Topographic Oceans
6) Going For The One
7) Time And A Word
8) Yes
9) Drama
10) Tormato
|
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: May 20 2006 at 13:27
and
 Many won't agree with 90125- But I really enjoy it. This is a nice range also if you are going to start out with a couple of YES albums
|
Posted By: wolf0621
Date Posted: May 20 2006 at 14:14
| The first 2 records, then select tracks from the rest (find a friend who plunked down his $'s & owns those albums, then pick out your favorite individual tunes). 3-4 "best-of" cd-r's should do it... |
Posted By: TOD KREMER
Date Posted: May 21 2006 at 06:08
|
Poor Leafinator. We have probably confused the heck out of him as 3/4s of the bands output has been mentioned already.
Go with "Fragile" and "The Yes Album". Those represent their seminal style.
ABW & H wouldn't hurt you either as it is sort of a return to that initial style (though a little poppier, definitely accessable).
Save the weightier stuff (Close To The Edge and Relayer) for later.
I hope you are not even more confused than before you asked!
As always, we love to help (or confuse) a potential convert. Be sure to tell us how it is going!
------------- Stand up to the blow that fate has struck upon you. Make the most of all you still have coming to you... |
Posted By: YesForSure
Date Posted: May 23 2006 at 23:22
| Tales from Topographic Oceans is the best thing Yes ever produced. But I wouldn't take it as a starter album, I say start with The Yes Album and Fragile, work your way to CttE, Relayer then save the best for last. |
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: May 23 2006 at 23:24
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Oh, lord,. Please don't recommend the unstructured and repetitititive mess that is ABWH. The answer is Fragile. And then move in both time line directions from there. -------------  
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 02:52
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I don't think I can say much more than others have already said before me, but there's my two cents. I agree on "The Yes Album" being probably the most accessible in Yes's output: all the songs on it are classics, but not as demanding as, say, the three tracks on "Relayer". Then, of course, you should go on to "Fragile" (more demanding, but still accessible) and the mighty CTTE. These are essential listening for anyone who really wants to know what Yes are all about. As to the others, "Relayer" is undoubtedly a masterpiece, but much harder to get into (with the exception of "Soon", but that's a short episode) because of the strong jazz influences. I find TFTO boring after a while, and I think it should be approached selectively: listening to it in one take really kills attention. On the other hand, GFTO is one of my favourite Yes albums, although its harder sound may be a turnoff for some people. I also like 90125, but I wouldn't actually recommend it to a Yes newcomer, as he or she could get the wrong picture. |
Posted By: pero
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 03:03
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1. Close to the edge
2. Relayer
3. Fragile
4. Tales from a topographic oceans
5. Yes
6. Yes album
7. Time and word
and double DVD Yes Symphonic
|
Posted By: Teaflax
Date Posted: May 24 2006 at 03:10
I have to disagree. I've Seen All Good People is a slice of stupid Boogie Rock of the kind that Yes - thankfully - haven't done before nor since. It's an atypical song in their catalogue, and could give people the wrong idea. -------------
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