With their dazzling instrumental chops, lengthy songs, and lush harmonies, Yes perhaps defined 1970s progressive rock better than any other band, despite illustrious competitors like King Crimson and Genesis. At their peak, Jon Anderson’s high pitched vocals delivered unintelligible pseudo-religious lyrics, while Chris Squire’s rumbling bass and harmony vocals anchored the band. Rick Wakeman supplied classical flourishes on the keyboards, while Steve Howe’s agile guitar playing, and Bill Bruford’s jazz-influenced drumming were also important features of their sound. If you can get past any aversion to progressive rock, there’s plenty of solid pop craftsmanship on Yes albums – they’re lushly produced and filled with hooks.
The band originated from an earlier London band, Mabel Greer’s Toyshop. Bassist Chris Squire and guitarist Peter Banks gradually changed the other members, rebranding as Yes. Squire and new vocalist Jon Anderson wrote the album track ‘Sweetness’ in their first songwriting session, bonding over their shared love of harmony groups like Simon & Garfunkel.
I’ve only covered Yes’ albums up to 1983 – the period from 1971-1977 is generally regarded as their most fertile period. Apart from 1973’s meandering Tales from Topographic Oceans, all of their albums in this time period range from very good to outstanding. Their albums from the following ten year period are more uncertain, with the group trying to keep up with contemporary trends – although 1983’s 90125 was successful, and stands as their best-selling release. I’ve only covered the albums up to 1987’s Big Generator, but the group have remained prolific, even after the passing of key member Chris Squire.
Yes had a constantly changing lineup even during the time period covered on this page, with bass player Chris Squire the only constant. I’ve included a summary of the band changes below. The first five in the list are the best-known lineup, who played on 1971’s Fragile and 1972’s Close to the Edge.
Yes Members, 1968-1987
Jon Anderson: vocals, 1968-1978, 1983-1987
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals, 1968-1987
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals, 1971-1980
Bill Bruford: drums, 1968-1972
Rick Wakeman: keyboards, 1972-1974, 1977-1978
Alan White: drums, 1973-1987
Tony Kaye: keyboards, 1968-1971, 1983-1987
Peter Banks: guitar, 1968-1970
Patrick Moraz: keyboards, 1974
Geoff Downes: keyboards, 1980
Trevor Horn: vocals, 1980
Trevor Rabin: guitars and vocals, 1983-1987
Yes Album Reviews
Yes | Time and a Word | The Yes Album | Fragile | Close to the Edge | Tales From Topographic Oceans | Relayer | Going For The One | Tormato | Drama | 90125 | Big Generator
Favourite Album: Close To The Edge
Overlooked Gem: Relayer
Yes
1969, 7/10
When Yes recorded their debut album, King Crimson had not yet released the genre-defining In The Court of the Crimson King. Like Genesis, Yes’ debut album is instead psychedelic pop – not dissimilar to The Zombies. There are hints of jazz and progressive rock as well – the songs are sometimes lengthy and the group’s instrumental chops are evident, particularly from the rhythm section of Chris Squire and Bill Bruford. But the songs are relatively straightforward – it’s noteworthy that two of the most accomplished songs are lengthy adaptations of pop tunes from The Beatles (‘Every Little Thing’) and The Byrds (‘I See You’).
The opening riff-based tune, ‘Beyond and Before’, originated from Squire’s time in Mabel Greer’s Toyshop – the band would eventually turnover members and rename themselves Yes. It’s straightforward compared to what would follow, but still effective. ‘Harold Land’ is another strong original, dominated by Kaye’s organ. The lengthy workouts on the covers are the record’s most enjoyable aspect – ‘Every Little Thing’, which also references ‘Day Tripper’, is a rare Beatles cover that improves on the original. The group’s softer material – ‘Yesterday and Today’ and ‘Sweetness’ – isn’t as effective, even though Anderson’s vocals are pretty, while the attempt at an epic closer on ‘Survival’ lacks edge.
Yes gets lost in the shuffle of great 1969 releases, but it’s still a very promising debut from a band who’d shine in the next decade.
Time and a Word
1970, 6/10
During rehearsals for their second album, Squire and Anderson felt that Kaye and Banks weren’t providing enough interesting arrangement ideas. After experimenting with a mellotron, they instead decided to bring in orchestra for the second section. Neither Banks or Kaye seem interested in textural variation – Kaye was only interested in organ and piano parts, and his keyboard playing is often rhythmically focused – justified when the bass player and guitarist both play lead. But the orchestration doesn’t work – smothered on top of a band of busy players it’s almost comically silly, especially on the faster songs. Banks was frustrated by the orchestration and quit the band before the album was released – his replacement Steve Howe is featured on the cover of the U.S. edition. Eddy Offord, who’d produce the band’s key albums and provide their live mixing over the next few years, is on board as an audio engineer here.
Like the first album, there are eight songs – two covers, and six originals. As with the previous album, the covers are strong – the opening track, a Yes take on Richie Havens’ ‘No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed’, is particularly good. There weak tracks are less enjoyable than anything on the debut – in particular, ‘Then’ is overstuffed with its fast pace and orchestration, while ‘Clear Days’ is brief and trivial. But the best of the band’s originals show some progression – ‘Sweet Dreams’ is pretty, even as its driven by a tough sounding Squire bassline, while the title track is a much better stab at a grand album closer than ‘Survival’ on the debut.
Time and a Word was only barely successful, failing to reaching the UK top 40 – Atlantic considered dropping the band from their roster, but were convinced to give them another chance.
The Yes Album
1971, 8/10
If Yes had broken up immediately after The Yes Album I’d appreciate it more, but in the context of Fragile and Close To The Edge it documents a group still on a steep learning curve and still missing some key elements. The Yes Album still feels like a 1960s psychedelic pop record in places – albeit featuring a band with a lot of instrumental firepower, and one that drags its songs out at length. The songwriting is significantly improved – it’s notable that new recruit Steve Howe has credits on key tracks ‘Starship Trooper’ and ‘Yours Is No Disgrace’.
Howe’s playing is also immediately impressive – his spidery electric tone isn’t markedly different from Peter Banks’ guitar work on the debut, but his playing is much more diverse – from his live solo showpiece ‘The Clap’ to his solo on standout piece ‘Starship Trooper’. Jon Anderson’s ethereal voice is suited to impressionist fantasies, and the opening phrase “sister bluebird” finds Yes staking out their familiar lyrical concerns. The harmony driven ‘Your Move’ section of ‘I’ve Seen All Good People’ is gorgeous, even if the rest of the song drags. The other two epics – ‘Yours Is No Disgrace’ and ‘Perpetual Change’ – both feel overly long, as though Yes are simply stretching pop songs to epic lengths, and don’t have quite enough ideas to make them soar.
While The Yes Album is an entertaining record, it captures Yes in a state of flux; one foot grounded in the 1960s and the other foot stretching into space.
Fragile
1971, 8.5/10
Yes launched full tilt into progressive rock with 1971’s Fragile, rush-released to pay for new member Rick Wakeman’s arsenal of keyboard instruments. To pad out the album, each member was required to contribute a solo piece, with mixed results; I like Bruford’s short freak-out ‘Five Per Cent For Nothing’ and Squire’s bass symphony ‘The Fish’ is entertaining, but overall these solo pieces break up the flow.
The remainder of Fragile is often awe-inspiring; ‘Roundabout’, ‘South Side Of The Sky’ and ‘Heart Of The Sunrise’ are three excellent epics, each capturing the band in different moods. ‘Roundabout’ is bouncy, ‘South Side Of The Sky’, about a doomed polar expedition, has a harder edge, while ‘Heart Of The Sunrise’ has vulnerability with Anderson’s plea that he feels “lost in the city.”
Fragile is a very strong record, but the disjointed nature of the solo tracks is enough to keep it out of the top tier of Yes albums.
Close To The Edge
1972, 10/10
Close To The Edge was the second and final album recorded by the best-known Yes lineup, with Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, and Rick Wakeman. With only three tracks and quasi-religious incomprehensible lyrics, Close To The Edge sounds like a bad idea on paper, but with a huge arsenal of instrumental talent and heavenly harmonies at their disposal, it seems that Yes were capable of making anything work in 1972; Close To The Edge was Yes’ second album for the year, and it’s amazing.
Unlike other side-long pieces, the title track is only one song, rather than a series of related songs stuck together. The structure is more like a classical piece with different themes floating in and out, building through an amazingly proficient organ solo from Wakeman into a wonderful climax. The whole piece is often overwhelmingly evocative and memorable, especially the “I get up, I get down” section, and Jon Anderson’s clear and ethereal vocals are perfectly suited to the material. The second side begins with ‘And You And I’, which is the least hard-hitting song on Close To The Edge, but still fantastic, with a more subtle acoustic flavour, which emphasises the group’s harmonies. The album toughens up again with the riff-driven ‘Siberian Khatru’, with the fabulous chanted climax. The introduction is one of my favourites, as the group transform Howe’s sublime but conventional opening blues riff into a distinctively Yes piece, while I also enjoy Wakeman’s brief harpsichord solo. Other commentators have labelled Close To The Edge as a rock symphony, which is an accurate description.
While the three pieces are distinct, they are linked by Anderson’s streams of vague religious imagery, and they all end in a triumphantly hopeful climax. Nominally Close To The Edge is my favourite album ever; there’s hardly a dull moment in this ambitious progressive suite.
Tales From Topographic Oceans
1974, 6/10
Often cited as embodying the worst excesses of progressive rock, Tales From Topographic Oceans was Yes’ conceptual double album. Based entirely on a lengthy footnote on page 83 of an obscure religious text, Tales From Topographic Oceans shows Yes stretching their ideas too thin over four side-long tracks. The songs are less arresting; there are less obvious dynamics, and the sections drift into each other.
The obvious highlight is opener ‘The Revealing Science of God’. It’s not as action packed as other side-longs such as ‘Close To The Edge’ or ‘The Gates Of Delirium’, but it still justifies its twenty minute length well enough with a nice melody. ‘The Remembering’ has more nice melodic ideas, and the “relayer” section is arguably the most hook-laden aspect of the entire album. The only place Tales From Topographic Oceans does become something of a chore is ‘The Ancients’ which takes the band into atonal territory for an entire fifteen minutes.
I’ve seen Tales From Topographic Oceans described as the ultimate love it or hate it album, but that’s hardly accurate; it’s certainly not the place to begin an exploration into Yes, but if you’re already a fan it’s perfectly enjoyable, if a little sedate.
Relayer
1974, 9.5/10
After comparing Tales to a padded bra, Wakeman quit Yes to pursue his solo career. He was replaced by Patrick Moraz, who helps push Yes into a more abrasive jazz-fusion direction. Anderson eschews his usual friendly spiritual-babble for an entire album side with the epic ‘Gates of Delirium’, based on Tolstoy’s War and Peace. It’s a more difficult listen than usual for Yes, as melody isn’t always the focus and it’s a dense mix, but it’s one of their most rewarding albums.
It’s also one of their most coherent, following the Close To The Edgetemplate of an excellent side long opener followed by two ten minute songs. ‘The Gates of Delirium’ is less of a symphony than ‘Close to the Edge’ or anything from Tales; rather than cycling through and returning to different melodies throughout its course, it sticks to a basic song structure before a lengthy duel between White’s percussion and Moraz’s keyboards, then climaxes in the beautiful ballad ‘Soon’. This lack of repetition makes it less immediate than their other twenty minutes epics, but it’s worth the effort; the uncharacteristic sustained fury of the band during the vocal section, the simple and uplifting melody that lifts out of the battle scene, and the beauty of the final conclusion. The other two songs aren’t quite on the same level, but they’re entertaining and among Yes’ best. ‘Sound Chaser’ is sonic insanity, constantly slowing and speeding up, while managing to be surprisingly catchy. The often criticised “Cha cha cha cha” sections are eccentric, but fit in perfectly. ‘To Be Over’ is the delicate ballad, this time with more of an eastern flavour than Yes had displayed previously.
It’s dense, chaotic, and not the best place to start, but Relayer is easily one of Yes’ strongest and most creative albums.
Going For The One
1977, 8.5/10
After releasing seven studio albums between 1969 and 1974, Yes took a three year hiatus from recording as a group while they toured the world and all released solo albums. During the intervening years progressive rock had become less significant, usurped by punk and new wave. In step with the times Going For The One is punchier and more concise, easily their most accessible album since Fragile with a grand total of five songs. Yes recorded the album in Montreux, Switzerland, the homeland of Patrick Moraz. Moraz, however, was fired from Yes early in the sessions, the rest of the group claiming that success went to his head, while Moraz was unhappy that his ideas for the group were not being taken on board. Rick Wakeman was asked to rejoin in his place, and his church organ and piano help Yes to evoke a warmer and more organic feel. The other substantial personnel change on this album is the absence of producer Eddie Offord, who often acted as the group’s sixth member, helping to piece the group’s compositions into coherent form; the closing ‘Awaken’ in particular would have benefited from his ability to edit the group’s work.
The religious lyrics are carried over from Close To The Edge and Tales, but rather than the largely eastern imagery that dominated those records, the lyrics of ‘Wonderous Stories’ and ‘Awaken’ seem to have more of an origin in Christianity, an impression heightened by Anderson’s harp, Wakeman’s Church organ (apparently recorded via telephone) and choirs in the latter. The fast moving opening title track features Howe’s stinging country licks, while the contemplative second track ‘Turn Of The Century’ is a gorgeous acoustic meander through more esoteric territory, arguably the album’s standout song. ‘Parallels’ and ‘Wondrous Stories’ are more concise pop songs, the former opening with a huge church organ riff and a strident Squire bass line, and the latter with a gentle acoustic story of religious pilgrimage. The closing epic ‘Awaken’ does have the most powerful moments of the album; especially the circle of fifths on the “Master of Images” section and the explosive organ solo immediately afterwards, although its impact is lessened by a few dull spots and it would be more effective if it was a few minutes shorter.
Going For The One does feels lightweight next to Yes’s very best albums, but it’s still quintessentially Yes and its five compositions cover a lot of ground stylistically.
Tormato
1978, 5.5/10
While there were no personnel changes for Yes after Going For The One, Tormato features a markedly different sound. Rick Wakeman ditched his mellotrons and instead utilises high pitched synthesiser parts, while Chris Squire uses effects pedals on his bass. Along with an astonishingly high track count (eight songs!), it feels like Yes are updating to fit in with new wave, but in hindsight Tormato is the most dated and least dignified of their 1970s releases.
Compounding the problem, it’s also their hokiest bunch of lyrics from the period, with songs like ‘Arriving UFO’ and ‘Circus of Heaven’. Tormato is a difficult album to warm to, but it’s not without its share of strong tunes. The highlight is Squire’s love song ‘Onward’ – as with everything else on the record, it’s somewhat inelegant – but it’s pretty and heartfelt. Elsewhere, ‘Don’t Kill The Whale’ is also lacking in dignity, but Steve Howe’s leads are especially enjoyable, while ‘Release Release’ is a strong melody even if the crowd noise sound effects are off-putting.
Tormato certainly has a lot of issues, but there’s just enough of the classic Yes to make it worth visiting for dedicated fans.
Drama
1980, 6/10
Tormato was generally viewed as disappointing, and Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson left in its aftermath. Improbably, they were replaced by new wave synth duo The Buggles, who had recently enjoyed fame with the hit ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’, shifting Yes further into contemporary new wave territory. Keyboardist Geoff Downes does a fine job; his low key virtuosity is a key component of the album’s compromise between prog and new wave. Trevor Horn also does a good job of filling in for Anderson; his singing is close enough to Anderson’s to ensure a relatively seamless transition.
There is enough of substance on Drama to suggest that the union of Yes and Buggles was a good idea, but it’s disappointing overall. ‘Tempus Fugit’ is the only song that rivals prime 1970s Yes, with an exciting riff augmented by Downes’ keyboard swirls and a dynamic arrangement. ‘Does It Really Happen’ is the other highlight, based around a funky Chris Squire bass riff, giving Yes more of a pop sheen without ever becoming too uncomfortable. The longer epics drag a little – the metal riffing in ‘Machine Messiah’ doesn’t play to the strengths of Yes, while the “I am a camera” lyrics of ‘Into The Lens’ are distracting.
It’s far from a complete disaster, but Drama is a weird culvert in the Yes discography that you don’t need to explore unless you’re an obsessive or you find it cheap.
90125
1983, 7.5/10
Steve Howe, Trevor Horn, and Geoff Downes all left Yes after Drama, with Howe and Downes forming the progressive rock super-group Asia. After an attempt to team up with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, Chris Squire and Alan White recruited 19-year-old South African Trevor Rabin to form a new band Cinema. Eventually, both Tony Kaye (last in the group in 1971) and Jon Anderson signed up, and the new album was an official Yes product, named after its catalogue number. To make matters even more complicated, Trevor Horn signed back up as a producer.
Rabin is the driving force on 90125; he wrote most of the material, and was the lead vocalist until Anderson was bought in at the eleventh hour. The big hit was opening track ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’; its blaring riff isn’t very reminiscent of seventies Yes, but the track is infectiously catchy and sets the pattern for the remainder of the album. There are still traces of progressive rock remaining; sitar features in ‘It Can Happen’, while ‘Hearts’ has an epic chorus that takes a long time to arrive. Other highlights include the a capella introduction and vocal layering in the chorus of ‘Leave It’; with Anderson, Rabin, Squire, and White all strong singers, this version of Yes was even stronger vocally than the classic lineup.
90125 doesn’t bear much resemblance to 1970’s prog Yes – it’s simply an enjoyable pop album.
Big Generator
1987, 5/10
90125 was a triumph for Yes, adapting to a new era with aplomb. They failed to follow it up successfully, however – it took nearly four years to emerge. The band are clearly pulling in different directions – Rabin was under instructions to provide another hit like ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’, while Anderson was keen to introduce the band’s new fanbase to more adventurous music. Horn pulled out of production duties during recording, leaving Rabin to process with Paul De Villiers. Big Generator is an uneasy mix of prog chops, commercial rock, and Anderson’s peace and love vibes, but the real issue is that the songs are nowhere near as strong as they were on 90125.
The best stuff is often the simplest here – surprisingly ‘Love Will Find A Way’ was written entirely by Rabin, and was intended for Stevie Nicks. It’s a great fit for Yes – it cracked the US top 40, and “I eat at Chez Nous’ is the kind of dorky lyric you’d expect from Anderson. The bridge on ‘Final Eyes’ is another pretty moment, while ‘Rhythm of Love’ is a decent opener. But there’s also some truly oddball stuff – the lengthy ‘Shoot High, Aim Low’ has a strangely languid chorus, while ‘Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence)’ allows Anderson to deliver his spiritual lyrics over pretty acoustic backing. But none of these songs are strong enough to make the 90125 tracklist, and the title track is an inferior rerun of ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’.
Anderson left the band after the Big Generator tour and formed Anderson Wakeman Bruford Howe, with Tony Levin on bass. The spinoff was folded back into the original band with the 1991 band Union, featuring an astounding 8 members with Anderson, Rabin, Kaye, White, Squire, Wakeman, Bruford, and Howe all in the band.
Ten Favourite Yes Songs
Close To The Edge
The Gates of Delirium
Sound Chaser
Parallels
Starship Trooper
Heart of the Sunrise
South Side of the Sky
Siberian Khaatru
Awaken
Tempus Fugit
Back to 1970s Album Reviews….
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A very good band who play very good music. Bruford and Squire are magic together. All good players. Seen them live way back and they put on a great night of music.I drifted away but even the music I’m not that familiar with sounds good. I’ve been pulling this stuff on lately and am enjoying it. Amazing how they jam out . I find a lot of jazz in it. Plus they had the cool covers on the albums. I always get a kick out of people that slag these guys. They appeal to CB’s ears on a lot of levels. Good reviews fella.
I had this colleague who was older, and it was like he thought punk vs prog was a thing – it seems obvious now that you can pick and choose the best things from each.
Yes are amazing – Chris Squire was totally the lynch pin, and they weren’t quite as good without Bruford, although I love Relayer and Going For The One. I think most of the jazz came from Bruford – I think there’s a bit of influence from 20th century classical like Stravinsky in there too.
I’ve just been covering Sigur Ros – do you like them? Kind of similar in some ways, although they’re from a later era and you’d probably file them as “post-rock”. But they’re both kind of symphonic, and Jonsi from Sigur Ros is just about the only male singer I can think of who is higher pitched than Anderson.
Great comment. You know me, I don’t get into the debating thing. Yes were just plain good. Alan White (has a solo record I like) was no slouch on the drums. I think your right on the jazz/Bruford thing. Plus the band could rock out when they felt like it. I guess when you’re a good musician you can play anything. They use to blast classical before their shows. In your research mind I’m sure you could find the piece they would play. Squire was also a pretty good showman.
I will definitely check out Sigur Ros on your recommendation. Thanks. Going on the spin list right now.
I’m pretty sure it was Stravinsky – I just googled to confirm, and it’s the Firebird suite. I think Stravinsky influenced Paddy McAloon from Prefab Sprout as well.
I felt like White was good enough to keep up with the other guys, but Bruford really added something special.
Ágætis byrjun is a good Sigur Ros album to check out.
“Firebird Suite” that’s it. Bruford is in another world as far as drummers go. Musical ideas that I always find interesting. Plus he can pound when he wants to. I guess it’s that jazz thing. I made note of the Sigur Ros album. Good to have a place to start.
Oddly enough, even though yes is most well-known for those long wordless instrumental sections, I find that what they were really great at are the more traditional regular -type songs that they did. When I listen to the long complicated instrumental things on their albums they just never kick in for me. On the other hand, the ones like All Good People, Roundabout, Long Distance Tunaround, And You and I, and even later ones like Wonderous stories and Owner of a Lonely Heart I think are just utterly great. When they have a regular old song to go along with their music, they’re out of this world. I always wish I could learn to like those other ones, but I can never get into them. Same thing with Emerson Lake and Palmer. They’re fantastic
on the more traditional folk based type songs, but I just can’t get into all the long wild Instrumental stuff. I have no idea why.
I think there’s definitely a great pop band in there – they’re also amazing at harmonies. I’d say the same applies to Genesis as well – both bands released successful albums when they went pop.
I’ve been listening to Yes a lot lately, as I’ve been reading a book about Close To The Edge. I think most people agree that that is their best album, and I am no exception. It is a perfect album. Other than that, though, my opinions are very different from yours. I think The Yes Album is awesome and is about as good as Fragile overall, which is saying a lot. They did not have Rick Wakeman on board yet, but Tony Banks’ powerful organ playing is perfect for the material. As you noted, Steve Howe is fantastic on this album, and this is where Chris Squire first reaches his potential.
Relayer seems to be the album that splits Yes fans more than any other. Even people who like Tales From Topographic Oceans mostly agree that it does not measure up to the two albums that came before it, but Relayer is the one that people either love or hate. I completely hate it. In fact, I find it unlistenable. I think Going For The One is pretty close to unlistenable too. There is such a lack of melody on those two albums that they just don’t hold my attention. Tormato was at least a step in the right direction, but much of it was spoiled by Jon Anderson’s silly lyrics and Rick Wakeman’s high-pitched synthesizers. The other three band members were right to move ahead without them when they recorded Drama, which I think was their first enjoyable album in years. In particular, Geoff Downes’ keyboard playing is much more effective than anything that Wakeman had been doing for awhile, and Trevor Horn was a good singer. I felt bad for him getting heckled by Yes fans when they went on tour. As for 90125, it was a favorite album of mine when it came out, but I don’t think it has aged well at all. Such is the fate of most popular music from the 1980s.
I think the first two albums are worth checking out and reviewing sometime. I agree with most people that the debut album is better than the second one. I think the tunes are a lot stronger on the first album, while the second one, in my opinion, is a foreshadowing of the overly busy arrangements and lack of melody that plagued their mid-70s albums. But considering that you like some of that mid-70s stuff, you may find more to appreciate than I do while listening to the second album.
I have those first two albums, but haven’t spent a whole lot of time with them yet.
I get that Relayer is pretty noisy and abrasive, and goes in a jazz direction as well. I do think that Going for the One is pretty tuneful though – ‘Wondrous Stories’, ‘Parallels’, and parts of ‘Awaken’ all have memorable melodies. There does seem a pretty strong consensus that Yes Album, Fragile, and CTTE are the big three though.
Top Songs
I’ve Seen All Good People/Your Move
And You and I
Roundabout
Wonderous Stories
Yours is No Disgrace
Long Distance Runaround
Heart of the sunrise
America
Starship Troopers
Owner of a Lonely Heart
A Yes list with nothing over ten minutes is a bit controversial. I like that you included Wondrous Stories though – I like it when people go further than just Yes Album/Fragile/CTTE.
I like Yes quite a bit, virtusosos at every instrument, can make 20+ minute songs but quite underrated in making shorter tight songs. King Crimson might have been the soul of progressive rock but Yes is probably the epitomy of progressive rock, both the positive and negative sides of the word ‘epitomy’.
Yes – not peak Yes yet, but I like the shorter songs, ‘Yesterday and Today’ and ‘Sweetness’.
Time and a Word – this time they have thought a lot of themselves already, bringing an orchestra for this album and I like it, favourites are the title track and ‘Sweet Dreams’.
The Yes Album – the first of the classic run of albums. The epics are great.
Fragile – the four ‘group’ songs are all great. The solo songs are fun as well.
Close to the Edge – the title track is great but I love ‘And You and I’ even more.
Tales from Topographic Oceans – the love or hate album. I… love this album.
Relayer – my first Yes album and might be my favourite.
Going for the One – first tastes of pop here. Apart from ‘Parallels’ (I’m not really a fan of that song), all of the songs are pretty good.
Tormato – their real first limp. There are some good songs like ‘Don’t Kill the Whale’, ‘Madrigal’ and ‘Onward’, but it is a mess. I also quite like ‘Circus of Heaven’ for some reason.
Drama – their most underrated album. Prog and new wave together? Sure, why not.
90125 – their most pop album and… it is a great collection of songs.
After this, it is just pick which ones will satifsy you. For me, I like ‘Keys to Ascension’, ‘Magnification’ and ‘Fly from Here’.
Oddly, they’re one of my very favourite bands, but I only know the records from 1971-1983 (although I think that covers most of the best ones).
I always find it weird that a lot of people love The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge, but can’t get into Relayer and Going For The One.
Love Yes. Hard to find patience for their entire discography. But little builds their classic stuff. I have a particular fondness for the yes Album and Going for the One.
And, tbh, I was pleasantly surprised by the recent albums even if it’s just Howe and White from famous lineups.
Thanks for reading! It’s a weird dichotomy for me, where they produced my favourite ever album, but I have little desire to hear their later work.