First actual Yes album...decisions, decisions...

[Hamlet7768]

Yep, go with those two to start. And I admire your intuition regarding the genre. Prog rock and "concept album" bands often sequenced the songs very strategically, even if there was not a central theme. They intended their works to be listened to in this way.

That's my thinking. I always buy full albums, with a few exceptions. Come to think of it, last time I did that, the rest didn't download properly when I tried to complete it...

Why only ONE album as the choice? On amazon, you can get them used for like, 5 bucks each....

In this case, I'm getting the album on iTunes, because at college I won't have a record player I'm also trying not to splurge: if I buy too much, I'll overwhelm myself and not give each album its due. I try to limit my album purchases to albums where I'll enjoy the whole thing, as I can find isolated tracks on YouTube.


That said...I'll go for...Fragile. Someone on iTunes mentioned that the "remastered" Close to the Edge cuts off part of Siberian Khatru, and I don't feel like looking into that.

Thanks, guys!

 

[ColoradoJake]

I'd highly recommend listening to/purchasing the track "Tempus Fugit" from Drama. Chris really is outstanding on this song.

 

[AltGrendel]

Chirs Squier use to PDF files of the music notation for Heart of the Sunrise on his web site. Don't if it's still there, but if you can read music it's worth a shot.

 

[jumbodbassman]

you are a bass player. CS is one of the Gods - just get them all. Seriously the 3 - yesalbum thru close are must haves. Relayor has some great bass too.... and the first 2 early albums are amazing....

Start with those and ....

If i were totally new and starting to get them i might move in time sequence to ssort of get the bands evolution as us old farts got to live thru....

 

[AltGrendel]

Chirs Squier use to PDF files of the music notation for Heart of the Sunrise on his web site. Don't if it's still there, but if you can read music it's worth a shot.

Found them, wrong site. They're here: Miguel Falcão (miguelbass)

 

[leegreenman]

Can't go wrong with either Fragile or Close to the Edge. Great albums.

 

[colcifer]

The first one I heard was Tales. It's a bit polarizing but I loved it, FWIW.

 

[jerry]

No offense, but he already has that one.

One problem I have with "best of" compilations from a lot of bands from this genre and era is, the songs being randomly culled from various albums and presented in a random order just kills the whole vibe they were trying to present with the original releases in their totality.

OP's got the right idea, and this band is worth the effort.

A lot of times they also edit longer songs down too, not good for progressive rock. IMHO
The run of: The Yes Album, Fragile and Close To The Edge, is up there any streak in rock music, also IMHO.

 

[Kink Rimson]

Definitely The Yes Album. Astounding bass playing aside, the whole band sounds young and hungry and have yet to become bloated by the late prog excesses and overkill.

Fragile is great but suffers from those solo tracks - Wakeman's is hideous - and they hurt the flow of the album a little.

Close to The Edge is probably their most perfect statement. A rare thing, a perfect album. Pretty astounding production too.

After these three I suggest going back to the debut, Yes. The bass is pretty much the lead instrument throughout, and CS's unique style and tone was pretty much in place right from the beginning.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Fragile is great but suffers from those solo tracks

Well, in my opinion, "Mood For A Day" is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written for solo classical guitar.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I would get the best of to get an overall picture

Don't get me wrong I love "Classic Yes" but it was received as a gift. It always reminds me of a quote.

"Greatest hits albums are for housewives and little girls"
-Bruce McCulloch, Kids in the Hall - Into the Doors

 

[Sam Evans]

Well, in my opinion, "Mood For A Day" is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written for solo classical guitar.

Indeed. "We Have Heaven" and "Schindleria Praematurus" (sp?!) are also fun. Only Wakeman's and Bruford's solo tracks get skipped routinely on my CD player (though Bruford's is short, at least ... ).

 

[electracoyote]

This thread made me dig out the old vinyl. I just realized I'm missing a couple of releases, so I found the whole catalog up to Big Generator used for dirt cheap on CD and ordered them up. I would download the tracks, but you gotta have the artwork, it's part of the fun. so CDs it is. Can't wait for them to arrive and the Yes listening party that ensues!

 

[James Hart]

Since you should eventually get them all anyway... start with the very first one "Yes"
Yes (Yes album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's one of my favorite CS tone albums.

 

[Sam Evans]

This thread made me dig out the old vinyl.

Yup, I listened to four Yes albums in a row this afternoon.

 

[jamisonsalamand]

I was into Dream Theater, which led me to check out Yes. I'd say I didn't truly appreciate the stuff they were doing on Close to the Edge until I after I heard their album Relayer, more specifically the 22 minute track Gates of Delirium. Every aspect of that song just blows me away, and payig attention to the fills and weird harmonic lines Squire did is unbelievable. I'd really suggest Relayer first, and then Close to the Edge. If it has to be between those two, then get Close to the Edge, but Relayer as soon after as possible

 

[jumbodbassman]

make sure you add America long version. 9 minutes of pure heaven - right around the yesalbum/fragile time frame

 

[Floyd Eye]

The Yes Album or Fragile.

 

[P. Aaron]

I'd vote for 'The Yes Album' first. Whenever I want to listen to some Yes, thats my go-to album!

Yup! Me too. Just a great record from start to finish. Play Starship Trooper over & over & over.

 

[Staccato]

Yessongs-triple vinyl set, or 2 hour CD.

My experience watching them 'live' was during the 1977 Going For the One Tour after Rick Wakeman rejoined them. The finale song was Stormship Trooper!