I saw the tour for that. The poor singer kept cussing at himself for not being able to hit those Jon Anderson high notes - true fact!
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Started to explore the band YES....
- Thread starter MovingPitchers
- Start date
If you are going to listen to entire albums: The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge
If you are going to listen to singles (you said you've already listened to Roundabout): Long Distance Runaround, Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, Close to the Edge (it's about 20 minutes, but it's one song, technically speaking), Siberian Khatru; and for later 90125-era Yes, It Can Happen, Changes
That ought to whet your appetite.
If you are going to listen to singles (you said you've already listened to Roundabout): Long Distance Runaround, Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, Close to the Edge (it's about 20 minutes, but it's one song, technically speaking), Siberian Khatru; and for later 90125-era Yes, It Can Happen, Changes
That ought to whet your appetite.
Here's a video of a guy playing the hell out of Siberian Khutru. This was always one of my favorites and this is a good video to play along with.
The first two albums you can tell they were onto something, but it wasn't quite there yet.
The Yes Album was groundbreaking and forever changed the role of the bass guitar.
Fragile went one step further with the addition of Rick Wakeman.
Close to the Edge is a masterpiece on par with any classical work.
Tales from TOpographic oceans has nice moment but is too experimental and disjoined to maintain "greatness" status.
Relayer breaks new ground in music. There are moments that seem silly and excessive and there are moments that are beyond brilliant.
Going For The One is overlooked but up there in terms of great songs and great playing.
Fish Out Of Water is a bass tour deforce.
After that...they lost it. A good song here and there but the innovative creative spark was gone.
Today they tour with a different singer and it's a sham. Old men covering their own songs in a lackluster uninspired way. Very sad.
The Yes Album was groundbreaking and forever changed the role of the bass guitar.
Fragile went one step further with the addition of Rick Wakeman.
Close to the Edge is a masterpiece on par with any classical work.
Tales from TOpographic oceans has nice moment but is too experimental and disjoined to maintain "greatness" status.
Relayer breaks new ground in music. There are moments that seem silly and excessive and there are moments that are beyond brilliant.
Going For The One is overlooked but up there in terms of great songs and great playing.
Fish Out Of Water is a bass tour deforce.
After that...they lost it. A good song here and there but the innovative creative spark was gone.
Today they tour with a different singer and it's a sham. Old men covering their own songs in a lackluster uninspired way. Very sad.
Going to see them next month. Can't wait! My favorite song is probably "Gates of Delerium" from Relayer album.
Relayer is by far my favorite, followed by Tales from Topographic Oceans and Close to the Edge.
OP, I recommend these guidelines be followed to achieve the fullest experience:
1. You must listen to the vinyl LP's
2. You must have a really good stereo with large speakers.
3. High volume is necessary. Headphones are not permitted.
4. You must examine the work of Roger Dean (the album cover artist for most of their early LP's) as you listen to each album
5. Each album must be listened to in its entirety in a session. Bathroom breaks are permitted when flipping the disc.
I envy you.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
Rocksmoot is right on all counts (as is Ralph, a few posts above) EXCEPT.....headphones are awesome. 
I have Time and A Word on my (yes) turntable right now!!
I have Time and A Word on my (yes) turntable right now!!
I must have 4 to 6 vinyl copies of the majority of their albums until the mid 80's.
They were HUGE in the Kansas City area....I have seen many worn and battered vinyls I have passed on in the last 40 years of their classic stuff.
One time I met went to an in store of "Asia" on their first album and all the guys signed records very cordial except Steve Howe...I said "thank you Steve" and he seemed insulted......guess I should have called him "sir" or "Mr. Howe" when I thanked him!!
They were HUGE in the Kansas City area....I have seen many worn and battered vinyls I have passed on in the last 40 years of their classic stuff.
One time I met went to an in store of "Asia" on their first album and all the guys signed records very cordial except Steve Howe...I said "thank you Steve" and he seemed insulted......guess I should have called him "sir" or "Mr. Howe" when I thanked him!!
Ah, flipping the disk. I had a girlfriend who'd get all pissy with me because I'd insist on flipping the disk... eh... "Mid Effort", if you follow. Chicks. No appreciation for the entire experience, ya know?
If you can listen to Siberian Katru and not want to pick up a Rick, then there is something wrong with you.
I grew up in KC too, saw them several times in the 70's. A great concert town back then.
Discovered YES for the first time about 25 years ago. All my friends in high school were all into more of the hippy jam band stuff, I was into the metal/prog stuff more. Convinced them all to go with me to see the Union tour, opened up a new world for them. That was one crowded stage, but you could hear everyone so clearly, few bands can do that well.
That's a hard nut to crack. I wouldn't want to try playing bass on a Yes Tour.
Actually I'd love it but would be cussing myself.
I'm in my sixties and hearing rock musicians playing at the level Yes was able to pull off back in the day was awesome.
Louie Louie. Then there's Roundabout.
I'm probably in the minority here with the Yes fans but my favorite album is Drama. I know it was missing its key member's Anderson and Wakeman but I love Trevor Horn and Greg Downes and the result was a Buggles/Yes kinda mashup. Squire's basslines are pretty sick on that album regardless.
Adding to all the above suggestions, you should do this all in a private weekend listening party in Colorado or Washington, hint hint....
I was exposed to yes when Fragile first came out - I was pretty young, but this teenager acrossed the street insisted that I sit and listen to it with him. I recall that I didn't really get it (I was 11 or 12) but that I listened to the whole thing just after it was released stuck with me; It clearly was a profound change from the dreck that was on the radio at the time.
I *loved* prog rock as a teenager. ELP, Yes, Floyd - loved it.
