What is the best Yes album?

[coloradodem2005]

Poll question: What is the best Yes album?

I know some about them. But what album would you recommend me?

[DBoon]

1. I have the first 4 on vinyl

I did smoke a lot of dope in those days

[troublemaker]

2. Yessongs. (this is not a cop-out)

Unlike some bands (not naming names) Yes were so inventive and proficient live that the versions of the songs on Yessongs are generally superior to the studio versions.

[BrewerJohn]

5. Yessongs was my first, and it's great

The only problem with it is that the recording sound quality is not the best.
For a Yes newbie I would have to recommend Close to the Edge as the one that best shows what their glory days were all about. If that one suits, just go in either direction chronologically from there.

[blackcat77]

10. One more vote for Yessongs

The best live album ever, IMHO.

If that option is removed, I'll take Topographic Oceans. Nous sommes du soleil!

[Rooktoven]

3. Close to the Edge, Yes Album and Fragile are the best of the bunch

Going for the One has two really good songs on it. An obscure one worth checking out (the only one sans Jon Anderson) is Drama, with Trevor Horn of the Buggles on vocals (and Geoff Downes on keys). Horn went on to produce 90125.

(Edit)
IMO Tales and Relayer are bits of a Snore-fest.

[noahmijo]

4. Gonna see them with Dream Theater in September!!!

[Swamp Rat]

13. Lucky you!

... Hey Mike Malloy's reading my email right now!!!!!

[tigereye]

22. that is so strange

isn't Dream Theatre more metal like - or am I thinking of someone else?

[Barad Simith]

6. I voted for Close To The Edge, but a close second is...

...Fragile.

Also, not on your list is a live set called Yesshows. A very high quality performance. Better than Yessongs, in my opinion.

[last_texas_dem]

7. Voted for the debut

That one's great, and my favorite, although I'm only familiar with the first three and 90125.

[last_texas_dem]

15. Actually...

Now that I remember, <u>The Yes Album</u> isn't actually their debut; they had one before it. Though I think it was the first to be successful in America because of "Your Move."

[Rocinante]

8. Yessongs is not on your list

But for a live recording from 1972 it's great. I voted for the album Relayer, The Gates Of Delirium is the soul of that album, and side 2 is just filler.

Edit for spelling.

[Tom Kitten]

9. I voted for Close to the Edge...but

Close to the Edge was the first lp I bought by them, and I prefer it over their earlier lps, (although The Yes Album has Starship Troopers, a song I like)...But Yessongs is a great cd to get if you want to hear the best of their early stuff, in better versions sometimes as stated above! Tales of Tobographic Oceans bored me...Psychedelic doodling, some good parts but I don't like 20+ minute songs....

but Relayer is my personal favorite, especially the Gates of Delirium (weell, the twenty minute song on side two :eyes: (incidentally the only album with Patrick Moraz)...along with their mystical Roger Dean covers I always thought they were trying to get a feel on the Lord of the Rings mystical fantasy type thing with their music, and on this album they came closest ...

Later stuff I'm basically ignorant of, my tastes changed but Going for the One had some good moments (the last album I bought by them)...

[blackcat77]

11. Psychedelic doodling is a good description...

...and seeing as how that was the heart of my hippie phase, that's why I loved it so much.

The only other album that even comes close to "Oceans" in that respect is Walter (now Wendy) Carlos' "Sonic Seasonings. Both of them are perfect to light up, kick back and just enjoy.

[Swamp Rat]

12. The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge - in that order

I miss Yes. All I have is vinyl and no turntable. I can't afford to go out and buy CDs of all the albums I love... I miss Jethro Tull too.

[FrankBooth]

20. Completely Agree

The right albums in the right order.

[tigereye]

23. I was obsessed with Yes in high school and Jethro Tull

All I have is the vinyl too. Beautiful covers... CD covers would not do them justice.

I think Close to the Edge is a great place to start.

But Tales of Topographic Oceans is amazing, if you have built up the stamina.

[Swamp Rat]

25. Me too!

After I got more advanced at playing guitar (after cutting my teeth on Hendrix), I began to learn Steve Howe's stuff. I was also was obsessed with Yes and Tull, from a musician's point of view. I've since moved on to many different genres, partly because I'm into percussion now.

If you want to listen to really cool music, check out Tom Zé. He comes out of the Brazilian Tropicalia movement of the 1960s - Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes (like the Beatles) - he's like a Brazilian Frank Zappa but better and more experimental.

[tigereye]

26. I was a self- taught punk drummer for many years

I had formal piano lessons as a kid, then taught myself guitar and bass. We had one of those alt post-punk bands where everyone switches instruments. I am now taking drum lessons finally and it is a lot of fun. What kind of percussion do you do? I have a conga, but I don't play it much. :(

I like jazz, too! Thanks for the info. Didn't I see you in a Green Day discussion earlier? Are you an old school punk too? :)

[Swamp Rat]

28. Yo! I guess we connected in another thread too

:hi:

I play Brazilian type percussion: samba, forró, etc. Check out this site where I buy my instruments, much of which is better quality and cheaper than in the USA:

http://www.brazilianpercussion.com/english/

I wouldn't call myself an old school punk but a lot of adults called me that back then, especially when I had my Marshall stack on 11. I've never identified myself with one group but as a musician I hung out with everybody. You know, one group of friends listened to Black Flag and the Sex Pistols and another group listened to early metal, and yet another listened to Pink Floyd, Hendrix, etc. Most of those folks didn't like each other for some reason, but I was a chameleon and would get what I wanted from each group. I do, however, identify myself with New Orleans culture... we're VERY hedonistic!

[tigereye]

29. sounds like you have had an interesting musical life

cool and thanks for the link.

there is a wonderful store here ( I live in Pittsburgh) which unfortunately closed that was chock full of wonderful percussion stuff. I used to walk in there and start drooling. THere is another store - it's parent - that has lots of ethnic percussion from bodhrans to djembas. It is always hard to decide.

[Swamp Rat]

31. Very sad about music stores closing

Werleins in New Orleans was the oldest music store in the USA (since the 19th C) until they closed a couple of years ago. This was one of the best music stores ever. When I was a boy, I could bring my clarinet in to be repadded, buy trumpet parts, etc. Werleins had music teachers and repairmen for every genre of instrument. They also had one of the largest sheet music collections on the continent... but sadly Guitar Center/Musician's Friend (the Wal-Mart music store) put them out of business. The last few months they were open, I bought about $300.00 worth of sheet music, most of which was 1/2 to 3/4 off. I would have spent about $1,000.00 on books alone... but eventhough I made off like a bandit, I am very sad they are gone. :cry:

[tigereye]

33. there was an old time music store that closed here as well

we got a lot of recording equipment for cheap. It was really sad. Like the end of an era. Many cities don't seem to be able to support those types of places, although there are a number of music stores that sell instruments here that have thrived... guitar and drum stores, etc. So I guess there is hope. But you worry when places in New Orleans can't survive, that doesn't seem right to me.

[BrewerJohn]

30. Major Tales fan here also

I realize that it's not to everyone's taste, but one benefit of developing a longer attention span is that you get to appreciate things like how they set up multiple themes, develop them, then bring them back in magnified form at the end of the song, one after another, making a grand climax.

Hey, thought this thread had sunk for good! Doin' my part to keep it up here for a while.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

14. What about Tormato?

Who can forget that classic song about the UFO? Or the one about don't hunt the whale, dig it, dig it, dig it?

Actually, I voted for Close to the Edge. A seasoned witch could tear you from the depths of your disgrace! We could all use a little bit of that, sometimes....

[tarkus]

16. Thats tough...

I voted for Close to the Edge, I think every album between Fragile and Relayer is a classic.

[redqueen]

17. Wanted to say Close to the Edge

but I have to go with my heart, which says it's Fragile.

[69KV]

18. What, no Tormato? Drama? Union?

Just kidding! :)

Yes did some great albums and some real stinkers. Hard to believe they all came from the same band.

I voted for "The Yes Album".

[WoodrowFan]

19. None of the above.

never disliked any group as much as I dislike Yes, except maybe Rush...

[mr blur]

21. Can I say they're all dreadful?

I guess that would put me in the minority...?

[tigereye]

24. well progressive rock is

partially what drove me to punk later in college... but Yes was cool at the time. I think dreadful is a little harsh.

[Beaverhausen]

27. Then you might not have smoked enough pot!!!

Close to the Edge will take you on a journey!!!

But I voted for Going for the One cause 2 of my fav Yes songs are Wonderous Stories and Awaken...both of which they are doing on this tour! I see them 9/19!

[tigereye]

32. yes pot smoking

and listening to Yes did seem to be strongly linked.