Yes: Worst to Best Albums
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- čas přidán 22. 04. 2018
- Counting them all down! I'm only looking at the 19 studio albums, none of their EPs or side projects or bonus material released on deluxe editions.
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Your completely subjective non-technical approach is interesting.
xs10tl1 I think it's because he sounds and looks like a true whisky sommelier.
Agreed. Objectivity is subjective. All this bla bla bla is the guy’s opinions. Who really cares what albums are his top and worst picks. Every person who enjoys the music of the various lineups of this band has a different order. Some albums are more inspired then others, and some are less interesting. It is a matter of personal taste. So, what is the point of such a video??
*than
Mr6saabs , You are correct that everyone has their own tastes and preferences! My order of Yes albums would be different to this man's! The point is that we all like to talk about the bands we like! And this guy is simply doing that!
sttgaegoaktd
Even though I totally agree with you and would have given you a thumbs up anyways... But when I saw you had 221 thumbs up my OCD over the number 222 was what drove me to give you one.
My opinion may be unpopular but I think 90125 is an amazing album. Leave it is a nice, catchy song, Owner of a lonely heart is a great song and IMO Changes is absolutely fantastic.
Magnification above Fragile and Relayer? The mind reels.
But seriously, I enjoyed the video and your enthusiasm.
no doubt !!
I was watching this and scrolled down for a bit to look at the comments. Saw this comment, stopped watching. Thanks for keeping me from wasting more of my time.
Magnification is my favorite of the millennial albums, and does have it's own sparkle, but I have to agree it does not rise above Fragile or even Relayer. Also, Tormato belongs MUCH further down on the list. Steve Howe virtually slept through it and many of his contributions and solos were uninspired (Don't Kill the Whale esp.) Very unpolished as an album, though some good starter material. In Keys, Steve Howe woke up and truly refined Chris's song "Onward", turning it into a sublime masterpiece. Imagine if they had refined all of Tormato similarly.
FRagile is virtually unlistenable in its entirety. The Yes album is worlds above that. Even Drama is a stronger album. SO yeah. taste is subjective. Close to the Edge is their masterpiece.
My top 5
1- Close To The Edge
2- Relayer
3- Fragile
4- The Yes Album
5- Tales From Topographic Oceans
Yeah,my top 5 as well.
YOUR top five?? No. Those are THE top five. Hands down! Although I would order them: 1 - CTTE; 2 - Tales; 3 - Fragile; 4 - Yes Album; 5 - Relayer. (But that's just a matter of personal taste.) Nevertheless, you nailed it. Oh, and, yeah, of course....IMHO.
The order sometimes changes for me but these are the 5, uke
Same here!!
Fragile is my personal favorite
1 - Tales From Topographic Oceans
2 - Fragile
3 - Relayer
4 - Close To The Edge
5 - The Yes Album
My top 5
Top 5 Best?
I might change the order slightly, but I'd replace _The Yes Album_ with _Going for the One,_ for the title track, _Awaken_ and the sublime _Turn of the Century._ Better versions of tracks from _The Yes Album_ appeared on _Yessongs._
{:-:-:}
Man, I can't thank you enough for putting Tales at #1. Greatest double album of all time! When The Revealing Science of God kicks in for me, I just want to listen to it again and again. Once you get used to it's length, you'll love the album to death just like me. It's also my second favorite album of all time only behind Rush's Hemispheres.
Buena lista pero yo añadiría Tormato
Relayer
Tales From Topographic Oceans
Drama
Close To The Edge
The Yes Album
You think Yes with 19 albums is a lot...try doing a worst to best of Zappa.
HAH! Got that right !
I'd be tearing my hair out doing a best to worst on Zappa's albums! Hot Rats or Joe's Garage act 1? No, wait, Thingfish!
Yeah and they actually have 21 studio albums. If Keys is combined into one then it's still 20. I didnt watch the whole thing so I'm not sure which other one he ignored. Maybe both of Keys I guess? Kinda odd to just ignore it. Many people have cited some of that studio work as among their fave Yes songs ever.
try reviewing all the James Last albums in a video
No,wait Uncle Meat, We're Only In It For The Money, Just Another Band From L.A.
I was reading Frank Herbert's "Dune" when Tale from Topographic Oceans came out.
Every time I hear a TFTO piece, it casts images from the book.
In my mind they were made for each other.
Another Sci-fi reference is that And You and I includes allusions to Asimov's Foundation series
I read Junji Ito's "Uzumaki" while listenening to David Bowie - Blackstar.
Same experience. Every time I hear again of Major Tom's death and corpse orbiting a dying star, I see spirals.
To me the best Yes album is (by far) Relayer. Love Close To The Edge, TFTO, Fragile and GFTO.
Exactly!, finally someone who doesent ovverrated the yes album
Well, songwise, from a musicological point of view, Close to the Edge should be called Close to Perfection. Gates of Delirium doesn't come close to it.
Yes, and 'The Gates of Delirium' is their greatest song.
Wow. 90125 and Big Generator were two of my favorite albums, probably due to my age, 56, because they were a part of my musical "rebirth" in the late 80's along with Metallica and Anthrax, for example. Trevor Rabin rocks! You have given me an entirely fresh and exciting point of view. I am going to listen to these in your order and I will update this comment (or make a new one) at that time. I am definitely becoming an aficionado of "smaller" CZcams channels such as yours. I love how you provide specific details of your own personal experience in your commentary so we can all enjoy your "opinion" without judgement.
So, update already!
Same here John
John are you still with us?
Tales From Topographic Oceans is a masterpiece beyond masterpieces
It makes me happy to hear Tales from Topographic Oceans get this much love.
same
The album on his right (our left) side is Olias of Sunhillow from Jon Anderson.
Not very good Jon Anderson solo project. Very slow and trippy
That album is magical, i have that in cd and vinyl format superb headphone album
Great album
Always wondered how Chris Squire got that fabulous bass tone that no one else had, but now I know...He was playing with strings made of 'Derilium'....
90125 was such an important album for me and for millions of others, I probably would have never known of Yes ever. The Owner of a Lonely Heart video was the first time I had ever heard of Yes, and it was amazing to hear it! The production, nothing had ever sounded so futuristic and fresh as that! It sounds like it could be released today.
Inspired by your slightly approximate renditions of some Yes titles, I've come up with this food-themed shortlist:
Going for the Bun
Close to the Fridge
Portato
Onion
Tomato
Revealing the Science of Cod (unit for a Catering course?)
Wonderloaf (track from Open Your Eyes)
Cans and Beans
And of course, I forgot....
Fish
P.s. I've since found out that Rick Wakeman calls Union, "Onion" already, because it makes him cry.
Don't forget The Lettuce.
The Clap
Lol 😂
What Yes' homage to Star Trek, "The Gates of Dilithium?"
keys to asparagus
Wow, I love 90125. An excellent transition into the 80's for the band.
Yeah, I wouldn't have put 90125 that far down. And certainly not below HEAVEN AND EARTH, for crying out loud.
'changes' is one of their best tunes. can't believe he didn't mention it
90125 is often underrated because it was YES' most financially successful album and contained their only Billboard #1 song (Owner"). "Cinema" was also YES only Grammy. The first three songs are a mini-concept album: "If you own a lonely heart? Hold on. It can happen." It reignited interest in the band for a whole new generation. So popular acceptance didn't fit the Kings of Prog? Wrong. Its a masterpiece.
I liked their 80s output. I even enjoyed Drama.
Rabin saved the band financially with 90125. Its commercial and top 40 style deviates from their other albums but has some great.tracks.Also TTO was not widely accepted it was Way too long and Jon's big ego trip- the reason Wakeman left the band but Ritual is a classic.
Bless you for being such a positive music lover. I gave up on Yes after "Topographic Oceans" but you make me want to try it again.
My Top Ten
1. Close to the Edge
2. Fragile
3. The Yes album
4. Relayer
5. Tales From Topographic Oceans (not a big fan of Giants under the Sun)
6. Going for the One
7.Time and a word
8. Drama
9. Yes
10. Tormato
You win. This is pretty much exactly how I would rank them. To each his own, obviously, but Magnification at 5 and Going for the One at 3? NO.
Notes Reviews had a very unusual ranking but I guess that’s what made it interesting. theelectricpotato what would you change from my list. What’s your Top 10?
Honestly, it's essentially the same as yours. I would perhaps move Drama up one slot and maybe swap Tormato and Yes. But 1-6 is the same for me, without question.
7 -10 was tricky for Me and by no means set in stone.
You nailed it. My 1st Yes album was 90125, so I cherish it more than the typical Yes fan, but it would still be my number 11. Your top ten is perfect.
Relayer is rated too low I feel like. I love this album. Patrick Moraz's influence especially in "war" (the second bit in gates of delirium) and the entirety of sound chaser. The crazy kind of odd beat timing that later resolves itself seems to be a trend. I love it so much. I would probably rate that at number one. I feel like soon is a bit repetitive, and the first bit of gates takes a bit to get going, but you know what, its all worth it.
Relayer=the best yes album
Relayer is the second ctte
The Yes Album is my favorite mainly because of Starship Trooper and I've Seen All Good People.
@Tommy Hammond, I'm with you on The Yes Album. That particular album is a masterpiece! I know Yessongs is a live album, however, every nanosecond of that album is spectacular. Long live Yes!
The Yes Album is my favorite
I was a teenager when the album came out. The true essence of yes.
It's a great record for sure. And definitely better than 'Tales...'
I'm with you here - Relayer is second for me.
same here
Bubba Mike spoken by a true Yes fan
90125 at #17??? Are you high?
@Mr Gonorrhea There is no "terrible" YES.
Yeah should’ve been lower
Mr Gonorrhea 90125 is not terrible what the heck is wrong with you??? That album is 🔥 and all you like is fragile so stfu
@@erotomaniac51 literally everything that the band or it's members done around that time was better than 90125. Drama and Big are much, much better 80's Yes albuns than 90125, the music that Steve Howe and Geoff Downe were doing on Asia were much better... 90125 it's the worst thing they ever did. You can argue that, since Yes never did bad music, that the album isn't technically bad and ok, I'll give you that. But it's the worst (or least good, if you want to put it that way) album Yes ever put out.
Marcelo Viana open your eyes is the worst yes album this is totally not
I have to say I was ready to fight when I first saw the title of this - but after watching I have no real arguments. Well done, my personal tastes may shift a few albums up or down a spot or two but this is a really good assessment of decades of work, and you did it in 20 minutes. You’ve motivated me to give another listen to some albums I’ve passed by. What a great band. Thanks!
I’m kind of upset by how quickly he glossed over Going for the One, without even mentioning Awaken. That is a masterpiece!
Yeah that kinda was dumb
He gave it an extended review elsewhere.
@@mr.krinkle952 More than dumb, it is CRIMINAL that he ignores "Awaken".
The Remembering.... great song, don't think it gets enough recognition!
Lighterfoot p same!
Yep, Wakeman is amazing on this track. Saw the Tales tour back in 74 and it was incredible. The percussion crescendo near the end of Ritual had me pinned to my seat!
A Hauntingly, Beautiful Song, with some of their Greatest Vocal harmonies!!!!!
Lighterfoot p I agree. This was the track that brought YES into my life way back in 1973-4 superb.
I use it for my rowing workouts ... perfect pacing and a great 20 minutes : )
Changes is an amazing song
Rick Wakeman was quoted saying "Changes is the best rock song ever written." That's a pretty good endorsement. Wakeman & Rabin have a mutual admiration.
Vicki Phillips it's very underrated, in my opinion it's better than any other Rabin era song, and I'm shocked it wasn't released as a single
Bubba Mike interestingly enough part of the music in the verse section is outright lifted from Rush’s Xanadu. Still a great song though.
Jep Илић interestingly enough the intro to Xanadu sounds just like Genesis' Silent Sorrow for Empty boats and the waiting room
Bubba Mike you think so? I’ve listened to Lamb over and over - even saw The Musical Box do it..plus I also play guitar and keys..I don’t hear it but maybe some of the ambient effect..the actual guitar swells are both in E yes..perhaps Lifeson was subconsciously influenced. Love Silent Sorry In Empty Boats..the guitar phrase in Changes is more overt in relation to Xanadu. On more interesting similarity in Xanadu compared to Genesis- after the first section- Lifeson breaks into a 3/3 riff very Cinema Show ala Seconds Out like - after Neil and Geddy join in - can’t deny its an ode to Genesis..it’s amazing how these bands leaked subconsciously into each other’s music or was it nodding
One of my favorite moments is that weird guitar solo that opens "The Ancient"
It is SO solemn and cerimonial, but also deep, intimate, delicate and, a feature that defines one of their best skills as composers, surprising that thrills me ever since I decided to give it a second (or fiftieth-second chance after almost 10 years of chances) hahhahaha
nice review
“I can feel no sense of measure”...........in your review.
Its Gates of Delirium, not Derilium; and Relayer should be ranked higher.
He has dyslexia
Love Close to the edge studio, but live these three tracks capture the raw power that we all know and love.
Waaay off on ‘Talk’, dude
One of the best, in my opinion (from a life-long fan)
just Dave couldn’t agree more ! Talk is so underrated it’s criminal!
@@timmarciniak4388 endless dream! That is all!
Same here, since 73, Talk is a masterpiece. 👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
@@jonathonedwardmiller endless dream 👍👍👍😃🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Totally agree. Endless Dream is just awesome.
"Keys to 'Assertion'" was bad enough, but "Gates of 'Derillium'"? "Cans and 'Brams'"? "Giants Under the 'Sea""? "Siberian kxhtrtrruhhchhxxx"?!? (Hint: The correct pronunciation is SUNG IN THE SONG) Your video has a hundred obvious cuts so I know you edited it - so why the hell didn't you fix the pronunciation??
How about "Steve House" at 13:48
I actually think he may have some sort of dyslexia
He has dyslexia, hope you feel good though pal.
20. Heaven and Earth
19. Talk
18. Open Your Eyes
17. 90125
16. Big Generator
15. Fly From Here
14. Yes
13. Union
12. The Ladder
11. Time And a Word
10. Magnfication
9. Tormato
8. Tales From Topographic Oceans
7. Drama
6. The Yes Album
5. Going for the One
4. Fragile
3. Relayer
2. Keystudio
1. Close to the Edge
Although, ironically and justifiably, my favorite song is "Shoot High, Aim Low" on one of their worst albums!
George Sullivan. I totally agree yes song shoot high aim low is my favourite. The big shame is not played on the radio so much.
I love Talk so your list kills me, that being said I do agree that H&E is trash and Shoot High, Aim Low is one of my favorites. Particularly the versions off of The Alternate Generator.
I really love tho Big Generator. One of the best of their "easy" albums. Shoot High, Aim Low is truly nice! ^^
20. Open Your Eyes
19. Heaven and Earth
18. Big Generator
17. Union
16. Magnification
15. The Ladder
14. Yes
13. Tormato
12. Fly From Here
11. Talk
10. 90125
9. Keystudio
8. Time and a Word
7. Going for the One
6. The Yes Album
5. Fragile
4. Drama
3. Tales of Topographic Oceans
2. Close to the Edge
1. Relayer
George Sullivan great list
I consider myself a strong Yes fan, but each album they produced has some songs I don't particularly like. Like, I almost gag over them. Like most of you, I could very easily give you my top 10 Howe-era songs, and my top 10 Rabin-era songs. These two groups shouldn't be compared. They stand on their own. For every Starship Trooper, there's City of Love. For every Close to the Edge, there's Endless Dream. And for every Yours Is No Disgrace there's Shoot High Aim Low. All different, all incredible, all incomparable (in many ways)
Greg Freer
Spoken by a true Yes fan
City of Love isn't that great. Hearts is a better example
Ok, your opinion. But you evidently missed my point.
Greg Freer I did get your point! That the Rabin era should not be shitted on just because it isn’t the golden age of Yes! And that there is just as many great songs in the Rabin-era then there is in the Howe-era!
I was really hoping you'd have relayer on or near the top, it's my favourite yes album and the gates of delirium is one of the very very best prog rock songs ever, the middle section with the battle going on between guitar and keyboards is just so so good, it's god tier prog, and below magnification? Come on now
Glad to hear you enjoy Magnification so much. It's for sure in my top 5 Yes albums.
Nice list -- but I truly love 90125. I know you weren't reviewing the expanded releases, but that is one that is truly worth getting, IMO. By the way, I love Magnification, too -- and think it was VERY underrated, and VERY overlooked. That said, well...this album was released on September 10, 2001, so...you can kinda see the reason why, at least in part, that it has been lost to the ages.
Quite an interesting list you have there. As someone said, no two Yes fans would have the exact same list, yet I was still surprised at how low you put 90125. But each to their own, I guess.
I was glad you gave Magnification such a good review - it's a really solid album. Going for the One would be top of my list, Tormato would be a lot higher, Union (well, half of it) would be a bit higher, and Drama would be considerably lower. But all in all, a very interesting list that I really enjoyed listening to 👍
Have never been able to give Tormato a fair shake. I can't get past that cover. Where was Roger Dean when we needed him.
Oh c’mon.. you’re not listening to the cover! Formation has some brilliant music on it, track four, Release has the classic lineup and if you like Chris, r.i.p, you must get over the cover..his “Onward “ is beautiful Jon’s voice...we all know & love. The closer “Silent Wings of Freedom “ is a blistering piece & again Chris does things no one else can. Worst for me sadly was their last Heaven & Earth. I tried so hard to like it but just could not get passed Jon Davison & his vocals on a best/worst list is so worst.. l saw them @ The Rumania hoping the way
Sorry got distracted but must finish my point on Yes with John zdavison , l went to the concert with all hope of changing my opinion, but his voice is so shallow, thin even when he’s in pitch. And visually as painful as the Tormato cover. Also Jon had warned the band over & again not to use Roy Thomas Baker, might matter might not. But my rant is over , let’s listen to whatever Yes record we love, not this wanket
I thoroughly enjoyed this video since I'm a big fan of Yes. Very good content, and thank you for taking the time to tell about these albums!!!
Close to The Edge is edited together and created in the studio. They had to learn how to play it live. But a great work of art nonetheless.
For me, #1 is Topographic Oceans. "The Ancient" was my favorite track when I first heard it, but later on I got to like all of them just as much. The ultimate "adventurer" album because it takes you so many places.
None of them you want to return to.
I wish more people would admit the second disc is an absolute masterpiece. If Yes would've just released The Ancient and The Ritual as Tales of Topographic Oceans, it would considered a masterpiece just like Close To The Edge and Fragile.
Sun Fellow, I've had the exact same experience with Tales.
Richard Burton same the reason why it’s my favourite from them! :)
Sun Fellow
I love tales from Topographic Oceans
My favorite album of all time
A incredible master piece.
WOW! I disagree SO MUCH with you! But nice vid :)
The moment you had "close to the edge" as the number one i subscribed. Still got the album sitting on my turntable.
The best song by Yes (one of the greatest of all time in any band) is Awaken. Hands down.
Awaken is amazing.
You misspelled "Gates Of Delirium".
Great video man! Maybe you could do Worst to Best for Rush. They have got a quite a discography so it would be interesting to see where you would rank these albums:)
They all suck, so no.
I don't know...he seems to have trouble pronouncing album titles and such. I'm afraid he'd pronounce "Peart" "Pert," which drives me crazy.
Worst Rush? Anything with Peart...except some of the first live album. Wait for it...beep beep, bop,bop, biddly biddly, bop, repeat...LOL!
Bruce Davis Have you even heard A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Power Windows or Clockwork Angels??
For me it's:
1 Moving Pictures
2 Permanent Waves
3 Counterparts
4 Hemispheres
5 A Farewell to Kings
6 Signals
7 Vapor Trails
8 Grace Under Pressure
9 Hold Your Fire
10 Power Windows
11 Roll the Bones
12 Snakes and Arrows
13 Clockwork Angels
14 Test for Echo
15 2112
16 Caress of Steel
17 Presto
18 Fly By Night
19 Rush
If you're not including it here, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the ABWH album at some point in a future video.
Great list though.... By and large my list would roughly look like yours. The two biggest differences is that (while I do enjoy the album) Magnification would be several albums lower, and Relayer much higher... In fact Relayer would take my #1 spot. It is, in my honest opinion, one of the greatest prog rock albums of all time, "The Gates of Delirium" is what I would consider the best prog rock "epic" of all time. But that's me.
Nice job! I enjoyed hearing your personal appreciations of Yes's studio albums. I myself would have definitely had 90125 in the top 5. I'm glad "Close to the Edge" was your number one- it's my ultimate favorite as well. I'm also glad you like "Relayer," as it's an excellent album that tends to be overlooked by many fans.
I can't believe your rankings align with mine exactly. I've been a Yes fan since I was an early teen, first seeing them on the Relayer tour and subsequently about 40 or 50 more times. Good job!
How can you not recognize the "Keys To Ascension" studio recordings - especially when packaged together as "KeyStudio"- as YES canon ? One of the most cohesive sets the band ever recorded ("Mind Drive" & "Bring Me To The Power" are justification alone, but the whole album's great) Plus you have to consider that quintet had not been in a studio together since the aborted 1979 Paris Sessions with producer Roy Thomas Baker, but the "magic" was still there. My top 3 YES albums oddly enough are the same 3 you chose but in this order :
# 1) "Going For The One" # 2) "Tales From Topographic Oceans"
# 3 ) "Close To The Edge"
Didn't they release the studio tracks separately at one point? I think the album was called KeyStudio. I agree with you 100%. The songs on that album are outstanding for the most part and would probably rank within the top 10 of my list. Another thing, and this is just my opinion, Heaven and Earth is horrible and as far as the current line-up goes, they should not be credited as Yes. They should be the Steve Howe Band. Again just my opinion.
Also could you make a King Crimson worst to best as well?
difficult because King Crimson has from the excellent to the extraordinary, does not have worst
1) I'd argue a LARGE portion of KC's material is eh.
(I think even Fripp admitted that Beat and Three Of were CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.)
2) I seem to be the only KC fan who says LIZARD is their most FLAWLESS record (and arguably the best album ever made in any genre EVER, as it does so much, from bizarre pop to gorgeous improv).
SAD that album gets no love!
I love most of Crimson, one of the few bands (or in this case artist - i.e. Fripp) that continually strove to break new ground. That said, my fav is the Fripp, Wetton, Bruford (Cross, Muir) trio of albums, with Discipline coming close. As for the first 4, Lizard is also my favorite by far, with Islands in 2nd place. Perhaps it's partly due to the fact that Fripp didn't have a touring band at the time, so he cut loose with Mel Collins.. those stacked sax themes in Indoor Games & Happy Family are brilliant, and Lizard does a wonderful transition from more classic rock to jazz, with fantastic Cornet, Trombone, Oboe & English Horn. The Cor Anglais opening to Battle inspired me as an early composer like few other pieces.If I had to pick a top album, it would have to be Lark's Tongues In Aspic. Truly groundbreaking.
Be careful what you ask for. You're likely to get a review of King Chromosome.
That's something I would like to do... I've been a huge King Crimson fan for years....
Very interesting analysis, but my three best are:
1. Tales From Topographic Oceans
2. Close To The Edge
3. Fragile
Tales from Topo's I think it's masterpiece and colosal, the music & lyric is sophisticated but beautiful. Also the album cover is better than Close to edge, still CTTE is Yes very very best song.
I am a massive Yes fan but you are talking about albums I have never heard of let alone heard here and there. Thanks for the overview !
My Top 8
1. Fragile
2. Relayer
3. CTTE
4. Yes Album
5. Drama (I truly love this album!)
6. Going for the One
7. Tales From TopoGraphic Oceans
8. 91125(Why not 80'?? amazing album!!!)
Thank you for the List. Ranking is such a subjective exercise. I have many disagreements with your analysis, but it doesn't matter. Our criteria will be different, apples and oranges. The band was in a different mind set for every album and different players with different objectives. The only (almost) constant is the message of "Yes." What is the message and how well was the message communicated? My favorite song, for the message, is To Be Over - "After All, Your Soul Will Still Surrender. After All, Don't Doubt Your Part, Be Ready To Be Loved." That is the essence of Yes. That is on Relayer, so that is the best album, for me. Among other things, the song Awaken says, "Oh Closely Guided Plan
, Awaken In Our Heart." So, Going For The One is #2. And You And I says, "There'll Be No Mutant Enemy We Shall Certify
. Political Ends, As Sad Remains, Will Die." Which is a concise statement to look beyond others' corrupt action and thought; Don't waste your time because it won't last. So, Close To The Edge is #3 for me.
I've seen Jon Anderson many times, live and on recordings. I marvel at his consistency and the joy he projects. Something to strive for . . .
We see eye to eye on a lot of this, especially #1. I understand why you didn't include ABWH, even though it was a great album. I loved how ABWH's management called them "Classic Yes" and the 90125 band "Diet Yes". Anyway, my top five would be:
1) Close to the Edge
2) Fragile
3) Going For the One
4) The Yes Album
5) Relayer
i'm sorry , gates of what? by the way relayer is top 5 easy. magnification over relayer?
I see your it’s always sunny dvd. I also love 90125- how can you not like Changes?
Changes is AwEsOmE.
I like 'Changes' but also 'Hearts' is great IMO.
Nice list, but wrt Relayer @11:50 & @12:17, I believe it's "Gates of de-LEER-e-um", not "Gates of de-RILL-e-um".
My all-time favorite YES piece.
Had to hear him say it twice ‘De-rill-e-um’ to be sure that is what I heard...😂😂😂
Was *waiting* for you to say Astral Traveler! That song, through headphones, in the 1980s, sent me tumbling down the Prog rabbit hole. Good review.
Thanks... very interesting process. I'd have probably put the Yes Album first because I find Starship Trooper so overwhelming and Relayer second because Gates of Delirium is so wonderful. Well done on taking so much care. As a life-long Yes fan, born in 1960, I was too quick to dismiss the later work and I will definitely have a closer look at Magnification and Drama... and Tales (it's been a while!)
Van Der Graff Generator worst to best please!!
And then Peter Hammill solo, too. :-)
All their albums are about the same in my opinion
that'd be a looooooong video
Yeah, it would! VDGG only released 12-13 studio albums, but Pete Hammill put out, what -- almost 40 solo albums? It might be best to separate that list, yeah. LOL.
Henri Olson
Great point.
I never looked at it that way.
Facinating
Great list and I agree with a lot what you say, but I disagree that the short length of Talk is its only saving grace. I think Endless Dream is a legitimately great song. The rest is really meh though.
'State of Play', 'Walls', and 'I Am Waiting' are each amazing from 'Talk'!
The Calling and Real Love are really good tracks!
You need to listen to State of Play again.
+1 for Endless Dream :)
Nicely put together, though I was surprised by the placement of some of the "later" albums. Still, I appreciate the effort to prioritize and describe the reasons for the list. Definitely worth a listen!
I could go either way on Close to the Edge, and Topographic Oceans. I think what puts Oceans on the top for me, comes from seeing them perform Ritual on their Yes Symphonic Live DVR. That is the most unbelievably great live performance of a piece of music, that I have ever seen. I say that even though I have seen them live in person, on four occasions.
Excellent list.
You gave a good argument for each album.
Of course not every Yes fan is going to agree.
Here is a short list of Yes albums that I think should be in the top 5
Tales from Topographic Oceans
Relayer
Fragile
Close to the edge
90125
I also love the Yessongs
Even though it didn't qualify for the list. I really enjoy Rick Wakeman part on the album.
I'm a 1970s SNOB... yet I can admit MOST of the material on 90215 is KILLER. "Changes", "It Can Happen", etc!
UNION is absolutely worthless. TALK also has a LOT of cool sounds / great melodies etc. It seems like you are biased for 1970s and are not being FAIR.
Glad to see you rated Drama so highly. I love that album and the story around it. Surprised you didn't give a mention to Into the Lens, which was a Buggles tune that Trevor and Geoff brought to the band, their version was released later as I Am a Camera.
My faves from Yes are :
1- Yes debut album
2- Relayer
3 -Fragile
4- Drama
If you think the album title is "Keys to ASSERTION" you should understand that each and every genuine Yes fan stopped your video at that point (0:42 seconds).
...and if you don't know how to pronounce Khatru, perhaps you should actually listen to the song. Jon Anderson will pronounce it for you.
I love "State of Play."
Absolutely! This "critic" is clearly phoning it in. I don't think he actually listened to all of the music or he would at least present the titles correctly. (Joe Phillips - husband of Vicki & guitarist since 1967)
Also - ABWH is a Yes album. I don't care WHO won the lawsuit.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say without Jon, it just ain't Yes.
1. Close To The Edge
2. Fragile
3. The Yes Album
4. Going For The One
5. Relayer
6. Tales From Topographic Oceans
7. Drama (underrated as hell)
8. 90125 (a good album for what it is - pop)
9. Yes
10. Time And A Word
11. Magnification
12. The Ladder
13. Fly From Here
14. Tormato
15. Big Generator
16. Talk
17. Union
18. Open Your Eyes
19. Heaven & Earth
Good list! I'd put Time and a Word up a little higher, but otherwise, spot on.
Excellent summary, intelligent, points I overlooked too, thanks!
Thank you for putting Olias of Sunhillow in the back ground. It's one of my favorite albums of all time. Never without a copy.
Pretty hard to top Close To The Edge. Quite an achievement. I'm not even a huge Yes fan, but seriously…how does a band even THINK of something like that.?! Just mind blowing in both imagination and execution.
Rush or ELP next?
Stefan Marstrander We share the same respect for Gentle Giant, but best to worst! For me, the GG albums are equally sacred one to another! A band who in my opinion, never misstepped on vinyl! One masterpiece after another!
+Wayne Dent Gentle Giant do have some filler albums in the late 1970s in my opinion. But albums like Octopus,Three Friends,The Power Of Glory and Free Hand are excellent, Just prog masterpieces. Bands like Gentle Giant and Camel needs more attaction.
+Stefan Marstrander The Power And The Glory
Absolutly and then Genesis
I'm gonna give you props, I'm in agreement with a lot of it. Close to the edge other then Pink Floyd's Wish you were here my favorite album put on vinyl. Good job, fella!
Great video---really enjoyed your list, not in total agreement but that's part of the fun, right? Fun video, well done!
0:41- Keys to what??
lol... to be honest, maybe that's why everyone typically just says "Keys..."
Mispronouncing things is a common trait among his videos for some reason. His hilarious pronunciation of the Genesis song The Fountain of Salmacis is another one I can remember off the top of my head.
With both Durilium and Assertion, I'll chalk up to Canadianisms. I know nothing of this guy, but he sounds Canadian. Anyway, maybe Durilium is the unobtainable metal on Roger Dean's Avatar.
Keys to Ascension. (And it's "Gates of Delerium," not "Gates of Derilium.")
The mispronouncings AREN’T Canadianisms, eh?! They’re just embarrassing for Canadians, although they could reflect the state of Canadian education for the last 35 years. Cans and Brams?! Yikes.
I cannot differentiate between Fragile and Close to the edge and Tales However, and you and I is somewhere else isn't it. Nice to hear that someone else loves YES. Now do Gentle Giant..........................
I think Close to the Edge is their finest moment. I got emotional listening to that one, and I would dare to say it's on par with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon. It is a genuine spiritual experience to me, and must have listened to it a thousand times. The cool thing is I'm not really crazy about that 70's gibberish lyricism gimmick and they switch to coherent lyrics to match the soothing melodies. "Now that you're fine, Now that you're home!" Brilliant stuff! Also as a sort of brain training exercise you can count the (tempo changes) in "Close to the Edge" and wonder how long it took for them to memorize all that!
Close to the Edge is way better than Darkside of the Moon...
Huge yes fan here cant wait man
Yes
1. Close to the Edge (a no-brainer objectively) 2. Relayer (subjectively- I love that album)
Top five from the 70's
1) Relayer
2) Close to the Edge
3) Fragile
4) The Yes Album
5) Going for the One
@@kevindouglas1778 My Top 5 from that era
1) Close to the Edge
2) Tales from Topographic Oceans
3) Relayer
4) Going for the One
5) Fragile
Tales From Topographic oceans pra mim é uma verdadeira obra prima do Yes, excelente vídeo.
Okay that was worth watching. I'm 66 so I go back a long way with Yes - to the first album in fact. Close to the Edge is #1 for me and a masterpiece I agree. It's not easy trying to rank a band's catalog but you did a fair job of it. Yes is easily my favorite group after all these years and that covers a lot of bands.
My top 5
5. Time and a word
4. Relayer
3. Fragile
2. Close to the edge
1. The yes album
Union sacked, but the tour was phenomenal.
Time And A Word is so strong. Good to see someone give it some credit.
1. Close to the Edge
2. Relayer (would have been 1st if not for Sound Chaser)
3. Tales from Topographic Oceans (Could have been first if they wouldn't have filled it with endless garbage music just to fit into the 4 sides of vinil..)
4. Fragile
5. Yes Album
All the others don't make it to the list, Although Going for the One and Time and a Word have some ok songs..
Even Steve Howe said that Awaken was the very last piece that he and Jon wrote together that had this magic of their cooperative writing that started in Fragile..
I thinks Roundabout is the most representative yes song, and To Be Over is their most beautiful and only flawless, seamless one..
Like your review of Yes albums a lot. I subscribed and will enjoy your thoughtful take on whatever.....! Thanks! BTW Relayer is on my DID list and has been for years.
Ah, so fun to hear your rankings of the Yes discography. I was 17 years old when introduced to Close to the Edge and was blown away by this then new album. I had been, at that time, really connecting with Nature in exploring some caverns and sandstone cliff valleys in Western Kentucky. The beginning of the title track transported me to a closer experience of those places. I had stood literally close to the edge of these cliffs, heard the multitudes of birds in the trees and the sound of waterfalls and experienced the echoing drips in the caves, and now I was hearing it in this immense composition, a rock symphony with movements and resolution from cacophony to harmony. My life was changed because of Close to The Edge and Yes. I saw the tour concert not long after, then the Tales tour, then the Relayer tour. Ive seen them six times in all. They are unbelievably good in concert, especially when Eddie Offord was managing the soundboards in the 70's. Thanks again, man!
Good review, but: Keys to *Ascension*, Gates of *Delirium*: you butchered those names. And Rabin (RAY-bin), Tormato (tor-MAH-to) and Drama are all mispronounced.
Thank you for this post. Know how to pronounce the subjects you are speaking about. Too many great albums ranks way too low. Drama IS top 3.
Drama is off the hook. I was lucky enough to see 2 shows on the Drama tour!
Drama isn't mispronounced I don't think, some people say DRAW-ma some say DRAH-ma.
Expecially.
He mispronounces things in every video. Must be dyslexic or something
Relayer isn't in the top 3. why should I continue watching.
Great share Notes. We definitely agree on number one. A great sound trip. Thanks again for a very enjoyable share. By the way, have you done a Jethro Tull worst to best? I would enjoy hearing your thoughts. Well met.
Especially when concerning bands of virtuosos, such as Yes, it's much more accurate to use the terms "favorite" and "least favorite" rather than "best" and "worst". Virtuosos don't produce poor work, so it should not be referred to as "worst". They could also be ranked by most and least commercially successful, if one were so inclined to do that.
1) Relayer 2) Going for the One 3) Close to the Edge 4) Fragile 5) The Yes album 6) Drama 7) Fly from here
My favs:
1 Tales
2 Fragile
3 Relayer
4 Close
5 Going
6 Tormato
7 Magnification
8 Keystudio
9 Yes
10 ABWH
11 Time
12 Fly
13 Yes (debut)
14 Drama
15 Ladder
16 Big
17 Union
18 Talk
19 90125
20 Heaven
21 Open (urgh)
Agreed, Tales is my number 1 album..
Glad to see that you appreciate The Ladder and Magnification, neither gets it's just due.
From the Yeses that I've heard:
1. Fragile (every song is great)
2. Close to the Edge ("And You and I" is mostly forgettable to me)
3. Relayer (highly underrated in casual Yes circles - Patrick Moraz is a god)
4. 90125 (sorry)
5. The Yes Album (finally got around to this)
6. Yes (I like folky Yes)
7. Tales from Topographic Oceans (hard as hell to listen to, but it's p. nice)
8. Tormato (I kinda like the whole "Yes goes makes pop but really proggy" angle; reminds me of a more angular Kate Bush)
9. Going for the One (title track is good, I've heard better)
10. Time and a Word (this pisses me off because I should like this album - I love three songs from this: "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed," "Sweet Dreams," "Astral Traveler" - but holy hell it's boring)
Yes in the round. Wicked
I actually love 90125, Big Generator, and Talk. My feeling has always been that those albums don't have to be Close to the Edge and Fragile to be good. Drama is also underrated.
"All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you."
Lifelong YES fan here. Seen them multiple times on multiple tours. Shook hands with Alan White and the late great Chris Squire backstage at the Greek Theater In Los Angeles in 2002. For many of us, the signature YES era is The Yes Album 1971, Fragile 1972, Close to the Edge 1973, Tales from Topographic Oceans 1974, Relayer1975, and Going for the One 1977. Each one of these is a Masterpiece, and I personally appreciate all of them for a wide variety of reasons. None is 'better' than the other-- they're all defining moments in their legacy. What they created can never be duplicated. They ruled the era of virtuosity..."And I heard a million voices singing. Acting to the story that they had heard about. Does one child know the secret and can say it? Or does it all come out, alone without you..."
Ah well…. I really love Talk… For me it's up there on my list…