Thanks for your post. This band still stands as one of the best ever. I bought the vinyl of "Yessongs" in November 1972, because I needed relief from studying my year 12 exams! After completing the exams I spent the summer attempting to decipher and play along with the songs on my drum kit. Inspirational.
I became a lifelong Yes fan at just about the time of the release of Yessongs. However, I was still wrangling with The Yes Album and Close To The Edge, which I had purchased over a two week period in May 1973. I had bought Fragile the previous December, but its impact hadn’t quite reached me yet. I needed the context of these other two albums. The one thing I remember thinking as I listened in my cheap headphones was, “There is no way you guys can play this live.” My next trip to the record section at Two Guys, there it was, in all it’s irrefutable glory. Yessongs. 51 years ago now. I have never and will never until I cannot any longer, cease listening. The one thing I learned subsequently was that Yes were capable of being even better onstage than they were on Yessongs. I know it’s hard to believe. I saw it. I heard it. They did these incredibly complex works in the studio, then took them out on the road and were even better live. Best band ever. And it’s not even really close. Yes forever!❤
@@bonniecollum3037No it’s not. That’s what I did when I was a teenager : listening to my favorite albums on daily basis over and over again (of course all of them on vinyl - in their entirety, with flipping sides, studying the cover artwork, information about recording studio, engineer, analyzing lyrics etc.). No listening for 15 seconds and then switching to the next song like people do these days. Pity… ! Back then active listening to the music was a ritual. Seeing certain albums on the shelf while visiting people told you already a lot about the tastes of a person. Things like that. Investing in buying albums was already a thing - it automatically narrowed down to the best of the best. You had to spend $$$ to buy music. It better be good and timeless…
Это вы указали в понедельник. Во вторник указали бы на Fragile, в среду на Trilogy, в пятницу на Thick as a Brick, в воскресенье на Foxtrot. В неделе явно не хватает ещё дней десять-пятнадцать😅 Привет из России/Советского Союза
When the other kids in my class were listening to Kiss and Motley Crue and the like, I was listening to the Moody Blues, Genesis, Gentle Giant, and a whole lot of Yes - I couldn't get enough of Close to the Edge. Thanks for this wonderful analysis and presentation!
After more than five decades, CTTE still sounds, if not perfect, at least as near perfection as any group has ever achieved! Every time I’ve listened to it, I’ve discovered something that I hadn’t heard before… CTTE: a sonic adventure for the ages!
@@MarcusVinicius-we2pg It all depends on your mood and situation at the time you are listening to these albums as to which one strikes your chord the most. They are all emblematic of a creative time that no longer seems possible in today's world.
I read in an interview with Eddie Offord that during the recording Siberian Khatru, one of the guitar solos used a mic that was swung around in a circle in the studio.
Hi Dave, yes you're correct. Howe plays a couple of what could be called solo parts in this song, but I'm not sure which one was being referred to. To be honest, I can't hear a distinct Doppler effect on any of the guitar parts. Anyway, here is a section of an interview made with Tim Morse in the year 2000, in which Offord speaks about this: TM: I love the story about the Doppler effect you got in "Siberian Khatru" that you achieved by having your assistant swing the microphone cable around in the studio during the guitar solo. EO: Right! That was one of those things. Nowadays you could probably get the same effect with a harmonizer or something, but it started with us thinking about trying to get a Leslie sound and then I thought, "Well, instead of having the speakers revolving, why not have the microphone revolving?" And then we tried it on a short piece of wire and we eventually had it long and swinging around the studio. It had that backwards sound; it was kind of cool.
This is the Pinnacle Progressive rock album. Every time I listen to this album it is a journey like reading a book or watching a sci fi movie but much deeper and unrelenting, this album is part of the back bone of my life
Close to the Edge and Siddhartha were big influences of mine as a young teenager. I didn't know that Anderson had brought them together until I saw this documentary. How perfect.
1972. I was a budding rock keyboardist. I was in 12th grade. Stoned and hearing Yes in concert in a concert hall that had perfect acoustics. It was one of the peak concert experiences of my life. To this day YES is an influence on my own electronic music composing.
I discovered ELP about a year after they formed. In '71, I was 12. By the second half of the year, all three three of their early albums were available to me. I was enthralled. I was aware of Yes from the hit song Roundabout... Did not do the deep dive until Yessongs came out... ELP warmed me up for Yes. I bought the studio version of Close to the Edge. Knocked me out even slightly more than ELP. Caught Topographic live in early '74. To my delight, the awe factor surpassed that of the ELP show I caught live about two months earlier. I bought the Lamb album by Genesis a day after it was released. TURNED DOWN a chence to see it performed live in 11/74. Had no clue PG was about to leave 6 months later.... So when they toured Trick of the Tail, I went both nights... and went all three nights to Wind/Wuthering. I really loved all three bands. Genesis was perhaps the most entertaining. However, I credit Emerson with triggering my interest in classical music and jazz and nobody could blend all three together as effectively. Having said all that, I usually put Close to the Edge at the top end of albums from the three bands. Sometimes, I put Lamb Lies Down as my #1 prog album of the era. It's a story about a dead guy who doesn't know he's dead until the finale of the double album. Those five guy together were incredible.
Despite their obvious talent, I was never able to enjoy the band Rush. Geddy's voice wasn't musical to me. And the instrumental components didn't inspire me even one tenth as much as Yes, Genesis or ELP. Likewise, from being a music theory student for decades, I understand the genius of Coltrane. I enjoy studying Giant Steps as an intellectual exercise. I just don't get an emotional lift from the high end of jazz in a way similar to the top end of prog-rock with a few rare excedtions.... like the track called Hope from Birds of Fire by Mahavishnu. That recording is as strong as anything from Crimson, UK, Genesis, Yes or ELP. Weather Report, Hancock and Corea also have moments that hypnotize me as much as any amazing prog. I also understand how the genius of Bach surpasses all my favorite influences. Bach didn't have a connection to African music, didn't have multitrack recording. Didn't have bandmates at his level. So a Bach album cannot transport me the way great prog does.
Yes was my first concert as a freshman in high school. Saw them every time since when they came through Chicago. One show at a place named the Copernicus Center, Chris says, " I thought we've played every house in this city and then they throw this place at us!" Great show as always.
A wonderful tribute to what is the pinnacle of the progressive rock movement - it simply does not get any better than this! 🥰 Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to what all of us Prog heads consider pure musical magic
Gracias muchas gracias por compartir este documental , escucho YES desde que tenia 14 años, ahora tengo 61, y jamás a dejado de gustarme , gracias un gran abrazo viva el rock progresivo
This is an excellent overview of the musical aspects of CTTE and its conceptual connection to Herman Hesse. I applaud the makers of this video. However, there is one major omission: Bill Bruford is largely not mentioned as the original drummer on the studio album. Alan White is a fine rock drummer, but Bruford is largely responsible for the creation of many of the counterpoint rhythms of this piece. Furthermore, his unique style in the way he hits the snare, for example, cannot be replicated by anyone. Again, I enjoyed the video because CTTE is one of my favorite pieces of music in ANY genre.
Wow, I enjoyed this docu very much. Fantastic analysis and clarifications, it deepens my appreciation of the album even more. Well done and thank you so much Tom!
This is the FIRST TIME that i have witnessed someone successfully break down the meaning and creation of this GREAT album. I am so glad that you also gave some insight into the "inside baseball" aspect of the studio process. I have always heard making this was torturous for everyone but Howe and Anderson. Over the years little tidbits and rumors leak out about the band in the studio. I think i remember that there was one member that would literally sleep in the studio through most of the process because it was so boring and meticulous to create. Also I think Bruford also mentioned that after awhile he just could not stand listening to Anderson's singing voice after so many years of hearing it. I honestly believe this is the BEST progressive rock album EVER created.🏆
10:09-10:15, shows Alan White was NOT just a replacement/hire, like alot of other Drummers, doing a job. He Really Enjoyed the Music & being in the Band. I Love that part.👍🏾
@@emergentform1188 Despite the lack of density, Tales deserve much respect too. The ending part of each song is pure beauty. Not so far from CTTE or Relayer IMO :)
Absolutely love the begining sound fx and keys. And the incredible beautiful amazing swirling soundscape of "i get up, i get down". That chord is right from heaven.
I saw those guys play once: the amazing changes in the rhythm, harmony, (really all musical elements), was so disconcerting... it was like nothing else, my friends and I walked out onto the dark streets of Portland, Oregon, under it's spell...Wow they were truly great! Real musicians...we had been truly blessed by the sublime.
If I had to absolutely choose one all-time favorite album, Close To The Edge would be it. I can't place any other album above it, this is the pinnacle of music for me... I watched the first thirty minutes and will watch the rest later - amazing work as always on this documentary!!
Another marvelous documentary! Very good work on the animations! It was a pleasure to watch. I also really appreciated the more stripped-down recordings of the songs.
Great review and video. I saw YES in concert in 1973 at Lehigh University, "In The Round" with front row seats! I was blown away. Getting the seats gifted to me by a friend who went to Lehigh and also produced a local band that became one of the best in the area. The lead guitar player going on to back BB King whenever he was in the Northeast. I saw YES a number of times over the years and met Chris at a club in NYC a few years before he passed. One of my favorite bands. And as a fingerstyle guitar player, I try to work out Steve Howe's licks now and then. Thanks for putting this together. Well done.
The Stravinsky segment at the start of this documentary was performed and recorded by terrific musicians and sound engineers. Very nice to hear this version at the onset. I appreciate marrying of Yessongs audio to enhance the movie footage, along with the explanation of the amoeba footage in the film. I prefer watching Yes perform, as opposed to single cell organisms, and I realize the original filmmaker(s) may have encountered difficulty with the original footage and needed to patch-up the holes. Your work bringing superior audio to that footage is appreciated, and I understand the amount of time and frustration such editing requires. Excellent work here. The narrative throughout and the musical choices are fantastic. Hats off to The Yak!
This album was my introduction to prog. My mind was well and truly blown. Yet I never delved into the origins of each piece. Thank you so much for explaining the background as well as allowing each section to play out.
My favorite group is King Crimson, but in the progressive realm, no group ever had two better albums back to back than close to the edge, and then Relayer!
I feel Topographic Oceans is at least at the same level as those other two. I think about the three albums as a milestone in modern music composition and performance.
The Ultimate shroom tune. I remember turning friends on to Yes in my experimental days, and always feeling anxious as hell during "the Solid time of Change" hoping upon hope, that they wouldn't insist that I switch to something else. ( especially on the few occasions I introduced it to someone while shrooming) That section never made me feel tense listening alone, it was only when I was with someone. I knew if we could make it past this section, there was never a doubt in my mind, I had assisted in the creation of a new Yes fan.
At 5:31. I just had to stop watching because I had the need to say. I love Yes. I sometimes think that I owe them my life. That is how grateful I am to have shared my life together with these amazing musicians. I grow up with was played on the wireless. Rather early I started to listen to a lucky combination of the common stuff, Beatles and classical music. Then came Deep Purple and my first contact with Yes. If my interest for music could be described as a tree Yes became the trunk of that tree steady on roots well set in the above. When it comes to the album “Close to….” I have to say it blow my mind and opened up my mind to what music could be. Despite all that and all the other highly acclaimed Yes album I have to say….sorry Bill and sorry Rick, that for me Relayer is by far the best Yes album, maybe one of the best albums ever recorded, at least one of the best 25. Thank You for your documentary and thanks for all your nice work on Yes. Love to all, Yes forever❤ (Please excuse my rather bad English)
Weirdly,I am also a huge fan of “Relayer”🐍,since it came out in 1974. My favorite as well,with “Close To The Edge” 2nd, “Yesterdays” 3rd,and “Fragile” 4th. YES FOREVER!!!💜
There are few bands from the 70s that I still listen to. Yes is one of them. The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge I've listened to time and again never tiring of the genius therein. Btw, I play in a band that plays Close to the Edge and those time signature changes are a plenty. So true
Perhaps it didn’t get “greater” but for a while it was great 👍 UK, Genesis, Kansas, Jethro Tull etc. in addition to Yes (“Awaken” is in a class by itself) until clerks and lawyers took over entire recording industry. That was the beginning of a downward slide that continues to this day…
My favorite album forever period. I listen to the song CTTE almost every day. 😅. The entire album is Awesome. Thank you for this informative video/documentary!
Tom, this is by some distance the best, most comprehensive review and technical breakdown of CTTE I have ever seen. Genuinely, you transported me back to Manchester's Free Trade Hall when as a 15 year old I was initially taken aback by a thunderous power and volume that overwhelmed my senses. My older brother was in a group around 8 years earlier and I'd seen them play on the same stage as The Rolling Stones (as they were then) and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (featuring the awesome Mick Green) so I'd heard live music played pretty loud but this was something else! But very quickly, what had been painful and intimidating suddenly became dynamic, exciting, electrifying. I was hooked! Fast forward many years and my wife casually asked me, "Of every album you've heard, what's your favourite?" Without hesitation, I replied, "Close to the edge." A few weeks later she handed me my wedding anniversary present - a personalised CTTE vinyl record wall clock complete with Atlantic label. She's good like that... Sorry to ramble on but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this project and why. Thanks, Tom - this is your best yet!!
Hello again John - thank you kindly. I was lucky to find interesting material to talk about here. I'm glad to hear that this album resonates so strongly with you too.
Great details, bro! Yeah, I still listen to this album on a regular basis; it's a classic. Do you think Supertramp's Crime of the Century falls under the prog rock umbrella? Just askin'...
The greatest of all Prog Rock albums. I was too young to see the CTTE tour but I got there aged just 12 to see the TFTO tour in April 75 at Newcastle City Hall, UK. Umpteen occasions later, I remain a fan. Never has such vituosity been so clearly marked as on this incredible album
Yes had an incredible run of albums in the early 70s starting with the Yes album. Then Fragile followed by Close to the Edge. They made more great music over the years but those 3 albums stand the test of time. The reissues they’ve released over the past few years of those albums are excellent too,including previously unreleased music from tours from that era. I saw them in the round in 78 and they were amazing. I had a bootleg of the tour and I wore that album out. Too bad the band is splintered now with Andersen and Howe fronting different bands. Long live Yes!
Howe's version is basically a tribute band, giving Steve a steady paycheck. Anderson, on the other hand, relishes in the admiration that young musician's have for his songs. I've watched various videos here on TH-cam where he sings with bands at music schools. And some of these student bands are pretty tight in recreating Yes' music. It's blissful to watch him enjoying these performances. It's a passion with him.
Well, thank you very much, Tom. I loved this breakdown of a classic masterpiece. I shared this with my friends as well. It's hard to believe this is 52 years old. 5 guys with so much talent came together for the perfect storm and gave birth to an album that can not and will never be repeated by any others. I enjoyed this very much and look forward to more of your content.
This is put together very nicely, BUT you have somehow missed the Album that (Probably) started the 'progressive ball' rolling and that is 'Pet Sounds' by Beach Boys...Released 16th May 1966; it was a direct influence on The Beatles; in particular John Lennon who cited it as the best album in modern music Before they recorded and released 'Revolver' on 5th August 1966; some 4 Months After the release of 'Pet Sounds'. Both Lennon & McCartney later said that the Recording Techniques and Ideas used by Brian Wilson on Pet Sounds 'inspired them to greater heights when writing and recording 'Sgt Peppers'. However, I do regard "Close To The Edge" as being the Greatest Leap in Modern Music and remains my favourite album of all time. I was lucky enough to be at the premier of 'Close To The Edge' at The Crystal Palace Bowl (Open Air) September 2nd 1972 for the princely sum of £1 and 70 pence. It was Alan White's first Gig proper with Yes. A very warm Sunny Day that will stay with me all my days.
I always thought Howe’s solo at the beginning of ‘Siberian’s’ outro sounded like he was fishing around for the right notes, then he takes off when he goes to the upper register. It makes sense now that you say he laid it down without listening to the other tracks. Never knew that. 👍🏾
Excellent video. Thanks for creating this. I had one distressing moment while watching, though. When the audio stopped just before Rick's organ solo, my heart stopped as well. I nearly turned off the video to find the rest of the song. Thankfully, I didn't have very long to wait for it. I think this is easily his best organ solo, among a number of amazing contenders. Even though he is basically playing scales - some very cool sounding scales indeed - this is Rick truly at his peak. Speaking of which....slightly off topic, I also maintain that his minimoog solo in Wurm from Yessongs is THE BEST SYNTH SOLO EVER PLAYED. There, I said it.
😊Absolutely brilliant video presentation ! As always informative, entertaining, engaging and straight to the point. I love how you dig into the origin of the album, its background stemming from literature, prose, poetry and into the worlds of fantasy and spiritual experiences. This video is A "MUST SEE" for all musicians and prog-rock fans. Bravo !
Listening how each Yes member handled the recording/editing sessions with ‘Close to the Edge’, it’s no wonder Buford left, Wakeman got frustrated, and eventually left. Chris needed to get his butt into the ‘office’ in the morning!
Brilliant, love it, hooray Tom! I learned a lot about one of my all time fav albums and my respect for these guys has somehow managed to grow even deeper as a result. How? Anyway, much appreciate the great work and insights!
Enjoyed watching Tom. It's a bit unfortunate that we can only find video of this song with Alan White behind the kit. I think people need to know that that is not Bill back there in the video.
Hello there, and yes, I agree with you. I probably could have [at the least], inserted a slide saying it was 'not Bill behind the kit', but I do talk about Alan joining for live work later on at just over the 58 min mark. Bill is simply a unique and incredible player and I am a huge fan of him too, as you are. Thank you for watching.
Tom, I wish I could give this 1,000 likes. This is the best presentation I've heard of this fantastic music. I also appreciate your explanation of the meaning of the lyrics. The first time I heard any music from this album was at Arie Crown theatre in Chicago on Sept. 22, 1972. You can imagine how "Close to the Edge" must have blown us away hearing it for the first time--live! It's my understanding that the album was released a couple of weeks before, but I didn't know about it. I thought I was coming to hear music mostly from the Yes Album and Fragile.
Excellent video! Yes has been my favorite band for many decades now. Unfortunately, l didn’t get to see them live until the 90125 tour… although l discovered their stunning earlier output starting in about 1977. Even their albums l would rank at the bottom of their oeuvre have a decent song or two. Close to the Edge is definitely the gem 💎 and high water mark of their catalog. You’ve got a new subscriber and l look forward to future videos. As well as - of course - catching up on your older fare, too. Cheers from The Big Apple. 🍎 Rock Out and Prog On… … In each and every lexicon! Frog 🐸 On! Your clone and mine, ~ The Definitive and Divine Doppelgänger of Davey Cretin, from CRETIN CLASSICS.
Dear Tom, another top notch presentation you've just deliverd. Great intro, nice to see you have a T-shirt that goes with every presentation.. :) I agree, the is an essential piece in the prog-rock history. But to be honest, for me ,'Awaken' is the pinacle of their music. My favorite yes song. Anyways, so glad you did this documentary. Thanks so much.
Hi Robert, thank you very much indeed ... and yes, my T-shirt collection is expanding. I agree that Awaken is their single greatest single piece and I know you've watched the video on my break-down of that song.
Thank you Tom this was awesome I’ve been a YES Fan since the beginning & while not a musician I’ve always considered it amazing that when I listened to YES music it touches me on a such a deep level, & truthfully at 65 years old it’s the only band/ music my ears want to hear!!! One more thing I have only one tattoo & it’s the YES Bubble Logo from Tales, YES IS BEST, thanks again & GOD BLESS.
Great doco Tom. Following on from Yes's seminal work Fragile, CTTE (the track) remains one of the undisputed masterpieces of Prog Rock (along with Awaken, yes?) You clearly put tons of effort into this work - well done! 🎬
Hi John, I thank you kindly for your feedback which is very much appreciated! I'm working on another sizeable project at the moment but I will speak about early Yes before CTTE in another video soon. Stay tuned ... Cheers.
The music is amazing, and the lyrics are just another instrument. I never cared at all what Anderson was actually singing about, and I still don’t. That eastern new age stuff is nonsense. But this is still an outstanding album and one of my favourites. I saw this live lineup in 2003 in Sydney and they were every bit as good as they were in this 1972 footage.
As much as it pains me to say it, as Bruford is by far my all-time favorite drummer, nothing beats 2002's Symphonic Live version of Close to the Edge (that piece alone). Simply epic!
Muchas gracias por tus comentarios. Me alegra que te haya gustado mi vídeo. Estoy de acuerdo, Tales también es un gran álbum, aunque en general tiene menos aceptación en la comunidad del rock progresivo.
Hello Mate! I really like what you’ve done here, I believe you should do the same with RELAYER the Seventh studio album but I believe equally impressive, and copied much more by classical professionals and symphonies I believe more so then CTTE album
I've been a great YES fan since the summer of 1974 when Relayer was new. How much I love YES I'll never stop being disturbed by Chris and Steve's terrrible sounding voices. In another band, they would never been alowed to even open their mouth's.
Thanks for your post. This band still stands as one of the best ever. I bought the vinyl of "Yessongs" in November 1972, because I needed relief from studying my year 12 exams! After completing the exams I spent the summer attempting to decipher and play along with the songs on my drum kit. Inspirational.
You're welcome David. 'Yessongs' is possibly the best live compilation release of all time. Good to see another Aussie on here. Tom
I became a lifelong Yes fan at just about the time of the release of Yessongs. However, I was still wrangling with The Yes Album and Close To The Edge, which I had purchased over a two week period in May 1973. I had bought Fragile the previous December, but its impact hadn’t quite reached me yet. I needed the context of these other two albums.
The one thing I remember thinking as I listened in my cheap headphones was, “There is no way you guys can play this live.”
My next trip to the record section at Two Guys, there it was, in all it’s irrefutable glory.
Yessongs.
51 years ago now. I have never and will never until I cannot any longer, cease listening.
The one thing I learned subsequently was that Yes were capable of being even better onstage than they were on Yessongs. I know it’s hard to believe. I saw it. I heard it. They did these incredibly complex works in the studio, then took them out on the road and were even better live.
Best band ever. And it’s not even really close.
Yes forever!❤
My #1 desert island album. 100's of listens and it never gets old.
It will never get old, just like anything Bach, Mozart, Beethoven etc. It’s Classic album by all means !
I listen to CTTE the song almost every day. Is that weird?
@@bonniecollum3037No it’s not. That’s what I did when I was a teenager : listening to my favorite albums on daily basis over and over again (of course all of them on vinyl - in their entirety, with flipping sides, studying the cover artwork, information about recording studio, engineer, analyzing lyrics etc.).
No listening for 15 seconds and then switching to the next song like people do these days. Pity… !
Back then active listening to the music was a ritual. Seeing certain albums on the shelf while visiting people told you already a lot about the tastes of a person. Things like that. Investing in buying albums was already a thing - it automatically narrowed down to the best of the best. You had to spend $$$ to buy music. It better be good and timeless…
@@bonniecollum3037the whole entire album?
@@zenlandzipline
That’s the only way to listen to it. ❤
Thank you for the documentary
Excellent!
Yes forever!
Amazing documentary of Yes masterpiece and my favorite Rock album of all time 🎶❤️🙏
When asked "What is progressive rock?" I point at that album.
Very well put ! Agree 100 percent.
It in fact goes BEYOND that tag!
So true. Best song ever too.
Good answer ❤
Это вы указали в понедельник. Во вторник указали бы на Fragile, в среду на Trilogy, в пятницу на Thick as a Brick, в воскресенье на Foxtrot. В неделе явно не хватает ещё дней десять-пятнадцать😅 Привет из России/Советского Союза
Close to the edge will always be appreciated
Even 100s of years from now
When the other kids in my class were listening to Kiss and Motley Crue and the like, I was listening to the Moody Blues, Genesis, Gentle Giant, and a whole lot of Yes - I couldn't get enough of Close to the Edge. Thanks for this wonderful analysis and presentation!
same here dude. now im a lawyer and they are limo drivers. not judging.
My favorite Yes studio album....EVER!!! The first time I heard it I was hooked!
After more than five decades, CTTE still sounds, if not perfect, at least as near perfection as any group has ever achieved! Every time I’ve listened to it, I’ve discovered something that I hadn’t heard before…
CTTE: a sonic adventure for the ages!
THE greatest progressive rock album ever made. ❤
Jethro Tull Thick as a brick and Genesis Selling England by the pound are in the same level.
@@MarcusVinicius-we2pg You'll get no argument from me! All are classics.
@@stevebarnes7353 I agree 100%
@@MarcusVinicius-we2pg It all depends on your mood and situation at the time you are listening to these albums as to which one strikes your chord the most. They are all emblematic of a creative time that no longer seems possible in today's world.
@@MtHockey Of course.... everybody knows that much! Even my favorite band VDGG..I don't listen everyday!
Great job on the audio mix! And syncing with the footage, and also blending in the original pipe organ. Flawless production.
Thank you very much indeed for the feedback Mike. Much appreciated! Tom
I read in an interview with Eddie Offord that during the recording Siberian Khatru, one of the guitar solos used a mic that was swung around in a circle in the studio.
Hi Dave, yes you're correct. Howe plays a couple of what could be called solo parts in this song, but I'm not sure which one was being referred to. To be honest, I can't hear a distinct Doppler effect on any of the guitar parts. Anyway, here is a section of an interview made with Tim Morse in the year 2000, in which Offord speaks about this:
TM: I love the story about the Doppler effect you got in "Siberian Khatru" that you achieved by having your assistant swing the microphone cable around in the studio during the guitar solo.
EO: Right! That was one of those things. Nowadays you could probably get the same effect with a harmonizer or something, but it started with us thinking about trying to get a Leslie sound and then I thought, "Well, instead of having the speakers revolving, why not have the microphone revolving?" And then we tried it on a short piece of wire and we eventually had it long and swinging around the studio. It had that backwards sound; it was kind of cool.
excellent documentary, a brilliant timeless album. Going to listen to 2 hours of Yessongs now.
Thank you Wookie - I hope you enjoyed that 2 hour listen! Tom
This is the Pinnacle Progressive rock album. Every time I listen to this album it is a journey like reading a book or watching a sci fi movie but much deeper and unrelenting, this album is part of the back bone of my life
Close to the Edge and Siddhartha were big influences of mine as a young teenager.
I didn't know that Anderson had brought them together until I saw this documentary.
How perfect.
The album is my favourite and the title track is my favourite song and in concert nothing beats it.
1972. I was a budding rock keyboardist. I was in 12th grade. Stoned and hearing Yes in concert in a concert hall that had perfect acoustics. It was one of the peak concert experiences of my life. To this day YES is an influence on my own electronic music composing.
I discovered ELP about a year after they formed. In '71, I was 12. By the second half of the year, all three three of their early albums were available to me. I was enthralled. I was aware of Yes from the hit song Roundabout... Did not do the deep dive until Yessongs came out... ELP warmed me up for Yes. I bought the studio version of Close to the Edge. Knocked me out even slightly more than ELP. Caught Topographic live in early '74. To my delight, the awe factor surpassed that of the ELP show I caught live about two months earlier. I bought the Lamb album by Genesis a day after it was released. TURNED DOWN a chence to see it performed live in 11/74. Had no clue PG was about to leave 6 months later.... So when they toured Trick of the Tail, I went both nights... and went all three nights to Wind/Wuthering.
I really loved all three bands. Genesis was perhaps the most entertaining. However, I credit Emerson with triggering my interest in classical music and jazz and nobody could blend all three together as effectively.
Having said all that, I usually put Close to the Edge at the top end of albums from the three bands. Sometimes, I put Lamb Lies Down as my #1 prog album of the era. It's a story about a dead guy who doesn't know he's dead until the finale of the double album. Those five guy together were incredible.
Despite their obvious talent, I was never able to enjoy the band Rush. Geddy's voice wasn't musical to me. And the instrumental components didn't inspire me even one tenth as much as Yes, Genesis or ELP. Likewise, from being a music theory student for decades, I understand the genius of Coltrane. I enjoy studying Giant Steps as an intellectual exercise. I just don't get an emotional lift from the high end of jazz in a way similar to the top end of prog-rock with a few rare excedtions.... like the track called Hope from Birds of Fire by Mahavishnu. That recording is as strong as anything from Crimson, UK, Genesis, Yes or ELP. Weather Report, Hancock and Corea also have moments that hypnotize me as much as any amazing prog. I also understand how the genius of Bach surpasses all my favorite influences. Bach didn't have a connection to African music, didn't have multitrack recording. Didn't have bandmates at his level. So a Bach album cannot transport me the way great prog does.
One of Bruford's best albums.
Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. I saw Squire and White 36 times from 75 to 2015.
36 times? Wow. Chris was the greatest bass player ever! RIP Chris & Alan. You are missed & loved. See you in Heaven.
@@bonniecollum3037 ✨️🎶✨️
Yes was my first concert as a freshman in high school. Saw them every time since when they came through Chicago. One show at a place named the Copernicus Center, Chris says, " I thought we've played every house in this city and then they throw this place at us!" Great show as always.
Well done!
A wonderful tribute to what is the pinnacle of the progressive rock movement - it simply does not get any better than this! 🥰
Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to what all of us Prog heads consider pure musical magic
Thank you Shane - I think you might be right ... 'the pinnacle'. Well said!
Excellent presentation, Tom. Well done. ✌🏼
Thank you kindly John, and that you for watching. Tom
Elite rock scientists at work.Howe very much in the mad professor mode/role here with his instrument workshop.Anderson the visionary as ever.
Gracias muchas gracias por compartir este documental , escucho YES desde que tenia 14 años, ahora tengo 61, y jamás a dejado de gustarme , gracias un gran abrazo viva el rock progresivo
Hi Jamie, thank you for watching
52 years old.....still the #1 progressive song of all time .
This is an excellent overview of the musical aspects of CTTE and its conceptual connection to Herman Hesse. I applaud the makers of this video. However, there is one major omission: Bill Bruford is largely not mentioned as the original drummer on the studio album. Alan White is a fine rock drummer, but Bruford is largely responsible for the creation of many of the counterpoint rhythms of this piece. Furthermore, his unique style in the way he hits the snare, for example, cannot be replicated by anyone. Again, I enjoyed the video because CTTE is one of my favorite pieces of music in ANY genre.
Wow, I enjoyed this docu very much. Fantastic analysis and clarifications, it deepens my appreciation of the album even more. Well done and thank you so much Tom!
Thank you Frank - glad you enjoyed it!
This is the FIRST TIME that i have witnessed someone successfully break down the meaning and creation of this GREAT album. I am so glad that you also gave some insight into the "inside baseball" aspect of the studio process. I have always heard making this was torturous for everyone but Howe and Anderson. Over the years little tidbits and rumors leak out about the band in the studio. I think i remember that there was one member that would literally sleep in the studio through most of the process because it was so boring and meticulous to create. Also I think Bruford also mentioned that after awhile he just could not stand listening to Anderson's singing voice after so many years of hearing it. I honestly believe this is the BEST progressive rock album EVER created.🏆
10:09-10:15, shows Alan White was NOT just a replacement/hire, like alot of other Drummers, doing a job. He Really Enjoyed the Music & being in the Band. I Love that part.👍🏾
I noticed it too. Thanks for your valuable comment that honours Alan White!!
Alan White is such a hero in the Yes story.
❤
By far my favorite Yes album and the pinnacle of prog ... for me.
Even more than Relayer? :)
@@emergentform1188 Despite the lack of density, Tales deserve much respect too. The ending part of each song is pure beauty. Not so far from CTTE or Relayer IMO :)
@@daniellacroix-t9h I should really give that album more attention. I have the CD but never really got into it.
@@daniellacroix-t9h
I feel Tales is even better, if that is at all possible.
Genius work - I always knew this band was deep.
A song and album of this magnitude deserve an entire series of epic two hour long documentaries....
Absolutely love the begining sound fx and keys. And the incredible beautiful amazing swirling soundscape of "i get up, i get down". That chord is right from heaven.
I saw those guys play once: the amazing changes in the rhythm, harmony, (really all musical elements), was so disconcerting... it was like nothing else, my friends and I walked out onto the dark streets of Portland, Oregon, under it's spell...Wow they were truly great! Real musicians...we had been truly blessed by the sublime.
If I had to absolutely choose one all-time favorite album, Close To The Edge would be it. I can't place any other album above it, this is the pinnacle of music for me... I watched the first thirty minutes and will watch the rest later - amazing work as always on this documentary!!
Another marvelous documentary! Very good work on the animations! It was a pleasure to watch. I also really appreciated the more stripped-down recordings of the songs.
Thank you for your kind words Hans. Tom
THANK you for synching the good audio with the famous film footage. It is so much more enjoyable to watch!
That's great to hear Alan. Thank you
Great review and video. I saw YES in concert in 1973 at Lehigh University, "In The Round" with front row seats! I was blown away. Getting the seats gifted to me by a friend who went to Lehigh and also produced a local band that became one of the best in the area. The lead guitar player going on to back BB King whenever he was in the Northeast. I saw YES a number of times over the years and met Chris at a club in NYC a few years before he passed. One of my favorite bands. And as a fingerstyle guitar player, I try to work out Steve Howe's licks now and then. Thanks for putting this together. Well done.
Thank you very much Peter.
In the round was 1977
The Stravinsky segment at the start of this documentary was performed and recorded by terrific musicians and sound engineers. Very nice to hear this version at the onset. I appreciate marrying of Yessongs audio to enhance the movie footage, along with the explanation of the amoeba footage in the film. I prefer watching Yes perform, as opposed to single cell organisms, and I realize the original filmmaker(s) may have encountered difficulty with the original footage and needed to patch-up the holes. Your work bringing superior audio to that footage is appreciated, and I understand the amount of time and frustration such editing requires. Excellent work here. The narrative throughout and the musical choices are fantastic. Hats off to The Yak!
Hello Arthur, thank you. I appreciate all your comments. Tom
Muito obrigado pela partilha e pela excelente explanação sobre oa álbuns descritos. Que viagem...
My favorite band ever and CTTE is perfection. Bruford knew could never be topped.
This album was my introduction to prog. My mind was well and truly blown. Yet I never delved into the origins of each piece. Thank you so much for explaining the background as well as allowing each section to play out.
Thank you David - I'm always feel a little apprehensive when I release a video which runs for 1 hr, so I'm glad we're on the same page here.
So well presented, Tom! We've waited 50 years for this & it's absolutely fabulous! A MASTERPIECE broadcast, no doubt. Thanks!!!
You’re welcome Joe. Glad you enjoyed it! You’ve made my day.
My favorite group is King Crimson, but in the progressive realm, no group ever had two better albums back to back than close to the edge, and then Relayer!
I feel Topographic Oceans is at least at the same level as those other two.
I think about the three albums as a milestone in modern music composition and performance.
@@albertvinyes4951and tales came out after close..JS😜
For me, their best are The Yes Album and Fragile. Isn't it great that we can agree to disagree?
The Ultimate shroom tune.
I remember turning friends on to Yes in my experimental days, and always feeling anxious as hell during "the Solid time of Change" hoping upon hope, that they wouldn't insist that I switch to something else. ( especially on the few occasions I introduced it to someone while shrooming)
That section never made me feel tense listening alone, it was only when I was with someone.
I knew if we could make it past this section, there was never a doubt in my mind, I had assisted in the creation of a new Yes fan.
At 5:31. I just had to stop watching because I had the need to say. I love Yes. I sometimes think that I owe them my life. That is how grateful I am to have shared my life together with these amazing musicians. I grow up with was played on the wireless. Rather early I started to listen to a lucky combination of the common stuff, Beatles and classical music. Then came Deep Purple and my first contact with Yes. If my interest for music could be described as a tree Yes became the trunk of that tree steady on roots well set in the above. When it comes to the album “Close to….” I have to say it blow my mind and opened up my mind to what music could be. Despite all that and all the other highly acclaimed Yes album I have to say….sorry Bill and sorry Rick, that for me Relayer is by far the best Yes album, maybe one of the best albums ever recorded, at least one of the best 25. Thank You for your documentary and thanks for all your nice work on Yes. Love to all, Yes forever❤
(Please excuse my rather bad English)
Weirdly,I am also a huge fan of “Relayer”🐍,since it came out in 1974. My favorite as well,with “Close To The Edge” 2nd, “Yesterdays” 3rd,and “Fragile” 4th. YES FOREVER!!!💜
I me my
There are few bands from the 70s that I still listen to. Yes is one of them. The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge I've listened to time and again never tiring of the genius therein. Btw, I play in a band that plays Close to the Edge and those time signature changes are a plenty. So true
Superb - all ways.
I remember this coming out and I thought...' cool.. music getting better from now on and its going to be even greater than this'....
Perhaps it didn’t get “greater” but for a while it was great 👍 UK, Genesis, Kansas, Jethro Tull etc. in addition to Yes (“Awaken” is in a class by itself) until clerks and lawyers took over entire recording industry. That was the beginning of a downward slide that continues to this day…
My favorite album forever period. I listen to the song CTTE almost every day. 😅. The entire album is Awesome. Thank you for this informative video/documentary!
Hi Bonnie - thank you, that's great to hear!
Best band, ever. Period.
I've enjoyed your presentation very much. Looking forward for more from you. Best wishes and god speed.
Wonderful eloquent presentation of my favorite Yes album.
Saw the tour behind the album, Close to the Edge. Alan White was introduced as new drummer of 3 weeks. It was 1st time hearing it. Mind blowing
This is absolutely marvellous, as was your three-parter on the genius of Keith Emerson. Keep 'em coming!
Thank you Chris - that's great to hear! Thank you for watching.
Tom, this is by some distance the best, most comprehensive review and technical breakdown of CTTE I have ever seen.
Genuinely, you transported me back to Manchester's Free Trade Hall when as a 15 year old I was initially taken aback by a thunderous power and volume that overwhelmed my senses. My older brother was in a group around 8 years earlier and I'd seen them play on the same stage as The Rolling Stones (as they were then) and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (featuring the awesome Mick Green) so I'd heard live music played pretty loud but this was something else! But very quickly, what had been painful and intimidating suddenly became dynamic, exciting, electrifying. I was hooked!
Fast forward many years and my wife casually asked me, "Of every album you've heard, what's your favourite?" Without hesitation, I replied, "Close to the edge." A few weeks later she handed me my wedding anniversary present - a personalised CTTE vinyl record wall clock complete with Atlantic label. She's good like that...
Sorry to ramble on but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this project and why. Thanks, Tom - this is your best yet!!
Hello again John - thank you kindly. I was lucky to find interesting material to talk about here. I'm glad to hear that this album resonates so strongly with you too.
Great details, bro! Yeah, I still listen to this album on a regular basis; it's a classic. Do you think Supertramp's Crime of the Century falls under the prog rock umbrella? Just askin'...
The greatest of all Prog Rock albums. I was too young to see the CTTE tour but I got there aged just 12 to see the TFTO tour in April 75 at Newcastle City Hall, UK.
Umpteen occasions later, I remain a fan.
Never has such vituosity been so clearly marked as on this incredible album
Just watched it complete thru for the 2ND TIME!🎉 soooo good
A timeless masterpiece
Yes had an incredible run of albums in the early 70s starting with the Yes album. Then Fragile followed by Close to the Edge. They made more great music over the years but those 3 albums stand the test of time. The reissues they’ve released over the past few years of those albums are excellent too,including previously unreleased music from tours from that era. I saw them in the round in 78 and they were amazing. I had a bootleg of the tour and I wore that album out. Too bad the band is splintered now with Andersen and Howe fronting different bands. Long live Yes!
Howe's version is basically a tribute band, giving Steve a steady paycheck. Anderson, on the other hand, relishes in the admiration that young musician's have for his songs. I've watched various videos here on TH-cam where he sings with bands at music schools. And some of these student bands are pretty tight in recreating Yes' music. It's blissful to watch him enjoying these performances. It's a passion with him.
An excellent tribute to an eternal masterpiece. Great work Tom!
Thank you kindly Petch, glad you enjoyed it.
Le meilleur album de tous les temps
Well, thank you very much, Tom. I loved this breakdown of a classic masterpiece. I shared this with my friends as well. It's hard to believe this is 52 years old. 5 guys with so much talent came together for the perfect storm and gave birth to an album that can not and will never be repeated by any others. I enjoyed this very much and look forward to more of your content.
Very nice to hear Gregg - thank you!
Thanks for all your work on this. The Yes Trilogy - The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge. A musical journey like no other.
This is put together very nicely, BUT you have somehow missed the Album that (Probably) started the 'progressive ball' rolling and that is 'Pet Sounds' by Beach Boys...Released 16th May 1966; it was a direct influence on The Beatles; in particular John Lennon who cited it as the best album in modern music Before they recorded and released 'Revolver' on 5th August 1966; some 4 Months After the release of 'Pet Sounds'. Both Lennon & McCartney later said that the Recording Techniques and Ideas used by Brian Wilson on Pet Sounds 'inspired them to greater heights when writing and recording 'Sgt Peppers'. However, I do regard "Close To The Edge" as being the Greatest Leap in Modern Music and remains my favourite album of all time. I was lucky enough to be at the premier of 'Close To The Edge' at The Crystal Palace Bowl (Open Air) September 2nd 1972 for the princely sum of £1 and 70 pence. It was Alan White's first Gig proper with Yes. A very warm Sunny Day that will stay with me all my days.
Yes Songs turned me onto The Firebird Suite.
It's rated very appropriately among prog fans but among the general (ie non prog rock crowd) it's pretty underrated and even unknown to many people.
Thanks to commericial radio, you are right.
There's that UR word. Have you been polling the billions of people on earth, in order to find out if they knew about the album ??
@@pressureworksI did. It checks out.
@@zenlandzipline that was quick
@@pressureworks yeah. No time for dilly-dallying, lollygagging, or pussyfooting around.
I always thought Howe’s solo at the beginning of ‘Siberian’s’ outro sounded like he was fishing around for the right notes, then he takes off when he goes to the upper register. It makes sense now that you say he laid it down without listening to the other tracks. Never knew that. 👍🏾
Excellent video. Thanks for creating this. I had one distressing moment while watching, though. When the audio stopped just before Rick's organ solo, my heart stopped as well. I nearly turned off the video to find the rest of the song. Thankfully, I didn't have very long to wait for it.
I think this is easily his best organ solo, among a number of amazing contenders. Even though he is basically playing scales - some very cool sounding scales indeed - this is Rick truly at his peak.
Speaking of which....slightly off topic, I also maintain that his minimoog solo in Wurm from Yessongs is THE BEST SYNTH SOLO EVER PLAYED. There, I said it.
Thank you very much and we know we passed the audition.
😊Absolutely brilliant video presentation ! As always informative, entertaining, engaging and straight to the point. I love how you dig into the origin of the album, its background stemming from literature, prose, poetry and into the worlds of fantasy and spiritual experiences. This video is A "MUST SEE" for all musicians and prog-rock fans. Bravo !
Wow - that’s certainly very kind feedback. Thank you Krystof!
Nice treatment of this prog rock/modern music masterpiece and the musicians who made it.
Way back in 72 a friend made a Close To The Edge Poster I took to their Shown. I love your T-Shirt
ありがとうございました。
That was a great documentary. Thanks and Cheers!
Absolutely FANTASTIC video Tom...brilliant!..you couldn't make this homage to a masterpiece any better!
Wow - thank you very much Dave!
A very great work you've done! This album is so important, the first discovery in my early teen.
Hello Pierre, thank you so much for your feedback. Cheers, Tom
Listening how each Yes member handled the recording/editing sessions with ‘Close to the Edge’, it’s no wonder Buford left, Wakeman got frustrated, and eventually left. Chris needed to get his butt into the ‘office’ in the morning!
Brilliant, love it, hooray Tom! I learned a lot about one of my all time fav albums and my respect for these guys has somehow managed to grow even deeper as a result. How? Anyway, much appreciate the great work and insights!
Thank you very much for feedback which is very much appreciated!
Great work, love the content and bands you cover.
Thank you Brian. You have great taste in music
Enjoyed watching Tom. It's a bit unfortunate that we can only find video of this song with Alan White behind the kit. I think people need to know that that is not Bill back there in the video.
Hello there, and yes, I agree with you. I probably could have [at the least], inserted a slide saying it was 'not Bill behind the kit', but I do talk about Alan joining for live work later on at just over the 58 min mark. Bill is simply a unique and incredible player and I am a huge fan of him too, as you are. Thank you for watching.
Tom, I wish I could give this 1,000 likes. This is the best presentation I've heard of this fantastic music. I also appreciate your explanation of the meaning of the lyrics. The first time I heard any music from this album was at Arie Crown theatre in Chicago on Sept. 22, 1972. You can imagine how "Close to the Edge" must have blown us away hearing it for the first time--live! It's my understanding that the album was released a couple of weeks before, but I didn't know about it. I thought I was coming to hear music mostly from the Yes Album and Fragile.
Thank you very much Robert. I'm glad you liked my video. You were lucky to experience that album live back in '72!
Excellent video! Yes has been my favorite band for many decades now. Unfortunately, l didn’t get to see them live until the 90125 tour… although l discovered their stunning earlier output starting in about 1977. Even their albums l would rank at the bottom of their oeuvre have a decent song or two. Close to the Edge is definitely the gem 💎 and high water mark of their catalog.
You’ve got a new subscriber and l look forward to future videos. As well as - of course - catching up on your older fare, too.
Cheers from The Big Apple. 🍎
Rock Out and Prog On…
… In each and every lexicon!
Frog 🐸 On!
Your clone and mine,
~ The Definitive and Divine Doppelgänger of Davey Cretin, from CRETIN CLASSICS.
Thank you Davey - great to have you onboard.
Dear Tom, another top notch presentation you've just deliverd. Great intro, nice to see you have a T-shirt that goes with every presentation.. :) I agree, the is an essential piece in the prog-rock history. But to be honest, for me ,'Awaken' is the pinacle of their music. My favorite yes song. Anyways, so glad you did this documentary. Thanks so much.
Hi Robert, thank you very much indeed ... and yes, my T-shirt collection is expanding. I agree that Awaken is their single greatest single piece and I know you've watched the video on my break-down of that song.
Thank you Tom this was awesome I’ve been a YES Fan since the beginning & while not a musician I’ve always considered it amazing that when I listened to YES music it touches me on a such a deep level, & truthfully at 65 years old it’s the only band/ music my ears want to hear!!! One more thing I have only one tattoo & it’s the YES Bubble Logo from Tales, YES IS BEST, thanks again & GOD BLESS.
Thank you Barry!
Great doco Tom. Following on from Yes's seminal work Fragile, CTTE (the track) remains one of the undisputed masterpieces of Prog Rock (along with Awaken, yes?) You clearly put tons of effort into this work - well done! 🎬
Hi John, I thank you kindly for your feedback which is very much appreciated! I'm working on another sizeable project at the moment but I will speak about early Yes before CTTE in another video soon. Stay tuned ... Cheers.
The music is amazing, and the lyrics are just another instrument. I never cared at all what Anderson was actually singing about, and I still don’t. That eastern new age stuff is nonsense. But this is still an outstanding album and one of my favourites. I saw this live lineup in 2003 in Sydney and they were every bit as good as they were in this 1972 footage.
As much as it pains me to say it, as Bruford is by far my all-time favorite drummer, nothing beats 2002's Symphonic Live version of Close to the Edge (that piece alone). Simply epic!
Do Relayer next :)
That's a great album too. I have some other projects in the pipeline at the moment, but that is a great suggestion.
Was introduced to yes through a mind blowing song called awaken
gracias Tom, me gustó mucho. es quizás mi album preferido junto a Tales From
Muchas gracias por tus comentarios. Me alegra que te haya gustado mi vídeo. Estoy de acuerdo, Tales también es un gran álbum, aunque en general tiene menos aceptación en la comunidad del rock progresivo.
Great video Tom thanks
I bought it when it was New. Love it
Hello Mate! I really like what you’ve done here, I believe you should do the same with
RELAYER the Seventh studio album but I believe equally impressive, and copied much more by classical professionals and symphonies I believe more so then CTTE album
I've been a great YES fan since the summer of 1974 when Relayer was new. How much I love YES I'll never stop being disturbed by Chris and Steve's terrrible sounding voices. In another band, they would never been alowed to even open their mouth's.
Great.
Keep up the good work !
l sure wish Bruford would have stayed for this tour. He left in an awful hurry. Bromance with Fripp.
Welcome to my very personal musical world folks.
La Divina Commedia del rock. 💖