Thanks Mazzy. From an early YES fan and man of your vintage (age). my first YES was fragile in 1971 on eight track tape which I wore out playing in my car.
Enjoyed that! The band who never know when to stop. I hear exactly what you’re saying about Topographic Oceans. Took me nearly 40 years to finally get it! The original is a thing of beauty sonically and my favourite sleeve along with Relayer. Just listen to the harmonies and it all starts to make sense. Ignore the lyrics and you’re halfway there. Sincere apologies to a student of mine who tried his best to get me on the right track of Topo! I was completely wrong with dismissing the album as too much cramming. Better late than never 😊
@@R3TR0R4V3 definitive at 45 maybe, but not definitive as the artist originally intended. I have a bunch of 45s that do sound excellent, however sometimes they can sound too clinical where you hear more than you really should hear, and introduce the imperfections in the recording that we weren’t supposed to hear. Too much I’ll always choose a good 33 first, even if the 45 is technically better.
I bought this in the UK the day it came out - I loved Topographic Oceans and had to have the follow up. This is a brilliant album and marks the end of a four studio album run that for me was Yes at their best. I have ordered a few of the Atlantic 75 series albums including Fragile and after much angst (the title track spans both sides of disc 1) I added Close to the Edge to the list - they really are that that good from a sonic perspective (based on my comparisons of Genesis and Bad Company that are already available). By the way the cost in the UK is £75 so quite a hike from the US price of $60. I think I'll also invest in a new 33 rpm version of Close to the Edge - I'm not sure which version though.
strange take on Yessongs. Not sure how a live concert album that is limited to songs from Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album is somehow "bloated." All the songs are played at a faster tempo than the studio versions. It was a conscious choice they made to add energy to their concerts. Allan White played on all but one or two of the songs on Yessongs.
Huge Yes fan here but…it was because of my 6th grade teacher who knew I loved music …her husband was a dj at my favorite rock AM station at the time. One day she brought a copy of Tales From Topographic Oceans. And I stared at the cover forever it seems. And then she played a couple of songs on one of those school records players. And I fell in love with Yes.
YES fan since the eighties. Relayer has always been one of my favorites, especially the artwork. Shame Rhino HiFi didn't keep the original label art too. One of the best custom labels ever. All that said, I have a mint OG, so I don't need this, but I'm glad it exists.
Hey Mazzy! I really like your videos. On music in general, on certain records, your travels, etc. We all love The Beatles, Kinks, Velvet Underground, Hendrix and so on, and all the great jazz artists/albums, but it's extra nice to hear a person who loves music generally in that way, talk about prog rock. It shows that prog rock is not a genre for an exclusive few who has no time for "simpler" music. It's the MUSIC, nincompoops! 😉 Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Focus, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd, Van Der Graaf Generator, U.K., etc, etc, are all great great prog bands, but the pinnacle of the genre is Genesis. Are you saying that you missed them when you got in to Yes, King Crimson, ELP? A side question: Have you listened to Prefab Sprout? Love to hear you talk about them. A second side question: Which are your favorite albums of Return To Forever? (that might be a subject for a video ;-) Cheers from Sweden!
I never listened to any prog until I arrived in Berlin, Germany in ‘72. Next thing I knew, I was at an Emerson, Lake & Palmer concert. Same buddy then turned me on to Yes via Fragile. It was alright, but never my thing. I was digging the Blues and Marvin Gaye and still lost in Blues. 🎸🎶
You should try Close to the Edge again. Whenever the prog critics rank albums, it’s usually ranked as the first or second greatest prog album (usually trading places with Court of the Crimson King) as well as the best Yes album. It’s a lot like Relayer in format, but a little more tuneful and rocking in places. And it has Bruford and Wakeman.
As a huge Yes fan, I think you shared an understandable point of view. I see what you mean about The Yes Album. I'm glad you hung in there for Relayer. You ought to give Time and a Word a listen and definitely Drama from 1980. Of tge newer stuff go with Magnification and stop there.
If I was listening to Tales of Topographic Oceans in a record store, as you once did Mazz, I'd probably not be able to get into it either, but with recreational stuff and being in the mood for a meditative like musical experience, a very satisfying album for me personally.
@@paulbrookes413I think he left out The Ancient because he was pointing out how a majority of the album is so melodic, yet the Ancient concerns itself more with rhythm and is more chaotic.
With four side-long pieces based on Hindu Shashtric scriptures, it’s got to be dense and impenetrable, right? Wrong: Most of "Tales From Topographic Oceans" is as gorgeously melodic as anything Yes ever did, and the band charges hard, newly fortified by drummer Alan White. To name just one moment, Rick Wakeman’s climactic synth solo on “The Revealing Science of God” is positively celestial. - uDiscover Music's 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums Of All Time
Hi Mazzy - I love prog, and I love YES. Think what you will of "Tales ...." - personally I don't mind it, I also have the 3LP set Yes songs again I think its pretty good. People hate ELP - I love them, saw them in concert in 1970 - sensational, superb musicians, great songs. As far as all these different LP versions / cuts / mixes / remasters go - its all very interesting to me, but I really dont give a shit lolol. "Its the music stupid" and WHAT YOU DONT KNOW YOU NEVER MISS !! I just love the music - end of story. Love your videos. Cheers Doug (from down under)
Also a more song based form of 'prog' is the UK band Caravan. If you don't know them check them out. Specially their second album 'If I could do it all over again I'd do it over you".
Well done that man! 😃 Greetings from the UK with a new government, lets hope the Democrats can return to power in the US. Great to see Yes getting some time from you. I have Relayer on CD and The gates of Delirium is epic, however. I think their best album is Close to the Edge which most prog afficiandos consider to be the greatest prog album ever. Keep up the good work. 👍
Thank you for calling it like it is: "Tales" is just a disaster. As you, I tried to get through it, but I just can't. However, I enjoy "Relayer." I love the monochrome album cover as well. This is timely because I saw yesterday that Rhino had just released their HiFi edition, and I ordered it immediately since I don't have a good copy of it. After watching your video, I'm excited to listen to it when it arrives. Thank you.
The fact that you don’t like it doesn’t make it a disaster, perhaps you should consider why, despite the nay-sayers, so many people who know their music well rate it as the best thing Yes did.
Relayer is my favorite album by Yes. Time and a Word is more in the style of the first album by Yes. The real change occurred when Steve Howe joined the group on guitar for The Yes Album. This was the beginning of Yes as we know it. My first taste of Yes was in art class, my senior year in high school. The teacher, Dr. Tsutikawa played music and let us do whatever we pleased. He had 2 records, The Yes Album and Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard. Both albums opened my ears in different ways. BTW., Bill Bruford left yes after Close to the Edge to play with Fripp and the mighty King Crimson. Luckily for him he missed the ordeal that must have been the recording of Tales... Somehow, by mere happenstance, I was in London in August of 1969. I was only 14 years old and ended up at the Marquee, thanks to my older cousin, for a show by the original King Crimson. Mind blown.
I use The Yes Album whenever I install a new cartridge. The song I See All Good People If there is no sibilance on "See" and "Satisfied" my cartridge is perfectly calibrated.
That’s interesting about the sibilance. As an absolute sibilance hater I’ve never, ever heard sibilance on that particular track. Played it again just to make sure, both original and the SW remix on the box set. Perfect. As an aside how do you ensure your cartridge is set just so to banish those sibilance blues? Set VTA so the arm is slightly off parallel?
@@cybot6 As much as I want my tonearm parallel to the record I take a jewelers magnifying glass and look at the stylus itself. Want it almost straight up and down, very slightly, about five degrees inward. Again. I use a jewelers glass to check.
Thanks for clearing that up. I’m a believer too that the arm itself should be as close to parallel as possible. In relation to the stylus itself you’re talking about adjusting azimuth to allow for manufacturing inconsistencies.
@@cybot6 yes. I care more about the azimuth than than the level of the tonearm although they are fairly pretty much the same. But azimuth first. Tonearm second.
I am a Progressive Rock fan, from the Moody Blues to YES, Genesis, ELP, Triumvirat, Gentle Giant etc. I can remember going to concert of all of the bands I just named, more than once. The second album by YES is Time and a Word, and you really need to seek it out and give it a listen. Tony Kaye was the original keyboard player and he played the Hammond organ to perfection on the first three albums. The YES Album is also my all time favourite album by YES. The song "I've Seen All Good People" has a direct link to John Lennon as the band sings "all we are saying, is give peace a chance" towards the end of the song. The drummer who replaced Bill Bruford was Alan White who was a member of the Plastic Ono Band, but on the Yes Album Bruford was still their drummer. Tales has always received negative responses from music critics, and it was a bit over-blown, but the music was beautiful. YES was outstanding on that tour. Relayer was a harsh album to get into when it was released, and Patrick Moraz had a different sound than Rick Wakeman, Moraz had a Jazzier sound. Once I listened to Relayer a few times, then went to see them on that tour I actually preferred his sound more than Wakeman's. When Moraz joined the Moody Blues after leaving YES, I loved his work with the Moody Blues. I fellow music fan and vinyl collector who is not enamoured with Progressive Rock told me that most Prog fans are similar to the people who love the Lord Of The Rings movies. I chuckled when he told me that comparison, it's a very good analogy. p.s. I love Lord of the Rings.
I just recently bought Topographic Oceans and I love it! haha. Oddly enough I had been searching for the Topographic Drama 3-album set and it was the live versions of some of the TO album that turned me onto the tunes. The live versions were sung by Jon Davison so I just had to get the Anderson version!. That is the beauty of music, as it's in the "ear"of the beholder! I will echo what some others said about the AP 45 RPM The Yes Album, the best reissue from that series to date, mind-blowing sound! My Relayer from Rhino just shipped so I look forward to it. Cheers
Nice mention, Dusty Street, yeah, she came to LA in the early 90's on KLSX, loved listening to her, and even talked to her a few times. Plus she was great at deflating Jim Ladd who came on before her, lol.
I think that Tales from Topographic Oceans (and not Tales of a TO) is the summit of Yes, but also must admit that is a deadend, and the same can be said about the jazzy feel of Relayer. Did those albums kill Prog? Not at all, just pushed the boundaries further.
The only audible improvement (other than the supposed bump in overall resolution) that 45-rpm can provide is that you can spread the music out over more sides, thereby avoiding IGD in the process. But I agree with you that for the most part, 45s are not worth the hassle.
Great video Mazzy! Yes Songs & Topographic Oceans pretty much killed the band for me as well but I did enjoy their later releases. Tormato & parts of Close to the Edge are great as well. Cheers from a fellow Boomer down here in SoCal! So hot 🥵 lately! Stay cool 😎 ✌️
Totally agree with your take on 45’s. For example Santana Abraxas splits the segue between Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va. I’m a sides guy and 45’s take that away. As for Gates of Delirium, it was often referred to as War and Peace set to music. Also, although it came out in late’74, it’s more associated with 75 when they toured and it gained traction. The show that summer at the Cow Palace was one of the best Yes shows I’ve seen.
I have to strongly disagree with your opinion about Tales From Topographic Oceans. It has some moments that are not perfection but if you are able to sit with it the music really delivers. I totally respect your opinion but I would give it another try and experience it for what it is. A very ambitious project that falls short in moments but other segments are I think some of their best. Much respect, good video.
Thank you very much for another interesting video though I must say it is really difficult for me to understand how one can actually love yes music and unabashedly declare TFTO as something that you cannot stand. As mentioned on another entry, sides one and two of this album are probably the most beautiful music the band has ever done. Side three is arguably skippable but side four is a wonderful closing.
"90125" is the Atlantic catalog number of the album. It's actually quite astonishing how Yes reinvented themselves with this record thanks to Trevor Horn. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" was played on many Black/Urban radio stations in the US and entered the Billboard R&B charts as well as the Dance charts! Horn later recycled several of the Fairlight samples made for "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" on some of the Art Of Noise singles.
Hey Mazzy...well I have to say I didn't think you would have a lot to say about Relayer. I was wrong as I really enjoyed your thoughts on the "limited" reissue Gates of Delirium is a Yes epic!! I am surprised you never heard Time and a Word. A favorite of mine is the album Going for the One. You didn't bring that up and went from Relayer to 90125 but I would think you did listen to the albums in between at some point. I enjoyed your Wonderous Stories ;) cheers.
There were always guys in the 1980's dorm room that blasted the Doors, the Dead, Yes, or Hendrix, Rush, Journey. We played the Clash and Talking Heads and Pretenders, lol.
The Yes Album and Drama are my favorites. My favorite song of theirs is “Starship Troopers.” It is rumored that members of Yes are anonymously all over the ABC album Lexicon of Love and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
I picked up the Yes BBC Recordings CDs the other day. There is a song on there called "For Everyone" that is an early version of "Starship Trooper". My favorite yes track is "Gates of Delirium", by the way. I enjoyed this video. Thanks.
I'm with you on TFTO. It's a meandering snoozefest. You should really really 10x really check out "Drama" (1980). It's when Horn and Downes from the Buggles took over for Anderson and Wakeman. It's great!
You should try Yes “Drama”, the album before 90125. This album has Trevor Horn on vocals (who would produce 90125) with Geoff Downes in keyboards. They were the Buggles-Video killed The Radio Star! Little harder edge, especially for Yes, but really showcases Steve Howe’s guitar playing. Kevin Gray also did a remaster for this and can be had for about $25.
I saw yes in 1984 in Toronto. I think my fav album is Drama. Would love to see a Rhino Hi-Fi release of it. 😉 I can't seem to get behind Relayer. Might have to see if I can give it another try.
Both that album and even Tales have their moments...thats coming from another weirdo. So cool that you got the radio premier of their first album which is an underrated gem. Ill try to maintain a sense of humor...
Interesting alternate view of Yes. Still think you’re missing out on something not liking Tales from topographic oceans or Close to the edge. Nice review ❤
Trevor Horn was the lead singer on "Drama" 1980. A very underrated album at the time. He comes back to Yes to produce "90125" 1983 (The title is the albums catalog number). I can listen to the album, only if I skip "Owner of a Lonely Heart" I can't stand that song anymore.
Not one of my favorite groups but I did love and still one of my favorite groups .... the mahavishnu orchestra....I believe Yes members were fans of Mclaughlin.....when I was spinning in the clubs I had to buy the yes 12-inch Owner of a Lonely Heart
I had a Porky's prime cut first edition of Relayer that I bought on release in '74 (all of $7.98 for the UK import), but I foolishly purged it during a move somewhere along the way. I'm looking forward to hearing the Kevin Gray cut. I wish they'd kept the matte finish for the cover art, but this is a series after all. IMO the first two Yes albums are overlooked gems, and while Steve Howe's style was better suited to where the band's sound was headed from Fragile onward I actually preferred Peter Banks' guitar sound.
The old Fisherman’s Wharf/Columbus Tower Records! Oh god, the memories! Whenever I drove down from Portland, that was always one of my first destinations in the city. I’ll always remember the time I was looking through the prerecorded cassettes and this guy with a huge head came up next to me and started to look as well. I turned my head toward him because he was a little close. It was Robin Williams. I will ALWAYS regret not saying anything. Bummer. As far as Yes goes, Close to the Edge was my first. I bought it and Houses of the Holy at the same time, at the old Longhair Music on the edge of the Park Blocks. The tracks were a bit longish for a high school kid, but I still loved it. The Zeppelin album was my go-to however. Those were the days, huh?
Yes relayer 1974 original vinyl press has great sound quality very clean the new 50th anniversary almost sounds the same as the original press but a little bit brighter
There's a box of Yes albums that have been remixes by Steve Wilson. Don't know if they're worth checking out but some (I guess) would consider them audiophile releases.
@@mazzysmusic Sadly i heard you tell us. But weird, i used to struggle with"Relayer" probably in the same vein as you with Topographic (Too Much going on, ect) - but i never gave up listening to it ;) Peace
Speaking of prog, today, 7/20/2024 is the 40th anniversary of Robert Fripp playing his Frippertronics at Capers Corner, a record store in Kansas. He just sat in a chair and played, it was so revolutionary, and I didn't fully realize it at the time. I enjoyed your discussion on Yes, but to be totally honest, I never really cared for Yes as I always thought of them as a cheap King Crimson. Obviously, that is only my opinion, as flawed as it can be.
Mazzy you need to at least try Time And A Word…I love that album. They do a version of the Stephen Stills song Everydays which I think is just sublime.
King crimson is by far my favorite but Yes has some great albums including close to the edge. Drama and 90125 are 2 of my favorites for sure along with the yes album fragile and close to the edge. Tales I don’t hate it like you do but it’s the last one I would reach for of my collection. Order the new one because that is one I enjoy.
Relayer came out at the same time as Grand Funk's All the Girls in the World Beware. I was a huge Yes fan and loathed Grand Funk. Still, when the manager of the local record store held up both covers and asked me which band had class and which band had none, I asked him which band had a sense of humor and which had none.
You left out "Close to the Edge"! The "Yes" LP, "Fragile", "Close to the Edge". Magnificent. "Relayer", excellent. Sort of agree about "Tales". Just tooooooo much.
Krimson Played the marin civic during the thrack era ..Last time with B.B. as far as I know.The first two Yes album import verison differ from the atlantic american releases
My interest is piqued. I’ve never heard a decent pressing or version of this record. I assumed the flaws were in the original multitracks, which were tracked using the board from their live shows. The studio board for Chris Squire’s brand new home studio wasn’t ready yet. Best I’ve heard to date is the Steve Wilson remix, on the 5 album vinyl set.
Thanks Mazzy. From an early YES fan and man of your vintage (age). my first YES was fragile in 1971 on eight track tape which I wore out playing in my car.
Time and a Word, the 2nd album .. It's a wonderful piece of work and well worth 40 minutes of your time.
@@smcq7863 They sounded a bit punky in those days 😁
It lasts 39 minutes, and if you like the debut you will love this too, get it Mazzy !!!!!!!!!!
@@Z-eb Aye. Typo first time out. Meant to type 40 not 70 .. Nice to know someone's paying attention 👍🏼
Enjoyed that! The band who never know when to stop. I hear exactly what you’re saying about Topographic Oceans. Took me nearly 40 years to finally get it! The original is a thing of beauty sonically and my favourite sleeve along with Relayer. Just listen to the harmonies and it all starts to make sense. Ignore the lyrics and you’re halfway there. Sincere apologies to a student of mine who tried his best to get me on the right track of Topo! I was completely wrong with dismissing the album as too much cramming. Better late than never 😊
Mazzy, you should really get the AP 75th of The Yes Album. Outstanding even up against the UK first press. Still awaiting the Rhino Relayer.
@@classicrock7890 not going the 45 route.
Some of those Altantic 45's are now the definitive, best sounding pressings though.. You're really missing out! 🤷
@@R3TR0R4V3 definitive at 45 maybe, but not definitive as the artist originally intended. I have a bunch of 45s that do sound excellent, however sometimes they can sound too clinical where you hear more than you really should hear, and introduce the imperfections in the recording that we weren’t supposed to hear. Too much
I’ll always choose a good 33 first, even if the 45 is technically better.
@@mazzysmusicThe Yes Album 75 Atlantic is amazing. Sounds so musical open, not clinical at all.
Time and a word is my favorite. The second covers Richie Havens no opportunity, necessary, and Stephen Stills, Buffalo Springfield song everydays.
I bought this in the UK the day it came out - I loved Topographic Oceans and had to have the follow up. This is a brilliant album and marks the end of a four studio album run that for me was Yes at their best.
I have ordered a few of the Atlantic 75 series albums including Fragile and after much angst (the title track spans both sides of disc 1) I added Close to the Edge to the list - they really are that that good from a sonic perspective (based on my comparisons of Genesis and Bad Company that are already available). By the way the cost in the UK is £75 so quite a hike from the US price of $60. I think I'll also invest in a new 33 rpm version of Close to the Edge - I'm not sure which version though.
strange take on Yessongs. Not sure how a live concert album that is limited to songs from Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album is somehow "bloated." All the songs are played at a faster tempo than the studio versions. It was a conscious choice they made to add energy to their concerts. Allan White played on all but one or two of the songs on Yessongs.
Huge Yes fan here but…it was because of my 6th grade teacher who knew I loved music …her husband was a dj at my favorite rock AM station at the time. One day she brought a copy of Tales From Topographic Oceans. And I stared at the cover forever it seems. And then she played a couple of songs on one of those school records players. And I fell in love with Yes.
I’m not a massive fan of Yes. But I love Relayer! To my ears it comes across more like fusion.
@@kevintynan796 Exactly. They were big fans of Return to Forever! If they would've omitted John Anderson vocals, it would be fantastic.
Relayer is Yes' most out there album, IMHO. Patrick Moraz is a first chair pianist. His solo album 'The Story Of I' is similarly mind boggling.
Thank you Mazzy, you are the voice we need right now!
Ha😎✌🏼
YES fan since the eighties. Relayer has always been one of my favorites, especially the artwork. Shame Rhino HiFi didn't keep the original label art too. One of the best custom labels ever. All that said, I have a mint OG, so I don't need this, but I'm glad it exists.
I agree. I don’t know why they change the label design on these hi-fi versions. The original orange label with the snake is iconic!
Norman, no Close To The Edge?
Next year.
Hey Mazzy! I really like your videos. On music in general, on certain records, your travels, etc. We all love The Beatles, Kinks, Velvet Underground, Hendrix and so on, and all the great jazz artists/albums, but it's extra nice to hear a person who loves music generally in that way, talk about prog rock. It shows that prog rock is not a genre for an exclusive few who has no time for "simpler" music. It's the MUSIC, nincompoops! 😉
Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Focus, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd, Van Der Graaf Generator, U.K., etc, etc, are all great great prog bands, but the pinnacle of the genre is Genesis. Are you saying that you missed them when you got in to Yes, King Crimson, ELP?
A side question: Have you listened to Prefab Sprout? Love to hear you talk about them.
A second side question: Which are your favorite albums of Return To Forever? (that might be a subject for a video ;-)
Cheers from Sweden!
I never listened to any prog until I arrived in Berlin, Germany in ‘72. Next thing I knew, I was at an Emerson, Lake & Palmer concert. Same buddy then turned me on to Yes via Fragile. It was alright, but never my thing. I was digging the Blues and Marvin Gaye and still lost in Blues. 🎸🎶
One of the first concerts I attended was Yes at The Hollywood Bowl in summer of 76 supporting this album with Ace opening. Still have the program.
I saw Yes that year too, and Joe Walsh, Ace, and Michael Stanley opened.
Thanks for the shout out Mazzy!
Loved your essay. Nicely done ✌🏼
You should try Close to the Edge again. Whenever the prog critics rank albums, it’s usually ranked as the first or second greatest prog album (usually trading places with Court of the Crimson King) as well as the best Yes album. It’s a lot like Relayer in format, but a little more tuneful and rocking in places. And it has Bruford and Wakeman.
Love the art, that guy has done beautiful covers. Ossibissa (sp) comes to mind.
As a huge Yes fan, I think you shared an understandable point of view. I see what you mean about The Yes Album. I'm glad you hung in there for Relayer. You ought to give Time and a Word a listen and definitely Drama from 1980. Of tge newer stuff go with Magnification and stop there.
If I was listening to Tales of Topographic Oceans in a record store, as you once did Mazz, I'd probably not be able to get into it either, but with recreational stuff and being in the mood for a meditative like musical experience, a very satisfying album for me personally.
Tales From Topographic Oceans is the most melodic album YES ever did. Side 1 - 2 and 4. My no. 1. Turn off the lights lay down and dream away.
What do you do ? Skip The Ancient, or continuously try to appreciate it 😄
@@paulbrookes413I think he left out The Ancient because he was pointing out how a majority of the album is so melodic, yet the Ancient concerns itself more with rhythm and is more chaotic.
With four side-long pieces based on Hindu Shashtric scriptures, it’s got to be dense and impenetrable, right? Wrong: Most of "Tales From Topographic Oceans" is as gorgeously melodic as anything Yes ever did, and the band charges hard, newly fortified by drummer Alan White. To name just one moment, Rick Wakeman’s climactic synth solo on “The Revealing Science of God” is positively celestial. - uDiscover Music's 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums Of All Time
Liked what Moraz brought to Relayer. Magnificent soundscapes! Awaiting my copy with bated breath;-)
Best band ever!!!!!!❤❤❤
Good band
hey mazzy..i completely agree about the relayer album cover..the best of roger dean's output...
stay well my friend..
peace..rocky
Hi Mazzy - I love prog, and I love YES. Think what you will of "Tales ...." - personally I don't mind it, I also have the 3LP set Yes songs again I think its pretty good. People hate ELP - I love them, saw them in concert in 1970 - sensational, superb musicians, great songs. As far as all these different LP versions / cuts / mixes / remasters go - its all very interesting to me, but I really dont give a shit lolol. "Its the music stupid" and WHAT YOU DONT KNOW YOU NEVER MISS !! I just love the music - end of story. Love your videos. Cheers Doug (from down under)
Also a more song based form of 'prog' is the UK band Caravan. If you don't know them check them out. Specially their second album 'If I could do it all over again I'd do it over you".
Well done that man! 😃 Greetings from the UK with a new government, lets hope the Democrats can return to power in the US. Great to see Yes getting some time from you. I have Relayer on CD and The gates of Delirium is epic, however. I think their best album is Close to the Edge which most prog afficiandos consider to be the greatest prog album ever. Keep up the good work. 👍
Thank you ✌🏼
Thank you for calling it like it is: "Tales" is just a disaster. As you, I tried to get through it, but I just can't. However, I enjoy "Relayer." I love the monochrome album cover as well. This is timely because I saw yesterday that Rhino had just released their HiFi edition, and I ordered it immediately since I don't have a good copy of it. After watching your video, I'm excited to listen to it when it arrives. Thank you.
You're wrong.
The fact that you don’t like it doesn’t make it a disaster, perhaps you should consider why, despite the nay-sayers, so many people who know their music well rate it as the best thing Yes did.
Good Show Mazzy!!!! Being A Big Psych Guy ... " Relayer" Is My Favorite.. Just Fits!!!!
Relayer is my favorite album by Yes. Time and a Word is more in the style of the first album by Yes. The real change occurred when Steve Howe joined the group on guitar for The Yes Album. This was the beginning of Yes as we know it. My first taste of Yes was in art class, my senior year in high school. The teacher, Dr. Tsutikawa played music and let us do whatever we pleased. He had 2 records, The Yes Album and Red Clay by Freddie Hubbard. Both albums opened my ears in different ways.
BTW., Bill Bruford left yes after Close to the Edge to play with Fripp and the mighty King Crimson. Luckily for him he missed the ordeal that must have been the recording of Tales... Somehow, by mere happenstance, I was in London in August of 1969. I was only 14 years old and ended up at the Marquee, thanks to my older cousin, for a show by the original King Crimson. Mind blown.
I use The Yes Album whenever I install a new cartridge. The song
I See All Good People
If there is no sibilance on
"See" and "Satisfied" my cartridge is perfectly calibrated.
That is my reference too for all sources. 😂
That’s interesting about the sibilance. As an absolute sibilance hater I’ve never, ever heard sibilance on that particular track. Played it again just to make sure, both original and the SW remix on the box set. Perfect. As an aside how do you ensure your cartridge is set just so to banish those sibilance blues? Set VTA so the arm is slightly off parallel?
@@cybot6
As much as I want my tonearm parallel to the record I take a jewelers magnifying glass and look at the stylus itself. Want it almost straight up and down, very slightly, about five degrees inward. Again. I use a jewelers glass to check.
Thanks for clearing that up. I’m a believer too that the arm itself should be as close to parallel as possible. In relation to the stylus itself you’re talking about adjusting azimuth to allow for manufacturing inconsistencies.
@@cybot6 yes. I care more about the azimuth than than the level of the tonearm although they are fairly pretty much the same. But azimuth first. Tonearm second.
I am a Progressive Rock fan, from the Moody Blues to YES, Genesis, ELP, Triumvirat, Gentle Giant etc. I can remember going to concert of all of the bands I just named, more than once. The second album by YES is Time and a Word, and you really need to seek it out and give it a listen. Tony Kaye was the original keyboard player and he played the Hammond organ to perfection on the first three albums. The YES Album is also my all time favourite album by YES. The song "I've Seen All Good People" has a direct link to John Lennon as the band sings "all we are saying, is give peace a chance" towards the end of the song. The drummer who replaced Bill Bruford was Alan White who was a member of the Plastic Ono Band, but on the Yes Album Bruford was still their drummer.
Tales has always received negative responses from music critics, and it was a bit over-blown, but the music was beautiful. YES was outstanding on that tour.
Relayer was a harsh album to get into when it was released, and Patrick Moraz had a different sound than Rick Wakeman, Moraz had a Jazzier sound. Once I listened to Relayer a few times, then went to see them on that tour I actually preferred his sound more than Wakeman's. When Moraz joined the Moody Blues after leaving YES, I loved his work with the Moody Blues.
I fellow music fan and vinyl collector who is not enamoured with Progressive Rock told me that most Prog fans are similar to the people who love the Lord Of The Rings movies. I chuckled when he told me that comparison, it's a very good analogy.
p.s. I love Lord of the Rings.
Nicely said 🤠
I just recently bought Topographic Oceans and I love it! haha. Oddly enough I had been searching for the Topographic Drama 3-album set and it was the live versions of some of the TO album that turned me onto the tunes. The live versions were sung by Jon Davison so I just had to get the Anderson version!. That is the beauty of music, as it's in the "ear"of the beholder! I will echo what some others said about the AP 45 RPM The Yes Album, the best reissue from that series to date, mind-blowing sound! My Relayer from Rhino just shipped so I look forward to it. Cheers
Loved that mini-rant about the limited edition obsessives. And the T-shirt.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. - Blake
Harsh. Perfect ✌🏼
Nice mention, Dusty Street, yeah, she came to LA in the early 90's on KLSX, loved listening to her, and even talked to her a few times. Plus she was great at deflating Jim Ladd who came on before her, lol.
I think that Tales from Topographic Oceans (and not Tales of a TO) is the summit of Yes, but also must admit that is a deadend, and the same can be said about the jazzy feel of Relayer. Did those albums kill Prog? Not at all, just pushed the boundaries further.
The only audible improvement (other than the supposed bump in overall resolution) that 45-rpm can provide is that you can spread the music out over more sides, thereby avoiding IGD in the process. But I agree with you that for the most part, 45s are not worth the hassle.
Loved this video Mazzy! Thanks for sharing your perspective which we always have respected. Defiantly learned a few things!🙏🏻❤️🎧#mazzylovesus
Norm your knowledge is impressive! I will be looking through your vids so expect some explosive comments lol 👍
I appreciate that!🤠
@@mazzysmusic you’re welcome Norman ✌️
Great video Mazzy! Yes Songs & Topographic Oceans pretty much killed the band for me as well but I did enjoy their later releases. Tormato & parts of Close to the Edge are great as well. Cheers from a fellow Boomer down here in SoCal! So hot 🥵 lately! Stay cool 😎 ✌️
Totally agree with your take on 45’s. For example Santana Abraxas splits the segue between Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va. I’m a sides guy and 45’s take that away.
As for Gates of Delirium, it was often referred to as War and Peace set to music. Also, although it came out in late’74, it’s more associated with 75 when they toured and it gained traction. The show that summer at the Cow Palace was one of the best Yes shows I’ve seen.
I saw them in 78 when Donovan opened
Tales to the edge........most underrated album.
Pricey, but Priceless 🙂
I have to strongly disagree with your opinion about Tales From Topographic Oceans. It has some moments that are not perfection but if you are able to sit with it the music really delivers. I totally respect your opinion but I would give it another try and experience it for what it is. A very ambitious project that falls short in moments but other segments are I think some of their best. Much respect, good video.
I can handle a few moments. And I realize sone folks do like it 🤡
Thanks Mazzy great video. The Rhino version of Relayer is on it's way ;)
Enjoy it
Thank you very much for another interesting video though I must say it is really difficult for me to understand how one can actually love yes music and unabashedly declare TFTO as something that you cannot stand. As mentioned on another entry, sides one and two of this album are probably the most beautiful music the band has ever done. Side three is arguably skippable but side four is a wonderful closing.
SACD is a nice format for the prog bands. Put 5 or 6 Yes discs on a multidisc player and play them through.
"90125" is the Atlantic catalog number of the album. It's actually quite astonishing how Yes reinvented themselves with this record thanks to Trevor Horn. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" was played on many Black/Urban radio stations in the US and entered the Billboard R&B charts as well as the Dance charts! Horn later recycled several of the Fairlight samples made for "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" on some of the Art Of Noise singles.
Hey Mazzy...well I have to say I didn't think you would have a lot to say about Relayer. I was wrong as I really enjoyed your thoughts on the "limited" reissue Gates of Delirium is a Yes epic!! I am surprised you never heard Time and a Word. A favorite of mine is the album Going for the One. You didn't bring that up and went from Relayer to 90125 but I would think you did listen to the albums in between at some point. I enjoyed your Wonderous Stories ;) cheers.
There were always guys in the 1980's dorm room that blasted the Doors, the Dead, Yes, or Hendrix, Rush, Journey. We played the Clash and Talking Heads and Pretenders, lol.
The Yes Album and Drama are my favorites. My favorite song of theirs is “Starship Troopers.” It is rumored that members of Yes are anonymously all over the ABC album Lexicon of Love and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
🤷🏻♂️😆🤠
I picked up the Yes BBC Recordings CDs the other day. There is a song on there called "For Everyone" that is an early version of "Starship Trooper". My favorite yes track is "Gates of Delirium", by the way. I enjoyed this video. Thanks.
I'm with you on TFTO. It's a meandering snoozefest. You should really really 10x really check out "Drama" (1980). It's when Horn and Downes from the Buggles took over for Anderson and Wakeman. It's great!
I have my original copy with seeds and stems inside the gatefold!
The seeds and stems had fallen out of my copy by the time I got it, but I replaced them.
You should try Yes “Drama”, the album before 90125. This album has Trevor Horn on vocals (who would produce 90125) with Geoff Downes in keyboards. They were the Buggles-Video killed The Radio Star! Little harder edge, especially for Yes, but really showcases Steve Howe’s guitar playing. Kevin Gray also did a remaster for this and can be had for about $25.
Love Yes… the Yes album is my favorite also. What a fantastic sound.
I saw yes in 1984 in Toronto. I think my fav album is Drama. Would love to see a Rhino Hi-Fi release of it. 😉 I can't seem to get behind Relayer. Might have to see if I can give it another try.
Relayer is my Yes (and all prog, for that matter) top 1 by far. They just reached another galaxy with Gates.
I think you’d like the second album, “Time And A Word”…it’s got a nice cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “Everydays”.
I will check it out.
Going for the One - Yes was doing this while punk rock exploded
They got a bit punky with their next album !
Why on earth would anyone buy an album that songs are cut in half??? That baffles me
Both that album and even Tales have their moments...thats coming from another weirdo. So cool that you got the radio premier of their first album which is an underrated gem. Ill try to maintain a sense of humor...
Interesting alternate view of Yes. Still think you’re missing out on something not liking Tales from topographic oceans or Close to the edge. Nice review ❤
Hey, big fan of Tales From Topographic Oceans here. Ah well, each to their own...
Trevor Horn was the lead singer on "Drama" 1980. A very underrated album at the time. He comes back to Yes to produce "90125" 1983 (The title is the albums catalog number). I can listen to the album, only if I skip "Owner of a Lonely Heart" I can't stand that song anymore.
Not one of my favorite groups but I did love and still one of my favorite groups .... the mahavishnu orchestra....I believe Yes members were fans of Mclaughlin.....when I was spinning in the clubs I had to buy the yes 12-inch Owner of a Lonely Heart
I had a Porky's prime cut first edition of Relayer that I bought on release in '74 (all of $7.98 for the UK import), but I foolishly purged it during a move somewhere along the way. I'm looking forward to hearing the Kevin Gray cut. I wish they'd kept the matte finish for the cover art, but this is a series after all. IMO the first two Yes albums are overlooked gems, and while Steve Howe's style was better suited to where the band's sound was headed from Fragile onward I actually preferred Peter Banks' guitar sound.
Alan White also played on Lennon’s Imagine album. Quite a stylistic difference to this album, eh?
Time and a Word is their 2nd LP
Interesting that you skipped right over Close To The Edge.
@@toniputin1096 I no longer have it.
Yeah Close To The Edge was also a favorite of mine.
The EU 2012 pressing cut by CB sounds amazing... They're still cheap & plentiful. Highly recommend picking that one up! 👍
That's an amazing record, number 2 to Relayer.
The debut album by Yes was released in late July 1969.
I love your sarcasm so much...
My first Yes album and probably still my favorite. But Fragile is their best sounding one.
The old Fisherman’s Wharf/Columbus Tower Records! Oh god, the memories! Whenever I drove down from Portland, that was always one of my first destinations in the city. I’ll always remember the time I was looking through the prerecorded cassettes and this guy with a huge head came up next to me and started to look as well. I turned my head toward him because he was a little close. It was Robin Williams. I will ALWAYS regret not saying anything. Bummer. As far as Yes goes, Close to the Edge was my first. I bought it and Houses of the Holy at the same time, at the old Longhair Music on the edge of the Park Blocks. The tracks were a bit longish for a high school kid, but I still loved it. The Zeppelin album was my go-to however. Those were the days, huh?
Yes relayer 1974 original vinyl press has great sound quality very clean the new 50th anniversary almost sounds the same as the original press but a little bit brighter
There's a box of Yes albums that have been remixes by Steve Wilson. Don't know if they're worth checking out but some (I guess) would consider them audiophile releases.
Here’s a question for you, Mazzy: IWas Supertramp (pre-Breakfast in America) a prog band? I always they were a pop band with a sophisticated style.
I’m not a Supertramp fan, but I think they do have some Prog dna mixed in with their pop sensibilities. 🐬
I just love Tales..just spectacular. In its day it was quite popular!
THAT WAS GREAT.MAZZ
Great video Mazzy, Please give Topographic a 2nd chance (Atleast side A+D)
It’s had three strikes already 😵💫
@@mazzysmusic Sadly i heard you tell us. But weird, i used to struggle with"Relayer" probably in the same vein as you with Topographic (Too Much going on, ect) - but i never gave up listening to it ;) Peace
Check out Drama and Close to the Edge :)
Speaking of prog, today, 7/20/2024 is the 40th anniversary of Robert Fripp playing his Frippertronics at Capers Corner, a record store in Kansas. He just sat in a chair and played, it was so revolutionary, and I didn't fully realize it at the time. I enjoyed your discussion on Yes, but to be totally honest, I never really cared for Yes as I always thought of them as a cheap King Crimson. Obviously, that is only my opinion, as flawed as it can be.
Bruford says CTTE is the best album he played on !
I love this album!
Second album
Time and a Word
And it is fantastic!!
My first concert was Yes. August 8,1976.
Listen to Tales in 5.1 surround . It might change your mind about that Classic Yes record
I think k two speakers is still too much for that one. 🤠
WTF!! Close To The Edge, Mazzy!!! Not only Yes’ best album but probably prog’s best album!!!
Prog has many masterpieces !
What is your take on Gentle Giant or NEKTAR?
I like what I e heard but haven’t taken a deep dive 😎
Mazzy you need to at least try Time And A Word…I love that album. They do a version of the Stephen Stills song Everydays which I think is just sublime.
I will
Relayer should've been an instrumental! The closest Yes ever got fusion. They were fans of Return to Forever.
Strange that there's no recollection of Close To The Edge. 🤔
🤷🏻♂️🚀
Six Wives of Henry the XVIII bloated? Blasphemy! Nice vid, Mazzy. Thanks.
so glad a classic prog album done in the rhino high fidelity series! keep em coming!
King crimson is by far my favorite but Yes has some great albums including close to the edge. Drama and 90125 are 2 of my favorites for sure along with the yes album fragile and close to the edge. Tales I don’t hate it like you do but it’s the last one I would reach for of my collection. Order the new one because that is one I enjoy.
Relayer came out at the same time as Grand Funk's All the Girls in the World Beware. I was a huge Yes fan and loathed Grand Funk. Still, when the manager of the local record store held up both covers and asked me which band had class and which band had none, I asked him which band had a sense of humor and which had none.
Hshahahaha. That’s grest. 😆🤡
You left out "Close to the Edge"! The "Yes" LP, "Fragile", "Close to the Edge". Magnificent. "Relayer", excellent. Sort of agree about "Tales". Just tooooooo much.
Prog fans have been traumatized for over 50 years! We get it but we are prickly about it…
Krimson Played the marin civic during the thrack era ..Last time with B.B. as far as I know.The first two Yes album import verison differ from the atlantic american releases
Well said mazi. limited edition means absolutely nothing.
Good Lord, Mazzy - you don't have Close to the Edge? Some say it's the best prog album of all-time.
I don’t 🤷🏻♂️🎸 I’m deprived
My interest is piqued. I’ve never heard a decent pressing or version of this record. I assumed the flaws were in the original multitracks, which were tracked using the board from their live shows. The studio board for Chris Squire’s brand new home studio wasn’t ready yet. Best I’ve heard to date is the Steve Wilson remix, on the 5 album vinyl set.