Top Ten Albums

[Green Knight]

Apologies if someone has done this rather obvious idea before - but how about people post their top ten Yes albums of all time?

I would list mine accordingly:

1. Close to the Edge
2. Going for the One
3. "Keys to Ascension" (musical license! Assuming studio tracks combined as one studio album)
4. Fragile
5. The Yes Album
6. Tales from Topographic Oceans
7. Relayer
8. The Ladder
9. Talk
10. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. (Musical license again! It's close enough to Yes...)

What about the others? Well, it was really tough (Drama just fell in at number 11). I stress there is so little between some of these albums that I had to create a 1-100 scale in my head, in order to split them. Sometimes only 1 point separates two places.

Let us know your own top tens!

:cheers:

[joctavio]

:)
1.-TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC
2.-CLOSE TO THE EDGE
3.-RELAYER
4.-FRAGILE
5.-THE YES ALBUM
6.-GOING FOR THE ONE
7.-THE LADDER
8.-YES
9.-TORMATO
10.-KEYS

TALK MUST NOT BE PLAYED BY YES

REGARDS
OCTAVIO MONTANO
TIJUANA, MEXICO

[1yesfan]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by joctavio
[B]:)

TALK MUST NOT BE PLAYED BY YES



What do you mean by this one>?>? You do not like the album Talk?

[deelovesyes]

Ok this is off the top of my head, and its not easy!!!!!!

1- CTTE
2- TFTO
3-Talk
4-Union
5-The Ladder
6-Keys 1
7-Relayer
8- ABWH
9-Fragile
Keys 2

:cheers:

[talkaboutsending..]

Going for the one
Close to the edge
Big Generator
Drama
Fragile
90125
The Yes Album
Fish out of water
Talk
Union

[gatesofdelirium]

1 Close to the edge
2 Going for the one
3 The Yes album
4 The Ladder
5 Relayer
6 Tales from topographic oceans
7 Keys to ascension (i.e. both parts)
8 Yesshows
9 Talk
10 An evening of Yes music plus... (yes, I know it's in fact ABWH, but to me that means YES)

[Topographic]

1. TFTO
2. CTTE
3. Relayer
4. Fragile
5. ABWH
6. The YES Album
7. Yessongs
8. Keys 2
9. Going for the one
10. The Ladder

[Mike Park]

My Yessentials:

1) Fragile
2) Close to the Edge
3) The Yes Album
4) Yessongs
5) Going for the One
6) Yesterdays
7) Relayer
8) Tales From Topographic Oceans
9) ABWH
10) An Evening of Yes Music Plus

Honorable Mention: Tormato (because it reminds me when I had my Rhodes and playing Release, Release was so fun) and Big Generator (I listen to it so infrequently that LWFAW, ROL and ALL still sound fresh, esp. Alan & Chris).

Tim, you should put this in the polls, to keep track of the consensus YesFanFavorites!

[Alexander]

Interesting--"Going For The One" is on everyone's Top Ten list. Yet it received the least radio play of any Yes album. No hit singles. It's a good sign that Yesfans is judging by artistic merit.;)

[Squire*Fan725]

1. FRAGILE
2. THE YES ALBUM
3. CLOSE TO THE EDGE
4. YESSONGS
5. GOING FOR THE ONE
6. TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS
7. TORMATO
8. KEYS TO ASCENSION 1 & 2 (Both of them tied for this spot)
9. THE LADDER
10. FISH OUT OF WATER (My most favorite solo album.)

And there you have it.

Squire*Fan72571

[Green Knight]

I'm not sure live albums like Yessongs etc really should be counted, in that they simply duplicate songs found elsewhere. Likewise, we shouldn't really include solo albums like FooW! That could be a poll all of its own.

re. the point about GftO above... What about Wonderous Stories? That was one of Yes's biggest ever hits, and at a time when progressive rock was supposed to be dead and buried. (Not that I think Yes are in any way about hit singles. WS is a great song but it's the least great thing on that album. (Which still makes it very great indeed!!).

[1yesfan]

I will put up a poll at the front of this thread tuesday!

[Mike Park]

Ixnay on atthay, GK - it may be your thread, but Yesfans take their Yesmusic personally!:devil:

Yessongs, ABSOLUTELY is included because the numbers like YIND and PC are hardly duplications of studio cuts, they are live performances that take you there LIVE, with the extra added attractions. AND I still think they are the best live covers of those songs that show up on later live albums like Keys and Masterworks. (except for AYAI, which I heard they later regretted).

It's always thrilling to hear something new added esp. the way some of the classics were treated on An Evening of Yes Music Plus, and to see Jon come from the back of the crowd down the rows, singing Time and a Word, segueing into Owner and Teakbois, all acoustic. Having each guy come out on stage one by one was a REAL reunion touch. IMHO this is without a doubt, the best live CTTE I've ever heard.

As for Awaken, here's a quote from My Man Rick:
"The Yes album was finally finished in mid 1977 and called Going For The One. It is in my view one of Yes's best and contains the band's only British hit single, "Wondrous Stories", which got to number seven later that year, and also the piece of music which to me still epitomises everything that Yes music should stand for, "Awaken". [Say Yes, an Autobiography - Rick Wakeman, Hodder & Stoughton 1995]

GFTO definitely re-captured early '70's Yes, and brought Rick back as a member instead of the session player he started out to be on this project.

[Green Knight]

That's a pretty good point, yeah. (And it has to be said that I almost prefer the KEYS version of And You And I to the original album cut, as you can hear those infuriating backing lyrics under 'Coins and crosses' which are almost distorted out of existence on CTTE. & Chris gets out his harmonica too, of course...:)

[talkaboutsending..]

I struggle to listen to the KTA version of AYAI because of the pedal lap steel guitar solo/theme. It is such a highlight of the song and is played in a strangely muted and stilted fashion. Listen to the Yessongs version and it absolutely soars (courtesy of some delay).

[gatesofdelirium]

Alexander, what do you mean "no hit singles from 'Going for the one'"? Have you forgotten that "Woundrous stories" made UK Top Ten?

[siberian khatru]

My favorites:

10) 90125
9) Criminal Record (Rick Wakeman solo, with some
great work by Chris)
8) Drama
7) Close to the Edge
6) Olias of Sunhillow
5) Talk
4) Fish Out of Water
3) Relayer
2) Going for the One
1) Yessongs

I've read the debate about including live albums. Since the tracks on Yessongs feature different arrangements
and lots of jams (YIND, Perpetual Change), I feel it's not the typical "live" album. Also, there were no rules regarding solo albums. Even though they're not "Yes" projects, I've added my three favorite solos.

[Trooper]

Without looking at the other posts, here's my Top 10 (Coming from a musician's point of view):

1. Yessongs. Without a doubt, one of the best Live recordings ever made. While the sound quality is not of "today's" standards, you can't beat this one for the sheer energy, vibe and musicianship. You'll never hear the sound of those Dual Showman's that Howe played through again, giving him a hard edge which you don't hear from him anymore. To this day, my favorite versions of "Starship Trooper", "Yours is no Disgrace", "All Good People.." and "Roundabout" are from this album. This was also my first introduction to Yes, which for me was 1974, so this one has sentimental value.

2. CTTE. "And You And I" is the best Yes song ever....period! Great use of guitar effects of the day on this album.

3. Going For the One. "Awaken"....not much more you can say! Wakeman's perfromance is brilliant. My only complaint about this album is the way it was recorded, too "cave" sounding.

4. KTA Live Tracks. "Siberian Khatru" and "Revealing Science..." are awesome...and well recorded!! It really signaled that Yes was back and were not going to shy away from playing their best music (unlike other bands like Genesis, who ditched what made them famous years ago....but that's another issue entirely...don't get me started!!!!)

5. TFTO. Bombastic...yes. Overdone...perhaps. Putting "the bible to music" (as Jon would say)...well, almost. Terrific music with some legendary Yes-type bits...absolutely!!! An album us "oldtimers' go back to....yep!

6. KTA2 Studio Tracks. Again, another signal saying that they'll also continue to do what they're great at....writing fabulous music! Notice how this seems to happen when Wakeman is in the group?!!?

7. The Ladder. Very well done, both musically and recording-wise. "Homeworld" is definitely deserving to be considered as one of their best songs.

8. Talk. Definitely my favorite Trevor Rabin album. "Walls" and "Endless Dream" are my favorites from this album.

9. Yesterdays. The only reason for this being in my top 10 is the fact that this album gave us "America" (the long version). Steve Howe is awesome on that song!

10. The Yes Album. This is what really got everything started. The best version of "Clap" is on this record.

Honorable Mention:

Drama. WHAT!!!! How could you say that?!!!? No Jon Anderson?! No Rick Wakeman?! Trevor Horn?!!!? O.K., before I completely lose my creditbility here (what's left of it!), here's my reasoning...purely from a musician's point of view. If you're a big Steve Howe or Chris Squire fan, this album has some great playing by these two guys. Energetic, great use of effects, techninally sound. And admit it, "Tempus Fugit" is a great song, while the Bass and Guitar work on "Machine Messiah" is pretty **** good. I know...."better than "Fragile"? (great album, horribly recorded), better than "Relayer"? (if "Sound Chaser" was never put on the album...!!...??), Better than "Tormato"? (At least Anderson and Wakeman are on this one). Yeah, I'm nuts, but give this one a chance, strictly from a Guitar and Bass perspective.

That's enough......

[Mike Park]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Trooper
[
9. Yesterdays. The only reason for this being in my top 10 is the fact that this album gave us "America" (the long version). Steve Howe is awesome on that song!

***
Actually, a cut-down version of the one played in concerts previously. I have a 17:28 live boot from either Berlin or Gothenburg.

mp

[Trooper]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike Park
[B][QUOTE]Originally posted by Trooper
[
9. Yesterdays. The only reason for this being in my top 10 is the fact that this album gave us "America" (the long version). Steve Howe is awesome on that song!

***
Actually, a cut-down version of the one played in concerts previously. I have a 17:28 live boot from either Berlin or Gothenburg.


**********


.....really.....?!!

[Mike Park]

Really.

Also got these gems:

Everydays (Gothenburg 1/24/71) 10:59
Jam with Iron Butterfly (Copenhagen 1/25/71) 10:16
I See You (Sheffield 2/24/69) 21:12

I was reading the other night in Yesstories by Tim Morse that Banks could get really weirded-out on I See You and he doesn't fail here - very avant-garde for '69..

Not the best sound quality but it's history, mon!

[Trooper]

Mike,

That's really cool. History is a GOOD thing, no matter the quality. I have some tape of the imfamous Drama Tour (vocals - OUCH!!). Not great quality, but a chance to hear Stevie play live. I have always preferred "Live" material because it shows how good a band REALLY is (good engineering doesn't hurt either!!!). As I'v stated in other posts, I grew up listening to Yessongs, so I guess that's where it comes from. I'm loving the current Yes policy of releasing "live" material often!! Should this tour go well, we can expect another release I'm sure!

Later....

[Alexander]

Not only is it history but it relays the ambience of exotic locations in Europe.:cool:

[haroldthebarrel]

Well! If all of you are doing then I am going to too!!:p

I will have to list albums by Yes in this order from greatest to worst, but only my top ten are listed:

1. Tales From Topographic Oceans
-Tales is definitely my favorite, but only slightly more than Relayer. I always thought that it was amazing that Yes came out with Tales, Relayer, Fragile and CTTE all within two years! Tales has the most artistic qualities to it as well as some of Yes most advance musicianship. it also is Yes' only true Concept Album, when people refer to Yes being a 'symponic' or 'orchestral' band, they must be referring to this album mostly. It's up there with anything Stravinsky, or any of Yes' other influences' peices in my eyes!

2. Relayer
-Like Tales this was also written at Yes creative Peak. This is the album that people that bash Alan White's playing opposed to Bruford's, don't own. This is the album that got me, my family, and the many friends I've turned to Yes hooked on the group!

3. Close to the Edge
-This one makes it to # 3 just for having Close to the Edge on it. Not to mention it also has the song Siberian Khatru which was later immortalized when recorded for Yesongs! CTTE, is probably the only Epic Prog song of this proportion that ever was/could-still be a radio hit.

4. Fragile
-Great album dspite all it's "hits". I like many, find myself not listening to this one alot because of all the songs that appear on other discs, and on the radio (well I guess only HOTS, LDR, and Roundabout huh?). But the song Southside of the Sky makes this album one of Yes' best alone!
I think We have heaven is one of the coolest things Yes has done too!

5. The Yes Album
- A classic. It contains some of Yes' strongest material, like ST and YIND, and PC!

6. Going for the One
-The Return of Wakeman! Awaken, Turn of the Century, Parralells, GFT1, need I say more?

7. Tormato
-I love this entire album. Every song on it is beautiful. Especially Onward, Madrigal, Circus of Heaven, and Silent wings of freedom! Many don't like this on, where I feel it is of the better albums by Yes.

8. Time and a Word
-Yes with an Orchestra. The song Time and a word. The song The Prophet....Those are enough to buy this now! But the main attraction to this album is Astral Traveller, One of the best songs Yes ever did, and I can't believe they aren't aware of this!!! I happen to have a vinyl copy of this record featuring the old U.K. sleeve design, which I guess is very hard to find, I have only seen one in my life and that is the one I own. $50 bucks used!!! Ridiculous, but worth it!

9. Yes' First album
-I can't deny this one, and I feel it is slightly better than Drama, but Drama and this one could switch places depending on the day!

10. Drama
-Good album, especially Machine Messiah. This is the last album that Yes had Howe-epics like they used to on it. Despite there not being a Jon, Rick, Moraz, or Kaye on this record it sounds more like Yes than when Jon came back in the 80's. The last REAL TRUE Yes-style sounding album.


The rest? :sleeping:

From Best to worst:

7. Keys to Acension Studio tracks.
-Keys, good album, just not all there, it sounds and feels like they tired or as if something isn't right. I might think it is the keyboards, after all this is right about the time Rick REALLY weakend as far as his playing went. I like alot of the songs though! Just don't think it's better than the top 10.

7. Talk
-Good album, listened to it once. Nothing too special though (IMO).

7. Union
- I never got what people didn't like about the songs on this one, well, I can see the Rabin stuff being ridiculed, but songs like Angor Wat and Take the Water to the Mountain, and even 'Holding on' are pretty good songs. At least Yes was still art-rock on some of the songs this album had.

7. The Ladder

7. 90125

7. Open Your Eyes
-I like From the Balcony, Universal Garden, & Somehow, Someday

7. Big Generator

Can anyone tell i have alot of time on my hands this friday afternoon?
:cool: :gok:

[Dragonfly]

First: No Live or Solo Albums. Apples & Oranges. You may as well include compilations with that logic.:WH:

1) Close To The Edge
2) Relayer
3) The Yes Album
4) Tales From Topographic Oceans
5) Tormato
6) Anderson Bruford (Levin) Wakeman Howe
7) Time And A Word
8) 90125
9) Union
10) The Ladder
:yesbird

[Mike Park]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dragonfly
[B]First: No Live or Solo Albums. Apples & Oranges.

More like Apples and .... Apple Pie!

Taking something original and doing wondrous things with it but using the basic ingredient! :mmm: :mmm: :mmm:

mp

[Dragonfly]

Gee, Mike. Maybe you could look at how the analogy of "apples and oranges" is being used here before you type in a completely unrelated response.

How does "apples and apple pie" refer to whether it is appropriate to include live/solo/compiled albums into one's list of Best Albums?:WH:

Did you actaully express an opinion here or do you just have the munchies?

[Trooper]

I think Live albums should be included. Same Band, Same Song, Different Presentation. And sometimes, that presentation can end up sounding better because of the recording, or the energy, or improvements on the musicianship, or arrangement, advances in the technology of the gear (right, keyboard players?!!?)....many factors. Live versions of songs can transform the tune (or the player) into something legendary ("The Fish" comes to mind). My OWN opinion is that there are certain Live version of Yes tunes that I prefer over the studio. If given the choice, I prefer the YesSongs versions of ST, YIND, ...All Good People... over "The Yes Album" because to me, they ROCK better. And, it captures a moment in time where many of us would agree is the defining moment of what Yes are all about. I agree, compilations are nothing more that slapping your favorites onto a disc. But, you can't discount the importance of Live performances. I think in the spirit of this survey, it's what the fans find as their favorites.

[siberian khatru]

Dragonfly: I really can't understand your putdown of Mike.
He, like myself, included solos and live albums in the belief that they were all part of the Yes family of music. You rank on him for
comparing apples to oranges, yet include an ABWH album on your list. That's technically not a "Yes" album, however close it might seem. Lighten up, buddy. Let's try to be nice to each other.

[haroldthebarrel]

Don't tell me you guys are SERIOUSLY fighting over whether or not we should include solo albums. This isn't star trek convention...It's a Yesfans site. SO act cool...:smksml:

[Trooper]

You're right Joe!




".....gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is a War Room....."
Dr. Strangelove....

[Dragonfly]

Siberian khatru: You’re right. That was a bit of a slam. My apologies to Mr. Park. joecampbell has the right idea about acting cool, but I think he’s wrong in one area: Yesfans and their fanaticism are WAY more ridiculous than Trekkers at a convention. (I’m clearly guilty of that!)

I still stand by my feelings that, while live versions of songs may (and often are) superior to their studio counterparts, they shouldn’t be included on this survey. My feelings about rating albums is based on the talent in the band at the time of writing. Personally, I don’t think Awaken – as performed by the writing line-up, studio or live (Keys To Ascension) - comes close to the performances with Trevor Rabin (Union Tour) or Billy Sherwood (The Ladder Tour) but I’m not going to include House Of Blues (or my Union Tour bootleg) as a best album because of it.

I’m hoping to learn what others feel are the best, strongest periods of the band without resorting to labels as simplistic as Trooper and Generator. joecampbell’s is the best contribution to this thread so far in that he put a great deal of thought and detail into his submission.

Last, and certainly not least, I will NEVER agree with anyone who even mildly implies that AB(L)WH is not a Yes album. Where’s Squire? I’ll tell him to his face! I mean no offence (and apologize for none, if taken) but just because Squire won the LEGAL BATTLE over who got to use the name, “Yes”, during that very brief period doesn’t mean that the combination of Jon, Bill, Rick and Steve wasn’t Yes. I know that Bruford himself would have disagreed with me on this one but you must remember, I’m more fanatical than a Trekker! My inclusion of the AB(L)WH album is not like some solo album like Fish Out of Water (even though it did include Bruford and Moraz.) That’s not what Chris was going for. AB(L)WH was, in the end, designed to be a full-fledged Yes album. It certainly sounds more Yeslike than it’s contemporary counter-part, Big Generator.

Which elements of the band’s writing ability mean the most to you? What albums touch(ed) you the most?

:yesbird:

[Trooper]

That's my "simple" story and I'm sticking to it!

Rock On, my friend!

[Mike Park]

:crazy:

[Dragonfly]

No, Mike, that would be "analogy" since "anology" isn’t in the dictionary. Or is that some sort of Beavercreek thing?



Perhaps the administrator of this fine site could add a string asking opinions on the following topic:

Regardless of legal status, are either ABWH or Drama really Yes Albums?:confused:

[Mike Park]

Sorry, 'fly, you're absolutely right, of course. It's the ol' foot in mouth disease again...

Please accept my humble apOligy & let's be pAls!

mp

[haroldthebarrel]

"Regardless of legal status, are either ABWH or Drama really Yes Albums?"

-they are no less Yes albums than the Kansas without Livgren albums were.

-or the King Crimson without Bruford albums were.

-or the other Yes albums without Howe, and Bruford.

of course they are yes albums, there is only ONE essential person missing on each: Drama is missing Jon Anderson and on ABWH they were missing Chris Squire.

Of course the ABWH sounds much more like yes considering Jon's voice is more important to Yes' recognition than any of the other instruments. But then again I listened to drama for months before I finally looked in the album jacket and realized that Jon wasn't on the album. And ABWH sat in my record bin for almost a year before I realized how awesome it was. So I guess I'd say they are both Yes albums, but that doesn't mean they are the best.bncsmls

[Dragonfly]

MPark.

There is no sibling rivalry in the YesFamily.

Peace Bro' (of mine.)

[Mike Park]

:thumbup:

Never be afraid to show your heart!

[deelovesyes]

:silly:

I totally agree that ABWH is a Yes album,
Most people consider Drama Yes because it has Yes on the cover, but like you said each is missing 1 person.

I mean ABWH would also have been called Yes if not for legal reasons.

I do consider it as much Yes as any other album, I mean how many are keyboardist have they gone thru, but still they are Yes.
Don't get me wrong, I love Squire, but I still think ABWH was great.
Its actually the one that started me listening to Yes.

dee:yesbird:

[haroldthebarrel]

"I totally agree that ABWH is a Yes album,
Most people consider Drama Yes because it has Yes on the cover, but like you said each is missing 1 person."

--Think about this though: If Jon Anderson had been on Drama and had been able to add his embelishments and writing tot he album too, it would have been a much better YES album. I could only imagine what Jon would have done to that stuff.

If Chris Squire had been on ABWH, I don't think the album would have been much better, after all, There was already 4 of the most key members of Yes there writing as it was. Drama had Horn and Downes, two people that were great on that record but obviously not great enought to have stuck around, for Kaye came back and Downes was out, and Horn sat at the controls when recording from then on. So you can't really consider Drama a Yes album more than ABWH considering the most important members were on ABWH, while the leftovers did Drama. THe beauty is that Howe can take credit for both!

[deelovesyes]

Actually I myself consider ABWH a better album completely.

Mostly because I am a big Jon fan.
and maybe I don't give Drama a chance , but it is my least favorite of all, and ABWH ranks in my top 10.

I was refering to others I have talked to, most of them consider Drama Yes- but refuse to acknowledge ABWH as Yes.

I think the complete opposite.

dee
bncsmls

[Kevin Deenik]

Here are my top ten:

1: Tales From Topographic Oceans

2: Relayer

3: Close To The Edge

4: Going For The One

5: Fragile

6: The Yes Album

7: The Ladder

8: Keystudio

9: Yes (the first album)

10: Time and a Word


With the exception of the first four, the rest could really be in any order. Except two and three are a toss-up and are pretty much interchangeable. This is kind of hard for me and I know that as soon as I post this, I'll want to go back and change something. But here it is!

Kevin

[hans]

Here's my taste:

1. GOING FOR THE ONE
2. THE YES ALBUM
3. RELAYER
4. BIG GENERATOR
5. 90125
6. CLOSE TO THE EDGE
7. DRAMA
8. FRAGILE
9. KEYS TO ASCENSION VOL. 2
10. TORMATO

Ok, shoot me, but I really love Big Generator. I'm Running, Shoot high aim low, Holy Lamb ... I'm glad that this is part of the Yes history.

[thomashd]

I love them all, including the work by Jon and Vangelis. I cannot rate the albums from one to ten, but the first one I liked and still do is number one, Close to the Edge.

[jcostello]

Top 10, eh? Ooh, that's a tough one. I tend to like live Yes better than studio Yes (that's why I collect bootlegs, although I haven't gotten any new ones in a while). And so, to paraphrase and parody Casey Kasem, "We won't stop 'til we get through the (cosmic) slop!":

1. Yessongs: The sound isn't the greatest, even on the remastered version, but I agree with the oft-cited opinion that CTTE-era Yes was the best, and this was the album that ignited my love for the band.

2. ABWH: An Evening of Yes Music: I count both this and ABWH as Yes albums. OK, they didn't own the name, and there was no Fish, but I'm not going to let the lawyers win, darnit! I liked the live versions of the ABWH tracks, the song selection overall was aces (although I could have gone for a live version of "Quartet"), and I felt Rick was particularly strong on this.

3. Yesshows: Chris has taken his share of abuse about this album, but, by default, its the best live documentation of the post-CTTE, pre-Drama years. I thought, when this was reissued, it should have been expanded into a boxset, with COMPLETE shows instead of fragments from various shows. I don't know if it would have sold as well (how well did the Yes box set sell, anyway? Anyone know?). Flawed, but essential.

4. and 5. (Tie) Keys To Ascension 1&2: I've said it before, I wish the record company had issued the complete SLO as one release, but what can you do? The SLO shows were great (although Jon's vocals on "Onward" sound a little off to me), the studio tracks on both of these left me with mixed emotions (Jon singing about "cracktime" may have been an earnest attempt at social consciousness, but I didn't think it quite worked). I liked "Mind Drive" a lot, but I think Rick's performance on many of the studio tracks was either invisible or weak, so the KTAs get a lower rating, in my scoring system.

6. Close To The Edge: The best of the purely studio releases. Three great compositions, fantastic interplay between the rhythm section, and between Steve and Rick, and phenomenal vocals by Jon. The band has never matched it, and frankly, I don't think any other band has either -- I also think its the best studio album ANY band has ever done, even better than any of the Beatles' late '60s efforts (Revolver through Abbey Road) or the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds," which I also love.

7. The Yes Album: Granted, I think Yes was a better band with Rick Wakeman at the keys than Tony Kaye, and I was tempted to give this spot on this list to Fragile, but there isn't a weak song on this album, and Steve Howe made as great a debut as any guitarist has with a band. Which brings us to ...

8. Fragile: Blame it on Bruford. If it wasn't for "Five Percent Worth Nothing," this would rank higher than The Yes Album. Blame it on Wakeman, too. His playing on the album made for a wonderful debut, like Steve's on The Yes Album, but "Cans and Brahms" is more cute than awe-inspiring. Other than those, the other songs reveal a band that's approaching its peak, which is more impressive considering the newness of the one-two punch of Howe-Wakeman.

9. Going For The One: The "one" is "Awaken," although I like everything about this album. It was a very hard decision to rank it behind The Yes Album and Fragile. I wish Yes would put "Parallels" back in the live set, and I regret that I've never witnessed the live beauty that would be "Turn of the Century."

10. ABWH: This was a tough choice, too, because No. 10 could have easily been either Relayer or Tales, but I went for this. As I mentioned above, I consider it a Yes album, and I wish the public had embraced it more fully in 1989, because I think it was easily the best album of that year. I was more bummed that the ABWH tour didn't come to the Twin Cities. I like all the songs on this album ("Order of the Universe" is probably my favorite), and after being less than impressed by Big Generator (I don't completely hate the album, but it would go at or near the top of my list of Top 10 Worst Yes Albums), this was a worthwhile reunion (and a better union than Union, in my opinion).

[edmajic]

Well first I should, out of respect give my top ten Yes or Yes oriented albums.

1) Going for the One....this made me go back and relisten to yes and I have been hooked ever since
2) Jon Anderson "Song of Seven" the title track alone is awesome
3) The Steve Howe album
4) King Crimson "3 of a perfect pair" Bruford is great here
5) Asia- a different feel for Steve Howe
6) Drama- same as above
7) Jon Anderson "three ships" the best christmas cd ever..until trans-siberian orchestra's Christmas eve disc came out.
8)King Crimson- Lizard...for Jon's singing on "Prince Ruphert Awakes."
9)Close to the Edge- its the pinnicle of Yes
10) The Ladder- because it took me back to Going for the one.



Now my all time favorites....

1) Get yer Ya-Ya's out.....Stones live
2)Grand Funk Live "1970 Atlanta pop"
3)Aerosmith "Rocks"
4)Queen ...their first album
5)going for the one
6)Left Overture Kansas
7) Rush...2112
8)Genesis.....Trick of the tail
9)Sparks...Kimonna my house
10)Stones....Beggars Banquet....The Purest stones Album ever

Honorable mention....Foghat Live...a great live blues rock album by a great jam band..


hmmmmmm? My age is showing...Glad I didn't say Crack the Sky's "songs from the Greenhouse" or I'd really sound old....lol :)

[Mike Park]

Originally posted by edmajic
[
hmmmmmm? My age is showing...Glad I didn't say Crack the Sky's "songs from the Greenhouse" or I'd really sound old....lol :) [/B]

Geez Ed, I gotcha by almost ten years...

[edmajic]

I don't know what I was thinking to leave out Chris Squire's "Fish out of Water." I must have been in a drunk stupor to forget that one. I beg forgiveness....lol
Ed

[jeffbrock]

Ok here goes.

1. Going for the one
2. Close to the Edge
3. Tales
4. The Yes Album
5. Relayer
6. The Ladder
7. Talk
8. Drama
9. KTA
10. Yes songs

[Original_Shifty]

My two cents worth......

1. Close To The Edge
2. Relayer
3. The Yes Album
4. Going For The One
5. Fragile
6. TFTO
7. Drama
8. The Ladder
9. Yes
10. 90125

[Original_Shifty]

Wow, going through my old posts just for the heck of it and this was my fourth post ever on the site, just over 2 years ago. This was a good thread too, so THREAD REVIVAL!.

Now to update my choices at the top 10 Yes Albums.

1. Close To The Edge
2. Relayer
3. Going For The One
4. The Yes Album
5. Magnification
6. Fragile
7. TFTO
8. Tormato
9. Yes
10. The Ladder

[stevie]

1 Yessongs

2 Close To The Edge

3 The Yes album

4 Fragile

5 Going For The One

6 Relayer

7 Tormato

8 Yes

9 Time And A Word

10 90125

[illusion]

1) Tales

2) CTTE

3) Relayer

4) GFTO

5) Drama

6) Yessongs

7) Fragile

8) Magnification

9) Tormato

10) Keys II

[BredYes]

1. Close to the Edge
2. Yessongs
3. The Yes Album
4. Fragile
5. Going for the One
6. Relayer
7. Tales from Topographic Oceans
8. Magnification
9. Talk
10. Keystudio

[bender]

1- CTTE
2- Relayer
3- GFT0
4- The Yes Album
5- Fragile
6- TFTO
7- Tormato
8- Drama
9- Magnification
10- Keys II (or maybe Time and a Word?)

[yessongs72]

1. Tales
2.CTTE
3.Magnification
4.Fragile
5.The Yes Album
5.GFTO
7.Tormato
8.The Ladder
9.Relayer
10.Time And A Word
10.90125

Now My Top Live Albums
1.Symphonic (I ripped the music from the cd,and hope the RIAA don't come get me,lol)I have wondered why they never released it as an album.
2.Yessongs
3.House of Blues
4.Yesshows
5.Keys

[TrevorHowe]

1.Big Generator
2.Close to the edge
3.Fragile
4.Tales From Topographic Oceans
5.Time And A Word
6.90125
7.Drama
8.Going For The One
9.Talk
10.The Yes Album

[jimtim45]

I have been a fan of YES since the early 70's.In my humble opinion Yes have made 6 REAL classic albums.(Not including their Live & solo albums +Keys to Ascension)
1.Close To The Edge

2.Going For The One

3.Yes Album

4.Fragile

5.Tales From......

6.Relayer

The real debate is whether you consider the Trevor Rabin period (90125,BG,Talk,Union) better "YES MUSIC" than their more recent material on Open Your Eyes,The Ladder and Magnification.
I have deliberatley left out Drama and Tormato as I consider both efforts very poor and were Yes in crisis period.
Personaly,I find the Rabin period & the "newer"material to be a mixture good and bad yesmusic.I would love to hear comments

[Roundabob]

My Top Ten:

1. Close To The Edge
2. The Yes Album
3. Fragile
4. Tales From Topographic Oceans
5. Magnification
6. Going For The One
7. Relayer
8. Drama
9. Keys Studio Tracks
10. Time And A Word

[BlueEagle]

10. THE LADDER
9. RELAYER
8. TIME AND A WORD
7. KEYS TO ASCENSION 2
6. TALES
5. YESSONGS
4. FRAGILE
3. CLOSE TO THE EDGE
2. THE YES ALBUM
!. GOING FOR THE ONE (in spite of the hideous cover)

[David Momberg]

My list constantly changes a little, but for now:
1)Going for the One
2)Close To The Edge
3)Fragile
4)Tales from topographic oceans
5)Tormato
6)Yes Album
7)Relayer
8)Keys to Ascension 1 & 2
9)The Ladder
10)90125

just decided not to include live albums, except for Keys-but normally Yessongs and HOB would be up there.


10)

[Tonydess]

1.Tales From Topographic Oceans
2.Relayer
3.Close to the Edge
4.Drama
5.Fragile
6.Keys to Ascension 1
7.Yesshows
8.Magnification
9.Union
10.Yessongs

notables:An Evening With... and
ABWH

[the'YES'kid]

Fragile
Time & a Word
Close to the edge
Going for the one
Union
Drama
ABWH
Magnification
Keysstudio
Tales...

[SallyKhatru]

Well there are a few Cd´s missing in my Yes collection( maybe 4 or 5), but I have my favourites out of those I own.


1. Fragile

2. The Ladder ( this is the one that helplessly adiccted me to Yes music)

3. ABWH ( it´s so positive)

4.Keys To Ascension ( There are lots of the best songs on it)

5. Close To The Edge

6. The Yes Album ( can´t imagine that this is still the beginning of the band)

7.Magnification

8. Tormato ( Don´t Kill The Whale)

9. Talk

10.Yes 1969

We shold make a top 20 poll. I laready have my top ten, but now, where can I write about TFTO, Time And A Word, 90125, Going For The One, that´s not fair:-)

[Emops]

These are my top Yes albums, with my ranking out of 10.

Relayer (10/10)
Close To The Edge (10/10)
Drama (9/10)
Fragile (8.5/10)
The Yes Album (8/10)
Magnification (7.5/10)
The Ladder (7/10)
90125 (7/10)
Keys To Ascension I&II- I consider them one album (7/10)
Going For The One (6/10)
Tales From Topographic Oceans (5.5/10)
Tormato (5/10)
Union (1/10)

Live:
Yesshows (9/10)
Yessongs (8/10)
House Of Yes (7.5/10)
Keys To Ascension I&II- live cuts (7.5/10)

The rest of the albums I don't own.

[Faceintheplace]

Magnification
Big Generator
Yes
Going for the One
Keys to Ascension studio material
The Yes Album
Relayer
Drama
Tales From Topographic Oceans
Close to the Edge

favorite official live album:
Yessongs

favorite compilation:
Yesyears

[gleeman]

1. Relayer
2. Relayer
3. Relayer
4. Relayer
5. Relayer
6. Relayer
7. Relayer
8. Relayer
9. Relayer
10. Relayer

.......the ONLY Yes album for me!

[Koko]

Originally posted by Alexander
Interesting--"Going For The One" is on everyone's Top Ten list. Yet it received the least radio play of any Yes album. No hit singles. It's a good sign that Yesfans is judging by artistic merit.;)

Actually "Going for the One" had two tracks released (in the UK as singles)
Wonderous Sttories - which reached Number 7
and Parallels - which reached number 23 (I think..or it might have been 32!..??)

Koko.

[Mr. Holland]

I don't know how, but somehow I missed this thread earlier, but here's my top 10 (studio albums)

1. CTTE
2. Fragile
3. TYA
4. Talk
5. GFTO
6. Magnification
7. the Ladder
8. 90125
9. Tormato
10. Relayer

[eddie]

THE YES ALBUM
GTTE
FRAGILE
RELAYER
GOING FOR THE ONE
90125
TORMATO
MAGNIFICATION
THE LADDER
LIVE FROM THE HOUSE OF BLUES

[jeffbrock]

1. Going for the one
2. CTTE
3. The Yes Album
4. Tales
5. Time and a Word
6. Union
7. Magnification
8. Talk
9. Relayer
10. Drama

[miked]

1. Going for the One
2. Close to the edge
3. Relayer
4. Tales from Topographic Oceans
5. Fragile
6. Drama
7. Talk
8. 90125
9. Big Generator
10. Magnification

That was difficult...have left off `live albums` - Agree that `Yessongs` is one of the great live albums of all time - also love both `Keys to Ascension` albums. I also have `Yesshows` on vinyl (doesnt sound that great although the musicianship is first class).

[kvsawilson]

It's interesting to see everybody's rankings. Haven't seen one that would match mine, so here they are.

1) CTTE
2) Relayer
3) The Yes Album
4) Tales
5) Fragile
6) Magnification
7) GFTO
8) ABWH
9) Keystudio
10) The Ladder

For me, I consider all these excellent albums that I like more than most albums by many other bands that I consider myself a fan of, and this is why I consider Yes to be so great. There is no other band/artist that I could list 10 albums that I consider to be this good.

[Winston TK]

This is truly a great thread. Subjective as hell, and that's the way it should be! Some excellent lists. The following are my 10 personal faves:

1. The Yes Album
2. 90125
3. Close To The Edge
4. Drama
5. Going For The One
6. Fragile
7. Magnification
8. Yes
9. Talk
10. Tormato

I find it interesting how very few people have included the band's debut, "Yes", in their lists. I still find this to be a wonderful album, with a few lilting and beguiling tunes. Most find this record to be a bit too naive and flowery, but some of the classic elements that would become solidified soon thereafter were definitely there.

I'm also pleased to see how many of you have included "Drama". This is still a very strong Yes entry, in my opinion. The first time I heard "Into The Lens" on the radio, I was totally blown away. I didn't even realize this was Yes at first. Moments like that are always a treat for a fan. This album was the most slickly produced effort to date, with a much more powerful direction in songwriting. And, it was the first time that Mr. Squire would relinquish bass playing duties on a record. Trevor Horn's tone and playing on "Run Through The Light" are spectacular!

But, for me, "The Yes Album" is still the one that really started it all for me. I borrowed my sister's copy and my life totally changed. The songs, the album cover, the floating head -- it all sucked me into a brave new world. I finally returned it to her many years later when I completed my own vinyl collection. "Starship Trooper" blew me away. And still does.

--Winston TK

[CybrKhatru]

..because it changes so often. But for now, here goes:

1) Close to the Edge
2) Going for the One
3) The Yes Album
4) Tales from Topographic Oceans
5) Relayer
6) Talk
7) 90125
8) Fragile
9) ABWH
10) Magnification


---Matt