Tales: Which is your favorite movement?

[Scheming Demon]

And I do think they can be considered to be "movements". Anyway, mine is "The Remembering", even if that puts me in the minority...........

Hey.......how do I post a poll, anyway? LoL!

[RobAdams]

I think this is a tough one, since all 4 parts are essential to me. If I were to arrange them in my order of favorite to least favorite parts :

1 Ritual
2 The Remembering
3 The Revealing Science Of God
4 The Ancient

[PO]

This is a tough one. It's like choosing between your left or right eyeball. I find them inseparable, yet they each stand on their own.

But, here is the order in which I like to hear them.

1 - Ther Revealing
2 - The Remembering
3 - The Ancient
4 - Ritual

oh, I see what I just did ...

[illusion]

1) The Ancient
2) Revealing
3) Ritual

I don't like The Remembering.

[Earl Grey]

'The Revealing' is my favorite. But there are SO many sublime moments. I couldn't live without 'Leaves Of Green'. And 'Ritual' is one of the most amazing things I've ever heard in my entire life.

Still... I have such great memories of hearing RSOG live last year: so in a pinch I would choose The Revealing: but it's a difficult choice! Like picking a favorite child...

:yesbird:

[tardistraveler]

For me, it's always been Ritual. Such a stirring finish to the four movements!

But, I love them all, and rarely listen to one out of context. I will play all four, in order, for maximum impact!

[BrianD]

A hard one but the order of the sides for me - today, maybe not tomorrow, is

Ritual
Ancient
RVSOG
Remembering

The Remembering has long been my least favourite though there are some very stirring sections, especially the conclusion.

[electricfreedom]

I would have to say the Remembering is my favorite movement. I used to have a weird way of meditating to that album. I was probably doing it wrong but it went like this and this was before I had the cd version of it (I owned the lp of it first): I would have my blacklight on, turn on the strobe light at a medium speed. I would put on The Remembering to meditate to. Jump onto my bed, put my self in indian style position, and close my eyes for the entire song. I would see very weird and surrealistic images. The same would happen for the Ancient. That album has helped through my tough times as a teenager. But it's the Remembering that's my favorite movement. However, I love the entire song (I consider it a very long piece of music, like an orchestral piece).

High the Memory!

[Dances w/PURPLE]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by electricfreedom
I would have to say the Remembering is my favorite movement. I used to have a weird way of meditating to that album. I was probably doing it wrong but it went like this and this was before I had the cd version of it (I owned the lp of it first): I would have my blacklight on, turn on the strobe light at a medium speed. I would put on The Remembering to meditate to. Jump onto my bed, put my self in indian style position, and close my eyes for the entire song. I would see very weird and surrealistic images. The same would happen for the Ancient. That album has helped through my tough times as a teenager. But it's the Remembering that's my favorite movement. However, I love the entire song (I consider it a very long piece of music, like an orchestral piece).

>>>
Here is your first clue electric:
High
the Memory! [/QUOT

And all you had on that pizza was mushrooms? Hmmmm.

(ha! just kidding) Like the blacklight idea but now I prefer candles.

[Martin Riley]

My favourite bit is the 80 minutes between the start of Side 1 and the end of Side 4.

[Kevin Still]

I can't believe I picked the Ancient but in my heart of hearts I guess it is my pick. I alway feel exhausted after that one. Steve's guitar work is like a boot camp work out.

[yes_angel]

My heart is with RSOG,,,moment moment moment momenttttttt

[Jackaranda]

I voted for Revealing, but it's almost a 3 way tie, save for The Ancient.

Still, I'd love to see them record the whole thing live....

[Faceintheplace]

I love all four movenments of this work, but my favorites are in this order:

Ritual
The Revealing Science....
The Ancient
The Remebering

[Scheming Demon]

electricfreedom,

Looks as if you and I are in the vast minority!

[electricfreedom]

Yeah, I guess that does. But I don't care. I still love The Remembering.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Originally posted by Kevin Still
Steve's guitar work is like a boot camp work out.

[Gato]

Originally posted by Martin Riley
My favourite bit is the 80 minutes between the start of Side 1 and the end of Side 4.

I wouldn't have been able to find better words to express my feelings, Martin!

Really, I've been thinking about this for days and simply cannot choose one among the rest - they're all soooo essential to me...

I love their performance of Ritual in Live at Queen's Park, with those lines from -if memory serves me- The Remembering inserted at the beginning of it.
Gotta find the time to watch that tape again soon.

[Sonoacustico]

The Ancient is my choice....
I think that one could work well musically in RELAYER, can you imagine Patrick playing that????? uhhhhhh

;-)

take care!!

Claudio

[ronsalehnasir]

I love them all, but I have to say that the opening excerpts from The Revealing are most mesmerizing and spellbinding. This poetic prelude hypnotizes as much as it enchants the mind and the senses, and it summarizes all of creation and world becoming in a few short stanzas.

[BruceE]

O.K. Here's my story. When I first heard "Tales" I thought,"How's this going to get played on the radio"? When I listen to The Remembering,I feel I get a sence of what Topographic is all about. You all know when ever Chris talks about performing live, and the bits people "Rave" about. Chris always comments on the strength of "Remembering". And how he's really proud of what he played on that track. I heard Remembering played live in "Rehersals" for the "1976"Tour. When Patrick was still the "keyboard wizzard". Quite frankly, it did not fit in with the flow of the set. But it was played amazingly well. Patrick did his homework and played the song to perfection. One difference: The ending was reworked to show a stronger finish to the song. It's Chris's favorite track. I totally agree with Mr. Squire....... Thank You.

[Stephen Werry]

I saw Tales in concert at the Miami Highlife Fronton in 72 (?) the month it was released. It sounded like the studio recording. The stage with the "beings" fighting in track 4 was unbelievable..the coolest thing I have ever seen. I just received my first concert video from ebay which was from 1975 in Canada and it had the the same stage show with the beings. Good concert but Wakeman was gone and the group looked a little slow and burned out that nite. Yes fan since since 1969!!

[Erdy1]

Can't vote. Take it as a whole or not at all. I really can't choose a favorite movement.

[zild]

I'll say the Revealing. It's one of my favorite songs I've ever heard.

[Tex]

Actually, I don't really like this album, but Revealing... and Ritual have some great parts. As a whole though, this album is very weak. As Anderson said, "It was an album of high ideals and low energy."

[ranyart]

I think the whole album stands on it's own and each movement is essentially self supportive. I like it all, it's all good in the yeshood.
This is the album that really got me into meditating after checking out Paramahnsa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi" and also Tod Rundgren's "Initiation" album. Also "metaphyisical medititations" by Paramahnsa Yogananda it's a great little book. and some of Herman Hesse's books like "beneath the wheel' and "Siddhartha". I used to get mad when I heard all those terrible reviews that "Tales" used to get in those rags like Rolling commercial Stone. Melody Maker used to get it right though.
"When youv'e tried most everything, and nothings taking you higher, when youv'e come to realize you've been playing with fire"

[yesyadda]

Wow- I'm surprised that "Revealing" beat out "Ritual" so far. Always thought side 4 was the favorite hands-down. It seems to sum up the whole album with it's emotional highs and heart-wrenching romantic lyrics. Nous Sommes du Soleil says it all ....we are of the sun.

[Ascend_Create]

I fell in love with Ritual when I heard it on Yesshows. I loved it when Alan went into that Primal Scream thing with his drums midway through the song. It's like something out of the movie "altered states". Does anyone here remember the tour and if he did a similar drum solo?

[gathernear]

Ah, yes. The mellotrons and the synthesizers are the waves of the ocean. I love this song.

Larry

[leqin]

The whole and nothing but the whole – even if I am quite partial to hearing each piece separately on occasions. My take on Tales, right from the start really, was that it isn't 4 separate pieces of music and instead it is one great big humungous interconnected whole that needs to be heard first to last and any other way is just dipping your foot in a puddle when you could actually dive into the river instead… thinks I must be in a poetic mood or something today. It’s a bit like if you wanted to listen to something classical then you could get out say Aaron Coplands ‘Appalachian Spring’ and that’s sort of like CTTE – one piece of music that can be heard in one go in one place and it doesn’t need any other music to support it. Not so if you wanted to hear Beethoven’s 5th, because there isn’t much point listening to the Andante con moto without hearing it with the other 3 Allegro movements – well that is Tales – without the other 3 pieces the 1 doesn’t make sense… imho and I am biased.

[Mr. Holland]

Defintly RSOG!! Ritual is a good second an in al honesty I don't care much for the other two movements, can't exactly put my finger on it (well the Remembering is a bit of drag in my opnion, I'm missing a rhythm section here, give me more Alan and Chris!), I have never seem to be able to get into them..........RSOG however is one of the great Yes epics!

[Robert Shupe]

I voted for Ritual. I agree in that I pretty much listen to Tales from start to finish now.

If I rated the tunes, it would go as follows:

1) Ritual
2) The Revealing Science Of God (Love the vocals.)
3) The Remembering (It truly does flow like a river doesn't it.)
4) The Ancient (Love Leaves Of Green, and I do agree with the bootcamp analolgy stated earlier.)


I do not know what order I came into Tales. I am certain I had Tormato, Drama, 90125, and Yessongs. Obtaining Yes material became a musical journey to me. A gentleman at a local record store then aided in the help. In addition to Yes, he encouraged me to buy some ELP which I did and eventually he said "You should try this one Tales From Topographic Oceans." I bought a cassette copy as they had no vinyl copy available. It was a tough listen. Four massive movements/pieces and no liner notes or lyrics in the cassette copy to help one along. I mean this was a difficult piece of work. I heard places I loved and had a very poor intitial understanding of the cohesive whole. However, Tales is like a tree seed. It took care with both water and fertilization for this seed to blossum over time and repeated listenings. The tree grew and it is now like a great redwood deeply rooted and firm. It was a long and slow process.

Here I am today and Ritual was the first one I understood. There is a Ritual to life, to love, to intimate relationships, and to global relationships. The power to this one hit strong and the slower parts were sheer poetry and beauty to me. It was the first piece of a grand puzzle and what a puzzle.

The live experience enhanced my love for this song. What an amazing percussion movement. My wife's favorite live Yes moment.

Tales. Overall, I lean towards the Wakeman side of the issue but I love the fact that this work was a process of growth over many years.

I think I have finally got it. Well, maybe not completely but I still love being in the wonderful learning curve of this work and may it's roots grow ever deeper.

To Ritual and our rituals of life.

Cheers
Robert Shupe

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Originally posted by Robert Shupe
It was a tough listen. Four massive movements/pieces and no liner notes or lyrics in the cassette copy to help one along. I mean this was a difficult piece of work. I heard places I loved and had a very poor intitial understanding of the cohesive whole.
However, Tales is like a tree seed. It took care with both water and fertilization for this seed to blossum over time and repeated listenings. The tree grew and it is now like a great redwood deeply rooted and firm. It was a long and slow process.


Tales was a lot of work for me too. The other stuff I had before I got Tales was so easy to digest. [In fact, using that analogy, I imagine myself with vinyl copies of CTTE and Fragile and shoving them into my face like Cookie Monster. Not actually getting the records in my belly, mind you . . . just breaking them across my open mouth and then the broken pieces fly everywhere and land on the floor . . . .] Then I got Tales and listened to it about four hundred times before I felt I was actually even familiar with it. Funny how Tales is like that.

But like you, now I'm good buddies with this great musical redwood that's not only deeply rooted and firm, but also soaking wet from sitting in the ocean all these years.

So, I voted Revealing Science of God. This one stands on its own really well too. And has a great title . . . and of course the chant intro is what really sold me on Tales. I loved the album (and was determined to love all of it!) from the time I heard the first 30 seconds of side 1.

[delerium27]

I wimped out and voted for Revealing, not an easy choice. I also had a bit of trouble really appreciating the whole album at first, but I was hooked from the first moment I put Revealing on.

At this point, after who knows how many repeated listenings over the last 29 years, it stands out to me as a whole as one of the most impressive musical accomplishments by anyone to date.

I too would like to see them do the entire work live. I haven't seen several of the videos that I see you all talking about, but do love the versions of Revealing on KTA and Ritual on Symphonic Live, the only ones I own. I agree with many other posters that prefer their live versions over studio work.

[YYY]

Originally posted by ronsalehnasir
I love them all, but I have to say that the opening excerpts from The Revealing are most mesmerizing and spellbinding. This poetic prelude hypnotizes as much as it enchants the mind and the senses, and it summarizes all of creation and world becoming in a few short stanzas.

I couldn't said it any better....

What's so special about YES and especially Tales......well each side is perfectly written to be a part of one big epic masterpiece. 'RSOG' is the opening, 'Remembering' and 'Ancient' are exactly where they should be and the 'Ritual' is the ultimate finale.

This question always baffles me but if I am forced to choose...it would be RSOG. This piece flows like butter and is the closest 'musical thang' I've had to an outer-body-experience and I've had a few.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

I couldn't resist. Everyone is in Chicago and I'm here all alone and this is what I get to when I play with myself!!!!

[lindil]

The closing minutes of The remembering are some of Yes' best.

[TrevorHowe]

Ritual is some of the best work i've ever heard come out of those guys. The first five minutes in that movement are incredible(but so is the other 75 minutes). I just think how all the members can come together and put such a devine peice together it amazing. All the extra subliminal notes too that no one notices but they still decided to put in there are amazing and beyond belief. Tales is just another example of why Yes is a group of the most talented people in the world.:D

[clash]

I picked "The Ancient".
Tales is my favorite Yes album... my fascination with it has only increased as the years have gone by.
I remember hearing it when I was a child only to be drawn more to the album art than the musical content. I got wiser later!
I remember finally getting it on CD in 1988... so many nights that summer I played it(back in the days when I thought Big Generator was the best album ever made... funny to think of it).
I remember being more than annoyed when Tales was remastered(USA) in the 90's and the last note of the fade-out of "The Ancient" was missing(yes I'm that into that album... and you are probably are too if you are still reading this!). I so can not wait to hear the Rhino remaster.
"The Ancient" has some of my favorite Steve Howe moments(both electric and acoustic), is my favorite studio performance of Alan White and it features that unforgettable 2-note riff.

[SonicDeath10]

revealing science of god. i think it's structured great. the beginning builds amazing tension with the subtle adding of instruments, rick's synths, the different voices. great.

[deelovesyes]

the Remembering is my favorite

then, Revealing, Ritual, The Ancient.

Dee

[spedblavio]

I wouldn't say it's my favorite (yet), but I like The Remembering more and more. I think in some ways it's the most cohesive of the 4, and I like the way it builds.

I think it gets a bad rap, don't know why.

[yarstruly]

I voted for RSOG...Ritual is a very close second....

[yessongs72]

In between songs so I can go to the bathroom,lol!Seriously The Remembering,The Ritual,Revealing Science of God and The Ancient.I also would love to see The Remembering done durring the next tour RSOG and Ritual getting old.

[Timmo]

"The Remembering" is definitely stretched long, but there are some amazing moments...there are interludes of what I call a "guitar rush" with a rising sound, then answered by a very plaintive slow keyboard riff.

And the end is one of the best things Yes has ever done, bar none, up there with the best moments of "Relayer" and "CTTE".

Tim
Venice, CA

[Firebird]

I went for RSOG, but like many others I find it impossible to choose between these four wonderful movements. The closing minutes of The Remembering can make me tingle, even now just thinking about them. The Ancient is the hardest to like, but 30 years on it sounds still so new, avant-garde and powerful. If anyone has read "The Clan of the Cave Bear" by Jean M. Auel, they will understand this track. I think it's about raw tribal gatherings and the tribal memories shared by our ancestors, and how we developed and pushed forward. For me, 'The Sun' that Jon Anderson often sings about is not only the actual Sun, but some kind of Light of Truth, Optimism and 'Forward-development'.

The Ritual also takes me back to Tribal Meetings and the sharing of memories/stories. It is fantastically powerful and I nearly voted for it.

RSOG is the summary track; it kind of states what the whole album is about. I love Rick's keyboard in the final 'What happened...' section and I love the 'They move fast..' plaintive vocal. Beautiful.

Like Bill Bruford after CTTE, I think Rick Wakeman was too close to the recording of this to fully appreciate its beauty and its concept. I wish he would revisit TFTO and listen t it afresh a few times.

[ELLIS]

RSOG is very good but my fave just has to be Ritual. I love the intro and then there's that amazing battle between the bass and drums. Fantastic! And the live version on Yesshows is even better!

[headrott]

I had to go with "The Ancient" as my favorite (looks as though I am in the minority). I love the jaggedness of this song, and especially the arrangement of it. It's a total contrast song (to me). Even more so than "Ritual". In "The Ancient" you have Steve's guitar and Alan's drums on one side and Rick's keyboards on the other. By the way, Rick's keyboards, particularly the mellotron in "The Ancient" are possibly my favorite keyboard moment on Tales. The "daaa-da-da-da-da-da-da" section of the song. Hopefully you know the part I mean. The sound is so majestic and powerful, yet not overly loud or overpowering.

It's tough to choose my favorite becauses there are so many great parts in all of the songs, but I guess "The Ancient" has more of my favorite parts. The arrangement of the song is unique to YES's music I think. I can;t think of another 20 minute YES song that has a similar arrangement to "The Ancient".

By the way, I just listened to the whole album last night from the new Rhino discs and they sound phenominal! Especially the high end!

Greg

[PO]

...The "daaa-da-da-da-da-da-da" section of the song...Greg

Right after "They marched as one with the Earth... eeeeeearth"

That part, right? I love that, too.

I love the part where the vocals are the single words for Sun. You know, Ir Samse, etc. The melodies and chordal things are just resoundingly unique. Great stuff.

I also think the part that comes after
"AKIN Saule" The choir mellotrons and such.

Also, Steve's acoustic section I've always just loved.

There's just so much to The Ancient, "that I just can't believe" people don't hear what I hear. I'm glad someone does.

[PO]

the Remembering is my favorite

I've always loved this entire album, so "side 2" is always included.

The "Don the cap and close your eyes" section is great stuff. "We relive in Seagull's pages" referenced J.L. Seaguls book (don't know if I spelled his name right).

And I just LOVE the section at "Ours entranced we surely carry on ...". What an explosive ending to this song.

In the beginning, "In the days of summer so long" just brings tears to my eyes with the memories of the day. Such a wistful section. I just love it.

[CybrKhatru]

AAAAAAAAGH!!!!


I can't choose one!!!!


:stick:


I seldom listen to just one of the four parts of TFTO...I usually *have* to listen to it in its entirety. This of course relegates it to those "special" times when I actually have 80 minutes of uninterrupted free time, which is not often!

Even though my favorite movement changes all the time, TODAY it's The Remembering. I do wish they'd play it live again!!!!

---Matt

[headrott]

Right after "They marched as one with the Earth... eeeeeearth"

That part, right? I love that, too.

I love the part where the vocals are the single words for Sun. You know, Ir Samse, etc. The melodies and chordal things are just resoundingly unique. Great stuff.

I also think the part that comes after
"AKIN Saule" The choir mellotrons and such.

Also, Steve's acoustic section I've always just loved.

There's just so much to The Ancient, "that I just can't believe" people don't hear what I hear. I'm glad someone does.

Yep that's exactly the part I mean! Right after the "Eaaaaaaaaarth". Definately one of my favorite parts on Tales, along with the opening of RSOG. Yep, I too love the part where Jon sings the words meaning sun. As well as the "Leaves of Green" section of the song. You made me want to go listen to it again! Just heard it last night, but I can't pass up the opportunity (and desire) to listen again! Great to hear some others out there hear "The Ancient" as a complete song and not just "Oh yeah, I like the "Leaves of Green" section, but the beginning part sounds to scattered and I just don't get it." All I can say is listen again, more closely this time. Maybe you will never get it even by critically listening to it, but there is something there to be discovered.

Greg

[Timmo]

Rainbows
Soft light
Alternate view
Sunlight
Tell me
Someone
Alternate view
Alternate view, surely, surely

End of "The Remembering"

[moonchild]

I also love them all...as we all do. I think I basically judge it now by which movements I get the craving to hear most often ..so I'm pretty much going in the order of BrianD

Ritual
Ancient
RVSOG
Remembering

I think the Ritual is absolutely stirring...the Ancient has that piece of utterly moving verses..."Do the leaves of green stay greener thru the Autumn..."

[Scooty]

Rainbows
Soft light
Alternate view
Sunlight
Tell me
Someone
Alternate view
Alternate view, surely, surely

End of "The Remembering"
Thats it..thats the one....hairs standing on end.....amazement in my mind...pure musical poetry..very scary my man..u hit it right on the head..wow...

[Dances w/PURPLE]

I went with Ancient. I do like Ritual but something about Ancient captures me.

[Firebird]

If I had to find 10 seconds of music that represented the pinnacle, the summit, the absolute high point of modern music, it would be those words "Surely, surely" as it leads into Steve's guitar solo. It just doesn't get any better than this.

[haleykoz]

The last 3 minutes of "The Remembering" are sublime. Whenever I finish listening to it, I can't help but to hold down the "reverse track" button and listen to it again. The most under-rated, beautiful Yes moment.
Also, Steve Howe's tremendous, arpeggio-tinged solo throughout that excerpt. Incredible!

[Speedy]

Revealing Science Of God. After that I find the album plods a bit other than Ritual.

[RobAdams]

My favorite TFTO songs, in order:
1) RITUAL
2) THE ANCIENT
3) THE REMEMBERING
4) THE REVEALING SCIENCE OF GOD

Funny that this is the opposite order of the album. For me this is great. It gradually gets better and better for me!

Still, I'm not one for skipping tracks. I listen to entire albums from start to finish MOST of the time. One of my favorite parts is on RITUAL - Chris Squire's bass solo just prior to the percussion movement. Another great part of TFTO is THE ANCIENT. I love the guitar work on both ends of this piece.

[SonicDeath10]

chris's bass solo is great, but live i think he would over do it: going on and on with it.

[RobAdams]

Then again we all know what a ham the Fish really is!

[SonicDeath10]

my message icon is what he looks like in the concert DVD's i've seen. jumping all over the place, hamming it up! he says he does this because of pete townshend doing such things with the who.

[Timmo]

Revealing Science Of God. After that I find the album plods a bit other than Ritual.

I'm the other way around.

When I first heard the album way back in the 70s, RSOG was favored (my favorite has always been, and will continue to be, "The Remembering") over "The Ancient" and "Ritual."

As I listened more and more, "Ritual" grew on me, but for years I didn't care for "The Ancient." I would always skip Side 3.

Then another thread talked about how everyone LOVED "The Ancient," and I gave it another listen.

The years have been kind to "The Ancient." It blew me away. And the roots for "The Gates of Delirium" and the rest of "ReLAYer" are there was well.

After all these years, I find RSOG to be comparatively "plodding" and the other movements more exciting. I still like RSOG, but not as much.

I'd have to rate them this way, with the top three being VERY close:

The Remembering
The Ancient
Ritual
RSOG

Guess I'm in the minority...most people like the two "Outside" movements (1 & 4), and I rate the "Inside" movements higher.

TIM
Venice, CA

[Amy]

And the roots for "The Gates of Delirium" and the rest of "ReLAYer" are there was well.

TIM
Venice, CA

Thank you. That's what I was trying to say on your "Why is Relayer #1" thread.
Except I see the entire album as being a predecessor, not just The Ancient.

[Amy]

Sorry, I guess I should be posting my favorite movement here, too; so I'll copy it from Roman's Favorite Song thread:

Right now I'm stuck on The Remembering, with TRSOG coming in 2nd.
I am a woman, though, and there's always a chance that this will change.
The entire album leaves me speechless. It is some of the best work Yes has ever done.

[Timmo]

Sorry, I guess I should be posting my favorite movement here, too; so I'll copy it from Roman's Favorite Song thread:

Right now I'm stuck on The Remembering, with TRSOG coming in 2nd.
I am a woman, though, and there's always a chance that this will change.
The entire album leaves me speechless. It is some of the best work Yes has ever done.It doth rule.

Think I'll spin it. Last night was "Relayer."

TIM
Venice, CA

[Insane Teacher]

Ritual. But I like it live better than on the album.

[Snarly]

My "hope beyond hope" is that we will get to hear THE ANCIENT Live one more time before it's all over.

Heck, even The Remembering would be great live because I've never had the privelege. Ritual and RSOG have been done live recently.

My picks:
#1 The Ancient
#2 The Remembering
#3 Revealing Science of God
#4 Ritual

I guess this puts me in the "inner two movments" group.

Sure was good to hear The Ritual performed live (with 4 bars of Ancient thrown in !!), however.

[Gabriel]

This is a tough choice...I would have to go with Ritual but to be perfectly honest, Remembering and Revealing Science of God are just as good I think. Ritual has some fine moments in it and the 'hold me my love' section is fantastic, I love Jons vocals on that, its gorgeous. Very moving indeed.

[Rabin105]

from a musican Point of view I love playing ritual but from listeing I love Reavealing science

[distantsun]

The Remembering has such great melodies...Distant Sun... and near the end when Jon's voice gets higher and higher until the song climaxes..Sunlight, Tell me, someone....Alternate View...Alternate view...surely..surely...aaaahh..Chills. Nothing beats the middle/end of the Ancient. Best lyrics and acoustic/spanish guitar ever.

[distantsun]

They played Ritual at Auburn Hills...Flawless. absolutley freakin flawless.

[Timmo]

God, I want to hear "The Remembering" live.

Last heard it on the Tales tour, my first yesshow...but how many haven't had the priviledge?

I'm an "inner two movements" guy as well, although I love the whole damned shootin' match.

Gonna spin "Revealing" and "Remembering" now...jeez, I need to go to bed, but "Tales" calls.

TIM
Venice, CA

[PO]

Gonna spin "Revealing" and "Remembering" now...jeez, I need to go to bed, but "Tales" calls.

TIM
Venice, CA

That actually works.

You get the intro and the premise of the story, along with the earliest summation (Revealing)

Then you get the "Meanwhile ..." section that includes sentiment and the spark of acquired knowledge (Remembering).

Nice pair.

Later, when you continue after your "intermission":


GOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG
tsk tsssssss ........tsk tssss ........tsk tssss ........tsk tsssssss ...........)


Nice.

[tranceofdances]

in responce to "gato's" comment about the added lines to ritual....it's the "out in the city running free" section from the remembering. i just bought "live at qpr" from 75, and they did that exact same thing on that version. i loved it. i believe that all these songs like jon said are a "large scale" composistion. there are so many little parts that relfect back to a previous section from one of the songs...like the main theme of rsog, and alans drums. i am sure everyone is also aware of the close to the edge riff, and the siberian khatru riff as well. to me that so poetic. it's a celebration of all acheivements. i voted for the rsog as my fav song on the album, and it's prolly cause it was the 1st song i heard after my son was born and the line "we must have waited all our lives for this moment" couldn't have been more poetic. honestly, i love all 80 plus mins. and every song has a different yet special meaning for me. we truly, "love when we play"
jason

[Rabin105]

Ritual has to be one of those stage stealers

[mattquarterstein]

I like Revealing the best, followed by the Remembering, followed by the Ancient, followed by Ritual.

Hmm, so my favourite is the beginning and my least favourite is the end.

[Stever]

I went with the Remembering. Mind you...this is a new development for me. I was all about "The Ancient", and at other times would have answered with RSOG. But right now, I'm having a bit of an affair with Remembering. It was neglected by me for so long that it's almost like a new piece of music, and I just can't get enough.

[slazman]

The Ritual (especially Steve's orgasmic guitar break near the end) ... but I do love RSOG ... what the hell ALL OF IT!!!

[Ryan]

i can't believe it. I voted for RSOG as my favorite. I must have voted back when i first got the album. Back then i hated the Ritual. I was a dummy. Ritual is by far the best. I like 'em in this order

Ritual
RSOG
The Ancient
The Remembering

i feel kinda bad about having the Remembering be last; its only last because i have a really short attention span and its kind of slow paced up untill the "Relayer" part.

[True Believer]

The Remembering - the ending just gives me goosebumps

[Scooty]

Ritual.

always always always

Although I have gained new respect for The Ancient, and have always loved RSOG and like The Remembering..especailly the last few minutes!! Ritual has always been my fav...and they burned it up on the last tour...WOW!

Scoot

[Timmo]

The Remembering - the ending just gives me goosebumpsYESSSSSS.

"Rainbows. Sunlight"

Also The Ancient.

Althought I love all of "topo-o", I'm a huge "inner movement" fan.

Surely. Surely.

[JL]

Revealing got my vote. The Ancient comes second. I'd give Ritual the number three spot. I need to give The Remembering another listen (I've given lots of Yes music I've known intimately for years another listen based on some of the opinions I've read on this site, and not regretted a moment of it). I always liked it, just not as much as the other three.

Ritual would get the number two spot if they shaved 5-7 minutes off it. No specific 5-7, just 5-7.

The Ancient is not one of my favorite Yes pieces as much as one of my favorite Steve performances.

Revealing is a masterpiece from start to finish, on par with Gates and CTTE.

[BrianD]

The Remembering - the ending just gives me goosebumps


I agree entirely about that ending - indeed for me it is the best conclusion of any Yes song.

[DON CHERRY]

The Remembering Is The Best. Then Revealing. I Have To Say Though, I Kind Of Dont Like The Beginning Of The Ancient, I Like The Spanish Guitar Part, And Thats It. Reveling Is My Next Favorite Though. I Say The Best Moment Is How Steve Plays On That E Chord, Right Before "what Happened....." And That Scale, Man Thats The ----. I Can Play Those Two Songs, But On Reveling Some Of Its Too Fast For Me So I Play It On Slide. That Album Is Some Tripped Out Stuff.

[Amy]

I agree entirely about that ending - indeed for me it is the best conclusion of any Yes song.
Absolutely!!

[Vic Anderson]

remembering
revealing
ritual
ancient

[slazman]

Hard to choose between the first and last, both epic. Had to go with Ritual though.

[cinderella]

The Ritual (especially Steve's orgasmic guitar break near the end)

Yes, definitely. Although The Ancient has been growing on me lately.

The whole album is an eargasmic experience.<img src="http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/rainbowf.gif">

[SonicDeath10]

:sephiroth the revealing science of god for me. i'm a first disc man: i know some people love the second disc and loath the first and vice versa. I don't loath the second disc, but it doesn't do as much for me. There are bits and pieces that are completely amazing but quite a bit of it is seems like filler.

But damn if it isn't an amazing listening experience listening to it all at once! The way I look at it: the whole album is one song, a symphony. And each segment has it's own characterisitics and flaws will exist in such an attempt at a long song. Where as Close To The Edge the album has zero flaws, Tales has probably 4 minutes of music on the entiretiy of it that I don't like. So, that's pretty good. :)

[PO]

There are bits and pieces that are completely amazing but quite a bit of it is seems like filler...

Filler? Ha!

Read:

http://www.yesfans.com/forum/showthread.php?p=402019#post402019

[Amy]

Filler? Ha!

Read:

http://www.yesfans.com/forum/showthread.php?p=402019#post402019
LOL! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way....

[Scooty]

its gotta be Ritual...

Shear perfection..

the boys are firing on all cylinders on this one and nare a sign of "Filler" on this track....

[Amy]

its gotta be Ritual...

Shear perfection..

the boys are firing on all cylinders on this one and nare a sign of "Filler" on this track....
....and it was AWESOME live!

[slazman]

Ritual for me ... specifically Steve's guitar emerging from the drums ... can I say orgasmic?

[Scaramouche]

I've always love The Revealing Science of God.

I had heard a lot of YES by the time I heard this album and RSOG was the first extended YES song that I learned all the way through.

The words, the music, the keyboard solos..I can sing it note for note...In fact I love the whole album except for the first half of The Ancients..but the Leaves of Green section, is amazing.

Love and Topographic Tormatos

Scaramouche xx

[Roan's Lady]

Ritual for me ... specifically Steve's guitar emerging from the drums ... can I say orgasmic?

Sure you can, and I agree - what incredible moments!

I do love Ritual, especially the ending, but my vote for best overall is RSOG - just a masterpiece!
Scaramouche, I'd like to hear you sing it. :-)

[Timmo]

The Remembering
The Ancient
Ritual
The Revealing Science of God

But the difference to me between #1 and #4 isn't much.

Whenever I listen to Tales, I tend to listen to all of it, from the wonderful "voices emerging out of blackness" at the beginning of TRSOG to the wonderful edgy ending of Ritual.

[Jackaranda]

Well today it's Ritual.

I'm into Ritual now.

[tardistraveler]

MY favorite! Ritual is sublime!

[MoonGateClimber]

I voted for Ritual. Even though not much is said through lyrics, Ritual speaks through notes & wordless-voiced notes. It evokes many emotions from jovial through to a panick during the percussion & keyboard solos then to peaceful at the end. This may be blasphemy, but I may like Ritual as well as of better than CTTE.

[SonicDeath10]

dawn of life lying between the silence of sold sources... chased amidst fusions of wonder!

[SonicDeath10]

revealing science of god, all the way.

[Bo Locks]

The run-out groove on Side 4...

>sssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhhka-dunksssshhhh<

[TNyesfan]

Always has been, always will be
Ritual

brilliant take on the descent into the spirit world,
and coming out again.

[Olias of Sunhillow]

I really love the leaves of green part on the ancient and the intro on The Revealing Science of God.

[SonicDeath10]

it is the best part of ancient.

[cinderella]

I really love the leaves of green part on the ancient

It's my very favorite too.

[JaneEyre]

It's gotta be The Ancient.

[yesbunny22]

To me the most beautiful is The Remembering :music-smi

[allgoodyes]

I deeply enjoy all four movements on "Tales From Topographic Oceans" but The Revealing Science of God is my overall favourite movement, followed closely by The Remembering and Ritual.

With the passing of time, I have also developed a growing appreciation for the complexity of The Ancient.

[sparky]

I deeply enjoy all four movements on "Tales From Topographic Oceans" but The Revealing Science of God is my overall favourite movement, followed closely by The Remembering and Ritual.

With the passing of time, I have also developed a growing appreciation for the complexity of The Ancient.
I couldn´t agree more. The Revealing is the song I think works the best and feels the least padded of the four. That song is closely followed by the remembering which I always found very beautiful. And I love the floating bits where Rick make his mellotron violins sound like sonar sunbeams through clouds (thats what I see at least..). Must be one of THE best moments in mellotron history... Ritual and The Ancient has some equally great moments, but there´s more padding on them to my ears.

[remembering]

Remembering is in my eyes the best piece of music produced anywhere, by anyone at anytime. I have had this 'in my head' for the past 30 years - not a day goes by without me singing or humming a part of it (get some strange looks on public transport though)

In my student days it was perfect to play while imbibing in some foreign chemicals (Try it on head phones it blows you away totally)! Now the song/track/chapter can bring tears to my eyes. It does exactly what it says on the tin - it makes me remember not just my past but the past of YES all of the concerts I went to - Comming back from the Tales concert in London I missed the last train back to Oxford (I was fourteen at the time). Tried to sleep on the Train Platform in London but cops were none to pleased so I jumped on a train to Reading where I waited some six hours for the train to Oxford. Parents went ballistic when I arrived home about 24 hours after I had left.

Your making me do it again - Remembering!!!!!!

[Frispoulet]

I discovered this album in 1978 (too late, I was already 14 years old) and it became my favourite LP. I listened to it so many times al through these years. My farourite track must be RSOG, and after The remembering, and finally Ritual. I consider the rythmic an percussive section of the Ancient a little bit poor, "usefullness". But the last section with the acoustic guitar ans the chords is so beautifull...

[PO]

Excellent, Frispoulet.

Great to have another Tales fan here.

[cinderella]

...the Ancient....But the last section with the acoustic guitar ans the chords is so beautifull...

That's my most favorite part. :D

Hi Frispoulet! Welcome to Yesfans, it's nice to meet you.

[muff]

This is the album I listen to whenever I,m feeling down,

I can guarantee before its ended my mood has lightened and I,m reborn again, :D

[Hill St.]

The remembering.

[Albedo]

I like them all, with the Ancient a close last. Probably Ritual is first because I really like most of Jon's vocals in that one, a lot of those lyrics touch me.

[raz]

i voted for ritual, but i love all of them.
there are bits and pieces of that album which are excellent.
for instance, the start of the ancient, with the steel guitar and the drums and bass rhythm sounds like a load of canibals chasing some one thru the jungle....
it's ace!

[jaynote1]

I had to say The Remembering.......altho RSOG is a top contender......but the classical-ish/carnival atmosphere surrounding 'Don the cap and close your eyes'....is awesome, and then to break into the hard-rocking 'Relayer, all the dying cried before you'.........its ass-kicking music writing and playing............

[ZenGuitar]

I love it all. What 'nads they had to release such a ground-breaking album. Truly an essential part of progressive rock history and a damn good listen to this day.

But to see it performed live is the best!

[cinderella]

I love it all. What 'nads they had to release such a ground-breaking album. Truly an essential part of progressive rock history and a damn good listen to this day.


I was too young to see Yes when they performed it live, but I'll bet it was an unbelievable experience. I hadn't listened to the album for years then I got the cd last winter, and it was so beautiful to hear again. There's this one part in the Ancient that makes me weak in the knees. I love it more now than I ever did.

[Topographicfish]

i love The Revealing! it is indescribably great! so many instumentals and i absoluely love that. it is such a moving album to listen too.

[Sad Preacher]

Ritual....the crescendo leading up to Howe's first solo is mind numbing....by far my favorite song of the four......

[The Whale]

Ritual....the crescendo leading up to Howe's first solo is mind numbing....by far my favorite song of the four......

I totaly love your reason for that. Totaly respect that.

I love Tales from begining to end as one peace of music that is in for parts but my favorit part is RSoG.

[luckeydoug1]

My favourite bit is the 80 minutes between the start of Side 1 and the end of Side 4.

I totally agree. I simply can't pick out any one of the four movements over another. Each have many brilliant passages. Now, I will say I do like parts of each movement better than other parts, but to me, the whole album stands as a masterpiece from start to finish. I find the structure almost classical in nature, much like a good symphony. Beautiful themes wander through all movements in a very cohesive manner. I find this album very relaxing to listen to. I know I am in the minority but I'll take this musical experience over Relayer or CTTE any day.

[flep]

RSOG for me every time.

If only they will tour again. If I had one last request it would be to see Yes play the whole of Tales with the light show and everything thrown in. It is the show we all wished we had seen and would love to see again.

[Scooty]

Ritual...everyday of the week..no matter what.

[MrZuLu]

gosh... now that's a real hard one.

I have listened to Revealing every sunday religiously since December 1973.
I love how rick words the keys in rememberingthe Ancient is sooooo heavy... reminds me of a creature so huge that only an ocean can support it's gargantuan mass.
Ritual... we are on the sun...
we love when we play

OOOOH GOD!
:poop:


I can't decide
:banghead:

[relayeire]

RSOG... I got to know the live version of Ritual first, so I like that one better than the studio Ritual...

The Remembering and The Ancient are the most padded of the movements, but they're still incredible...

hard to pick an order, but I'd probably go with RSOG, Rem, Rit, Anc...

[SadPreacher]

RSOG... I got to know the live version of Ritual first, so I like that one better than the studio Ritual...

The Remembering and The Ancient are the most padded of the movements, but they're still incredible...

hard to pick an order, but I'd probably go with RSOG, Rem, Rit, Anc...

good job...that is how i hear them too.....

[SadPreacher]

damn it...i dumped my temp files and lost my post count........

[Steve St Thomas]

As a whole ''piece'' I voted Ritual. It's always been my favourite from this album.

[Rocker]

All four pieces stand alone as great musical compositions but, as it is with the band themselves, the sum of each individual is far exceeded by the whole.

[rememberer]

If I haven't listened to The Remembering once a day, I have some catching up to do...

[cactus jon]

I prefer movements 1 through 4 !!!

[Kevin Caffrey]

Can't beat "Ritual" for my money. What a well-constructed song. Has definitely been a live highlight in the last few tours.

Kevin

[JL]

I'm surprised more people don't seem to share my love for The Ancient, though my first choice is Revealing.

My fourth favorite Tales movement is still far higher up the musical foodchain than many of my absolute favorite pieces by lesser artists.

[Yes_Fan_4_Life26]

Ritual is the best movement, for me.

Followed very closely by The Revealing Science Of God

Then The Ancient.

The Remembering is soo wierd, but very fun in some parts.

[The Whale]

RSoG for sure. Then the Ancient and then Ritual then the remembiring.

[EndlessDream]

uh........ can someone provide the definition of a movement? Otherwise I was going to say ..."The clap"??

[JustSayYES]

I'm surprised more people don't seem to share my love for The Ancient, though my first choice is Revealing.

My fourth favorite Tales movement is still far higher up the musical foodchain than many of my absolute favorite pieces by lesser artists.

Originally I despised this section... it hardly seemed melodic, diverse or musically involving to me. Of course, that was before I had more Tales awakening.

Right now, I'm torn between any of the four tracks for a favorite... The obvious one once seemed to be RSoG, but then I remember how much I love "The Remembering". As I resolve to pick that movement, I remember that, in its laconic realization, "The Ancient" represents a totally atmospheric experience that is throughly underrated and deserves multiple listens to understand the breadth of it all. But then I recall that "Ritual" has an absolutely magnificent recalling of the total mass thus far accumulated in each stage in the album's journey in the form of a brief guitar solo and then continues on to be a beautifully composed piece that offers as strong of a close as Revealing was as an opener. How do I choose ha?

Let's go with "The Ancient" right now... hopefully my consideration will implore more people to critically listen to this track.

And as for EndlessDream's question:

When we speak of a movement in [i]this sense, we are speaking of the individual tracks. The four of them are at the top of this thread for voting purposes. In a similarly related fashion, each of these songs can be broken down into seperate passages, or "movements", in which a bit of what was established beforehand (motifs, if you will) can be built upon in another, completely different dynamic, or the section can be dramatically different from that which appeared before it. For example, "The Ancient" contains the movement "Leaves of Green" which is quite different from the somewhat dissonant sounds that occupied the first 12 or so minutes of the overall track. This compositional style is quite similar to "The Gates of Delirium" from Relayer where the chaos of the first 16 minutes or so is resolved by a melodic, minimal prayer for peace.

And I don't think "The Clap" would be a valid answer here since it's from "The Yes Album" and we're speaking of "Tales From Topographic Oceans" here. Fantastic song though.

[EndlessDream]

OK , my vote is for the Ancient, but you've left out many other possibilites, especially from Jon's material. Which I believe Jon is the cataylst for such movements. Therefore that would qualify anything on Olias of Sunhillow, which I would like to nominate "To the Runner".

[YesForSure.]

Favourite: The Revealing Science of God
2nd Favourite: The Remembering
3rd: The Ancient
Last: Ritual

[jreist]

I absolutely love the Ancients, great twists and turns, and steve's guitar puts me in a different place, followed by the simple vocal section by Jon, lifts my spirits every time.

[tsardaniel]

I still love this entire piece of music...genius that has been unfairly maligned by far too many...not an easy listen for sure, but music SHOULD be challenging...atleast sometimes!

[YesForSure.]

I think I have to change my answer. though it changes from week to week, after about 50 more listens in the past few weeks, It goes like this

1. The Remembering
2. The Revealing Science of God
3. The Ancient
4. Ritual

[davray]

The Reavealing... and isn't this the best Yes Album cover.

[Jon08]

I voted for The Revealing Science of God. It was the song that got me into the album. I had heard Ritual live on an internet radio station, but once i heard the studio version of The Revealing Science of God I knew I just had to buy the album. I now love all the movements, but the bass line in the quiet repeating section just seems so perfect to me. I also really like the somewhat unneccessarily abundant chilled guitar solos now. I think it's best to hear the studio versions of songs first though, so you can really appreciate the live version.

[YesJen357]

Yea, Revealing Science does it for me.
But I fell in love with live performances before I went back to the original studio version. It is most often the other way round for me.
As with any complex piece of YES music; it was worth the journey.

[Starless]

All four movements are great parts of the most concept and serious Yes masterpiece !
But if need to choose one, my vote will be for Revealing !
Steve made it unforgotten !

[Scottie]

Revealing Science studio.... but being there live it has to be Ritual

[sibkhat]

I had to go with the Remembering. I just love the sound of Steve's guitar in the first verses. I can't figure out the effect he's using but it's so dreamy. In fact last night I listened to the Remembering a couple of times before going to bed & it helped me relax!I'm kind of on a TFTO binge right now. I didn't get into it as rapidly as I did other Yes albums, but now I cannot get enough of it.

[allpurechance]

I had to go with the Remembering. I just love the sound of Steve's guitar in the first verses. I can't figure out the effect he's using but it's so dreamy. In fact last night I listened to the Remembering a couple of times before going to bed & it helped me relax!I'm kind of on a TFTO binge right now. I didn't get into it as rapidly as I did other Yes albums, but now I cannot get enough of it.

Tremolo, @ Steve, probably amongst other effects. As time goes by, I love that beginning more and more, too.

[nitrus]

Ritual just rawks live.
The Revealing may be my favorite on the album.
But ultimately, I like all of it. It was meant as a single piece, wasn't it?

Err, OK, you got me, I don't like some parts of The Ancient THAT much...:)

[allpurechance]

Err, OK, you got me, I don't like some parts of The Ancient THAT much...:)

Give it some (more!) time...

LOL

(In the end, it'll ALL getya...just like it got me...!)

[BillGuitar]

I just had to post here.

[post (here)]

[shortexchanges]

The Opening A Capella Stanza Is Moving.

[Going For The Fish]

The Remembering, by far, it's my favorite on the album.

[Ascend_Create]

The entire beginning of "The Revealing Science of God"...It made the whole album for me.

[MirokuLuvstheGirls]

This is like apples & pears (LAWL) for me, but I suppose I'll go with "The Remembering (High the Memory)", great opening, superb synthesizers and guitar work from one of the best guitarists ever, and I love the "relayer" part of the movement.

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

Revealing Science of God and Ritual

(hey, why can't I choose both?)

[qoquaq]

The whole piece (all 4 movements) but if I had to choose..Ritual.

Robin

[M-Class Planet]

I know Rick doesn't like the album much but I love his mellotron work all four sides. It's so sensitive; nice chord voicings and so layered; so evocative and mysterious. it's integeral to the music.

[Lifeseeker66]

I chose The Remembering simply because it is the one song that I enjoy in it's entirety. Love Don the Cap! The Ancient seems to be a little indulgent in parts, and Ritual is great, but there are "boring" parts in my opinion. RSOG is good, but tends to be too repetitive. Still a great album though!

[Parish]

The one right after my first cup of coffee for the day...

[Write a punch line]

The Remebering has been doing it for me lately. Tales isn't easy to listen to very often, 2-3 times a year kinda album.

[islandsofarabia]

tthhee aanncciieenntt.. ggiiaannttss uunnddeerr tthhee ssssuuunnnn.

[BillGuitar]

tthhee aanncciieenntt.. ggiiaannttss uunnddeerr tthhee ssssuuunnnn.

Hey, I like you. Let's play together! :winknudge

Dan, I was JUST playing Leaves of Green to the end of the piece on me classical. It was always one of the pieces by Steve I absolutely had to learn. Once I finally did, I played it over and over again, all day! (ah, unemployment)

I need to record it, to post here, eventually...

Still my favorite Tales movement - kinda like Tormato, without the Bacon and the Lettuce! :lmao:

Take care!

[Andrea YouAndI]

I just posted in another thread last night, that I could narrow Tales to two movements and be content: The Ancient and Ritual. A guy once tried to con me into thinking that The Ancient was Yes' worst song ever, but I love the acoustic part.

I need to record it, to post here, eventually...

:winknudge Yes! :hearts:

[The Whale]

This is the album I listen to whenever I,m feeling down,

I can guarantee before its ended my mood has lightened and I,m reborn again, :D
Nice! I love this post!

[islandsofarabia]

Dan, I was JUST playing Leaves of Green to the end of the piece on me classical.
Would be great to see this up on youtube.

Still my favorite Tales movement - kinda like Tormato, without the Bacon and the Lettuce! :lmao:

Take care!
And I hear a million alfalfa sprouts singing...

Have you checked out any live recordings from 74? In particular...Steve Howe's extended guitar interpretation & rock improvisation, before 'leaves of green' section happens.

[allpurechance]

Wonder if Bill, or ioa got to see the Masterworks tour?

Major moment of magic: Leaves Of Green, just Steve and Jon, betwixt Gates Of Delirium and Ritual concluding the show before the encores.

I was in an amphitheater, kind of indoorish at an outdoor venue. Definitely above them. Yet they seemed to rise up off the stage, in my recollections now of the event, they were definitely above me!!

First I thought, "I am in the presence of my musical gods."

Afterward, I truly felt God above had to put things in Heaven there on hold, told the other residents, "It's okay! Everything will be alright but, Steve and Jon are playing Leaves Of Green, be back in 5 minutes!"

Pure Magic. Beauty on Earth we really have no reason to expect or deserve. Another utterly unforgettable Yes memory...

...amongst so many, mine, yours, everyones...

We have been blessed. I, no believer really in any conventionally accepted religion. Yet we have been blessed, this I know.

[robusan]

"The Revealing". Maybe even my favourite YES piece period - though I can't really choose. IMHO "The Revealing" also contains Rick Wakeman's best playing with the band. Real tasty stuff - not a wasted note! Ironic since he wasn't into the album.

[AmyK]

This was really tough, like choosing between favorite pets or children.
However, The Remembering got my vote, due to the keyboard part from 8:10 to 9:10 melts me to the point that I get a thousand images, warmth, like I'm basking in the Sun. Rick Wakeman played this obviously, I'm not sure if he wrote it. Does anyone know for sure ?

The choice that made it tough was "Leaves of Green" from the Ancient. That is another pure heaven moment.

All in all I hope Tales from Topographic Oceans, survives to make humankind's first interstellar flight. No joke. I could see a ship with an onboard ecosystem and several silvery jumpsuit folks strumming and singing away to Fields of Green. The words may even slightly change over the thousands of years, but this one could end up like Amazing Grace or Happy Birthday.

At the same time I can picture the keyboard piece to the Remembering being played on some odd crystal like pipe organ by some angelic looking folks (maybe because they are dressed in all white).

[DW Duke]

I and IV though if pushed I would probably have to go with IV. But this is a toughy. :wavey:

[harty]

the whole album is a movement.
Us diehards know that the only way to listen to this album is in succession. Quite draining mind you, but the only way.
A bag of wacky tobacky helps though.

[BEE]

Found this article in Time dated Sept 23, 1974:

Today the classical-rock groups are as diverse, bright and scholarly sounding as their names—Renaissance, Genesis, Electric Light Orchestra. By far the most provocative album of the past year is Yes' Tales from Topographic Oceans (Atlantic; $11.98). A double-LP affair of almost Mahlerian proportions, Tales has four movements, each about 20 minutes long, that attempt to invoke the spirit and meaning of the shastras—"The Revealing Science of God," "The Remembering," "The Ancient" and "Ritual.The words of Tales are impossibly elliptical, but no matter. "We write solid music," says Yes' Lead Guitarist Steve Howe with justifiable pride.
Yes builds textures like an incoming tide inexorably playing over an oyster bed. Rather than hit the listener with a toe-tapping melody and then repeat it until it is ingrained, Yes builds from the smallest motifs, altering and mutating them into bright aural mosaics. "The Ancient" movement of Tales even finds Yes playing two different pieces of music—different tempos, key signatures and meters—simultaneously in a way that vividly echoes the polytonalities and polyrhythms of Charles Ives.

Recalling the hours of studio work (half improvisation, half rehearsal, with nothing written down but the words) that went into Tales, Singer-Composer Jon Anderson says, "When we would switch keys and someone would say, 'It's wrong,' my reply was that 'it doesn't hurt my ears, so let's try it.' " Thus do barriers fall, and such often enclosed worlds as rock music get a little sunshine in.

[BEE]

Update,here is the entire article, enjoy:

Monday, Sep. 23, 1974
Rock Goes to College

One of the fastest-selling rock albums in the U.S. nowadays is a three-LP set by a British group, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It includes mod versions of Aaron Copland's Hoedown, a movement from Alberto Ginastera's First Piano Concerto and even Sir Charles Parry's great old Anglican choral song Jerusalem. Also rising on the charts is an LP by a Dutch group called Focus that sounds at times like a combo of English madrigalists. In Detroit this week, English Rock Star Rick Wakeman begins a month-long U.S. tour featuring some unusual sidemen: Classical Conductor David Measham and a 60-member orchestra and choir.

Can all this really be rock, the average Rolling Stones freak may well ask? What it is has already been called a lot of things—classical rock, smart rock, rockaphonic, even garbage rock—but one thing is certain: the complex, educated sounds emanating from ELP, Focus, Wakeman and their like constitute a daring, exciting and hugely successful new kind of rock.

Big Beat. Many of its exponents have been students at English music and art schools and have grown up with equal respect for the classics and rock. Sales figures do not define the genre, of course, but they do measure its success: England's The Moody Blues, pioneers in the field, have sold more than 10 million records over the past six years; ELP and Yes, the most progressive of all such groups, each has between 8 and 10 million sales to its credit; the album of Wakeman's dramatic cantata Journey to the Centre of the Earth became a million-dollar seller in only six weeks.

Classical rock is something well above and beyond the familiar, and often appalling, stylistic melange known as jazzing the classics. It draws on classical style and technique in much the same way the Stones draw on blues, The Band on country, or John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra on jazz. Its sound has a white, diatonic, often ethereal quality that could never be confused with anything rooted in the Mississippi Delta or North Carolina backwoods. What certifies it as rock is its tight hold on the big beat. "We could jam with the Grateful Dead," says Guitarist Greg Lake of ELP, "but it would be impossible for them to jam with us."

Although it can hardly be said to have pushed blues rock, country rock or good old rhythm and blues into the background, classical rock's success has been an immense surprise to the U.S. record industry, which has yet to produce an American model. In retrospect, the movement could have been seen coming years ago: from the Beatles' use of a string quartet in Yesterday (1965) to The Who's so-called rock opera Tommy (1969).

Today the classical-rock groups are as diverse, bright and scholarly sounding as their names—Renaissance, Genesis, Electric Light Orchestra. By far the most provocative album of the past year is Yes' Tales from Topographic Oceans (Atlantic; $11.98). A double-LP affair of almost Mahlerian proportions, Tales has four movements, each about 20 minutes long, that attempt to invoke the spirit and meaning of the shastras—"The Revealing Science of God," "The Remembering," "The Ancient" and "Ritual."

The words of Tales are impossibly elliptical, but no matter. "We write solid music," says Yes' Lead Guitarist Steve Howe with justifiable pride. Yes builds textures like an incoming tide inexorably playing over an oyster bed. Rather than hit the listener with a toe-tapping melody and then repeat it until it is ingrained, Yes builds from the smallest motifs, altering and mutating them into bright aural mosaics. "The Ancient" movement of Tales even finds Yes playing two different pieces of music—different tempos, key signatures and meters—simultaneously in a way that vividly echoes the polytonalities and polyrhythms of Charles Ives.

Recalling the hours of studio work (half improvisation, half rehearsal, with nothing written down but the words) that went into Tales, Singer-Composer Jon Anderson says, "When we would switch keys and someone would say, 'It's wrong,' my reply was that 'it doesn't hurt my ears, so let's try it.' " Thus do barriers fall, and such often enclosed worlds as rock music get a little sunshine in.

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

RSOG.

It is my fourth favourite Yessong ever.

[yesyadda]

Ritual! :thumbs:

Nous sommes du soleil, baby.

[tidewater]

[quote=Scheming Demon;101837]And I do think they can be considered to be "movements". Anyway, mine is "The Remembering", even if that puts me in the minority...........

Hey.......how do I post a poll, anyway? LoL![



"The Remembering" is also my favourite.

[Scooty]

Ritual! :thumbs:

Nous sommes du soleil, baby.

Yesh!!!

[Close to Loch Ness]

RSOG
Remembering
Ritual
Ancient

[yesyadda]

Hey.......how do I post a poll, anyway? LoL![

"The Remembering" is also my favourite.

Find the forum in which you'd like to create a poll. Click on "New Thread". Look at the bottom and you will see the poll option.

[rphheather]

I am surprised, I thought I was alone in liking RSOG best. It was the song that I played over and over again when I first bought Tales. I could never get enough of the opening part right after Jon's chant is completed ..:drummer: ...:keyboard: then :rightG:. WOW :Wow:


I remember I was so excited I made my Mom listen to it :bncy:

All of them have their moments though, have been teary-eyed listening a time or two.

[SonicDeath10]

I am surprised, I thought I was alone in liking RSOG best. It was the song that I played over and over again when I first bought Tales. I could never get enough of the opening part right after Jon's chant is completed ..:drummer: ...:keyboard: then :rightG:. WOW :Wow:


I remember I was so excited I made my Mom listen to it :bncy:

All of them have their moments though, have been teary-eyed listening a time or two.
For me, that section works best with the introduction back. Before, it had always seemed like such an awkward way to start the album. Jon seemed a bit surprised that the vocal melody came in. With that tiny little intro added, it actually builds up to his vocals, and helps the section build more succesfully. I've always thought it was the best part, myself.

[90125yes]

when rick eats a curry on the keyboard

[JB86]

Ritual...purely for what I think is a sitar and the lyrics that accompany the sitar part- "hurry home, cause love is true, will help us through the night"

[rphheather]

Ritual...purely for what I think is a sitar and the lyrics that accompany the sitar part- "hurry home, cause love is true, will help us through the night"

For some reason I love the sound of a sitar too. :beerchugr:

[Ceasar's Palace]

Difficult indeed. For instance, Leaves Of Green is fantastic, but the part just before that is hard to swallow. So what to make of The Ancient then...?

Overall RSOG is my favourite. No noodling, no weak parts.
:headset:

[90125yes]

rick wakeman's curry movement

[crotale2112]

I never was happy with the way rick feels about tales sence it's my #1 yes album but not my #1 yes song.

After all the years I wonder if rick feels any different about tales.
Back in the day rick was into drinkin' music and the rest of the boys were into shroom And herb music.

I wish I can hear him say "hmmmm... wait a bloody moment, this tales album is bloody fantastic".

[BEE]

(Wow...Lookee here, another one from Time archives)

The Year's Best LPs
Monday, Dec. 30, 1974

CLASSICAL

J.S. BACH: MOTETS (Archiv, 2 LPs).
These sacred choral works number among Bach's most perfect compositions. Hanns-Martin Schneidt conducts instruments and the Regensburg Cathedral Choir, all in glistening voice.

BLACK COMPOSERS SERIES (Columbia, 4 LPs). The initial releases in an ambitious series take a kaleidoscopic look at the music of black composers, from the contemporary William Grant Still back to 18th century Classicist Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

ELLIOTT CARTER: STRING QUARTETS NOS. 2 AND 3 (Columbia). Individual instruments may go their own melodic way in Carter's complex auditory scenarios, but the Juilliard Quartet plays with single conviction.

CHARLES IVES: THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY

(Columbia, 5 LPs). His centenary is celebrated with a comprehensive package ranging from early songs to piano works with the composer at the keyboard.

MOZART: COSI FAN TUTTE (London, 4 LPs). An elegantly articulated, lyrical version of the Mozart confection with Sir Georg Solti conducting.

POP KEITH JARRETT SOLO-CONCERTS: BREMEN, LAUSANNE (ECM/Polydor, 3 LPs). From Jarrett's fingers flows richly melodic multifaceted music that gives the piano added luster.

ERIC CLAPTON: 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD (RSO). Old Slowhand can still raise up a musical inferno, though now he leans more to swinging blues.

JONI MITCHELL: COURT AND SPARK (Asylum). Continued exploration of the post-youth dilemma—the need for roots, the fear of commitment—by one of rock's classic stars.

MARIA MULDAUR: WAITRESS IN THE DONUT SHOP (Reprise). Muldaur reinvents torch singing and emerges as one of the '70s' most stylish pop singers.

YES: TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS (Atlantic, 2 LPs). Bright aural mosaics from small motifs are constructed on a Mahlerian scale in this 80-minute work of symphonic rock.

[Scotto]

RVSOG for me. Could listen to that every day all day long! But the other choices are wonderful as well.

[Meng]

So what to make of The Ancient then...?
I love The Ancient. I think it's probably my favourite track - Yes at their most experimental, then Leaves Of Green, and that explosive finish.

[90125yes]

most of it is good

i hope jon gets back with YES to do the longer yesmusic they were working on and they call it TFTO 2

[90125yes]

rick wakeman after his curry

or was that rick's favourite movement

[Akira]

I think 'Ritual' is the most overrated song in the whole pre-Rabin YesEra. When it comes down to it, 'The Remembering' was the song that got me into Yes, but the "getting over overhanging trees..." and subsequent keyboard solo of 'The Revealing' would have to be my favourite part of all...

So.
1. Science
2. Memory
3. Giants

[just noticed you guys are spelling things 'weird' because most of you are American... hehe]

'Tales' would have to be my second favourite YesAlbum, with 'Relayer' soaring high on top. Seeing Yes is my favourite band, this is quite an accolade for both albums, released within a year of one another (depending on where you live).

[Sunlight Caller]

The Revealing science of God, next to Awaken it's my favourite Yes track, in a live show both Revealing and Ritual are awesome.

1. The Revealing Science of God
2. Ritual
3. The Remembering
4. The Ancient

:theband:

[90125yes]

The Revealing science of God, next to Awaken it's my favourite Yes track, in a live show both Revealing and Ritual are awesome.

1. The Revealing Science of God
2. Ritual
3. The Remembering
4. The Ancient

:theband:

___

welcome to the site and thank you for your post