Is close to the edge...backwards ?

[Soundwaveseeker]

I may be inclined to think that the CTTE album should have been sequenced in reverse. Meaning: side one - Siberian Khatru followed by And You And I, side two - Close The Edge suite. Reason being, for one it sounds great that way. Starting off with a bang with Siberian Khatru, like a live Yes album does. And the last strains of And You And I with the steel guitar fading away is a fine ending for side one of an original vinyl.
Reason two, Yes had lofty classical music overtones in those days. And the CTTE album, in reverse tracklist form, mirrors Beethoven's 6th symphony (Pastoral) in some ways. For those who know some classical music (I'm not an expert but I do know a little this & that depending on composer or work), on an old classical vinyl record we get a slightly lively 1st movement (Siberian) and a more tranquil 2nd movement (like AYAI). Flip the record over - all remaining movements are presented together as a grand suite (like CTTE suite). Is that a stretch? Yes/Beethoven connection? They didn't know it at the time, but they had made a Yes Pastoral symphony, all they had to do was sequence it in reverse and the picture would have been clearer. Sure, CTTE is perfect as it is, but...Pastoral Symphony!

[Gtkgasman]

That is how I listen to the album - Siberian/AYAI/CTTE. 👍. Although my reason is much less eloquent than yours 😊.

I was basically introduced to CTTE (TYA - CTTE, and really much of Yes, to be honest) through YESSONGS , and that is the track order my brain is comfortable with. Lol.

Similarly, I like to hear Siberian and HOTS back to back. Which fits perfectly with the Tormato tour to my ear also. 🤪.

[soundchaser09]

but by putting CTTE first, they opened with a statement, we are Yes this is what we are capable of! I love the ambition of it.

[Gtkgasman]

but by putting CTTE first, they opened with a statement, we are Yes this is what we are capable of! I love the ambition of it.

No quarrel with that! I just didn’t get the lp when I was 7 yrs old. 😂😂

[Ceasar’s Palace]

These songs work in any order. But, yes, the deep dive/knock out you get with the title track first is the bestest.

[Olorin]

Reverse order is how they played it on the close to the edge/fragile tour a few years ago.

[Grey Wolf]

I remember somebody recommending reverse order way back on a.m.y. I tried it, but the original order is too well burned into my brain.

[pianozach]

Due to the constraints of the LP format, they were unable to sequence the track CLOSE TO THE EDGE as the 2nd track, as in that format they would have had to had it fade out in the middle, as you reached the end of Side One, then fade back in for the beginning of Side Two.

The album should start with AND YOU AND I; the ending of AYAI trails off into the stratosphere on a dominant chord, the slide guitar notes ascending and vanishing from view, hanging in anticipation, and the beginning of CTTE is the perfect segue.

[Grey Wolf]

Due to the constraints of the LP format, they were unable to sequence the track CLOSE TO THE EDGE as the 2nd track, as in that format they would have had to had it fade out in the middle, as you reached the end of Side One, then fade back in for the beginning of Side Two.

That's what the 8-track used to do even with the actual order.

[Yesjim]

Same with Relayer for me. SC, TBO, GOD. Have listened to both albums that way for years now.

[Gtkgasman]

Same with Relayer for me. SC, TBO, GOD. Have listened to both albums that way for years now.

Ditto. Cause I like to end with “soon”, and complete the full cathartic effect.

[SunshipVoyager]

The Yes Album also works better in reverse, IMHO.

[Yorkshire Square]

Ditto. Cause I like to end with “soon”, and complete the full cathartic effect.

Nah, definitely ends better with Jon's vocalising at the end of To be Over. And indeed it was over. That was the beginning of the end.

After all your soul will still surrender
After all don't doubt your part
Be ready to be loved

New som du lay
Sah du rah
Sah du lay
Tu sah rah
Du sah dulay
Sah du rah
Tey tu santeh

[Yorkshire Square]

Apparently if you play Dark Side of the Moon backwards at half speed it syncs exactly with Gone With the Wind.

Or Michael Jackson's Off the Wall played at 78rpm sounds like Bugs Bunny on LSD.

Try it with a half pint of alcohol free Becks. You don't know what you're missing...

[Chrisklenox]

I tend to play side two of the record first. Same with Relayer. Just because. I do sometimes mess with album sequences, though not often. The only other album I can think of where I do that is Dylan’s Nashville Skyline on cd. I always play the last track first and then let it roll from the beginning.