YESSOLOS 1975/6 - rank

[Susanne]

I think...

Olias (by far)

Then probably:

Story of I
Ramshackled
Fish out of Water
Beginnings

Though the last four can fluctuate, depending on mood. And how I want to listen.

[Somis Sound]

My tastes change as I have gotten older. What I listened to all the time 40 years ago I never bother with today. Tales and Relayer for instance. But I listen to 90125 and BG quite a bit today.

As well as classical and old time jazz music like Louie Armstrong

Same here. Been listening to a lot of BG and 90125 on youtube at night. As well as Lugano, I don't seem to tire of it.

[alex peters]

Sometimes an album you dismiss, or forgot about, or goes in one ear and out the other becomes a favorite album. Then you say "what wasn't I hearing in this?" Happens all the time! I've had a number of albums that somehow got a second lease on life.

Ramshackled is an enjoyable album when you don't expect Yes out of it. I suppose it sounds like it does because Alan White had come from a solo-Beatles/Joe Cocker kind of background, so he just picked up with where he left off with what he was doing prior to joining Yes. It's closer to that sound than Yes, despite Jon and Steve appearing on a track. Actually there's some stuff on the first 2 Tubes albums that almost sound like Ramshackled.

My tastes change as I have gotten older. What I listened to all the time 40 years ago I never bother with today. Tales and Relayer for instance. But I listen to 90125 and BG quite a bit today.

As well as classical and old time jazz music like Louie Armstrong

[Soundwaveseeker]

Fish Out Of Water may be the greatest Yes solo album of all. It's sublime and brill. Surprisingly, Story Of I doesn't seem to rank as high as I expected it to. It's a total prog-out with all the trimmings: a heavily segued, fusion concept album with synths coming out of every orifice. I would have thought the Relayer-inclined Yes fans would dig it more. I guess it is a bit wild. Some have placed this last, with Ramshackled actually higher, but there's no wrong answer. Whichever album works for the individual listener is the right path. Some also rank Beginnings lower, though I can understand as the vocals aren't the best element of that album - that is, assuming of course that it's because of vocals, but it may be other aspects of it, depending on the listener. Actually one of the albums where Steve's vocals work pretty well is Grand Scheme Of Things, and I don't mind him on Love Is.

[Somis Sound]

1. FOOW, by miles...

2. Ramshackled
3. Olias
4. Beginnings
5. Story of I

[pianozach]

I haven't ranked these yet?

4. Ramshackled
4. Beginnings

3. The Story of I

1. Olias
1. FOOW

[Sharp On Attack]

1. Olias simply perfect
2. FOOW almost perfect...some moments drag on
3. Beginnings...The songs are really good so I can take the vocals
4. Ramshackled : ok mostly funky /soul but it's quite cool. and AVAKAK rules indeed !
5. The Story of I = Overrated !!!

[alex peters]

FOOW is a great album and IMO is right up there with all the great Yes albums. I listen to it today.

Olias is second for me but FOOW stands alone head and shoulders above any other solo album for me

[Soundwaveseeker]

Sometimes an album you dismiss, or forgot about, or goes in one ear and out the other becomes a favorite album. Then you say "what wasn't I hearing in this?" Happens all the time! I've had a number of albums that somehow got a second lease on life.

Ramshackled is an enjoyable album when you don't expect Yes out of it. I suppose it sounds like it does because Alan White had come from a solo-Beatles/Joe Cocker kind of background, so he just picked up with where he left off with what he was doing prior to joining Yes. It's closer to that sound than Yes, despite Jon and Steve appearing on a track. Actually there's some stuff on the first 2 Tubes albums that almost sound like Ramshackled.

[Dantalion Rides Again]

I keep forgetting to revisit these albums. Today I'd rank them:

Olias of Sunhillow
Fish Out of Water
Ramshackled
Story of I
Beginnings

Olias I've had for decades, love it like a Yes album. [Not big on the rest of Jon's work although I'm not terribly familiar with it either. ] But the other four of these Yessolos albums I'm only getting to know now.

Fish Out of Water is sort of newish to my collection ... probably have had it for years but guessing I've heard the album less than 10 times? Working on it. Digging it.

The last three are almost a three way tie for third. Ramshackled was so much better than I expected. once I finally got it and heard it. Conversely I expected to be more satisfied by the Steve Howe and Patrick Moraz albums but instead find them each a challenging listen. Really want to listen more though. Hard to know how to think about them, when I'm still so unfamiliar.

And you know, that's how I felt about Tales from Topographic Oceans for like a decade, and now it's my current favorite. So you just gotta hang in there!

[Galactic]

I consider them all excellent, but my ranking is: Fish Out of Water, Olias, Beginnings, Ramshackled, Story of I.

FOOW is my clear favorite, and the others are all close, although Story of I probably gets the least play...

[Gtkgasman]

Do you have the original Mirror-Gimmick vinyl album......(I think I half-agree with the fans who think that was the best part of
the original album!)

I will reply. Even though I wasn’t really asked. Lol

Yes - have a first press with the orig foil.

And I will half disagree with you about the record. 😉

[carlmarx38]

Strangely, I have never even heard the album. I'm a terrible human being.

Here's the original "mirror trick" in all its Splendor :

[Gilly Goodness]

I had NEC on cassette back in the day. Very muddy sounding production. Sound effects. Some nice exciting musical passages. Even melancholic. Not a classic but better than most Rickies.

[Ash Armstrong]

Do you have the original Mirror-Gimmick vinyl album......(I think I half-agree with the fans who think that was the best part of
the original album!)

Strangely, I have never even heard the album. I'm a terrible human being.