Favourite Yes Album by era?

[soundchaser09]

Inspired by the Rush thread in this style, which is your favourite studio album from the various eras of Yes (including From a Page as a studio release)? It's tricky to break down the periods but I think the following:

1968-1970: the formative years
1971: the breakthrough
1972-74: the Progressive era
1977-80: the end of the classic era
1983-1994: the Rabin years
1996-2001: the "Turn of the Century"
2008-2021: the post Anderson years

[soundchaser09]

For me:

1968-1970: Time and a Word
1971: The Yes Album
1972-74: Close to the Edge
1977-80: Going for the One
1983-1994: 90125
1996-2001: Magnification
2008-2021: Fly From Here

[Gtkgasman]

Yes
tya
ctte
gfto
abwh
keys
ffh

[Homemade Parachute]

This is actually very close to how I've organized my iTunes playlists:

1969 - 79, the formation/classic era;
1983 - 1994, the YesWest era;
1989 - ABWH/Union
1996 - K2A
1997 - 2001 - OYE - Magnification
2011+ - the non-Anderson albums (including Drama, because I'm like that)

I have occasionally lumped ABWH and K2A together, because they feel more stylistically linked (Themes, Order of the Universe, and Be the One flow together quite well), I'll call it Recapturing Glory (whether they were successful is another story, of course, but it feels like the first time Yes was looking backwards).

Given *that*, I'd say:

Classic: Close to the Edge. I mean, come on.
YesWest: 90125
Recapturing: ABWH
Wilderness: The Ladder
Non-Anderson: The Quest (it might not actually be my favourite or most-played, but I think it's the most successful at figuring out what this band wants to and can do, which is not the same as what *I* want it to do or be, but they seem justifiably happy with it.)

[Gilly Goodness]

Fragile
CTTE
Tales
Relayer
G4T1

ABWH

The Ladder
Magnification
Fly From Here
The Quest

[Ceasar’s Palace]

1968-1970: Time and a Word
1971: The Yes Album
1972-74: Close to the Edge
1977-80: Going for the One
1983-1994: Big Generator
1996-2001: The Ladder
2008-2021: Fly From Here

Easier than I thought

[PeterCologne]

1968-1970: Yes
1971: The Yes Album
1972-74: Tales From Topographic Oceans
1977-80: Drama
1983-1994: Big Generator
1996-2001: Magnification
2008-2021: Fly From Here

[Davy]

The Yes Album
Close to the Edge
Tormato
90125
Magnification
Fly From Here

[Roundabob]

1968-1970. Time and a Word
1971. The Yes Album
1972-1974. Close to the Edge
1977-1980. Going for the One
1983-1994. Talk
1996-2001. Magnification
2008-2021. The Quest

[Soundchaser413]

Time And a Word
Fragile
Relayer
Going for the One (if live albums are allowed then maybe Yesshows)
Big Generator
Magnification (or maybe the Ladder depending on my mood)

Not really a fan of the post JA stuff but just to be complete I'll say FFH.

[Soundwaveseeker]

My choices would be:

1) YES - Banks Bruford duet on I See You does it for me
2) YES ALBUM - classic rock of the highest order
3) TALES - really a toss-up between Tales & Relayer. I almost see them as one triple album set. I'll go Tales for its overall magic.
4) PARIS ALBUM - ..........................No, just kidding, DRAMA - one of the best Yes albums ever constructed, and one of the coolest Dean covers.
5) BIG GENERATOR - any of these four albums could fit this slot, but BG for late 80's fun factor, with Union very very close second
6) THE LADDER - overlooked entry in their catalogue - Ladder had no special feature or angle, other than having 6 members instead of 5. Just a regular Yes album with synth keyboards and harmony vocals and all the trademarks. Yes by numbers, yet the songs are very good. Accessible but not too pop, musically engaging but not too prog. Maybe a 'just right' blend. Magnification lost by one molecule.
7)FLY FROM HERE(original 2011 version) - anything stemming from the Drama era is good for me. However, given time, Quest may take this spot - we'll see.

[Mr. Holland]

1968-1970. Yes
1971. The Yes Album
1972-1974. Close to the Edge
1977-1980. Drama
1983-1994. Talk
1996-2001. Magnification
2008-2021. Fly From Here (2011 Original)

[downbyariver]

1968-1970: Time and a Word
1971: The Yes Album
1972-74: Close to the Edge
1977-80: Drama
1983-1994: 90125
1996-2001: Magnification
2008-2021: Fly From Here (2011)

[Old Frothingslosh]

1968-1970: Yes
1971: The Yes Album
1972-74: Fragile
1977-80: Drama
1983-1994: Talk
1996-2001: The Ladder
2008-2021: Fly From Here

[Chrisklenox]

1968-1970: Yes
1971: The Yes Album
1972-74: Tales from Topographic Oceans
1977-80: Going For The One
1983-1994: 90125
1996-2001: Magnification
2008-2021: The Quest

That said, I would gerrymander this a bit for my own selfish reasons and put 1977 in the progressive era so that I could pick Going for the One. Then I would pick Drama for the End of the Classic era category.