FIRST TIME LISTENING TO YES!!! "CLOSE TO THE EDGE" (REACTION) 

Close to the Edge is considered by many, myself included, to be the greatest piece of Prog Rock ever written. THIS is a masterpiece. RUSH LOVED YES. YES influenced them very much in those early days.

All of this Album, and The Yes Album, Fragile, Yessongs, (face melting), Relayer, (mindblowing), Going For The One, (awe inspiring), Tales From Topographic Oceans, (otherworldly) In 1975 when I started listening, I knew that there would never be a band that would surpass YES, for me. Forty Five years later, that presumption still is correct. Huge Catalog.

Geddy Lee said there would be no Rush without Yes. He inducted them into the RR Hall of Fame. This album came out 2 years before Rush’s first one.

@ 2:26 It's an occasional progressive rock technique. It's designed to kinda jumble your mind a bit, to forget your day while you sort out what the hell is going on! To disorient you from any preconceptions about what's to come. Noticed how they teased with a brief harmony then more chaos? They're letting you know something awesome is about to hit! ✌️😎

Here's what Rush's Geddy Lee said about Yes' Chris Squire when he (Geddy) played bass on "Roundabout" when Yes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: "I really did love playing that song with them. It was bittersweet for me, because Chris Squire was such a huge hero to me. and the fact that he wasn't there was a vacuum that no one can fill properly. I felt for his family, because I know that's all that was on their mind that day. I felt a real weight to pull it off. I practiced, as I usually do, like a crazy person, to make sure I didn't embarrass Chris by my performance."

As someone pointed out on another thread,after Fragile, YES ababdoned writing songs and started writing syphonies. I am so glad I went along for the ride. The best prog band that ever was.

So I remember when I was 16 in ‘73 when this was released and my best friend Mike said to me you have to come over and listen to this incredible new song by YES. MIND BLOWN! We sat there and were almost speechless. Well as much as a couple of high school guys could be. BTW YES was before Rush. Geddy lee said his biggest influence was the late GREAT Chris Squire.

"I've got goosebumps" tells us everything we need to know about your reaction. This is your central nervous system saying HELL YES. Welcome to the Yes family experience mind, body and soul.

Indeed, Yes were a HUGE influence on Rush. In fact, 2/3 of Rush inducted Yes into the RRHOF. Very pleased you liked this so much. Check out "Yours Is No Disgrace", "Roundabout", and "And You And I" for your next Yes songs.

Wait until you hear Siberian Khatru, it rocks!

There's only two more songs left on that whole album.

Cool! I am impressed that you hung in there with such an epic, diverse and multi-faceted song! You should listen to "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise" next! Yes is great! If you want to hear a Yes song that will ROCK YOUR WORLD, be sure to listen to the live version of "Yours is No Disgrace" from the Yessongs album (1973). They recorded it on the Close To the Edge tour and it effing ROCKS!

Dude...to hear you say this is one of your favorites so far put a HUGE smile on my face. You, my friend, have long passed all of my "tests" for someone I will watch...and you continue to impress. Now you only have to do "And you and I" and "Siberian Khatru" and you will have done the entire album! You will love "Supper's Ready" You will love "2112" (Rush) You will love "Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull) You will love everything in between too. I am willing to bet that at some point you will react to a song, and it will instantly become your favorite song of all time. Loving it. Keep that shit up.

Man you just jumped right into Yes lol

There's so much going on musically, nobody ever mentions how outstanding the chorus and the harmonies are.

I’ve watched many reactions to CTTE and you are the FIRST to mention one of my favorite parts of the work, the peaceful, almost spiritual, “I get up, I get down” vocal trio. Glad you got into this magnum opus of prog (or what we called at the time, symphonic) rock.

Imagine if you will... Juneau, Alaska... 18 years old... 1973... We were blown away... I think RUSH saw YES in 1968, and liked the sound...

Try "Roundabout " by Yes next.

I am at work so I have to wait to watch this...but I am super fucking excited. This song is AMAZEBALLS! 1. Dogs 2. Supper's Ready 3. Close to the Edge 11pm can't come fast enough for me.

One of the best prog rock songs ever. Try Supper's Ready or The Musical Box by Genesis. Thanks for the content.

Ok, young man. It is a pleasure to see the new people of today finding out about the legends of past!

I really appreciate the great audio quality on your channel - makes a big difference to the listening experience for me.(with you) I was born in 1954 and heard this when it first came out. We lived for music. It has been a clear inspiration for me all my life and it remains one the greatest albums from an era of great music.

This song is the musical equivalent of the “red pill”. I was in my early 20s when it happened to me. Welcome.

I've been blessed to have seen YES in concert a few times and basically, for me, it is them and Pink Floyd, regarding sound quality. Yes sounded exactly like this, SO precise, with SO many moving parts, so intricate, so impressive. If you enjoyed this, I would recommend checking out ELP, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, when you have a chance- Another 70's Prog group that was brilliant

The pinicle of progressive rock!

Saw them in '72 or '73 and they were great live! You need to listen to Yessongs. Your jaw drop at the intro cracked me up!

Close to the Edge will get you the 4 you now need to 1K real quick! From Pink Floyd to Yes. What an awesome journey you're on! BTW, sent this to my brother who subbed about 12 minutes ago.

Yes - Starship Trooper, massive bass. Before Chris Squire passed, this was the encore in most of the 17 times I saw them (while Chris was still alive)

You're right. This is a great album by one of rocks truly epic bands.

Great reaction young man . you're heading the right way 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💎💎💎👍👍👍

Happy Fiftieth Birthday to this album, released this day Sept. 13, 1972. 🎂

Yes is my favorite band!!! Thank you!!!

I'm very glad you "get" Yes music, right off the bat. Their music is amazing, very unique. There are a million mor Yes songs I could suggest, but try Roundabout, Gate Of Delerium, To Be Over, I've Seen All Good People, and Awaken. Also, Jon Anderson and Steve Howe's solo stuff.

I love both Rush and Yes. It was listening to Rush in amongst a myriad of heavy rock bands in the early 80s and Rush's complex music eventually led me to Yes. I have always felt that Rush created their very detailed musical architecture with bricks, and their music was angular, sharp edged and often jagged. Whereas Yes seemed to build their music with the elements; their music being almost liquid in texture. Anyway, cheers for giving CTTE a listen. It's a masterclass in melody, texture and build-up. The whole album is astonishing and arguably as close as early 70s pro-rock got to being beautiful in virtually all areas from start to finish. If you are jumping into the deep end with Yes, you might want to try The Gates of Delirium from the 1974 Relayer album. It's (in my opinion) the zenith of Yes' 1970s creativity and innovation and (again, in my opinion) has not been bettered by any band since. Love what you're doing with your channel. Good luck with everything, and the best to you from Scotland.

Welcome aboard my fellow Space Trooper.....I was lucky to have a big hippy brother who turned me on to YES in `68 and when the band members changed with RICK & Steve joining for the Yes album, they really took off....Jon said they used to checkout Pink Floyd one time and new they had to practice more to match their skills and they did....Now my grand kids have become Space Troopers and started using Grandpa`s hand me down drums and guitar who knows you might even catch the itch, arreviderci Trooper Hart

My favorite track by Yes. RIP Chris Squire.

Try their Yessongs album for a taste of this band live.

You should listen to Yes' rearrangement of "America" (from Simon & Garfunkel).

FYI: The bass player/vocalist of RUSH--Geddy Lee--said that hearing Chris Squire play his Industrial/Melodic Bass line in YES' 2nd album (3 previous to Close To The Edge) was what inspired his purchase of a Rickenbacker Bass, like Chris, and to use it to dominate Rush's sound, like Chris Squire dominated YES's sound on their 1st 9-10 albums.

Now you have 1k :) Congrats !

If you want to go on another epic Yes journey then enter The Revealing Science of God on Tales from Topographic Oceans. It's not far behind this one with transitions, but with a more upbeat meaning.

So cool to see someone react like I did when I was 12 or 13 first running through the Yes catalogue in 1973, lol. These guys are like every player wishes they could play like.

Real professional musicians! Driven intense and glorious!

Put YES' cover of *America* on your short list. You won't be disappointed...

Good to see you have found prog, Roundabout by Yes is another great song, also The Beginning by ELP and Karn Evil number 9 1st impression part 2 also by ELP are more classic prog songs

MASTERPIECE!

Now that's what I call "doing your home work".

I got into Rush first too so it was pretty easy for me to see how Yes had so much influence on them when I started listening to the latter. Geddy clearly loved Jon Anderson and Chris Squire. Of course, Alex was inspired by Steve Howe as well. It was so cool to see those two induct Yes into the R&R Hall of Fame.

My name is Louis I' am 62 I listend to this song many times a year since 1974

A symphony of moods For the next big emotion-filled Yes, “Awaken” is a secular hymn. 13/10.

This is not progressive rock, this is Symphonic Rock!

This is one song where you do not want to post the words, because Jon Anderson himself has said that the words make no sense, but were chosen by how they fit & sounded. Amazing in itself. Another amazing listening suggestion for you.... Tarkus by ELP Emerson Lake & Palmer. But, I doubt you'll read this since it's 2 years old!

Since I came to Yes as it was happening, and at the level you witnessed here, I never gave much consideration to Rush, whom I saw as more derivative than original pioneers. And as you mentioned yourself, Jon's voice is first rate. Hard to top that. All in all, this is surely the best song perhaps even in all genres. The climax is a thrill ride. I'm getting several doses today. You know how to listen, and have good taste. You'll go far. On to 10k!

This is starting on the high-dive. I respect this. Hopefully you will give it many, many more listens. Familiarity does not breed contempt. Think how much more impactful a song like this is today. The 70s were a time of competing for uniqueness and creativity, and "weirdness" was normal. That said, Yes led the pack in creativity and pushing the bounds of what possible. Part of a great quote went, "... if Yes ever were a rock band." BTW: Rush's Geddy Lee (bass + vocals) was heavily influenced by Yes and especially bassist Chris Squire. I've never heard about Geddy's vocals being influenced by Jon. I did hear him say that one reason he sang that way was to cut through the loudness of the music. Rush's initial main influences were Zeppelin (Alex) and Yes (Geddy) although each liked both. Yes is the only band Alex and Geddy waited all night to see. Another factoid: Dream Theater set out to be a mix of Yes and Metallica.

Chicken or Egg? Yes or Rush? …Yes!

New sub here. I love Yes so I had to check out a reaction to CTTE. Glad you enjoyed it, it's an awesome song. Pretty courageous for a first listen to the band . Just finish out the album, only 2 songs to go and you'll love em both. Trust me if you like this song you will like just about everything you hear by them.

A lot of Yes lyrics are chosen for their sounds, or the fleeting images or emotions that the words evoke. They don't necessarily make 'sense' in any literal way. They're used more as an additional instrument. Don't focus on looking for meaning, just let them wash over you. A lyric video, for a Yes track is probably unwise and will just distract from the music. :)

I like your reaction. The lead singer is Jon Anderson

You mentioned Rush. Yes were one of the biggest influences on Rush. Probably THE biggest. :)

I GET HIVES when people reference RUSH when hearing YES. Mush's singer sounds like CHALKBOARDS compared to the DIVINE voice of the gifted & skilled Jon Anderson's. That said, you just listened to one of the greatest modern songs ever created. And on top of that, the other songs on the album as well including what they made on their next two albums are RIVALS this one! TO BE CONTINUED up the the YES ladder to bliss since you are now so inclined!

My favorite song of all time. Do you still think Jon Anderson sounds like Geddy Lee?

Glad you enjoyed one of my favorite songs! Please react to "Awaken" another beautiful masterpiece!

If you should ever be in need of a keyboard player, Rick Wakeman is your man. Give a listen to his solo debut, "The Six Wives of Henry VIII." (Chris Squire was a major influence on Geddy Lee's bass playing.)

It's more of a lyrical symphony than a song don't forget this song came out in 1972 why why ahead of it's time.

I recommend you react to these four songs: "Tarkus" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1971), "Supper's Ready" by Genesis (1972), "Lizard" by King Crimson (1970) and "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" by Van der Graaf Generator (1971). All four songs are over twenty minutes long and absolute classics of progressive rock. They are structured like this: Tarkus a) Eruption b) Stones of Years c) Iconoclast d) Mass e) Manticore f) Battlefield g) Aquatarkus Supper's Ready a) Lover's Leap b) The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man c) Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men d) How Dare I Be So Beautiful? e) Willow Farm f) Apocalypse in 9/8 (Co-Starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet) g) As Sure as Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet) Lizard a) Prince Rupert Awakes b) Bolero - The Peacock's Tale c) The Battle of Glass Tears i) Dawn Song ii) Last Skirmish iii) Prince Rupert's Lament d) Big Top A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers a) Eyewitness b) Pictures/Lighthouse c) Eyewitness d) S.H.M. e) Presence of the Night f) Kosmos Tours g) (Custard's) Last Stand h) The Clot Thickens i) Land's End (Sineline) j) We Go Now

NO! The Rush singer sounds like Jon Anderson LOL

YES pls. Gates of Delirium (most proggy of them all.) it's a huge war.

Not where I’d started your Yes journey, this song is so...ambitious...but glad you enjoyed it! They certainly have many other songs with as much beauty but with less...dissonance 🤷🏻‍♂️. Of course, “Roundabout” is their signature song. “And You & I” is probably the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. “Starship Trooper” is mega.

An amazing prog song! The main difference with Rush is that Rush is more prog metal than just prog. But you are right, time signature changes, great instrumentation, high pitched voices, new rythms, the key signature of prog rock 9

Now you need to listen to Gates of Delirium by Yes.

You need Awaken next. One of the 100 greatest pieces of music written in the 20th century. Period.

You have to wonder if Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart were alive today might they have composed similar works…???

Big YES fan here. I subscribe to anyone who reacts to them. Check out "The Gates of Delirium".

HOW did you get the music to play during the video? I need to know because I want to make a video but the music gets muted every time I try.

You've got the top and climax of prog rock with that. The spiritual history of mankind.

Gates of Delirium live next!!

Listen, people will be listening to this song 100 years from now, like people listen to Mozart and Bach

You picked a good one.

Oh, you have quite the rabbit-hole to go down now. I love and respect Geddy Lee (and you're right, Rush admire and are completely influenced by their love for Yes) but Geddy dreams of having Jon Anderson's singing voice. The Yes Album Fragile Close to the Edge Relayer Going For the One. (Tales From Topographic Oceans after - it's an hour and twenty minute project) Do them all - just trust us. Awaken = Yes perfection, according to Jon Anderson. And me. 😎

When i first heard rush i said wtf. How is it possible that someone ripp of YES. I was 13 years old. And now when i'm 40 i think the same. Rush is too easy to listen. But that was the time when they create.

I don’t think you reacted to two of Rush’s better songs “Tom Sawyer” and “Spirit of Radio”. Also try ZZ Top’s “La Grange”

Please react to Genesis-Supper's Ready its a 22min masterpiece

YES was one of Rush's favorite bands, Geddy in particular was a fan of Chris Squire Yes bassist, and he liked Jon Anderson's vocals.

That is true!!! Rush would not be the band they are if YES did not start doing this kind of music first which we call now "Heaven Music." And the music critics calls "Progressive Rock." Kinda like "Progressive Jazz"....Music critics always label or categorize something or some form of music they can't explain because it doesn't their pre-concieved analysis. YES breaks all the music modes and genres!!! Hahahahaha...lol....hahaha

Geddy Lee worked hard to get his voice to sound like Jon Anderson’s. He is a huge Yes fan, heavily influenced by Yes...when I met him, I had on a Yes t-shirt. We talked about Yes for over half an hour. 💜

DO yourself a favour and listen to The Yes Album. Anything after Tormato you can throw away.

A "song" - really? You call that a song? This album is a work of art; in four movements.

I like your enthusiasm ...Close to the Edge is the Best...Squire's Bass,Jon' voice,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Lyrics,opening and closing...but what are you on(I know,powerful experience here)Jon's voice is not at all like Geddy's(other good singer/band...)

What's going on, it's just the intro.

Hope you liked. My first listen was in '77. I lost count decades ago on how many times I have enjoyed it. Unlike pop music hits, you never get tired of this. The Singer sounds a bit like Geddy Lee (Rush), but Geddy sings in falsetto, while that's Jon Anderson's natural singing voice. Big diff. Thanks for no pauses. Those earn an automatic thumbs down. You get a thumbs-up. Hey, I love my music and I hate to be interrupted when I am deep into it. Be sure to audition the other 2 tracks too. They close out the album and sound just as great. Let the music play.

Strange, Geddy's voice puts me off every time I try to listen to Rush. Jon Anderson's doesn't … at all

Comparing Yes to rush is an insult!! Rush is a company making money, Yes are artists...

No!!! This song goes to 12.

Enough with these reaction videos. There are too many of these floating around now.

That sounded like a lot of noise,I guess I'll have to get high and listen to it again,I think not,this as no kind of beat,I like yes,but this is the worst song I ever heard.