@@McMurphyKirby My daddy, he disowned me 'cause I wear my sisters clothes He caught me in the bathroom with a pair of pantyhose My basketball coach, he done kicked me off the team For wearing high heel-sneakers and actin' like a queen (Hahaha) The world's comin' to an end-I don't even care As long as can I have a Limo and my orange hair And it don't bother me if people think I'm funny 'Cause I'm a big rock star and I make a lots of money!
@@classicalbum I put Close to the Edge on the turntable and the earphones on my head and sat and listened with the lyrics, old school. The time flew by. great analysis for a great album.
Totally agree that Open Your Eyes is awful but I think Talk is underrated. I know Talk gets a lot of negativity but I never thought I'd see it ranked below Heaven and Earth.
Anderson is technically not falsetto, he sings a naturally high unforced voice - there is an interview with him where he discusses the classification of the vocal style he has.
Jon also thinks that Mauritius is like Accrington Stanley so he is not always factual let us say - hes not falsetto that much is true & he sings high in what seems a fairly one off way - Trevor Horn mimicked it but nearly did himself in doing so i think he was relived to leave Yes @@shipsahoy1793
Superb video Barry. Close To The Edge is probably my favourite. Drama is considerably underrated & I like Going For The One too. The Soon part in the The Gates Of Delirium brings me to tears. One word to describe their music is Moving.
I was 13 when 90125 came out. I had never heard of Yes. I enjoyed the videos I saw on TV, particularly "Leave It." That song convinced me that I had to get the album, since now I liked three songs released as singles from it. Let's say I was surprised when the "Yes" bin at the record store contained many older albums with vivid artwork on them. "Who are these guys?" I wondered. After I had played 90125 for the umpteenth time, I decided to get the album immediately before it. So the second Yes album I ever listened to was "Drama." It was harder edged and a bit darker, but I ended up loving it. I planned to buy the album immediately before "Drama." I mentioned "Drama" to the older brother of a friend at my high school, and he recommended that I not get "Tormato" but instead I should buy "The Yes Album," "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge." In that order. I did so over the next two months. I became a Yes fan. So whatever people say about 90125, I figure several million Yes fans were created by it.
The first Yes Album i bought is „Yessongs“ and up to now i prefer the Live Versions over many Studio Versions. And off course, 90125 made me do it…“Leave it“ is great!
I, too, was 13 when 90125 came out. I was a HUGE Asia fan, and had started diving into their origins, and on a whim, I went to see the 9012Live concert. What I experienced was probably one of THE single best shows I have ever seen in my life and was completely blown away by their performance. This was enough to get me hooked into everything Yes from their past. I thought Trevor Rabin was a master, not only in fully mimicking Steve Howe's style, but also elaborating his own. I could go on, but 90125 will always hold a cherished place for me in Yes' discography.
I think Roger Dean did so much to elevate Yes’s music! Back in those wonderful days the Album covers were very important because you were attracted to check it out!! As a artist myself I was drawn to Roger Deans interpretation of the ideas that Yes were trying to convey! It made you use your imagination to see it and especially to hear it! Prog is best done with great head phones and a bit of green, to
90125 and Signals by Rush are the same type of album and both came around at roughly the same time. My musical ear really developed with these 2 recordings. They were both prog bands trying to find their way in the new synth/new wave landscape. So how to stay true to their style while adapting? The production on both is stellar, which is of course the first thing that I latched onto as a then-12 year old boy. I fully understand how the purists cringe when hearing it (both albums, really). But they could've stayed 'Close To The Edge' and us kids would've passed. Or we could grab onto "Owner..." and stay for the rest of the album, which I did. Btw, it's still in my rotation *gasp* 40 *gasp* years later.
IMHO you nailed it overall Barry. There are a few small moves I'd make, but the only major one is to move up Drama. Listen to it again, and DO NOT compare it to the more "proggy" albums with longer compositions. It is a truly excellent album.
1. The Yes Album 2. Fragile 3. Close To The Edge 4. Going For The One 5. Relayer 6. Yes 7. Time And A Word 8. Tales From Topographic Oceans 9. Tormato 10. Drama Sorry, can't go past 1980, although 90125 gets an honorable mention.
Topographic is my favorite - but I have difficulties placing the top 8 or so. So many great albums to choose from. Thanks for these wonderfully worded curated reviews.
Nice presentation & good thoughts !! Myself, though ? I can't see any of the '80s or '90s offerings being better than Time & A Word. Why ? The intracacies in the music, Squire's attacking bass sound & Kaye's great Hammond. And Bruford's prescence, of course..... Even Steve Howe is a big fan of Time And A Word. My #1 ? The Yes Album 🚬😎
The Yes album, Fragile and Close to the Edge. The top 3. In any order. And all released back to back to back. Amazing run. Glad I grew up listening to music in the 70s. Thanks for the video.
I was delighted and, given your exquisite taste, not surprised that you found South Side of the Sky to be the standout track on Fragile. The haunting interlude section with wordless loi-loi-loi vocals and piano, and Howe's guitar riffs in the harder section are highlights.
No Keys To Ascension? There were 7 brand new studio tracks included and later they released Keys Studio to isolate the new studio material? Why would this be ignored, definitely some of the best Yes music out there.
They should have released the Keys To Ascension studio tracks in 1997/1998, as compensation for or in lieu of Open Your Eyes. I have the studio tracks as Keys To Ascension on my MP3 collection, for what it's worth.
Am I the only one who thinks their first album is the best? Admittedly its not Yes as they became, not their classic sound/lineup. But its progressive with a small P, there is so much vibrancy about it, you can hear every instrument interacting with each other, and a lot of invention. The production was a bit odd but that helps to make it more unique. Maybe its more jazz rock than other efforts but the melodies and interplay really define it
My rank worst to best: 23. Big Generator (1987) 22. Talk (1994) 21. Union (1991) 20. Heaven & Earth (2014) 19. The Quest (2021) 18. Open Your Eyes (1997) 17. Yes (1969) 16. ABWH (1989) 15. 90125 (1983) 14. Fly From Here (2011) 13. The Ladder (1999) 12. Drama (1980) 11. Mirror To The Sky (2023) 10. Time And A Word (1970) 09. Keys to Ascension Studio (1997) 08. Tormato (1978) 07. Magnification (2001) 06. Tales Of Topographic Oceans (1973) 05. Going For The One (1977) 04. Relayer (1974) 03. Fragile (1971) 02. The Yes Album (1971) 01. Close To The Edge (1972)
Your opinion, my opinion, anyone's opinion is just that, opinions and no one can be faulted for theirs. You, however, have a forum to voice yours, that takes a certain amount of balls. I feel one can find merit and disagreement in your or in any critics critiques. That's the name of the game in what you do and in life in general. Thanks for your effort and for the sharing within.
It is just opinion at the end of the day and there are a lot of youtube music reviewers, so I'm always grateful that someone wants to spend time listening to my comments
To be honest, I loved them a lot in my youth and I still like part of their earlier catalogue. It still is great when I am in the mood for it. But the band ran on for far too long without having much to say anymore. At best they sound like repeating "great Yes" but for a progressive band they lack "progress" in later years. (0. Yessongs) One of the rare cases where a live album is my favourite of a band. The proof that such performances were really "live" music and not studio trickery is amazing and the songs themselves sound sharper and more urgent. 1. Close to the Edge 2. Tales From Topographic Oceans (The secret to this album is not to hear it all in one session. The individual tracks consumed one at a time a magnificent. Like old composers doing concepts about the four seasons or topics like that. You just select the one that fits your current mindset) 3. Relayer (I always wished this to be as long as Tales, one of the few cases where an album is too short) 4. The Yes Album 5. Time and a Word 6. Tormato (underrated) 7. Fragile (The group tracks are great but the solo exposures are a bit filler - Generally, the classic Yes lineup worked as a band, all the solo stuff they did is rather weak compared to what they did in the band) 8. Going for the One (overrated) 9. Yes 10. Drama 11. Big Generator 12. 90125 13. Union 14. Fly From Here 15. Talk 16. Heaven and Earth 17.The Ladder 18. Open Your Eyes 19. Magnification Missing - Yesterdays (it is a compilation but it has their version of America, one of their best early tracks and not available otherwise, and all the songs from the first two albums which you need)
@Mike Watkins I had the LP Age of Atlantic (missing the New) in the early 70s. Survival was on it from Yes, also Led Zeppelin but not the song you mention. Dr John, a band called Dada (the first version of Vinegar Joe with Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer), Delaney and Bonnie, MC5. Great memories...The one you mentioned came a few years later but I never had it, by that time I had the full LPs of those artists. But the series was great music for low budget.
About Relayer, the addition of Patrick Moraz, with his jazz/fusion background and synth choices, and Roger Dean’s ice white world give this album a darker and remote beauty that present a Yes from another universe. Along with all the albums Bruford played on, plus Drama (of all albums), are my top 5.
I played "Soon' from Relayer to a pro. opera singer. She is quite a critical person but thought that Jon,s voice was extraordinary with 'a very free and controlled technique" She reckoned the band were pretty good too!
1. Close to the Edge 2. Fragile 3. The Yes Album 4. Going for the One 5. 90125 Relayer and Tales WAY too much noodling, lack of structure easily loses one's attention. Squire said of TP that "Jon felt that Yes could just walk into a studio, and if the vibes were right ... the music would be great. It wasn't." Wakeman said that there were some "nice moments in Topographic Oceans, but there wasn't enough for a double album, so we padded it out and the padding is awful." Relayer was more of the same. Can't remember the last time I've listened to either. After CttE, it was basically hit 'r miss, but those first three in my list will go down in history as not only some of the best prog music but some of the best music ever. They will stand the test of time.
Nice review, you almost got it perfect. I disagree completely with Tormato, it's full of energy and fresh ideas, showing the direction they were leaning toward. All songs are good on the album and the playing is stellar. It's different from other Yes albums, but in a good way. It's edgy, restless. You can tell the band was frustrated and trying new things, which were of course leading toward 90125 by way of Drama. just listen to Circus of Heaven, Future Times and Arriving UFO. Masterful. Release, Release is ripping with punk-like energy. Love the album to pieces.
Very much agree with Eliot. With Tormato, Yes were clearly trying not to repeat the (sublime and almost spiritual) Going for the One album and go in a completely different direction. A brave move indeed. The result is a mixture of very diverse, shorter songs delivered in a more punchy, direct style. But you do have to listen a LOT of times to this album. I find there's hardly a bad track on here, and as a finale we get the breathtaking On the Silent Wings of Freedom, another Yes prog rock-classic.
@@christopherammentorp3863 I am glad that one other kindred soul likes Tormato, LOL. I was starting to feel pretty isolated - no one likes Tormato, and it's such a sweet album. C'mon now people, put away your prejudices and give it a fair shake.
Nicely done, for me Relayer is top dog closely followed by Topographic Oceans then Close to the Edge. Those albums in 5.1 are amazing. For me Yes we're really over after Relayer. Nothing they did after comes anywhere near close. Nicely done though.
Why do people refuse to include the studio tracks from the _Keys to Ascension_ albums as one entity when ranking the group's albums? Particularly since it's better than any of the 4 albums made with Rabin.
Talk is anything but safe Endless Dream is amazing l am a musician and that album catch the spirit of Yes with Rabin The Ladder is a great album nothing missing
I'm going to have to reevaluate Relayer.... You've certainly done all of your homework. Enjoyed all of your comments. Glad to hear your rather high regard of Drama - a worthwhile effort indeed. Like other commenters, I'd put Talk quite a bit higher.
IMO Talk and Union should be much higher. Talk has Endless dreams and the other songs are all great. Union is very long and would make an excellent 45 minute album. All the musicians are not playing together it is two different bands (East and West) with Jon Anderson singing with both bands. I agree these albums are not Yes at their best but there is a lot to enjoy in both albums.
Fair assessment. Enjoyable. I do a similar podcast, and I'm interested in rankings and the way people view music that I myself have spent some serious thought and time ranking. The only place I varied widely from you is on Talk, which is in my top 5 easily of Yes albums. I don't understand why it ranks so low, with so many fans. But there you go. The hell of it is, we are all correct. However we have things ranked. We're all telling the truth, and that what makes us right or wrong. This isn't physics. It's what moves us as people. Thanks for the pod. I've subscribed and look forward to working my way through the back catalog. Peace.
1. Yes Album 2. Topographic 3. Close to the Edge 4. Relayer 5. Fragile 6. Going for the One 7. Time and a Word 8. Drama 9. Talk 10. Tormato 11. Yes 12. Keystudio 13. 90125 14. Big Generator 15. Magnification 16. Open Your Eyes 17. Union 18. Quest 19. Heaven and Earth 20. Mirror to the Sky 21. Fly From Here Haven't really heard the Ladder. Need to listen to the new ones again but not the same without Jon.. Talk is super cool to me haha, nothing like their other albums. ✌🏼🎧
1. Tied - Close to the Edge, Fragile, The Yes Album. 4. Tied - Yessongs, Relayer. 6. (edited) Time and a Word. Honorable Mention (sort of) - Topographic Oceans. There are no other Yes albums.
@@mikeviall811 So am I, though not a professional. But you don't have to be a musician to have an opinion on music. Art is subjective, but as a musician you should know that. You gave an opinion. I gave mine.That's fine. But you're wrong on a factual, *objective* level. There are plenty of other Yes albums.
Just found this: difficult to choose between Relayer, Close to the Edge and Tales for my number 1. My first introduction back in 1975 at school was borrowing copies of Tales and Yessongs. My personal list would have Talk higher and 90215 lower but all music appreciation is subjective!
1 - Close to the Edge 2 - Fragile 3 - Yes Album 4 - Drama 5 - 90125 6 - Tormato 7 - Relayer 8 - Tales From Topographic Oceans 9 - Time and a Word 10 - Going for the One 11 - Yes 12 - Magnification 13 - Big Generator
Yes first 2 albums, I don't even consider Yes albums. They stand on their own as brilliant to me. A sound of their own. Coupled with the many BBC recordings just separate their first 2 LP's apart. I'm not saying they are better they just sound so cool to me. Never to be repeated, a little bit in Badger & Flash. They are part of the sound.. Flash, Badger, Yes & Time & A Word. On their own. Interesting to hear their 2000-2023 reviewed because I quit buyin studios after "Big Generator". Thanks for this. It's worth a few listens. Good information.
My top 10 from Yes albums: 1) Close to the Edge 2) Relayer 3) Yes Album 4) Fragile 5) Tales from Topographic Oceans 6) Going for the One 7) 90125 8) ABWH 9) Time and a Word 10) Drama
Tihs ranking is near perfect!, Fly from here is such a good record, I am happy to see not everyone hates it. I would only put Drama in front of Big generator, its a bit more dark and interesting.
1. Relayer 2. Close to the edge 3. Tales from topographic oceans 4. Going for the one 5. The yes album 6. Fragile 7. Drama 8. Yes 9. 90125 10. Tormado 11. Time and a word 12. Keys 13. Talk 14. Union 15. Fly from here 16. The ladder 17. Magnifications 18. Big generator 19. Open your eyes
Great List. Rolling Stone calling Pink Floyd anything "Light" elucidates how far they have fallen. I've included my cancellation letter to RS after they came out with their Top 500 Albums of All-Time. (Sorry for the length.) Dear Rolling Stone, For the following atrocities, please cancel my membership. #26 Patti Smith “Horses” before any Pink Floyd, Hendrix, or Elton John? #24 “Sgt Peppers.” WTF!? Seriously 24!? First Bob Marley at #48?! “Dark Side of the Moon” #55? ‘Nuff said. “Astral Weeks” at 60. It’s a magnus opus for Christ sake. 2 Kanye before any Elton John. Who at Rolling Stone is getting bl*wn by a Kardashian? #99 Taylor Swift!!! Hello, Elton. Rolling Stone called. They want to sodomize you. #111 Janet Jackson. Last name “Smith” and she’s a Paula Abdul. #112 first Elton. So who thinks Janet Jackson has influenced music more than Elton!? The movie was called “Rocketman” not “Michael’s Sister.“ #129 The Wall. It’s a goddamn brilliant concept album. Name one f*cking song off Janet’s album!!!! First Police album at 159? Sorry, Sting. I Hope your meditation helps you deal with hypocrisy. And who is Kendrick Lamar with 3 in top 175? Never heard of him. I know I’m old but sh*t. Tommy at 190? Why does RS hate concept albums? #197 Meet the Beatles! It’s in the f*cking name…Meet the Beatles. They influence music much? 217 Oasis. Best band of the 90’s. 238 Kraftwerk. They suck. Wish You Were Here at 264? Two f*cking sixty four!? First Elvis album 322? Pretty sure he was a big deal in the ‘70’s. First Snoop at 340. So much for sipping on gin and juice. Harrison’s All Things Must Pass @ 368....Or 257 after Janet Jackson. Skynyrd at 381. Yeah not many people play Freebird at EVERY DAMN HIGH SCHOOL DANCE. First Dead album at 409. Okay I actually agree with that one. 418 for Dire Straits? Have you heard Mark Knopfler play guitar? #447 Bad Bunny? What the f*ck is a bad bunny? No Al Green until 456. Is RS hard of hearing? Best voice ever. RS, you’ve worn out your welcome in my home. Now piss off!
I love YES. I had the opportunity of interview Jon Anderson and Chris Squire in 1994, during the Talk Tour, the day before this show in Santiago: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Xnoe-clgoFs.html. Jon was kind and Chris was funny. I have my Yes Album copy signed by them, plus Tony Kaye. My personal ranking: Best Albums: The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Relayer, Drama, 90125 Great Albums: Tales From Topographic Oceans, Tormato Good Albums: Going for the One, Keys to Ascension I, Keys to Ascension II, Magnification, Fly From Here So-So Albums: Yes, Time and a Word, Big Generator, Talk Avoid: Union, Open Your Eyes, The Ladder, Heaven & Hell Just my opinion. Greetings from Chile!🇨🇱
1)Relayer 2)Going For the One 3)CTTE 4)The Yes Album 5)Fragile 6)TOTO 7) 90215 8)Tormato 9) Drama 10)Big Generator 11)Yes-First album 12) Time and A Word 13) Don't care about the rest of the albums because I don't listen to them. To be honest.
1. Going For The One 2. Tales From Topographic Oceans 3. Close To The Edge 4. Relayer 5. Fragile 6. The Yes Album 7. Drama 8. Big Generator 9. Magnification 10. Fly From Here 11. Tormato 12. Drama 13. Time And A Word 14. The Ladder 15. Talk 16. Yes 17. Heaven And Earth 18. Union 19. Open Your Eyes
My personal rank: 1. Tales 2. The Yes Album 3. Close to the Edge 4. Time and a Word 5. Tormato 6. 90125 7. Fragile 8. Going for the One 9. Yes 10. Relayer
For me, Relayer is probably #2 or #3 all time favorite Yes. Sure, it's a long winding journey, but it's a journey that is definitely taking you somewhere and has one of the most evocatively beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard in my 60 years: "Soon".
..I agree with every spot...and I may have missed your assessment before...but someday give a shout out to "Fish Out Of Water"..THAT is a Masterpiece record...
90125 introduced so many to Yes, myself included, but once you listen to their classic stuff you say, “Well, I will always love “Leave It”, but what beats “Wondrous Stories” or I’ve Seen All Good People”?
4:04 - I've heard people dis "Circus of Heaven" but no one even MENTIONS "Madrigal." I see it as the Rick Wakeman equivalent of Steve's "Leaves of Green" portion of Tales - both are very much stand-alone classical/folk-flavored instrumentals that the Steve or Rick brought to Jon and let him add his words and vocals. And in both cases, the results are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for mentioning it!
I had all the ‘70s albums (vinyl), with the exception of Yessongs. The first one was Going for the One, which I bought in ‘77. Then I bought Fragile, Close to the Edge, and The Yes Album, in that order. Loved every note of all of them. Any of the 4 albums could be number 1 for me. Tormato came out the next year, which I bought the day it was released. I was so excited, but I couldn’t get into it. I wanted more of the seemingly instant Yes magic that I got from the first four albums I bought. So I splurged and bought Relayer and Tales from Topographic Oceans. I liked and still like Side 1 of Topographic, but didn’t care for the other three sides nor Relayer, even the much loved Gates of Delirium. I know I’m in the minority here. After watching your reviews, perhaps I’ll give Relayer and Sides 2, 3, and 4 of Tales another shot.
I can’t really rank my favourite top five or so Yes albums (which are all the 70s albums), because I like them so nearly equally, but I would personally rate Relayer higher than you did, and yes, I am one of those who strongly dislikes 90125, although I don’t consider myself a hardcore Yes fan. When we arrived at the point of 90125 and Drama, I found myself immediately in the Drama camp, admittedly, because as a young guitarist, Steve Howe was one of my first influences, but I did regularly listen to both albums. Over time however, neither album stood up well in my regard, but especially 90125. I fell away from the band after that, and could never get into anything I heard from them from then on. For my taste, 90125 was for Yes what Invisible Touch was for Genesis, a stark enough change that it marks the end of the band *for me*.
I have to disagree, Talk and Union are both some of my favorites. I'd put 90125 and Big Generator near the bottom, and Tales From Topographic Oceans wouldn't get a mention. Absolutely agree with Close to the Edge for number one. Faultless begining to end.
In my opinion - only MY opinion - the last few Yes albums are pedestrian Asia. It wasn't prog enough to keep the classic Yes fans, and not pop enough to really grab modern listeners. 90125 was their last hurrah, where they managed to keep everyone interested. I think there are great Yes moments in later years, but the Yes train derailed in 1983... and they never had an album that worked again for everyone. As I write this, you mention 'Drama.' An odd blend of musicians that somehow worked. 'Magnification.' A blend of nothing ;) Boring. Keep it up. I love your content! PS - As I watch the vid. Turn Of The Century and Wonderous Stories are maybe some of the most beautiful tracks in the band's history... right up there with Time And A Word. I'll now retire to listen to listen to more Yes... for the next 4 hours. Thanks!
I never had a problem with the so-called “pretension” of Tales; albeit, I would not rate it as high as it was here. My issue, was that I felt I was taken thru a Baha’i service. There were certain religions the rock world were comfortable with, and doing some evangelizing. Tales comes to mind; Seals and Crofts albums were in my face with the Hinduism; and Cat Stevens got away with pushing some Islam…Go figure. Woah! Lest I forget George Harrison! In your face on steroids!
One word to describe YES? Impossible. Good to see TFTO ranked so high. It made my spirit climb into the sky! Wakeman was just plain wrong about it. /discussion lol I've given up trying to listen to anything after Going For the One. Just can't get into it. I'd much rather listen to the debut album and Time and a Word.
There's always going to be a plus or minus 2 or 3 in everyone's positioning, but I think your general movement through the canon is really good (I agree with your lowest). Glad to see that Heaven & Earth isn't the bottom as I agree with you that there are some decent songs there. I'm surprised though, that you didn't mention the utterly awful production by Roy Thomas Baker. I'd like someone like Horn to maybe do "H & E - Re-rooted". Can't argue with the top 5 - not my order but there's only smidgeons in between them all, so we'll all pick out little nuances we each love that create our final order. Happy 2023 (seeing Relayer live!) and take care of your good self too.
A little something about 'Relayer'. I recall reading an article in '73 or so in which Jon Anderson mentioned that the band were quite taken by Mahavishnu Orchestra ('Birds of Fire' was big at the time) and wanted to get something of that band's sound into Yes. 'Sound Chaser' in particular captures some of that Mahavishnu spirit, and is perhaps as close to 'fusion' as Yes ever got. Patrick Moraz's synth lines and Alan White's powerful drumming on the track aren't exactly a million miles away from the sound that Chick Corea and Lenny White belted out a couple of years later on RTFs 'Romantic Warrior'...
Agree that Close To The Edge has to be top, but I find Tales From Topographic Oceans a Chore! Magenta recorded a beautiful version of Wondrous Stories. I hope that's the version you mean.
'Tales' is on top for my 2 cents worth. Ambitious project, yeah based on Shastri scriptures that I don't care for yet provides a lyrical structure for this prog masterpièce de résistance featuring musicianship by the 5 best Yes maestros.
Top 5 for me not in any particular order are tales from topographic oceans, close to the edge, fragile, the yes album, And big generator. Next would be going for the one, magnification, 90125, Relayer. I find the heaven and Earth album unlistenable. I really appreciate that you didn't slag big generator.. That is the album that got me into yes and then when I started perusing my father's vinyl I saw that yes had been around for a while. That is when I discovered older yes. I was already a hardcore Genesis fan - introduced by invisible touch but soon realized that prog was my go to meaning Foxtrot, Nursery chryme, selling England et cetera. Still my 2 favorite yes songs are big generator and heart of the sunrise. Big generator as a song is so perverse and still makes me laugh every time I listen to it all the unexpected things that happen in it, not to mention it is a great riff and a great melody. Anyway I fully expected big generator to be at the bottom of your list and I was really excited to see it was quite up there.
Another hard one! My choices would be Relayer, Fragile, Tormato. With a mention of drama. But generally close to the edge gets top nods from most. Great job
Your bottom ten are the right records in the wrong order. Union is by far the worst. I would take Talk and Open your Eyes over magnification, the Ladder, Fly and Heaven and Earth any day. Talk is a better record than Big Generator. You have however nailed the top 6 in perfect order.
I disregard with most of these rankings. I like to judge a band's album by how often it's played. Heaven and earth should be right next to Open Your Eyes.
Another predictable "open your eyes" review, I don't think it's best album by any stretch, but better than some of the negative reviews of the album iv viewed. Actually only got to hear it for the first time recently, and fail to understand why people hate it so much, but hey, we all have our opinions! 😊
My take on Wakeman's dislike of TFTO - he was also breaking through as a solo artist and was being pulled in that direction. His frequently ventilated view that he disliked it because he found it 'boring' may well be true but he was bored because he had one eye on all those Rolls Royces he was going to buy - but he'll never admit it. Yet it remains one of my favourites. One word to describe them: Emotional.
Into The Lens (from Drama) "doesn't really happen" ! I was working in a record store at the time of the album's release and my customers were simply too scared to take a chance on the the Yes/Buggles collaboration. I would play them Into The Lens and out came the wallet..
