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Track Listings
| 1. "Close To The Edge (I. The Solid Time Of Change, II. Total Mass Retain, III. I Get Up I Get Down, IV. Seasons Of Man)" |
| 2. "And You And I (I. Cord Of Life, II. Eclipse, III. The Preacher The Teacher, IV. Apocalypse)" |
| 3. Siberian Khatru |
| 4. America |
| 5. Total Mass Retain |
| 6. "And You And I (I. Cord Of Life, II. Eclipse, III. The Preacher The Teacher, IV. Apocalypse)" |
| 7. Siberia |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
What's it all about? "A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace / And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace." Actually, it really doesn't matter. Later Yes would fragment, lose focus, but here is Yes functioning for once in the band's tortuous career as an organic unit, and individual elements--such as Jon Anderson's trippy lyrics--are less important than the whole. Even Rick Wakeman's Rachmaninov-for-Hammond-organ excesses work in context, compensated for by Steve Howe's amazingly fluid guitar (equal parts Charlie Christian and Chet Atkins), in turn counterbalanced by Chris Squire's behemoth Rickenbacker bass and Bill Bruford's jazzy drumming. This is rock music informed by the improvisatory spirit of Miles Davis, allied with the grandiose pretensions of the classics: love it or hate it, Close To The Edge is the definitive prog album. --Mark Walker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Down by the edge just by the river" we are told. Andersons Lyrics allude to something but never quite reveal his intentions, thats the vagueness and genius of the title track. It starts with the rich textured soundscape accompanied by intense jazz drum and bass(lovely full rickenbaker sound) provided for us by messers Bruford and Squire. Then the song starts and were taken somewhere we think we may have been before, but are not quite sure. Recorded on newly introduced 16 track equipment and by engineer Eddie Offord, the album sounds beautiful. Played on modern equipment today it shows analogue recording at its best (my recording is in AAD format)and now with remastering (ADD) it sounds even better -lovely clean bass and sharp drum sounds.
Unashamedly I love this album, allured initially as a boy of 16 to the artwork of Roger Dean I found a richer world inside the cover. I should aslo say that all three tracks on Close To The Edge are equally exquisite, both Siberian Khatru and And You and I, are infinitely listernable. this is so-called prog-rock of a different order. So much so that yes never really attained the level of fluidity again.
Unashamedly I love this album, allured initially as a boy of 16 to the artwork of Roger Dean I found a richer world inside the cover. I should aslo say that all three tracks on Close To The Edge are equally exquisite, both Siberian Khatru and And You and I, are infinitely listernable. this is so-called prog-rock of a different order. So much so that yes never really attained the level of fluidity again.
If green had a sound, then this is what it would be.
Moth
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have followed Yes and progressive music for some years now (well 20 to be precise!!!). I still believe that 'Close to the Edge' remains the definitive Yes album, and more importantly, the most significant progressive rock album ever!
The title track is a collection of ideas that have been melded together to create a seamless fusion of jazz and rock that is near perfect and always timeless. The 'classic' line up of band members (Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman and Bruford) were at the time, at the peak of their powers and 'Close to the Edge' was never bettered. Most notably, Squire's bass, Brufords percussion and Howe's guitars work together as one single unit, and cut as sharp (and as deep) as a razor.
'And you and I' remains the most gorgeous of all Yes songs. The quirky Steve Howe, Jon Anderson intro paves the way to some of the most beautiful and haunting (Rick Wakeman's melotron) passages in the history of rock music. Its always been a live favourite an is definately one to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
The last track 'Syberian Khatru' (I still dont know what a 'Khatru' is. Answers on a postcard please..or just e-mail me) is Steve Howe's moment of glory. His guitar passages sweep, swoon and soar (almost) as high as Anderson's voice.
The album may not have the enthusiasm of 'The Yes Album' but it is not as self indugent as 'Fragile'. If your new to Yes, but are familure with prog rock, i urge you to give this a try. If your new to Yes and to Prog i would suggest you start with 90125.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is quite probably the best album of all time. The set opens up with the title track, 'Close To The Edge', which starts as a slow build up of birds singing which shifts seamlessly into an instrumental break showing off the exceptional skills of all the musicians. From there, we pass, again seamlessly into the main theme of the song which continues with a mixture of subtle and 'in your face' music and song. The lyrics can only be looked upon as a sound poem and Jon Anderson himself has admitted as much! This album is a fine example of this style of music at its best. What syle is this?........ you might call it prog-rock or symphonic rock or anything else for that matter, but the bottom line is that this is simply music at its best. The title track continues and builds to a climax before it ends as it began with the birds' song. The second track, 'And You And I', is another classic. Give this a listen and no matter where your musical tastes lie, you'll find something to inspire you. Take time to listen to the individual intruments being played.... this is the way music is supposed to sound. The third, and final track, 'Siberian Khatru', starts as it means to go on....... hard and in your face! Its easy to see why this track has been included in the live sets for as long as it has. This album cannot be done justice by the use of mere words..... just listen to it and you will see. This is great music from a time when Yes, in any guise, were at their best. Only 'Awaken', from the album,'Going For The One', is able to better the music from this period. If you were to own only a small number of albums, 'Close To The Edge', must feature. Miss it if you must, but the loss will be yours!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
YES at there Brilliant Best an all time classic!!!
One of the Best Albums of all time and has to be in the top twenty albums of all time.
An Absolute Masterpiece of an Album. Read more
An Absolute Masterpiece of an Album. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andrew Goodman
Bill Bruford knew what he was doing
He said something like "there's no way we were going to better it so there was no point staying". He was right. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andy J W
happyhippy
I have to make a confession, this is the only Yes album i have in my still growing collection simply because i was never 'that really into them'. Read more
Published 4 months ago by happyhippy
Excellent album
Excellent album. This album is just perfect. The music is clever, but at the same time it is strong melodically. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Alex Hannon
The Greatest?
Is this the greatest album ever released? It would certainly be up in my top 3 with 'Dark Side of the Moon' and maybe a Beatles album. Read more
Published 8 months ago by P. Ronayne
IF IT WERE LISTED AS CLASSICAL, IT WOULD BE A TIMELESS MASTERPIECE TOO
One of Rock's finest hours (together with Sgt. Peppers) , Yes' undisputed masterpiece, and prog's crowning achievement. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Carlo Matthews
My all-time favourite album.
I'm glad this album is receiving such a positive posthumous re-assessment. I was fourteen when it came out, and I've listened to it regularly ever since (now 52, put your... Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. J. Bullough
How Prog Rock died
This album represents the reason why Prog Rock died: very high standards of musicianship that are very difficult for any up-and-coming Prog Rock band to emulate; lyrics that are... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mark
Takes you to the edge and beyond
Simply, one of the greatest prog rock albums of all time. It's there as a benchmark for the genre with King Crimson's 'In the Court of the Crimson King'. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Rik P
Perfection
Well times have moved on since 1971 but this remains a relic of perhaps a better life. Simply stunning on so many levels - composition, playing and vocals. Read more
Published 12 months ago by visog
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