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Track Listings
| 1. Close to the Edge - Yes |
| 2. And You and I - Yes |
| 3. Siberian Khatru - Yes |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
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
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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 calculators away!) There are a few albums from that period that I still take the trouble to set up the correct listening environment for, and then actually listen to them (ring a bell?) all the way through with complete attention. Others include Dark side of the moon, The Wall, Led Zeppelin 3,4 and Houses of the Holy, from Yes Topographic Oceans and Relayer. But of this list, CTTE is the album I have played the most. It is truly evergreen, as the cover suggests. They nailed some of the most exhilarating and spine-tingling moments of all music from any genre, combined with a magical atmosphere that sweeps you away each and every time without fail, if you listen to it properly(as opposed to having it on in the background, which would just be annoying!) At one of their live shows in Birmingham a few years ago Jon said that he wrote the lyrics while having afternoon 'tea' with the rest of the band, now THAT makes perfect sense. This music, as the cover suggests so effectively, is like stepping outside on a sunny summer's morning and the air is clean and crisp, and life is full of exciting possibilities. That is the feeling captured on this album. I love it to bits. 'Now that it's all over and done, run to the sea, right to the sun, now that you find, now that you're whole...' This is also why I never embraced punk, which many of my peers did in 1977, but resolutely stuck to my musical guns through thick and thin!
77 of 81 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
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
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Chris G.
Format:Audio CD
It's now 2007, and there's not really anything novel that can be said about 'Close To The Edge', the seminal 1972 album from Yes. Similarly, it's difficult to avoid a gushing, superlative-laden eulogy when reviewing the album.
So, whilst musings on the album may understandably lack originality nowadays, the actual music is still as enchanting, euphoric and fresh as ever. Personally, I'd say that the exhilarating nature of this album is its most startling and enduring aspect. Yes have mastered the art of rousing auspicious emotions, and on CTTE they flaunt their abilities with unrivalled élan. From start to finish, this whole experience is just astonishing!
Okay, so maybe this is another gushing review, but if any album deserves lauding, it's this! Sure, there may `only' be three tracks, but each track, to me, is like a mini-album, exploring a myriad of esoteric musical concepts, drifting the listener in and out of contrasting soundscapes; never stalling, always captivating!
The lyrical concepts here are somewhat impenetrable, and, for some, this may be off-putting, however Yes rightly concentrate all their energy into structuring the perfect aural experience, and the words correlate with the sounds flawlessly, generating a cohesive palette of unparalleled sonic beauty.
Each track presents a stimulating musical voyage, and it's impossible to single one out for special mention, as the essence of each song complements a different mood perfectly. Essentially, therefore, the album is unexpectedly versatile, and warrants a listen anytime, regardless of your contemporary psychological disposition. The music invariably engenders joy, anyway - accordingly, it's a tremendous way to elevate your spirits.
So, to abridge: An album that is as good today as it was in 1972 (if not better). Buy!!
So, whilst musings on the album may understandably lack originality nowadays, the actual music is still as enchanting, euphoric and fresh as ever. Personally, I'd say that the exhilarating nature of this album is its most startling and enduring aspect. Yes have mastered the art of rousing auspicious emotions, and on CTTE they flaunt their abilities with unrivalled élan. From start to finish, this whole experience is just astonishing!
Okay, so maybe this is another gushing review, but if any album deserves lauding, it's this! Sure, there may `only' be three tracks, but each track, to me, is like a mini-album, exploring a myriad of esoteric musical concepts, drifting the listener in and out of contrasting soundscapes; never stalling, always captivating!
The lyrical concepts here are somewhat impenetrable, and, for some, this may be off-putting, however Yes rightly concentrate all their energy into structuring the perfect aural experience, and the words correlate with the sounds flawlessly, generating a cohesive palette of unparalleled sonic beauty.
Each track presents a stimulating musical voyage, and it's impossible to single one out for special mention, as the essence of each song complements a different mood perfectly. Essentially, therefore, the album is unexpectedly versatile, and warrants a listen anytime, regardless of your contemporary psychological disposition. The music invariably engenders joy, anyway - accordingly, it's a tremendous way to elevate your spirits.
So, to abridge: An album that is as good today as it was in 1972 (if not better). Buy!!
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
Great album. Brought me back in time to when I used to love the band Yes, building a library of my favourite music from '70's, hadnt heard it since then
Published 8 days ago by Ethna's Complementary Therapies
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sublime
Still stands out as a masterpiece. Surprisingly timeless. If you "get" Yes then you must have this in your collection.
Published 1 month ago by M. W. Deans
5.0 out of 5 stars
Somebody 'fixed' the cd sound
I got this album years ago. I won't bore you with the details about the songs etc many have done it better here. Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. Armour
5.0 out of 5 stars
Close to the Edge is right
I need to go in the roof space to find out if my vinyl copy (long archived for lack of space) is (as I recollect) a double album, if it was I have been cheated. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Marcus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh YES!
This album wore out on my turntable during the early 70's, and I just decided to relive a bit of my youth with some Prog Rock. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Simon West
5.0 out of 5 stars
Close to the edge of perfection, this 40-year old classic is still...
Yes' astounding 1972 album is the peak of the band's most creative period, the defining creation of the quintessential Anderson-Squire-Bruford-Howe-Wakeman line-up. Read more
Published 5 months ago by The Guardian
4.0 out of 5 stars
a remarkable album
Surely Yes's peak, in many respects - remarkably original sustained compositions, musicianship that is beyond any criticism (especially Steve Howe and Bill Bruford!). Read more
Published 11 months ago by fraxinus
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 13 months ago by Andrew Goodman
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 15 months ago by Andy J W
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes! Totally Great!
I used to listen to "Yes" when I was in my teens and their music would accompany my many hours digesting a book by Micheal Moorcock, or Piers Anthony or any other fantasy fiction... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Lazy Churchyard
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