What does it sound like?:
It’s hard to believe it’s over 50 years since this album was originally released – how the years hurry past, and how these box sets have a way of making you feel like an old man! It’s been reissued a few times already of course in various iterations with a variety of extra material, but this edition is surely the last word, with 5 cds, a bluray and a vinyl album, all accompanied by a lavish booklet. The first two cds have a remastered version of the original album, plus a super new 2025 mix by the ubiquitous Steven Wilson, which also adds instrumental versions of all 3 pieces. The third cd comprises rarities, including early run troughs of the songs. Most of these have been available before apart from 3 new edits which are interesting but fairly inessential when compared to the majesty of the full length songs. The 4th and 5th cds have a preciously unreleased live show from The Rainbow from December 1972, one of the shows used for the Yessongs film that appeared to tie in with the album of that name. If you’re familiar with that album or any of the Progeny set then you’ll know what to expect from this. The vinyl album is simply a repeat of the remastered original album, but the undoubted highlight of the set is the bluray disc that has a new Atmos mix alongside the usual 5.1 surround mix, and I have to say it does sound superb. All in all, a seminal album that has been given a new lease of life and musically still sounds as current today as it did back in 1972.
What does it all *mean*?
This remains the definitive Yes album which demonstrates exactly what the band were all about with virtuoso playing from Squire, Howe, Wakeman and the soon to be departed Bill Bruford, all topped off with Jon Anderson’s exquisite voice. Others may suggest Fragile or even perhaps Relayer are better sets, but this is always the one I return to.
Goes well with…
Testing out that new Atmos system.
Release Date:
7 March
Might suit people who like…
Hard core Yes fans or those wondering what all the fuss was about.
With you until ‘definitive’. ‘The Yes Album’ is that for me, and all those others you mention follow on from it, but the genie is out of the bottle, the staggering musicality has been experienced and they never achieve quite the same revolutionary impact; they repeat it though, thank goodness.
Well, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, “you do you”, etc: but CTTE is the definitive
Yes LP, the utter brilliance of The Yes Album notwithstanding…
Hopefully the Atmos mix will be available on streaming before too long. It’s too much to shell out otherwise, especially as we’ve already had a Steven Wilson mix (and surround mix) not that long ago and even if this IS one of my all time favourite albums (by anyone, not just Yes)
I’ll be interested to hear this, including the super new Wilson mix. I enjoyed his last one. How different is it?
Great review, @Bargepole, as always.
If in 1977 you had asked the (relatively) young man pogoing the night away in West Runton would people still be enthusing over pretentious drivel like Close to the Edge fifty years later, he would have gobbed in your stupid fat face. Maybe the (relatively) young man was Wrong.
Eeuugh!
Excellent Lodes. And I’m not a fan of the Yes at all apart from their commercial high point “5705.”
PSA – all of this is available now on streaming at hi-res and even the Steven Wilson Atmos mix of the main album
The new ver Tull album also there and with an Atmos mix.
Really enjoying the Tull set.
Yup, first listen and it really harks back to former glories. Anderson’s voice holds up better recorded than live, understandably. Hasn’t fallen into the trap of forgetting to write the melodies which sometimes happens with them.