Daniel John
Senior Member
Since watching ace Nashville session guitarist Tom Bukovac's YT video where he touts his love of Steve Howe's guitar playing and the band Yes I've gone back to my Yes collection including my SW 5.1 BDA discs. First off, what an incredible band, from the top notch musicianship to the song writing, its all there. I wanted see what other QQ members think of Yes's repertoire. For me the Steve Howe era 71 to 77 period is their peak. With my top 5 albums being as follows:
1.Fragile : I came of age listening to this album and lots of events from my teen years are associated to this music. It's pretty near perfect as far as song arrangements, vocal harmonies, guitar playing and love the band member solo factor with each member featured. Wakeman's Cans and Brahms sticks out but still a fun diversion. Chris Squire's bass (The Fish) with its mid-rangy tone hovering in guitar territory lands perfectly with Howe's riffing which goes from classical guitar to out right hard rock within the same song. Brilliant stuff.
2. The Yes Album : I discovered this long after Yes's other material (yeah, very late to the party). Love this album for many reasons, but come on, Starship Trooper is epic, Wurm is so cool. Commercial friendly material perhaps but plenty of emotion and dynamics in the song writing. Love this album - it's a close 2nd to Fragile for me.
3. Close to the Edge : another brilliant album. For me it's more prog than their previous stuff. Love Wakeman's playing throughout, it's epic and after Fragile's success which any band would have difficulty topping using a familiar formula without sounding repetitive, they definitely pulled off another classic album in the same year.
4. Going for the One : another coming of age album for me. It's not as cohesive as their previous stuff but overall great album with some interesting material and guitar playing. Wakeman is back and the band still had plenty of life left in them even in this later 70s period.
5. Tales From Topographic Oceans : This is another prog masterpiece with a slightly harder edge than some of the bands previous material. At same time there are some beautiful arrangements. Another epic album. Precursor to Relayer?
What are your top 5?
1.Fragile : I came of age listening to this album and lots of events from my teen years are associated to this music. It's pretty near perfect as far as song arrangements, vocal harmonies, guitar playing and love the band member solo factor with each member featured. Wakeman's Cans and Brahms sticks out but still a fun diversion. Chris Squire's bass (The Fish) with its mid-rangy tone hovering in guitar territory lands perfectly with Howe's riffing which goes from classical guitar to out right hard rock within the same song. Brilliant stuff.
2. The Yes Album : I discovered this long after Yes's other material (yeah, very late to the party). Love this album for many reasons, but come on, Starship Trooper is epic, Wurm is so cool. Commercial friendly material perhaps but plenty of emotion and dynamics in the song writing. Love this album - it's a close 2nd to Fragile for me.
3. Close to the Edge : another brilliant album. For me it's more prog than their previous stuff. Love Wakeman's playing throughout, it's epic and after Fragile's success which any band would have difficulty topping using a familiar formula without sounding repetitive, they definitely pulled off another classic album in the same year.
4. Going for the One : another coming of age album for me. It's not as cohesive as their previous stuff but overall great album with some interesting material and guitar playing. Wakeman is back and the band still had plenty of life left in them even in this later 70s period.
5. Tales From Topographic Oceans : This is another prog masterpiece with a slightly harder edge than some of the bands previous material. At same time there are some beautiful arrangements. Another epic album. Precursor to Relayer?
What are your top 5?
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