THE YES ALBUM

Left in a succeed or be dropped scenario Yes were not in the least intimidated the result of their late 1970 studio sessions The Yes Album is along with Close To The Edge the record of their career. New guitarist Steve Howe's contribution is undeniable, his virtuoso acoustic solo piece Clap and the Boogie- Rock riffing of I've Seen All Good People show him instantly slotting in like a long-lost jigsaw piece. All the characteristics of Classic Yes are here, complex vocal harminsation, lush keyboards, the signature twang of Chris Squire's Rickenbacker and unfortunately the impossible to decipher nonsense that Yes call lyrics. Essentially this takes little away from the experience, uplifting, melodic and ambitious, the epic trudging of Yours Is No Disgrace, the Beatlesque Psych-Pop of The Venture and of course the baffling contrast of the two part suite I've Seen All Good People are amongst the finest pieces Yes have ever written. Although the replacement of Tony Kaye with keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman for follow up album Fragile would represent an obvious step forwards musically fundamentally The Yes Album is far superior record.