Tales from Topographic Oceans

Many of you have probably heard this story, but...

During the Topographic tour, Wakeman, who hated the album, had his assistant order Indian food which he proceeded to eat onstage during one of the TO numbers that had minimal parts for him. 

Anderson was furious.  I don't blame him.  When you're in a professional band making big money, you show up 100% and if you don't like one of the other guys songs, you deal with it.  You don't act bored or be a f%$king baby about it.  Or at least that's how I would treat my bandmates were I touring.  Pretty funny story though, and true, told by Wakeman himself in an interview.

As to your question, TFTO is one of prog's very finest moments. 

both-- the epitome of everything brillaint and pompous about prog.. and one of the finest albums ever

Finnforest wrote: Many of you have probably heard this story, but... During the Topographic tour, Wakeman, who hated the album, had his assistant order Indian food which he proceeded to eat onstage during one of the TO numbers that had minimal parts for him.  Anderson was furious.  I don't blame him.  When you're in a professional band making big money, you show up 100% and if you don't like one of the other guys songs, you deal with it.  You don't act bored or be a f%$king baby about it.  Or at least that's how I would treat my bandmates were I touring.  Pretty funny story though, and true, told by Wakeman himself in an interview. As to your question, TFTO is one of prog's very finest moments.

I know.... it sort of puts his oft-repeated criticisms of the album in context.  He wanted to go one direction with the album... was out-voted... and threw a temper tantrum like a spoiled child in return


Edited by micky - August 14 2007 at 22:51

One of the best Prog Rock albums I've listened to, that deserves to be up there, at least in the top 20! I can't understand why it's so low in the Archives! Underrated, anyone??

Coincidentally, I was going to listen to this album, but because of a headache I won't...

The Epitome of everything brilliant about prog!  

Edited by Zargus - August 15 2007 at 05:59

What I've gathered from this poll, is that people like options
I'll be sure to post more options if I make a poll in future and I apologise for this one, having a lack of them.

Sorry to go off topic. Please continue.

Abstrakt wrote: Best album Ever!

That award goes to 'My Arms, Your Hearse' by Opeth

Pretentious, over the top, pompous prog

That's why I like it

Tapfret wrote: coleio wrote: What I've gathered from this poll, is that people like options I'll be sure to post more options if I make a poll in future and I apologise for this one, having a lack of them. Sorry to go off topic. Please continue.   The only problem I have with your poll is the fact that you use the word pretentious.     That's the word that is used by the masses of mindless entertainment consumers who want nothing to do with thinking about anything at all, much less music or movies. Ironically, those that throw the word around seem to be the ones that have to have the most expensive car, the biggest  house, name brand tennis shoes and tend to want to be the center of attention in their given clique. They also love to impress people that they know big condescending words like pretentious.  Not saying that you are that type of person, you after all, do listen to thoughtful music and just presneted the word in a poll question. The word just tends cause a negative reaction in me.   That being said, Tales is not one of my favorite albums. The songs just seem to be long for the sake of being long. They just lack any combination of structure and complexity. For Yes epics I prefer Close to the Edge, Awaken or even Gates of Delirium. But none of them touch Supper's Ready.

I didn't use the word 'pretentious' because I think it is so.
I used it mainly as it is a word levelled at TFTO a lot, so basically jumping on the majority of thoughts about the album.

But no, I don't think its pretentious myself, and I do get annoyed with people who do call prog pretentious.

Good points matey

Barla wrote: One of the best Prog Rock albums I've listened to, that deserves to be up there, at least in the top 20! I can't understand why it's so low in the Archives! Underrated, anyone??

the easy answer to that was spelled out in my review.  It isn't ear candy. It is a challenging album.  A piece of sonic art.  Like any work of art... some people love it... others hate it.   The ones who use the grey matter between their ears can put aside their objective views and understand that THAT album indeed was the watershed of the prog rock movement in the 70's.  Prog was about pushing the limits...  that album was the culmination of everything that prog had been working towards since 1969.