Is Close to the Edge Better Backwards?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=92982
Printed Date: April 26 2024 at 19:06
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Topic: Is Close to the Edge Better Backwards?
Posted By: Larree
Subject: Is Close to the Edge Better Backwards?
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 21:48
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Just found this on youtube. Some guy played the tracks from Close to the Edge in reverse order and I think it is awesome! So... What do you think? Is it better backwards? Yes or no?  ------------- http://larree.ws" rel="nofollow - The Larree (dot) Website |
Replies:
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 22:06
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Never really thought about it, but I always played side 2 then side 1. So not quite backwards but the two (LP) sides reversed.
------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 22:17
I think this masterpiece is good forward or backwards---I thought you meant literally backwards--- might sound good that way too.
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Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 22:17
No. It sounds like this: "revir eht yb nwod egde eht ot esolc (smoke marijuana kids)".  ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 22:19
Yeah, I'm thinking of all the Satanic messages and so forth......
Actually, I recall getting a Grateful Dead album (Wake Of The Flood) and there was no indication on the LP of which side was A or B. No inner sleeve, and no track-list printed on the cover. For 2 decades I just always plonked the stylus down on the song 'Here Comes Sunshine' first. Only when I started to see the etching on the matrix did I notice I've always been playing the album on side B first. Listening to it properly has made more sense, and I enjoy the album more.........
I can't see anything but 'And You And I' closing out the album here..........
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 22:20
| .................NOT Siberian Khatru..................so, reverse side 2 only.......... |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: April 12 2013 at 22:28
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When I read the thread title, I thought someone was loco enough to play the title track backwards. ... Hell, in fact, I think I'm gonna give it a spin now! No, I like it as it is. ... Also, I believe there is a thread similar to this one, believe it or not. Can't remember the darn title, though. EDIT: OK, http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/9/3289959/ctte-backwards_sample.mp3" rel="nofollow - here 's a sample of it played backwards. Get your inspiration from this.
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Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 00:47
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I once played "Stairway To Heaven" backwards in a church, with 200 black-clad noise fans sitting in the wooden pews listening. I didn't get struck by lightning, no messages came forth from anywhere. Nice noise though. ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: ProgMetaller2112
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 01:10
I mean if you shuffle it on an Ipod or MP3 player, it could sound quite different from the usual. As for the revers order that does sound interesting, I gotta give that a whirl with my MP3. I can actually make a playlist in that order  . Whether it's better like that, I don't know?
------------- “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” ― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four "Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 02:15
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Having it on vinyl it happened to swap the sides...it's not a concept album so the order is not so relevant. Tommy would be different. ------------- Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half. My poor home recorded stuff at https://yellingxoanon.bandcamp.com |
Posted By: zeqexes
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 02:49
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I think the original track listing is the best, but maybe Siberian Khatru and And You and I could be switched around. ------------- 
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 02:54
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I voted yes by mistake Best order for me Siberian Khatru Close To The Edge And You And I
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 04:07
I doubt it would be better. You'd have to suffer to get the good stuff.  ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: giselle
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 08:28
| No, it's just a change, that's all |
Posted By: Larree
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 10:56
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Alright! A pretty even split. Slight edge to the purists! ------------- http://larree.ws" rel="nofollow - The Larree (dot) Website |
Posted By: Master of Time
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 13:13
| I like it as is. I think Close to the Edge just fits best as an opening track and I've always liked Siberian Khatru as a closer. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 13:18
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I'm don't think it really even matters.
------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: MustardSea
Date Posted: April 13 2013 at 13:25
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I really think it works better backwards - I always thought that Siberian Kathru is a rather strange closer and would be a better album opener as it's quite an energetic piece of music. I also think that starting an album with an epic always overshadows what comes after it a bit...
Edit: oh, and I'm not allowed to vote in this poll (I guess because I'm still a newbie round here ) so just imagine me voting "Yes" (yay, pun-time ;D)------------- http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8335" rel="nofollow - Kanoi on PA http://kanoi.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow - kanoi.bandcamp.com |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 02:47
I voted 'yes' by mistake so you can have my vote
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MustardSea wrote:Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 02:51
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The problem with this album is that Siberian Khatru is clearly the weakest track. Its isn't bad though and doesn't drag the album down. As a closer its an anti-climax though and if you imagine Yes playing the whole album live then it would work better as as opener. For me And You And I is the most beautiful prog track and is very spiritual. A great closer. That makes Close To The Edge the meat in a very tasty sandwich.
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Posted By: brainstormer
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 09:34
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can we get a dood to record it backwards and put that one youtube? dood, put a link if you do. ------------- -- Robert Pearson Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 09:53
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Just for fun, I took a recording of Close the the Edge (the song) and ran it backwards. I think I can safely say it sounds better forwards. Still not bad though. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: April 14 2013 at 22:58
| I think this thread is a little misleading because I only got it when I played the U tube. So what the poster means is that Siberian Khatru starts the album and that CTTE concludes the album. In terms of the old vinyl records, side 2 becomes side 1. The funny thing is when I first purchased the album I always played the album starting with Siberian Khatru as the first track I listened to, not caring which was side 1 or side 2. The album does flow better in my opinion starting with Siberian Khatru and finishing with CTTE, so I agree with the poster here. The reason Yes did it the way they did it, may be because they spent the bulk of their time developing the longer song. They even released a truncated version of the longer song as a single so they probably felt it was natural to make CTTE the opening song. A bit off topic but I think And You and I is a better song than CTTE and would have done better as a single. |
Posted By: Earendil
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 12:21
I was also expecting a backwards recording. Maybe the reversed track listing makes more sense in terms of album layout, but I'm sure the band put it how it is for a reason. I like it either way.
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Posted By: dennismoore
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 13:23
I think Mr. MustardSea(where's the 'D"?) has it spot on. As a YES freak since 1975, now you mention it....
Siberian Khatru - great energy for the opener
And You And I - settle into the magnificence of pure magic.
CTTE - end with this mind-blower and...
....after playing it this way it wil make you want to throw away all your other records that aren't by YES.
 The last thing in your brain will be: "I get up..I get down..." over & over again. How can you beat that?
 P.S. I always enjoyed YES - Tales by starting with The Remembering first, then RSOG... it kinda opens
up and flows in a more dynamic listening experience when you do all 4 sides at once.
And I do think The Who - Who's Next should have sides 1 & 2 reversed.
------------- "Yeah, people are unhappy about that - but you know what, it's still Yes." - Chris Squire |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 14:32
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"Siberian Khatru" would be an excellent opening... for another album! The fading at the end of "S.K." makes me deeply convinced that it's a perfect closer for CTTE, but the band would have to work on a conclusion/outro if they ever wanted to use as an opening track. |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: April 15 2013 at 14:34
| ^ Agreed on all counts. |
Posted By: The-time-is-now
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 04:43
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We are all prog addicts. Definitely. -------------  One of my best achievements in life was to find this picture :D |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 05:02
That's what I thought he meant! To be fair, the opening of Close to the Edge may sound better backwards!  ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Morsenator
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 05:10
This But yeah, it's a great album no matter the track order.------------- You love the music, the music loves you! http://moonsofjupiter.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://moonsofjupiter.bandcamp.com/ |
Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 08:42
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I get down, I get up---I get down, I get up----doesn't have the same ring to it.
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 10:33
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Well "disgrace your of depths the from you call could witch seasoned a" only make slightly less sense than the original.
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 11:32
That's the great thing about the lyrics. They mean as much backwards as they do the right way round. Genius. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Larree
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 11:41
Truth! ------------- http://larree.ws" rel="nofollow - The Larree (dot) Website |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 18:09
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I think opening with CttE is perfect because of the long fade in...a great tension building opening. Siberian Khatru has always been one of my least favorite tracks...I wonder what this album would have sounded like with a side-long version of "And You And I"? ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 19:04
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I don't think `Close To The Edge' has the same problem that some think `Relayer' does - that it's all about `Gates Of Delerium', while the other two tracks on the second side are somehwat ignored. I tend to think all of `Close' is pretty much loved equally. However the album would sound killer with `Siberian Khatru' blasting off as an opener, `And You And I' the reflective thoughtful middle, and the epic title track to finish up on. But I agree with Crimson King above that the opening fade in works beautifully - and then those spidery keyboards from Wakeman shoot in!
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Posted By: stegor
Date Posted: April 18 2013 at 19:14
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I always thought they tried to sequence Relayer based on what they did wrong on Close to the Edge. Should have been Close to the Edge - Siberian Khatru - And You And I. So they rectified it on Relayer with equivalent songs in the right order. I would have put Close to the edge on side 2 though, like Supper's Ready. Just seems right. ------------- http://limpidgreen.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://limpidgreen.bandcamp.com/ 
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 19 2013 at 08:01
Which is best? Can't say I really care, to be honest. They both work. You can always play them in a different order if you want.
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 19 2013 at 08:02
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Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: April 19 2013 at 10:03
This. |