THE YES ALBUM

First, this is obviously a personally subjective opinion and everything that I write here is as such influenced in some degree, by my personal life experiences and by my acqiured tastes. With this in mind and noting that I have no formal education in any form of critqueing,I humbly submit my personal review of this recording based on my experience gained through the diligent collecting and consuming of recorded music. After all of that, I have to say that this is my number one desert island disc! In other words, for anyone unfamiliar with the expression, it is the number one album I would request if strictly limited to the amount of music available to me if stranded on a desert island! Once again, this is based on my finite knowledge of recorded music; I'm sure there is other recorded music out there that I haven't heard or that in another moment of my life would seem just as substantial. But for now-it holds that position, and has for many a year! Where to start.Well I guess the weakest point is as good as any.And that is nearly a musically correct statement about this album (they will always be albums to me-though I'm not an anolog purest by any means, I have duplicated many an album on cd). `A Venture` is probably the low point on this album,though you'd barely get your ankles wet.It has the feel that it could fit well on the `Fragile` album.A very, very good album in it's own right but not quite as solid or homogenous as this classic.The over-all feeling of this album is of continuous fluidity and masterful creativity.Even the sometimes over-played `I've Seen All Good People`,over-played simply due to the general lack of air time for the other gems on this album, is an outstanding peice of music!`The Clap` is a really fun solo acoustic bit of quality friviality from master guitarist Steve Howe. It's a great little filler for what could have been a slightly,ever so slightly top heavy album. The remainder of the album is beyond reproach.I would find it difficult to rank them,as they are all great songs! It is hard to find, in Yes' complete ouvre, any other instances where Tony Kaye on keyboards, Chris squire on bass and Steve Howe on guitar produce a more satifying array of progressive musical statements.Also I can't let the quality studio production of Eddie Offord, Yes' premiere early producer go uncredited.Now once again I'm not an expert here by a long shot, but I do feel that a quality album is hardly possible without a strong and sensible producer. Now, if you can digest any of that garbage or if you bothered to read it I thank you. It is a sincere review which I stand behind 100%. I believe I can honestly say that if you give this album a fair listening to that you will, in the end, at the very least, consider it on a short list of your desert island disc's!