CLASSIC YES

If you want an officially-licensed, one-disc Yes greatest-hits collection, there are two primary options: Classic Yes (1981/1994) and Highlights: The Very Best of Yes (1993). Both have good sound, and each is over an hour long. (Please see my separate mini-review of Highlights: The Very Best if you want to read my opinions of that CD.)

Classic Yes, originally released immediately after the band's breakup, is your choice if you are interested in the band's "classic" period. The Yes Album is represented by two songs, Fragile by three, and Close to the Edge and Going for the One by one each. Finally, we have very good live versions of "Roundabout" (originally from Fragile) and "Your Move/All Good People" (originally from The Yes Album).

I think Classic Yes is a good starting point for people who are potentially interested in Yes, and are already fans of progressive rock. It does seem very odd that "Roundabout" and "Your Move," which were Yes's biggest hit US singles of the 70s (reaching #13 and #40 respectively) would be represented by live versions. But setting aside 14:32 of a 65-minute deep dive for live music seems to make sense.

So what is sacrificed to arrive at just 65 minutes of Yes? (I'm not going to address song selection, which has been covered by other reviewers here, and which seems to be controversial whenever we're discussing the compilation of a "best of" or "greatest hits" album.) Most obviously, Classic Yes entirely skips over six of the ten studio LPs Yes had recorded prior to 1981, including their first two albums, which means that several lineups and several group members are excluded.

The bottom line is that this CD unabashedly celebrates the "classic" version of Yes as Atlantic Records wanted the band to be remembered after their breakup. All but one of the songs originate from three albums released between February 1971 and September 1972 (the exception is "Wonderous Stories" (3:45), from 1977, which had been their biggest hit in the UK.). Listeners new to Yes will only get one piece of the picture.

But that piece is the band's best period. As "best of" compilations go, Classic Yes is actually pretty good, and recommended listening for those considering the purchase of more from this band.