FRAGILE

In many ways, this band broke the mould. Not always as well credited as they should be for setting prog on its way, Yes took the blueprint from 1-2-3, but proved they were no mere copyists by transforming that blueprint into something uniquely their own, shaking off the re-writes that were the province of the Scottish band, and blossoming in the light of their own compositions in a way that 1-2-3/Clouds singularly failed to do.

This album was the peak of the achievement, breaking another general rule by replacing two founder members, Peter Banks and Tony Kaye with Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman, thereby creating almost the perfect band, only the rather weak song-writing diluting the power and dazzle of a symphonic treat for the ears.