When Did Yes Peak?

csmosher wrote: Yes definitely peaked at Close to the Edge. Someone told Jon Anderson that Close to the Edge was a complete holy work like the Bible. He took offense and decided to really do a religious epic. The next album (Tales) went WAY overboard. It went in musical directions that alienated Wakeman and he left after. There is too much drum solo, long expanses of music, with some really good stretches. First two sides are the best.  I could have been a really good single album but the double was thin (in the same way that Genesis Lamb is thin as a double). Fragile was sheer genius although not as well planned, just a few great ensembles with solo tracks thrown in. Might be a tie between the two but the "Edge" goes to the "Edge" (LOL). So Close to the Edge is as good as it gets with the classic lineup, Fragile close at second, and I really like the Yes Album too. So those are the three "must have" albums with "Awaken" from Going for the One thrown in. Peace out!

Great post. Please add some more!

I agree, the band's had several peaks--the first Wakeman years, the Moraz experiment, the return by Wakeman, and the Rabin recruitment. Big sales, big attention, big concerts, much respect.

Funny thing, 'Tales from Topographic Oceans' has aged well. Now it seems like a small drop in form between the much loved "close to the edge' and 'relayer', but still good classic yes, and most people see it as a whole lot better than what would come after '90125'. 

someone_else wrote: Their peak period started with The Yes Album and ended with their greatest masterpiece, Close to the Edge. They reached a minor peak with Relayer and Going for the One.

Agree with this entirely. CTTE has to be the absolute pinnacle of their career.

Yes peaked three seperate times in three very different ways with Close To The Edge (spacey, psychedelic prog), Tales From Topographic Oceans (epic, majestic prog), and Relayer (uber-aggressive prog). 

That is why they have no match in the prog universe. 

I would say 1972-1973, with a revival in the 90's (but with a different music).

"The Ladder" was their last peak .

Artistically, I would have to say Relayer. Topographic Oceans was well-intended and full of great ideas, but ultimately, they over-reached.

Given the strength of The Yes Album, Fragile and CTTE, many of us have continued to hope that they would somehow recapture the early creative majesty. Instead, we got various mix and match lineups and material that never quite hit the mark - "Awaken" excepted.

Now that Jon has been shut out, for me, there is no more Yes. They've become their own tribute group. Great memories, but the nagging notion that they could have been so much more had they been able to settle into any kind of consistency. 

AtomicCrimsonRush wrote: a lot of peole like The Ladder  here. Interesting I took no notice. I wil listen again but I was unimpressed on first listen

I'm hoping their peak is sometime in 2010.