ABWH - Close to the Edge (Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA. 1989)

Visit Bill’s online store for exclusive and signed items: www.shorturl.at/adnpq
What’s left to say about this classic of the genre? Much ink has been spilled trying to get to the essence of why it works so well, compositionally and structurally. Somehow the musicians and engineer / mid-wife Eddie Offord were all wide awake during it’s gestation and birth at Advision Studios in London that June in 1972. We were tuned in. So many small, tiny coincidences had brought we particular people to that studio at that time to make that record. You almost felt that the outcome was beyond one person’s - or indeed the group’s - control. For anyone interested I devoted some pages on the music’s creation, viewed from my perspective, in my 2009 autobiography, so I won’t cover that ground again here.
It took a while to make, though. There was a rumour flying about that Simon and Garfunkel had taken three months to make ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’, a huge slice of time in those days. Naturally, in an age of competitive excess, Yes tried hard to take a bit longer. We probably succeeded, but I’ve been unable to confirm that. Nobody was watching the clock on the expense of all this. The sessions were endless, starting midday and going as long as there was one man - usually Chris Squire - still standing.
During its construction, we had to go and play gigs in various parts of the UK to keep some money coming in. We’d break down the equipment in the studio on a Friday night, go and do a job or two over the weekend and come back Monday morning, having to set up all the gear and recreate the sound of all the instruments exactly as it had been the previous Friday. Particularly draining for the drummer who had a load of sound-checking to do.
I’d left the group by the time the album appeared in the fall of 1972. The first time I played it was with ABWH some 17 years later. Everything had changed: me, the drums, the bass player, two guitarists, two keyboard players, subtle differences in the performance versus the recording that I remembered. It was bound to be different from the original 17 years earlier, but it was a real buzz getting to grips with the beast. I remember loving listening to it as we were playing it. Could I remember it? You betcha. All in all, it was a big night for me.
As they say about drummers, I had the best seat in the house.
#billbruford #drummer #yes #paistecymbals #electronicdrumkit #tamadrums #drumsolos #kingcrimson #billbrufordsearthworks

[@FrankTobin-no4io]

Bill Bruford is undoubtedly one of finest drummer,percussionists the world has ever seen!

[@63Kafka]

Yeah, but don't tell him!

[@rubenfernandocarrillolopez1682]

Sin duda alguna

[@rickmilam413]

I saw the Close to the Edge tour in the early 70's. Was shocked to find out Bruford had left the band before the tour. However in every other regard they were better than this performance. Steve Howee's tone on a 335 is just not the same, obviously totally different bass without Squire plus miss his harmony vocals.

[@michaelgranger7113]

Yea yea. White was a monster on drums and overall worked out better for YES. I never did like the sound of Buford's synthetic drums either.

[@timothydillow3160]

"The songs were always difficult, because no one knew how they were going to finish, with 'Close to the Edge' we got lucky." B.Bruford

[@dennislillie8047]

Bill Bruford is so relaxed when he plays the drums! It's such a joy watching him play !

[@Dalwhat]

Anything is relaxing after King Crimson...

[@darrensiegel6651]

true. Too bad they were V drums here tho... ugh

[@markw9512]

@@DalwhatThis

[@JohnnyMacalvee-cf7et]

@@darrensiegel6651 agreed.

[@jerrymac1795]

Ya, he could be sitting there dealing cards!😆

[@torybrown7730]

Yes in my opinion is one of The Best live bands. I've seen them live 19 times & they NEVER FAIL TO IMPRESS. Their musicianship is absolutely AMAZING. They are spot on PERFECT!! Jon Anderson is an awesome vocalist/songwriter & performer.

[@seanlevoy9446]

Absolutely. I saw them in 88 and still remember how remarkeably consistent their sound was to their albums. So many bands sound great on their record but sound like a different band live.

[@stargate1555]

You have seen the best of the best concerts. Always a great sounding band. I saw their Close to the Edge tour, Going for the One, Tormato, and a couple of others but not nearly as many as you. Money was tight in the 70's, I was a college student but found a way somehow. Lucky you.

[@glennhecker4422]

Steve Howe: such precision and economy of movement on the guitar! Brilliant player.

[@EvilSean62]

it took me a while to get steve howe ... no isnt yngwie or steve or joe ... is mr howe ...

[@drob281159]

Looks like Steve is having a great time, especially during the opening segment, just jamming his way through like he would have done in the old days. I wonder if having access to more harmonic space from a more subdued bass and a clearer drums groove triggered this enthousiasm, but anyway that is what it looks and sounds like. Absolutely wonderful lesson in quality listening and live immediate reactions from the drum stool, enhancing the whole.

[@jameskennedy721]

I love the extra riffs he throws in . He was playing great that night .

[@mymodel6]

Way to give the complete opposite appraisal of Howes playing..

[@user-xf3cv6xd1z]

More than a player when it comes to compose music.

[@PLively]

A great rendition of this classic, but it should be noted, in case you hadn't already realised, just how important to the harmonies Chris Squire was.

[@timothydillow3160]

The greatest prog rock album of all time.

[@peterverutes4021]

Absolutely! Another thing… I love Jeff Berlin and he had no problem covering Chris’ bass parts. But, it doesn’t stand out like Chris Squire. I would’ve loved to see Squire and Bruford together for this.

[@woofcity6307]

@@peterverutes4021i saw this tour, it was my first real big show! Lord knows i haven’t really seen too many better ones and lots of worse ones since. I remember Tony Levin playing bass… a big tall bald Tony Levin. I was in MA, Great Woods, it was summer. Was it Berlin or Levin or did both do some of these gigs? Neither played Rickenbackers - maybe out of respect, those sound uniquely different than other bases.

[@timothydillow3160]

@@woofcity6307 Geddy Lee's single greatest influence was Chris and his Rickenbacker Bass. Ironic and beautiful that Geddy introduced Yes into the Hall of Fame.

[@woofcity6307]

@@timothydillow3160 yes! I still Think Yes Songs and Fragile are masterpieces and i tire of many things but never - Heart of the Sunrise! It just always blows me away.

[@v2gbob]

Magnificent version! One of the great pieces of music, ever!

[@timothydillow3160]

The musical phrasing is delightful, as it is on, 'And You and I,'.. as beautiful as any classical piece we are familiar with.

[@belalugrisi1614]

Loved this tour! Kudos to Jeff Berlin, who amazingly learned all these challenging pieces literally overnight! Thanks Bill❣🥁

[@gumersindoreguera4757]

Porque cuando se habla de guitarristas nunca escucho a howe?

[@MatthewTomich]

Great to see Steve Howe genuinely excited to be playing this on tour for the first time in probably 15 years.

[@bytornsnowdog1347]

Bill plays so effortlessly and so clean. It is just amazing.

[@DabsDad]

Very cool seeing Jeff Berlin play with these guys.

[@Pighood]

He was in Bruford's band and absolutely kicked ass

[@russellszabadosaka5-pindin849]

Tony Levin played some dates on this tour also. I saw it with three friends, all of whom I still talk to regularly via text, and none of us can remember if we saw Levin or Berlin. I say Levin, but we were all in our early 20's and quite drunk, so who knows.

[@johnlieberman3602]

I noticed that Berlin was consistently pushing the tempo a bit...a little less relaxed than Squire, but I actually liked it! It contributed a new "bounce" to some of these Golden Oldies. And I've actually never heard the bass line during the intro as well as I did here. The mix was different, and gave me a new appreciation for what was going on. I think this is my favorite version of Close to the Edge of all of them.

[@user-xf3cv6xd1z]

Jeff Berlin is (was) a huge fan of Yes.

[@David-iv6je]

Jeff Berlin looks like my high school history teacher

[@stephensorensen4477]

I was transfixed and delighted to see both King Criimson and Yes with Bill in the bands. Couldn’t ask for a better drummer; always jaw droppingly exciting.

[@fredaxberg686]

The mark of a great drummer... looking relaxed..and nailing the performance.... Bill knows how to do it.. Hes put his time in.. he is a PRO..He is THE DRUMMER

[@rembeadgc]

I think I would have shed a tear had I been in that audience at the close of that song.

[@DavidLee07]

Bill Bruford always put the accents in cool places, whether playing with King Crimson, Yes, or...anyone. Wonderful drummer.

[@stevecohen11]

I’m also not used to seeing him play electric drums

[@kevintewey1157]

Tell me about it, try to follow him😂

[@63Kafka]

15:06 wow!

[@asharmstrong6730]

This tour in 1989 marked the first time Bill Bruford had played any of the Close to the Edge album live.

[@randyblythe1547]

Not so. I saw him play the whole album during the 1972-3 world tour, the year it came out. White joined shortly thereafter, toured behind Yessongs, and played on Tales from Topographic Oceans.

[@dr.xtrada]

@@randyblythe1547 Nope. @asharmstrong6730 is correct about this. Not sure what tour you think you saw but it wasn't Close To The Edge. Bruford famously quit the band with just weeks to spare before the tour, leaving Alan White to learn their whole repertoire at the 11th hour. White did not "tour behind Yessongs" -- he is *all over* Yessongs. Bruford only features on 2 tracks of the triple-LP Yessongs - Perpetual Change and Long Distance Runaround - which were recorded before he quit. Also everyone should listen to at least one or two of the shows featured in the 'Progeny' box set if they want to know just how much Alan White nailed it on that tour. Nobody plays like Bruford, and I used to really miss him on Yessongs but I actually think that had more to do with the muddy mix of that album. White was no slouch, just more of a rock drummer whereas Bruford brought the jazz and jazz-fusion colors to the palette.

[@mawel1955]

@@dr.xtrada You're absolutely right on that. Bruford bailed on the band just as they were getting ready to tour. I was talking with Mike Tiano about this and he said that Bill did offer to do the tour but warned that if he did, he wasn't going to be 'committed to the music', whatever that meant. Howe then told him that if he wasn't going to be 'committed' then he should just leave now - which he did. I have no idea what Bill meant by not being 'committed to the music'. Did it mean he was going to deliberately screw up or give an inferior performance? I don't know. And Howe was said to regret telling Bill not to do the tour. While Alan did a good job, the Yessongs tour just wasn't the same without Bill and I can still remember being very disappointed when I opened up my copy of the Yessongs album and saw Bruford had left the band and was only featured on three tracks. It really bothered me and still does (in a way).

[@CharlottePiano]

If only we had a live video with Chris in this classic lineup. This is peak performance Yes and Chris is absent. I wish Bill had not chosen these electronic drums over traditional drums.

[@mawel1955]

@@CharlottePiano I agree. He had some kind of endorsement deal with Simmons and I suppose he had to use them but he ruined his own sound by doing so.

[@RobertEustace]

What a treat! Thank you Bill Bruford for simply 'being' you!

[@timbrown2971]

It is such a shame they couldn’t hold this lineup together. Even Bruford said they were just finding their way and we’re heading towards big things in his opinion.

[@Chuckles..]

There's something fresh about the ABWH record, quite enjoyable overall. I lost interest in Yes after it.

[@RichardNixonsHippieRemoval]

Anderson and his bullshit. Did the same with ARW, as soon as it was a well oiled machine, he ran off to put together a solo album he'd ignored for 20 years.

[@scottmcfadyen293]

I wonder if The Onion had something to do with that.

[@markkorhin5510]

yes has satan ja as the lead singer

[@hankjansen5544]

Excellent rendition. Mr. Bruford, you are a true Master.

[@swbbreps8464]

There’s a few fantastic drummers in the art rock world, but Billy B stands as a giant amongst them. His feel and ability to find a deep pocket in seeming chaos never ceases to amaze and delight me. Indistinguishable from magic.

[@theempires5]

That opening 3 minutes are some of the most intense music you could ever experienced. A lesser band would stumble and trip up here and there, but ABWH managed to pull it off with some consumate ease. Bill's drumming were the glue to the manic playing of Howe, Wakeman and Berlin here.

[@timothydillow3160]

Microscopic visuals on the original film are fantastic.

[@danroberts9050]

I had the pleasure of seeing Bill Bruford demonstrate the Simmons drums at a drum clinic in Houston when they first came out way back in 1982 and I was just a few feet from the man. Probably one of the coolest moments of my life!

[@visionproductionsnz7828]

The album whose recording drove Bill crazy! You looked like you were loving the classic that you were so much a part of Bill. 17 years is a long time to wait to play arguably the greatest prog album of all time. Magnificent, and you guys did it proud.

[@michaelstonedrums6877]

This is in my top-five all-time favorite songs/albums. Chills and exhilaration each and every time I hear it.

[@debbieedwards711]

Me too! I love it. It's shear perfection!❤❤

[@richardmarshall6751]

Agree completely. This is more than great music, it is a transcendent experience. An aural journey, nay a spiritual journey.

[@danielvanstichel6077]

A superb rendition of this mythical piece of music. I was lucky to see Bill one time. In 76 with...Genesis during the "Trick of the Tail" tour....

[@wbkmradio]

The brilliance of the playing even after I’ve seen it and heard this so many times, since it was introduced still absolutely baffles me. How can any group of musicians play at this intensity at this level of virtuosity, and not turn the whole thing into a giant pile of shit? It’s absolutely remarkable. I wish Chris had joined them during that phase but nonetheless the work is magnificent. I will never forget it. Thank you Yes!

[@debbieedwards711]

Genius!❤

[@JosephFrancisBurton]

The whole reason I bought An Evening of Yes Music + (on cassette!) was because I saw the song list on the back and thought 'Finally! A live version of Close to the Edge with Bill on drums!'

[@jimmycampbell78]

Simply wonderful, a quite incredible performance of this legendary epic Yessong- thank you so much for posting this Mr Bruford.

[@BoBo0807]

"Naturally, in an age of competitive excess, Yes tried hard to take a bit longer. " 🤣 I swear, Mr. Bruford's commentaries are some of the best things on You Tube - and they're not even videos! Keep 'em coming, sir!

[@russellszabadosaka5-pindin849]

Thanks for pointing that out. I'll make a point of reading all of the descriptions in his videos moving forward.

[@chrislenox1812]

Agreed! I read his captions before I even watch the videos.

[@larkstonguesinaspic4814]

He's genuinely a great writer

[@Msmith-yd7bz]

I was with Allen White one time,there were about 5 of us,and he got into describing what he went through trying to fill the boots of Bill Bruford.But Allen White was a fine player also,the thing is ,is there isn't anyone amongst us that can duplicate another,human being.Glad to have interacted with many ,in my years.

[@frizzonofficial]

I never knew I needed Jeff Berlin on this song until now but my god, he rips.

[@robertglisson6319]

And to think he had only three days to learn the entire setlist. I think many Yes fans (particularly Squire fans) were somewhat offended to learn he could learn all this so quickly, and Jeff was rather nonchalant about learning it so quickly. Needless to say, Squire could play the setlist better than Jeff, but Chris had two decades to play it while Berlin had 72 hours to learn it...

[@frizzonofficial]

The very first time I heard Jeff play was with Bruford live at oxford college 1979. I only knew Bill and was searching his career when I stumbled on the video. Every one of those musicians blew me away, I couldn't believe the sounds I was hearing. That concert will always have a special place in my heart. I knew Jeff was one of the best bass players ever after watching that. This video here gave me more confidence in that. I prefer Squire but it's crazy to think Jeff could learn all of the material in 72 hours. There are only few who could do that. @@robertglisson6319

[@iantyler4045]

Many happy teenage hours spent listening to CTTE. Brilliant live version.

[@patphotog1]

Saw it 8.15.89 in Pittsburgh. The evolution of the band and the music was spiritual. Thank you to the musicians that performed it for us. It was a beautiful tribal experience.

[@mosaic5541]

If the question is “how old will I be before I come of age for you” then, in term of this utterly majestic masterpiece (which nobody quite knows how they did it), is NEVER!

[@markvonwisco7369]

It looks like everyone on stage is having a blast. It's makes the performance just that little bit better!

[@juventinosanchez6572]

Su majestad ( YES ) únicos , maestros de la música más bella ,y pasarán los años y más son valorados estos maestros,Ingleses como ellos muy pocos 👏👏👏👏👏👏👍

[@JimmyBComputerGuy]

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this masterpiece.

[@akesvensson3778]

Some years ago I was in charge of a bunch of 15-year olds on summer work for the county. I put on Close to the Edge in the van at good volume. The intro goes by kinda low volume and THEN; full on !! Scared them witless with this extremely good music! A blast! I wish they still made songs that are 21 mintues and 55 seconds long. One side on a vinyl. Good times!

[@Chuckles..]

So cool to hear Jeff Berlin play this. Bill's association with unique bass players was part of the adventure.

[@Dharmadevil]

I was in the front row for one of the shows on this tour. There was an electricity coming from both the stage and the audience which manifested in pure joy. I've seen Yes in many of its incarnations over decades, but nothing was as magical as THAT concert on THAT night.

[@Yanto-Bardic]

For me; The ABWH line-up was the next best (Yes) Line-up since the Close To The Edge Line-Up of: Bruford, Anderson, Squire, Wakeman and Howe. I saw both line-ups and ABWH's performance of this was Amazing. Thank-You for sharing this Bill.😎👏

[@francksimithica]

4/5 original and best line up of this excellent group! It's pleasure listen🪕🎻🪇🥁🪘🎷🎸🎤

[@steely755]

Listening to Yes with my high-school girlfriend ....yes!!! I love you Jeanette, still, forever. Lakeside Ca. 1972

[@johnk6412]

I attended this show and it was great to relive the experience. It was an amazing night..... Thanks for sharing

[@JustaJuboi]

20 yr old geniuses recorded this in the 70s .Spiritual Warriors 🙏

[@edgeyt1]

Epic stuff! I can still remember the awe felt as my mind was expanded by this song and the album too in 1983; previous to that I'd only heard Time and a Word - quite a leap forward.

[@MrBass5er]

Great performance of a Masterpiece! 👏👏 It would have been even greater having the late Chris Squire bass & voice to become a complete YES! Also it's really nice to read Mr. Bruford's comments/insights in the description, he indeed had the best seat in the house! 🥁😎👍

[@guitfidle]

Oh man, that was just beautiful. Close to the Edge is one of my all time favorite albums, and you guys just nailed it!

[@ElectricCelt56]

Lovely liner notes. The first time i heard this, on headphones, and on acid, convinced me this was unchartered territory,

[@pbwbrian53]

This is amazing. The best live version I’ve seen. Thanks for posting.

[@ALEJANDROLOPEZ-wr7dw]

Después de que Bill grabo close to the edge...que para mi fue 6 será una obra maestra...Alan pudo también deleitarnos mucho en los conciertos...son bárbaros y los admiro porque son de mi grupo favorito..nunca me canso escuchar...son las horas de madrugada me desperté escuchando esta linda canción una vez más!!!!!

[@lornestein7248]

I saw Yes quite a few times from 1980 on, but it was this configuration that really embodied the essence of the music to me. ABWH will always be my favorite "YES" tour.

[@Pedroisanickname]

Wow! Incredible, and this is my favorite Yes tune.

[@williamscaife8067]

I saw this tour in Toronto. The guy in front of us left when the band got off the stage for the intermission. We could hear him say, "They didn't even play Roundabout, man!". Never saw him again. He missed a fantastic show.

[@neilmeadows8641]

Saw what I believe was the debut of the work at Crystal Palace Bowl (now a very sad looking 'laptop') in 1972. Bill had scarpered and Alan White drafted in. Fifty years have not diminished Close to the Edge as the band's finest moment.

[@gerardoantoniorosastrejo6774]

What a piece of progressive rock. I always come back to listen to it. A torrent of imagination comes

[@TheBassplayah]

RIP Chris Squire...He is forever missed

[@Twongo]

An astonishing performance by four of the greats.

[@pleased9]

I was there sitting next to my housemate who was very pregnant at the time. Her child, a girl, is now a fan of Yes. ~

[@billymakesmusic]

They are still YES to me and remain unparalleled as the GOAT for song writing, recording, and performing. Many bands might have equaled the success of YES but not their integrity as musicians, artists, and music creators!

[@Kenneth-ct3rx]

billymakesmusic- THAT EXACTLY true! Yes, will ALWAYS be Yes to me too, no matter of how they slightly change their name!

[@DutchmanAmsterdam]

​@@Kenneth-ct3rx Why did they change their name and why abwh?

[@lipitorsion]

I always admired this particular Bill Bruford 's wall drum set Simmons ,Paiste cymbals gongs ,the classic snare drum without a doubt one of a kind. Also I can see Jeff Berlin performance as the bass player in this concert .It was the time when Bruford's gradually going tornado album was recorded amazing album too. Thank You Bill for your legacy in drumming and music compositions . Regards to all the members of Yes ABWH rip S the missing one.Thanks so much for the creation of this two classic progressive albums Close to the Edge and Fragile that really had a big impact in my younger years for the originality and music virtuosity within them.

[@avantprog6902]

I've seen several live versions of Close to the Edge. I think this is the best. Love Allan White, Bruford brings a wild card that is distinctly him. I'm a drummer and learn that the empty space is as important to the composition as the busy fills from him.

[@rainclubvip3314]

Bill Bruford played the original Close To Edge , not Alan white

[@papunAlicea]

Bill, Thanks so much for share. Great job and performance. Nice memories for all of us. 💯❤️🎤🎹🎤🎸🎤🎹🥁🎶🎵🎸🎼

[@sdcllc8727]

It's great to finally see a live version of "Close To The Edge" with you behind the wheel.

[@casperrrrrr]

THANKYOU BRUFORD you are really great for uploading all the archived stuff its all so wonderfull to be able to watch

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Sublime! Favorite piece, favorite album, just iconic. The energy from you guys in this performance is just wonderful.

[@ajones957]

Saw the ABWH tour in Philly in '89. When CTTE came in, the crowd went ABSOLUTELY NUTS. This was one of the top 3 concerts I've seen. Really would have liked to have heard what this lineup could have produced musically, given the chance. My only musical regret is not having the opportunity to see the Wetton/Fripp/Cross/Muir/Bruford lineup of King Crimson.

[@jefflevinson669]

It would have been close to the dare I say the highlight of your life . Saw that Krimson line up 4 times !

[@njhampster]

I was also in attendance. Wonderful show! Tony Levin is the only bassist who could possibly replace Squire

[@koshersalaami]

@@njhampster. I hear Geddy Lee did a good job at the Rock’n’roll Hall of Fame awards with Roundabout

[@koshersalaami]

This is a seriously good performance

[@ajones957]

@@njhampster I remember Levin's funk fingers...

[@davidkrausz]

I was there. I had forgotten about the great blonde mullet scare of 1989. Great show!

[@ajn465]

It’s really great that we have all these different permutations of yes. Here, Bill and Rick, both get to elevate their contributions a bit. Rick brings new sounds and extra drama. Bill brings that rare quality of time so solid. It’s like it’s sculpted in the air. Buddy Rich had it too. The ability to put out time so solid they lifted the whole band up off the stage… Together. Because there is simply no other option with Time that powerful.

[@lizcenterfield1963]

I saw them in NH and it never quite dawned on me that we never saw Bill B play this live. So lucky I did.

[@MikeSteinSeaTac]

W O W never gets old !

[@perlmonk68]

ABWH brought back 4 of the 5 from my favourite lineup. It was a huge gift. I am so glad the 4 of you did this and I was blessed to see this live!!

[@everettraeburn260]

I never understood the drum and bass groove as a young drummer. Now at 60 I can totally nail this songs groove, after I saw this video. Crazy

[@williamcody5271]

MEMORIES! Saw them perform this during their "Tales from Topographic Oceans" tour. Can't believe it was 50 years ago, WOW! What a fantastic concert! Chris Squire RIP.

[@TheMrSlyxx]

discovering this in the 80's got me so high. Thanks for all the music.

[@echoridgedrive]

A few years ago, I brought my 25 ish year old son who is a musician to the Smith Center (of all places, in Las Vegas where I live) to see Yes with John and still with Chris alive. I told him you are going to hear the greatest voice in the rock and roll history of the United States. And so it was.

[@rogerturner5504]

Hang on!! Jon Anderson, Accrington, Lancashire, England if you don't mind!

[@markp6062]

What a great remembrance. I knew that you left the band after its creation, but I did NOT know you had never performed it live. I was at Mud Island for opening night of the ABWH tour and remember it fondly. Was a GREAT show! The incredible piece it is, I can't begin to imagine the feeling of performing it live so many years after all the work had been done in its creation. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@torybrown7730]

Not the fastest guitarist in the world but in perfection & precision Steve Howe reigns supreme. He's truly an AMAZING GUITARIST.

[@geoffwales8646]

Howe's creativity and phrasing always impressed me, as a guitarist. I have tried to label his style but I cannot. It borrows heavily from rock and classical yet sounds unique. It sounds like Steve Howe.

[@jeffreyizzo8811]

I remember the first I ever heard it. The side (it was on vinyl of course) finished and I just let the record spin as the tone arm reached the center label. I was frozen. Simply the best prog rock tune (and album) of all time.

[@jamesgilgannon4164]

Just absolutely wonderful!🙏😁

[@bertwesler1181]

I've seen you guys so many time I've lost count. It about 20 anyway. Thank you soooo much for sharing you great works.

[@gutshotgriz3936]

Rick was spot on! Not exactly note for note, but nearer than I’ve ever heard before. And Chris, Jon and Bill Bruford…it just doesn’t get any better! Thanks for the journey back!!!!

[@StrayGator]

Squire or no Squire, this is the greatest performance of Close to the Edge on my opinion. It's flawless.

[@godbluffvdgg]

Tough call but, It's as close to perfect as I've seen... It's as great as the Yes Songs version...It lacks the punch of Squire but; Everyone else is amazing! Steve didn't miss a note...

[@David-iv6je]

Jeff Berlin was good but it's a shame they don't have the footage with Tony Levin. He was sick when this was filmed. I was lucky enough to see him. Even without Squire this tour was better than the Union tour. 8 musicians just cluttered up their sound so much!

[@michaeljones9301]

That "get up, down " section.....PERFECT!

[@jameshooper4384]

Stunning!!

[@johnbgood52]

The version on Yessongs is much better.

[@gordonthorne2964]

Thank you, Bill. I saw this lineup in Philly. Absolutely magnificent!!!!!!! I also saw you with three different versions of King Crimson and as guest percussionist with Genesis on the Dance On A Volcano tour. All in Philly.

[@rappleba2496]

Wow, those are good shows. I saw Trick of the Tail tour too, but missed Bruford. They had Chester by the time I saw them.

[@audiomez]

Thanks so much William! You are the True Syncopation Clock Man. No other comes close!

[@pigwillnot8281]

SO MANYGREAT PROG BANDS WERE AOUND IN THE THOSE AWESOME 70/80S what a great time to be an avid concert goer !!!! and dont forget prog jazz was on fire ALL THOSE GIGS ARE MY FAVORITE MEMORIES. R.I.P. CHRIS SQUIRE, GREG LAKE,JOHN WETTON, FZ , KIETH EMERSON ANDTHE REST

[@stephenjohnbetts1058]

Wonderful band, Bill is undoubtedly one of the best drummers in the world. As all the other band members are, but I have to say that Jeff Berlin done a truly amazing job. Chris is a hard act to follow, and Jeff you really deserve a mention for being so good.

[@ArtWarontube1]

This some amazing recreation of the original piece done in the Summer of 72. I love this music! So timeless and to me , masterpiece of Progressive Rock! Thank you Mr. Bruford for sharing here! Blessings to you and yours in the upcoming years! 🙏

[@oliverkluth6134]

Hey Bill, thank you and please more of this great music 🙂 Best wishes Olli 🙂

[@mmoura1104]

Bravo description. It was epic in Houston just before this concert with Tony Levin

[@gerardleveque3568]

First time I see shots of Jeff Berlin in ABWH live videos

[@godbluffvdgg]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! This is great footage...I wish Chris was there but...Bruford sitting in is sweet!

[@elcinepsicodelicodealan]

I waiting for thisª So magical, so complex, but perfect. The best "Close to the Edge" version in my opinion

[@KyleDavisMusic]

Wakeman is pure magic.

[@curtx88]

So many majestic twists and turns. This song thrills me every single time!

[@montedyoung3247]

What a great band you and the others made!!! A great example of perfect sounding musical structure and execution you guys made!

[@PeterJVogel]

Yes' masterwork, IMO. The musicianship is without peers.

[@bruceage9er]

What an awesome song. My favorite Yes song ever. Well done live too.

[@josephnaja]

Fricken Killer!! I love Chris but Jeff is awesome on bass!! ABWH, Great Album and Tour 🌴🌴

[@AssociationAdmirer]

I remember the first time I heard this song, my reaction was "I don't see what the big deal is." I could go on about how the song's effects sink into you over repeated listens, but for me the real takeaway is that part of its brilliance is its unassuming tone, the lack of grandeur in its structure, is what makes it more than another epic and brings it in line with its lyrical message of unity and simplicity.

[@yournamehere6719]

Thanks for posting this, Mr. Bruford. I'm more partial to you KC stint with Adrian Belew, but your Yes work was foundational for me & my pre-teen pals in the early '70s.