First reaction to YES - "CLOSE TO THE EDGE" (Side 1)

This is VERDY CHANNEL. Today I react to yes - close to the edge album - for the first time.
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[@chrismatthews8717]

Can you imagine? It's 1974, you are 13 years old and up to now you've been listening to glam rock and the pop charts. Then one day you are introduced to this. It was like discovering another planet. Nothing was ever the same again. This is just breath-taking.

[@philjones8097]

We must have lived in a parallel universe except I was 16 at the time! Fed up with verse chorus, verse chorus, glam and noddy music I too was introduced to CttE as my first Yes introduction and then the world changed 👍

[@chrismatthews8717]

@Phil Jones We won't be the only ones. It wasn't just this album or this band, of course. I remember hearing DSotM for the first time and being mesmerised, same with Selling England and Physical Graffiti. I realised that modern music can be an art form and not just something to dance to or fill in the background. It was like discovering Dali.

[@retohofmann5878]

Exactly,I had the same experience with "Tubular Bells" and "Echoes"...back in 1974...good times!

[@lesblatnyak5947]

What I love is all the Brothers reacting to Yes and Lovin it.

[@dougpool4730]

Was only 10 years old, old man.😁👍👍👍

[@jaquestraw1]

Finest piece of music ever conceived in my opinion. A true masterpiece 💚 magic

[@soldatwitt6400]

L'un des meilleurs en tout cas...

[@johndouglas1957]

The greatest album of all time.....Had everything. vocals, keyboards, bass, drums, guitar.....My desert island disc......70's Yes had everything......Chris Squire was my hero.

[@MJM1309]

I miss 70's YES. If only I could go back in time . It makes me cry every time I hear it.

[@ron88303]

Music is as much a time and place as it is a sound. I miss the 70's, too.

[@pbwbrian53]

Check out the current tour of Jon Anderson and Band Geeks. Several individual songs and a full concert on KZbin.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Yes was a gift

[@TheReaperMan275]

That was what we call a masterpiece. 🕶🎸🎸🎹🥁🎤🔊

[@runntum]

You know it.

[@runntum]

This album changed my life musically. In '72 sitting in my friends' bedroom listening to this for the first time on his excellent stereo system and thinking to myself, " What am I listening to!". I was never the same musically after that. I still hear different things on this album today.

[@jeffkemper7920]

This is the best ProgRock album ever, being played by the greatest ProgRock band of all time. Thanks Verdy, you can never go wrong with YES. Such an amazing group of Musicians. ❤❤🎉

[@barrypeirson3710]

Tales won me over this past summer But here's how I rank them. 1a. Tales from Topographic Oceans 1b. Close to the Edge 1c Fragile 1d Going for the One 1e The Yes Album 1f Relayer. The rest are good too! Greatest of all time!

[@suekuligowski6584]

The recording on Yessongs is incredible also in that they could perform like this. It's a great achievement but you must listen to Going For The One as well. In 1977 they were back with a vengeance.

[@tuskact4overheaven873]

I don't know red and court of the crimson king are up there, also some of the jethro tull stuff like aqualung

[@jimdandrea9307]

You are the first reactor to call out Rick Wakemans one note section. A favorite of mine.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Ladies and gentlemen YES the greatest show on earth. Just magnificent

[@deanmccartney5021]

Starting with Relayer as my first big concert I have been to 24 Yes concerts over the years.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

@deanmccartney5021 36 for me starting with Relayer tour and ending forty yrs later shortly before Squire passed

[@deanmccartney5021]

@@lesblatnyak5947 I lived in the Pittsburgh area. Yes would come to Pittsburgh and I would see them there. Then two days later they would be in Wheeling West Virginia and I would see the same concert again. The show in Wheeling was a much smaller venue. I would get there 5 hours early and wait at the door. It was standing room only on the floor. I saw several concerts their on the wall 10 feet from the stage. Yes was always my favorite group.

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

A mere 14 for me(Yes concerts), but enough to know that, at their best, Yes were the finest live band on the planet. As the ubiquitous Mr. Blatnyak says(love ya, Les! I feel like I know you. Somewhere along the line we were at a YesShow together, I’m pretty sure.), the greatest show on Earth. Verdy, always love your reactions. Can’t wait until you do side 2 of this record. And You And I is a personal favorite and Siberian Khatru maybe their finest rocker.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

@deanmccartney5021 I'm a Steelers fan since mean Joe Green's rookie yr, that was the yr after the Leafs last won Lord Stanley's cup.

[@mattleppard1964]

It’s the big one ! ❤❤❤ Best music ever created 🎉🎉

[@kevindunlap5525]

Bruford moved on after this album. : ) My mother was a professional organist, and she found sheet music for this and many others. She actually broke panes of glass in our living room window practicing for church one day. It was awesome. (LOL, yes, when she donated THAT one to the church, she still had a bigger one at home! There were 9 box speakers that were about 2 x 3 feet each.) I can only imagine what it must have been like to have been in high school in 76-78. And then college 78-82 Phew : ) I can tell you this my friends......Seasons will most definitely pass you by

[@pianocovers4227]

wahoo !! great ! ... as child I sung choral with a church organ ! good introduction to Yes music, a few years after !!..

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Sounds like original Bose 901s made in Hungary

[@godbluffvdgg]

:)...I graduated high school in 78...Those days will never be repeated, sadly...We felt so free...I hope your mother is still with us...Good health and happiness to all...

[@rbu83145]

You have to experience The Gates Of Delirium and Awaken by Yes too.

[@ron88303]

Those are an absolute MUST!

[@scifimonkey3]

For sure, please get them on the to do list. Actually Relayer should be a side by side album listen if you can manage it as it is a fantastic album. Then take a huge breath (or maybe 4 huge breaths) and tackle Tales from Topographic oceans.

[@bookhouseboy280]

The improved mix by Steven Wilson of Gates of Delirium or better yet, the entirity of the Relayer album as it is a progressive masterwork. For Awaken, either the 20-bit HDCD or 5.1 UpMix.

[@ericanderson8886]

One of the best musician lineups in rock history for this album, maybe the best. But that Led Zepp lineup was pretty good too lol.

[@kevindunlap5525]

As I was fading away with my eyes closed and the bass turned up a little bit right when she paused the first time, I was thinking: There's nothing else that can sound and feel better than this, and of course I started thinking about all the obvious......But they're different, that's all. They're all THAT good. You're right- Zep did it, (my favorite all around rock band) with Stairway, my favorite rock song of all time. But Stairway isn't "better" than Roundabout. They're both perfect for exactly what they are, and WE absorb that. It's a beautiful thing. Genesis wasn't bad, lol! Stairway isn't "better" than Communication Breakdown, they're just both perfect. Is Money "better than " One Slip? 68-82 rock will never be matched by anything. Except maybe Pat Metheny, but that, alas, is for another day!!

[@lisagulick4144]

And they had some great prog moments of their own..."Achilles Last Stand" and "Carouselambra" come immediately to mind as longer tracks; "The Battle of Evermore" and "No Quarter" as shorter tracks.

[@franciscodiaz183]

Thank you Verdy for this excellent reaction to a masterpiece. "Going for the One" is another excellent choice, especially "Awaken."

[@jimdukeproject]

Agree. Even Gates of Delirium. Though she might get lost in that one, haha.

[@SDsailor7]

Camel's Snow Goose would be a good one also.

[@IanHillan]

I did hear this live and it was amazing but I've yet to hear a live recording that comes close to this version. Eddie Offord was a genius on this album. Oh, and I second the calls for Going For the One and especially Awaken.

[@caroleann_2142]

The ENTIRE ALBUM ITS JUST FABULOUS & the Concert was perfect 🎶🎵🎶🎸💙

[@gelsol]

Bruford is another reason why this version is superior. The way he and Squire locked up was great chemistry. And his snare drum rules.

[@KevinRCarr]

In part, I think, because I "discovered" Yes and JRR Tolkien at about the same time, I have long thought that Jon and Chris should have been the singing voices of elves in the Lord of the Rings movies. Their voices were such a perfect blend of harmonies and tones, it's simply enchanting. Oh, and I have to correct you on something. One doesn't "listen to" this album, one "experiences" this album. Kidding, of course, but the first time I heard it was truly an experience that I will never forget. Here it is, 44 years later and I'm still "experiencing" it every chance I get. Great choice. I suspect you'll like the rest of the album a lot, as well.

[@eximusic]

It's so nice to see you enjoying and grooving to this work of genius.

[@kevin_g1164]

So glad you took time to listen to the studio version of this prog masterpiece. Several times during this video you used the word perfect. That to me describes 70's Yes they were perfectionists that is why CTTE is on the very top shelf of prog music. In 1972 it was so different to normal songs and has had a major influence on so many bands. Rick Wakeman is a wizard on keyboards (of any type) and church organs. He use the cathedral organ to such great impact here. That pipe organ sound could not be produced by electronics in 1972 so why try the reverb in a massive cathedral is just so awesome. This song is so great you can never wear it out and all Yes fans still love it even after 50 years. The best way to listen to this song is laying back in your favorite chair, through headphones in a darkened room. Then just let the music take you for a ride. Great reaction and again thank you.

[@edcliffe2988]

This was their best album.

[@dolfinpt]

I’ve Been waiting and hoping you’d get back to YES! You seemed to like few albums you’ve done so far! CTTE is one of their Best Albums! This album played live is Incredible! Hopefully you’ll continue on to Relayer! Now that project will amaze and blow you away! It’s one of my Fav albums! Love your appreciation of these incredible artists and their musical genius! YES Prog #1 Group

[@pbwbrian53]

Yes, please, Sound Chaser off Relayer.

[@retohofmann5878]

Sorry my dear, let's face the truth, no. 1 is King Crimson....

[@ajones957]

So glad you listened to the studio version. This was such an influential album on so many bands that followed. I think you enjoyed some of the RUSH music you listened to. In particular, Yes was a significant influence on both Geddy Lee (bassist) and Alex Lifeson (guitarist) in particular.

[@marshallross3373]

Ya, Geddy and Alex introduced Yes for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction, I believe. Geddy went on to play bass on Roundabout with the surviving Yes members. Pretty cool. Interestingly, it was really the acquisition of Howe and Wakeman that elevated the group to its instrumental pinnacle. Yes always had great musicians, but this early 70's combo on Fragile and CTTE was undoubtedly the best.

[@caroleann_2142]

I can't wait, until you hear these LIVE on YESSONGS among the other songs, YES was best on Stage, always. Just unbelievable 🎉❤🎉 " Going for the One" the album is another must!!! Thanks Verdy Happy Weekend 😊

[@kevindunlap5525]

sigh.........Going For The One......what a world it used to be.

[@Kae6502]

Thank You! 😊 I try to watch every reaction to CTTE. It’s as close to experiencing it for the first time again as I will ever get. It is one of the best pieces of recorded music ever produced. ❤

[@user-uo5ph3gz1k]

My favorite song of all time! Never get tired of hearing this masterpiece I have requested this song be played at my funeral

[@dandecastro51]

Oof, come on (lol) I can so relate! EXCEPT, in my will I have The Gates of Delirium to be played at mine. Not an easy decision tho lol. Cheers!

[@et2petty]

Steve Howe said in an interview that the first three or four minutes of Close to the Edge was influenced by The Mahavishnu Orchestra music.

[@richardbradley1532]

One of my favourite pieces of music. All brilliant, but i do inevitably find myself concentrating on the fabulous bass lines.

[@NyMyers64]

Enjoyed listening to this track again with you. The organ part is actually a real wind blown pipe organ that was recorded in a London church. Looking forward to side 2 as I really love those 2 tracks.

[@Jack-D-Ripper]

Wikipedia: It is played on the pipe organ at St Giles-without-Cripplegate church, in Barbican, London.

[@vicprovost2561]

Prog rock at its best, wow, great tune! Saw this live back in the day, amazing to see them replicate this live, those musicians are on another planet! Fragile and the Yes album are worth a reaction as well, they have so many great epics, happy reacting! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

[@ron88303]

Relayer and Going for the One are also must listens.

[@Jack-D-Ripper]

I was 16 in 1972 when this was released. I heard this when a friend played out in the sixth form common room. I was awakened to this amazing music and bought is soon afterwards. It has remained my favourite album, and in particular, my favourite track ever since; as of 2023, that's 51 years in my top song chart.

[@BillMilburn]

Verdy you struggled to identify what type of organ was used in this piece. You eventually made the correct decision well done. The organ used for this record was pipe organ at London's St Giles-without-Cripplegate church.

[@marlachristensen2076]

I purchased the 'YesSongs' album at around the age of 13. This album showcases this song in live version. I used to use this song to play in my head for my suntanning time in my backyard. Perfect timing!

[@simonjones8111]

Probably as many notes in the first 5 minutes as the whole of Pink Floyd’s Echoes 😂😂 still brilliant but wonderfully different and crazy. So happy to have grown up as these were released 🎉

[@dhfenske]

Fun observation! I think you're right. And I love Echoes essentially just as much as this.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Floyd is the pre-sex, Led Zeppelin is the sex and Yes is the orgasm

[@mryorkshire3623]

Nobody today has the ability to write music like this. A masterpiece.

[@sergebrunet4218]

I bought this Album in 1973 ! lol ! time flies ! 50 years already ! I know it by heart ! been listening to it for 50 years ! lol ! wish i could play it !

[@SoCalDan530]

Close to the Edge is a masterpiece

[@donriemer]

Thanks so much for creating your channel. I have watched many "reaction" videos on KZbin, but your videos seem to be more honest, genuine, authentic than any others. I believe your reactions completely. That counts for a lot. Keep it up.

[@marksingo2177]

Verdy , thank you for that heartfelt reaction!! Youre the best !! 🤘🤘

[@philflower7778]

YES Verdy!! 😊 Play this one over and over! It's gets better and better the more you play it!

[@robertjantzen6545]

From The Yes Album through Tales From Topographic Oceans is a period of music we may not ever witness again...

[@davidstevenson404]

this makes me cry--the masterpiece!

[@TerenceShortman]

Yes it was a pipe organ sometimes called a church organ Rick Wakeman, recorded it on the pipe organ of London's St Giles-without-Cripplegate church.

[@MrMelvinSchlock]

The chord that Rick Wakeman sustains to help create the mood in the center section. I’m an engineer that occasionally goes into installations where many motors reverberate off concrete walls. Because of this song I look for that Wakeman sound in industrial locations. I’ve run into it several times. Very satisfying when it happens.

[@johnmulcahy1129]

I remember hearing this for the first time about 40 years ago. It’s more than just a song…it’s an experience.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Great reaction Verdy ! Thank you.

[@stuartdryer1352]

Takes me back a half century. Thanks for this.

[@astrafaan]

I was SO in love with this

[@sourcebased]

Thank you, Verdy! Great reaction to one of the greatest pieces of prog rock music… I am a YES fan since my childhood in the 80ies, but it took me a long time to develop the musical taste to be able to fully appreciate their earlier masterpieces. You seem to be at the right point in your musical journey to be able to get into it immediately! You are right about the organ, the organ part was recorded with a real pipe organ in a church in Switzerland. Correction: this was another great YES song, Awaken from the album Relayer. The church organ here is from London’s St Giles. This music deserves many listens, as it is so complex that you can’t get all the aspects of it in just one listen, you will appreciate it even more the better you know it… and also as others have said the live versions are fantastic! Keep on rocking, love, respect and best wishes from Germany. 🙏❤

[@lisagulick4144]

Actually, "Awaken" is the closing track on _Going for the One._ 😉 Love from the U.S. Midwest!

[@sourcebased]

@@lisagulick4144 awww… dunno why I always seem to get mixed up with Relayer and Going for the one… love both albums, but if I had to choose only one, would be Relayer! Lol 👍🙏❤️

[@sourcebased]

@@lisagulick4144 … but then I would wish this song was on Relayer too 🤣

[@lisagulick4144]

@@sourcebased Can't really blame you. I had only heard the _Yesshows_ version of "The Gates of Delirium" when I bought _Relayer_ on vinyl, but the studio version has its own "delirious" charm, and of course "Sound Chaser" and "To Be Over" were game-changers. That said, _Going for the One_ has Rick Wakeman as keyboardist...definitely an equalizer for me.

[@williamaubin885]

For me it was the best decade as a teenager. I has a front row seat to these wonderful experiences.

[@John-pp2pb]

Yes I remember it well when it came out . I still listen to it at least once a year.

[@danielmcguinness4036]

Yes !!!! Yeah, Let's Go !!!!

[@ericgaudet5488]

VERDY great job with your reaction to the first side of this Album from the band YES .

[@Roddeau1]

Glad you got to experience the magic of Led Zeppelin. They have the most amazing catalog of music. Do more Led Zeppelin, you will be amazed by their versatility in styles. Love you both and your reactions.

[@yeshayahuhomberger2079]

Verdy nice and beautiful reaction. Thx. Yes 🤙👍💪

[@stanjohnson5767]

Glad you've heard the studio version of this masterpiece. Love your 'bass face'. I cant help but make one too when I hear Chris Squire playing.

[@alejandramabelsanchez2819]

YES amazing group of the universe ❤

[@PaulAdamssongs]

So rewarding for us older folks see this music appreciated. It was hard work. My friendGary was in a band called Gentle Giants may want to check out

[@markharrls81]

I’m so glad that you are reviewing this brilliant album…

[@ALAN_COX]

I loved your reaction to this best progressive rock and roll song and album of all time! I recall when this first came out, my cousin tried forever to figure out all of the words so he could sing along with it. One day I was looking at the album cover as he was singing along and I noticed that the words were printed on the inner paper sleeve. He was shocked when all of a sudden I started singing it! (hahaaa) Anyway, this band consisted of some of the best musicians in the world. They were just an incredible band. I saw them a couple of times live and they did not disappoint.

[@buddystewart2020]

The best progressive composition ever created, period. No one will ever convince me otherwise. RIP Chris. This piece makes me cry.

[@lisagulick4144]

Ah, the joy of seeing this music encountered by a generation that wasn't even alive when it was created! That is how the staying power of a song is measured. I hope you will listen to even more Yes music and love it just as much as "olds" do!

[@benjaminsanabria6021]

❤ love your reactions to YES😃

[@dr.zamboivan2216]

It's nice to see such young people. Humanity is not lost yet!

[@albacore101]

You're so cool. You get it. Welcome to our generation..

[@diegodesimone6834]

Bellissimo Capolavoro!!

[@deanmccartney5021]

Verdy so glad you are doing Close To The Edge studio version. It’s much better than the live show you did earlier.

[@bookhouseboy280]

That live show was available for years as a bootleg. It's a shady release that lacks a proper finalized mix and has never been endorsed by Yes.

[@flomalheur7467]

For me, "Close To The Edge" is one of the songs that you should definitely listen to on the live album Yessongs too. Of course, the sound quality can't keep up with the studio version, but compositionally the song has received a lot of "fine-tuning" there.

[@dwightphelps5096]

Hi Verdy, After reading some reactions, I just wanted to add my two cents worth. I believe that many of Yes's live versions of some of their best songs are far better than the versions on the Yessongs live album and come close to the original studio albums. Some of these live videos I am speaking about are spectacular in their own right. Folks interested should check out these live versions from various venues: Lugana Jazz Festival, Montreau Jazz Festival, and a series of live recordings( I think maybe 6 or 7) under the title "Symphonic" where they had a small orchestra behind the band. The orchestra never got in the way of the original sound but added a new texture to the music, but never took the edge off the original. I saw Yes several times in the early to mid 70s at their peak and always thought they were better live than on their albums...they were louder and the songs seemed to have more depth. But nothing can take away their greatness, especially on The Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE, and Tales. Relayer was no slouch album either. I believe they were clearly one of the most talent-laden rock bands ever as it showed in their music.

[@TigerMtnKing]

YES!!!🤩

[@frankmarsh1159]

15:39 It's a pipe organ. Most big churches back in the day had a pipe organ. People would sing hymns while the organist played along. In the 1930's tonewheel organs came out. They were much cheaper and they became very popular in African American churches and with Gospel music. The Hammond Organ was the most popular tone wheel organ and in the 1960's rock bands started using them. They are on tons of classic rock records. This song has one at 17:29

[@aprilstewart5929]

I generally hate it when people interrupt, but your comments are always excellent, and I enjoy then.

[@finlybenyunes8385]

1972 and I was 18! That year my 3 favourite albums were Close to the Edge by Yes, Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie and the first Roxy Music album...

[@liberxionzion5959]

Moi 10 sec dans le video; ah ben une queb esti! Haha Nice reaction! J'aime voir le monde fendre sur cette chanson. Que dis-je, chanson... Oeuvre d'art. Toi tu m'as pas déçu à la 1ere transition à l'orgue. (Organ en anglais oui haha) mais c'était criminel de couper comme ça dans la finale!! ;P

[@ericvuillemey2135]

Great one Verdy ! And once you have listened to Going For The One a few times (still my favorite album, with Gates and Edge just behind), you HAVE to check Awaken live with Jon Anderson and Todmobile in Iceland. Chills guaranteed 😉

[@ianfrederickson1327]

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this song and not gotten goosebumps.

[@kevindunlap5525]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.................one of the true gems that doesn't get played enough. LOL, Verdy, you need to start looking into a career in music history. You'll never work a day in your life if you're doing something you love. And YES, people, pun intended, I realize she's doing that right here!! She has such eclectic taste in music, it's admirable. YES, one of the bands whose album work and art was synonymous with the band. In mid-1971, during his search for work affiliated with rock bands, Roger Dean sent a portfolio to numerous executives including Phil Carson, the European General Manager of Atlantic Records. Carson took an interest in using Dean for one of his rock acts, Yes, and hired Dean for the cover of Yes's fourth album, Fragile (1971), which marked the beginning of an association with the band to the present day. Dean pitched a story on a creation myth rather than a particular image for it, "about a child who dreamt they were living on a planet that was breaking up, so they had to build a space ark to find another planet to live on. And they towed all the little bits of the planet with them". In 1972, he designed the band's logo while travelling on the Brighton Belle train, which has been used on most of their albums since Close to the Edge (1972). In addition to their covers, Dean and his brother Martyn worked on the stage design for Yes from 1973 to 1976, 1980, 1989, and 2004. The tour for Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) featured a nationwide merchandising campaign including posters and t-shirts that led to the creation of the production company Brockum. In 1972, Dean designed the logo for the newly established Virgin Records. While working on the art for Yessongs (1973).

[@steveconnolly7129]

Quite the piece of art,very pyscadelic and very precise ,even in concert 5mo.ago.the style and type of music produced today is nowhere even in the same,as yes was,the synthasizer was the key instrament in 3/4 of thier music,and they still get it right these days,cool tunes and all the memorys of the acid music years⚡️⚡️☮️✌️

[@michelspedding2032]

When I was a young man, I loved this album. Then one night, in Montreal, I met a girl. She took me to her place and browsing trough her album collection, I spotted "Close to the edge". I asked her if she liked it. Like it , I love it she said. It is the first album i bought and I listened to it hundreds of times. So, in my mind, I decided, there and then, that we were quite compatible and that one day, if she would have, I'd marry her. And so we did get married 45 years ago. I'm happy to see that a new young generation likes it too. Well done you Verdy.

[@anyone9689]

loved your reaction and at 12:10 your little shoulder move was great , and at 15:07 looked like you were going to stop to comment but then couldnt stop it. its a true masterpiece . glad you enjoyed please check out some bob dylan

[@thumbob]

A true classic piece of artistry from one of the best prog bands on of the.70s.

[@1geisterfahrer]

The very first rock concert I ever went to was the Close to the Edge tour in 1973. I was 11. Not to sound dramatic, but that music changed my life. I went with my 16 year old brother and a group of his friends. I'm still amazed my parents let me go.

[@OzarkTroutBum]

The pipe organ was actually recorded separately in a London church built in the late 1800's. Theres video of Wakeman going back and wailing on it again.

[@JJ8KK]

FINALLY! When you listened to the live version of CTTE I could only shake my head at what you had missed out on. There's another First Listen reaction dude who listened to the live version 1st like you, but was persuaded by commenters to listen to the studio version & very quickly he chastised his followers for not letting him know how much better the studio version was. He said that, even though he had heard the band perform the song before, he had not _really_ heard it. The reason why the studio versions are so much better than the live vids is because the incredible amount of *_complexity_* that YES packs into their masterpieces. When you watch live performances, you are distracted by the visuals from fully appreciating what they put together. Also, you miss out on the studio effects that YES employed masterfully. Beyond that, when you watch the live versions of CTTE, the overall sound quality is very poor...when compared to the studio version. For one thing, you never hear the bass the way you do in the studio version, which is essential to fully appreciating YES. And then there's the fact that Bill Bruford's experimental drumming is not part of the live vids that are out there (not dissing Alan White, a great drummer, but the Squire/Bruford "rhythm section" was special within the musical universe). Also (as you noticed) the vocal harmonies never capture you the way they do in the studio version. YES' vocal harmonies were one of the MOST impressive elements of their masterpieces, something that no other Progressive Rock band came close to matching. The live versions always deprive you of that special element of YES perfection. The other reason I was disappointed that you listened to the live version first was because you never listened to the other two masterpieces on the CTTE album that you will now be hearing for the first time. When you've finally listened to the entire album, you see why most Prog Rock fans consider the CTTE album to be the greatest of all time. I'm looking forward to your reaction to Side Two...😀

[@dhfenske]

Thank you for writing all this out. I've been thinking these things for the last few years that I've been watching reactors doing Yes.

[@ron88303]

Totally agree with your studio vs. live assessment. And CTTE's status.

[@bookhouseboy280]

There are MUCH better professionally mixed live recordings of CttE from the 70s with Wakeman such as Yessongs movie - HQ audio stereo (Fixed): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDdc4CfjtR8pac and CttE (Yessongs footage with improved alternate audio): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaOnq2OCl8aVZpY

[@allanmartin1005]

I was fortunate to have heard this before it was released at an open air concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl, when it finished there was a moment’s license,as if everyone there knew that they had just listened to something very very special but couldn’t take it in, then the place just erupted , unbelievable moment in time. If my memory serves, the organ is from a famous London Church, the Church of St Martin’s in the Field,I think I’m right ,if not someone will put me right. Great stuff.

[@Stevedrums741]

they were in their 20's when this record was written, composed and released. Let that sink in.

[@rohan-qd6py]

Close to the heart… for many decades!!!

[@justitia257]

🌹

[@spikeysnack]

This 1972 experimental music is like classical music to someone your age. Really it has an old world feel with the pipe organ, choral arrangements, almost not rock at all. But somehow it is. I bet you would like their sound in 1983 with "90125", much more pop/rock, but still them.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

So I always learn more about this piece of music the more I listen to it. But the first part... The "Chaotic" part. I have loved to come to recognize as more "complex orchestrated chaos" the more you isolate the different instruments you can sense what they are doing... they are all not moving in relationship to each other but they do have an "Up and down" pattern of different degrees and gee I wonder why? Haha.

[@jimdukeproject]

A classic album and this tune did it for me when I first heard it. So progressive I never preferred 4/4 again after that. They had a huge influence on me.

[@StereoSpace]

I always thought the best versions of these songs were on Yessongs, also recorded live. But that was also my introduction to Yes, so maybe that's why.

[@allenjones7722]

Drugs and classical training worked exceptionally well in the 1970's. It's the the classical training that is missing these days.

[@lloydowen3598]

The Greatest Album ever recorded ❤❤❤

[@romuloleal22]

Me sinto sortudo por estar vivo para ouvir essa maravilha

[@SDsailor7]

That Cathedral organ gets me every time..

[@DFitz-bk7dj]

This is one of the best pieces of music Ever recorded!!!

[@bobsbigboy_]

greatest album ever made. enjoy :)

[@jaquestraw1]

It is

[@davidmeir9348]

If you ask most people what is the greatest prog album, the most likely answer would be Close to the Edge. Songs like this or Super's Ready or Tarkus, represent the longer (admitedly bloated at times) but so rewarding side of prog. The excellent drummer (Bill Bruford) joined the founders of Prog Rock (King Crimson) and at least three of their albums are a must listen on your channel. In the court of the Crimson King (1969) Lark's tongues in Aspic (1973) (with Bruford) and Red (1974) (also with Bruford) their last album before the band disbanded. They reformed in 1980. A masterpiece, Starless, the last song on Red is one of the greatest song ever written and can be heard in the opening credits of the movie Mandy starring Nicolas Cage.

[@bookhouseboy280]

The Night Watch (1973) USA (1975) 40th Anniversary edition Absent Lovers (1984) All live and all awesome.

[@pbwbrian53]

Yes, listen to King Crimson but don’t waste your time reacting to them. They block most any excerpt of their music.

[@melvinroebuck1160]

Most people are baffled by that first chaotic part at the beginning (after the ambient sounds), but you were just grooving :). And I don’t think it was just because you’d already heard the live version. It shows your ear and your openness.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

Yeah there is purpose behind it... It's supposed to sound a bit chaotic..messy.... but to have some order... I love following 1 or 2 instruments at a time through that part. I love the Up and Down motions they go through... It's awesome! In an overall piece so complex there are just so many things to study and go geeky amazed over.

[@leonardoD81]

They greatest progressive rock song ever written by true pioneers of progressive music Yes

[@romansky2899]

Verdy, we have to party..