First reaction to YES - "CLOSE TO THE EDGE" (Side 2)

This is VERDY CHANNEL. Today I react to yes - close to the edge album - for the first time.
If you want early access and to support me
PATREON (link) : / verdy_channel
Thanks for watching
Like, comment and subscribe
VERDY channel.

[@deanroddey2881]

This album is one of the fundamental pillars of prog rock. It doesn't get any better.

[@marcosruiz1709]

not only of prog rock, of music in general

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

They mix styles when it shouldn't really be possible. How many funky-sounding songs turn into a harpsichord solo, then a poetic reading followed by a rocking ending?

[@deanroddey2881]

@@ronaldmorgan7632 Well, there is my epic Emo-Polka masterpiece, yet unpublished, which I think can compete...

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

@@deanroddey2881 Can't wait to hear it during next Oktoberfest.

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Except for Tales From Topographic Oceans.

[@leoscone4036]

Saying nothing is fine. Your expressions tell all. I'm a 61 year old dyed in the wool prog-rocker and this album was the first vinyl I ever bought with my own money. It was an essential part of the soundtrack of my life during high school in the '70's. You may not have an idea of just how wonderful it is to see yet another generation appreciating this music, now a half-century old, that I cherished in my youth. And I knew you'd just love Steve Howe's beautiful acoustic guitar on And You And I. That song had you at the first instant. Blessings.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

Same here! I only realized that’s what I listened to back in the day: prog rock. Jethro Tull, Yes, Deep Purple, Styx,Genesis, Triumvirat, Gentle Giant, 10cc, Supertramp, to name a few…

[@jackw467]

The voice of Jon Anderson, lifting us up into the clear blue-white heavenly ether ...

[@jaquestraw1]

He is an angel of music

[@daveannarino7892]

Watching your face reflect joy and extasy while listening to a song that I (and many, many, others) have loved for 50 years brings tears to my eyes. Young lady, you are a beautiful soul, thank you for sharing. ...I loved your Steely Dan, "A'ja" reaction too.

[@markharrls81]

Smoking pot…This album turned way up…My youth…I was transported…I didn’t think at the time that music couldn’t get any better…It still holds up…It still has that magic…

[@stangovers7441]

Mark, I vividly recollect listening to this album in a friend's backyard, with 4 speakers hung from trees, while on acid. It was ethereal! This album introduced a new form of music to me, prog rock.

[@bookhouseboy280]

"I don’t know technically how the hell we made that album. We did things that really we shouldn’t be able to do, technically. I think it was the last album made … where technology was way behind what musicians wanted to do. Certainly with us. So to me, it’s a very very special album. And I think it was during the period of time when the band was at one of its peaks; everyone was playing really well.” - Rick Wakeman

[@paulbrinkman5631]

Salute!!

[@petergiffes1239]

A great album from my teen years. One of the albums that made me fall in love with progressive rock. The British were monsters when it came to the genre.

[@scifimonkey3]

Just to prove that this album is not only about the title track, side 2 brings it in spades and confirms why this is the consummate prog album of all time.

[@fewwiggle]

Hello Verdy!!! I love to see the wheels in your head go 'round as the album 'spins' away . . . Your eyes tell us everything you are feeling and comprehending -- it's a beautiful thing :-)

[@donkunes8630]

Thank you for your reactions to the music of my , our youth. It was a time of not only social turmoil but beautiful artistry

[@stangovers7441]

Verdy, thank you for sharing this amazing album! This 74 year old musician loves seeing young people enjoying great music from my younger years. This album showed us what was possible. Verdy, you have very good taste in music, and I love your reactions! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@MyCrazyDogs32]

The "banjo" was a sitar. And the keyboard right after was a harpsicord.

[@z-man2343]

Way back in the day, a group of college friends and I decided to take a chemically enhanced trip, and I thought this would be a great album to send us on our way. Well, it worked. So much so that we all decided after listening to go climb a small mountain not too far from campus (in the middle of the night, mind you🙃) We ended up staying on top of the mountain to watch the sunrise together. One of my fondest memories from my college days...thank you Yes!

[@chickadeeacres3864]

That sounds much better than my trip staring into a toilet watching “things” disolve. bahahaha!

[@michaelschulzodermath571]

Siberian Kathru is possibly the most perfect prog song ever. It is rocking, funky, complex as hell, groovy, all u want from a last song! I learn to love side two more than side one over the years. On Yessongs they opened their set with it (after "firebird") and they left me speachless back in these days.

[@derekmeade6350]

An immense album both for its musicality but also it’s influence on other musicians. Glad that you enjoyed it 👍

[@closeencounter1954]

After buying this LP when it first came out, I thought for years that Yes always played with a full orchestra. Surprised to learn that those orchestra sounds were created by a mellotron, a keyboard instrument created in the early ‘60s and still played today!

[@davidmckenzie420]

My favorite album from yes...So fortunate to have "grown up" with the great prog-rock bands. And so lucky to have seen them in their prime.

[@clydetyng9192]

I am 66 years old and I still love listening to. Yes it brings me chills. You’re gonna love this pretty lady enjoy

[@martinmchugh001]

"Close to the edge" and "Fragile" were their best albums. Also, released back to back. Not many bands throughout history of rock music can produce such a masterpiece, let alone two. Much like Pink Floyd's "Dark side..." and "Wish you were here", they were produced in a short period of time in their lives. I'd say only the Beatles were greater. 6 albums in a row, between 1965 and 1969, where the following album was greater than the one before: "Rubber Soul", "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper", "The White album", "Let it be" and "Abbey Road"

[@mikeb3365]

Great song to end the CTTE album. This is perhaps my fav song by YES but there are so many.

[@franciscodiaz183]

Thank you, VERDY, for doing your part to keep this type of high quality music present.

[@joeloedeman5160]

Controversial opinion: This is the best side of this album!

[@MDElam]

I'm not sure I disagree. :)

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

It varies from week to week. For over 50 years. 😄❤️

[@edf13]

It’s close either way

[@PaulAdamssongs]

It’s heart touching to see you digging it. In that time period artistry was encouraged. This changed in 1979.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

Imagine spinning the vinyl and getting blasted with Close to the Edge.. Going up and going down over and over again. Then flipping the vinyl over.... and going WAY WAY UP with this track... What an amazing album! I have to imagine it... I am too young to have ever realistically done the vinyl thing. Just floors me the quality of all three pieces of music on this album.

[@tonybaker55]

Chris has a great skill in that he played bass like a lead guitar. Such an avant-garde band.

[@misterg2269]

As a Yes fan from the early seventies I must recommend you listen to a song of theirs called Awaken, to me it's a masterpiece, hope you like it too.

[@wicky4473]

I saw them promote this new album in the summer of 1972 in CT, USA. They were the headline act, having had Roundabout out as a big hit previously. The warmup acts were the Edgar Winter Group who had a hit called Frankenstein at the time, but first there was a little known band who had a hit called Witchy Woman. They were the Eagles. I wonder whatever became of them?

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Cool Yes opened for Grund Funk Gentle Giant opened for Yes

[@wicky4473]

@@lesblatnyak5947 that must have been an amazing concert as well!

[@craigtalbott731]

Didn't they return to playing @ Disneyland again?

[@lauriesuter8810]

Wow!! What a line up 😊😊😊!!!

[@JJ8KK]

I've got to recommend YES' *Relayer* album for you next. I say this because I don't expect _any_ First Listen person to react to _every_ album YES ever did, so I want to make sure they hear The Best before going down the road that includes Tales From Topographic Oceans. *The Gates Of Delirium* masterpiece on the Relayer album is right up there with Close To The Edge, in my opinion, so it's Must Listen...

[@ryanr5319]

I just love watching others love Yes! Thank you Verdy.

[@russellmorgan5611]

It was only a matter of time Verdy. You are complete.

[@nancymjohnson]

This song is beautiful. Epic!

[@yeshayahuhomberger2079]

Thank you Verdy much. Beautiful reaction. 👌👍

[@ron88303]

Yes makes joyous music. Hopefully you'll get around to reviewing Relayer and Going For The One. The first contains their epic masterpiece called The Gates of Delirium, which is loosely based the Tolstoy novel War and Peace. It includes a spectacular musical depiction of before, during, and after a battle. The second album includes the third of their Trinity of epic masterpieces, called Awaken. It really feels like you're on a journey to meet a higher being. If you like what you've heard from Yes thus far, you will love both albums.

[@krisdoggett483]

On " And You and I", that is voice distortion. They'd used it before prominently on the second album 'Time and A Word' on the song "Astral Traveller". Excellent song btw.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Great reaction. Loved it thank you. All the best 💐

[@Stacy55ish]

Masters indeed.

[@ajones957]

This is the one album I take with me to the island. I never tire of hearing it, and I discover something new every time I listen intently. While CTTE is my favorite track on the album, Siberian Khatru is a pretty kick-ass closing track.

[@deanoemonsjr8543]

OMG…I had forgotten how important this album was to me when in college. Thanks for this Verdy!!!!

[@falcon215]

That was fun to watch and remember when I first started hearing this amazing group.

[@Lightmane]

Hi. Love your reaction. It was an absolute joy to watch what the music did to you.

[@davidboivin7996]

And You And I is one of those songs I can play back in my head.

[@benjaminsanabria6021]

More YES , pleaseeeee 😃

[@chrisgott3456]

This album shaped my college experience. It was only played on epic nights, for small groups. Transcendental stuff.

[@paulbrinkman5631]

That would not by any chance have involved a funny-smelling herb??

[@larryfroot]

Excellent choice, Verdy! Also, excellent taste.

[@SDsailor7]

With YES is a musical journey to another place.

[@RGRG3232]

Wonderful album side. Can't go wrong with Yes. I've recommended them before but please consider listening to the band Renaissance with their 1974 album 'Turn of the Cards'. It is a beautiful album from start to finish. I guarantee you will become a fan.

[@marksingo2177]

All Master Musicians ...!!! Thanks Verdy...you rock 🤘🤘

[@TheReaperMan275]

You pronounced 'Khatru' correctly. It's pretty well the way Jon Anderson pronounced it in interviews over the years. As for the 3 song format with 1 song taking up an entire side of the album and two "short" (if you can call them that) songs filling out the second side, Yes did the same thing again with the album _Relayer,_ two years later, in 1974. "The Gates of Delirium" (21.55) takes up the entire first side of the album, while "Sound Chaser" (9.25), and "To Be Over" (9.08), round off the second side. This is another Yes masterpiece album well worth reacting to.

[@paulbrinkman5631]

I was thinking they might have *meant* "Siberian Kachoo." (Sorry.)

[@TheReaperMan275]

@@paulbrinkman5631 Gesundheit! 🤒😌

[@Phi1l]

You should review Tales from Topographic Oceans. That's a double album with just 4 songs & has all you liked on this album & more......

[@vicprovost2561]

A classic side 2, just as good as the first. Great album, enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

[@thewowsages]

i saw Yes in quebec city about 7 years ago before the bass player died. They played 3 full albums, this was one of them

[@russellfillis6864]

Jon' s fave along with Awayken.... And 66 + others... All good people love Yes🎉😂😊😊😊? Yes

[@toneytone86]

My uncle just gave me his vinyl copy of this it sounds so good. Yes just takes you to a different world I love their music.

[@bazeye]

Love the reaction, you really get this band, now please listen to The Revealing Science of God from Tales from Topographic Oceans, the next album after Close to the Edge.

[@meimemeime]

I love BABYMETAL, but I also love YES! Owner of a Lonely Heart and Into the Lens are my favorite! Please do a lot of both. Please😚 From Japan🦊

[@danielmcguinness4036]

YES !!!! yes, Let's Go !!!!

[@PianoDentist]

I always wanted Steve Howe's jazz themed solo at the end of Khatru to go on forever and not fade out! Also Chris Squire's double time bass playing towards the end is epic. Almost sounds like a drum n bass wobble bass. Amazing.

[@Stephen_M.]

First band I ever saw play LIVE! What a show! It's fun watching you react to all of the nuances of this music. One of the most amazing bands to come out of the 70's without a doubt!

[@touchthesun2448]

so much fun to watch you enjoy the music I grew up hearing... they don't make music like this any more. New music is boring and predictable.

[@PogueMahone1]

Long songs are frequently encountered in prog rock and are best thought of as pieces of classical music -- rock symphonies with a number of movements all built around a unifying musical/lyrical theme. If you think albums with only 3 songs is wild, check out "Thick As a Brick" or "Passion Play" by Jethro Tull -- 2 fantastic single-song LPs running 43:46 and 45:07 long respectively! (Both are well worth the time spent listening -- especially "TAaB", which has been on my monthly listening list for over 50 years!) Jethro Tull is yet another genius-level prog-rock band, with roots are in blues, classical, and Britannic folk, and whose music, live performances, and deep discography are all guaranteed to blow your mind. Speaking of long songs, a cool place to start one's Tull adventure is the single "Life's a Long Song", which clocks in at only 3:16! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZrKmImLYsSSeK8 BTW, both Tull and Yes exist to this day, their aging members succeeded by a second generation of selected fine musicians.

[@davidbarker77]

Great to see you, enjoy this incredible album, Verdy. On Siberian Kathru (Caw-TROO), what you wondering if it was a banjo was sitar, I believe or a sitar effect on a guitar. Enjoyed both parts of your review.

[@russellmorgan5611]

The sitar effect is an electric guitar by Danelectro. Featured heavily on many Yes songs.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

That distortion you may be hearing is called a “Leslie”. It was a box speaker with baffles that make that telltale sound effect.

[@danceswithcritters]

Can't get enough of the "And You And I" intro.

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

Me too! After all this time, all these listens, it’s that sweet, quiet, tender, tentative little grouping of harmonics gradually organizing itself into a proper introduction that sets up the body of the song so well. Just beautiful.

[@dolfinpt]

So glad you’ve listened to CTTE! Hopefully you’ll listen to it again…with your eyes closed…You’ll hear Even more the 2nd, 3rd listen-then you’ll really Feel it! All of Yes music is like that! So Much to hear! Incredible! Masters -each member! Verdy-you need to experience Relayer! That’s an album of Sound! That tour was Wonderful!❤

[@MDElam]

Definitely among the albums on the progressive-rock mountaintop! Although I love the song "Close to the Edge," I'm with the person below who thinks this may be the better side.

[@TheRKae]

That instrumental break in "Siberian Khatru" is a sitar (actually an electric sitar-guitar) followed by a harpsichord (probably Rick Wakeman's electric harpsichord). An interesting combination!

[@philplasma]

Such a great song, perhaps my 100th time listening to it. One note about the harmonies, both the bassist (Chris Squire) and guitarist (Steve Howe) sang back up vocals and harmonized with lead singer Jon Anderson.

[@brandonlamb9067]

Love this channel! Never stop please! Lots of love and support from Toronto

[@neildobson8395]

Yes is making good use of a Leslie (rotating speaker in a cabinet) . That was the strange vocal effect you commented on in the beginning of "And You And I", and it was a guitar rather than a keyboard when the bass came in, with the same Leslie effect.

[@UdoU-k2b]

How do you manage to make a quick comment and then go back on the track so that you don't miss anything? It's great! Can you imagine pre internet, pre digital audio, when you first heard this it was on vinyl. This music was part of a progressive era of all kinds of genres. I'm so glad you seem to be enjoying it! This was and still is my favorite cut from that album. Stuff dreams are made of.

[@ignatzmuskrat3000]

Thx. In this playing of the song, I put Anderson's singing in the Rap Camp...just slower. But, he's stringing phonemes around like a rapper. In my opinion.

[@Brandi6666]

Much props to rick wakeman on the keys 🤘❤️

[@eddiecriglington400]

The Masters. 🎶❤️🎶

[@raylrodr]

Your facial expressions say it all! Very pretty lady with great appreciation for timeless music!

[@mattleppard1964]

Saying it again: best album of all time up there with The Lamb (Genesis) and The Wall (Floyd) ❤❤

[@lington3342]

This album is my happy place 😊

[@WarrenFahyAuthor]

So great to see great music continue to be the soundtrack for new and wonderful lives.

[@jameskirchner2655]

Steve Howe was the guitarist and played several instruments

[@jameskirchner2655]

Back in the 70s some Fantastic Bands 😅

[@NyMyers64]

This has always been my favorite side of the album. Really love both tracks. Have a great week.

[@Frank-pb2rh]

Definitely Yes we're the masters of Prog rock

[@spikeysnack]

All three of these songs live are super amazing, and they rock a lot harder in the fast parts, with more psychedelic guitar and harder bass and drums.

[@jaquestraw1]

Perfection 💚

[@sergebrunet4218]

Allo ! comment ca va ? J avais 17 ans quand j ai achete cet Album ! il y a 50 ans deja ! lol ! J aimerais retourner a ces annees ! J ai passe mon adolescence a Chateauguay et c etait les plus belles annees de ma vie ! Toute cette musique etait nouvelle ! Progressive ! Well see you on the next Prog Rock ! my kind of music ! 🤓

[@christopherbova8109]

❤️

[@bill3118]

Pure Art. x

[@brianbatson2239]

I think we’re kindred spirits. I live in Ohio and I think ur in Canada 🍁 somewhere. But l would love to have a cup of coffee with U …. Thank you for appreciating Yes. 😊

[@joelong7448]

I totally get it. YES is something to absorb w/out having to talk. Why? Because YES says it all for you. After maybe 20x hearing the album you may absorb enough to talk about specifics of what you liked or heard, but as first time hearing it, it was fun to see your absorption and enjoyment. :)

[@Dusty_Pinch]

You can hear the music that is current and like it. But this is the kind of music that forces you to Listen to it. You absorb it in a way. I would suggest checking out the band Kansas. I think you would like them as well.

[@aivokallo77]

I find it amusing, that the working title for And You And I, one of the most beautiful songs of 20th century, was originally "The Protest Song".

[@marekkozub8957]

That's Rick Wakeman on keyboards. I has also recorded great solo albums.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

I used to have the Six Wives of Henry the 8th 🥰🥰🥰

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

If there could only be one prog album, this is the one. The pinnacle. The perfect album. It defines the genre...and arching over it all is the celestial voice of Jon Anderson, God bless him. It changed my life.

[@BrockHagen]

Excellent. Now follow Bill Bruford as he left Yes to Join King Crimson. Recommend the "In the Court of the Crimson King" for the initial line up and "Discipline" for the 80s line up.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

King Crimson absolutely another great band. I didn’t even know that a Yes member left the group!

[@coot1925]

The instrument you thought was a banjo is actually an Indian instrument called a sitar. ✌️♥️🇬🇧

[@benjaminroe311ify]

And You and I might be the Most BEAUTIFUL song by Yes... as far as beauty I rank it 10/10. If Awaken didn't exist... I would probably rank it very top most beautiful Yes song. But alas Awaken is probably a 11/10

[@aprilstewart5929]

An EPIC, and yeah there are parts of Siberian Khatru that become earworms, and it's very annoying! LOL 50 years ago, in high school, this song followed me around campus and ruined my ability to concentrate! LOL

[@SDsailor7]

And you and I is a beautiful piece of music.

[@stevedotwood]

16:05 Not a banjo, it's an electric sitar (Coral sitar) After that, the harpsichord comes in, and I bet - since Rick Wakeman had access to these old instruments - it's a real ancient harpsichord. (But I can be wrong). Otherwise it's a synth sound (on the other hand, synths weren't as advanced in 1972 as they are now)

[@LordAnthonyKagan]

Loved listening along with you today. Hey, if you think it's cool to have an entire side of an album as one epic song, then you really should check out Caravan's '9 feet Underground' from their album 'In The Land of Grey And Pink', also from the early 70's. It's considered one of the best 'epic' (long) songs of the genre. They're proggy and there are plenty of amazing switch ups.

[@timd6458]

The guitar players' name is Steve Howe: listen to him play his song "Mood for a Day" I think you'll love it.