Ranking the Studio Albums: Yes

[@terrydrums]

Close To The Edge is an absolute masterpiece.

[@jazzandrocknroll3235]

terrydrums Agreed

[@lespauldisciple3349]

Terry: ABSOLUTELY. This album was the quintessential Yes album. And Rudy Sarzo's favorite album according to an interview in 1984.

[@cancel1913]

@terrydrums And you and I agree wholeheartedly!

[@lespauldisciple3349]

So, we're agreed. If we're GOING FOR THE ONE greatest Yes album, 'Close To The Edge' is it. It's truly a BIG GENERATOR when it comes to fans' responses among ALL GOOD PEOPLE. But, if YOUR MOVE was to select 'The Yes Album' as your favorite then YOURS IS NO DISGRACE for it too is awesome. So, in a ROUNDABOUT way, I guess we can LEAVE IT at that unless someone can AWAKEN us to something better because Yes fans can tell some WONDROUS STORIES about why their favorite Yes album is so chosen and I'm sure their reasons won't be FRAGILE. Sorry for this LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND of a comment but I had TIME AND A WORD to say in reply.

[@mikeomo3235]

Could be the greatest prog rock album ever recorded

[@oolongoolong789]

The Relayer track 'Sound Chaser' is absolutely extraordinary. A kaleidoscope of shifting moods and tempi. It's my favourite piece by Yes.

[@MarkWadsworthYPP]

That track is brilliant, the other three sides are mish mash

[@davidbarealopez9825]

@@MarkWadsworthYPP three?

[@leoalexhorta]

Agree

[@musicminute2004]

​@@MarkWadsworthYPPrelayer has 2 sides and 3 songs, you are mistaking it by Tales from topographic oceans

[@albertvinyes4951]

​@musicminute2004 ...which by the way is as good as Relayer and Close To The Edge.

[@richwear5353]

To Be Over -- one of the most beautiful songs ever made. I always get the chills.

[@elpelp1878]

To Be Over is Yes top 2 for me... after Close to the Edge.

[@vrlord7949]

Oh yes!

[@ajvasta]

Congrats for rating "Drama" higher than most would. It's a top 3 for me, and has been underrated since it's release.

[@kennethnelson501]

Best yes album

[@Arcturian1111]

Drama is insane

[@stevenhaywood6027]

ajvasta , I dont know that it is underrated! It was very popular when first out in 1980, and always seems to be regarded as a good yes album! sttgaegoaktd

[@jamescroy9464]

I love this one

[@johneichmann1028]

First album I bought from Yes. I got into the classic era later. It was rocking album.

[@inoxiafilms7230]

Great! My personal favorites are: Close To The Edge, The Yes Album and Fragile. Also the first album Yes is very good.

[@luisgarcia6007]

Very close to my opinion

[@dbhammond]

I think the debut is underrated, in general. "Beyond and Before" and "Looking Around" are very cool songs.

[@alanthomson7770]

You hit the top three oerfectly

[@barrypeirson3710]

The end of "Looking Around" so cool!

[@timhutton6802]

Absolutely my opinion too!

[@b2tall239]

"The Yes Album" is my favorite and always has been. "Starship Trooper" is my favorite Yes song and probably in my top-20 overall. "Drama" is underrated and too often overlooked. Thanks, Pete.

[@parshakamarsh]

I'm with you on "The Yes Album", my favourite too, it's a fantastic album

[@iiiprogundergroundandexper7120]

I got tears in my eyes, hearing how you comment these fabulous LPs and tracks. For personal reasons, Tales and Going are above ... all ! But I love your ranking.

[@bergmanst]

About 1973 I heard Close to the edge for the first time with big head phones. I was 14 yeas old. I came from a lot of years listening to County music and pop. But that album changed everything to me from that point on. Best yes LP hands down. I can only listen to it ever other year or so because if I hear it every track gets stuck in my head for days. Not a bad thing but a major part of what captured me at a young age. And what stuck with at nearly 63 years old today.

[@tonyanderton3521]

Steven, same as me - 14 years old when I bought this in '73. It was my first prog rock record. I don't know why I chose it; in those days you thumbed through the record covers in the record shop and I think that I just liked the look of the cover. Call it instinct. I loved it. I just play Yes albums once a year, to keep them fresh - it is music that will last us for the rest of our lives.

[@kamranmalik8546]

Thanks for posting this! Every album is great, but you can't deny that Close to the Edge is a Yes masterpiece and probably one of the greatest Prog albums of all time.

[@ouroborosnagyok9306]

Machine Messiah and Tempus Fugit from Drama are so underrated, potentially are both top 10 tracks

[@klozz2080]

Tempus Fugit is my favorite Yes song

[@AlbrechtAaron]

I always loved does it really happen from drama

[@williamgeorgefraser]

1) The Yes Album. I saw them live during this tour 2) Close To The Edge. Perfect. 3) Relayer. I absolutely love "The Gates of Delirium". 4) Tales from Topographic Oceans. I still keep finding new details nearly 50 years later. 5) Fragile. PS: I remember seeing Yes the first time they ever appeared on UK TV. It was on a kid's programme on ITV called "Magpie".

[@luisgarcia6007]

"The gates ...." is amazing. Agree with you

[@johnwright8814]

I remember them on Magpie.

[@Raiderblack]

Relayer and Tales are my top 2 then Close To the Edge and the Yes album... I am a huge Yes fan!! You do a great job ranking the albums...

[@handebarlas6248]

Thank you very much for another enjoyable video. It is your positive, sincere and respectful attitude that makes them fun to watch. I must also thank you for the videos you made in memory of Neil Peart. We were all shocked that day and your videos helped me a lot.

[@GonzoAmerican]

Two new studio albums since this ranking. Need to update soon!

[@isaacj6212]

1) Relayer 2) Yes Album 3) Fragile 4) Close to the Edge 5) Tales From Tropagraphic Oceans All 5 are perfect albums from start to finish. Life changing music.. seriously

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Pete. I'm really enjoying your rankings videos, thanks for putting so much thought and effort into them. All the best, James, UK

[@theamitar4001]

Pete, another great ranking, similar top 5. I have always liked their first album a lot. 1. Close to the Edge 2. Relayer 3. The Yes Album 4. Going for the One 5. Fragile 6. Yes 7. Tales from Topographic Oceans

[@luisgarcia6007]

Very close to my opinion

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thanks Pete! Whenever we do episodes of our own show I often come to your channel to get your insight for research, you are a wealth of knowledge and i always love pulling the pete pardo card on Martin when we have debates of our own!

[@TheErsram]

Another good one Pete. Definitely, "Close To The Edge" was Yes' pinnacle. Keep 'em coming!

[@sanddab]

'Tales from Topographic Oceans' is my favorite Yes album.

[@GorgonTheHybrid]

Always gets trashed, but it's my favorite too by a significant margin, and a top 15-20 album of all time easily!

[@surbahar9735]

Mine as well

[@eatmysteel]

Here here!

[@scooterthepog3763]

@@GorgonTheHybrid I consider it the worst of there classic albums (1969-1977) But because of that doesn't make it bad. The album is really good in my opinion.

[@GorgonTheHybrid]

@@scooterthepog3763 Thanks for sharing. Everyone's entitled to their opinions... even when they're wrong!

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

My top 3: The Yes Album. Timeless Going For The One. Great sound. Drama. Perfect production. The bass playing is just the best.

[@johnbishop2042]

From a purely regular-go-to-listening perspective…totally agree.

[@josedealbuquerquejr.941]

My list: 1- Going For The One 2 - Tales From Topographic Oceans 3 - Close To The Edge 4 - Relayer 5 - Fragile 6 - The Yes Album 7 - Drama 8- AWBH 9 - 90125 10 - Talk 11 - Keystudio 12 - Fly From Here 13 - Tormato 14 - Magnification 15 - Yes 16 - Ladder 17- Big Generator 18 - Heaven And Earth 19 - Time and World 20 - Open Your Eyes 21 - Union

[@themetalcollector4250]

"Close To The Edge" is without doubt one of the greatest prog-albums of all time!

[@bonniecollum3037]

My fave album & my fave song too. Love, love, love it.

[@SevenDaysToNoon]

Excellent video! Good that you are obviously a fan. There are a few videos out there where some bloke with zero qualifications (like being a fan) is ranking stuff. For me 90125. I think I’ve played that album more than ANY other album in my collection, across all the artists I’m a fan of. Just perfection.

[@myleswoods8544]

Drama is a great lp,.I agree whole heartedly!

[@DannyBoi2112]

Drama is most definitely top 5 for me

[@leebaker9300]

Great content, Pete. I love seeing fellow music lovers have a place to just talk music. My top 5 Yes albums are a bit standard fare: - 1. Fragile 2. Close to the Edge - Title track is my favourite Yes track 3. The Yes Album 4. Relayer 5. The Ladder - I know what people are thinking, but I just love it. It is incredibly diverse musically and, though not every experiment hits its intended mark, enough of it does for me to keep coming back to it. 'Homeworld (The Ladder)' is a Top 5 Yes song for me. Also, agreed on Open Your Eyes. Keep up the good work, Pete!

[@michaelrubey6155]

Great video. Yes was our church music back in the day. Tales was *special* and reserved for certain times. Side three, The Ancient is unique in the world as almost its own genre. The last minute of Ritual is the pinnacle of Yes magic. I recently received the MoFi One Step Fragile. All I can say is Wow. It's a whole different experience. Utterly mind blowing. I hope they someday release a few more Yes titles using this technique. I was 18 and in London when Going For The One was released. What a great time we grew up in.

[@robertsmithers9059]

Church music - my mom heard me playing "And You and I" on the stereo and asked if it was one of the tunes from "Godspell", the musical I was playing bass in at our local church.

[@eduardomorel]

After leaving Yes, Patrick Moraz moved to Rio de Janeiro/Brazil and joined a local prog band called Vimana. The band dissolved soon after and three former members of the band, Lulu Santos, Lobão and Ritchie, obtained huge success as solo artists on our rock scene from the early 80's. Just a curiosity almost nobody knows...

[@marciopainhas5828]

Close to the Edge, Relayer and The Yes Album, three absolute masterpieces, for sure.

[@charlesnolan7602]

I have said that after 49 years of following progressive rock, that YES' Fragile became the template, the music barometer by which I conciously or unconsciously measured other Progressive rock records. If I felt - CLOSE TO THE...EDGE of Delerium ( LOL!) with a new proggy release, that repeat of the " Fragile Factor" was truly attained! Next year March, 1971, will make 50 years of listening to YES. I was 15 when I started the proggy musical journey. When I was 18, 19, these 1970's YES albums ( and many other Prog lps ) partly defined who I was- huge impact. My friends and I were basically typical pot smokers and record hounds! So when that higher sonic awareness , that musical threshold crossing was met , I knew I was born at just the right moment in the rock and roll time line! I have broken down the YES sonic stuff into 3 main bunches: ________________ Relayer CTTE Time & A Word Drama TALES YES ALBUM Fragile GTFO TOMATO YES _________________ 2nd Attention : -------------------------- Union Keys One and two Fly From here Fly From here return T. ABWH Magnification Ladder Turn the page TALK 90125 _________________ Final Eyes: -------------------------- OYE H&E Big Gen When I started listening to what we now refer to as Progressive or PROG in 1971, I was moving forward from a solid decade of AM TOP 40. All of the vocal harmonies of the Beach Boys, 4 Seasons, 5th Dimension, Moma's and Poppa's, Spanky and our Gang, along with the arrangements of the Beatles, British invasion, motown, etc., were the "music stew," the impression and early formulation that set the table to be open for YES. I wasn't smoking anything when I first listened to YES. That was 1973, and I include that accelerated, deeper mental listening experience / condition because the impact set the Prog rock in...STONED! HA-HA! That list above fluctuates! Although the pot has been finished for over 13 years now, the enthusiasm for Prog and YES remain to this day! 500 Prog bands later!! Onward!

[@ambueh22]

Your top 3 are the same as mine. Good to see the Yes Album & Drama ranked so highly.

[@mck7646]

I've got the Steven Wilson remixes vinyl box set, those are my favorite Yes albums.

[@emiliosgregoriou8943]

Funnily enough I've heard Yes songs longer than this 21 minute video. Sheesh.

[@briancherry8088]

aren't they all?

[@terryjohnson5275]

actually only 2 are longer than 21 minutes - Ritual and Gates of Delirium and , if you count all the parts of Fly From Here together that is just over the 21 minute mark and if were being pedantic of those only Gates of Delirium is longer than this video.

[@ayeatropoulos1]

Ελπίζω να μην σας προσβάλω, αλλά πέθανα γελώντας όταν διάβασα το όνομά σας. Είναι αυτό το πραγματικό σας όνομα, ή μόνο ένα που έχετε κάνει για την απόσπαση;

[@emiliosgregoriou8943]

@@ayeatropoulos1 Χαχαχαχα, ψεύτικο είναι φίλε μου. Ευτυχώς που δεν είναι το αληθινό γιατί θα έτρωγα πολύ bullying στο σχολείο

[@ayeatropoulos1]

@@emiliosgregoriou8943 Μεγάλη αλήθεια!! Το κοίταξα και δεν μπορούσα να σταματήσω να γελάω. Σκέφτηκα στον εαυτό μου, αυτό δεν μπορεί να είναι το πραγματικό του όνομα !! Εύθυμος!! Καλή δουλειά!! Εξαιρετικά αστείο. Είναι πιθανόν προφανές ότι χρησιμοποιώ το Google Translate, επειδή δεν μπορώ να γράψω στα ελληνικά. Μπορώ να διαβάσω λίγο, και η ομιλία μου είναι περίπου 80%. Η σύζυγός μου δεν είναι ελληνίδα, αλλά έχω διδάξει λίγα πράγματα εδώ και εκεί. Το αγαπημένο της είναι (και έχω να γράψω αυτό όπως λέγεται) "Mi Mou Zalizis Ta Paparia!" Έχετε ένα υπέροχο Σαββατοκύριακο και ελπίζω ότι εσείς και οι φίλοι και η οικογένειά σας είστε υγιείς και χαρούμενοι !!

[@kski986]

Pete your video’s are excellent a trip down memory lane music you’ve loved through the years and have forgotten how good they were. Every video has me putting together playlists songs I never appreciated now sound great. Your knowledge of bands and albums is unsurpassed. Keep it up amazing work. A+++++++++

[@Massachamp08]

I got into Yes mostly because of The Ladder and Magnification, the production of both albums is excellent and I really enjoyed the way they made use of the symphony on Mag, I think Edge is one of the best albums from their more progressive era in the 70s

[@jean-lucbernhardt8545]

Excellent, et le récapitulatif en fin de vidéo, extrêmement utile ❗ Merci pour votre vidéo 👍 🙏

[@BobbyC1986]

Love where you put 90125. It is so very dumped upon by the fans of the 70s version of Yes. Chris Squire is indeed all over that album, and Rabin's guitar on that album is sublime. Great position for "Drama" as well. Tempus Fugit is phenomenal.

[@johnbishop2042]

As is Machine Messiah…arguably among their best songs.

[@bodhisattva3774]

Saw them on the Relayer and Going for the One tours and both were amazing. I'm with you on Close to the Edge, one of my favorite albums of all time and their best IMO. Keep em coming, brother!

[@bobthebear1246]

Before even watching the video, I'm predicting Pete's Top Three as follows: 1) The Yes Album 2) Closer To The Edge 3) Fragile Now lemme see if I'm right...

[@shizuokaBLUES]

Bob Schneider I would have thought those three in any order. But hearing that Relayer is in the top three makes me want to give that album a another listen, as it’s been 30 years.

[@bobthebear1246]

Now I really want to give some of these albums - especially *Drama* - a listen. By the way: I've just recently played "Machine Messiah" and "Tempus Fugit" and they are AMAZING!!

[@deathmetaldouglas69]

He was wearing a "Relayer" shirt fool.

[@donmoore7785]

Dang you have had a killer run of rankings this past week or two of bands I like. Awesome! It is amazing how many outstanding albums Yes produced.

[@peteh537]

I agree, for the most part...heheh. The band that took me from a metal musician to a prog-rock band here in NS. Serious 80's metal guitarist/singer, then...acid while riding in a kayak at night on a lake when someone put on Yessongs on loud speakers.

[@stevenhanson1454]

Yes...12 years old. My neighbor's brother comes back from Vietnam. Lots of vinyl. YES-FRAGILE was one of them. I went from Partridge Family to Tull-Floyd-Heep and Yes in 10 seconds flat. So I checked out their previous stuff. "Time & A Word" and "Yes" I got on 8-track tape from Columbia Record Club. After a lifetime growing up with this band and their family tree of success. Just this ..."Release Release' is a helluva rock & roll song. "Harold Land" is a gem that is worth digging for. "Friends of Mr. Cairo" is a brilliant solo surprise. Thanks Pete. The rest of the library is a history of required listening. And I have'nt even watched your video yet. Great stuff !

[@mikehersh9798]

Yes with Moraz sounded great. Live recordings from that lineup are amazing.

[@CapUfomojo]

Pete, you are a service to us Proggers, thank you, Your perspective 1st, comes from your age (so your choices arrive from what was popular when you were in your prime), not quite old enough to capture the entire Yes Catalog. You left out 2 of Yes's best works, by luck, you remembered leaving ABWH off your list. The other is called, Key Studio, which was an English release comprised of the studio cuts from the 2 live Ascension releases. Although I am a Yes lifer, I'm not sure why Big Generator gets slightly panned. Every Cut holds up!

[@diannecarpenter7718]

Thank you for your ranking of Yes. 🎤🎸🎵🥁

[@stuartdunne1978]

Pete, you are a machine, clearly always a lot of work put in for us - thanks for the thoughtful insights! My ways in were 90125, Big Generator then Fragile - love those. Now discovering the ones higher up in your list.

[@DigoMalaca]

I don't know why DRAMA is so underrated by Yes fans. It's a great album and my favorite one two weeks ago. I love "Into the lens".

[@blamhof]

Agree with your list Pete, saw them at Newcastle City Hall in the UK on the Relayer tour they were on fire that night, one of the finest gigs I've seen. Great channel.

[@4eigner1981]

Close To The Edge is my vavorite YES album too! It's one of the greatest prog rock albums in history of world rock music!!!

[@brianallen4382]

I’m a huge YES fan can’t wait to hear what you have to say ..your awesome dude..luv your reviews on bands

[@RedGazelle1367]

***SPOILER ALERT*** I'm a newcomer to Yes, knowing only Roundabout for 20 years. I'm now swimming very happily in their library and find their work endlessly fascinating. Rich with so many layers. Clearly, Close to the Edge is the masterpiece. Fragile is great. Topographic Oceans is mixed, but the good parts are great. So when you tagged Relayer as #1, an album universally criticized, I had to go to it again. My first effort didn't last long at all. I loved how you pointed out the Mraz was a better fit than people say, and what if he had continued with the band to further gel his sound with theirs. Really great point, and I feel very appreciative that you pushed me back to the album. Mraz is so much looser and free with his parts, something I wish Wakeman was better at. Maybe Wakeman's best parts are more memorable, but they don't flow. They feel stiff and sometimes like they were shoehorned into the song. Mraz is much more in the flow of the music. Anyhow, great point by you and thanks for the excellent content.

Excellent episode Pete I pretty much agree with you for the most part since YES has been my lifelong favorite band. My ranking would place “Tales” at #4 or 5 but that changes over time to because I consider Ritual every bit as strong as Gates Of Delirium. Good work again Pete and look forward to watching more of your video rankings. Btw, how was that Sons Of Apolo show? I don’t think they’re playing Houston Texas so I cannot see them, please let me know...

[@robertsmithers9059]

I got to see the Relayer and GFTO tours, unforgettable!!

[@kenkrapf6338]

Nice countdown, Pete, and I agree with the picks. I've seen YES live 49 times. Keep up the good work.

[@peterm.fitzpatrick7735]

I have to admit a nostalgic fondness for Close to the Edge because it was one of the very first modern albums I ever listened to. My brother had borrowed a really nice stereo system from one of his high school buddies and told me to lie down with one of the enormous speakers close to each side of my head. And what was playing? Close to the Edge! Unbelievable. I have an even somewhat more wild story about Yes. Place yourself in the home of a former Secretary of Defense with like four of your high school buddies who are taking a chemical trip that is spelled with three letters and are enjoying the run of the enormous house my friend's father was on vacation, and as the sun is coming up, Heart of the Sunrise is playing and we are all staring out of the huge plate-glass windows overlooking the golf course in the back yard and one of your friends says "Jon Andersson has a Pretty voice", accent on Pretty. It seemed so profound at the time, but at least it is true, he does have a pretty voice.

[@userjeffe]

Peter M. Fitzpatrick which Sect of Def?

[@peterm.fitzpatrick7735]

@@userjeffe I don't want to give out personal names, but let just say I was a little inaccurate as he was actually an Assistant Secretary of Defense who had resigned because the President was not making enough decisions. Anyhow, he was a high school buddy's father who I carpooled with sometimes and we both liked to party and listen to music.

[@sirawesomehat8814]

the title track to Close to the Edge can be tear jerking how beautiful it is. One of the most solid performances of all time.

[@claymccoy]

One of my favorite songs fro the Big Generator album is "Shoot High, Aim Low."

[@danielguimaraes8705]

Fantastic review! Congrats! I agree with you comments about Howe! My favorite one because of the emotional impact it has on me was the Yes Album.

[@seabud6408]

Close to the edge. One of those albums on which a band seem to be channeling something from above ....as a gift to humanity 😀⚡️😀. It’s that good. Mozart comes to mind. I hated it when I first heard it but I persevered. It suddenly became one of my top 10 albums. How they mixed it I’ll never know. There is so much going on. I actually feel sad when I hear that people have heard it and hate it and wouldn’t listen to it twice. It’s definitely a grower.

[@grahambaker7563]

As already stated - it was Benoit David on Fly From Here (which I have still to buy myself). And the new version featuring Trevor Horn (naturally). Also, noticed that most of your cds were the extended and remastered versions! Great video, anyway! Some of my personal faves are - Fragile, Close to the Edge, Going for the One, The Ladder, and 90125!

[@mjnation7876]

Nice to see some love for Drama. Really like that album. Machine Messiah, Into The Lens, Tempus Fugit... great stuff.

[@geoffreymason5642]

Thanks for your rankings! It is always fun to think about music from bands I love!:)

[@dwightplock1162]

Drama is my favorite by Yes. Reminds me a lot of Animals by Pink Floyd. It has some great easy listening long mellow songs to lay back and chill to. Haven’t heard all of Yes’s albums but that’s the one that works for me.

[@timbates6309]

Nice to hear you give some love to Perpetual Change, my favorite Yes song from my favorite Yes album. Great video. Curious to see how you would rank the Chicago albums, mainly just the Terry Kath era.

[@billymac72]

Need to give the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album a listen again. I saw them on that tour, had great seats. One of the best concerts I've seen. I saw Union in the round as well, which was great, but I don't think it quite topped the former. I also need to revisit Relayer too. I bought it on cassette and remember listening to it while I was at home from school sick. At the time, I found it dull and never put it on again. That was 30 years ago. Time for another try!

[@lespauldisciple3349]

Billy: There is a video of Yes performing in Canada on the 'Relayer' tour. It is incredible. They play all three tracks from the album. Find that. It'll convince you that 'Relayer' features some of the most incredible music Yes ever made. 'Relayer' isn't among my Top 5 but it is awesome nonetheless.

[@billymac72]

@@lespauldisciple3349 Thanks! I will seek that out. Incidentally, I used to watch Yessongs on video all the time as a teenager. I took a peek at that recently and was shocked at the poor quality of film work in it! A good document, all the same (i.e., better than nothing), but even for its period, it's pretty bad.

[@lespauldisciple3349]

Billy: I agree that 'Yessongs' has an awful video companion to what is a phenomenal album. The 'Relayer' tour video was recorded in Queens Park (possibly England, not Canada) so include those words in your search.

[@jeffschielka7845]

Gates of Delirium.

[@David-ln5zu]

I would rank The Yes Album as no.1 simply because it still feels fresh and was unique at the time, a real breakthrough album, then Relayer, Topographic and then Going For the One. I was 10 years old at my fist Yes Concert in March 1970 at the Pop Proms at the Festival Hall in London, where Jon Anderson wore a weird silver one piece kind of wet suit! . As far as live appearances one of my favourites was the Tormato Tour in 1978, when they used the opening music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind...just mind blowing! Thank for the list Pete.

[@ledzeplover58]

Close To The Edge is one of those albums whose cover looks like it sounds.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

@Jeremy Karnick I think "And You and I" sounds like the inside cover, but the harsh black fade to green fits the title track perfectly, I think.

[@jman7826]

The title is close to the edge of the cover :)

[@bonniecollum3037]

My favorite!

[@johnbarrett4846]

Been a Yes fan since 1982, i met Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman in 2010 after a concert in Perth, Scotland. I was like a nervous schoolboy although i was 43. Love your album ranking, pretty similar to what i would have chosen, well done.

[@MatthewLittle]

If I had three favorite albums from Yes it would be their 80's-early 90's troika of 90125, Big Generator and Union; those three albums got me hooked on the band (especially 90125). Of the three, 90125 is and was my favorite of them because it was the bridge album that convinced me to listen to the rest of their music.

[@noelgonzalez7390]

Pete thank you so much..you helped me reconnect with Yes..there my second favorite band now..behind a tie between Kiss and Rush.. thanks bro

[@borguskorguss7082]

Haven't listened to all of Yes' catalog, but my top two is yours but flip 1 and 2. Maybe in terms of a critical standpoint I think Close To The Edge is better (I consider it one of the best albums of the 70s, especially in the early 70s UK rock scene, I would put this release in the top 10 of that time period) but Relayer was the album that got me into Yes. I heard Roundabout a lot of times (and actually have grown to love it more since I got into the band, interestingly enough) and Owner of A Lonely Heart (which like yourself I don't need to hear again) but it was Gates of Delirium that got me into Yes. And even going back to the album to see if it holds up, yeah it holds up amazingly well and I wish that the band went into that direction more, or if not to be bloated, incorporated that style in a efficient manner, but oh well, you can't pine on just possibilities lol

[@lionelraoul]

I'm new to your channel and I'm very impressed. I appreciate your insights.

[@belladonichaze3213]

Tales From Topographic Oceans is my favorite album by Yes. I wish it could've been longer lol

[@Humb7757]

Just wanted to add…about Tales…it’s one of these underrated, misunderstood Albums…Jon explained it in the YesYears Video ! Absolutely beautiful truly well constructed! Nothing on this album is wasted time! IMO!! It’s a pleasure to come back to it!!❤️🙏

[@maxherron1376]

Pete, I know you must have covered this in other videos, but how to you organize you CD collection?

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Alphabetical by artist/band.

[@richardbiggs6045]

@@seaoftranquilityprog Same here. Alphabetical, chronological

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

@@richardbiggs6045 yep, that too for me!

[@dhfenske]

I do chronological/alphabetical. I like seeing all the albums that came out in a particular year together on my shelf. But I only have about 500 CDs. With 1000s it might be harder to find something....

[@memermetalthemiddleagedaut99]

nice to see someone give drama and 90125, highly underrated albums (90125 got me into yes), love your video's and really love the fact you give credit to bands that wasn't huge in the usa such as status quo. keep up the videos you give fair critiques

[@mutant_blues]

In my opinion, "Heart of the Sunrise" is the best trip they've ever recorded!

[@costafinkel]

Ανδρέας Καποδίστριας agreed! Which by itself would elevate fragile to number 2 (for me)

[@Existmusiccloud]

Yessong’s version is best

[@brucefranklin6295]

Also my favorite.

[@ingridstrickland8768]

Sharp..........Distance.........

[@ejohnson5620]

The California Guitar Trio with Tony Levin and Pat Mastelloto do a great instrumental version of HotS that you might enjoy

[@3dimensionsofmusic3D]

Thanks Pete. Your lineup is just right. Among top 3 favorite bands. I'm breaking out some Yes now. Cheers

[@curlessmania4708]

I agree with you on Drama! It gets no love and I think it is one of their best records. Love that you ranked it high.

[@HectorRodriguez-uv1ti]

I also lo e Drama. In 1984 it was the second lp I knew from yes and hearing Machine Messiah was incredible for me. Then i played this on a cassette to my school mates on and they didn’t liked. 🤣🤣. They were not ready for this great music.

[@curlessmania4708]

@@HectorRodriguez-uv1ti I am with you on Machine Messiah! Epic! Howe, Squire and White all kicking ass through the whole record. Tempus Fugit!!

[@dang.7964]

Pete, this is a tough one, so MUCH good stuff. Drama is a soft spot, my first Yes album; Relayer is masterful, Gates is brilliant; but, The Yes Album is my fave...every track is fantastic. Great show!

[@andrerigon7042]

1- Relayer 2- Topographic 3- Close to the edge 4- Fragile 5- Going for the one

[@RoachDoggggJR]

1.Relayer 2.Close To The Edge 3.Fragile 4.Going For The One 5.Magnification Magnification I think blows their other late era work out of the water. Great picks!

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Can't argue with any of your top 5. They're all amazing. Relayer may have some of their best work but there are moments I take issue with. The YES Album is special because it's what I consider their "break out" record. Though I'd rate Time and a Word higher than anything post Going for the One.

[@armenmuradkhanyan837]

I am 64 years old. I've been listening to Yes since 1975. And it is your understanding of the best and worst albums that is very close to me. Respect! Greetings from Russia.

[@GonzoAmerican]

Jon Davison not on Fly From Here...that’s Benoit David. FFH really underrated latter day YES album.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I know that...I was talking about the current line-up in general, not the FFH band.

[@gwts1171]

I like his vocals quite a bit. Best part of the album, IMO. Though I ranked it pretty low, I don't dislike it. And the artwork is stellar!

[@ColdGrayMorning]

Great great album! Now is other edition with Horns vocal - great too

[@nickavenoso7851]

But I’m pretty sure Trevor Horn did the vocals on Fly From Here: Return Trip

[@GratefulDeadForever]

@@nickavenoso7851 Fly From Here: Return Trip is the remake of 2011's Fly From Here with Benoit David's vocals replaced with Trevor Horn. There are also a few different changes to the music as well.

[@thetom73]

Like your channel, so much understanding and sooooo much albums behind you 😮 A Mekka of music. So, Fly from here is usually a Buggles song by Downes and Horn. But since Downes came in all sounds like Asia and if we are honest, Squire wasn't a good song writer, only in combination with Anderson. The Yes "accidents" like Open your eyes, The Ladder, Heaven and earth are really to fill the Yes collection when you have all the other albums, but musically it is not worth! My ranking without live albums and the Key's live and studio and ABWH (that is a really good album) : 1. Fragile 2. Close to the edge 3. Going for the one 4. Relayer 5. The Yes Album 6. Tales of topographic oceans 7. Tormato 8. 90125 9. Drama 10. Talk 11. Yes 12. Time and a word 13. Magnification 14. Big Generator 15. Fly from here 16. Union 17. The Ladder 18. Open your eyes 19. Heaven and earth

[@richardsmith2825]

"Close to the Edge" then "The Yes Album"...and I know this is contentious...."Drama"

[@infiniteproduktions7846]

Love your reviews! so much of your feelings are mine too...have most all on vinyl still.....can you do some post edit to when you hold up the albums there’s a bed of the music from it underneath? Either way keep it up!!🎶🎵🎶

[@cosmicsman666]

close to the edge is amazing... As you know. I do love fragile too.

[@waedi73]

Drama was my first Yes, I found the cassette and it rest in my walkman for long time, beautiful !

[@Rekko82]

My TOP 3: 1) Close to The Edge - three beautiful songs. 2) Fragile - I love the long songs, sometimes I used to dislike the short tracks but now I found them lovely and it is not usual to release these kinds of albums. 3) The Yes Album - Many amazing songs, I just don't understand "The Clap".

[@quinnmitchel4075]

My Top 3: 1.) Fragile (Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround are classic solid Yes tunes and it had other cool songs like South Side of The Sky and Heart Of The Sunrise) 2.) The Yes Album (Starship trooper is a classic solid yes tune that I personally love and the album also featured some other good tunes like Yours Is No Disgrace and I’ve Seen All Good People) 3.) Close To The Edge (Close To The Edge and Siberian Khatru)

[@Gizathecat2]

I really love the “Fly From Here Suite!” I especially enjoy the version with Trevor Horn. I got into Yes sometime in early 1970 while exploring a record store! I found the very first Yes album. I noticed they covered one of my favorite Beatles tune “Every Little Thing.” I bought the album just for that song and got hooked. I ended up getting every early Yes album. Jon Anderson’s vocals touched my soul. He’s got a heavenly, soaring voice. If Yes had hung onto Moraz, Moraz would never have joined the Moody Blues!

[@bmet47]

Starship Trooper-my favorite! Particularly Live on Yessongs

[@ozuidema]

Bruce Metcalfe Agree, but my fav version is on Keys to Ascension

[@resistor27]

Thanks Pete, my top three are the same as yours in the same order, although the 80s albums had some songs that kicked ass. The intro riff (and the whole song actually) of Love Will Find a Way is awesome nd Hearts from 90215 is one of my all time Yes favorites.

[@johnbishop2042]

Though I agree with Pete that it wouldn’t be a tragedy if I didn’t hear Love Will Find a Way again…Hearts is an overlooked gem.

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

My Top 5 Yes Albums: 1) Drama 2) Going For the One 3) The Yes Album 4) 90125 5) Toss-up between Relayer and Yes

[@DpHsHd]

JazzzRockFuzion Wot, no Close to the Edge in there, mate?

[@noelgonzalez7390]

Wow..your right on number five

[@greenygreen5308]

Only Yes top 5 ever not to contain either Close to the Edge or Fragile. Your top 3 are great though.

[@newtonjohn1512]

Thanks for the video Pete. I saw the original line up in 1970 and the revised line up just after White replaced Bruford (in fact, it was his first UK gig with the band). Hadn’t paid much attention to their albums after Going for the One. Recent discussion online has prompted me to revisit band. Since watching the video, I’ve listened to all the albums that I hadn’t heard at least a couple of times. A mammoth task, but very rewarding. There’s some good stuff on even the albums I liked least. Also, revisited Tales from Topographic Oceans which is much better than I remember it. Probably, my favourite now - perhaps, because I didn’t play it to death like the majority of the 1970s albums. I rate Key Studio (the compilation of studio tracks on the two Keys to Ascension albums) better than anything else since the classic 1970s era. Therefore, think it’s justified to include it here. If Wakeman had had his way, it could have easily been a proper album. Rather than ranking the albums, I’ve put them into three groups - the best, the OK and the not so good in my estimation. There’d be a spurious accuracy to any ordering beyond this. It would take me forever and don’t think it would achieve much. So here is how I rate them. Top notch: The Yes Album Fragile Close to the Edge Tales from Topographic Oceans Relayer Going for the One Key Studio Second tier: Yes Time and a Word Tormato Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe Talk The Ladder Magnification Not so good: Drama 90125 Big Generator Union Open Your Eyes Fly From Here Heaven and Earth On reflection, I’d probably have looked on the not so good ones more favourably if they hadn’t carried the weight of expectation that comes with being a Yes album. The last three in my list make pleasant background listening even if they can’t hold a candle to classic era stuff.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

If it was just one album with "Ritual" and "The Revealing Science of God" It would be my #4 Album !! Those are Great Epic songs Live !!! : D 1, Close to the Edge 2, Fragile 3, The Yes Album 4, Relayer 5, Going For The One 6, Topographic Oceans For me the Best album is "Yessongs" .. Yeah, yeah I know It's Live but Yes is so much better Live and Prog Bands are Great Live !!! : )

[@plasticposse768]

Awesome list - these are great videos - you really help flesh out these catalogs by these bands. I never agree 100% with your picks (Its art - there is no wrong answer, right?) but love the discussion and hearing your perspective. The artists need to let you play clips because watching these videos always makes me buy cds! :)

[@michael_caz_nyc]

#1 Close to the Edge, #2 Fragile, #3 The Yes Album, "Siberian Khatru" - all time Killer Yes Track !!! This Band was Raw Talent.

[@luisgarcia6007]

Very close to my opinion

[@bcim]

Great to see them bein' ranked! I agree with your top 10. Good work, Pete. "Tales" would be some places higher in my list ... but that is just a thing of personal taste.