Yes Documentary - The Story of Tales From Topographic Oceans

An in-depth look at the classic Yes album "Tales From Topographic Oceans" from 1973. This video features new sound mixes and many cleaned-up and original photograhphs.

[@progessiverockstories]

I hope I've done this wonderful album justice with this video. This took me two months to create - in my limited spare time. I, therefore, HAVE to take a bit of a break from doing them - although I've said that before! - Maybe a different band again next time? Have a vote on your favourite side here: kzbin.infoUgkxx3O6U2eyMWzJM65HEAVJFI81_NQSXUgt

[@francoisrochette3808]

We appreciate the amount of works you done. Your videos are all masterpiece. Thank you so much. I suggest you check for something regarding Gentle Giant. "In a Glass House" is really a mystery album and so great.

[@JohnLRice]

Always great work and I, and others I'm sure, will patiently wait until you can find the time to do another. 🤗👍 For what it's worth some of my favorite bands/albums I'd love to see you do an episode on are: ELP / Brain Salad Surgery The Who / Quadrophenia Focus / Moving Waves King Crimson / In The Court Jethro Tull / A Passion Play Procol Harum / Grand Hotel and many many more.

[@Humb7757]

Thank You!! I learned so much of unknown information about the making of this Masterpiece of Yes!! From its release I never stopped listening to all four sides ! So well mixed and full of mesmerizing musical Moments!! Beautiful band was Yes!! In the 70’s!! ❤

[@londonmedspa2870]

i love what you did. thanks for bringing this album to light again for me.

[@reneelyons6836]

You are the shit!!!!!!!

[@jaymoore2738]

I already had tickets to their concert in Montreal when Tales was released and I purchased the album. After a few listening's, I decided "there's no way they are going to play this live as no band can duplicate this complexity, even in a studio." At the concert, they began by playing all of their "Close to the Edge" album which was quite an accomplishment in itself. Then, they began the first track of Tales and I could not believe my ears as I thought I was witnessing a historical musical event! They were perfect and I never doubted their abilities again.

[@user-wf4fv4oc1h]

That sounds like a music concert of a lifetime. I was too young to go. Later I saw Yes too many times to count.

[@davidperry7128]

@@user-wf4fv4oc1h The album hadn't been released when I say the tour, unbelievable concerts.

[@marcopolo2730]

I saw the concert for Tales when the album was released in 74. It was not a pleasant experience. It just dragged on and on with no end in sight. Self indulgent BS. Wakeman left the band at the end of the tour. I stopped listening to Yes after that. I enjoyed the earlier work, but this was too much.

[@RobBCactive]

Awesome! Their ability to play such complicated music live was incredible.

[@billjones8503]

@@marcopolo2730 I loved the first 2 sides. Took me yrs decades to appreciate sides 3 & 4, & now I love the whole. - Going into a concert cold would be hard, & can see how you got dissillusioned with. But try again-slowly-& think you'll enter in? A thought anyway?

[@dennismoore9011]

Sincerely enjoyed the documentary! However, you made an absolutely brilliant statement, when you said, "Personally, whilst there are some moments on it to that I could do without, I've adored this album for decades. There's a magic in it for me that I don't hear in other Yes records, even if I feel those other Yes records may actually be better." Well said, Sir, and I totally agree!

[@txikilin]

I could do without some moments in The Ancient and The Rememebering maybe but for Ritual and The Revealing Science I think they are perfect from begining to the end. Both absolutely brilliant.

[@vh8504]

I totally agree too! I've loved this album for years and also have struggled with how over-padded it can be at times. As I've matured I've really come to embrace its imperfectness, beauty, and intent which this documentary really tries to tie in.

[@williamweathers8183]

So beautiful, my favorite album; and YES, my favorite band, a fine documentary. Well done my good man. Well done, indeed.

[@eduardoferreira1963]

Agree with you

[@veganapiranha7365]

As a great lover of experimental music, I find it neither over-padded nor dragging. Some of my favorite musical moments have come from a band just letting the spirit move them and go off on long jams, whether it be jazz or rock or any other genre. This being such important subject themes I find every note delightful, even knowing Wakeman wasn't having so much himself. He still gave me my favorite album of all time.

[@dornelli1]

there was a time in space and time when England bred the youngest, most professional an ambitioned musicians who could see way ahead where music could lead to, and some of us were lucky enough to be alive to enjoy that breed of music that came from that period, which only lasted from '67 to '82.

[@davedillon1372]

WHY are my comments repeatedly erased before I finish a first sentence re Cinema being almost finished before Jon Anderson was invited to have anything to do with it?

[@davedillon1372]

Those Pegasus Bass pedals were sold to/bought by Bob G (The Bo Deans) btw. Anderson was a lucky little fella- his voice made him irreplaceable to New YES & the spite-filled ABWH both! Still, he was very happy to find something to complain about as his health began to suffer & "not even a Get Well card!" this hurt. What an ego¿

[@davedillon1372]

Can yee prove that 'curry house' still exists

[@cbrestorer7220]

I say amen to that. Long live Rock ( especially from UK, and especially Symphonic and Progressive)

[@rosskstar]

I suppose they reflected a superior education that began falling apart at some point to what it is today The communicated with each other better than the nasty mouths that proliferate today

[@denbofrancisco6958]

A true prog rock masterpiece that is just too complex for most ‘casual’ listeners - but rewards greatly those that can appreciate it’s grandeur & compositional genius.

[@joso7228]

Well its a soundscape emotional listening experience for those 'casual' listeners.

[@macchinastella2307]

I agree Jo So. One thing that has always fascinated me about Yes fans is that they are equally as passionate about the amazing musicality of Yes as much as the many musician fans who actually understood the theory of what Yes were doing. That to me is just so incredible! Anyone, and I believe anyone that is a Yes fan understands that each composition is a journey filled with many rewards for all to enjoy. Not many bands, especially of such a sophisticated nature could claim such appeal.

[@giorgioceroni3008]

👏👏👏

[@jimmcguy5511]

I question, is yes really for the casual listener? Yes confounds them. I've been getting a kick out of their complaints for many years. MTV and radio was meant for them not Yes music.

[@0001nika]

They didn't know prog rock. Bullshit after the fact label

[@Marturo]

Jon Anderson as a musical visionary at that time was amazing . His importance in forming Yes music was immense.

[@edwinrivera5695]

So true!

[@GalacticGS]

In my opinion, the best album ever! I can listen to this album over and over again, constantly picking up new nuances in the music and verses. The trio of Close to the Edge, Tales, and Relayer are just outstanding...

[@RobBCactive]

Oohhhh Relayer ... exquisite

[@chomusic]

Exactly. I find it difficult to pick a "favourite" out of those three.

[@TmRnBn]

How many thumbs-up can I put on this comment??? Those three are the pinnacle--there are a few other nearby pinnacles--Crimson's Red, Soft's Third, Zappa's Roxy and so on, but this Yes Tor might be the highest of those pinnacles...

[@scherado01]

I usually consider Mr. Squire's "Fish Out of Water" to be the best album ever.

[@berryvansevenbergen8583]

These 3 are the Holy Grail of Symphonic Rock

[@alanmatthew5713]

This was THE record that made me a prog rock lover when I was only 8. I'm 53 now and I still say that this is THE best prog rock album ever.

[@philipgebhardt3453]

Hmmm.. I think Close to The Edge was the best ever by Yes

[@alanmatthew5713]

@@philipgebhardt3453 my second favorite one.

[@keithbk]

@@alanmatthew5713 "Close to the Edge" is probably down around my 10th favorite Yes album, honestly...

[@skeezix64]

@@keithbk to each his own. I'm sure there are people who think 90125 is their best work.

[@jaymoore2738]

When you were 8?!?! I'm pretty blown away that an eight year old could appreciate this musical feat!

[@wallisliss]

The Topographic Tour was a highlight of my young life. I had seen Yes many times (in Los Angeles) but this show was so unreal with Rodger Deans ‘topographic structures’ accelerated the experience to the point of being hallucinationagenic. They played all four sides in a fully extended suite. It’s been so many years now. I was 17 then and I am now 66. It really was a better time in so many ways. Now that Chris and Allan are gone I know how fortunate I and my mates were to experience the brilliance of this composition. Namaste

[@martinmartin8871]

I went to LB Arena for the Topo tour! I loved it. I also am 66, born and raised in Torrance. Namaste!

[@wallisliss]

@@martinmartin8871 Tustin O.C. Correct me if i am wrong, didn’t they start out with the close to the edge suite? Honestly that might have been an ‘acid’ night for me and my mates (long forgotten lol). Long beach was such a great place to see bands like Yes. Not to big, not to small. Just right. My son and grandson will never know what we experienced.

[@mikefox1711]

@@wallisliss they opened with ctte then played tales.Saw the tour in philly 2 shows the same night.

[@TheSteveSteele]

Did either of you see King Crimson during this time? I’m referring to the Wetton/Bruford lineup. Thanks.

[@wallisliss]

@@TheSteveSteele Indeed. with Cross on violin and mellotron. Genius music. Master Wettons voice and bass was sublime.

[@webb3201]

An amazing record that I will never tire of….note, I didnt realize it was charting at same time as Brain Salad Surgery. What a time to be alive

[@davidhughes4448]

You said it, Kevin Webb. You said it. There was no better time to be alive and completely immersed in prog rock. We didn't know we had it so good... or maybe we did.

[@marcoferri6841]

@@davidhughes4448 oh no David...we knew...that's why we are so well

[@zeuslizard1997]

I have never cared what others thought about this (or any) album. It's how it makes me feel that matters. This will always be one of my favorites pieces of music. I understand it's limitations and issues, but it just doesn't matter. Like the documentarian said, it's magical.

[@thomasfreeland940]

I allow myself just one listening of this album per year. It must be summer; a peaceful day when no-else is home, so I can turn it up as loud as I like. I started listening to Yes back when I was 15 (and Jimmy Carter was President), and this album only gets better and better. Every listening reveals new depths. I really appreciate these insights into its production-thanks!

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

I do the same thing with The Yes Album, first warm spring day every year. ❤

[@denali9643]

Hands down my favorite Yes album. Revealing Science of God remains my all time favorite Yes song. It’s a bit mystical as it may not be technically their best work, there is something “on it” that is transcendent.

[@warrenmusselman9173]

This album has moved me deeply ever since the first time I heard it in 1974. The definition of Prog and the apotheosis of the genre in many ways. Along with Close to the Edge and Relayer, this album defines, for me at least, the summit of classic Yes. I never tire of it.

[@TheSteveSteele]

I’ve always loved Relayer. Played that album over and over. Probably my favorite Yes album along with Fragile and Close to the Edge. This my be blasphemous to Yes fans, but I admit that I also like Drama. Oddly it had that classic Yes sound to my ears.

[@daniellacroix9866]

Same for me ! I can't think of a band whose music took me so high.

[@drmidnight2419]

@@TheSteveSteele it's not blasphemy, I like drama. But I have to disagree. It is not a Yes album because Jon Anderson didn't write the lyrics and direct the music. Most Yes records , Jon puts Hypnosis and Transsidental meditation in it. Drama doesn't have the META SCIENCES in , so does not qualify as a Yes album.

[@Chuckles..]

While Tales may not be their best as a whole, I agree Tales has it's own magic. Chris said of The Remembering (side 2) "the most beautiful piece of music I've been a part of"

[@ArtB414]

I spend almost one year of my life listening, studying and exploring THIS particular album, while having minimal contact with other music of rejecting it totally! It was a beautiful life-changeing experience. It helped me to survive my youth without doing anything stupid, and showed me who i really am. For most of people (even Yes-fans) this music may sound like crap, but if you take a closer look, put ears and mind bit closer - it reveals great and soul-calming sounds.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

My brother's friend had a copy of TFTO on LP record, and he recorded it onto cassette for us. I can still remember lying out on the patio, looking up at the stars, while listening to this heavenly, cosmic music, that sounded as if it was sung by an angel. After a summer of that, I became a YES fan for life! 🤗

[@johnmyers6117]

Tales From Topographic Oceans is definitely a milestone in Yes' musical output. It is a total concept album. Despite many listeners complaining of its length, the music is very cohesive and packed full of complex musical motifs that play with time signatures and dual melodic keys. But, even though there are these complexities, it never loses its melodic strength. These traits are hallmarks of Yes music. This musical inventiveness and compositional prowess is also found in many classical works such as symphonies. For me, "Tales" has withstood the test of time.

[@Drmidnight-dd6tw]

complain about the length of this record is rediculous. It should've had a lot more sides because there's a shortage of New Age records.

[@kevincaselle3174]

on a solo drive of nearly 1700 miles in 1975 , this album made the miles melt away. I appreciate it more with each revisit.

[@joso7228]

great diversionary tactic at the dentist too

[@serenitypeaceandcomfort3669]

Play it while on a flight, sitting next to the window!! Amazing!!!

[@zeebra2012]

This album is great years ahead of it's time

[@joreyreitman9655]

This is a seriously under-rated album! Orchestral, Symphonic Rock! Brilliant! 👏

[@philmanson2991]

I feel sorry for those who don't "get" Tales. Fine job on the video!

[@rabbitteyes]

This album blew my mind & still listen to it. All 4 sides are genius. But Close To The Edge is their Masterpiece

[@nicktardifbass7]

The end of "The Remembering" is one of Yes's greatest epic moments. This track in particular seems to get overlooked, and Yes ended up dropping it during the tour supporting the album. Sides 2 and 3 are never played in subsequent tours to my knowledge.

[@edwinrivera5695]

You are so right - "The Remembering" is a masterful work!

[@russellszabadosaka5-pindin849]

The Remembering is the best track on TFTO in my opinion.

[@edwinrivera5695]

@@russellszabadosaka5-pindin849 Truly special!

[@jameskennedy721]

On some of the bootlegs of the 1974 shows , Wakeman goes into different melodies and changes things around . Sounds great , of course .

[@geraldbalzano431]

The closing minutes of "The Remembering" are THE Musical Climax, the peak, of the 4 movements.

[@dr.zarkhov9753]

This has to be hands down one of the best documentary films on the band and TFTTO I have ever seen. I had no idea that Tobergraphic Oceans was the real title. I was at Madison Square Garden for the Feb 18 1974 show with a high school friend. Spent the whole day in the city wandering around lower Manhattan, and seeing first hand the complete degradation of the city etc. Loads of fun! It needed to be since my mom was seriously ill during this period of my life and in fact she passed 2 weeks after I saw the show. So this music is much much more to me than just another YES album. Listening to it then is part of what helped me through and for that I'm forever grateful to the band for creating it. Kudos to you Rael NYC for putting together this film. 👏👏👏

[@progessiverockstories]

It's comments like this that inspire me to make more documentaries. ✌

[@karl5758]

Whaaat!!! Did not expect this! I thought for sure Foxtrot was next!

[@progessiverockstories]

Keep em lean, keep em keen!

[@fandru5538]

My favorite album of all time. from the hypnotic beginning incantation of Revealing to the end of Ritual, a so perfect and so moving ending, through the calmer Remembering and its gorgeous grand finale or the hectic moments of the Ancient, I won’t change a thing. Each note is the perfect one, at the perfect place. And even if it happens to me to listen to only one or two of the tracks in a row (Revealing and Remembering are my favorites), I always think of it as a whole, a work of umbelievable size and ambition. IMO this is not only their masterpiece by far, but the best piece of music ever created.

[@progessiverockstories]

For 'parts' of the album, I would agree!

[@Rich6Brew]

I had the good fortune of being at the world premier performance of this work.

[@michaelrandle8316]

What brought me here is that this is one of my all time favorite albums. Being new to Yes back in the early 80s, after buying Relayer initially, this made a lot more sense to my developing musical experience. The liner notes were very helpful in helping me understand what I was about to listen to. I listen to this now, I am still amazed at how great this album is. Enough superlatives, thanks to the author of this for these insights.

[@barryscheben6033]

I found this to be the closest to a fair and intelligently understanding assessment of this album I have come across. I believe 100 years from now this album will be found to be the work of genius at its best in rock music. I must have listened to this album (especially sides 1 and 2) some hundreds of times in my teens after it was released. It was the one record I never got bored with. It's also the most spiritual rock music I have ever come across. You can hear the Divine longing in Jon Anderson's voice at various points. What I've never come across anyone mentioning is the music of the clouds (topographic ocean!) in the instrumental passages in The Remembering. Listen carefully especially to the second instrumental passage's musical capture of the beautiful blooming of a cumulus cloud. I hear the movement of clouds in all the instrumental passages in this song, in which Jon sings, "Remember to sail the skies!" The instrumental passages are very capable of uplifting one's consciousness to a higher, altered state, naturally and without drugs. I can testify to this from my own experience, and that is largely why I believe the future will recognize the brilliance and genius of this record, which unfortunately apparently never registered In Rick Wakeman's consciousness.

[@Drmidnight-dd6tw]

Yea, it was intentional. The higher altered state is the META. State. It's not actually a higher state, it's a different state of consciousness, a hypnosis state. The neurons in your brain are firing electrical signals and making different connections, you can feel this when listening to TFTO. Courtesy of Jon A.

[@pauljohnston2171]

P

[@timn5008]

Yeah, sides one and two are my absolute favorites too.

[@ambientideas1]

One of the best documentaries I’ve seen on this album. I’ve listened to this album countless times over the years, at times struggled with its ‘scope of ambition,’ but it stands as one of the great masterworks of that era and genre.

[@progessiverockstories]

You mean there are other documentaries on Topographic??!!! 😵

[@ambientideas1]

Good question, come to think. I know I’ve seen short media bits on the making of the album, but nothing that might qualify as a formal feature documentary. Bravo on your effort! 👏

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

"SPARKOMATIC presents: YES at the Rosemont Horizon March 9, 1984 It was my first rock concert and I remember it like it was lastnight!

[@craigfazekas3923]

Thanks to you ? I've just heard a Yes track that I never knew existed-All Fighters Past !! Been a fan for 40 + years now. And stuff IS STILL coming out !! And it's PRIME Fragile era Yes, too !?! Good Gawd, thank you. 🚬😎

[@fabrikk60]

I was 13 in 1973, living in a mid-sized Canadian prairie town, very much an isolated cultural backwater. The town did have a university though, which had its own FM radio station. No surprise, they played progressive rock, which in 1973 was considered cool and leading-edge. That station was a lifeline for me. One month, every Friday night, the station played a side from the new Yes album Tales From Topographic Oceans! I had to save up my allowance, and persuade a local record shop to special-order the album for me. My love of Tales has never diminished in all these years.

[@twagn]

My favorite Yes album. Every time I look into the stars I hear this

[@oliviertilanus]

I strongly resonate with the close to closing statement, every side of Tales was my favourite for a while. Right now the Remembering is my absolute favourite, the Warmth of the acoustic section next to the ambience of the crashing waves section is so beautiful to me. The final part goes so hard as well, that final solo and the booming vocals at the end are a stellar way to end the song.

[@progessiverockstories]

I agree, I came out of making this video with The Remembering in pole position.

[@georgesonm1774]

The Remembering is my favourite too - one of the greatest (and most underrated!) Yes pieces in my opinion, along with To Be Over which is another unsung gem

[@Twirlip2]

For me, the three pinnacles of Yes's music are The Remembering, Close to the Edge, and Yours Is No Disgrace (in no particular order - because they're all so different as to be incomparable - in both senses of that word).

[@georgesonm1774]

@@Twirlip2 very interesting choice - indeed, these 3 pieces are miles away from each other but at the same time all are quintessential classic Yes, highlighting different aspects of their music

[@oiramsq73]

I can’t tell you how excited I was to see this pop-up on my screen! TFTO is such a special moment - I just love it so much… thank you!

[@progessiverockstories]

Love it - it's why I make the videos!

[@juancarlosarias6550]

A fantastic deep and difficult to grasp at first album, but definitely unique and ethereal as no other. Congrats for this excellent documentary.

[@bei1016]

I Was Listeng to the Eagles & Linda Ronstadt. Living in Hollywood California. In School, I met a Yes Fan that Invited me over. He Played Me Side 1of Tales. and I was Overwhelmed. It was Like Hearing a New Language that I Instantly Understood. I was Familliar with Yes's Radio songs, This was Something Else. It's Grand and Expressive. But it's A Lot Of Music. Years Later I saw Yes with Rick, Play Half of Tales. Plus " Leaves Of Green Acoustic with Jon & Steve Howe. That Tape of the show is "Somewhere". Thank You For This & The Relayer Documentary. Relayer is an Incredible Album , Thanks to Patrick Moraz.

[@dottenday]

I was on the road today, and I listened to this entire album coming and going, by chance. Then, when I came home I bumped into this documentary. We LOVED this album in university and played it ALL the time. I still love it. So many great moments. My brother and I often try to write songs using the same kind of imagery this album has - mostly for comedic effect, but it really influenced us. He sent me a message this morning asking if I was on the road, and I replied from a line in Nous Sommes Du Soleil, that I knew he would get right away: let them run, let them chase, let them hide between. I'm sure he knew exactly what I was talking about. Interesting video. Where did you get the outtakes? I saw Yes in Minneapolis in 1976 and Iowa City in 1979 or so. They were just great. Love Yes and always will. Sadly, we've lost the giant Chris Squire and another giant, Alan White.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

So many great moments ... very well said .

[@bettywing52]

The Topographic period was an incredible genius and confidence unequaled in the genre. we won't see its like again. Also my first live experience with Yes in NYC. Seeing these concerts rearranged your thinking for days afterwards. Excellent and respectful treatment of the controversies as shadows against the light of creation.

[@olivierfeuillerat]

What a great documentary. Superbly written, informed and illustrated musically.

[@tantotonto]

This documentary, coming on the tide of a Yes renaissance, is wonderful. This was my first Yes album - I suppose I got it at the end of 1973 from Rushworths in Liverpool town centre in 1973, probably with savings and Christmas money. In those days, you went home and listened over and over again, gradually learning everything you could about any new record you got. And you didn't analyze it - that would have been sacrilegious! You took the whole thing in as an unalterable, perfect statement. Even if it wasn't so inerrant as you had believed it to be, it is still an astonishing piece of work. The sections on this video from the multitrack (or rehearsals?) are very revealing. How ever did they do it - the band and Eddy Offord? I wholeheartedly agree with the conclusion at the end of this video - perfectly summed up.

[@scherado01]

You wrote: " You took the whole thing in as an unalterable, perfect statement. " When an intro to "The Revealing Science of God" was attached, which was heard in this video, I was furious. Someone had altered what I, most of the time, considered to be the best movement of the whole.

[@BertusMartial]

Merci encore. Bientôt 50 ans que j'écoute cet album et c'est toujours une nouveauté. Nous sommes du soleil.

[@markgumprecht2295]

Sometimes the first time you listen to new music, it seem strange, and you are not sure what you think about it. But, the more you listen, it grow on you, until the point it becomes a pivotal part your life, and dreams. This is what Tales did for me in my young life, and listening to it now takes me back to those times!

[@rob7068]

Agreed 100%!

[@uphollandlatic]

This is excellent. I saw Yes play this at The Rainbow in November 1973 and I’ve loved it ever since. Somehow you have articulated what so many of us feel about the album that for all its challenges it’s worth getting to know. Great also to fully learn of Alan White’s contribution beyond the percussion. It’s also visually beautiful. Great job - thank you.

[@volpeverde6441]

LUCKY BUGGER....!

[@teddyfurstman1997]

This album rules! I love Yes. Hope for more Music documentaries.

[@evanhammond3783]

Truly excellent work here. The research, the instrument isolation, the art direction, the love for the album… I can’t say enough. I loved it.

[@beready992]

Tales is an album that I tend to come back to after being away from it for a while. The big efforts contained in this album are complex and the ideas are esoteric and overwhelming. I'd say as a work it's as significant as Court of the Crimson King as a landmark event in prog.

[@nicodegallo7886]

Beautiful documentary. More Yes documentaries please! Although they might not have as much interesting drama behind them, I think both CTTE and Foxtrot are worth covering given how masterful your editing skills have developed. No matter what you choose to do, thanks for this!

[@grimabsolssbm]

Nice pfp

[@iaindouglas6861]

Very well documented and constructed. I thoroughly enjoyed this and agree on all you say. I saw this performed at The Apollo in Glasgow, where Jon announced that the album had been released earlier that day. The stage set was jawdropping and I will never forget it. I still love it, although it is a seriously long listen.

[@jefffree6990]

Great work! Love the isolated track snippets. Ok its a bit over the edge and self indulgent, but its still very special, and more of an immersive experience. I for one am glad those tapes didn't get run over by the bus. Can you imagine what a loss that would've been, and how that would've felt?

[@progessiverockstories]

I agree I've taken it upto 11 at times, but then so the album itself did!

[@relayer43]

@@progessiverockstories I’m assuming the isolated tracks are 5.1 surround extractions? Multis from this one (and Going For The One) are high on my wish list due to the muddy original mixes.

[@theboofin]

Artists have to be 'self indulgent', LOL. That's what they do. Jesus.

[@simongrundy2208]

Another cracking piece of work. An album that is brilliant at times, mediocre at others is worthy of a closer look. I wasn't aware of Alan White's writing on this lp, and the finale to the Ritual is amongst the most dramatic and magnificent music ever written and performed. Excellent!

[@johnhall9160]

I have always loved and admired yes....it all started with a friend who's brother had yessongs.....his older brother was into Bowie and even had his hair done like bowie even had the earing! I was 14 years old and bought Tales on 8track. I would be in my room with a bottle of Jack Daniels, headphones and laying on the floor.....The music is angelic and so is Anderson's voice. Yes music has always brought me closer spiritually to god. Even now at 63 I still listen and get that same magical feeling coming from Yes Music......My favorite part of Tales is Somme Du Soleil.....I want the piano part playing at my funeral......going home....

[@martinharris5017]

I was introduced to Yes through my love of Roger Dean's artwork. Became a fan of both, and this album's theme tied in with my interest in esotericism and ancient civilizations. Thanks for this great piece of musical history.

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

after all these years, still my favourite Yes-album. Because it's a challenge to listen to and it's so rich in its different musical moods and lyrics

[@Skiddoo42]

Saw them perform a set that included The Ritual in 2003 in an outdoor evening concert on the side of Konocti volcano. They had the whole group and a 50-piece orchestra. The intensity of that experience will never leave me.

[@MochaDaisy8645]

Great job, very well done! Many fans are adamant that the current “Yes” lineup lacks authenticity and is a waste of time but I’m glad I saw them in 2017 while we still had Alan (may he RIP). To anyone who is undecided about seeing them live for any reason (be it doubts about their abilities or the rising costs of tickets), I say do it while you still can. I am praying for a Tales 50 tour next year

[@user-xf3cv6xd1z]

I totally agree with the final comment : The Tales don't show the density of Close to the Edge or Relayer, but the most beautiful passages written by Yes are in the Tales, specially in the end of each part. As a listener for the Tales and a Yes fan since 1974, I learned many things watching this video. Thanks Rael !

[@rsablosky]

Rael, I and 39,438 other people agree with everything you said! Thanks for a wonderful essay!

[@chood6618]

The album that got me into true classic Yes and by far the best of the top five Prog albums of all time! I've seen it live on the Masterworks tour!

[@ianhartley2158]

Absolutely brilliant work on an absolutely brilliant album.

[@salvelegio1425]

Dear Sir, Thank you for a beautiful and most interesting documentary on this masterpiece. Personally I am happy to live in an age when groups like Yes and others where around and where able to give us these gifts. I can honestly say that I can’t imagine my life without Yes, a life saver to say the least. When it comes to ranking Yes albums I personally hold Relayer closest to my heart. For me that’s the masterpiece of masterpiece’s. Then we have Tales, Close, Going all at number two. I have only love for the lads, all of them, and I consider them to be my friends and fellow participants on the “path”. Love forever to my friends and see you all on green pastures on the other side of this magnificent journey called life. Peace and love to all.

[@danielshaheen4498]

Relayer tops all their wonderful albums

[@gordonlandreth9550]

I agree as well that Relayed is at the top , with this album and Close to the Edge right behind them .

[@alancarbone9820]

Life Definey Album..Could not look back after hearing it....life long Yes Fan..

[@kevinjager8007]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Topographic oceans is the ultimate yes album for me when everybody at school thought I was a nutcase. It’s definitely marmite to fans. The last five minutes instrumental section on ritual is still one of the only pieces of music that will always set the hairs on the back of my neck up. I also really enjoyed the little snippets of broken down harmonies and instrumental sections. That was really nice to hear. Thanks 😊

[@JosephFrancisBurton]

@22:30 - the gatefold packaging for this album was simply gorgeous. The Dean Calligraphy and lettering on this album has never been equaled, the layout of lyrics with symbols and pictures simple yet cryptic - and if one looks close enough, I swear I think I see a shattered wing of the Fragile space ship poking from behind the rocks just behind the little fountain of water. I would stare at these albums for hours as I listened to this music. We will never see the likes of this kind of album packaging again.

[@billymazdin]

A truly magnificent piece of work in my opinion,I’ve listened to it more times than any other album by yes and any other band for that matter,sublime!

[@briancherry8088]

15:04 - Damn! That's so stanky. I love his bass playing. What a legend. Thanks for all of the music Chris!

[@robinwatson4282]

Wow, these photos are fabulous - particularly the studio ones. Never seen any of those before. All hands on faders!

[@progessiverockstories]

Yep, I love the way that Rick is captured asleep at the back of that photo.

[@robinwatson4282]

@@progessiverockstories Haha, I didn't notice that. Great post, mate. I love this album, and all the 'mystique' that surrounds it. I'd never seen the cardboard cow(s) for example (just read about them), but you have a pic - fab.

[@josephwolosz2522]

Rick was also working on his own solo efforts. The Six Wives of Henry Eighth. Chris also thought it was too lengthy. It still manages to reach great heights in recording. Nobody does this sort of thing now. YES had the best musicianship of any rock band in my opinion. They still rode high on the charts afterwards.

[@oliviertilanus]

Stellar video. I'm in aw at how much footage and photos you managed to find to relate to all of the songs. Fantastically done

[@michaelking5840]

I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s but only discovered groups like Yes and Genesis in the 80’s. I can only imagine what those who actually listened to this great music felt then . Cause I feel it NOW!!!❤️

[@drmidnight680-kz2le]

We are what we think we are, this is a theme of Jon Anderson that I learned from him at that time. And believe me, I applied it to my life and with some work helped me to succeed through positive thinking. Feel good.

[@beckoning-chasm]

Great documentary, thank you for this! I've always thought Topographic was not only Yes' best album, but an incredible achievement of any kind, in any genre. Because of its sheer density, I don't listen to it often, but when I do it transports me as no other album can. It's the ultimate expression of "possibilities." Thanks again.

[@tedval13]

Excellent review: informative, revealing, honest, and with both humor and reverence. TFTO continues to improve to my ears and my soul, to this day - and it was pretty good to begin with!

[@progessiverockstories]

"Humor and reverence" - I'm glad you connected with this. It's the only way to approach a lot of this music. Hence the Spinal Tap reference at the end.

[@tedval13]

@@progessiverockstories :) Love your Genesis vids too, especially the Wind & Wuthering one. Reminds me to send you a few rupees to your PayPal!

[@normanmacfarlane6724]

I have the blu ray of this classic album. I LOVE this record. Picked up a copy of Autobiography of a Yogi , in hardback for a dollar in an oppy ( op shop in Australia ) Just love this recording.

[@ryangood4595]

the Spinal Tap at the end, it's perfection

[@randallmassey1696]

One of my first vinyl albums and still one of my favorites. Love it.

[@marcosbaracca3001]

Muito obrigado por detalhar as fontes de inspiração que geraram esse album duplo, aqui no Brasil fez muito sucesso nos anos 70, o solo de sintetizador do Rick em The Remembering foi utilizado até em comercial de TV. Considero Tales uma obra prima, um album acima de tudo corajoso em apresentar 4 músicas de 20 minutos cada e desafiar o formato Pop de 3 minutos por música.

[@serenitypeaceandcomfort3669]

"Tales" was simply way ahead of its time. The 2-minute- song disc jockeys were never going to affirm its greatness.

[@richarddouglas1712]

VERY INTERESTING! Did not know half of this ! Yet it is one of my favorite works from yes !!

[@peteh7966]

One of the best doco's I've seen in a while, brilliant to have the isolated tracks interspersed with the dialogue. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

[@row8017]

Warms to hear Alan’s input on this great album. Nice job Rael the aerosol king!

[@volpeverde6441]

how did RAEL get in here....

[@jameskennedy721]

This is a treat for die-hard fans of the 1972 to 1974 Yes band . Film of the band rehearsing part of TALES way before the recording. WOW . Photos , remixes and the philosophy ... excellent .

[@randlerobbertson8792]

I found this fascinating and added to my education about a piece of music I did not understand at first but, grew to love over many, many, listenings whilst at technical college in the 70s. And yes, the ancient was always my favourite movement of the four.

[@natema5927]

Great video about one of my favorite albums!

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

I LOVE TFTO! I fell ill and lost everything I had. I am replacing some of my favorite albums, and TFTO is first on the list. I first heard of YES in 1983, when I was 14 y.o. My brother had bought us tickets to see 9012LIVE. I stared at that ticket for a month! I can still see it in my mind's eye. It was printed on blue tickets paper stock and said:

[@brad5621]

Bravo for highlighting in depth the mystical spirituality of this sonic masterpiece by YES and the divine Jon Anderson. I feel you did an excellent job of explaining the esoteric ideas and musical passages of these four sides drawn from the Hindu teachings of the Vedas and authentic Gurus without taking a condescending or mocking tone, thank you most sincerely. There was a reason they were called YES -- total positive vibrations (esp. when Awakened on entheogens aka "seeing god within") -- and when one saw them in concert, I saw this tour in 1974 in Cincinnati and couldn't believe my ears and eyes (but my heart knew), we knew we were seeing Angels descended from heaven... or out of topographic oceans. Your work, research, and videos are a true labor of love so thank you for flowering my heart and soul with the Wisdom of YES. bright blessings, brother 🙏💖

[@kerrymcauliffe9906]

very nice and well done. My guitar teacher in 7th grade told me to check out Yes, and insisted I buy Yessongs. To this day, that album is in close contention with Tales of Topographic Oceans as the most moving music I have ever heard. I came to the deepest connection at the peak time of my life. What an amazing period for them and progressive music. I don't know of any band that reached higher ideas through their music. I've always loved how upon the deepest consideration of existence, their answer is YES!

[@latheofheaven1017]

I have grown more and more in love with this album over the years. But yeah... side three. The only part I like is the acoustic song - the Leaves of Green section. I have made myself a listening copy of Topographic Oceans that (with careful editing) has Leaves of Green as the opening to, and segues into Ritual. It really works this way - for me anyway. Your summing up at the end, where you say, "There's a magic in it for me that I don't hear in other Yes records" is spot on for me. I love Fragile, Close to the Edge and Relayer just as much, but in a different way. There's a unique magic to Topographic Oceans.

[@PeteGenesis]

Congrats Rael for another excellent documentary video...

[@617collins]

My mum gave me this album for Christmas 1978, and whenever I hear this album it always reminds of Christmas. (I only mention this because of the Christmas references in the video).

[@michaelrada725]

I was 10 years old when this wonderful album came out, and i was starting to take piano lessons and my teacher had the album, went to tell my mom and she got me the cassette which I still have today still works!! 59 years old now i have all the yes albums on tapes and cds. Long Live Yes!

[@darwinblinks]

The greatest Yes album. Good work, raelnyc!

[@ocean686]

For me, this album is the zenith of the prog rock genre with over-complicated, self indulgent, jamming sessions mashed together with some loosely related religious ideas fused to form the 'concept album' Total Spinal Tap, and only would such a group play this to a live audience before releasing the album. All downhill from here as the theme only worked once - Going For The One was more consumer friendly, but too late as jurassic park critics won the day. Excellent, and my fav Yes album which still sounds fresh. Modern prog still alive(and as good) as I go to see Marillion perform their covid masterpiece tomorrow night. When a band performs better live than on vinyl you buy the ticket :)

[@jameswattles7341]

Wow a class act Documentary Thanks. Yes is well deserving of it. I've been a fan since seventy three and will be till i pass on.

[@yatz57]

"Only" a 9/10. The band's decision to go for a double album has certainly hurt the final record; I believe they had the material for one of the greatest "regular" records in prog history, here. Still, I don't think any band has ever aimed so high and had actually managed to achieve most of what it had set out to do. And I will never forget the moment, 48 years ago, when I sat down to first hear this record, or the way the first notes blew my mind... Great video; I was not aware of Alan White's contribution to writing the music, many thanks for this

[@progessiverockstories]

Your line about "aiming so high..." sums this album up better than anything I have heard! I wish I had used it myself!

[@tmamone83]

I legit love "Tales from Topographic Oceans!"

[@thereisnodarkside]

Thank you. Another fantastic production.

[@BarrySanchez]

Thanks for the wonderful documentary I’ve always loved both YES & Tales fFrom Topographic Oceans. Actually I have one tattoo & it’s the YES BUBBLE name just like on The Tales’s Album.

[@757flyer]

Excellent documentary. Thank you.