Close To The Edge (Remastered) YES

• 1 Close To The Edge [I. The Solid Time Of Change, II. Total Mass Retain, III. I Get Up I Get Down, IV. Seasons Of Man] 18:41
• 2 And You And I 10:12
• 3 Siberian Khatru 08:55
• Total Runtime 37:48

Info for Close To The Edge (Remastered)

"Close To The Edge" was released on 13 September 1972 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest progressive rock albums ever recorded. Inspired by Siddharta and their “state of mind” at the time, Yes’s 5th album is widely regarded as their masterpiece. The Gold-certified work remains a crowning achievement in the band’s illustrious career. It reached the Top Ten in both the U.K. and in the U.S., where it spent thirty-two weeks on the charts. Close To The Edge includes the epic standout "And You And I."

Guitar World named it one of their "100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time." This flawless classic is also included in the book, "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

"For most Yes obsessives, the band’s artistic peak came in the early ’70s, with the back-to-back landmark albums "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge."

Though they continued to produce beautiful, challenging, influential music throughout the decades that followed (and even today, are still cookin’ in their mid-60s), these forward-thinking Brits set an untouchable precedent during this fertile period, as ‘Close to the Edge’ makes evident.

The biggest reason is the visceral chemistry between the players. The quintet of vocalist-lyricist Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and percussionist Bill Bruford only made two albums together (Bruford exited the band to join the Robert Fripp-led experimentalists King Crimson, antsy after an especially arduous mixing process). But in a way, they said all they needed to say on this album. The combination of Anderson’s psychedelic, wide-eyed lyrics and anthemic vocal melodies fit perfectly with some of the fiercest, most intricately layered instrumental passages in the history of rock music. Those passages came courtesy of Bruford’s jazz-fusion finesse, Wakeman’s classical-tinged elegance, Howe’s spidery eclecticism, and Squire’s surging, muscular thud.

Another reason this album remains a touchstone is that it never lapses into the noodling or show-offy antics that plagued so many prog-rock albums during the genre’s peak. Instead, ‘Close to the Edge’ (particularly the four-part, 18-minute title suite) is incredibly nuanced, composed with such masterful flow and economy that every solo or lyric or riff feels connected in a cosmic, over-arching fashion. Even at its most complex (the deceptively tricky ‘Total Mass Retain‘ section), the simplest ideas shine through. Howe’s sublime guitar theme (which runs throughout the entirety of the title-track) is one of the most elegant in the prog cannon.

But while ‘Close to the Edge’ may be the album’s inevitable stand-out, two other excellent tracks round out the disc:. ‘And You And I’ is a mini-epic, utilizing Howe’s most melodic and emotional 12-string work and a spine-chilling Anderson lead vocal, while ‘Siberian Khatru‘ closes the festivities with an instrumental workout that blends funky full-band riffing with jazz-fusion-styled interplay, pitting Wakeman’s bubbling organ against Howe’s soaring leads (co-arranged by Bruford, in a classic example of the band writing for each other’s instruments). From a lyrical (and personal) standpoint, Anderson was becoming increasingly more interested in exploring his spiritual side. In particular, he was influenced by Herman Hesse’s novel ‘Siddhartha,’ in which an Indian man alive during Buddha’s time experiences an inner awakening through nature. These themes would explode into fascinating indulgence on the band’s following album, 1973′s frequently reviled (and vastly underrated) ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans.’ On ‘Close to the Edge,’ Anderson’s druggy, spiritual visions peaked in clarity.

“Jon would take things out of the personal, autobiographical sense and put it in a worldly sense,” Howe notes in the liner notes to the album’s 2003 reissue. “It’s all metaphors,” Anderson told Sea of Tranquility. “That’s when I went through that very strong period of just sketching and writing whatever I sang as being a state of consciousness. I would smoke a joint and just have fun and write: ‘A seasoned witch can call you from the depths of your disgrace / And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace.’ And I know exactly what it means. ‘A seasoned witch can call you from the depths of your disgrace‘ — Your higher self can call you from the depths of your disgraceful feelings, your doubts. ‘And rearrange your liver‘ — you can rearrange your body to a ‘solid mental grace.’ The liver is a very powerful part of the body, so it can rearrange your physical self to a higher state of mind.”

“Close to the Edge, round by the corner,” Anderson continues, “I was reading ‘Siddhartha.’ So everything means something to me. And people can say what they want — I don’t care — because I know what I was saying was what I was thinking, what I was dreaming.”

In the same interview, Anderson expands on the album’s spiritual themes. “When I was writing ‘Close to the Edge’ with Steve [Howe], I was reading a lot about spirituality and how it stretches across the entire world. There’s a connection, like all rivers lead to the same ocean, so I thought, you know, ‘Close to the edge, down by the river.’ And it’s like, people say ‘Close to the Edge’ is about disaster,’ but no, it’s about realization! We’re on this journey, and the only reason we live is to find the divine. To find God from within.”

Yes’ spiritual quests would reap many further rewards throughout the years. But from a musical standpoint, they truly “found God” on ‘Close to the Edge,’ setting a staggering precedent for prog-rock mastery that no other band (Yes included) has managed to reach since. (Ryan Reed, www.ultimateclassicrock.com)

Jon Anderson, vocals
Chris Squire, bass, vocals
Rick Wakeman, keyboards
Bill Bruford, drums
Steve Howe, guitars, vocals

Produced by Eddy Offord and Yes

Digitally remastered

Yes is an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets. No fewer than 18 musicians have been a part of the band's line-up, with its current form comprising singer Jon Davison, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, and keyboardist Geoff Downes. Yes have sold close to 50 million albums worldwide, including 13.5 million certified units in the United States.

Alan White
Alan is considered by many to be one of the greatest rock drummers of all-time. With forty-plus years of performance experience and appearances on over fifty albums, Alan's dossier reads like a who's-who of rock legends. With his consummate professionalism and easy-going nature, Alan continues to be an inspiration to fellow musicians as well as fans.

Chris Squire
Chris was born in London, England in March 1948. Chris began his musical career as a choirboy, which gave Chris a particular insight into choir arrangement and vocal techniques that was to follow him throughout his career. Chris formed YES in 1968 with vocalist Jon Anderson, and is the only member of YES to appear on every studio album.

Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes was born into a musical family in Stockport, England, where his father had been organist and choirmaster at a church. Geoff went to Leeds School of Music in 1971, graduating in 1975, thus becoming the first member of Yes to graduate with a degree in music.

Steve Howe
Born in 1947, Steve began teaching himself to play the guitar at the age of 12, and lists Bill Haley, Les Paul, Jimmy Byant, Speedy West, Barney Kessel, and Chet Atkins as his influences. Steve first joined YES in 1970, and has also been a member of The Syndicats, Bodast, Tomorrow, Asia and GTR. A prolific performer, Steve released his 19th solo album in 2010.

This album contains no booklet.