TIME FOR AN EPIC!! My friends it was time for another long track, and we’ve been eyeballing this track for months!! You guys have asked for it, here we go!!! Let us know what other epics we gotta check out as well as other Yes songs we do!! Happy Friday friends, stay safe!! 🔥🤟🏻🤟🏻

Never forget: These guys could play that LIVE.

Chris Squire on a fretted Rickenbacker bass. His tone is to die for. He's inspired generations of bass players with his technical prowess and his killer tone. One of the greatest bass players, ever.

Boys, your brains got melted. Welcome to my decade - 70’s forever.

As Alan White once said, "There's a lot of notes in a yes concert, and you have to play every single one."

You have to hear it at least 50 times before you can fully appreciate the dimensions of what they are doing. The way the bass and drums work together is unbelievable. One of my all time favourites.

Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford, Jon Anderson...magnificent musicians and songwriters.

I'm 64 and got to see Yes 6 times back in the 70's and 80's. All time fav.

Watching the youngsters learn about prog... priceless.

This song is rated #1 on many Prog lists

My 19 yr old daughter took me to their 50th anniversary show. (They've been my fav band since 76)They opened with Close to the Edge and I think we both cried!!

One thing to keep in mind for this. Yes was writing and performing this song in their mid-twenties. Musical Geniuses.

"Figure out what pedal he used?" There's no pedal. That's Squire. That's his sound. You're dealing with the big boys here son. And you guys don't even realize what a masterpiece this is. Keep listening and there will come a time when you'll realize that this track is perfection from the first bird chirp to the last.

This type of song needs many listens to appreciate everything that’s going on

Jon Anderson's voice is absolutely angelic. Give "And You and I" a listen to relax and get lost in the sauce of his voice. Also, "Your Move/I've Seen all Good People" is classic Yes.

I saw them do this live in the summer of 1975. During the quiet part in the middle, they flooded the stage with fog. There were light pods on the stage under the fog that pulsed in time to the organ. It was magical.

This is what a young Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson were listening to!

This song is a “grower” as they say. It becomes less jarring and more beautiful and awe-inspiring the more you listen to it.

I've seen them live 5 times. They always play this track. Every note. Their whole concert is like that. This is one of the most incredible music pieces ever written. Thankfully I discovered them in 1973, when I was a teenager.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for actually listening to the tunes without stopping them every 15 seconds to go into a long conversation about the only 15 seconds you’ve listened to like mostly every music reviewer does online. It’s called RESPECT for the artists you are genuinely critiquing.

When you listen to it enough to map every part in your head, you will give it an 11.

Listen to it again, maybe half a dozen times and you will be astounded at what they did in this song. It is the greatest prog-rock anthem ever.

Now imagine hearing it for the first time 48 years ago.

"South Side Of The Sky" is highly recommended.

I hope you've come back to this at some point and realized how incredibly brilliant this is all the way through. Top ten all time songs. Musical perfection on another plane of existence.

"Siberian Khatru", the last song on this album, really brings it home.

5 of the greatest musicians in one band. Chris Squire, Bill Bruford, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and the greatest keyboard player Rick Wakeman.

I saw Yes in the seventies after their Relayer album dropped. they played that entire album but also Close to the Edge. I cried tears of joy. Just saw Jon Anderson recently solo and he played several Yes songs. I got to go backstage and give him a hug. cried again.

“Your Is No Disgrace”, no contest, no game, a straight banger.

The stunned silence after the song was great. That's when you know you've listened to a piece of music that really took you somewhere. That return to reality can be jarring. So happy to see people still out there listening to music. It's become a lost art.

This is not just a "song", it's a musical trip. It might not be so clear at first listening, but it's so well conceived, it's really amazing. I heard it for the first time almost forty years ago and I was quite bewildered at the beginning (I was 16 and listening almost only rock music), but after a few listenings it quickly became one of my prog favorites, and it still gives me goosebumps after all these years.

I’m 34 and just got into this recently and I had the same reaction the first time I listened to it. My dad kept telling me to just keep listening to it. After a bunch of listens its grown into one of my top 10 songs of all time.

I remember the first time I heard this as a teenager when it was released. I am 64 now and am getting a real thrill watching you guys also hearing this piece of classical prog rock for the very first time.

That part in the middle where it's just Wakeman and Anderson is just sublime. Still brings a tear to my eye even after hearing it for years and years. "I get up, I get doooown. I get uuup, I get dooooooooowwwwnnn" and then CHURCH ORGAN!!!! Fanfreakingtastic!!!!

Some of the best PROG rock....."Starship Trooper", "Yours is No Disgrace" are YES MUSTS.

Yours is No Disgrace from Yessongs. Steve Howe’s guitar solo will blow your headphones off

This is what Mount Everest probably feels like on top . Bravo for letting it play clean through .

The first 2:53 is a re-syncing of the brain and a little clearing of the cache! 🤯

These guys are all virtuosos. Can't compare to anything really. I'd recommend 'Yours is No Disgrace' or 'And You and I'. Studio versions are great but I'd recommend either off their live triple LP, 'Yessongs'.

Yes songs are so hard to “get” from one listen. Soooo much going on.

Can they pull that off live? Oh yeah. 4 guys on instruments and 1 guy singing. That amount of density. Note for note. Effect for effect. Nuance for nuance. Any day of the week. No extra musicians, no tape, no sampling, no vocorders, no electronic help of any kind. Analog only back then. Search Close To The Edge Live on You Tube. Select the 1972 version. That's from their original Close To The Edge tour right after the album release. Astounding. Other amazing tracks as good as this? And You And I, Perpetual Change, Ritual, Gates Of Delirium, To Be Over, Parallels, Awaken...... Actually, they released 6 classic albums in 4 years - from 1971 to 1975 that are all amazing. The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, Tales Of Topographic Oceans , Relayer and Going For The One. I haven't stopped listening to all of them often for 45 years. Since high school. I've seen them 5 times. These guys are MUSICIANS and COMPOSERS. This band will be studied in music schools for centuries if we last that long. They are a truly remarkable band.

If you liked classics like this You'll like Emerson Lake and Palmer - Tarkus

"Close To The Edge" lyrics Yes Lyrics "Close To The Edge" [I The Solid Time Of Change] A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace And achieve it all with music that came quickly from afar Then taste the fruit of man recorded losing all against the hour And assessing points to nowhere, leading every single one A dewdrop can exalt us like the music of the sun And take away the plain in which we move And choose the course you're running Down at the edge, round by the corner Not right away, not right away Close to the edge, down by a river Not right away, not right away Crossed the line around the changes of the summer Reaching out to call the color of the sky Passed around a moment clothed in mornings faster than we see Getting over all the time I had to worry Leaving all the changes far from far behind We relieve the tension only to find out the master's name Down at the end, round by the corner Close to the edge, just by a river Seasons will pass you by I get up, I get down Now that it's all over and done Now that you find, now that you're whole [II Total Mass Retain] My eyes convinced, eclipsed with the younger moon attained with love It changed as almost strained amidst clear manna from above I crucified my hate and held the word within my hand There's you, the time, the logic, or the reasons we don't understand Sad courage claimed the victims standing still for all to see As armoured movers took approached to overlook the sea There since the cord, the license, or the reasons we understood will be Down at the edge, close by a river Close to the edge, round by the corner Close to the end, down by the corner Down at the edge, round by the river Sudden call shouldn't take away the startled memory All in all, the journey takes you all the way As apart from any reality that you've ever seen and known Guessing problems only to deceive the mention Passing paths that climb halfway into the void As we cross from side to side, we hear the total mass retain Down at the edge, round by the corner Close to the end, down by a river Seasons will pass you by I get up, I get down [III I Get Up, I Get Down] In her white lace, you could clearly see the lady sadly looking Saying that she'd take the blame For the crucifixion of her own domain I get up, I get down I get up, I get down Two million people barely satisfy Two hundred women watch one woman cry, too late The eyes of honesty can achieve (She would gladly say it amazement of her story) How many millions do we deceive each day? (Asking only interest could be laid upon the children of her domain) I get up, I get down I get up, I get down In charge of who is there in charge of me (She could clearly see the lady sadly looking) Do I look on blindly and say I see the way? (Saying that she'd take the blame For the crucifixion of her own domain) The truth is written all along the page (She would gladly say it amazement of her story) How old will I be before I come of age for you? (Asking only interest could be laid upon the children of her domain) I get up, I get down I get up, I get down I get up, I get down I get up, I get down I get up, I get down [IV Seasons Of Man] The time between the notes relates the color to the scenes A constant vogue of triumphs dislocate man, so it seems And space between the focus shape ascend knowledge of love As song and chance develop time, lost social temperance rules above Ah, ah Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place On the hill we viewed the silence of the valley Called to witness cycles only of the past And we reach all this with movements in between the said remark Close to the edge, down by the river Down at the end, round by the corner Seasons will pass you by Now that it's all over and done Called to the seed, right to the sun Now that you find, now that you're whole Seasons will pass you by I get up, I get down I get up, I get down I get up, I get down

1st listening not easy, I've heard this 1000 times, a masterpiece of art. Howe at his best. Anderson always perfect. Lyrics unbelievable.!!!! Greatest prog group ever.

Jarring!?!?? You should listen to Gates of Delirium” and “Sound Chaser” off of the Relayer album.

I'm 63 years old and been a YES fan since I was 18. These two youngsters just take me back 45 years to the first time I listened to YES.

I've WATCHED them play this. Yes was no joke. The progiest prog that ever progged.

I saw Y! es play Close to the Edge twice in the 70s. Did they pull this off live? Absolutely! Every note every noise, every change seamlessly. And when Rick Wakemen fired up the Moog before going into the final verse, it brought the house down.

Yes came before(ish)* Rush and were a huge influence on them. Rush inducted Yes into the RRHoF, and Geddy said, "There'd be no Rush without Yes." In addition, Chris Squire is Geddy's favorite bass player.

"Heart Of The Sunrise" is a must. With that said, "Close To The Edge" is a masterpiece on the intro alone (am I right?).

I was still in my 1st incarnation as a college student when I spent hours listening to Yes. Good choice guys. Thanks. I don't want to be a downer, or high jack your comment section, so feel free to delete this if you feel it doesn't fit. I have neighbors who are even older than I am (89, and 78) I offered to make a grocery run, or to pick up meds for them if they needed me to. If you have older neighbors, show some love and offer to help them out if you can. This pandemic is a lot more serious for them (us?) A small gesture on your part could make a huge difference in their lives.

And hats permanently off to Eddie Offord, engineer & the guy who taped all the 20 second sections of tape together! Back then, Yes composed these iconic pieces bit by bit as they recorded and then had to learn them “as a whole” in order to play them live.

If you really want to understand “Close To The Edge”, you have to understand the album that came before it (Fragile). Every member had thier “showcase” track, with tracks that they all played together on. My opinion has always been: Yes were ramping up to something on “Fragile”, then it actually happened on “Close To The Edge”. The track itself is a series of “movements”, but I don’t think it was meant to be “jarring”. I do agree that all of it was intentional, but not in a “Zappa” type of way. This track breaks you down at the beginning with chaos, then builds you back up. It was Yes proving what they were capable of, and setting a timeless benchmark that all other prog epics will be judged against. They had the chops, the arrangement and the production. But, it all started with “Fragile”. Now go check out “Supper’s Ready” by Genesis.

This is one of the best songs to listen to as a totally straight person, to understand what an acid trip is like, especially if you are a musician. Ecstatic, shot with universal cosmic energy, totally chaotic on the surface and, at the same time a complete, gorgeously organized masterpiece. And yes, they did it really really well live.

THEY SUCK YOU UNTO THE VORTEX QUICKLY. Transitioning seamlessly yet abruptly. YES were unpredictable and so fluid. The is glorious music at its highest level. This is pure supreme art!

Can you imagine being in high school in the 70s, you can't imagine that much testosterone and all this amazing music.

Dropping a BOMB on a Friday! Good choice guys 😁👍🏼 check out Heart of the Sunrise next ✊🏼

This composition regularly reduces me to tears. It sometimes makes me feel like warm spring day lying in the grass next to a crystal clear lazy river, then a you hear rumbling and chaos. Its a flash flood, hits like a tsunami, it brings down house sized boulders and huge pieces of glacier tossing giant redwoods in the torrent. You get swept up by it totally at the mercy of the torrent. You find yourself surfacing wondering how you made it and clamber onto a floating tree and sweep further downstream but somehow safe. The sun comes out and you feel part of the flow finally the journey ends in a soft delta you make it to the bank and try to take in just what happened. Yes were and are the be all and end all of prog rock, musicianship, composition recording engineering its on another level. Glad you guys got the trip.

"Awaken" on Going for the One is 15:38 of a beautiful and majestic song. The lyrics and the players both shine.

Starship Trooper is great (and much easier to listen to). Also check out Yours is No Disgrace and Heart of the Sunrise

Everybody in Yes writes everything, you've got a quintet of disciplined, highly skilled, ultra-creative musicians who each compose their own contributions to each piece. I've been a major Yes fan since the early 1970s and seen them live at least 7 or 8 times, and been totally awed and impressed each time. Welcome to Yes.

You should definitely check out "Heart of the Sunrise" by these guys.

These guys had all the chops of conservatory trained musicians. Example: during the verse sections, the rhythm section is playing in 12/8 time, keyboards and guitar in 3/4 time.

Saw Yes in the 1998 in Tampa. They opened with the entire Close to the Edge album. They played it flawlessly. Close to the Edge became the opening song to my long runs while training for half marathons. It has the ability to take you out of body.

One of the best progressive rock bands. A musical experience indeed.

It's a lot to take in in the first listen. By the time you've heard this song 5 times, you'll be madly in love with it.

Wait until they hear "Supper's Ready" by Genesis.

The bass is classic Chris Squire

"Awaken" will make you cry

I love to watch you young men listen to a piece that I've been listening to for more than 40 years. All of the members of this group are virtuosos of their instrument. That's what makes this music great. Not just songs... Compositions! Music to listen to and think about. Excellent critique... Thank you. And you're both cute! I love your comments and appreciation of great music. Long live prog rock....

Teenage nerd tripping music. Love it. This kinda stuff was a such a big part of my life in High School. Brings back memories of long summer days swimming at the old rock quarry high on strawberry mescaline or shrooms. Yes, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson.

Starship Tooper! The ending of that song is so powerful.

Probably the most musically talented band ever. Bands like Rush and Dream Theater would not be what they are now without the inspiration of YES.

Heart of the Sunrise should be next.

You need to listen to "Awaken". It is a spiritual journey.

It"s a MASTERPIECE !! Listen again...and again... then you'll realize !

Heart Of The Sunrise!!! Starship Trooper!!! Yours Is No Disgrace!!! South Side Of The Sky Wondrous Stories Leave It

Yes at their peak Here's a challenge, review: "Blue Rondo à la Turk" from the Dave Brubeck Quartet 1959 album "Time Out" Stay healthy guys!

Jamal aka Jamel just claimed this song as his #1 song ever. Watching this while waiting for his reaction to post .

I always thought of the first section of this song as a kind of conceptual palate cleanser. It's meant to erase any preconceived ideas about what's coming next.

Re your reaction to Close to the Edge: "According to psychologists, two things have to happen to trigger an awe reaction. First, you have to perceive something is vast -- either in its physical size (perceptual awe) or in its scope (conceptual awe). Then, the vast thing has to challenge your current understanding of the world. That is, it must require some mental processing." -- Galadriel Watson in "Awe-Strick" in Discover Magazine, June 2020

Yes, “Yours is no Disgrace”

This is my favorite Yes song and more then 45 years after I bought it, I still hear new sounds when I listen to it. It does take commitment to listen to it, but the enjoyment is so worth it. The more you listen the more you'll appreciate it. If you do another Yes song, consider 'I've Seen All Good People' or 'Yours Is No Disgrace'. Thanks for doing what is not an easy first listen.

The bass. Met Chris early in 80s and asked about his bass. I said, "It should be called a Treble !" He laughed... and since met them many times. R.I.P. Chris Squire. ;-)

Your guys' faces during the prelude...priceless! Looking for a hook, a pattern, a rhythm, a lyric, a key...anything. Nothing until 4:45. Not my fave YES song but a song you seek to find meaning to while drunk/high...but there is nothing but notes, weird lyrics, and phenomenal musicianship.

I saw them live “In the round” in Fall Of 1978 and again in the round in Summer Of 1979 in Philadelphia... Was 15 and 16 years old respectively... The stage was a white rotating disc in the middle of the arena... Chris Squire later spoke extremely highly of those Philadelphia shows... And You And I was amazing... Good times... When we had to sleep out doing whippets and standing in line to get tickets... No Stub Hub... Back then scalping was illegal and it was mostly kids and young adults...

Jon Anderson: vocals,Steve Howe: guitars,Bill Bruford: Drums, Chris Squire: Bass, Rick Wakeman: Keyboards

The single version of Roundabout was on the jukebox at my boarding school’s Stu-Bop in the ‘70s. It was so different from everything else on there, in the best way possible. I’ve a huge fan of their music ever since, and reaction videos have reignited the love.

In the beginning, there were four prog giants, King Crimson, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Yes. You have just listened to Yes' masterpiece. A song I'm hoping one or both of you will elevate to S Tier after more listenings. It's widely regarded by most rock lovers as one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Certainly one of the greatest prog rock songs of all time. You WILL need to touch on Genesis and ELP somewhere down the line. "Tarkus" by ELP and "Supper's Ready" from Genesis would be the obvious choices as far as epic goes, although both bands have many "shorter" songs (ten minutes or less) to sink your teeth into, also. After a run of songs that I'm not much of a fan of, you guys came through for me this time, that's fer sher. This is one of my favorite songs and albums. So thankee.

'Perpetual Change' - YES.

Seen YES over 200 times. CLOSE TO THE EDGE is a masterpiece. Played so many times live, it gets better every time. These are PHENOMENAL musicians. I've been a fan for over 50 years. THE best band on this planet!

personally i'd love to hear you work through the rest of that album. both Siberian Khatru and And You And I are wonderful. Starship Trooper works, though come dudes, speak to me of summer.

“Heart of the Sunrise” LIVE from Yessongs Live album is so worth giving a listen. Even the song you just listened to is much better live!!!

I have a VERY hard time picking the best Yes song...but, frankly, this is it !!

Jon Anderson's 75 or 76 now and his voice is still all there superb i love the man.

In light of your reaction, and some of the comments, I feel it necessary to share this. Hope it helps. “"Close to the Edge" is symphonic not in instrumentation but in overall structure. Throughout four breathtaking movements, Yes introduce and recapitulate melodic themes, change tempos and keys, and approach their instruments (as they usually do) with a studiousness largely reserved for an orchestral setting. But this piece is never stuffy. In fact, it's the most nakedly emotional song in their catalog. Anderson’s vocal in the "I Get Up, I Get Down" section - building from hoarse low notes to a full-throated melismatic peak - taps into a primal spirituality amplified by the wheeze of Wakeman’s church organ... It’s Prog Perfection” -- Ryan Reed “It is the centerpiece of the greatest album of all time, prog or otherwise. It is one of the best examples of rock musicians adopting symphonic ideals and really making it work naturally. It is incredibly emotional, and is really a timeless work of art that can stand on its own.” -- Matt Barnhill

Andy & Alex - you need to checkout YES “Gates of Delirium “off the Relayer album

Must listen to “Yes Songs’ Triple Album. Make an evening of it. Spent many nights laying on the floor, listening to this on my big ass stereo in the 70’s.

Wow! Wasn't expecting you to get to this so soon! Probably my favorite song ever. You can't possibly appreciate it completely on first listen so give it a few more shots. Personally, I think it's best by yourself or with one other appreciative person, hit a little bourbon or a little weed, and kick back. This was written by Jon Anderson and Steve Howe and started out as several different songs that they wove together. Anderson is said to have gotten his initial inspiration from reading Lord of the Rings and listening to the classical composer Jean Sibelius, especially Symphony #7. I always felt the chaotic intro fit with the title and the artwork in that it's some fractured other-world and this was a journey taking you dangerously Close to the Edge only to pull back in time to discover the beauty of this world. Jon and Steve apparently liked the idea of opening with an improvisational jam having been influenced on a previous tour opening for the Mahavishvnu Orchestra (with John McLaughlin), and amazing jazz-rock fusion band. The I Get Up, I Get Down middle section was written by Howe and to me it always feels like being in an enormous cavern because of the ethereal music combined with the dripping water. Both Steve's and Rick's work on this album is just amazing. I think the Hammond B3 organ solo is my favorite bit by Rick Wakeman and I'm a huge fan of his. Also, this was actually very popular at the time and was their biggest commercial success hitting #3 on the charts in the US and #4 in the UK. Pretty sure Chris was playing his Rickenbacker 4001 fretted bass here, he was just a big guy with strong hands and an exceptional player and made all those slides sound smooth. As for his tone, the main processing was multiple serial compressors (I think I read he had 3 in a row). I've read that he and their engineer/producer Eddie Offord had worked on getting the sound Chris wanted for a very long time when they first started out. The tone comes mostly from the Ric pickups which have a lot of treble (which he enhanced by cranking the treble tone up) and then they just compress the hell out of it. Also, he cranked up the input to get some distortion from the tube amp. I think he used Ampeg amps, but don't quote me on that. So next, I would stick with this album, but a very different song: "And You and I". Very cool song, much lighter and a radio edit got a lot of airplay and charted. Thanks for doing this amazing song. Listen again and you'll keep hearing more of what's going on and appreciate it more with each listen. Stay safe, stay smart, stay healthy Peace from 'sheltering-in-place SF!

Without Chris Squire on bass, and then backing vocals, there is no Yes. RIP Chris!