Bill Bruford was the drummer in this recorded version, his interaction with Squire's bass is unmatched.

Many consider Close to the Edge, the best progressive album ever recorded !

Literally, the pinnacle piece of all progressive rock music. All 5 guys operating at their absolute creative, compositional and physical peak. It's so high up that there's no close second, even in this genre of countless amazing pieces of music. A complete masterpiece. Put it in a time capsule, open in 1,000 years, play it for someone, and say "This is progressive rock."

Five musicians at the absolute top of their game, both creatively and technically. We won’t see their like again.

The best thing I can say about this piece is that when I am done listening to this- I feel like I’ve just experienced an important piece of musical history. It’s that simple. Transformative.

I was turned onto this classic ten years after it was released. I was 18 in 1981 and my friend played this in his car on my last day in high school. He said "this is going to blow your mind." Well...

I am 71 years old and have been privileged to have seen Yes 12 times, brilliant live. Also, an excellent studio band.

And this is why I can't listen to the majority of "music" coming out today. Close to the Edge, Tarkus by ELP, and Firth of Fifth by Genesis are my go-to top tier holy trinity of prog songs. Blessed release.

I'm in my early 30s and was blessed with hearing this song for the first time only a year ago. Even still, I wish I could listen to it again for the first time. This is the greatest song I've ever heard in my life.

"Yours Is No Disgrace" "Starship Trooper" "Sound Chaser" And once your brain has been completely rewired, "The Gates of Delirium" "Awaken"

Here's a few more Yes: "And You and I," "Turn of the Century," "Wondrous Stories," /"Heart of the Sunrise," "Starship Trooper," etc. Been a fan for 40 plus years and been to dozens of their concerts. And don't forget "Awaken.,"

CTTE is the very top shelf for Prog and has been on the top shelf for 50 years. So many look at the length of this song at just over 18:45 mins and are put off by that. They wonder how can a ban band keep a song together for that long? And how can a song go for 18:45 mins? Then when they play it they find it to be shortest 18:45 mins in their lives and are sad the journey is over. That to me speaks massively about CTTE because it is a journey through a soundscape of emotions and sound like no other. It is great to hear young musicians be in awe and wonder at magnificent sound craft on display and I am sure there is plenty of methods and techniques to be learnt from this music. The look on your face when Wakeman's pipe organ solo started said it all. We had that look too 50 years ago. So continue your Yes journey through their great 1970's epics you will gain a new insight into music and how it can touch your soul.

50 years ago, I bought this album. My parents never forgave me. I played it over and over and over and... YES kept me sane through my last two years of high school and all through college. I saw them do this live in 1974 along with Tales from Topographic Oceans. That they could do justice to it (or Tales...) live, is a testament to the genius of Eddie Offord, their engineer/producer. He toured with them. They used a four channel sound system live... Rick Wakeman "sent birds flying" around the coliseum where I saw them! These guys were seriously OUT THERE and way ahead of their time. Welcome to the rabbit hole.

I'm not saying that Close to the Edge is the greatest piece of prog music of all time but it's certainly in the top one. Possibly rivalled by Gates of Delirium, which would be a good choice for your next Yes reaction. Similar length and another epic but a different mood and sound.

I love the look on your face that says you're wondering when the next transition is going to drop.

Welcome to the top of the Summit .

I saw them in New York in the mid-70's and they were ASTONISHING! I STILL remember it!

This composition is so magnificent in its presentation, even though it was recorded 50 yrs ago, first time listeners (to the studio version) *100 yrs from now* will have the same head-shaking reaction. YES created timeless music, so sophisticated that it will be forever appreciated...

Thank you for letting relive my youth of 50yrs ago. You made all the right face expressions at the appropriate places, put a warm feeling in my soul.Keep the Yes journey alive.

Age 16, September, 1972, the Armory in St Paul MN. I was familiar with Roundabout, America and had heard Yours is No Disgrace, but knew absolutely nothing about YES. That night in September, 1972, I was at the front of the stage, literally touching it and pounding on it in applause. Yes was touring to support CTTE, and played all the material from the Yes album Fragile and CTTE. There was 8 of us who had driven 5 hours to see YES and it was a life changing experience for each of us. Alan White was the drummer, but I didn't know Bruford was the original and went home believing I saw the greatest drummer I'd ever seen. Imagine my shock and denial when Yessongs was released and I discovered for the first time it wasn't Bill Bruford. It only took me 50 years to reconcile my initial awe live, and accepting I was blown away by Alan's drumming, but Bruford set the highest standard. Nice review, fewer words probably is the universal reaction

Ah yes, one of my 5 favourites songs of all time

I think the song Gates of Delirium is an equal of Close to the Edge... by the way, there are some great, almost perfect, live version of Close to the Edge !

Here are a few prog epics that are some of prog royalty King Crimson-The Court of the Crimson King Pink Floyd -Echoes Genesis-Suppers Ready ELP (Emerson Lake and Palmer)-Tarkus Cygnus X-1 Book II- Hemispheres Just to name a few of the colossals

I had the privilege to meet Jon Anderdon, who signed by copy of Close to the Edge. He said that this Album and Relayer, were when they were at their tightest as a group. I totally agreed, my two favorite albums.

usually folks can't make it through the intro and just blow it off as nonsense...i love your reaction to each transition.

"Forest Gump would love this". That's a great way to describe it. I have known this music since the 70's and somehow it still hits me. 👍

MANY hours in the basement with the Demon Weed and YES as a teen in the 70s. This was definitely a go-to, and it always got the appropriate stoner reaction, "Whoa." The perfect journey.

This is my first video from you and it is an instant subscription. I admire your production, audio levels and commentary. Love hearing your thoughts and opinions. I discovered YES through the 90125 album when it came out in the early 80's and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" but I loved the whole album. A friend asked me if I'd ever heard "Roundabout" and that started me going back through their past albums. YES is one of those unforgettable bands. Glad I saw this, now I can go back through your catalogue. Thanks for sharing your musical odyssey with all of us my Brother.

Awaken is on par with the epic-ness of CTTE. Get ready to leave your body as you emerge into another realm.

I’ve seen Yes in concert twice, a number of years between the shows. Other than age and a few tweaks of songs they were great both times. During the second show they played an acoustic version of Roundabout.

Side 2 with And You & I & Siberian Khatru is also just as mind-blowing which made this LP one of, if not, the greatest album of ALL TIME. A MUST LISTEN. This was the original Drummer, Bill Bruford's last album with YES in the 70s. His skill & style was unique, distinct, clever, interactive and equal to the other amazing musicians. Stay with more 70's YES and you will experience the awe & the majesty that are these unequalled artists!

Yes was the Mt. Everest of prog rock and this particular musical piece was their masterwork. Collectively the band was the rarest bunch of extraordinary musicians that brought on a huge evolutionary leap. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson defined genius as anyone/and or band that brings a definite change from what came before. That definition easily qualifies Yes from their 3rd album and beyond. Even Jon Anderson their vocalist sang very much like another instrument which put him in a class of his own. As fate would have it too , Jon's voice was perfectly matched to bassist Chris Squire. Together they were a beautiful harmony blend.

Man, I know some YES fans like their live videos, but I *ALWAYS* tell newbies to listen to the studio albums first before watching the live vids for a few reasons: 1) YES were masters of *_complexity._* They packed so much into their masterpieces that you really do need to listen to them more than once to grasp what they put together. It requires _focus_ to try to take in all the different sonic components & a live vid distracts you from that purpose on a 1st listen. 2) Perhaps their single greatest virtue as a Progressive Rock band was the amount of time they put in the studio, perfecting the mix, so that all that complexity fit together precisely. Their studio productions need to be heard to appreciate that special quality of their music 3) Chris Squire. Chris Squire's bass absolutely dominated YES' studio creations in a way that I and many fans find exhilarating. The rest of his band mates saw the wisdom of building their sound around his Industrial-Melodic inspirations. NONE of the live versions of their masterpieces reproduce the bass' contribution adequately, IMO 4) Re: *Close To The Edge* in particular, the studio features Bill Bruford on drums, but the live vids are Alan White. Not taking anything away from Alan's skills, but Bruford & Squire formed the best "Rhythm Section" in Progressive Rock ever & it's especially noticeable on such masterpieces as CTTE, Starship Trooper, Roundabout, Yours Is No Disgrace. You know, when I saw that you were reviewing the live version of CTTE, I didn't even watch it, because I knew what you were NOT listening to, that you were watching a presentation that lacked the true magnificence of what CTTE really is. So glad you decided to listen to The Real Thing... :)

I notice the extreme joy in hearing Chris Squire's Rickenbacker 4001 growling through the music. It reminded me of Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago at my niece's house. She had Hip-Hop playing on her system. That's when I heard the main thing that irritates me about some of that music. There was a low frequency sin wave overwhelming the whole song, coming in with each beat. I recognized it as the type of feedback that comes in on drum microphones. I realized that I paid over $1500 for gadgets to make sure my live PA system never did that (three dbx Quad Noise Gates). Contrary to the Hip-Hop sound, the bass guitar has a sound that is rich in harmonics, and quite pleasant to hear. It adds to the music, rather than being an enforced beat.

Man, that ‘funky bassline’ part is one of the most fantastic bass-drum rythm section I know of. Best of all, nowhere on this whole album is there any overplaying sadly too present in so many Prog Rock music. Close to the Edge is the absolute epitome of Prog Rock ever devised by a group of five virtuoso musicians at the very peak of their creative efforts.

I saw an interview with Sammy Davis Jr. And one of his favorite pastimes was listening to Yes through headphones! He could enjoy for hours and it was in the time of Close to the Edge and Fragile

This is the ultimate Progressive rock album that others tried to reach this level. Even metal bands to come took much of what YES laid down and progressed from there!👍🏻☮️☮️

Pretty wild ride, eh?

I was around 12 -1974, when this hit me like a revelation.... Amazing to witness the power of Yes music remaining mindblowing 50 years later for a younger generation..

The bass is killing it - Chris Squire at his best. And in that third part, it seems that Johann Sebastian Bach has entered the stage.

Watching you react to this song, I thought "He really gets this. I'll bet he's a musician" and at the way you moved to it, "he's a singer". AND YOU ARE!!! Well, ME TOO!!! Your next assignment: "And You And I", as, among other things, a master class in vocal perfection. Jon Anderson is unequalled- and he's still gigging! Voice still sounds like this, too!

The church organ you heard was recorded in a real English cathedral. The other side consists of two more songs. "And You And I" & "Siberian Khatru", which I'm sure you will love as well. Every track on the album is epic. "Siberian Khatru" is my top favorite Yes tune.

I am SO glad you loved it! I am a Yes fan, played it all the time, but my mom couldn't stand them, so when she wanted to start something she would say 'Close to the Edge sounds like the sound track to a low budget horror movie' and yep, it was on...

Yes is a different animal (especially in the early to mid 70s). I think because of the internet and especially youtube more and more people (especially younger people) are discovering them. Many people are bored with the same old same old and Yes is a breath of fresh air. Not many bands are making music like this these days and becoming really successful at it like Yes was (unfortunately those days are long gone).

This music is magi! It opens up long dormant and repressed synoptic pathways in the human mind, when listened to..It' imbeds itself in your subconscious...I spent nearly a half century in love with this album...It needs to be listened to over and over while on a long drive...Or on late at night early morning...That's when the magic occurs... Thanks for the reaction!

I have been waiting a year for you to react to YES!!!! I was watching you react to Steely Dan who are one of my all-time favorite Bands......and I wasn't sure of your reaction to YES!!!! But I knew you are an excellent musician and you would Love YES...even though the music is not your normal genre you grew up listening.....I knew you would like the message and musicianship of the legendary band that influenced Rock n' Roll music and further bands like Tool.....and Alice In Chains....and Soundgarden......I am excited!!! Here's some info about the band. Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by lead singer and frontman Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has undergone numerous line-up changes throughout their history; 19 musicians have been full-time members......and this song is one of my favorites. A Masterpiece!!!!

After fifty years with this. and I still get goosebumps. Something new on every listen. I know a guy who only wants to hear live because a recording is set. I disagree. I can hear this anew. with my seasoned ears. Same goes for early Genesis.

Now you are starting to understand when asked about Most of the last couple of decades of music we just smile and bite our tongues. Born in 59. Yes an old fart! Will current music have the same longevity? Great reaction!👍

Released 51 years ago. I still listen to it at least once a week.

Bars* surrounded by organized chaos Organized chaos surrounded by Bars* 🤘

I've seen Yes twice. 1979, 2017. I have a long musical background going back to 1966. I became consumed by the whole vibe of this song in 1975. It led my to a passion for progressive rock. Yes is currently on the 50th anniversary tour of Close to the Edge. Many "Yes purists" don't acknowledge much of their recording output beyond the 1970's. That's ridiculous to me. A band is sometimes more than a sum of it's band members, it's own Spirit. The musicians become a part of the Spiritual Family. If you want to appreciate Yes in this viewpoint and do a deep dive, I wish you would. Their path starts in 1968 and continues to this day. They just released a new album this year as well. Thanks and good luck.

Absolutely outstanding, nothing like it! Thanks for doing this!

I bought this when it came out, LOVED side 2, didn't care for title track but it has grown on me over the years. As others have noted Yes was at their best with Bill Bruford.

Next...the rest of the album.

Chronologically, if you want to take in the full measure of all of YES' greatest creations (if you don't want to start with the 1st two albums), you should at least take in *Yours Is No Disgrace* from The Yes Album and then *South Side Of The Sky* from the Fragile album, then check out the other two amazing compositions from the Close To The Edge Album: *And You And I* and *Siberian Khatru.* Before preceding on to *Tales From Topographic Oceans* & subsequent albums, I'll recommend you 1st listen to the cover version YES did of Paul Simon's *America,* which is really special. It was actually a jam they'd perform in concerts around The Yes Album time and then finally recorded around the Fragile album time (tho it never was on any of their regular studio albums, only a later compilation). Enjoy!

GREAT VIDEO! Close to the Edge, Fragile, Relayer, Going for the One ... these guys were amazing!!!! Just think we were listening to this in the '70's when we were teenagers.

What’s the next level above epic? It’s masterpiece. Wanna know how deep the rabbit hole gets? You GOT to listen to UK/Uk. Another masterpiece from beginning to end! Enjoyed your analysis. Looking forward to hearing reaction to UK/UK!

That's the best ever line up of Yes right there giving you 18 minutes of awesome and then you're like, it's over already?

First time visitor...BROTHER...Welcome to the Yes universe...you got it...I highly recommend that you dive deeper into the rabbit hole...More will be revealed. Best wishes to you and yours. PAB

Liked and subscribed, my suggestion to you would be Gates of Delirium from the YesShows album. It’s a live version of one of their most epic songs. They were never more intense before or after.

I would strongly suggest you try; "Gates of Delirium" next many different sounds to figure out in that one and then "Awaken" that will take your sprit to a wonderous place. Yes were and are the only ones who could do that with music and sound.

YES this is the version the original recording, and how to listen to it. You really should listen to the other 2 legendary tunes on this monumental album, Siberian Khatru, and my all Atime YES favorite tune. And You And I!👍🏻❤️🎹🎸🎤🥁

Probably my favorite track from YES of all time. I could write a long as comment about this song, but I'll leave it as it is. Chris was a huge influence on my bass playing. RIP Chris.

Hey! New viewer here! I’ve caught a few of your Yes reactions(my Fav Band!) and you certainly dove in deep! CTTE, Awaken, Gates!!! All TRULY EPIC Songs! So glad you Get it! Many would not have handled Gates!!💕 As many have said…either you get it and can absorb all that’s going on in Yes-it Is an Experience! Or you can’t 🤷‍♀️ You may know that Yes had changed members quite a bit throughout its history. All members of Yes have contributed to an amazing Library -that stays with you! The more you listen to them -the more you’ll hear-the more you’ll Love them! From their 1st and 2nd albums and the lineup then- is quite different from these epics and their prowess shown in albums like Going For The One, CTTE, Gates of Delirium, Tales of Topographic Oceans, etc. You won’t be sorry if you start from the beginning of their career- up through the 80’s & on. You must Def hear: Roundabout Yours is No Disgrace Starship Trooper And you and I Wondrous Stories Too many to name!❤️❤️❤️ Go ahead -take the journey!!

Can't wait til you get to the other two tracks on the album, And You And I & Siberian Khatru. Also, The South Side of the Sky off their Fragile album 🔥🔥🔥

Yes to more YES please! I love your reactions and insightful analysis. DW

Multiple listens required. It's so hard to concentrate on any one instrument or vocals. There are so many great things going on all at once.

Great reaction to the best band I have ever heard. I listen to this song a couple of times every week. There is none better. You will love this band as I can see you are very educated when it comes to music. Start with the Yes album and I promise you it will be a great experience. Keep up the great reactions! Also should try ELP and Jethro Tull.

This aint a song. Its a journey that takes you through all kinds of emotions. And ends with me wanting MORE!

The term 'progressive rock' makes my mind disturbed and my stomach revolt. This is symphonic music; period. This music and these cats achieved their own lofty perch with regards to gifts to us all. Astonishingly awesome and sublime. Thank you.

Buckle up, then keep you hands and feet inside because you're gonna take a ride.

Amazing the music when you put 5 master musicians together.

I was fortunate to see Yes in the Round (their late 70's tour name) at the Forum in Los Angeles. It was the original line-up and it was so amazing. I was a kid, but appreciated every note! I don't like when the get classified as Prog Rock. Their music was just epic, great, will never be duplicated.

This is why you ALWAYS start with the studio version first. The live version of any given song MIGHT be as good or better then the studio version (like Peter Frampton and Frampton Comes Alive! Lines On My Face is just beautiful), but why take chances? Do the studio first, then see what they can do on stage. If you ever decide to do Hocus Pocus by Focus then I URGE you to do the studio version. Too many reactors have done the live version which should only be watched on Halloween night! Otherwise, your mind won't be able to process it properly! Have a great day!

Definitely play more YES. Some suggestions: "Awaken", "The Gates of Delirium", "Turn of the Century", "That, That Is", "The Revealing Science of God" (live version from The Keys to Ascension album)

Also, gotta check out Awaken, it’s a game changer!

Yes you should do a close look at Yes like you did with Steely Dan , you will not regret it .

High School - The music was the BEST in those times. Timeless. Such skillful playing.

I was just a novice rock lover in `68 when my older hippy brother turned me onto the band, then he brought this home and BOOM....Bill Bruford just killed it with his jazz fusion style...you know what I did, it was find a jazz drummer to learn from...Jon`s lyrics are also special, he has this knack of looking out to the universe with eyes wide open and imagining the thrill of discovering the unknown, IMHO...There live jams are epic with a stage presence unmatched, check'm out Laddie

The pinnacle of the 1970's prog rock genre, this album defines the truly transformative power of music. Sheer brilliance and inspiration.

I heard this song when it first came out, so here's my take on the lyrical/musical message of the song: Anderson said the lyrics were inspired by Hermann Hesse's 1922 novel "Siddhartha", which charts a journey of self-discovery, so... It opens with the peaceful sounds of nature, followed by the chaos of individual life in human society, the search for spiritual enlightenment, the notion that it cannot be found in human society ("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"), and ending with the sounds of nature one again (the Buddhist idea of enlightenment as being one with nature). And, remarkably, this song was released in 1972 - 50 years after the novel, which is now 50 years ago.

The recording technology of 1972 was very primitive and only the famous producer Eddie Offord managed to make this album sound so good.

My favorite band!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

The "Yessongs" fan in me can't help it again ;-) I love the sound quality of the studio recording, but in terms of arrangement, I find the live version on the "Yessongs" album simply better. Especially in the final part (after the "sphere sounds") they have "screwed" on so many details that I always miss when I hear the studio version. This also makes the "catharsis" at the end seem much better ;-)

The best band, musicians, album ever!!!!

I totally agree with your strategy of following YES through time because they, like the other giants from the ALBUM era, were meant to be followed on a journey. The record album was approached as a whole experience..the song order and the through- line of the voyage was as important as the strength of each piece. Same with Pink Floyd, Genesis, and King Crimson...if you were diving in, it was EVERY album in order, every song in order. You didn't listen to Umagumma and then Another Brick in the Wall...You didn't listen to Rush 2112 and then Need Some Love. But so many people jump on 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' and then 'I've Seen All Good People' For YES, their most shocking shifts were from Tormato into Drama into 90125, but the life-line was there..

The song Awaken is right up there with close to the edge

Well done for getting through that journey. You are my spiritual Brother.

You have been set up for the woo woo my brother....LOL

I saw them live at Madison Square Garden in 1978, fantastic show, just wish I could remember the night a little better.

I wonder how many times I've heard this album in my life? A couple of thousand? It STILL takes me on a journey! I love how it starts with the nature sounds. You're sitting in the woods by a stream... suddenly you're whisked off to another dimension, you have a wild journey... then you're dropped down next to the stream again, wondering if it ever really happened.

This is the greatest piece of music by YES EVER maybe best piece of music of all time imho

This is 3rd Yes song I watched you react to (all tonight) and I subscribed. You caught the Yes bug. Loved how you heard first parts and experienced chaos and madness, and then , AHHHHHH!!!. lol If you know Yes, you understand. As an aside, I bet you'd love Jethro Tull and especially Thick As A Brick. But anyway, and believe me, in the 70s getting stoned and laying around with friends and just being taken far away by this sound. This band you just have to let the music sweep over you, which you did lol. If I could critique one thing, you need to turn your mic up a bit to hear your comments. The music is at a good level but your mic needs to be turned up a bit.

YES!

Great reaction, and I'm glad you appreciated the song so much! I loved seeing the look of surprise on your face at key transitions in the song.

Divine music. Thank you for this, great reaction.

As a musician of 50 years, This song is the greatest 18:45 in (prog) rock history. Yeah, that's right. I typed it.

I know without viewing that you mind is Blown from 0:01when you hear the river and birds!✌️🤟🎶🌍💚

thx you. these LIVE ppl lol. Grateful Dead, LIVE of course, but first time listeners to Zep, Floyd, and other foundational music. No, studio is where it's at unless you are at the concert.

I love how you call them “pieces” because that’s exactly what they are..classical pieces