Hey man! Great to see a video about one of my favourite albums, even if it is quite critical, but of course I'm used to it being critisised 😄 High the Memory is my favourite on the album, I find it particularly beautiful. But The Ancient is actually my second favourite! I love the 'weird' parts, some of Alan White's best contributions to the band for me, but yeah Steve Howe's acoustic parts are the best. The lyrics are never a problem for me because they sound lovely and that's the point I think. Meaning is overrated? 😁

It’s amazing. It’s perfect. It’s my favorite album ever!!! I just subscribed…

I had Tales on cassette. It was literally impenetrable. The tape would continually jam up. But the availability of the songs on KZfaq has made a big difference. Multiple times now I have said to myself 'hey, The Ancient is really good'. And the drum solo and weird bits on Ritual are also more than just good. But then I like Release Release, and The Operation by Morrissey. BTW, can you do a review of Southpaw Grammer.

Don't you dare tell me Trout Mask Replica isn't a perfect double album front to back 😤 jk though, great video and I largely agree with your assessment of Tales! I was a fan back in the day because I enjoyed the sheer ambition of it, but nowadays I do feel like it's pretty bloated and perhaps more importantly, the songwriting and the energy of the previous Yes records just isn't present here for the most part.

I was in junior high school when this came out. I liked side one but like many people I didn't really connect with most of the rest of it. Although Tales may be the most controversial Yes album today I would argue that in the mid to late seventies Relayer (at least until Tormato) was the most polarizing. For myself Relayer became my favorite Yes album the first time I heard it and still is. Some people couldn't stand it and still don't. Over the years Relayer has risen in stature among Yes fans and it's many people's favorite. Six or eight years ago (once we had albums on KZfaq) I started playing Tales in the background while doing other stuff. Now side 2 and side 3 are my favorites. I think of Tales as Yes's jam band album. Side three is like a long improvisational piece and I can hear elements that are pointing the way towards Relayer. Angular and angry. Some of my favorite Yes moments are on side 3, especially the keyboards. There are several Tales edits on KZfaq. 50 minutes or so. I listened to one once and thought it was pretty decent although I would have done it quite differently.

Hi bro, I respect your opinion as everyone is entitled to what they have to say, but you don't understand this album at all. It is is probably a function of your age as you are quite young. If you had ever seen Yes perform this album live, as I did on several occasions, it might have changed your life (as it did mine) as it was akin to a religious experience... absolutely magical! Cheers

I can listen to this in its entirety, well that's what you did with vynal, it was prog rock... Close to the Edge was at that time epic, but I think this was the melting pot that changed them into, for a while very special. Sadly punk and pop killed prog rock, but to me those 70's years across all those bands were just the modern equivalent of classic music. It is timeless... Thanks for the review, I look forward to more Yes from you...

ey, muy buen video, me encantó!

this in my favourite yes album a real masterpiece

Tales already got released as separate tracks when Yes remixed it. Great review!

MY GOAT.

I think it's very good but not quite on the same level as close to the edge, Fragile or Relayer. I would tie it with GFTO.

TALES is AMAZING, BRILLIANT & PERFECTION. The only problem is the listener who can't fully comprehend it! There is no waste accept from the impatience and false expectation of those who don't "get it". Some people want a 'Rock' leaning YES album but TALES goes much further, deeper & beyond which some people in order to justify their lack of attention span label it with the 'indulgence" or "padding/filler" stamp which is total BS. There is not one fantastic path TALES takes that is not deeply moving. Each side is a masterpiece and a magical journey through the soul. This Epic's story unfolds perfectly, beginning with the slow building chant that burst into the gorgeous opening theme. As Existence is revealed lyrically & sonically you are taken through the journey of life, spirituality into your childlike "memories of the past" then deeper into the mysterious and mystical DNA of our ancestral past which all leads us to gratitude expressed through "the rituals" we perform or "play" to celebrate all we are, have been and once were. That is the context "within" that forms the structure of the music and you "can feel it" in the writing & arrangements vividly. I have always loved TALES from day one and Rick and anyone else who can't appreciate it's brilliance are full of poo. I was blessed to see the entire show Live while "Experienced"! LOL and tears rained down from me the entire show. "I must have waited all my life for this moment...moment...moment..moment

This is the one album I listened to that put me off prog in the first place, my uncle is a big fan of Yes and he played this in the car on the way to the Lake District. Hearing parts of it now I can definitely see the good elements, however I still don't think it's ever one I'd listen to fully again. On the conversation of double albums however, I'd have to disagree, Quadrophenia and London Calling both definitely earn their double album status, personally I never skip a track on either of them.

I will go a step further and say it is not only good, but a great album. Not perfect, no. It is not as consistently great as the Close to the Edge album. Sides one and four have only short moments that drag on a bit. Side two has a longer stretch that does this. But that leaves the rest of these three sides, some forty minutes of music, right up there near their very best work. Close to the Edge and The Gates of Delirium are epic length full-side tracks that are consistently good throughout the 18 to 20 minutes. That may not be what we have here with Tales, but there is much more about this album that is good rather than that which is not. Most fans agree that side three is the weakest side. I listen to sides one, two, and four as much as any music I own. With regard to Steve Howe: He is brilliant. Period.

I think its fair to say that Howe disipline style of guitar is not that dissimiler than that of Robert fripp I luv the Drum solo but eliminate side 3 completly!Wakeman hates the album!

I think it depends on how you view religion in your life. People looking for the absolute truth will always be disappointed. People looking for nuggets of insights and wisdom or just interesting anecdotes will find them here. Because so much rock music is overly edited and produced it is refreshing to have an album of songs that take their time and flow freely. No record company would allow an album like this to be released today. A fine album and a testament to the times it was recorded. "Crap guitar playing"? Screw you pal.

Dude, don't speak for Rick Wakeman. His opinions are coming from a totally different place. He is the insider, as you are an outsider. You can only listen to this work and critique it as such. He on the other hand was part of making this work. So his opinions are based on many factors. But you do, in general have a good take away on the good, the bad and the ugly qualities herein.

It is the best music ever made! By the way, the lyrics are also the best and great and music and lyrics are as one. Your are too young to understand it.