Almost A Year of Collecting
Around a year ago, I decided it’s time to start collecting some Yes vinyls. I already owned some Yes CDs from my teenage years (as seen in pictures).
I always had an admiration for Yes. It started with Fragile, and then one day I stumbled upon Relayer and it blew my mind. I had never heard anything like it before. Liking Relayer, I picked up The Yes Album and Close to the Edge (all the CDs you see). Sadly at the time I never really listened to CTTE as much as the other 3.
Last year in Feb/March, my band had a show coming up and on my way to rehearsal, my buddy (the drummer) was walking to the rehearsal space. I picked him up and I heard some crazy noises coming from his earbuds, and he told me he was listening to CTTE.
I work in HVAC as an apprentice, and as it was early spring, I had days just power washing coils, I threw in my earbuds and started listening to CTTE. I couldn’t believe I slept on it for so long. I was already a big fan of The Yes Album, Fragile and Relayer.
I needed more, so I came here and saw what people were talking about. I saw a lot of talk about Tales From Topographic Oceans. I thought, hey why not. Little did I know this would be my favourite album. I listened to it religiously. I couldn’t get enough of it. It was exactly what I wanted to hear.
Where this all ties in, is after hearing TFTO, I made it an objective to start finding everything on vinyl, and it became more than just that. Finding things I didn’t know I would appreciate so much.
Before going into this, I’d like to say, I have two copies of The Yes Album, as one was my dad’s (original pressing), and the other the Steven Wilson remix I picked up. I also have two TFTO (one original pressing i found and a remaster) as well as the high fidelity Relayer and an original. Lastly two copies of Drama (one is my dad’s original pressing and the other being an unknowing purchase of mine which i plan to give to my friend, the drummer).
I’d also like to mention I had a friend who told me that only Fragile and Yes Album are good. When I picked up Relayer he said that it was good. He told me to avoid Drama and always told me it was a horrible album and also made fun of 90125. That kind of discouraged me from picking up more Yes and indulging more in my teenage years.
So without further ado, I’d like to give my two cents about everything.
Yes: Enjoyable album. Haven’t given it enough spins, but I truly appreciate it and did enjoy it. Lots of cool covers and it sounds great
Time and A Word: Holy man, this album is fantastic. This album inspired me to pick up my bass more. I can’t say enough great things about it.
Favourite track: The Prophet
The Yes Album: I loved this the album the first time I bought the CD. I really loved the bass and drum work on this album. Whenever I start this album I’m sure to listen to it to completion
Favourite track: Starship Trooper & A Venture
Fragile: A literal classic. I think we all know here how great this album is. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for this album introducing me to Yes.
Favourite track: Long Distance Runaround/The Fish
CTTE: As stated before, I’m upset I slept on this for so long. It’s a great album. In terms of ways Yes albums end, I felt this one left you wanting more. But I do thoroughly love it. Always thinking “Now that it’s all over and done, now that you find, now that you’re whole”
Favourite track: CTTE
TFTO: Oh man, I could write more than I’ve already written here just about this album. It’s perfect for me. I absolutely love it from start to finish. I love that parts return to other songs. It’s a perfect album to just get lost into and be absorbed into the music.
Favourite track: Revealing Science of God
Relayer: Such a cool album. I’ve listened to this so many times over the years. I think I heard the first 10 seconds of this on YouTube back in the day and rushed out to my local HMV (when they were around) and picked it up. It fit in perfectly with my music tastes.
Favourite track: Gates of Delirium
GFTO: First time I heard this album I thought what the heck is this. That changed after a couple listens. This album definitely snuck up on me and I thoroughly enjoy it start to finish now. I didn’t like Turn of the Century as much but now I dig it.
Favourite Track: Parallels & Wonderous Stories
Tormato: I picked this album up despite hearing bad talk about it. It was still a decent album. I haven’t given it enough listens yet to have a favourite tracks but I wouldn’t say it’s bad.
Drama: Boy was my friend ever wrong. This album is fantastic. I loved it. My dad loves it too. It was not what I was expecting. It’s so much fun. I’m so mad at him for making me avoid this album for years. It’s just incredible. I walked into a bar a couple weeks ago and they had Tempus Fugit playing and it made me so happy
Favourite Track: Machine Messiah & Does It Reallt Happen.
90125: Another favourite of my dad’s. Not a bad album. Well produced and sounds great. I avoided this one for a while but ended up liking it.
Favourite Track: Changes
Big Generator: I picked this one up cause I started to not be able to find Yes albums anywhere, and it wasn’t overly priced. Not a bad album but not as great as some of the others. This opinion might change as I get older. My dad also liked some of the songs off of it. I still need to listen to it more to build that familiarity.
Talk: I just bought it today. A local record store is closing at the end of the month and I’ve been eying this album for almost a year and it never sold, so I figured I’d pick it up today. Currently listening to it while I write this out. It’s not as bad as some people have said it is, but it is a little different. I’m still enjoying it.
ABWH: (not photographed but I have the CD in my truck) This album took me for surprise. I just came back from a fishing trip and was listening to it a lot during my driving. I didn’t like it a lot at first but today something clicked and I was really enjoying it.
Favourite track: Teakbois (sorry guys)
I won’t get into the other ones pictured. I really dig a lot of the Rick Wakeman stuff with Six Wives being my favourite (and Anne Cleve’s being my favourite off it). Also dig Fish out of Water as well. There’s a random promotional Wakeman vinyl I found in a store with just Glory Boys and Silent Nights on it. I also bought that Best of Yes cassette as my dad and I are restoring our ‘92 Jetta and it only has a cassette player in it, as well as his ‘75 Chevy Laguna.
For all those who didn’t want to read all of this, which I understand completely,
Top 5:
TFTO
Relayer
Time and a Word
Drama
Fragile
After writing all this I realized for some reason I can’t post photos. I will attach them below.
Cheers everyone!