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Yes "Fragile" How great of an album is it?

In my opinion it is one of the great all time rock albums and in the same class as DSOTM and Sargent Pepper's. It is as about as perfect of a collective composition as an album can come. It cut new ground in sound and was a high water mark for the band. And, now that the new analog transfer to vinyl is out, one heck of a great sounding album.

What's your opinion. Should it be in the top 10 rock albums of all time?
raymonda
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
Ahh, a great topic. Yes was probably my first love in the progressive music genre and Fragile played a large part. Particularly "The Fish" and "Heart of the Sunrise". "Roundabout" was good but more of the radio hook for the album. I have always been a fan of esoteric lyrics and creativity in music. And I must say that Mr. Steve Howe is one of the finest guitar players that ever lived. I agree that the Yes album and Close to the Edge are probably better overall recordings and I also enjoy Tales from Topographical Oceans. All members were/are excellent musicians. So to answer the OP's question, for me it is a great album but I don't like to rank music since it is completely mood dependent.
bpoletti
1,552 posts
 
I like most of the work by Yes even though it can be hard to figure out just WHICH Yes is performing.  Lots of different musician  combinations. 

Fragile is a showcase album.  It features "solo" work by the band members to show off their individual talents.  Interspersed is some interesting and creative progressive rock.  Top 10?  Nah.  But worth buying, enjoying the music and collecting the work.

Close to the Edge is quite good.  IMO, maybe the best Yes work.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,580 posts
 
A Prog classic that should be in anyone's Top 10.
faster61woman
28 posts
 
In as much as it was a groundbreaking record from a technical standpoint, it should certainly rank high on that list. For overall listenability, I go with the "Yes Album". I have a great sounding original copy!
oblgny's avatar
oblgny
848 posts
 
I found it on some silly compilation album which all but a few times saw the light of any air play back in the day, their cover of Paul Simon's "America."

Man, what a recording.  10 minutes, too!

I've put together a collection of covered tunes on my iPod under the heading "Owned!" - and this leads off the category.  Amazed at how many people have NEVER heard Yes's version. 


Then there's Joe Cocker's cover of "A Little Help From My Friends"...you get the drift.  (Woodstock or studio version.). Either way he turned that tune inside out over under sideways down. 

I once had a Steve Howe solo record that I loved but can't seem to find it anywhere...

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