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Yes — Close to the Edge
(Atlantic SD 7244, 1972, LP)

Close to the Edge Cover art

[This review looks specifically at the 2003 Rhino reissue.]

Rhino’s acclaimed reissue campaign continues with the the core of Yes’s most adventurous work. Close to the Edge is truly the classic lineup’s high point as Bill Bruford’s last LP before joining King Crimson. As part of the reissue process, Rhino allowed engineer Bill Inglot to tinker with some of the basic tracks and bring forth many buried parts in the original mix. Audio clues of what the band faced in assembling the album have been appended to the CD in the form of two early takes of “And You and I” and “Siberian Khatru” — both are wonderful views into to the extent the group crafted the arrangements for those pieces. Jon Anderson’s lead vocal is not double tracked on these versions and lyrical changes also have not been finalized. Many of Steve Howe’s guitar solos were not in place either, but the rhythm section simply smokes on “Siberian Khatru.” Additional single edits of “Total Mass Retain” and “America” are also present on the disc, showing how label marketers coped with having to promote an LP with only three tracks. 

by Jeff Melton, Published 2003-12-01

McLatchey's Top Tier #31

If Rock Bottom was the hipster choice, this one might be the antichoice, or it is because I don't rate Topographic Oceans at all. It's interesting to see this album finally see its day, I believe it was voted the #1 Progressive Rock album by Prog magazine recently. My first Yes album as a teenager was Classic Yes, which a friend loaned me and from the get go "And You and I" has always been one of my all time favorite pieces of music and I had already played this album absolutely to death by the time I was 17. Ever since then I pull it out maybe once a year or two, because I have it practically memorized. When it comes to symphonic progressive rock, I think if you check this and most of the long forms from the previous two albums you have something of a real canon of the genre. These days I probably gravitate a bit earlier, specifically The Yes Album era where they were a lot less polished and full of energy and vigor. But this one will always be their true masterpiece. Like Ommadawn or Rubycon I don't need to listen to it much at this point, but in my own personal memory arena this flutters from the ceiling like a retired jersey.

by Mike McLatchey, Published 2014-11-29

Filed under: New releases, Issue 28, 1972 releases

Related artist(s): Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford / Earthworks, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Yes, Rick Wakeman

 

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