Happy 50th. birthday to this album, released 50 years ago today, Dec. 7, 1973. There was nothing like it at the time, and there's been nothing like it since; and in 2023 it's still way ahead of its time.
My dear Jim ! Once again a great joy to share these feelings together ! Your soul is big enough to visit this symphony ! let's go to the 2nd movement !
For many people it is difficult to listen to a piece of music this long in one sitting, and Tales is best understood in one sitting, start to finish, non-stop. Each of the four suites is unique but they have fundamental musical themes which are referenced in each piece, and you will see later on how they repeat those references to tie everything together. I think you will enjoy all four without hesitation; personally I still think CTTE is Yes' best overall work but this comes very close.
Yes,,,,, That is the the true musical genius of this album. One facet of the genius of ... Yes.. I still have the The tales Album.. well worn.. Fell asleep many times to it at the end of the day. I wish I had all my Yes Albums pristine . I saw them in the round in '79... One of the many great concerts of the 70s we saw
I remember listening to the whole album in one sitting when I got is - all those many years ago - then putting it on two more times reading the lyrics, interpreting them, trying to find each instrument but simultaneously. It wasn't until a few days later that I had all the words memorised and I could re-listen with my eyes closed and just let my mind, imagination and soul wander freely. PS, I really like this album.
I am very old; and have been a Yes fan for a long time. I always thought Jon Anderson's voice was one of the key factors why I loved Yes. It is as iconic as Chris Squire's bass lines and Steve Howe's great guitar parts. They're all virtuoso performers, Alan White and Rick Wakeman, too, of course. Please note that Jon Anderson almost always pronounces every syllable of every word. Enjoy! Cheers!
im 67 got into yes 1970 imo this is one of the best albums they made, it did take a fair few listens which i was happy to do..ctte,tfto and relayer the crowning 3 albums
Hi Jim, I have the original first run and the cover is not a gloss finish. I also have CTTE and the original cover sleve was embossed to look like leather. This was Alan's first Yes Album and his playing is just assume. Seeing this played live is an experience. Love this album.
If you wanna hear more in depth about stuff like the making and what the songs are about I'd recommend Rael nyc's fanmade documentary of the making of Topographic Oceans. It's about 27mins long and it's very entertaining.
I've been a Yes fan for half a century, seen them live 7 or 8 times and their music never gets old to me. We're looking at a band all of whose members compose all of the music and are probably the most intense concentration of focused instrumental skill (in Jon's case lyrical and vocal) and creativity in contemporary music history. This album (Tales), Relayer, Close to the Edge and Going for the One (especially the tracks Parallels and Awaken) are my favorites Yes albums.
I will admit it took me awhile to warm up to this. 4 songs, double album, quite daunting but now I love it. 4 suites that are wonderful musically and lyrically. Yes are an incredible band.
As a 46 year fan of Yes, this album was for a long time my favorite. As others have noted, there is not really a "bad" Yes album, but this one stood out for me as soon as I heard it in 1976. It is to me the ultimate prog rock album, taking rock music as close to classical music as possible. I played the two records of this album constantly while reading The Thomas Covenant Chronicles between 1977 and 1979, and the music of Yes is forever etched into my mind with those books (which are somewhat sad and depressing). Initially my favorite track was Ritual, followed by The Revealing, The Remembering, and poor old The Ancient last. Over time my taste in music has moved more towards jazz, and the earlier Yes with Bruford's jazzy drumming are my favorite "era" of Yes these days, so I rarely listen to Topographic Oceans very much anymore. But I can say that for 58 year old me, The Remembering is now my favorite song on the album.
I only discovered Jim's channel a few days ago and have enjoyed watching his discovery of 1970's Yes classics. I notice, however, that he avoids discussion of Anderson's lyrics. However, Jim, if you'd like to chip in with some suggestions, we old Yes fans are all ears!
Jim. I have been listening to Yes since 1976, and they are by far, my favorite band. I have seen them twice in concert. I find listening to Yes similar to reading Tolkien. In Tolkien's works, you start with The Hobbit, a wonderful tale, but a children's tale. Not intellectually challenging. You progress to The Lord of the Rings, a much more vast and deep work. Then you move to The Silmarillion. a college level work. Move to Yes. You start with simple things, like Owner of a Lonely Heart. A good song, but one for the masses. Then you move to works like Close to the Edge and Awaken. Very much more nuanced. Then you end with Tales from Topographic Oceans. A college level work.
Love this album, as with any Yes album the puzzle opens up with every listen. Some of the most beautiful passages in all of Yes. After the fifth listen it starts to grab you....lol
Don't worry most Yes fans get the brilliance of this album. Back in the day, put on the headphones, a little weed, perhaps... an out of body experience.. These days I don't need the weed. The Remembering, next, has become my favorite track, even over Ritual I think. Took me a long time to fully appreciate it, the way it builds and builds to a crescendo..
Having been a Yes fan for many a year, their music just contiues to grow on me more. Yes, it was suprising when Wakeman panned this wonderful album. He tells the story that it was bloated work, yet he did some very long works himself. I think coming off Fragile and close, it was a series of movements that he felt were too long. That said, i have seen them perform this in the newest lineup, and it is nothing without Wakeman. Whether he want to admit it, this was and is something that years later, is looked at as a great piece of yes music. I have panned later works, and some of the most currant, but this is classic yes and what they do best. We need more of this type of movement works in music. Enjoy!
It's worth mentioning that when they toured for this album they performed the entire double album live as well as half of the Yes album half of fragile and all of close to the edge. In my opinion yes are the absolute Titans of rock music.
I was 17 when this was released. I have to say this album has grown on me over the years. I think after The Yes album, Fragile, Close to the Edge and YesSongs, me and many others, weren't mature enough to appreciate a more subdued and delicate composition such as Tales. We wanted more Yours is No Disgrace and Siberian Khatru! Now in my 60s and looking back at the amount of creativity these guys had is staggering. Just one of their pieces had more great ideas then some bands had in their whole career. And they made it seem so effortless.
The classic Yes album that people claiming to be fans of Yes slate. Obviously it's a huge album in length but in it's entirety does it measure up? In the day I used to trance out on this album, not sure if 4 sides quite cut it. For me Close to the Edge takes top billing. But I'm on a journey of rediscovery to see how my equal favourite group of the seventies stack up. Side 1 is so memorable and resolves beautifully, better really than Close 2 the Edge. Found myself singing along to Jon's incomparable vocals. Squire and Wakeman at their usual best, Squire a little more restrained and I like Alan White's work which fits this setting beautifully. Thanks Jim, I'll travel the 4 sides through with you.
Nice to see you enjoying TFTO, Jim! I was lucky enough to catch the band in 1974 touring behind this album and the show was amazing. I think “underappreciated” is the word I’ve associated with this album, and it still applies to this day. Sides 1 and 4 are the “popular” ones, but I’ve always enjoyed the second side too and have fond memories of side 3 from that 1974 show - the piece was more percussive than on record, with all the band members doubling on other instruments. Very anxious to see your response to the rest of the album!👍🏼😀
Hi Bob! I got to see Tales performed before the album release- I lived in UK and the album release got delayed until December 1973 and I saw them play in November. The way side 3 starts live is fantastic and as you say the album really doesn't do it justice. The intro of the drums is fantastic.
As an old Yes fan, I can tell you this is maybe the album I would bring to a desert Island. THE album. I love lots of other bands and records but that one !! I love it since the first time I heard it back in 1974 I think.
This album was quite an inspiration to me over the years. This side had lots of encouragement for a young man. "Move over glory to sons [my future kids?] of old fighters past [me?]," a reason to succeed in life. "Getting over overhanging trees [your / my hangups - like overbearing shyness]. And, "Getting over wars [our hangups] we do not need." "There's someone [ME], to tell you [ME], a course towards a universal season [what to do in life]" Maybe I am overly optimistic, but this did a lot for me, long ago. Thank you, Jim, for this "remembering!"
It's a grand symphony by Yes! This may be the most abstract theme of the 70's Yes. This is an album that has many opinions because of it, but it is definitely worth your time. Have a wonderful trip!
Bought it on the day it was released and saw them play 'Ritual' at Newcastle City Hall in 1975 when they had huge mechanical creatures going mad on stage to the music as the dry ice flowed. I will never forget it, amazing. Looking forward to the rest. Thanks for these play throughs Jim.
I agree about not understanding why some people didn't like this album as much as the others. I personally remember desperately waiting for this to be released as I was such a yes fan and had seen them live a couple of times. When it finally arrived, I lovingly remember a group of us sitting in my friends flat and listing to this from start to finish and being completely blown away by it. I loved it then and have recently (after nearly forty years), started listening to it again and I think it's still quite magical.
All the different aspect to this album are quite amazing for the time of release Jim, nous some du soliel is truly mind blowing, it mean/translates as "we are of the sun" ? stardust? or made of stars, i think? nice choice and another great reaction Jim.
I must say it is easier to listen to this seemingly endless convolution along with your usual unstoppable enthusiasm Jim....👏...guess I will have to endure the other side's with you at some point....☺️
Hi Jim me again🙂👍, I have a release day copy and the sleeve is a satin finish with plain white inner sleeves. Can't wait for 2, 3 & 4, great work bud keep it up bro. This is Yesses Pet Sounds as far as the band members and fans attitudes towards the music is concerned, IMO, it's just magical, thank you for the music as ABBA put it.🙂👍
Before you play the music, you should read the introduction summary on the inside cover. It explains what each song is about and how it should be viewed. Also, notice that the small pictures inside the cover are located where instrumental passages are. The picture represents the mood of the passage. In this way, the album can be listened to while read the lyrics and viewing the pictures. It's like watching a movie. Very visual.
The riff that Rick and Steve play starting at 6:27 possibly might be familiar because The Black Crowes had a hit in the early 90's called Remedy that had a very similar riff played on guitar during the chorus. There's also passages on side two, The Remembering - High The Memory that remind me of Simply Red's Holding Back the Years. I always associate Topographic Oceans with my early days of being a Yes fan a few years before my teens living in Nova Scotia right by an ocean. There are many passages on sides one and two of Tales that I think capture the sights and sounds of an ocean through music.
I think one of the reasons Yes fans, at the time, didn't get into it, was that it was toured in its entirety before it came out. My introduction to Yes were Yessongs and Tales, leant to me by a classmate back in '75. I do wish I'd had the opportunity to see that tour, boots don't come close to what it must have been like.
I got into yes about 4-5 months ago, I have every album up to and including 'drama' and I agree with you Jim, for me relayer and tales are some of their best work, while some of tales is very testing the first two tracks are most accessible imo, the harmonies in 'the remembering' are beautiful.
First reaction is damn man, 7m into your stream of this and you've jabbered at two crucial moments already!! 😂 All good, you aren't to know on first listen. But please do revisit - it's a genuine epic.
I knew you would like this album, what's not to like. I think I may have said before Jim, you should look up the making of the work, it was not a smooth ride, but dispight the trials and tribulations they finished up with a masterpiece. The artwork is of course Roger Dean at his best, if you want to see more of his work, check out "Trading Boundaries". Great show Jim.
Why don't people like this? Don't understand either. For me this is kind of ultimate prog, ultimate Yes. Though, having said that, that's probably why some people don't like it. :)
'Muddle about' does side 2 and 3 a disservice in my opinion. They have a few moments where you can drift off and meditate on the music, or life, I guess. But even if I had to, I'd struggle to cut more than maybe a minute or two of each track. For me each track is part of the whole, and does not exist without each other.
@@Anders2112 I was offering a brief explanation of why the album is a bridge too far for some fans. More power to you if you can endure the whole thing. Not me.
I absolutely love this song, particularly the section at 13:51 always reminds me of sitting on a boat, on a calm lake watching the sunset Oh and the overhanging trees section. Another high point immediately after .
Side 2, The Remembering, is the slowest, musically, but side 3, The Ancient, is the one that polarises opinion; I think that even you will be caught off guard by it and end up perplexed. The song is basically a Steve Howe solo guitar track with few Jon Anderson vocals but the keyboards and bass play a VERY important part in it too; I, personally, love it.
Over the years people have become polarized on this album. I always thought Rick Wakeman was THE keyboard player for Yes and to hear him call this "bloated" was devastating. This by far and away was (imo) their best effort as the classic line-up. As someone else commented about them needing to do Tales to get to Relayer, this was the natural progression from Close to the Edge. I think not having anything that could remotely have been played on the radio seriously skewed some listeners into dismissing it as a great Yes album. Great to see you enjoy it. Nous Somme du Soleil
Rick Wakeman. Love the talented comedian. He thought Tales was bloated but released some of THE most bloated music EVER in the Seventies. Journey tops all the bloat in history. Or maybe that was King Arthur. I consider Wakeman the finest keyboard player in my lifetime…..but he was a drunk at that time and said and did some stupid stuff.
Not my favorite Yes album, but an album that needed to be made and made by Yes. I only "discovered" this album a couple of years ago and am still learning to appreciate it. Listening to the whole thing has always been an imposing task for me. Like most, I'm partial to the 1st and 4th sides. But, who knows, a couple dozen more listens and I may come around to the rest of the album and rate it higher.
How truly wondrous to have fallen in with you, as you make your way through the various yugae animated here for your angelic ear, now dearly fixed upon the sound of timeless music. Already hooked, I raced to get this when new, committed it to memory, and have loved it ever since, regardless of what the criticasters might cark from their perch of weakness. I tend to favor the Jon bits, because he is the most angelic of the band, and therefore lives on a higher vibration, unspoilt by mead and meats. High, the memory carries on...
@@JimNewstead How wonderfully kind of you to say! It is obvious that you take great care in what you do, and so I feel compelled to also respond with care. I hope Jon makes his way to your show. I keep waiting to hear the announcement. :)
This is the most accessible of the four sides imo. A great piece. By The Way: a little remark about your treatment of the record player. The arm lift is also for letting the needle sink gently in the starting groove. Seeing you doing it by hand scratches my soul ;-)
"What's not to like about this?" You ask. I've read dozens of the comments and must agree that if they had taken more of a Close to the Edge approach, one side being a 23 minute epic, the other being 3 to 4 songs, one of which that could be edited to 3:20 for radio play, the concepts would have been more palatable to the masses. As released, TFTO is an acquired taste, particularly when Steve seems to be doing more noodling than real comprehensive writing. He also plagiarized his own hooks on it. Other than that and giving the percussion break gift to Alan, I find the album to be inspired and just beautiful.
OK so here's my take on why in part some Yes fans didn't accept TFTO after CttE. In many fans view the CttE lineup was the ultimate Yes band. They then saw one idol, Bill Bruford, depart and his replacement Alan White was not readily accepted. Then after TFTO was released Rick Wakeman was critical of the album and around a year later he departed. I think some of the angst that the band was in disarray and splitting was taken out on the album.
I very rarely play this even though I first listened to it in 1979. I do think I should give it another go though....all the way through.....I always found it interesting as they were experimenting like f**k after Close To The Edge....The one that Wakeman found tiresome....... Tracks 1 & 4 are the best in my old humble opinion (and there's a good live version of Track 4 "Ritual" on Yesshows, which is worth a listen and has live stuff from 75-78 ??) I'm enjoying listening to this opening song again though.....Amazing playing, Alan White's (debut album) drums sound, as you mentioned, "natural" and Squire's bass is low in the mix but what a player.....if only I had some of his skills....sheer class. Harmonies = Beach Boys
I guess some people don't like it because of the more open space in the music; the structures aren't as tight. But that's no problem for me. I love this style of Yes too. It's one of my favorite albums ever.
For me the best Yes album is a toss up between Tales and CTTE. I really like the deep depth in Tales. Yes have time and space to explore and really take you on an amazing ride. Yes is one of the few bands ever who could create such sonic landscapes that have the power to whisk you away to another place. And that place is so up lifting. I have found over the Tales really does grow on you. You just need to invest time and some mental effort to get into it.
A step too far for some, but this album was actually one of my very first steps into the world of Yes so I was diving into the deep end from the get-go. After that, I judged all other Yes albums--all other prog, in fact--by its unrestricted, unrestrained, undiluted standard. Their next album, "Relayer" (my favorite), would be, for me, the pinnacle of their progressive creativity, and everything after that was downhill. But those who disparage "Tales" just don't get it, including Rick Wakeman himself, who quit the band afterward and went off to create bombastic beer-drenched opuses that fit more comfortably within his narrower creative range and didn't rejoin the band until they were ready to rein in the creativity and start "Going For The One" on the song charts. Much of the disappointment with this album comes from people expecting it to be "Close To The Edge" times four instead of assessing it on its own terms as a single, cohesive work.
The tour for this album is what set Wakeman off, having to play the entire album while putting up with Jon telling him to "get the solo right." Ah, bandmates. I've experienced that, having an actual physical row with one of our bass players---threw him onto a folding table, I did. Critics were mixed on the album, but I remember one saying, which I though was funny: "Wishy washy tales from the deep" and "Close to boredom." The band was not getting along at the time, but the guys generally liked the album; however, Wakeman said that they didn't have enough for a single but too much for a double album, "So we had to do some padding, and padding is never good." So, there it is, a good but not great album that led to the band's semi-demise. And so, it is.
@@JimNewstead No problem. Love Yes, and I've spoken to Wakman several times over the years. Brilliant, kind gentleman with an acerbic wit. Lord he's hillarious. Look up his Hall of Fame acceptance speech. I pissed myself.
I hate how they cut off the intro to the first song on the vinyl version, it begins so abrubtly. I don't know how the audio quality would suffer if it was left as it was. The remastered CD contains the beginning how it was supposed to be.
48 years! 48 years it has taken me to appreciate this album! If we can call "classic Yes" The Yes album/Fragile/Close to the Edge/ Tales.../Relayer then this is not a classic Yes album! For me, it lacks the searing guitar/keyboard runs from other Yes albums; and the multi-layered, swirling background that sweeps you up and carries you into the next part of the tune. It if, for large parts, quite pedestrian and harkens back to the first 2 Yes albums...and - as Jim mentions - parts sound like the Beatles, and still others sound like Simon & Garfunkel - not bad things at all. So, for me, this is the most beautiful and uplifting Yes album! It has many parts of beautiful harmonies, and Jon has much more to do than on some of the other classic albums! Jim - I agree with you...why don't people like this? It has become a permanent fixture in my car CD...it is beautiful!!! I forgot...there are several moments of stunning ambience...introspective and meditative!
I do love sides 1, 2 & 4. Side 3, oh how I tried to get into The Ancient. After many many tries I just stopped trying. Too weird and crazy for me. I'm just getting to appreciate Relayer now after a lot of years of having another go at it!! Maybe Rick had a point. Side 1 leave mostly as it is, trim down sides 2 and 4 and only have a very small part of side 3 for a single album. If that was done it would have been their greatest album!!!
Well done Jim ! love your enjoyment of YES. While an old fart like me has to wipe his eyes dry. For side 4, Ritual, I suggest 2 pint head start, smoke em if you got them and then show us the true Jim love for Yes!
I believe the original titles to these 4 tracks were The Revealing, The Remembering, The Ancient and The Ritual. Too bad the album doesn't include the intro. Apparently they had to cut it to make it fit on the album, but it's only 22:23 long and The Gates of Delirium is almost 22 minutes long, so I don't get it, but I encourage you to listen to it Jim. The intro really sets the mood.
@@Lightmane I followed the link to Daniel's reaction, which I had viewed in its entirety before. Goes to show you how rarely I listen to TfTO, as I didn't notice the recording Daniel reacted to did not start straight with the chanting. I was just going to follow the link to the original upload Daniel has in his description, to see if it says which release it is that has the added introduction when notification of your reply popped up.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
You're taking a walk through the heartland of Yes with this album. One of my all time favourites!
Happy 50th. birthday to this album, released 50 years ago today, Dec. 7, 1973. There was nothing like it at the time, and there's been nothing like it since; and in 2023 it's still way ahead of its time.
Oh hell yes....you've finally pulled out the BIG boy!
My dear Jim ! Once again a great joy to share these feelings together ! Your soul is big enough to visit this symphony ! let's go to the 2nd movement !
For many people it is difficult to listen to a piece of music this long in one sitting, and Tales is best understood in one sitting, start to finish, non-stop. Each of the four suites is unique but they have fundamental musical themes which are referenced in each piece, and you will see later on how they repeat those references to tie everything together. I think you will enjoy all four without hesitation; personally I still think CTTE is Yes' best overall work but this comes very close.
Well said and I could not agree more
Yes,,,,, That is the the true musical genius of this album. One facet of the genius of ... Yes.. I still have the The tales Album.. well worn.. Fell asleep many times to it at the end of the day. I wish I had all my Yes Albums pristine . I saw them in the round in '79... One of the many great concerts of the 70s we saw
I remember listening to the whole album in one sitting when I got is - all those many years ago - then putting it on two more times reading the lyrics, interpreting them, trying to find each instrument but simultaneously.
It wasn't until a few days later that I had all the words memorised and I could re-listen with my eyes closed and just let my mind, imagination and soul wander freely.
PS, I really like this album.
I concur with your ranking
I am very old; and have been a Yes fan for a long time. I always thought Jon Anderson's voice was one of the key factors why I loved Yes. It is as iconic as Chris Squire's bass lines and Steve Howe's great guitar parts. They're all virtuoso performers, Alan White and Rick Wakeman, too, of course. Please note that Jon Anderson almost always pronounces every syllable of every word. Enjoy! Cheers!
Well put. It is not Yes without Anderson/Squire vocal harmony.
Bill Bruford was a virtuoso performer, Alan White in comparison is just a very good drummer
im 67 got into yes 1970 imo this is one of the best albums they made, it did take a fair few listens which i was happy to do..ctte,tfto and relayer the crowning 3 albums
Hi Jim, I have the original first run and the cover is not a gloss finish. I also have CTTE and the original cover sleve was embossed to look like leather. This was Alan's first Yes Album and his playing is just assume. Seeing this played live is an experience. Love this album.
My favourite album.
If you wanna hear more in depth about stuff like the making and what the songs are about I'd recommend Rael nyc's fanmade documentary of the making of Topographic Oceans. It's about 27mins long and it's very entertaining.
Cant wait for you to get to listen to Going for the one. and the absolutely astounding AWAKEN.
After 3 or 4 listens I came to really appreciate this album
Any self respecting Yes fan loves this album!
Tales and Relayer are the " growers". Once they're with you, they'll never leave you!
I've been a Yes fan for half a century, seen them live 7 or 8 times and their music never gets old to me. We're looking at a band all of whose members compose all of the music and are probably the most intense concentration of focused instrumental skill (in Jon's case lyrical and vocal) and creativity in contemporary music history.
This album (Tales), Relayer, Close to the Edge and Going for the One (especially the tracks Parallels and Awaken) are my favorites Yes albums.
Topo is THE SHIT man. It means the world to me, been in my life forever and I always hear new things in it. Welcome to the club.
I will admit it took me awhile to warm up to this. 4 songs, double album, quite daunting but now I love it. 4 suites that are wonderful musically and lyrically. Yes are an incredible band.
Ditto
If you wanna see a deep view of the album. Watch the fanmade documentary by Rael nyc. I can send a video if your interested.
An excellent Yes album.
the keyboard solo in this the best synth break ever, love it
No other band will ever play this unique form of symphonic rock.
Mike Oldfield comes close with his Incantations, which probably was inspired by Tales.
As a 46 year fan of Yes, this album was for a long time my favorite. As others have noted, there is not really a "bad" Yes album, but this one stood out for me as soon as I heard it in 1976. It is to me the ultimate prog rock album, taking rock music as close to classical music as possible. I played the two records of this album constantly while reading The Thomas Covenant Chronicles between 1977 and 1979, and the music of Yes is forever etched into my mind with those books (which are somewhat sad and depressing). Initially my favorite track was Ritual, followed by The Revealing, The Remembering, and poor old The Ancient last. Over time my taste in music has moved more towards jazz, and the earlier Yes with Bruford's jazzy drumming are my favorite "era" of Yes these days, so I rarely listen to Topographic Oceans very much anymore. But I can say that for 58 year old me, The Remembering is now my favorite song on the album.
I only discovered Jim's channel a few days ago and have enjoyed watching his discovery of 1970's Yes classics. I notice, however, that he avoids discussion of Anderson's lyrics. However, Jim, if you'd like to chip in with some suggestions, we old Yes fans are all ears!
Masterpiece
Hated by many critics.... Hailed by Yes fans...yet in 73, as a double album, was #19 for sales the year of it's release.
Jim. I have been listening to Yes since 1976, and they are by far, my favorite band. I have seen them twice in concert. I find listening to Yes similar to reading Tolkien. In Tolkien's works, you start with The Hobbit, a wonderful tale, but a children's tale. Not intellectually challenging. You progress to The Lord of the Rings, a much more vast and deep work. Then you move to The Silmarillion. a college level work. Move to Yes. You start with simple things, like Owner of a Lonely Heart. A good song, but one for the masses. Then you move to works like Close to the Edge and Awaken. Very much more nuanced. Then you end with Tales from Topographic Oceans. A college level work.
I love all of Tolkiens works like you say in your analogy...but find half the of this album at least a real slogging chore...
Love this album, as with any Yes album the puzzle opens up with every listen.
Some of the most beautiful passages in all of Yes.
After the fifth listen it starts to grab you....lol
The good thing about this album is you appreciate it more with every listen.
Don't worry most Yes fans get the brilliance of this album. Back in the day, put on the headphones, a little weed, perhaps... an out of body experience.. These days I don't need the weed.
The Remembering, next, has become my favorite track, even over Ritual I think. Took me a long time to fully appreciate it, the way it builds and builds to a crescendo..
Having been a Yes fan for many a year, their music just contiues to grow on me more. Yes, it was suprising when Wakeman panned this wonderful album. He tells the story that it was bloated work, yet he did some very long works himself. I think coming off Fragile and close, it was a series of movements that he felt were too long. That said, i have seen them perform this in the newest lineup, and it is nothing without Wakeman.
Whether he want to admit it, this was and is something that years later, is looked at as a great piece of yes music. I have panned later works, and some of the most currant, but this is classic yes and what they do best. We need more of this type of movement works in music. Enjoy!
Yes it's disapointing how Wakeman spit on the work of Yes, "a bloated work", he should see his own productions
It's worth mentioning that when they toured for this album they performed the entire double album live as well as half of the Yes album half of fragile and all of close to the edge. In my opinion yes are the absolute Titans of rock music.
Critics be damned, it's one of their greatest works. Saw them do it all live in 74, a superhuman feat. GOSH this was a great album!
Their music became my soundtrack whenever I read fantasy books. I enjoyed my experiences in those books more with Yes as my form of travel.
I was 17 when this was released. I have to say this album has grown on me over the years. I think after The Yes album, Fragile, Close to the Edge and YesSongs, me and many others, weren't mature enough to appreciate a more subdued and delicate composition such as Tales. We wanted more Yours is No Disgrace and Siberian Khatru!
Now in my 60s and looking back at the amount of creativity these guys had is staggering. Just one of their pieces had more great ideas then some bands had in their whole career. And they made it seem so effortless.
I have loved this from the day it came out and I was queuing outside the record shop to get my copy the day it came out.
Well Jim to be honest it took me 50 years finally fall in love with this album, I'm glad I made it, it was well worth the wait 😃😃
The classic Yes album that people claiming to be fans of Yes slate. Obviously it's a huge album in length but in it's entirety does it measure up? In the day I used to trance out on this album, not sure if 4 sides quite cut it. For me Close to the Edge takes top billing. But I'm on a journey of rediscovery to see how my equal favourite group of the seventies stack up. Side 1 is so memorable and resolves beautifully, better really than Close 2 the Edge. Found myself singing along to Jon's incomparable vocals. Squire and Wakeman at their usual best, Squire a little more restrained and I like Alan White's work which fits this setting beautifully. Thanks Jim, I'll travel the 4 sides through with you.
Nice to see you enjoying TFTO, Jim! I was lucky enough to catch the band in 1974 touring behind this album and the show was amazing. I think “underappreciated” is the word I’ve associated with this album, and it still applies to this day. Sides 1 and 4 are the “popular” ones, but I’ve always enjoyed the second side too and have fond memories of side 3 from that 1974 show - the piece was more percussive than on record, with all the band members doubling on other instruments. Very anxious to see your response to the rest of the album!👍🏼😀
Hi Bob! I got to see Tales performed before the album release- I lived in UK and the album release got delayed until December 1973 and I saw them play in November. The way side 3 starts live is fantastic and as you say the album really doesn't do it justice. The intro of the drums is fantastic.
As an old Yes fan, I can tell you this is maybe the album I would bring to a desert Island. THE album. I love lots of other bands and records but that one !! I love it since the first time I heard it back in 1974 I think.
So excited that you like this. Makes me look forward to the rest of this album, and the two that follow it, even more.
Best song on the best album.
Forever a TOP 3 FAVORITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME for me. Their best album in my humble opinion. Close To The Edge comes close
Fell in love with it when I was 14, still in love at 64 - as many say a masterpiece of the essence of progressive rock❗️😎
Best prog album ever. Will never be beaten
This album was quite an inspiration to me over the years. This side had lots of encouragement for a young man. "Move over glory to sons [my future kids?] of old fighters past [me?]," a reason to succeed in life. "Getting over overhanging trees [your / my hangups - like overbearing shyness]. And, "Getting over wars [our hangups] we do not need." "There's someone [ME], to tell you [ME], a course towards a universal season [what to do in life]" Maybe I am overly optimistic, but this did a lot for me, long ago. Thank you, Jim, for this "remembering!"
You’re very welcome!
It's a grand symphony by Yes!
This may be the most abstract theme of the 70's Yes. This is an album that has many opinions because of it, but it is definitely worth your time.
Have a wonderful trip!
Bought it on the day it was released and saw them play 'Ritual' at Newcastle City Hall in 1975 when they had huge mechanical creatures going mad on stage to the music as the dry ice flowed. I will never forget it, amazing. Looking forward to the rest. Thanks for these play throughs Jim.
Tales is my favorite album ever. Any band. Any era. Any genre. Pure genius!!!
You are exactly correct, Scot. Tales From Topographic Oceans is the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history.
I have been a Yes fan since 1968, seen them live many times, brilliant live, p.s. I am now 70 and still listen to them.
I agree about not understanding why some people didn't like this album as much as the others. I personally remember desperately waiting for this to be released as I was such a yes fan and had seen them live a couple of times. When it finally arrived, I lovingly remember a group of us sitting in my friends flat and listing to this from start to finish and being completely blown away by it. I loved it then and have recently (after nearly forty years), started listening to it again and I think it's still quite magical.
All the different aspect to this album are quite amazing for the time of release Jim, nous some du soliel is truly mind blowing, it mean/translates as "we are of the sun" ? stardust? or made of stars, i think? nice choice and another great reaction Jim.
I must say it is easier to listen to this seemingly endless convolution along with your usual unstoppable enthusiasm Jim....👏...guess I will have to endure the other side's with you at some point....☺️
This is my favorite Yes album, but in order to enjoy it fully, I need to take a look at the cover and then close my eyes and relax.
Hi Jim me again🙂👍, I have a release day copy and the sleeve is a satin finish with plain white inner sleeves. Can't wait for 2, 3 & 4, great work bud keep it up bro. This is Yesses Pet Sounds as far as the band members and fans attitudes towards the music is concerned, IMO, it's just magical, thank you for the music as ABBA put it.🙂👍
Before you play the music, you should read the introduction summary on the inside cover. It explains what each song is about and how it should be viewed.
Also, notice that the small pictures inside the cover are located where instrumental passages are. The picture represents the mood of the passage. In this way, the album can be listened to while read the lyrics and viewing the pictures. It's like watching a movie. Very visual.
Ah...
I wonder if Olias' artwork would have been similar, if Anderson had been able to get that artwork in to Dean's schedule.
87777
The riff that Rick and Steve play starting at 6:27 possibly might be familiar because The Black Crowes had a hit in the early 90's called Remedy that had a very similar riff played on guitar during the chorus. There's also passages on side two, The Remembering - High The Memory that remind me of Simply Red's Holding Back the Years. I always associate Topographic Oceans with my early days of being a Yes fan a few years before my teens living in Nova Scotia right by an ocean. There are many passages on sides one and two of Tales that I think capture the sights and sounds of an ocean through music.
I think one of the reasons Yes fans, at the time, didn't get into it, was that it was toured in its entirety before it came out.
My introduction to Yes were Yessongs and Tales, leant to me by a classmate back in '75. I do wish I'd had the opportunity to see that tour, boots don't come close to what it must have been like.
One of my favourite one side tracks of all time!
They went full Yes, loved it always !
Big Yes fan. Always liked this album.
I got into yes about 4-5 months ago, I have every album up to and including 'drama' and I agree with you Jim, for me relayer and tales are some of their best work, while some of tales is very testing the first two tracks are most accessible imo, the harmonies in 'the remembering' are beautiful.
First reaction is damn man, 7m into your stream of this and you've jabbered at two crucial moments already!! 😂
All good, you aren't to know on first listen.
But please do revisit - it's a genuine epic.
Hey Jim! Finally! You are in for a treat! 3, 2, 1, YES!!!
Hot damn. I’m here. Can’t wait.
This is like their side long "pop" song. Love this!
I knew you would like this album, what's not to like.
I think I may have said before Jim, you should look up the making of the work, it was not a smooth ride, but dispight the trials and tribulations they finished up with a masterpiece.
The artwork is of course Roger Dean at his best, if you want to see more of his work, check out "Trading Boundaries".
Great show Jim.
Why don't people like this? Don't understand either. For me this is kind of ultimate prog, ultimate Yes. Though, having said that, that's probably why some people don't like it. :)
I absolutely love "The Revealing". It's such a beautiful spaced out journey!
Sides one and four are excellent. The middle bits muddle about. But even they have their moments.
'Muddle about' does side 2 and 3 a disservice in my opinion. They have a few moments where you can drift off and meditate on the music, or life, I guess. But even if I had to, I'd struggle to cut more than maybe a minute or two of each track. For me each track is part of the whole, and does not exist without each other.
@@Anders2112 Well said.
@@Anders2112 I was offering a brief explanation of why the album is a bridge too far for some fans. More power to you if you can endure the whole thing. Not me.
I absolutely love this song, particularly the section at 13:51 always reminds me of sitting on a boat, on a calm lake watching the sunset
Oh and the overhanging trees section. Another high point immediately after .
... at 16:02, the piano riff is coming directly from Heart of the Sunrise 😊 and from Then at ruclips.net/video/ydLOSHhHif0/видео.html 11:40 😊
This album is way underrated. Great to hear it gain. 😁🙃😎👍
Side 2, The Remembering, is the slowest, musically, but side 3, The Ancient, is the one that polarises opinion; I think that even you will be caught off guard by it and end up perplexed. The song is basically a Steve Howe solo guitar track with few Jon Anderson vocals but the keyboards and bass play a VERY important part in it too; I, personally, love it.
My theory is that the recording of Side 3 is where the magic mushrooms took over in the studio.
One of my fave albums!
Roger Dean's artwork throughout the 70s was just simply class, adds something wonderous to those heavy indulgent prog albums.
A beautiful double album. No shame in their game.
Over the years people have become polarized on this album. I always thought Rick Wakeman was THE keyboard player for Yes and to hear him call this "bloated" was devastating. This by far and away was (imo) their best effort as the classic line-up. As someone else commented about them needing to do Tales to get to Relayer, this was the natural progression from Close to the Edge. I think not having anything that could remotely have been played on the radio seriously skewed some listeners into dismissing it as a great Yes album. Great to see you enjoy it. Nous Somme du Soleil
Rick Wakeman. Love the talented comedian. He thought Tales was bloated but released some of THE most bloated music EVER in the Seventies. Journey tops all the bloat in history. Or maybe that was King Arthur. I consider Wakeman the finest keyboard player in my lifetime…..but he was a drunk at that time and said and did some stupid stuff.
@@waynecox3958 100%! But super grateful I got to see Tales live and Journey Live. His Bloatedness in all his magnificent glory.
Supposedly, this track was originally longer. Eddie Offord cut out several minutes worth of tape, in order to make it LP ready.
Lordy!!!
Not only the best Yes album, the best album anyone has ever created.
Oh. My. Stars...
I'll admit I'm very curious how you'll react to this. My favorite band is Yes, and it took me a long time to appreciate this.
Isn't YES magical?!!!!
Not my favorite Yes album, but an album that needed to be made and made by Yes. I only "discovered" this album a couple of years ago and am still learning to appreciate it. Listening to the whole thing has always been an imposing task for me. Like most, I'm partial to the 1st and 4th sides. But, who knows, a couple dozen more listens and I may come around to the rest of the album and rate it higher.
How truly wondrous to have fallen in with you, as you make your way through the various yugae animated here for your angelic ear, now dearly fixed upon the sound of timeless music. Already hooked, I raced to get this when new, committed it to memory, and have loved it ever since, regardless of what the criticasters might cark from their perch of weakness. I tend to favor the Jon bits, because he is the most angelic of the band, and therefore lives on a higher vibration, unspoilt by mead and meats. High, the memory carries on...
Probably the most poetic RUclips comment I've ever seen!
@@LoudModeOn Very kind, Sir, thank you!
Just reading your old comments again, they are wonderful. Your command of English and use of words is poetic. Thank you David!
@@JimNewstead How wonderfully kind of you to say! It is obvious that you take great care in what you do, and so I feel compelled to also respond with care. I hope Jon makes his way to your show. I keep waiting to hear the announcement. :)
I've missed this album, it's been a while.
I'm also an old Yes fan, having seen them many times in the late 70s and early 80s
Thank you 👍
This is the most accessible of the four sides imo. A great piece.
By The Way: a little remark about your treatment of the record player. The arm lift is also for letting the needle sink gently in the starting groove. Seeing you doing it by hand scratches my soul ;-)
Lol! Modern technology. 💿
As you say, Jim, it's flipping gorgeous. All four sides. But it needs attention.
"What's not to like about this?" You ask. I've read dozens of the comments and must agree that if they had taken more of a Close to the Edge approach, one side being a 23 minute epic, the other being 3 to 4 songs, one of which that could be edited to 3:20 for radio play, the concepts would have been more palatable to the masses. As released, TFTO is an acquired taste, particularly when Steve seems to be doing more noodling than real comprehensive writing. He also plagiarized his own hooks on it. Other than that and giving the percussion break gift to Alan, I find the album to be inspired and just beautiful.
The best Yes album.
among their best music,,,,only starting to be appreciated now
OK so here's my take on why in part some Yes fans didn't accept TFTO after CttE. In many fans view the CttE lineup was the ultimate Yes band. They then saw one idol, Bill Bruford, depart and his replacement Alan White was not readily accepted. Then after TFTO was released Rick Wakeman was critical of the album and around a year later he departed. I think some of the angst that the band was in disarray and splitting was taken out on the album.
I very rarely play this even though I first listened to it in 1979. I do think I should give it another go though....all the way through.....I always found it interesting as they were experimenting like f**k after Close To The Edge....The one that Wakeman found tiresome.......
Tracks 1 & 4 are the best in my old humble opinion (and there's a good live version of Track 4 "Ritual" on Yesshows, which is worth a listen and has live stuff from 75-78 ??)
I'm enjoying listening to this opening song again though.....Amazing playing, Alan White's (debut album) drums sound, as you mentioned, "natural" and Squire's bass is low in the mix but what a player.....if only I had some of his skills....sheer class.
Harmonies = Beach Boys
I guess some people don't like it because of the more open space in the music; the structures aren't as tight. But that's no problem for me. I love this style of Yes too. It's one of my favorite albums ever.
For me the best Yes album is a toss up between Tales and CTTE. I really like the deep depth in Tales. Yes have time and space to explore and really take you on an amazing ride. Yes is one of the few bands ever who could create such sonic landscapes that have the power to whisk you away to another place. And that place is so up lifting. I have found over the Tales really does grow on you. You just need to invest time and some mental effort to get into it.
Very Beatlesque in a few places. Agree completely. Definitely a journey when accompanied with a bit of LSD. One of my faves.
A step too far for some, but this album was actually one of my very first steps into the world of Yes so I was diving into the deep end from the get-go. After that, I judged all other Yes albums--all other prog, in fact--by its unrestricted, unrestrained, undiluted standard. Their next album, "Relayer" (my favorite), would be, for me, the pinnacle of their progressive creativity, and everything after that was downhill. But those who disparage "Tales" just don't get it, including Rick Wakeman himself, who quit the band afterward and went off to create bombastic beer-drenched opuses that fit more comfortably within his narrower creative range and didn't rejoin the band until they were ready to rein in the creativity and start "Going For The One" on the song charts. Much of the disappointment with this album comes from people expecting it to be "Close To The Edge" times four instead of assessing it on its own terms as a single, cohesive work.
Don't think this one is the worst problem for most critics. Anyways, loving it, and happy you do the same 😊
Up there competing to be the best Yes song with Close to the edge, Awaken and Gates of Delerium
The tour for this album is what set Wakeman off, having to play the entire album while putting up with Jon telling him to "get the solo right." Ah, bandmates. I've experienced that, having an actual physical row with one of our bass players---threw him onto a folding table, I did. Critics were mixed on the album, but I remember one saying, which I though was funny: "Wishy washy tales from the deep" and "Close to boredom." The band was not getting along at the time, but the guys generally liked the album; however, Wakeman said that they didn't have enough for a single but too much for a double album, "So we had to do some padding, and padding is never good." So, there it is, a good but not great album that led to the band's semi-demise. And so, it is.
Dude, thanks for the comments and caring about the music. Truly, I appreciate it!
@@JimNewstead No problem. Love Yes, and I've spoken to Wakman several times over the years. Brilliant, kind gentleman with an acerbic wit. Lord he's hillarious. Look up his Hall of Fame acceptance speech. I pissed myself.
I hate how they cut off the intro to the first song on the vinyl version, it begins so abrubtly. I don't know how the audio quality would suffer if it was left as it was. The remastered CD contains the beginning how it was supposed to be.
48 years! 48 years it has taken me to appreciate this album! If we can call "classic Yes" The Yes album/Fragile/Close to the Edge/ Tales.../Relayer then this is not a classic Yes album! For me, it lacks the searing guitar/keyboard runs from other Yes albums; and the multi-layered, swirling background that sweeps you up and carries you into the next part of the tune. It if, for large parts, quite pedestrian and harkens back to the first 2 Yes albums...and - as Jim mentions - parts sound like the Beatles, and still others sound like Simon & Garfunkel - not bad things at all. So, for me, this is the most beautiful and uplifting Yes album! It has many parts of beautiful harmonies, and Jon has much more to do than on some of the other classic albums! Jim - I agree with you...why don't people like this? It has become a permanent fixture in my car CD...it is beautiful!!! I forgot...there are several moments of stunning ambience...introspective and meditative!
I do love sides 1, 2 & 4. Side 3, oh how I tried to get into The Ancient. After many many tries I just stopped trying. Too weird and crazy for me. I'm just getting to appreciate Relayer now after a lot of years of having another go at it!!
Maybe Rick had a point. Side 1 leave mostly as it is, trim down sides 2 and 4 and only have a very small part of side 3 for a single album. If that was done it would have been their greatest album!!!
Well done Jim !
love your enjoyment of YES. While an old fart like me has to wipe his eyes dry. For side 4, Ritual, I suggest 2 pint head start, smoke em if you got them and then show us the true Jim love for Yes!
I believe the original titles to these 4 tracks were The Revealing, The Remembering, The Ancient and The Ritual. Too bad the album doesn't include the intro. Apparently they had to cut it to make it fit on the album, but it's only 22:23 long and The Gates of Delirium is almost 22 minutes long, so I don't get it, but I encourage you to listen to it Jim. The intro really sets the mood.
Where does one find the intro?
@@IllumeEltanin hopefully this link works ruclips.net/video/2-tnnbwIYys/видео.html
@@IllumeEltanin did you see the link? If not just search for it on yt.
@@Lightmane
I followed the link to Daniel's reaction, which I had viewed in its entirety before. Goes to show you how rarely I listen to TfTO, as I didn't notice the recording Daniel reacted to did not start straight with the chanting. I was just going to follow the link to the original upload Daniel has in his description, to see if it says which release it is that has the added introduction when notification of your reply popped up.
@@Lightmane
Nope, no information on the release version that I see. I'm assuming, based on the artwork, that it is the Steven Wilson remaster?