This song and all of Tales is a sonic journey like no other done before or after. In this song the band has time and space to really build the theme and landscape. However it is not possible to put all of this together in the first listen and doing it as a reaction video would be very difficult. For me, I am totally comfortable with The Revealing Science of God, but I have had 50 years. It took me several times listening to this song laying back in a dark room with headphones to really get into it. But it is such a wonderful journey. Please let it grow and this whole album will repay you greatly as it slowly works its magic. Maybe more than any other Yes LP set. Then you will understand Tales is a one-off and only musical experience of its type ever.
“We love when we play”…The emotion of giving when when you make music. Beyond the act of making notes is the extension of giving to those who are listening. My favorite line of the album…
I am a Yes fan, but my 1st exposure was to The Yes Album, then Fragile, then Close To The Edge. When Tales From Topographic Oceans came out, it took me awhile to accept it, same with Relayer, but after listening again, and again, I got it.
As a Yes fan for close to a half century, "The Revealing Science of God" is my favorite Yes song. It's very sophisticated and speaks to the spirituality in each of us. The collaboration between Jon Anderson and Steve Howe was peaking with the album, 'Tales from Topographic Oceans, IMHO. 🎼🎤🎸
I absolutely adore "The Revealing Science of God"! Without Jon's spirituality in the present lineup of the group, they are sadly lacking. I'm one of those weird people who loved _Tales_ from my first listen and I have never looked back. _Relayer_ was also fantastic. Yes at their epic best!
It's so fun to see you smiling with us during this journey. Jon Anderson was using the sounds of the words and his voice as an emotional instrument. The lyrics are definitely deeply meaningful, but I believe just the physical sound will produce the same reaction even without understanding the complete meaning(s) of each word. Need to see more Yes! Or even Rick Wakeman "rock operas."
Yes! Similar to the way Rap and Hiphop artists use words to evoke memories and feelings today. Rather than using words in a narrative sense, he uses words to evoke memories which are unique to every listener. Jon was in many ways, way ahead of his time!
One of the most beautiful Yes songs...Tales is an amazing album...I didn't appreciate it when it came out, I put it in the back of the album file ...Years later; It might be my favorite, overall, Yes Album...
It's taken me 30 years to get it. It seemed like a "task," even though I do very much like the complex epics of Yes. Now, belatedly, it seems like a privilege 😃
@@graemeyetts3465 Once you "get it" it gets better and better. It's like hearing a YES album that's as great as Going For the One or Close to the Edge; which is a delight to experience...It makes you sad for all those who've never heard it once...:(... Good health, happiness, and freedom to you and yours!
You are right!!!! This song takes 5 to 6 listens for one to really understand what the message is saying then you really enjoy it and in some small way makes you cry of the innocence lost in the simplicity of creation. Like one of my favorite poems says, "We(humans) have for gotten who we are."
Jon Anderson uses lyrics like a painter uses colors. As a matter of fact, in an interview, he once referred to it as "Sound Painting". This is probably my favorite track off this LP and gets listened to at least once a week on my Prog Playlist. This whole album is my "Stranded on a desert island with only 1 album" record. The complexities, transitions, and flow keep me coming back for more. Thanks for diving back into the deep cuts of Yes!
Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. Chod you did great that's a symphonic masterpiece with a reach to God. Mozart would applaud. Lucky Seven from Squire's solo album Fish Out Of Water would be nice Yes reaction.
I think the easiest way to understand what this entire album is all about is...God. In fact, most of Jon's lyrics throughout their classic, masterpiece period were about Jon's meditations on God. It wasn't always 100% obvious because he'd use the most cryptical words/metaphors he could think of to disguise what he was up to. After listening to this album a few times when it was released, I got to where I'd put it on while I was taking care of chores or working out or whatever for a couple of hours with it in the background. On first listening, I liked the 1st & 4th sides the most (seems most TFTO fans feel that way) but actually I came to like the 2nd side, The Remembering, the most. I think its melodies & flow are best and the heavier rocking sections were among the best on the album. These days, when I want to hear me some Tales, I'll put on The Remembering as my go-to choice... Does anyone know what version this recording is? That intro was not on the original & I thought the overall mix was the best I've ever heard. For the first time, I was able to follow Chris' bass lines during those times when they were somewhat muted in the final mix. It reminds me that one of the knocks on this album IMO is the way Chris' contributions were drawn back, where it seemed he was deferring to the other guys more for whatever reason. (For me...that's a problem. IMO one of THE most appealing aspects of YES' "Sound" early on was the way Chris Squire's bass inspirations dominated their creations. It was radically different, but he had the talent to pull it off.)
Oh I remember this coming out when it was new. To say it was received with mixed reviews would be a bit of an understatement. The vast majority of my peers hated it. And I was less than fully satisfied. Took years to get comfortable with it. It is, however, worth the effort!👍
It makes me so happy to see you appreciating "advanced" YES as you do! May favorite band since I first heard them in 1979 at 15 y.o. Being 63 y.o. today...I believe they are the greatest band in history! You gotta see their live performances also...absolutely awe inspiring! Each album really should be listened to from beginning to end, as we did as albums came out "back in the day". Keep up the good work. Love you videos!
Imagine hearing the whole of the ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ Album, for the very first time, Live, at your first Yes Live Show! Well that’s what happened to me. The very first time I heard this Album, was 'Live', at my hometown venue, Leicester’s 'De Montfort Hall'. The whole Album in its entirety, (All 4 Sides), on the 26th Nov' 1973. It was less than 2 weeks before the Album was officially released in Dec' '73. I was just 17 years old. Imagine that. I’d already been a fan for 3 Years. I remember reading in the Music Papers I used to have, ‘Sounds’ and the ‘New Musical Express’, they said it was a big gamble that ‘Yes’ were taking, playing the whole Album Live, as some of the earliest Shows on the ‘TFTO’ Tour, were pre the Album coming out. So, as a 17 year old, there with my friends, standing right at the front, near the Stage, we were mesmerised, watching and listening, open mouthed in amazement, so close to our Musical Heroes. Almost within touching distance of Jon, Chris, Rick, Steve and Alan. It was mind blowing, scintillating to see. I’ll never forget that night. The Roger Dean style Images we all had on previous Album sleeves and the Posters all over my bedroom walls, had come to life, on Stage, before our very eyes! And we were blown away at the performance and the musical sounds from ‘TFTO’! I couldn’t take my eyes off Jon, there just above me on Stage. We were transported to another world. It was incredible. We were also lucky enough to get the whole of the ‘Close To The Edge’ Album too that night! With ‘Roundabout’ as a encore. So what a Show that was! But when I bought the ‘TFTO’ Album, just a couple of weeks later, I took it home and had a extra special smile on my face. Because, I knew what was coming! Incredible. And I’ve always Loved it. I still get goosebumps at the Opening Section of ‘The Revealing Science Of God’, as Jon’s voice comes in and the Music builds up to that amazing Crescendo! Fabulous. Awesome. Mind blowing! A Masterpiece. Just my own personal feelings. Hard to believe this Album is 50 years old, next year. And I still get those goosebumps when listening now. 🎶❤️🎶
Hey Chod. Fricken Awesome Bro. Listening in my headphones, knowing what was coming next...I felt a wonderful comradery with you. I swear i could see the goose-bumps on your arms as the music built. It is so nice to share our favorite music with you. Thank you for your reaction videos. Yes, Sir. You have helped many of us get through the isolation of this whole CoVid adventure we have been on. Ken
This must be a revamped version as on the original Jon's vocal comes in straight away with no preamble. This side has always been great for me, the movements and ebbs and flows are so special and emotive with certain passagesof words making a mark ("getting over wars we do not need") regardless of the overall panning it had at the time. There is one side I don't go much on but its certainly a journey to listen to on the other three.
I'm so used to the original as well. This is from Wikipedia "It was remastered again by Bill Inglot in 2003 as an "expanded" version on Elektra/Rhino Records, which features a restored two-minute introduction to "The Revealing Science of God" not included on the original LP but previously released on the 2002 box set In a Word: Yes (1969-)."
This song by Yes and Tales in general isn’t as fluid or cohesive as some of their other Epics like CTTE. Awaken, or Gates Of Delirium. Musically and lyrically it wanders a bit that’s said it definitely creates an emotional response even in its indulgences. It still has that Yesness about it where you can just lose yourself in the music and take a mental journey. Headphones are a must! It may not be their greatest achievement but it’s still wonderful and essential.
@@wendellwiggins3776 thank you. So tired of people criticizing Tales. Even Wakeman eventually admitted he liked it after all. It took him decades to get there, but he woke up eventually.
Wow! Talk about a deep cut! This was YES at their most progressive phase. The critics panned it - they didn't get, but their prog rock fans most surely did. Amazing choice Chod! Thank you!
Was about to go to bed and then you dropped this, guess I’m staying up late…………My favourite piece of music ever………….thanks chod for giving it a spin will be great to get your thoughts at the end
Hi Chod! I got to hear this song live before the album Tales from Topographic Oceans! Due to technical difficulties the album was released after the tour. The album Tales was a reaction to journalist critics of Close To The Edge who said, "What's next The Bible set to music?" this incensed vocalist Jon Anderson who took it as a challenge. He said, "We'll show you suckers, it CAN be done." The inspiration came from the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda. The ideas came from footnotes at the bottom of some of the pages which were connected to the Indian Vedic Shastras. Regarding this song I agree with you (and Rick Wakeman on this) it's a little drawn out and could be cut down a little bit. Please if you get chance listen to side 4 of Tales, "Ritual" my favourite from the album.
Its not an introductory song for Yes. You need to be comfortable with the band and the way they play and present things before listening to it. You also even then need to listen to the four sides of this album multiple times for it to fully settle and deliver to its full extent but i promise you it will give you more with every listen. Its done it for me for 48 years and with the recent Steven Wilson remix it will probably see me out of the rest of my life still discovering new aspects.
Scifimonkey, as to your opening sentence of your comment.... it's definitely not Wilburn's introductory song. He has done more Yes reactions than most of these reaction channels...... from all eras, many albums
Songs like these often take several listens to really appreciate them. I prefer to let the lyrics stir my imagination rather than to try and understand them phrase by phrase, and a lot of the lyrics are kind of abstract anyway, used for sound and mood and to get your imagination revved up. This is Billy Sherwoods favorite Yes album. Great album, some criticize it for having too much filler, but I think it's perfect in it's eccentricity.
This album remains enigmatic and evocative for me still all these decades later. It is certainly the most challenging YES album as it is a huge meal in just four bites. This was the "church of our choice" many a Sunday morning for my brother and I in the mid-seventies. We would play this album start to finish which is really how this album has to be heard. It's a commitment. But the reward of "Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil)" is so worth it. Continue on with this album. Blessings.
It IS an album to be listened to in its entirety, sides 1-4. It definitely takes a commitment to take in this album from Yes. They, along with other prog rock bands, were our "Church." 🎼🙏
tHIS was their last LP with their classic 'all-star' lineup, Anderson, Howe, Squier, Bruford, & Wakeman. Bruford and Wakeman moved on to other projects. I used to call this my black hash LP. Haven't heard this in decades, but I must have listened to it a lot, because I can still anticipate the changes. I believe some critics derided it as 'indulgent' but really it was just Yes being Yes. Nice to hear it again. It's actually quite good.
this song speaks to the heart and spirit, and is all good vibrations. Tales of topographic oceans is the deepest and more abstract work but it takes time for listeners to fully understand it and enjoy it, once you do it is truly a religious experience, the whole album, the good thing is that you already experienced some very deep masterpieces like awaken and gates, close to the edge, so you can understand what i mean. Otherwise my explanation would seem very flaky hahaha
He didn't seem to be too excited about this one. I was sure he was going to be blown away. Maybe he was. This song is deep and maybe it had an effect on him that he's trying to resolve. That's what YES does, they take you everywhere!
@@TigerMtnKing Yep, I agree. I can see not liking these EPICS the first time you hear them sometimes, and this album particularly, since it received a lot of criticism. When your own band member doesn't like it, it says a lot, but I love this album and the 'padding' doesn't bother me in any way. They made the music fit the album, which was done with every album, if you think about it, though not as much as with this one, obviously. I think he loved it, but was still taking it all in and wasn't sure about the piece in its entirety. Just glad he finally got back to Yes : )
@@Lightmane I couldn't agree more with you. This album takes its place among the greatest ever! I hope he reviews the other 3 songs, I'm interested in his reactions. It might be a little overwhelming.
@@TigerMtnKing Chod made the mistake of trying to understand every word and every note. He was over analyzing the whole song instead of just taking the journey and enjoying it. Wrong move on a first listen. Who gives a shit what the words mean. Listen and enjoy, or not!😎
The original doesn't have that opening soundscape before the vocals but I LOVE IT!!! So WELL WELL WELL Finally reached this epic apex that is TALES. The most original, adventurous and bold Concept album EVER!!!! If there is a God then TALES was IT's personal gift to me bc it sends my soul straight to heaven. IGNORE all the alien orders that don't have the DNA to understand every gorgeous second of this incredible masterpiece. I SAW THE ENTIRE ALBUM LIVE & cried from A-Z watching the amazing stage set & music unfold before my kaleidoscope eyes but I was also with Ellis D. at the time which was PERFECT!!!! LOL!!! Hey, it was 1973 and I was sweet 17!!! Back then, I would NEVER listen to only 1 side. It was ALL 4 or Nothing!!! I wanted the complete spiritual journey to lose my mind, body & Spirit within!!!! IT WILL become more clear with every listen as will the instrumental visceral nuances that also illuminates the poetic lyrical content.
The main highlight is that no one performs such music now, of course there is a cover version, but there are no professional bands, and for listeners the answer is simple, if you listen to the Beatles you can listen and YES, I can listen to such music for hours and not get bored. AWAKEN is still a wonderful composition, long, but mysterious and mystical. The YES group could definitely write music for Hollywood films.
You must give Alice Cooper’s song Halo Of Flies - it is a response to King Crimson that Alice Cooper band couldn’t write a progress rock song. Excellent drumming
This album is Yes over indulgence and that is not throwing shade Every great artist has made an album that includes every whim they ever wanted to do The results while maybe not great are fascinating Bill Bruford had left after there previous album Close To The Edge I read he said they fought over every note to be played He was replaced by Alan White who had played with John Lennon and George Harrison. His drumming did what Ringo did for The Beatles Flashy when needed but always got the job done This track and arguably the second are the nost cohesive Jon did. write liner notes on the album explaing the album abd its creation There are parts that repeated a fewbars too many and that had the effect ofmaking the song drag That is a.problem Wakeman had with the album which is why he left after the album was completed That was unfortunate since ut had some of his best work like that amazing synth solo near the end which should have went on longer Another reason whyhe left was tojump start his solo career One of the reasobs Yes always sounds fresh is because of their personel joning quiting joining again They had so many members that there are two Yes groups out now One under the name Yes which has Howe and White and had Squire till he passed and other with Anderson Rabin and Wakeman
It took me about 10 listens before I even liked this album... At first I just listened to it out of spite. I was so disappointed and I got depressed for a few weeks! Now it is quite possibly my favorite album of all time! For this reason I don't expect ANYONE to truly like this album on their first listen! I think it's important to acknowledge this because of the sheer complexity of this album. You can't even do 2 head bobs or foot taps without getting caught out of rhythm and it can understandably be discouraging! It just literally takes hours and hours of listens to learn all of the song's parts! The extensive use of dissoance means that is is highly irregular and unintuitive. There is no way around this. You have the right perspective! You just gotta let the greatness wash over you! Lyrically, this particular song is about life, death, and the evolution of humans and animals. There is the slow evolution of fish species, gaining the ability to walk and live on land. On the back of the album cover you can see a fossil of a fish with small legs, representing the link between the fish and later land animals which evolved in turn into humans. There is also the evolution of animals to have wings and fly. "Glory to sons of all fighters past" is talking about animals fighting for their lives, and the ones that survive are the ones that can have offspring, and pass on their genes, and through time animals evolve, and their song changes. The later parts of the album are more about the evolution of human culture and consciousness!
Quite a few albums released in the 70s had a "listening curve" i.e. it took time to absorb all that music...there was so much there. The jazz-rock fusion of Jeff Beck is another example. Music like this is a banquet, not a snack.
These guys were greatly affected by tours they did with the original Mahavishnu Orchestra. Second this was a reaction primarily by Jon Anderson to a critic literally stating what's next ? the bible set to music? and Jon took it as a challenge
Love this album but it's a tough first listen. In fact it's not an easy second or third 🤣. Get to 5th and 6th and you'll get there 👍 the fourth side of this album for me is the best. Chod, go forward to 1994 and react to Endless Dream 🙏
Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. The band has undergone numerous line-up changes throughout its history, up to nineteen musicians have been full-time members. They have had a lot of great songs such as "Roundabout", "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", "Going For The One", "Masquerade", "Yours Is No Disgrace", "Heart Of The Sunrise", "The Gates Of Delirium", "And You & I", "Starship Trooper", "Close To The Edge", "I've Seen All Good People" etc.
These deep cuts are not for neophytes, but I know all the lyrics by heart, as well as the musical parts...as long as I can use air instruments. If I were you, I would maybe do side two, then break for a while before doing three and four. It is a bit much to absorb, and some assimilation might be useful. As you study this classical masterpiece, do yourself a favor and read Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi". Therein you will find truly wondrous stories. And you will begin to magnetize the wondrous into your own life, which seems well under way. I read it because of this record, which I got when it came out. As with Mozart, Coltrane, or Beatles, there are high points, there are low points, and there is connective tissue. Jon's bits are all beautiful, and pregnant with meaning. High, the memory carries on, while the moments start to linger...
I Have a lady for you to try. Juice Newton, she's lovely "Angel of the morning ", is a cover but does it very well, became an 80s hit. Both country and Pop, along with another big hit for her "Queen of Hearts". She's got good music vids. Pretty true to the studio. She got me through high school and Basic Training along with Alabama, Chicago, then Peter Cetera by himself. Love you evaluating style, and openness it's refreshing to see you and many I like seeing. Good luck in the future and be waiting for the next one. I love this one too. Fun
After the pinnacle of Close To The Edge what could Yes come up with for their next album ? Even the most ardent fans admit that Yes went “over the edge” with Topographic Oceans but the tracks need to be played together to make sense of the whole project, difficult when each song is one album side. When you play the third instalment, The Ancient, you will be out of your comfort zone as it’s Yes’s most avantgarde song ever but I, personally, like it,. You’ll hear that over the four sides there is very little for you to nod your head to, it’s mostly at a “leisurely” pace. The next track, The Remembering, is extremely slow and only the fourth song, Ritual, has a few rockier moments. The Mellotron is used extensively over the four sides to great effect. The next album was Relayer and you’ve already heard how different that is, trying a whole new musical approach. ,
This is a great Yes song, but it and the other three songs on the double album are very divisive among Yes fans, with some loving the album and others hating it. I love the album but it's not for casual listening, unless you want something long and interesting for cleaning the house to. I'm glad you reacted to the song, but I understand if it's not your favorite. Please, react to "South Side of the Sky." It's right up your alley, Chod.
Another great progressive Rock band that's not mentioned enough is Camel one of my favorites. Check out "Lunar Sea" from Moonmadness. Hats off to Mr. Andy Latimer 🎸☮️
Tales From Topographic Oceans is my favorite album of all time. Up until about 6 years ago, though, it was not even in my top 5 YES albums even though YES have been my favorite band for 4 decades now. When it hit me, though, it hit me big. The artwork, the music, the messages, and the adventurous nature of it is unparalleled. Keep listening. If you're going to stay with this album, I recommend "Ritual" next. It's the most accessible on a first listen.
@Bookhouse Boy YesShows was the album that hooked me, line and sinker, into mega Yes fandom. That was the first I had heard any of those songs, too. Blew my mind. I have since come to prefer the studio version of Ritual, but for a long time I preferred the YesShows version. I still think the Gates Of Delirium from YesShows is the ultimate version of that piece. The studio version is fine, but just doesn't have the flow and power of the YesShows version. It's really too bad that all of these reaction channels never choose that version when reacting to it.
Is this the album that "broke" progressive rock? Might be the most divisive album in rock history, I've joked for nearly 40 years that you should buy used vinyl copies of this #2 selling album because the second disc never left the paper. But it is brilliant, it's challenging and rewarding and each song has moments of incredible enduring beauty.
From the album's liner notes: “The Revealing Science of God can be seen as an ever-opening flower in which simple truths emerge examining the complexities and magic of the past and how we should not forget the song that has been left to us to hear. The knowledge of God is a search. Constant and clear.”
Great song. Good that you go with the studio version first. I´ve heard the live version from Keys To Ascension first and so this studio version seems a bit slow to me. But check out the live version in the near future to appreciate the difference. It´s fire.
Easter egg: there is refrain from Heart Of The Sunrise on this song at about 14:04 on your video. The piano repeats it 3 times. Every side on this album has one or more Easter eggs on it if you listen.
Take the dawn image when you listen to this, and extrapolate from the sun rising and birds starting to sing to the entire creation myth; let there be light, let there be life, etc. Honestly, they shouldn't have made this album for another two years at least, because the whole thing is a very VERY big cake to eat all at once and they needed to develop their compositional and arranging skills a lot more. Imagine Jon Anderson and Steve Howe getting stoned in hotels every night while on tour, and then walking into rehearsal one morning and saying, right, here's the new album everyone, and the others going.... uh... ok...
@@jeffschielka7845 We can't change history, obv, but I'd be interested in an alternative universe in which they did at least one more album before trying to cover life, the universe and everything
@@sigil5772 That was YES. They wanted to be themselves and do what had never been done before. Personally I'm glad they did. The result was one of the greatest prog albums of all time. FOREVER YES!!!😎
Oh, wow Chod... I'm commenting before watching. You're tackling Tales? It's a brilliant album, but if you choose to do the sides in rapid succession, it may be a bit of a long haul. In my opinion it's worth it to do the whole thing. But, there is some justification for Wakeman choosing to leave the band after touring this. Truly, of the classic '70s Yes period, this is the album which will make or break a diehard Yes fan. Onward and discover!
Tales requires some effort and mulitple listens but there is a payoff for those efforts. There is no one meaning to Jon’s lyrics. You are right about it sounds like it would be a visual play on the stage. Yes creates the play in our minds. The story behind the making of Tales is great. Really enjoyed this and hope you listen to it many more times.
@@benmolnar And left for Drama. Returned for ABWH & Union, left after Keys To Ascension, returned for the 35th tour. Then joined Anderson and Rabin for their Yes offshoot group (the second Yes splinter!).
The critics hated this album, calling it boring and self indulgent. When punk rock became popular they praised it as the cure for and answer to bands like Yes There’s still a lot of disdain for this album.
This is Alan White's first studio album with Yes after Bill Bruford left to join King Crimson. Now I hope you will check out the live version of Ritual from their album Yesshows. It is every bit as good as this one, possibly even better.
Wilburn, the reason why you feel incomplete in your understanding of this song is probably because this album, as are all early YES albums are concept albums. The whole album tells a story. You have only hear the beginning of the story, the remaining songs are what is left to the story! ENJOY!
Do you have plans on doing " The Remembering/High The Memory" from the same album? Side note of no importance, in the early 1980s i listened to this entire album on acid, i'm not sorry either. That's a true story.
In fact, God is just another name for everything. So God indeed exists, no one that has the ability to deny can deny it, because God is them, they confirm its existence just by being.
I think you did a great job explaining the song..I was a teenager when this song came out and we used to smoke pot alot and it's one of those deep songs about life that not alot of people want to delv into.. But you did a great job explaining it.. Wait until you listen to the song close to the edge ..lol
this recording is altered with crappy wavy spacy sounds at the start. The orginal recording starts with Jon " dawn of light lying " right at the very start. WHY do people keep fucking around with add ons? pisses me off
What you heard was the original version before the producer convinced them to remove the extended intro to make the track easier to master to LP. It is neither “altered” nor "crappy".
Yes a fantastic band with incredible talented members
It's amazing that these 5 aliens made it to earth, and found each other to create music for us.
A much-maligned album, but I believe with the passing of time it’s revealed itself to be something of a masterpiece.
Hey Chod! Finally! YES!!!!! Thank you!! The greatest band on this or any other planet.😎
YES SIR.
@@lesblatnyak5947 You know it Les!😎
Amen!
This song and all of Tales is a sonic journey like no other done before or after. In this song the band has time and space to really build the theme and landscape. However it is not possible to put all of this together in the first listen and doing it as a reaction video would be very difficult. For me, I am totally comfortable with The Revealing Science of God, but I have had 50 years. It took me several times listening to this song laying back in a dark room with headphones to really get into it. But it is such a wonderful journey. Please let it grow and this whole album will repay you greatly as it slowly works its magic. Maybe more than any other Yes LP set. Then you will understand Tales is a one-off and only musical experience of its type ever.
I have been listening to this since I was 13 years old (1978). I have never grown tired of it. It's such an awesome song.
It takes several listens, and then some, to truly appreciate and understand it. You can’t help but feel it.
“We love when we play”…The emotion of giving when when you make music. Beyond the act of making notes is the extension of giving to those who are listening. My favorite line of the album…
I am a Yes fan, but my 1st exposure was to The Yes Album, then Fragile, then Close To The Edge. When Tales From Topographic Oceans came out, it took me awhile to accept it, same with Relayer, but after listening again, and again, I got it.
looks like he's waited all his life for this moment.
As a Yes fan for close to a half century, "The Revealing Science of God" is my favorite Yes song. It's very sophisticated and speaks to the spirituality in each of us. The collaboration between Jon Anderson and Steve Howe was peaking with the album, 'Tales from Topographic Oceans, IMHO. 🎼🎤🎸
I absolutely adore "The Revealing Science of God"! Without Jon's spirituality in the present lineup of the group, they are sadly lacking. I'm one of those weird people who loved _Tales_ from my first listen and I have never looked back. _Relayer_ was also fantastic. Yes at their epic best!
A blissful journey with the creator.
It's very appreciated that you took the time to understand YES and the lyrics.
It's so fun to see you smiling with us during this journey. Jon Anderson was using the sounds of the words and his voice as an emotional instrument. The lyrics are definitely deeply meaningful, but I believe just the physical sound will produce the same reaction even without understanding the complete meaning(s) of each word. Need to see more Yes! Or even Rick Wakeman "rock operas."
Yes! Similar to the way Rap and Hiphop artists use words to evoke memories and feelings today. Rather than using words in a narrative sense, he uses words to evoke memories which are unique to every listener. Jon was in many ways, way ahead of his time!
@@Kae6502 I appreciate Yes, and own a handful of their albums, but this is nothing but a snoozefest!
Im sorry nobody asked 😁
Thank you for keeping this art/music alive for more generations.
One of the most beautiful Yes songs...Tales is an amazing album...I didn't appreciate it when it came out, I put it in the back of the album file ...Years later; It might be my favorite, overall, Yes Album...
It's taken me 30 years to get it.
It seemed like a "task," even though I do very much like the complex epics of Yes.
Now, belatedly, it seems like a privilege 😃
@@graemeyetts3465 Once you "get it" it gets better and better. It's like hearing a YES album that's as great as Going For the One or Close to the Edge; which is a delight to experience...It makes you sad for all those who've never heard it once...:(... Good health, happiness, and freedom to you and yours!
You are right!!!! This song takes 5 to 6 listens for one to really understand what the message is saying then you really enjoy it and in some small way makes you cry of the innocence lost in the simplicity of creation. Like one of my favorite poems says, "We(humans) have for gotten who we are."
Jon Anderson uses lyrics like a painter uses colors. As a matter of fact, in an interview, he once referred to it as "Sound Painting".
This is probably my favorite track off this LP and gets listened to at least once a week on my Prog Playlist.
This whole album is my "Stranded on a desert island with only 1 album" record. The complexities, transitions, and flow keep me coming back for more.
Thanks for diving back into the deep cuts of Yes!
Ladies and gentlemen Chris Squire and Yes the greatest show on earth. Chod you did great that's a symphonic masterpiece with a reach to God. Mozart would applaud. Lucky Seven from Squire's solo album Fish Out Of Water would be nice Yes reaction.
😎
I think the easiest way to understand what this entire album is all about is...God. In fact, most of Jon's lyrics throughout their classic, masterpiece period were about Jon's meditations on God. It wasn't always 100% obvious because he'd use the most cryptical words/metaphors he could think of to disguise what he was up to.
After listening to this album a few times when it was released, I got to where I'd put it on while I was taking care of chores or working out or whatever for a couple of hours with it in the background. On first listening, I liked the 1st & 4th sides the most (seems most TFTO fans feel that way) but actually I came to like the 2nd side, The Remembering, the most. I think its melodies & flow are best and the heavier rocking sections were among the best on the album. These days, when I want to hear me some Tales, I'll put on The Remembering as my go-to choice...
Does anyone know what version this recording is? That intro was not on the original & I thought the overall mix was the best I've ever heard. For the first time, I was able to follow Chris' bass lines during those times when they were somewhat muted in the final mix. It reminds me that one of the knocks on this album IMO is the way Chris' contributions were drawn back, where it seemed he was deferring to the other guys more for whatever reason. (For me...that's a problem. IMO one of THE most appealing aspects of YES' "Sound" early on was the way Chris Squire's bass inspirations dominated their creations. It was radically different, but he had the talent to pull it off.)
This is the Steven Wilson remaster version. 2003 I believe.
@@phillipnoble7868 The Wilson remaster was 2016!
Oh I remember this coming out when it was new. To say it was received with mixed reviews would be a bit of an understatement. The vast majority of my peers hated it. And I was less than fully satisfied. Took years to get comfortable with it.
It is, however, worth the effort!👍
It makes me so happy to see you appreciating "advanced" YES as you do! May favorite band since I first heard them in 1979 at 15 y.o. Being 63 y.o. today...I believe they are the greatest band in history! You gotta see their live performances also...absolutely awe inspiring! Each album really should be listened to from beginning to end, as we did as albums came out "back in the day". Keep up the good work. Love you videos!
Imagine hearing the whole of the ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ Album, for the very first time, Live, at your first
Yes Live Show! Well that’s what happened to me.
The very first time I heard this Album, was 'Live', at my hometown venue, Leicester’s 'De Montfort Hall'.
The whole Album in its entirety, (All 4 Sides), on the 26th Nov' 1973. It was less than 2 weeks before the Album was officially released in Dec' '73.
I was just 17 years old. Imagine that. I’d already been a fan for 3 Years.
I remember reading in the Music Papers I used to have, ‘Sounds’ and the ‘New Musical Express’, they said it was a big gamble that ‘Yes’ were taking, playing the whole Album Live, as some of the earliest Shows on the ‘TFTO’ Tour, were pre the Album coming out.
So, as a 17 year old, there with my friends, standing right at the front, near the Stage, we were mesmerised, watching and listening, open mouthed in amazement, so close to our Musical Heroes. Almost within touching distance of Jon, Chris, Rick, Steve and Alan.
It was mind blowing, scintillating to see. I’ll never forget that night.
The Roger Dean style Images we all had on previous Album sleeves and the Posters all over my bedroom walls, had come to life, on Stage, before our very eyes! And we were blown away at the performance and the musical sounds from ‘TFTO’!
I couldn’t take my eyes off Jon, there just above me on Stage. We were transported to another world. It was incredible.
We were also lucky enough to get the whole of the ‘Close To The Edge’ Album too that night! With ‘Roundabout’ as a encore.
So what a Show that was!
But when I bought the ‘TFTO’ Album, just a couple of weeks later, I took it home and had a extra special smile on my face.
Because, I knew what was coming! Incredible.
And I’ve always Loved it. I still get goosebumps at the Opening Section of ‘The Revealing Science Of God’, as Jon’s voice comes in and the Music builds up to that amazing Crescendo! Fabulous. Awesome. Mind blowing! A Masterpiece. Just my own personal feelings.
Hard to believe this Album is 50 years old, next year. And I still get those goosebumps when listening now. 🎶❤️🎶
Hey Chod. Fricken Awesome Bro. Listening in my headphones, knowing what was coming next...I felt a wonderful comradery with you. I swear i could see the goose-bumps on your arms as the music built.
It is so nice to share our favorite music with you.
Thank you for your reaction videos. Yes, Sir. You have helped many of us get through the isolation of this whole CoVid adventure we have been on.
Ken
It took me some time to learn to appreciate "Tales From Topographic Oceans" way back when, but it was time well spent!
Tales From Topographic Oceans is my favorite album ever!!!
This must be a revamped version as on the original Jon's vocal comes in straight away with no preamble. This side has always been great for me, the movements and ebbs and flows are so special and emotive with certain passagesof words making a mark ("getting over wars we do not need") regardless of the overall panning it had at the time. There is one side I don't go much on but its certainly a journey to listen to on the other three.
I'm so used to the original as well. This is from Wikipedia "It was remastered again by Bill Inglot in 2003 as an "expanded" version on Elektra/Rhino Records, which features a restored two-minute introduction to "The Revealing Science of God" not included on the original LP but previously released on the 2002 box set In a Word: Yes (1969-)."
it took me some time to digest it and fully enjoy this wonderful album.
This song by Yes and Tales in general isn’t as fluid or cohesive as some of their other Epics like CTTE. Awaken, or Gates Of Delirium.
Musically and lyrically it wanders a bit that’s said it definitely creates an emotional response even in its indulgences. It still has that Yesness about it where you can just lose yourself in the music and take a mental journey. Headphones are a must! It may not be their greatest achievement but it’s still wonderful and essential.
BS! You wonder off not the music. THe music is TIGHT!!!
@@wendellwiggins3776 thank you. So tired of people criticizing Tales. Even Wakeman eventually admitted he liked it after all. It took him decades to get there, but he woke up eventually.
The first and easiest part of TOPOGRAPHIC . Well worth the strife the band went through over it .
Wow! Talk about a deep cut! This was YES at their most progressive phase. The critics panned it - they didn't get, but their prog rock fans most surely did. Amazing choice Chod! Thank you!
Was about to go to bed and then you dropped this, guess I’m staying up late…………My favourite piece of music ever………….thanks chod for giving it a spin will be great to get your thoughts at the end
Hi Chod! I got to hear this song live before the album Tales from Topographic Oceans! Due to technical difficulties the album was released after the tour.
The album Tales was a reaction to journalist critics of Close To The Edge who said, "What's next The Bible set to music?" this incensed vocalist Jon Anderson who took it as a challenge. He said, "We'll show you suckers, it CAN be done." The inspiration came from the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda. The ideas came from footnotes at the bottom of some of the pages which were connected to the Indian Vedic Shastras.
Regarding this song I agree with you (and Rick Wakeman on this) it's a little drawn out and could be cut down a little bit. Please if you get chance listen to side 4 of Tales, "Ritual" my favourite from the album.
I always liked that quote by Jon. Don't piss off The Master!😎
20 minutes plus is fine by me. 😊
Its not an introductory song for Yes. You need to be comfortable with the band and the way they play and present things before listening to it. You also even then need to listen to the four sides of this album multiple times for it to fully settle and deliver to its full extent but i promise you it will give you more with every listen. Its done it for me for 48 years and with the recent Steven Wilson remix it will probably see me out of the rest of my life still discovering new aspects.
To diffuse no cohesivenessas a band though some individual virtuosos. Yo me one of the low points for YES.
Masterpiece from a masterpiece album.
@@joelliebler5690 Agreed if i have understood your comment properly.
Scifimonkey, as to your opening sentence of your comment.... it's definitely not Wilburn's introductory song. He has done more Yes reactions than most of these reaction channels...... from all eras, many albums
Songs like these often take several listens to really appreciate them. I prefer to let the lyrics stir my imagination rather than to try and understand them phrase by phrase, and a lot of the lyrics are kind of abstract anyway, used for sound and mood and to get your imagination revved up. This is Billy Sherwoods favorite Yes album. Great album, some criticize it for having too much filler, but I think it's perfect in it's eccentricity.
THANK YOU.
This song 🎵 👌 🙌 ❤ 😍
This album remains enigmatic and evocative for me still all these decades later. It is certainly the most challenging YES album as it is a huge meal in just four bites.
This was the "church of our choice" many a Sunday morning for my brother and I in the mid-seventies. We would play this album start to finish which is really how this album has to be heard. It's a commitment.
But the reward of "Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil)" is so worth it.
Continue on with this album.
Blessings.
Well said. Used to listen with my brother as well. Lost him in '97. Miss him so much but the music of YES always helps that lost feeling.😎
It IS an album to be listened to in its entirety, sides 1-4. It definitely takes a commitment to take in this album from Yes. They, along with other prog rock bands, were our "Church." 🎼🙏
tHIS was their last LP with their classic 'all-star' lineup, Anderson, Howe, Squier, Bruford, & Wakeman. Bruford and Wakeman moved on to other projects. I used to call this my black hash LP. Haven't heard this in decades, but I must have listened to it a lot, because I can still anticipate the changes. I believe some critics derided it as 'indulgent' but really it was just Yes being Yes. Nice to hear it again. It's actually quite good.
Bill Bruford was already gone by this time. It's Alan White on drums for this album.
@@TRANZEURO Yes! and he contributed more to the album than one may think
I saw Yes at a festival sometime in the 70s, pouring with rain with lazers flashing through the darkness, and this sound ..... wow
3:30 Describe YES in 4 words: 'Disjointed... but with purpose'
this song speaks to the heart and spirit, and is all good vibrations. Tales of topographic oceans is the deepest and more abstract work but it takes time for listeners to fully understand it and enjoy it, once you do it is truly a religious experience, the whole album, the good thing is that you already experienced some very deep masterpieces like awaken and gates, close to the edge, so you can understand what i mean. Otherwise my explanation would seem very flaky hahaha
..we move fast... we need love... a part we offer is our only freedom...
I just gained a whole new perspective on that lyric (48 or so years later), even though I'd listened to it so many times before.
So nice to see you finally getting back to YES. Hope the next time you do won't be as long a wait. Even just once/month would be nice : )
😎
He didn't seem to be too excited about this one. I was sure he was going to be blown away. Maybe he was. This song is deep and maybe it had an effect on him that he's trying to resolve. That's what YES does, they take you everywhere!
@@TigerMtnKing Yep, I agree. I can see not liking these EPICS the first time you hear them sometimes, and this album particularly, since it received a lot of criticism. When your own band member doesn't like it, it says a lot, but I love this album and the 'padding' doesn't bother me in any way. They made the music fit the album, which was done with every album, if you think about it, though not as much as with this one, obviously. I think he loved it, but was still taking it all in and wasn't sure about the piece in its entirety. Just glad he finally got back to Yes : )
@@Lightmane I couldn't agree more with you. This album takes its place among the greatest ever! I hope he reviews the other 3 songs, I'm interested in his reactions. It might be a little overwhelming.
@@TigerMtnKing Chod made the mistake of trying to understand every word and every note. He was over analyzing the whole song instead of just taking the journey and enjoying it. Wrong move on a first listen. Who gives a shit what the words mean. Listen and enjoy, or not!😎
Look Yes live in Lugano jazz festival 2004
Humans with amnesia , an we are now starting to wake up too our purpose here an why we are here..
The original doesn't have that opening soundscape before the vocals but I LOVE IT!!! So WELL WELL WELL Finally reached this epic apex that is TALES. The most original, adventurous and bold Concept album EVER!!!! If there is a God then TALES was IT's personal gift to me bc it sends my soul straight to heaven. IGNORE all the alien orders that don't have the DNA to understand every gorgeous second of this incredible masterpiece. I SAW THE ENTIRE ALBUM LIVE & cried from A-Z watching the amazing stage set & music unfold before my kaleidoscope eyes but I was also with Ellis D. at the time which was PERFECT!!!! LOL!!! Hey, it was 1973 and I was sweet 17!!! Back then, I would NEVER listen to only 1 side. It was ALL 4 or Nothing!!! I wanted the complete spiritual journey to lose my mind, body & Spirit within!!!! IT WILL become more clear with every listen as will the instrumental visceral nuances that also illuminates the poetic lyrical content.
Tha one having Mr. RICK WAKEMAN on the keyboards... Amazing ✌☯️take care
The main highlight is that no one performs such music now, of course there is a cover version, but there are no professional bands, and for listeners the answer is simple, if you listen to the Beatles you can listen and YES, I can listen to such music for hours and not get bored. AWAKEN is still a wonderful composition, long, but mysterious and mystical. The YES group could definitely write music for Hollywood films.
You must give Alice Cooper’s song Halo Of Flies - it is a response to King Crimson that Alice Cooper band couldn’t write a progress rock song. Excellent drumming
This album is Yes over indulgence and that is not throwing shade Every great artist has made an album that includes every whim they ever wanted to do The results while maybe not great are fascinating Bill Bruford had left after there previous album Close To The Edge I read he said they fought over every note to be played He was replaced by Alan White who had played with John Lennon and George Harrison. His drumming did what Ringo did for The Beatles Flashy when needed but always got the job done
This track and arguably the second are the nost cohesive Jon did. write liner notes on the album explaing the album abd its creation
There are parts that repeated a fewbars too many and that had the effect ofmaking the song drag That is a.problem Wakeman had with the album which is why he left after the album was completed That was unfortunate since ut had some of his best work like that amazing synth solo near the end which should have went on longer Another reason whyhe left was tojump start his solo career
One of the reasobs Yes always sounds fresh is because of their personel joning quiting joining again They had so many members that there are two Yes groups out now One under the name Yes which has Howe and White and had Squire till he passed and other with Anderson Rabin and Wakeman
It took me about 10 listens before I even liked this album... At first I just listened to it out of spite. I was so disappointed and I got depressed for a few weeks! Now it is quite possibly my favorite album of all time!
For this reason I don't expect ANYONE to truly like this album on their first listen! I think it's important to acknowledge this because of the sheer complexity of this album. You can't even do 2 head bobs or foot taps without getting caught out of rhythm and it can understandably be discouraging!
It just literally takes hours and hours of listens to learn all of the song's parts! The extensive use of dissoance means that is is highly irregular and unintuitive. There is no way around this.
You have the right perspective! You just gotta let the greatness wash over you!
Lyrically, this particular song is about life, death, and the evolution of humans and animals.
There is the slow evolution of fish species, gaining the ability to walk and live on land. On the back of the album cover you can see a fossil of a fish with small legs, representing the link between the fish and later land animals which evolved in turn into humans. There is also the evolution of animals to have wings and fly.
"Glory to sons of all fighters past" is talking about animals fighting for their lives, and the ones that survive are the ones that can have offspring, and pass on their genes, and through time animals evolve, and their song changes. The later parts of the album are more about the evolution of human culture and consciousness!
Quite a few albums released in the 70s had a "listening curve" i.e. it took time to absorb all that music...there was so much there. The jazz-rock fusion of Jeff Beck is another example. Music like this is a banquet, not a snack.
These guys were greatly affected by tours they did with the original Mahavishnu Orchestra. Second this was a reaction primarily by Jon Anderson to a critic literally stating what's next ? the bible set to music? and Jon took it as a challenge
Love this album but it's a tough first listen. In fact it's not an easy second or third 🤣. Get to 5th and 6th and you'll get there 👍 the fourth side of this album for me is the best.
Chod, go forward to 1994 and react to Endless Dream 🙏
Endless Dream is a masterpiece. 😎
Notification squad checking in! Chod finna kill it!
Every Yes song is a 5x listen minimum.
Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. The band has undergone numerous line-up changes throughout its history, up to nineteen musicians have been full-time members. They have had a lot of great songs such as "Roundabout", "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", "Going For The One", "Masquerade", "Yours Is No Disgrace", "Heart Of The Sunrise", "The Gates Of Delirium", "And You & I", "Starship Trooper", "Close To The Edge", "I've Seen All Good People" etc.
oh really
These deep cuts are not for neophytes, but I know all the lyrics by heart, as well as the musical parts...as long as I can use air instruments. If I were you, I would maybe do side two, then break for a while before doing three and four. It is a bit much to absorb, and some assimilation might be useful. As you study this classical masterpiece, do yourself a favor and read Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi". Therein you will find truly wondrous stories. And you will begin to magnetize the wondrous into your own life, which seems well under way. I read it because of this record, which I got when it came out. As with Mozart, Coltrane, or Beatles, there are high points, there are low points, and there is connective tissue. Jon's bits are all beautiful, and pregnant with meaning. High, the memory carries on, while the moments start to linger...
I Have a lady for you to try. Juice Newton, she's lovely "Angel of the morning ", is a cover but does it very well, became an 80s hit. Both country and Pop, along with another big hit for her "Queen of Hearts". She's got good music vids. Pretty true to the studio. She got me through high school and Basic Training along with Alabama, Chicago, then Peter Cetera by himself. Love you evaluating style, and openness it's refreshing to see you and many I like seeing. Good luck in the future and be waiting for the next one.
I love this one too. Fun
After the pinnacle of Close To The Edge what could Yes come up with for their next album ? Even the most ardent fans admit that Yes went “over the edge” with Topographic Oceans but the tracks need to be played together to make sense of the whole project, difficult when each song is one album side. When you play the third instalment, The Ancient, you will be out of your comfort zone as it’s Yes’s most avantgarde song ever but I, personally, like it,. You’ll hear that over the four sides there is very little for you to nod your head to, it’s mostly at a “leisurely” pace. The next track, The Remembering, is extremely slow and only the fourth song, Ritual, has a few rockier moments. The Mellotron is used extensively over the four sides to great effect.
The next album was Relayer and you’ve already heard how different that is, trying a whole new musical approach.
,
Yes this album includes 4 parts
This is a great Yes song, but it and the other three songs on the double album are very divisive among Yes fans, with some loving the album and others hating it. I love the album but it's not for casual listening, unless you want something long and interesting for cleaning the house to. I'm glad you reacted to the song, but I understand if it's not your favorite. Please, react to "South Side of the Sky." It's right up your alley, Chod.
Repeated listening necessary 😎
Another great progressive Rock band that's not mentioned enough is
Camel one of my favorites. Check out "Lunar Sea" from Moonmadness. Hats off to Mr. Andy Latimer 🎸☮️
Enjoyable video here.
Chris Squire was the man.❤
Tales From Topographic Oceans is my favorite album of all time. Up until about 6 years ago, though, it was not even in my top 5 YES albums even though YES have been my favorite band for 4 decades now. When it hit me, though, it hit me big. The artwork, the music, the messages, and the adventurous nature of it is unparalleled. Keep listening. If you're going to stay with this album, I recommend "Ritual" next. It's the most accessible on a first listen.
@Bookhouse Boy YesShows was the album that hooked me, line and sinker, into mega Yes fandom. That was the first I had heard any of those songs, too. Blew my mind. I have since come to prefer the studio version of Ritual, but for a long time I preferred the YesShows version. I still think the Gates Of Delirium from YesShows is the ultimate version of that piece. The studio version is fine, but just doesn't have the flow and power of the YesShows version. It's really too bad that all of these reaction channels never choose that version when reacting to it.
Try some Transatlantic.. I think they are the best Prog act going today... The Whirlwind or Mystery Train
Is this the album that "broke" progressive rock? Might be the most divisive album in rock history, I've joked for nearly 40 years that you should buy used vinyl copies of this #2 selling album because the second disc never left the paper.
But it is brilliant, it's challenging and rewarding and each song has moments of incredible enduring beauty.
From the album's liner notes:
“The Revealing Science of God can be seen as an ever-opening flower in which simple truths emerge examining the complexities and magic of the past and how we should not forget the song that has been left to us to hear. The knowledge of God is a search. Constant and clear.”
Great song. Good that you go with the studio version first. I´ve heard the live version from Keys To Ascension first and so this studio version seems a bit slow to me. But check out the live version in the near future to appreciate the difference. It´s fire.
Easter egg: there is refrain from Heart Of The Sunrise on this song at about 14:04 on your video. The piano repeats it 3 times. Every side on this album has one or more Easter eggs on it if you listen.
Nice. Great Video.
Its a master puece
Take the dawn image when you listen to this, and extrapolate from the sun rising and birds starting to sing to the entire creation myth; let there be light, let there be life, etc. Honestly, they shouldn't have made this album for another two years at least, because the whole thing is a very VERY big cake to eat all at once and they needed to develop their compositional and arranging skills a lot more. Imagine Jon Anderson and Steve Howe getting stoned in hotels every night while on tour, and then walking into rehearsal one morning and saying, right, here's the new album everyone, and the others going.... uh... ok...
Disagree. Timing was perfect after CTTE.
@@jeffschielka7845 We can't change history, obv, but I'd be interested in an alternative universe in which they did at least one more album before trying to cover life, the universe and everything
@@sigil5772 That was YES. They wanted to be themselves and do what had never been done before. Personally I'm glad they did. The result was one of the greatest prog albums of all time. FOREVER YES!!!😎
Oh, wow Chod...
I'm commenting before watching. You're tackling Tales? It's a brilliant album, but if you choose to do the sides in rapid succession, it may be a bit of a long haul. In my opinion it's worth it to do the whole thing. But, there is some justification for Wakeman choosing to leave the band after touring this.
Truly, of the classic '70s Yes period, this is the album which will make or break a diehard Yes fan.
Onward and discover!
Good review as this album split Yes fans.. Difficult esp side 3 .. if u do return side 4 might be more to your liking.
😊👍
Tales requires some effort and mulitple listens but there is a payoff for those efforts. There is no one meaning to Jon’s lyrics. You are right about it sounds like it would be a visual play on the stage. Yes creates the play in our minds. The story behind the making of Tales is great. Really enjoyed this and hope you listen to it many more times.
Still don't think its possible to memorize this one on a first listen .
Sides 1 and 4 are best.
Toughest album Rick Wakeman had done, he left Yes after this album!
And then he came back, left, came back, left, came back... Left.
Did I miss one or two?
@@salsalzman2325 Rick Wakeman came back on the “Going For The One” album!
@@benmolnar And left for Drama. Returned for ABWH & Union, left after Keys To Ascension, returned for the 35th tour. Then joined Anderson and Rabin for their Yes offshoot group (the second Yes splinter!).
The critics hated this album, calling it boring and self indulgent. When punk rock became popular they praised it as the cure for and answer to bands like Yes There’s still a lot of disdain for this album.
You're a good doobie man. Yes is serious shit.
I learned loong ago...do not try to follow the lyrics! It will drive you mad! Just sit back and enjoy.
This is Alan White's first studio album with Yes after Bill Bruford left to join King Crimson. Now I hope you will check out the live version of Ritual from their album Yesshows. It is every bit as good as this one, possibly even better.
I think you have the Yes bug!
Watch some YES from the 70's Live videos. Watch them. You get it as a drummer (once upon a time) they are story tellers and mystical and YES is magic
Think evolution from ocean to water to sky. Evolution.
Paramahansa Yoganada was/is very important to look into Wilburn.
This album was even too deep for Rick Wakeman (the keyboardist). He thought they sort of got lost on this one.....
I like the live version on The Keys to Ascension album better.
I listen to that version a lot.😎
Wilburn, the reason why you feel incomplete in your understanding of this song is probably because this album, as are all early YES albums are concept albums. The whole album tells a story. You have only hear the beginning of the story, the remaining songs are what is left to the story! ENJOY!
To me it just is more diffuse than most of their tunes.Too Deep for me too, Try the tune Onward
Do you have plans on doing " The Remembering/High The Memory" from the same album? Side note of no importance, in the early 1980s i listened to this entire album on acid, i'm not sorry either. That's a true story.
The concept of a actual god,is completely fictional, but granted, I absolutely love this journey of music. Enjoy and embrace !!
It takes more faith to believe there isn’t a GOD than it takes to open your heart to the Truth and know GOD IS THE CREATOR OF ALL LIFE.
@@BarrySanchez Complete and absolute fairytale bullshit you're spewing with that cop-out response with yet again no facts supporting this violence
In fact, God is just another name for everything. So God indeed exists, no one that has the ability to deny can deny it, because God is them, they confirm its existence just by being.
@@Plasmariel Man made God up in their heads out of fear of the unknown.
I think you did a great job explaining the song..I was a teenager when this song came out and we used to smoke pot alot and it's one of those deep songs about life that not alot of people want to delv into..
But you did a great job explaining it..
Wait until you listen to the song close to the edge ..lol
this recording is altered with crappy wavy spacy sounds at the start. The orginal recording starts with Jon " dawn of light lying " right at the very start. WHY do people keep fucking around with add ons? pisses me off
I was beginning to thing a few channels were missing.
What you heard was the original version before the producer convinced them to remove the extended intro to make the track easier to master to LP. It is neither “altered” nor "crappy".
@@troyjamesmartin I thought it was tasteful, primal, cosmic. Setting the stage. Great to hear the full thing at long last.
I instantly turned this off. IT'S THE BLEEPING REMASTER.