Close to the Edge by Yes

Consistently top ranking on any list of best prog album

We are coming to the 50th anniversary of this all time great album, first released in September 1972. It has the classic line up of Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Rick Wakeman (keyboards), Chris Squire (bass) and Bill Bruford (drums). Bill Bruford left the band shortly after its release handing the sticks to Alan White to complete the subsequent world tour. Bruford claims that the making of the album had brought them all, close to the edge. It wasn’t just the constant arguments regarding which rehearsed section to keep, finally agreed by torturous, democratic means. He was further exasperated by Chris Squire’s tardy timekeeping. He defected to the chilly realms of King Crimson, and a move towards a style of playing more improvisational and jazz influenced.

For many it is the band’s finest moment. It is certainly one of the highest achievements in the prog music genre. Prog magazine ranked it as number one in their list of best prog albums while a similar list in Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it as number five. It is included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

The recording of the album has become legendary. As with most of their tracks, the title track developed after hours of improvisational rehearsals. The more complex the music…