For Yes Fans - what happened?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by quarl23, Mar 16, 2019.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    This is not meant to upset Yes fans. I am one. I know sometimes bands live past their prime. But what happened to Yes? They started and stayed brilliant for years. I consider Tales them at their best, but they really lost their touch with Tormato. And all that followed. I would like to know what other fans think and if I should give Owner of the Lonely Heart another (or a 10,000th) listen.
     
  2. Johnny Action

    Johnny Action Forum President

    Location:
    Kailua, Hawai’i
    They had a good run. Nothing lasts forever.
     
  3. Bebstrel

    Bebstrel Old-Timey Member

    Location:
    Michigan USA
    You should give Going for the One, 90125, Magnification and Fly from Here another listen. The best Yes happened prior to 1975 but not the only valuable Yes.
     
  4. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Agreed - and Wondrous Stories is a standout.
     
  5. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    And I am fond of the album cover for GFTO.
     
    Terry, Purple, Mark J and 2 others like this.
  6. Bebstrel

    Bebstrel Old-Timey Member

    Location:
    Michigan USA
    Awaken, Wondrous Stories, and Parallels are worthy, IMHO.
     
  7. petem1966

    petem1966 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Katy TX
    Tormato is one of my favorite Yes albums! Give it another try :)

    Although I agree Tales is their best.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2019
  8. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    I think they went down soon after Rick Wakeman joined. Not that he isn't a bad keyboardist, in fact he's fantastic. And, I think he was a great fit for yes...for a short time. But I think they lost their way toward the mid-late 70s. "Tormato" and "Drama" had some bright spots I really like, though.

    I love "90125", and seems focused like their earlier albums, even more so because it was in the 80s, and the bite-sized hit single was what it was all about. "Big Generator" was an attempt to repeat that formula with less success, IMO. I think you really should revisit those two albums.

    I had a hard time trying to get into their 90s albums.
     
    Purple, DiabloG, Pete Puma and 2 others like this.
  9. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    I think I need to look past the atrocious cover art when I give it another listen. :)
     
  10. Thievius

    Thievius Blue Oyster Cult-ist

    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    I personally think they peaked in 1972 with Close To The Edge. That's not to say they never made good music again, but I never thought that any of their later stuff matched up to their first few (minus that debut record). Though I'm sure I'm in the minority with that view.
     
  11. Dr. Funk

    Dr. Funk Vintage Dust

    Location:
    Fort Worth TX
    Their run of albums starting with...
    The Yes Album
    Fragile
    Close To The Edge
    Tales From Topographic Oceans
    Relayer
    Going For The One
    is perhaps the best in Progressive Rock.

    I agree with the OP..........it went downhill fast.
     
    laf848, Staxus, County50 and 14 others like this.
  12. whiskeyvengeance

    whiskeyvengeance Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Isn't this the case for pretty much any band that's been around for longer than a few years? I can't think of any other bands that stretched their "classic" period beyond a handful of albums early in their career.
     
  13. erikdavid5000

    erikdavid5000 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Tormato should be required listening for those who slight Alan White. Much fantastic, and more technical than usual, drumming from him all over that one.
     
  14. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Anyone who could take over for Bill Bruford has my admiration and respect.
     
  15. akmonday

    akmonday Forum Resident

    Location:
    berkeley, ca
    i recommend GFTO, Drama, 90125, Magnification, and fly From Here (both versions). all excellent. Not hot on the others though.
     
  16. Zach Johnson

    Zach Johnson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Drama is a great album. Talk, Magnification, and Fly from Here are good as well.
     
    riskylogic, veloso2, hi_watt and 9 others like this.
  17. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    My husband agrees with you completely. I think I have been so in love with Tales from the first time I heard it that it causes a bias on my part. One could argue the band was never the same after Bruford left.
     
  18. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Agreed about the best in progressive rock. And Yes fans are so nice.
     
    The MEZ, Rufus rag and Dr. Funk like this.
  19. mBen989

    mBen989 Senior Member

    Location:
    Scranton, PA
    Well, Drama was a surprisingly heavy album and as much of a 180 90125 is, it's still a prime example of mid-80s state of the art pop.
     
    bobloblaw, Purple, DiabloG and 7 others like this.
  20. quarl23

    quarl23 Queen Crimson Thread Starter

    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    So Yes didn't go downhill as much as they shifted genres?
     
  21. Zach Johnson

    Zach Johnson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    I think the 80s albums are terrible, but I guess I'm in the minority... :shrug:
     
  22. Terrapin Station

    Terrapin Station Master Guns

    Location:
    NYC Man/Joy-Z City
    I've often enough listed Tormato as my favorite Yes album. There isn't any Yes album that I don't love, so :shrug:
     
  23. mBen989

    mBen989 Senior Member

    Location:
    Scranton, PA
    Well, I can't speak for after 90125 as it's where I got off the boat.
     
    Jarleboy and quarl23 like this.
  24. Musician95616

    Musician95616 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Woodland, Ca
    So maybe I'm the lone person here who thinks "Open Your Eyes" is a pretty good album....
     
    Jerquee, Carlox, quarl23 and 2 others like this.
  25. erikdavid5000

    erikdavid5000 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I'm not sure anything really "happened" ...... They made three of the most important prog albums in a row (Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge) and then two of the most challenging and "ultimate" prog albums (Tales, Relayer) directly after .... Hard to really keep going up from there... However, Going For The One, Tormato, and Drama were still really strong. Then somehow mutating into a hit making 80's band was a delightfully unexpected left turn. Yes is pretty much success in the music biz personified.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine