Close to the Edge Songs Ranked
Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 13 September 1972 by Atlantic Records. It is their last album of the 1970s to feature original drummer Bill Bruford before he left to join King Crimson. After touring their previous album, Fragile, the group assembled at Advision Studios in London to record a follow-up, ideas for which had been put down since February 1972. The album marked a development in the band’s songwriting, with Jon Anderson and Steve Howe writing the 18-minute title track, the band’s longest song at the time. Side two contains “And You and I” and “Siberian Khatru”. Bruford found the album particularly laborious to make, which influenced his decision to leave the band after it was recorded. Here are all of Close to the Edge songs ranked.
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3. And You and I
“I think this one has movements as well but considering it is 10 minutes long each movement is too short to be mentioned as separate. But what we get is a ballad. Prog bands often had ballads, with the biggest example in my head being King Crimson. But don’t let that convince you it’s bad; it is still very epic in its own right. I think this song really shows off the “symphonic” part of “symphonic prog”.
See more: Yes Albums Ranked
2. Siberian Khatru
“This is where the band picks itself up for the last song (although to be honest the last out of 3 isn’t that much of a deal). With that being said it starts off with this almost funky kind of groove, which was also mildly seen in “Seasons of Man”. It segues into this weird vocal “daaa-da-daa-da-da” thing (accompanied with drums) that is perfect, and right back to this same groove where the band members keep rockin on it.”
See more: Yes Songs Ranked
1. Close to the Edge
“No prog band has ever managed to pull this trick off other than Pink Floyd. The intro feels like you’ve woke up in the Amazon, and a man rolls up with a Jeep. You don’t know this man, and you might be concerned about this man, but it’s best to trust him since you’re in the middle of nowhere and he seems like he knows his stuff. And that Jeep is about to take us on this 20-minute odyssey that roams the entire A-side of the record.”
