Relayer Songs Ranked

Relayer is the seventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in November 1974 by Atlantic Records. After keyboardist Rick Wakeman left the group in May 1974 over disagreements with the band’s direction following their double concept album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Yes entered rehearsals as a four-piece in Buckinghamshire. They auditioned several musicians, including Greek keyboardist and composer Vangelis, before settling with Swiss musician Patrick Moraz of Refugee who incorporated elements of funk and jazz fusion to the album. Relayer is formed of three tracks, with “The Gates of Delirium” on side one and “Sound Chaser” and “To Be Over” on side two. Relayer received a mixed to positive reception from contemporary and retrospective critics. It reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 5 on the US Billboard 200. A single of the closing section of “The Gates of Delirium”, titled “Soon”, was released in January 1975. Relayer continued to sell and is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 copies in the US. It was remastered in 2003 and in 2014, both with previously unreleased tracks; the latter includes new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes and additional tracks. Here are all of Relayer songs ranked.

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3. To Be Over

“A song about the approach and acceptance of the end of life is Yes at their most poignant and beautiful again. The sound is still optimistic tinged with melancholy and echoes the chordal pattern of hymns in places.”

See more: Yes Albums Ranked

2. Sound Chaser

“This song is a very energetic, upbeat and all around crazy song but it’s yet so enjoyable! Crazy and complex instrumentation is what this song is all about! I especially like the parts when all the instruments stop and John Anderson starts singing “CHA CHA CHAAA CHA CHA” it’s so unexpected but actually works. A memorable and fun track.”

See more: Yes Songs Ranked

1. The Gates of Delirium

“Side 1 starts off with the 20 minute epic The Gates Of Delirium which starts off with an unexplainable intro but sounds beautiful! No intros, it just gets straight to the point. To be fair, I have listened to this album many times like probably over 12 times or so and this song is memorable but it’s hard to remember what happens in the song unless your listening to it! And even when listening to it, it is hard to explain what’s going on because it changes frequently.”