Yes: Closer To The Edge

When prog fans declared Close to the Edge the greatest progressive rock album of all time in a 2019 Prog magazine poll, they weren't just celebrating Yes at their creative peak—they were acknowledging a singular moment when five musicians created what many consider rock's ultimate symphonic statement. This Analogue Productions reissue proves that some masterpieces only get better with age.

The Mountaintop Moment

Released September 13, 1972, Close to the Edge captured Yes during an incredible creative zenith that would never quite be recaptured. The album emerged from a brutal creative process that left drummer Bill Bruford so exhausted he immediately jumped ship to King Crimson. Yet their ordeal produced what Jon Anderson called "a fine example of Yes remaining true to its collective artistic vision"—music that "had nothing to do with radio, nothing to do with rock'n'roll, nothing to do with the business."

The 18-minute title track, inspired by Hermann Hesse's *Siddhartha* and structured like a classical symphony, proved that rock audiences were hungry for ambitious, experimental sounds. Peaking at #3 in the US and #4 in the UK, the album demonstrated that complexity and commerciality weren't mutually exclusive—a lesson that influenced prog rock for decades.

Kevin Gray's Masterful Treatment

Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original master tapes, this pressing showcases why Gray remains one of vinyl's most respected engineers. The 45 RPM treatment across four sides reduces distortion and high frequency loss as the wider-spaced grooves let your stereo cartridge track more accurately—crucial for music this intricate.

"Kevin Gray's take on this progressive rock masterpiece magnifies some of the album's more intricate elements," notes one reviewer. "Between shimmering acoustics, textural electric sitar, and biting leads, Steve Howe's guitar work throughout this album is versatile as ever. There's impeccable separation to the harmonies, often positioning Jon Anderson's airy lead vocal perfectly in the center."

The Great Compromise

The elephant in the room: splitting the title track across two sides. This is not as bad as what ORG Music did to John Coltrane's Ole', but purists will cringe. However, the execution proves tasteful. The break occurs during a natural pause, and one collector notes: One would think that it being split into two sides may be jarring, but rest assured it was executed very tastefully.

Sound Quality That Transcends

Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings and housed in a tip-on gatefold with textured stock by Stoughton, every aspect meets Analogue Productions' premium standards. The first 2,000 copies are individually numbered, adding collectible appeal.

The Prog Legacy

Close to the Edge remains prog's definitive statement because it never lapses into the noodling that plagued lesser albums. Instead, every moment feels cosmically connected, from Chris Squire's muscular bass lines to Rick Wakeman's classical elegance to Bill Bruford's jazz-fusion finesse. This was Yes proving they could create "a universal musical language that drew equally from classical and the blues, folk and jazz, psychedelia and Eastern mysticism."

The Vinyl Verdict

This Analogue Productions pressing was the first time in ages that I closed my eyes and locked in with pure enjoyment, something I resonated with when I first heard it in my early adolescence. That testimonial captures this pressing's achievement perfectly—restoring the wonder of discovery to one of rock's most analyzed albums.

For Yes collectors, it's mandatory. For prog newcomers, it's the perfect introduction to the genre's possibilities. Sometimes the greatest music demands the greatest treatment. 💰

💰Invest
💵 Consider
💸 Pass