Yes: The Yes Album

The Yes Album is where it all started for the progressive rock titans. Released in February 1971, it marked the arrival of Steve Howe on guitar and the beginning of Yes as a legitimate force in rock music. The lineup of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Bill Bruford, Tony Kaye, and Howe locked into something special at Advision Studios in London, with Eddie Offord engineering. The album stayed on the charts for 34 weeks and sold over a million copies. "Yours Is No Disgrace," "Starship Trooper," and "I've Seen All Good People" remain prog rock essentials.

This Atlantic 75 Series reissue from Analogue Productions gives the album the treatment it's been waiting for. Kevin Gray "mastered from the original analog master tapes" at Cohearent Audio. Gray has cut this album multiple times over the years, and his experience shows. This is a refined, confident mastering job that understands what makes this recording work. He's spread the album across four sides at 45 RPM, providing the groove space needed to capture the dynamic range and instrumental complexity that defines Yes.

The sonic presentation is exceptional. Steve Howe's guitar work leaps out of the speakers with clarity and bite. Chris Squire's bass, always the foundation of the Yes sound, has punch and weight without overwhelming the mix. Bill Bruford's drumming sits naturally in the soundstage with excellent separation. Jon Anderson's vocals float above it all with that distinctive ethereal quality intact. The soundstage opens up wide enough that you can place each instrument in space. This is immersive listening that rewards attention.

Discogs reviews consistently call this the best The Yes Album has ever sounded. Multiple collectors who own original UK plum label pressings report the Atlantic 75 edition is meatier and more boisterous. One reviewer who's been listening to this album for decades said it felt like hearing it for the first time. That's the kind of response that separates a good reissue from a great one.

QRP handled the pressing, and the first 2,000 copies came numbered on the back of the jacket. Unnumbered copies may be pressed at either QRP or RTI, identifiable only by the sticker on the outer plastic bag. Our copy is from the initial numbered run. Dead quiet surfaces, perfectly centered, zero issues. The Stoughton tip on gatefold jacket is substantial with nice textured stock. This is quality packaging that matches the audio.

The Atlantic 75 Series from Analogue Productions has been consistently excellent, and The Yes Album is no exception. It won a Positive Feedback 2024 Writers' Choice Award, and that recognition is deserved. If you're a Yes fan or a prog rock collector, this is essential. If you already own a clean original UK pressing, this still justifies the purchase. The 45 RPM presentation extracts detail and dynamics that earlier pressings simply couldn't deliver.

This is one of the finest audiophile rock reissues Analogue Productions has released. The definitive version of a prog rock cornerstone. 💰

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