CLOSE TO THE EDGE
Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 13 September 1972 by Atlantic Records. Following a tour in support of their previous album, Fragile, Yes returned to Advision Studios in London to record their next album. Produced by the band and audio engineer Eddy Offord, the album consists of three tracks: “Close to the Edge” on side one; “And You and I” and “Siberian Khatru” on side two. Close to the Edge became the band’s greatest commercial success at the time of its release, reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Critical reception was mixed on release, though the album is retrospectively regarded as one of the band’s best works, and a landmark recording in progressive rock. (More from Wikipedia)
Future keyboard superstar Rick Wakeman was in the Strawbs in 1970 and 1971; he remained with the band for three albums but eventually left when he decided that his presence was causing both he and the Strawbs to be creatively stagnant. Rick Wakeman joined Yes in 1971 and was with the band during their most productive period, for the albums Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Tales from Topographic Oceans. Rick Wakeman started his solo career by early 1974, though he continued to play with Yes off and on over the years, including their 35th anniversary concert in 2004.
(July 2014)
