YES Vinyl Records – Close to the Edge, Fragile & Essential Albums on Vinyl

YES are one of the defining progressive rock bands. Formed in London in 1968 and built around Jon Anderson's distinctive tenor and Chris Squire's Rickenbacker bass, the classic 1971-72 line-up with Steve Howe on guitar, Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Bill Bruford on drums produced what is probably the most consistent run in prog-rock history: The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge.

Roger Dean's cover artwork, the multi-part suites, Anderson's mystical lyrical voice and the band's relentless appetite for complex time signatures made YES uniquely itself. Close to the Edge (1972) is the critical peak; Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) is the divisive ambition; Going for the One (1977) is the late-classic-period high point; 90125 (1983) was the Trevor Horn–produced reinvention that gave them the hit Owner of a Lonely Heart. YES on vinyl is essential — the instrumental interplay, the vocal harmonies, the dynamic range demand it. The Atlantic originals and the Analogue Productions 200g reissues are genuinely audiophile-grade.

Best YES Albums on Vinyl

Close to the Edge (1972)
Their masterpiece. Three tracks across two sides — the 18-minute title track, And You and I, and Siberian Khatru. Widely cited as one of the finest progressive rock albums ever recorded. The Analogue Productions 200g UHQR is the definitive pressing.

Fragile (1971)
The breakthrough. Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky — the record that introduced Rick Wakeman to the band and produced their most famous single. The Roger Dean cover is iconic.

The Yes Album (1971)
The record where the band's sound fully crystallised. Yours Is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, I've Seen All Good People, Perpetual Change — Steve Howe's first album with the band. Often considered their finest all-round statement.

Going for the One (1977)
The late-classic-period return after Tales from Topographic Oceans. The title track, Wonderous Stories, Awaken — Rick Wakeman back in the line-up and the band at a tighter, more focused peak. Often overlooked, genuinely great.

Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)
The double album that divided fans and critics. Four 20-minute suites across four sides, based on the Shastric scriptures. Overreach for many; magnificent for the faithful. A record that demands vinyl patience.

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