Yes or No?

The answer is of course 'Yes'.  My old mate John introduced me to Yes a few weeks after the release of their first album; I, like he, fell in love with them and we have both followed their progress ever since, through highs and indeed lows, Yes are still one of my all time favourite bands (my passing resemblance to the awsome Mr. Wakeman not withstanding).  Having said that, I, like I think many others of my aging generation still have a preference for the first 5 albums; in my case I suppose the first 3. 

I first saw them live at my College doing a gig in support, as far as I remember of The Edgar Buroughs Band; Yes were in a separate hall and at the start it was just myself a few mates standing at the back of an empty hall!  And they played a blinder - it was just after 'Time and a Word' was released and I had this and the first album so I was in a kind of seventh heaven (or something like it at the time; after all it was the late 60's!).

Then of course 'The Yes Album' was released and confirmed my extremely short-lived desire to become a prog rock guitarist (having tried I quickly understood that to become a Steve Howe or Eric Clapton might take a little longer than I thought - so reluctantly I carried on with my maths degree instead;  never have really learnt to play and far too late now).

As for the later albums, 'Close to the Edge' and 'Fragile' obviously stand the test of time and there are also some very good tracks on later albums - personally I think 'Relayer' in particular is underrated.  However, back in the late 60's there was a freshness to the first albums as Yes and their contempories (King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Van der Graf Generator, Camel, Caravan, etc.) introduced us to the fledging genre that became Prog Rock.   I know Rick Wakeman left stating he felt Yes were going in a different direction to one he was more interested in but the later output is still very creditable.... and of course Mr. Wakeman did return; although he has implied he didn't really understand what planet Jon Anderson was on given 'Tales from Topographic Oceans' and many of his later lyrics..... I am slightly inclined to agree).  But there it is, I stilll love 'em as well as their solo efforts, particulary Anderson's collaboration with the late great Vangelis and his solo albums as well as ouput from Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Bill Bruford.

11 of the Yes albums are on sale here as well as 3 Jon Anderson and 3 Jon & Vangelis - all in very good condition.

I am still a massive 'Progresive' fan, a genre that has been having a bit of a renaissance (they were great as well!), with the likes of Spock's Beard, Mostly Autumn, Big Big Train, Flower Kings, Riverside, Gazpacho, Karnataka, Transatlantic.... the list is long, these are just my particular favourites.  If you're a prog fan you'll know them, if not give them a listen.