Close to the Edge

Close to the Edge set a trend for Yes of structuring an album around a single epic song, significantly longer than the album's other tracks. Here the centerpiece is the song "Close to the Edge". Later Yes albums that follow a similar pattern are Relayer (1974) (which features "The Gates of Delirium") and Going for the One (1977) (which features "Awaken").

The spiritual influences introduced by Jon Anderson, which later formed the basis of Tales from Topographic Oceans, are already evident in the music and lyrics of all three tracks on Close to the Edge. Renewal and repetition are other main themes; the title track starts and finishes with the same sound effects of running water and birds, and in "Siberian Khatru" there is the repetition of two-syllable words and phrases.

According to the group's fans, the title track is inspired by Hermann Hesse's book Siddhartha. This interpretation, which can cast the cryptic and mysterious lyrics in a new light, reads the song as tracking the awakening of Hesse's character "close to the edge" of a river (and, symbolically, of the serial lifetimes of his soul), where he experiences a spiritual awakening.

In June 1972, just as recording ended, drummer Bill Bruford suddenly left the line-up to play with King Crimson, forcing Yes to find a replacement drummer (ex-Plastic Ono Band member Alan White) before starting a new U.S. tour.

Inside of the Close to the Edge LP cover.The cover art was by Roger Dean. Some of the photography for the album sleeve was by bass player Chris Squire's former bandmate in the Selfs and The Syn, Martyn Adelman.

The album is listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Progarchives.com voted it the greatest progressive album of all time in 2006. Guitar World ranked it #67 in their (Reader's Choice) list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time.

Rhino Records issued a remastered and expanded version of Close to the Edge on August 26, 2003. It added four bonus tracks: single versions of "America" and "Total Mass Retain" and early versions of "And You and I" and "Siberian Khatru" (as "Siberia").

Close to the Edge (Atlantic K 50012) was released on Atlantic Records in September 1972. It reached #4 in the UK, and it reached #3 in the U.S. during a chart stay of 32 weeks. In the Netherlands it reached #1 on the Dutch album charts, and has been the only Yes album to do so.

Side one
"Close to the Edge" (Jon Anderson, Steve Howe) – 18:43
"The Solid Time of Change"
"Total Mass Retain"
"I Get Up I Get Down"
"Seasons of Man" (song sample - 176K)

Side two
"And You and I" (Anderson; Themes by Bill Bruford, Howe, Chris Squire) – 10:08
"Cord of Life" (Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire)
"Eclipse" (Anderson, Bruford, Howe)
"The Preacher the Teacher" (Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire)
"Apocalypse" (Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire)
"Siberian Khatru" (Anderson; Themes by Anderson, Howe, Rick Wakeman) – 8:55

Bonus tracks (2003 reissue)
"America (Single version)" (Paul Simon) – 4:12
"Total Mass Retain (Single version)" – 3:21
"And You and I (Alternate version)" – 10:17
"Siberia" (Studio run-through of "Siberian Khatru") – 9:19

Personnel
Jon Anderson – vocals
Chris Squire – bass, vocals
Steve Howe – guitars, vocals
Rick Wakeman – keyboards
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion

Year Chart Position
1972 Billboard Pop Albums 3

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1972 "And You and I" Billboard Pop Singles 42

Certifications
Organization Level Date
RIAA – U.S. Gold October 30, 1972
CRIA – Canada Gold December 1, 1976
CRIA – Canada Platinum December 1, 1977
BPI – UK Gold December 5, 1984
BPI – UK Platinum December 5, 1984