YES

"Fragile"

We loved this when it came out and friends learned Steve Howe's guitar parts to this track especially. We welcomed Rick Wakeman joining the band and I adored Jon Anderson's singing and unique voice but check the bass on this and we stood in awe of that sound and thanks IMHO to Jack Bruce, the bass suddenly became an instrument of note, capable of taking solos if needs be. Later I would engage Roger Dean to do a book signing in my book shop in Oxford and he was one of the nicest people it was ever my pleasure to meet. 

On this day in music history: November 26, 1971 - “Fragile”, the fourth album by Yes is released in the UK (US release is on January 4, 1972). Produced by Yes and Eddy Offord, it is recorded at Advision Studios in London in September 1971. Making their recording debut in 1969 with their self titled debut album, Yes record “Time And A Word” and “The Yes Album” over the next two years, while building a solid following throughout Europe and in the US. Yes gain valuable exposure opening for other bands including Iron Butterfly and Jethro Tull. With the latter album gaining the band their first hit in the UK and a sizable toehold in the US, they begin writing material for their fourth album in mid 1971. Staying in a rented farmhouse in Devon, Yes continue writing and rehearsing the new songs they’ve written. It is the first album to feature new keyboardist Rick Wakeman who replaces Tony Kaye midway through pre-production. Guitarist Steve Howe and Wakeman become essential elements in the evolution of Yes’ sound, bringing their interest in classical music and training into the musical landscape. Originally intending to record a double album consisting of both live recordings and studio material, Yes end up dropping the idea when they realize the amount of time it will take to create such a project. They also initially intend to come to US to work with Atlantic Records’ staff producer and engineer Tom Dowd at Criteria Studios in Miami, but does not pan out. Instead, the band work with Eddy Offord who has engineered their previous two albums, having been promoted to co-producer status on “The Yes Album”. Anchored by the track “Roundabout” (#13 US Pop), it is the bands’ breakthrough on a worldwide basis and is regarded as a landmark progressive rock album. The LP’s cover artwork is illustrated by artist Roger Dean, who goes on to design several album covers for the band including their famous logo (first used on the follow up “Close To The Edge”). The album is remastered and reissued a number of times over the years, most recently being reissued in 2015 in the UK as a CD/high resolution Blu-Ray Audio set. The redbook CD contains the original stereo mix of the album, with the Blu-Ray disc featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes by Steven Wilson, along side the original stereo mixes also presented in high resolution. “Fragile” peaks at number seven on the UK album chart, number four on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

thanks to Jeff Harris' blog Behind The Grooves