OMG! Fragile! I've been waiting to get to this one. This is one of my desert island albums. To me, this is when YES became YES. After upgrading guitar by Steve Howe on their last album, they upgraded keyboards a million times over with Rick Wakeman. Fragile is an album with four group efforts along with solo pieces from every member of the band. This is also the first time they used graphic artist Roger Dean to do their covers. I mean, look at it! (oh, that's what's on that t-shirt you wear all the time...) All the album covers from here on out tell a continuing story, beginning with the fragile planet here cracking up and exploding.
He also did illustrations inside the album covers as well.
Now, on to Side 1 of the music. I was cruising some old country back roads in my old Plymouth Valiant, just enjoying some quiet weekend time when this first song came on the radio. I was captivated and had to find out who it was. This started my fascination with Yes.
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1) Roundabout. Nuff said. Epic. Classic. Eternal. Greatest keyboard solo ever. This is the album Jack Black gave that kid in School of Rock and told him to listen to the keyboard solo on track 1. Yeah.
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2) Cans and Brahms. RW showing off his keyboard skills on a little piece with extracts from Brahms' 4th Symphony in E Minor, Third Movement.
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3) We Have Heaven. Neat little song that showcases Jon Anderson's vocals talents. He sings all the parts. The stereo on this is awesome in headphones. The slamming door re-opens later...
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4) South Side of the Sky. Group effort this time. Another haunting song, this time about a failed mountain climbing expedition. RW on piano is heaven.
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5) Five Percent for Nothing. I've seen this listed as the last song on Side 1 and the first song on Side 2. This is where I'm used to hearing it. This is Bill Bruford's instrumental piece for the album. The title refers to the band giving up 5% of the profits on this album to pay for some equipment. They felt it was a waste, hence the title.
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