Fragile [Mobile Fidelity] [Remaster]

Performer: Yes
Engineer: Eddie Offord; Eddie Offord
Producer: Eddie Offord; Yes; Eddie Offord
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Yes: Steve Howe (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Chris Squire (vocals, bass); Jon Anderson (vocals); Rick Wakeman (acoustic & electric pianos, organ, harpsichord, Mellotron, synthesizer); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion). Recorded at Advision Studios, London, England in September 1971. Originally released on Atlantic (19132). Digitally remastered by Joe Gastwirt (Ocean View Digital). Yes: Steve Howe (vocals, guitar); Chris Squire (vocals, bass); Jon Anderson (vocals); Rick Wakeman (keyboards); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion). Atlantic's Gold Standard Audiophile Compact Discs are gold-plated CD's that boast 20-bit digital reproduction technology for improved sonic dynamics. Each re-issue comes in a specially designed mini-box which includes the jewel CD box plus a 24-page color booklet featuring new liner notes, photographs, and the complete original album artwork. Yes: Jon Anderson (vocals); Rick Wakeman (grand piano); Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford. Personnel: Steve Howe (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Chris Squire (vocals, bass guitar); Rick Wakeman (piano, electric piano, harpsichord, organ, Mellotron, synthesizer); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion). Recording information: Advision Studios, London, England (09/1971). Arranger: Rick Wakeman. FRAGILE marks the moment when Yes left the planet and took up residence on one of cover artist Roger Dean's far-off lands. While the band managed to capture the popular imagination with its condensed, accessible version of "Roundabout," which they edited down to a single from the lengthier album version, for the most part FRAGILE laid the groundwork for the expansive, complex, keyboard-dominated work that typified the style known as "progressive rock." The record also marks the arrival of Rick Wakeman--a classically trained keyboardist whose vast array of synthesizers and effects was matched only by his prodigious ability. In addition to "Roundabout," the band's best-known song, the lengthy "Heart of the Sunrise" also became a Yes chestnut. Drummer Bill Bruford became the envy of air-drummers across America, and together with Wakeman, guitarist Steve Howe, vocalist Jon Anderson, and bassist Chris Squire created some of the most architecturally ambitious rock of the era. FRAGILE proved to be the band's breakthrough album, and is a cornerstone recording of the genre. This marked the period when Yes left the planet and took up residence on one of artist Roger Dean's far-off lands. The musical transition is apparent with longer instrumental passages taking over from the three-minute song format. Lengthy pieces open and close the album, and both songs have become Yes chestnuts. 'Heart Of The Sunrise' and 'Roundabout' are strong tracks musically, with the latter winning out as being more accessible. Without detracting from Anderson, Howe, Bruford and Wakeman, Chris Squire's bass playing is superlative throughout. This marked the period when Yes left the planet and took up residence on one of artist Roger Dean's far-off lands. The musical transition is apparent with longer instrumental passages taking over from the three-minute song format. Lengthy pieces open and close the album, and both songs have become Yes chestnuts. "Heart Of The Sunrise" and "Roundabout" are strong tracks musically, with the latter winning out as being more accessible. Without detracting from Anderson, Howe, Bruford and Wakeman, Chris Squire's bass playing is superlative throughout. FRAGILE marks the point when classically influenced progressive rockers Yes left planet Earth and took up residence on one of cover artist Roger Dean's far-off lands. The musical transition is apparent with longer instrumental passages taking over from the shorter song format of their early albums. Lengthy pieces open and close the album, and both songs have become Yes chestnuts. "Heart Of The Sunrise" and "Roundabout" are landmark tracks, with strong, darting solos and abrupt shifts, the latter winning more radio play for its greater accessibility. Without detracting from the exceptional work of messrs. Anderson, Howe, Bruford, and Wakeman, Chris Squire's rippling bass playing is a particularly superlative experience throughout. Fragile was Yes' breakthrough album, dominated by science-fiction and fantasy elements and new member Rick Wakeman, whose organ, synthesizers, Mellotrons, and other keyboard exotica added a larger-than-life element to the proceedings. Ironically, the album was a patchwork job, hastily assembled in order to cover the cost of Wakeman's array of instruments. But the group built effectively on the groundwork left by The Yes Album, and the group had an AM radio sucker-punch, aimed at all of those other progressive bands who eschewed the notion of hit singles, in the form of "Roundabout," the edited version (sort of a "highlights" version of the album) of which pulled in millions of young kids who'd never heard them before. The single clicked, most album-buyers liked the long version and all of the rest of what they found, and the band was made. [This edition has been extensively remastered by Mobile Fidelity.] ~ Bruce Eder

Rolling Stone (3/16/72, p.56) - "...Gorgeous melodies, intelligent, carefully crafted, constantly surprising arrangements, concise and energetic performances, cryptic but evocative lyrics...a powerful and moving emotional experience..." Rolling Stone (3/16/72, p.56) - "...Gorgeous melodies, intelligent, carefully crafted, constantly surprising arrangements, concise and energetic performances, cryptic but evocative lyrics...a powerful and moving emotional experience..." Rolling Stone (3/16/72, p.56) - "...Gorgeous melodies, intelligent, carefully crafted, constantly surprising arrangements, concise and energetic performances, cryptic but evocative lyrics...a powerful and moving emotional experience..." Spin (01/04, p.48) - "...Art kids still feel its power..." Uncut (6/03, p.117) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...Recorded swiftly in patchwork fashion, FRAGILE avoided the over-meticulous arrangements of previous efforts, allowing Bill Bruford's frenetic jazz drumming to skitter behind Jon Anderson's choirboy voice..." Uncut (6/03, p.117) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...Recorded swiftly in patchwork fashion, FRAGILE avoided the over-meticulous arrangements of previous efforts, allowing Bill Bruford's frenetic jazz drumming to skitter behind Jon Anderson's choirboy voice..."

The longest-running prog-rock group in the business, Yes flew on the strength of Jon Anderson's high, angelic voice and the group's instrumental virtuosity. The band began in England, rising from the ashes of pop-psych outfits like Tomorrow, Bodast, and Mabel Greer's Toyshop. Extending the technical facility of psychedelia and downplaying the trippiness, it helped forge the template for progressive rock and reigned as its most popular practitioners in the '70s. Over the years, Yes has weathered personnel changes, lawsuits, and changing public tastes while holding on to its original vision.

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