I would highly recommend Amon Duul II and Univers Zero. And Faust, of course.

^^ fukk yeah to those 3

Well, except for Univers Zero, haven't heard them...yet.

My first intro to YES was in 1986 and an album that is not really indicative of their sound: 90125. I personally love it and it gave me impetus to check out other albums by them. CLOSE TO THE EDGE is a classic and I like TORMATO too. I still think that Jon Anderson's voice is utterly original yet pathetically effeminate.

I thought Jon Anderson was a chick for like 3 years, and a Lesbian at that.

A guy I work with put me on to Yes. He grew up with them, and me being 27 years old had never heard of them outside of the radio overplaying "Owner of a Lonely Heart." Honestly thats probably the one reason I never gave them so much as a second look before. But this guy told me about some of the most amazing music the made, so on a whim I bought Classic Yes. I was surprised at the well thought out music. Very tight, very cohesive, and these guys are on the top of their game.

However.......Pre 80's Yes= AMAZING, 80's Yes = clechie (much like Pre 80's Foreigner is awesome, and then it all went downhill from there.) Don't get me wrong, I understand people love all Yes no matter what. But for me, with songs like "Owner" its too "pop music of the 80's" (I hate the synthesized 80's crap with a passion....more than Hair Metal.)

Yes will forever remain in my collection, even if I have to turn the cd player off half way through the "Ultimate Yes Collection" :D

Brian

Comparing Yes to Foreigner. Ouch. :(

Jukebox Hero!!

Oh God no.....not comparing the two. Foreigner and YES have waaaay different styles. Im just saying, for me, the 80's was when I felt both groups "Jumped the Shark".

Brian

P.S. Jukebox Hero....all time favorite Foreigner song!!! OOOHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHH

A few years back Amazon recommended Fragile to me and I gave it a shot...loved the majority of it, so I continued forward from there. Yes is now one of my most beloved bands I've had the pleasure of listening to. Close to the Edge, Topographical Oceans, and Relayer are absolute works of art.

It's unfortunate that their sound changed to manufactured radio-pop in the 80s, but there were a few redeeming songs dispersed amongst their post-70s albums such as Machine Messiah, The More We Live/Let Go, and Holy Lamb. The Ladder was also a remarkable return to their early sound.

I like Close To The Edge, The Yes Album and Fragile best.
My favourite songs are And You and I (I love it), Starship Trooper and Close To The edge. :D