| Condition | Sealed |
| Manufacturer | USA |
| Format | 2xLP, Atlantic 75 Series, 180 Gram 45RPM Audiophile Vinyl, Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, Reissue, Gatefold Sleeve |
| Date of release | 1972/2025 |
| Barcode | 753088754470 |
This special audiophile edition commemorating the 75th anniversary of Atlantic Records is reproduced with clear detail, dynamics and tonality!
Mastering: Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original master tape
Pressed at Quality Record Pressings (USA)
Yes's 1972 3-track recording masterpiece, Close to the Edge, presents a snapshot of an adventurous rock band at the peak of its powers, daring to push itself musically, both as individuals and as a unit.
The first half of the 1970s was an especially fertile period for British progressive rock, laying claim to classics such as Tarkus, Selling England by the Pound, Larks' Tongues in Aspic, The Dark Side of the Moon, and Thick as a Brick. Collectively these and other works represent the best British progressive rock had to offer. Yet, many reviewers cite Close to the Edge as the ultimate prog rock album.
Author and music journalist Will Romano writes: "Yes had previously penned epic tracks for The Yes Album and Fragile, but nothing on the magnitude of the musical gems appearing on Close to the Edge. It's something of a small miracle — perhaps even magic — that the virtuoso quintet crafted such a cohesive and compelling album during an often-hectic recording process that very nearly relegated this monumental work to the dustbin of history."
The album's centrepiece is the 18-minute title track, with themes and lyrics inspired by the Herman Hesse novel Siddhartha. Side Two contains two non-conceptual tracks, the folk-inspired "And You and I" and the comparatively straightforward rocker "Siberian Khatru." Original drummer Bill Bruford found the album particularly laborious to make, which culminated in his decision to quit the band after it was recorded, to join King Crimson.
