Yes - Fragile (remastered) - Amazon.com Music

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Track Listings

1	Roundabout
2	Cans and Brahms
3	We Have Heaven
4	South Side of the Sky
5	Five Per Cent for Nothing
6	Long Distance Runaround
7	The Fish (Shindleria Praematurus)
8	Mood for a Day
9	Heart of the Sunrise

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Product description

YES FRAGILE

Amazon.com

With the 1972 release of Fragile, Yes established themselves as one of the most progressive rock bands on the scene. With the recent addition of towering, silver-caped Rick Wakeman on keyboards, they raised their innovative brand of music to even dizzier heights. "Roundabout," which is still a standard on classic rock playlists, is an unusual track, coming in under four minutes, while "Heart of the Sunrise"--with its varied constituents molded together perfectly--goes on for as long as it needs.--Paul Clark

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.67 x 0.51 x 5.08 inches; 3.32 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Atlantic
Item model number ‏ : ‎ 075678266720
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 1994
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ August 16, 1994
Label ‏ : ‎ Atlantic
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000002J1F
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #250,081 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #2,032 in Arena Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- #4,265 in Progressive Rock
- #7,118 in Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 1,642 ratings

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4.8 out of 5

1,642 global ratings

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Marky B

This is the Fragile to own!

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023

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Best version of America!

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2013

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Fragile (1972): Yes it is a Great Album, Yes it has some Classic Standards from the AOR FM radio days of my youth, Yes it is very well Produced. As mentioned in previous reviews of Yes releases, I've had the "Yes Album" since 1980 and "90125" since it's release in '83. Loved them both and they both got quite a lot of play on the old turntable and of course on a 90 minute Maxell cassette tape in the car. Being that I never dove any deeper into the Yes catalog until mid 2013, I find myself judging all their other material against those two works of art. I started to give "Fragile" four stars, because in my personal opinion I like the "Yes Album" and "Close To The Edge" and "90125) just a bit better. But, maybe that is not the proper way to view their work, so I'll just try and rate "Fragile" on its Own Merit.

"Fragile" opens with a great song for any tyme period "Roundabout", eight and a half minutes of sheer bliss. "Cans And Brahms" is something that I might not have appreciated had I heard it back in my youth, yet it would have stuck with me through my musical evolution...it is just a short little lesson or Xperience in Classical Music, which might take an interested listener on another adventure. "We Have Heaven" seems to fit well with the whole album flow, but if there is a cut on this album that is going to annoy the listener, this would be it. It has a very repetitive, almost childish, line throughout the entire minute and forty seconds...I'm probably just missing an intended point. Track four "South Side Of The Sky" clocks in right at eight minutes. I do not recall ever hearing this song played on the AOR FM stations. I'm going to say this is one of those somewhat overlooked gems, that those in search of the next Popular song would dismiss, but those who actually listened to this album or tape straight through would have enjoyed Immensely. I really have enjoyed finding this one. "Five Percent For Nothing" is a very short intrumental that just takes the listener from one song into the next. That next song "Long Distance Runaround" which is another AOR FM Staple. My only wish is that this song was another one of Yes's eight minute long works. Great guitar, Great Song. "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" follows, actually it pretty much is the closing of "Long Distance Runaround", mostly an instrumental with an interesting smooth delivery of Schindleria Praematurus during the final fifty seconds. So, you put "Long Distance Runaround" & "The Fish" together and you have a six plus minute song. "Mood For A Day" Steve Howe introduces the listener to some samplings of what sounds like Spanish Guitar styled playing, it might be a European style...it is very pretty and easy on the ears. It is little things like this that make listening to an entire album versus just picking through the popular hits so worth while...not all albums have that quality though. Enjoy the ones that do. Track Nine "Heart Of The Sunrise" is yet another overlooked gem that I have no recalection of ever hearing back when Yes was getting air play. Could be it is a regional thing, but in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston areas I never heard it. This song could easily be considered Classic Yes, clocking in at eleven and a half minutes, and it just flows so smoothly. At the closing of this song it has a connection to the ending of "We Have Heaven"...I don't personally understand the intent of the connection, but it is there and probably means something.

The Bonus Tracks: "America" (Paul Simon), this is a ten and a half minute version of this cover. Very good and I think I prefer this version to the shorter (Single Version)...but, that's just me. Towards the end of "America" (9:50 mark) they quickly go into what sounds like a Santana Latin Drum rendition...kind of cool. "Roundabout" (Early Rough Mix), I don't think most listeners would be able to distinguish this version from the original, to me it sounds pretty much the same...and that's good, real good. Since I never listened to this album way back when, I have no reference point for what the album should really sound like, but I feel the two Bonus Tracks are welcomed additions to the original release.

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Colby Jack

Their best

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2023

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I feel this is their best album. Listen to the bass!

2 people found this helpful

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Unbelievable technical ability balanced with warmth and emotion

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2006

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This 1972 album showed Yes starting to move even further into the realm of progressive rock and features the classic lineup of Chris Squire (Rickenbacker bass, vocals); Rick Wakeman (Synthesizers, mellotron, Hammond organ, piano); Steve Howe (acoustic and electric guitars, vocals); Bill Bruford (drums; percussion); and Jon Anderson (lead vocals; guitar). I think it goes without saying that this lineup would produce some of the finest material released by Yes and was comprised of virtuosos. Certainly, all of this is very much present on Fragile, which I personally consider a showcase of staggering instrumental skill that is very warm and inviting somehow.

Because of contractual problems largely stemming from Rick Wakeman, Fragile consists of three band compositions and several smaller solo pieces. The three band compositions are excellent and include the alternately ripping and melodramatic Heart of the Sunrise (their response to 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson, 1969); South Side of the Sky (about a failed mission to Antarctica I think); and the classic piece Roundabout. The solo pieces vary in quality and include the excellent Long Distance Runaround/The Fish (Jon wrote Long Distance Runaround, while The Fish is a Squire tour de force on the electric bass with percussion by Bill); Rick Wakeman's Cans and Brahms (extracts from Brahms's 4th Symphony in E Minor Third Movement performed on an arsenal of synthesizers) (Rick did not like Cans and Brahms at all); Steve Howe's excellent acoustic solo piece Mood for a Day; Bill Bruford's painfully short and unfinished sounding instrumental piece Five Percent for Nothing (a slam on the band manager apparently); and finally, Jon Anderson's We Have Heaven. As a bassist and avid worshipper of Squire, The Fish is hands down my favorite, although I generally like all of the solo pieces.

Overall, the music on Fragile is simply amazing and has all of the emotional punch (some might say melodrama) of tracks like Survival (1969); and Starship Trooper (1971), yet with the instrumental sophistication that would mark all of the 1970s work. Some very melodramatic moments can be heard on Heart of Sunrise, which is an absolutely super 10'34"; and South Side of the Sky is certainly not without drama. However, what really got me when I first listened to this album over 25 years ago (and to this very day) is the playing - these guys were in a class by themselves when it came to sheer virtuosity. Although the playing can get overwhelming at times, it is nicely leavened by softer, acoustic passages (on guitar and piano) and Jon Anderson's high pitched vocals. Along with some unbelievable vocal harmonies, this makes for one amazing listening experience.

With respect to the cover art (the first with Roger Dean), I feel that the painting of the tiny and "fragile" world on the front cover is very warm and intimate despite the planet being surrounded by the cold vacuum of outer space. Of course, on the back cover this peaceful world is depicted as breaking up - a very different scene from the front cover. The neat thing is that the breaking up of the planet was reiterated on the live Yessongs album. As I recall, I used to stare at the "large" cover art on the Fragile LP and it was very much a part of the listening experience. Then again, the cover art was very important for me on all of the Yes albums (even Drama (1980)) and is something I feel compelled to mention when I review any of their works.

The remastering on this album is incredible and (sort of) takes me back to the vinyl days. The booklet is excellent and features the original album artwork; a ton of liner notes; and photos of the band. Although the liner notes are pretty much old hat for the typical Yes freak (such as myself), they should prove informative to lots of folks. The excellent bonus track America was a very nice addition that was originally recorded for the 1972 Atlantic sampler LP "Age of Atlantic". Although I did not own this LP, I did own the compilation album "Yesterdays", which also featured America. The other bonus track includes an early rough mix of Roundabout that really does not add much.

All in all, an incredible Yes album that is very highly recommended along with all of their works from 1971 -1977.

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Daniel Cruz

Discazo!

Reviewed in Mexico on June 21, 2018

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El producto vino en buenas condiciones y es un disco que en tiendas no veia abajo de 250 pesos, aquí me salió en menos de 100 y la verdad es que está excelente. Yes es una de las mejores bandas del progresivo y este es un discazo!!

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Ramón Valle

Clásico entre Clásicos del Progresivo

Reviewed in Mexico on July 25, 2019

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Pasan los años y este material sigue vigente. Del minimalismo neoclásico a obras maestras del Rock Progresivo.
En cuanto al envío y condiciones del producto. Todo bien

One person found this helpful

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Cliente de Amazon

Me falta un acetato, el del grupo YES, denominado Fragile, el cual aparece en el pedido, como se puede ver.

Reviewed in Mexico on April 4, 2017

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No recibí el acetato de Yes, denominado Fragile, en cambio me enviaron uno de grupo MUSE. Showbiz. Les ruego enviarme el disco faltante. Les envío la foto del acetato me que enviaron en lugar del que pedí.

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Simon R

Essential purchase for prog fans.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2023

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This is the fourth studio album from Yes, and the first to feature keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman. Founding member Tony Kaye’s reluctance to play electronic instruments saw him replaced by Wakeman, who was schooled in playing electric piano, organ, Mellotron, and Moog. Not only a skilled musician, but also a composer, Rick advanced and expanded upon the band’s established sound.

“Fragile” may feel like somewhat of a concept album, with four tracks being composed by the band as a group and the other five tracks individual offerings from each member. In reality, it was an attempt to save time and studio costs after Wakeman blew most of the budget on new equipment. Despite this, “Fragile” remains one of the best records that the band ever made. It’s a bolder, more aggressive album than previous offerings. “Roundabout” and “Long Distance Runaround” are two rare examples of prog rock crossover, wherein songs so intricate can also be hum inducingly tuneful. Indeed, “Roundabout” remains one of Yes’s best known and popular songs to date.

Perhaps only surpassed by ‘Closer to the Edge’, this is an essential purchase for Yes fans and prog enthusiasts alike. Get it in your collection.

Amazon Customer

One of the best Yes albums

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2022

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“Fragile” must rate as one of the best Yes albums with such classic tracks as “Roundabout “ and “Heart of the Sunrise” - I remember my vinyl album being played endlessly in my University days! This remastered CD brings an extra clarity and separation to the lyrics and instruments - in particular the stunning bass guitar playing of Chis Squire . An essential purchase for any lover of Prog rock!

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