Fragile - YES*****

Roundabout/Cans & Brahms/We Have Heaven/South Side Of The Sky/Five Per Cent For Nothing/Long Distance Runaround/The Fish/Mood For A Day/Heart Of The Sunrise

Fragile was the album when the classic Yes sound reached its apex with the recruitment of keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman. The classic line-up deliver an album of high originality and creativity. (US:4 UK:7)

“While the classic Yes sound was already in place, the classic line-up was still missing one key ingredient. Enter cape-wearing, keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman, who had every bit of Keith Emerson's technical skill but a thousand times more taste and the ability to blend with other musicians. He propels the three prog epics that take up about half of this album's running time, with a good variety of synths.”

“Fragile is a complex and highly technical, but also very catchy, progressive rock record, a prototypical Yes album. After the band found its own voice on the superb Yes Album they perfected their sound and wrote evergreens like Roundabout and the truly monumental South Side Of The Sky. Each member shows his craft and calibre. A real must have if you're interested in classic '70s prog rock.”

“Rick Wakeman joins Yes for this album. Whilst the full-band compositions are legendary, and deservedly so - Roundabout, South Side Of The Sky, and Heart Of The Sunrise are upbeat, foreboding, and uplifting epics respectively, whilst Long Distance Runaround is a delicious slice of Yes style pop whose simple structure is spiced up by Rick's synth interjections and other instrumental outbursts. The album is interspersed with shorter tracks intended to showcase each individual member's own skills.”

“The album includes three longer numbers and a handful of shorter cuts which are all great fun. The opener Roundabout and the closer Heart Of The Sunrise are the best known songs here but the rest of the material is really solid too. Once again the instrumental work is impressive. Fragile deserves it's status as one of the classic progressive albums.”

“This is one of the best albums every produced. The musicians are among the most skilled on each respective instrument. The group led in the production of alternative rock, with synthesizers, high energy sound and winsome vocals. Fragile also marks a new beginning with Roger Dean hopping on board to create his fantasy inspired artwork.”