We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Sometimes it all comes together. And when it does, magic happens. So it was in the days of August and early September at a couple of recording studios in London when the band known as Yes gave us the Lp “Fragile”.
When keyboardist Tony Kaye refused to branch out into synths and other electronic instruments, the other members of Yes decided a change was in order. They offered the spot to Rick Wakeman on the same day that the Strawbs member was offered a job in David Bowie’s touring band. Wakeman took the Yes gig because he thought he would have more musical freedom. It was the right choice and paid dividends immediatly for the band.
Wakeman’s keyboard wizardy combined with the virtousity of Steve Howe and Chris Squire, the tasty drumming of Bill Bruford and the unique voice of Jon Anderson was like a finely made stew. All of the ingredients in perfect sync with the others.
Many of the songs on the LP were written and arranged by a single member of the group to show what they brought to the table. Bruford had never written anything so his contribution is only 35 seconds long (Five Per Cent For Nothing). He also is credited with a piece of “Heart Of The Sunrise” Wakeman was hobbled by being under contract to another record compnay for solo work so his only “composition” is the Brahms arrangement “Cans & Brahms” which he called dreadful (not that bad for us laymen).
That left Howe, Squire and Anderson to do much of the heavy lifting…and lift they did. From the opening notes of “Roundabout” to the closing moments of “Heart of The Sunrise” the music is awe inspiring.
Wakeman brings his classical chops to the finale and “Heart of The Sunrise” is a revelation. If the band had never recorded again…this was enough to cement their legacy.
The album was produced by the band but the engineering was from Eddy Offord who had already worked on Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Tarkus” and Rory Gallagher’s debut Lp earlier in the year. His pristine sound has to be noted here.
The critics were mostly positive although Rolling Stone writer Richard Cromelin accused the group of ‘showing off’. And Melody Maker said “Fragile does not seem to go anywhere or have any theme except Yes’ technical ability” It’s all a little too much like excercises, clever and beautifully played”.
Somehow being accused of being too good on your instruments sounds like nitpicking to me. This is one of the few prog-rock LPs I have listened to over and over for the past 50 years and really never get tired of. And the album artwork was cool too.
If you haven’t listened to this is awhile, put it on a realize this is a group that is just getting started with a new member in Wakeman who is asked to do alot with little preparation.
For me, any list of the Top 50 albums of the 70’s would definitely include this.
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