Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Many of my friends here on the Moon will know of my love and admiration for this album. I couldn't imagine life without it.

Now it seems that Andy from "The Tangent" feels the same.

See this "review" by Andy from The Tangents own site. It makes for some interesting reading.

http://po90.com/tangent/tales.htm

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Wow...

That's what I really call a fan.

But Close will forever be my Yes favorite. :D

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

My show on 7/16 and 7/17 will be all Tangent:thumbsup:

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Funny when I read Andy's review there are so many things I feel the same too from the same period.

I'm not a musician though so I don't have that grail to go for, but I keep buying loads of other CD's in the hope I can get the same satisfaction when I received TFTO on the 27 december 1973 together with Gentle Giant (Glasshouse) and Greenslade. Those were the days.........

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

getting those when they first came out are priceless memories I'll never have...I always thought 72,73,74 was the classic period in musical history..

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

tales was always my fav. it talked to me. and i understood.

to me, it is all quite clear and concise. a story that began not of this realm, yet, of which said story this realm has been duly affected by.

'Young christians see if from the beginning, Old people feel it, that's what they're saying."

i have honestly believed that "one child knows the secret and can say it."

always have, always will.

-----

haven't been around lately...new job, new band same health issues. other than that...i'm still vertical y'all!! :notsure:

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

We share a love for that album Keith.
Even some of the gang at Yesfans aren't into it,
or understand it.

My all-time favorite Yes song though, is Awaken.
It's sort of like sonic drugs.

K

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

I really like the album. It's not my favorite, and I think I'd like it more if say, one side from it was spread out over four albums with shorter stuff. Say, "Revealing" with side two of Tormato and "Remembering" with side one..., etc. I don't listen to it nearly as much as I do Relayer, Going, Tormato, Close, Keys, Ladder, etc. I think the reason is that while it's, in Jon's words, "immaculate," it really is an exhausting album to digest whole. There are a lot of 4-song double albums - Tangerine, Godspeed, and Soft Machine come to mind quickly - yet none of these are as packed as Tales. They can wash over you, but you have to focus on Tales. That intensity of focus for that long will wear you out. Whenever I listen to Tales, I always find myself (and don't take this the wrong way) cleansing my palatte right after with something simple and heavy, simple and atmospheric, or something rootsy. It's like I've been up in the stratosphere too long and I need to get reacquainted with the earth beneath my feet (or after spending a day at a museum I need to watch Futurama for a while). A good chaser after Tales is a CCR album.

Each individual song is wonderful, but as a whole they can be a bit much.

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Interesting comments from my Moonbuds too.

Funnily enough, kirk, as an individual track "Awaken" gets my vote too. However as an album it will always be Tales.

Indeed, spaz, it's a big listen but worth every effort. I never feel drained I feel uplifted. I listen to individual sides from time to time especially Ritual, but the experience of listening to the whole is something that stays for a long time.

"Hold me my love, hold me today, call me 'round. Travel we say, wander we choose, love tune. Lay upon me, hold me around lasting hours. We love when we play. We hear a song. Alter our returning. We drift the shadows and course our way back home."

Beautiful and profoundly moving music.

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

What an interesting article you've found Keithie. Makes you want to break out the cd again...... I think I will. :D

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Don't feel too bad Rick. I was around in those days and managed to miss many great concerts. Why? I dunno! I guess I was just "getting" prog in general in the late 70s early 80s. So I missed all Mahavishnu Orch concerts and didn't see Yes till probably mid 80s. Now I see stuff like Bruford/Berlin/Stewart on U Tube and cry cause I never saw them live either (though there is to be a DVD of that out shortly).

As to Tales...it's one of my least played LPs. I dunno, maybe I'll play it again and "get it" this time. I just was kinda neutral about it. I always love The Album, Close to the Edge and others, but Tales somehow eluded me...

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

well we've done this several times, what's one more?

I like the Wakeman piece on Tales the best. May be the best song he's ever written. As a whole, the record is demanding, for sure. But I listen to it rarely, preferring Open your Eyes...

ok that last part was a joke....

My fav Yes song is Awaken, but Siberian Khatru is close on its heels.

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Argh! What is it about Awaken? That is easily the worst "epic" Yes has ever put out. Argh!!!!!!

Boring, boring, boring. Put that and "Echoes" together, and you've got enough material for a good 5 minute song...

:shootmeno :shootmeno :shootmeno

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

Best way to get into it is to listen to just one cut at a time over and over. Treat it like a one-song EP. My advice anyway.

What is it about Awaken? It's the best freaking song EVER! That's what!!!:p Just as Jon said, "It's everything I could ask for from a group of musicians in this life." Immaculate!

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

My first copy of TFTO was a pink 8-track.:haha:
The bad thing is, I remember the track changes, which
weren't always at the beginning of a song.

[quote] PDJ- Boring, boring, boring.

Jim, Jim, Jim......:jawdrop:

K

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

my musical listening (and owning) history is a strange one, and today, I heard for the first time (!) (it's playing right now) "Awaken", and I am blown away. amazing. huge.

sonic drugs, indeed, kirk.

play it again...

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

If you didn't this time, read the words while tracking.
"Master of images, songs cast a light on you..." whew!

Talking keyboards- Rick's on the grand pipe organ in
the cathedral at Vevay Switzerland, w/ the choir backing on the finale.

This piece makes me want to drop into the lotus position.

Enjoy!

Kirk

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

My joints don't allow me that pleasure any more so I just idiot dance my way to heaven......:yougo

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

You need some Gluosamine/Chondritin, my friend!
Ommmmm.........

K

Re: Tales from Topographic Oceans.
 

I take that!:yougo

Roger, between that admission and the Hassellhoff viseo, PDR's got two strikes on you!:hooboy: