Top Ten Songs by Yes

Best known for their hit songs "Roundabout" and, much later, "Owner of a Lonely Heart", highly influential 1970s progressive rock band Yes produced many albums of top-notch classic music. Known for their virtuoso musicianship and large-scale compositions, sometimes over twenty minutes long, Yes were one of the defining acts of the prog rock movement, and certainly one of the most commercially successful. On top of that, they reinvented themselves for the 1980s with the help of guitarist Trevor Rabin, and scored a hit record with "90125". The group has toured in recent years and still performs some of the following songs.

1. Roundabout

Yes's most well known song of the 1970s. Their music was complex and unusual, yet somehow they struck a chord with their sweet vocal harmonies and memorable melodies, even while using the sophisticated musical techniques and advanced, individualistic musicianship that make them beloved by musicians and music geeks. This piece is from the 1971 album "Fragile".

2. Close to the Edge

From the album of the same title, this 20+ minute epic shows Yes at their absolute artistic peak. An incredible work of music, the song starts on a fade-in and proceeds into a multi-part journey through twisted improvisations section, memorable, stirring themes, ending with the refrain "I get up, I get down."

3. Siberian Khatru

Another piece from "Close to the Edge", this is a good example of Yes's early mystical tendencies. Combining a real classic rock sound with a distinct haunting, mysterious feeling, seemingly nonsensical lyrics drenched in harmony lead up to a beautiful guitar solo by Steve Howe. It has been said that in the studio Howe recorded the guitar solo without hearing it, just playing it by feel!

4. And You and I

The third of the songs on "Close to the Edge", this is a contender for Yes's ultimate fan favorite. As grandiose and emotional as it gets, the soaring main section makes this something to witness in their live concerts. The song opens with the plucking of random harmonics on a 12-string guitar - a seemingly casual intro to a very carefully constructed piece of music.