Best version of Close to the Edge

[Greenglade]

<b><font color=green>Made a comparison a few nights ago of different versions of CTTE. First I watched <i>Yessongs </i>on the Rhino VHS issue. Steve wails and "shreds" and the tone is perfect. I'm thinking this is the most original solo I've ever heard. As well, the song as a whole is probably the best and most esoteric progressive piece ever recorded.

Then I watch the 2001 <i>Yes Symphonic</i>DVD. I just DON'T think this version was that great at all. Nevertheless, I saw this tour and the sound on CTTE solo seemed louder and better live, even from back row.

Some 70's bootlegs feature some pretty punchy opening solos, but not as good as the Yessongs movie. Then , of course, there is the Yessongs album(is this version different from the movie????) And , then there's the original studio version and the solo sounds almost "Chinese", but really fantastic.
What's your favorite version???????? </font id=green></b>

[Astral traveller]

<font color=black>The studio version, anyday! I don't think they ever recreated it on stage as good and solid as the original album version. But that goes for all three pices on CTTE. It's just perfect, can't be beaten.

Actually there are only a few songs I prefer live over the studio versions. Ritual, TAAW are two, and also Starship trooper maybe. And virtually ALL of 90125.

</font id=black>

[Caryindy]

I like the original studio version, and then the one on Yessings. One thing I don't like about later versions of CTTE is the sleeper tempo. It's way too slow. The original tempo is what I want to hear the song played at.
Oh, the version in the movie is the same version as the album.

[topographic_drama1980]

I remember starting a topic something just like this quite a while back and to this day, for some reason, I prefer the Yessongs version, although the studio version remains dear to my heart. The Yessongs version is so raw and so much more exciting. Steve's solo always makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It's just so raw and highly energetic. The symphonic and Keys versions just don't do it for me. I still like them but they're not really my cup of tea.

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[psychopomp95]

On the whole, the studio version easily takes it for me. The church organ has NEVER sounded as good in a live setting as it did on that take recorded 32 years ago!
However, the Moraz-era versions of the song had a truly SCARY opening sequence, where the entire band was just pounding away and it sounded like the song was very close to falling apart (that's what made it great)!
Agreed that they play it just a bit too slowly now, and the same goes for "Siberian Khatru" and "Yours is No Disgrace". I have a hunch this might NOT just be Steve's 'wish' as so many seem to think... perhaps Jon's voice runs out of steam if he has to sing the songs too fast?

[happytheman]

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
<b>psychopomp95 wrote:</b>
On the whole, the studio version easily takes it for me. The church organ has NEVER sounded as good in a live setting as it did on that take recorded 32 years ago!
However, the Moraz-era versions of the song had a truly SCARY opening sequence, where the entire band was just pounding away and it sounded like the song was very close to falling apart (that's what made it great)!
Agreed that they play it just a bit too slowly now, and the same goes for "Siberian Khatru" and "Yours is No Disgrace". I have a hunch this might NOT just be Steve's 'wish' as so many seem to think... perhaps Jon's voice runs out of steam if he has to sing the songs too fast?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></font id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
I too have a version from the Moraz tour in 76 and find Howe at his finest!! Unbelievable intensity! Best opening by far. However it kind of falls apart in the middle part Moraz can't seem to duplicate Wakemans church organ part. And as for the Yessong version I still find most of that album "muddy sounding" if that makes since.

[Terry Shea]

I prefer almost every live version over the studio version. The studio version is almost too clean and sounds a little cheesy to me in places. I do like Ricks keys at the beginning of the studio version though. I don't think he's been able to duplicate anything close to that on any of the live recordings.

I like the Yessongs version for the middle section right after "I Get Up, I Get Down". It rocks like these guys have never rocked before...or after! Overall though I think I like the ABWH version on An Evening Of Yes Music Plus best. Steve plays a killer solo at the beginning and Bill's drumming is so much more involved and intricate than Alans on this song.

I also like the version on YesSymphonic even though it is played much slower and the solos aren't nearly as challenging. The sound is phenomenal! I think they had to hold back some on the soloing to incorporate the orchestra, but the orchestra really does improve the sound overall. This is also the best version vocally and visually IMO.

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[MOONWEED]

My fave so far is the one from Boston Garden '74.The begaining section is truely scary(good way to put it,whoever said it)Steve kills me on it.Plus I saw the show in New Haven that same week,so it has sentimental value.My favorite Steve Howe era is with Moraz.

[N2yes]

<font color=red><font face='Papyrus'>Holland and America once again unite! Astral, I'm totally with you on this one! The studio version is sheer perfection, a feat which simply cannot be attained while performing live, though the boys sure have tried.</font id='Papyrus'></font id=red><img src=pix/icon_smokin.gif border=0 align=middle>

<hr>"Master of images-Songs cast a light on you"

[psychopomp95]

I think what makes CTTE (the album) as good as it is, as much as anything else, is the incredible sound quality! Especially considering that it came out in 1972, everything sounds EXACTLY as it should: the drums and bass are truly in-your-face and punchy, the guitar is clear and clean (as Steve likes it) without sounding too thin as he can sometimes do, and the keyboards are always extremely easy to hear without being too far in the foreground or too shrill (think Tormato)! I guess the only part that sounds SLIGHTLY less clear is the vocals, but even those are very good for the time, and who knows what type of mics they were using?
More to the point, though, I've listened to this album on my car stereo (which is not fantastic by any means), and it sounds as though the band is right there! Can't argue with that 'in-your-room' sound quality! <img src=pix/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

[twinarchers]

[tardistraveler]

[thehallway]

[tardistraveler]

Of the officially released versions, Yessongs is probably my favorite, although I do love the Symphonic DVD as a whole . . . that release is closer to the "live" experience than any of the others, for me.