Classical Composer REACTION & ANALYSIS to Siberian Khatru (Yes) | The Daily Doug (Episode 430)

Rick has a great back story about the harpsichord solo. When Rick was at the Royal College of Music, there was a rule that you weren't allowed to play on the harpsichord unless that was your speciality (Rick's was piano). But he'd sneak into the room and play the harpsichord anyway. One day he got caught by an older gentleman whom Rick assumed was an instructor. He asked Rick what he was doing in there..Rick told him he was practicing on the harpsichord. When the gentleman asked him why he chose that particular harpsichord to practice on, Rick told him because it was a Goff harpsichord and Goff is the very best. The man handed Rick his card and told him not to play the harpsichords at the Royal College..instead come to his house. It was Thomas Goff himself. Fast forward to 1972, when Yes were recording Siberian Khatru, and the guys agreed a harpsichord would be idea for the solo in the middle. Rick called Mr. Goff and asked to borrow one of his. Goff said OK, but he'd need to be there while they were doing it. Eddy Offord, the engineer, starts to put mics up inside the harpsichord (as you would for a piano) when Goff says, "What are you doing? You can't mic a harpsichord the way you would a piano because the mics will pick up the plucking sound on the strings. Overhead mics only." That's what they did, and the rest is history.

CTTE is the best prog album ever recorded, there is not a weak moment on the entire thing, from the fade in to the fade out, like a sunrise and sunset. Fantastic in every way.

Squire’s bass playing is just stupendous and in my opinion unmatched

Further proof that Chris Squire's Bass is a lead instrument and Bill Bruford is a percussionist and not just a drummer. One of the best albums of all time.👏👏👏

A master piece indeed (from a Genesis fan). No weak point in this piece. 1972, what a year. Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Led Zep,...

Lol, “they never do anything the same way three times, do they?” Too true, sir.

Such a great album. All three songs are genius.

Just saw Jon Anderson and the Paul Green rock orchestra perform Close To The Edge last night..... Just great to watch a legend performing with all these kids and watching the joy on all faces, both on the stage and in the audience.... Its just what music is supposed to be about. Not pretentious, not always perfect, just live and raw and wonderful. I cant explain the feeling of being able to experience things like that... it was just great, it filled this old mans soul.

Hey Doug I saw Yes in February 1974. Part one of the show was the entire Close to the Edge album and part 2 was the entire Tales From Topographic Oceans album. Interestingly it was ten years to the day after the Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. In one short decade we went from I Want to Hold Your Hand to the Revealing Science of God!!

Fun piece. I love love love Chris's bass in this. The world still misses his presence. I am thankful for this excellent music.

Terrific song, Doug, and it was the opening song to many of their '70s concerts; however, it wasn't really the opening song. The band always introduced themselves with a recorded version of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite Finale, and, as the ending faded, the band would come in with this song and the crowd would go wild. Yes fans always got a little dose of classical music with each concert, back then. I thought you might appreciate that little factoid.

Chris Squire and Bill Bruford. Best rhythm section ever. Just incredible.

As an almost 40-year bass player, this tone is my ideal. I’m still chasing it.

This and Genesis’ Foxtrot are the Desert Island discs for me.

This made my day. Thank you! This song brings out all kinds of Bill Bruford's jazz drumming sensibilities. I also think that this is Yes at their jazziest pre-Patrick Moraz. I wish Chris had lived long enough to see CTTE celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Coincidentally wore my Close To The Edge shirt today. A woman at a museum told me it was her husband's favorite album. I think it is one of the top 10 greatest albums ever made in the overall rock genre. Oddly enough it is only my 2nd favorite YES album, with Tales From Topographic Oceans being my favorite.

What I always loved about this track is its relentless density. You can hear so many details, intricacies, everyone ist busy at all times, playing riffs and licks in the background that others would be proud to use as solo spots. Topped with multi layered vocals, this is song is so packed it blows your mind. And after CTTE as the ultimate prog song with all twists, turns, quirks and awesomeness, followed by And You And I, possibly one of the most theatrically epic songs ever recorded in it grandeur, this one is like a perfect party that knocks you off your feet.

This album is the absolute epitome, the nec plus ultra of Prog Rock. They clubber you hard with ‘Close to the Edge’, bring you back with ‘And You and I’, then clubber you again with ‘Siberian Kathru’ when you think they just couldn’t again.

The best Yes album of all times in my opinion

It was a Concert opener..I've seen YES in Philadelphia Pa. From 1972-1984. Every Show. My favorite Band 🤘💘🎸🎶🎵🎶💯