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Yes: Steve Howe (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Chris Squire (vocals, bass); Jon Anderson (vocals); Rick Wakeman (acoustic & electric pianos, organ, harpsichord, Mellotron, synthesizer); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion).
Recorded at Advision Studios, London, England in September 1971. Originally released on Atlantic (19132).
Digitally remastered by Joe Gastwirt (Ocean View Digital).
Yes: Steve Howe (vocals, guitar); Chris Squire (vocals, bass); Jon Anderson (vocals); Rick Wakeman (keyboards); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion).
Atlantic's Gold Standard Audiophile Compact Discs are gold-plated CD's that boast 20-bit digital reproduction technology for improved sonic dynamics. Each re-issue comes in a specially designed mini-box which includes the jewel CD box plus a 24-page color booklet featuring new liner notes, photographs, and the complete original album artwork.
Fragile was Yes' breakthrough album, propelling them in a matter of weeks from a cult act to an international phenomenon; not coincidentally, it also marked the point where all of the elements of the music (and more) that would define their success for more than a decade fell into place fully formed. The science-fiction and fantasy elements that had driven the more successful songs on their preceding record, The Yes Album, were pushed much harder here, and not just in the music but in the packaging of the album:the Roger Dean-designed cover was itself a fascinating creation that seemed to relate to the music and drew the purchaser's attention in a manner that few records since the heyday of the psychedelic era could match. Having thrown original keyboard player Tony Kaye overboard early in the sessions -- principally over his refusal to accept the need for the Moog synthesizer in lieu of his preferred Hammond organ -- the band welcomed Rick Wakeman into its ranks. His use of the Moog, among other instruments, coupled with an overall bolder and more aggressive style of playing, opened the way for a harder, hotter sound by the group as a whole; bassist Chris Squire sounds like he's got his amp turned up to "12," and Steve Howe's electric guitars are not far behind, although the group also displayed subtlety where it was needed. The opening minute of "Roundabout," the album opener -- and the basis for the edited single that would reach number 13 on the Billboard charts and get the group onto AM radio in a way that most other prog rock outfits could only look upon with envy -- was dominated by Howe's acoustic guitar and Bill Bruford`s drums, and only in the middle section did the band show some of what they could do with serious amperage. Elsewhere on the record, as on "South Side of the Sky," they would sound as though they were ready to leave the ground (and the planet), between the volume and intensity of their playing. "Long Distance Runaround," which also served as the B-side of the single, was probably the most accessible track here apart from "Roundabout," but they were both ambitious enough to carry most listeners on to the heavier sides at the core of this long player. The solo tracks by the members were actually a necessity: they needed to get Fragile out in a hurry to cover the cost of the keyboards that Wakeman had added to the group's sonic arsenal. But they ended up being more than filler. Each member, in effect, took a "bow" in mostly fairly serious settings, and Squire's "The Fish" and Howe's "Mood For a Day" pointed directly to future, more substantial projects as well as taking on a life of their own on-stage. If not exactly their peak, Fragile was as perfect a record as the group would ever make, and just as flawless in its timing as its content. ~ Bruce Eder
DVD Features:
Region 0
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1
DTS 5.1
MLP Stereo - 96 kHz - 24 bit
MLP Stereo - 192 kHz
Text/Photo Galleries:
Photo Gallery - 1. Original Album Photo Session Outtakes
2. Animated YES TimelineRolling Stone (3/16/72, p.56) - "...Gorgeous melodies, intelligent, carefully crafted, constantly surprising arrangements, concise and energetic performances, cryptic but evocative lyrics...a powerful and moving emotional experience..."
Rolling Stone (3/16/72, p.56) - "...Gorgeous melodies, intelligent, carefully crafted, constantly surprising arrangements, concise and energetic performances, cryptic but evocative lyrics...a powerful and moving emotional experience..."
Rolling Stone (3/16/72, p.56) - "...Gorgeous melodies, intelligent, carefully crafted, constantly surprising arrangements, concise and energetic performances, cryptic but evocative lyrics...a powerful and moving emotional experience..."
Spin (01/04, p.48) - "...Art kids still feel its power..."
Uncut (6/03, p.117) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...Recorded swiftly in patchwork fashion, FRAGILE avoided the over-meticulous arrangements of previous efforts, allowing Bill Bruford's frenetic jazz drumming to skitter behind Jon Anderson's choirboy voice..."
Uncut (6/03, p.117) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...Recorded swiftly in patchwork fashion, FRAGILE avoided the over-meticulous arrangements of previous efforts, allowing Bill Bruford's frenetic jazz drumming to skitter behind Jon Anderson's choirboy voice..."
Fragile Music Review
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    List All 38 Reviews FRAGILE
Very good!
The best album the Yes.
Excellent DVD-A!
Submitted by ricardo.ravache (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
DVD-A
Great sound-please dont stop offering
SACD or DVD-A-and if you have HDCD
encoded then let me know
thanks
Submitted by johnphaas (Richmond VA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Unbelievable Sound/ Incredible Performance
As a huge Yes fan, I have listened to this album hundreds of times over the years, but the unbelievable DVD-Audio sound quality makes it a brand new experience. Even if you don’t have a surround sound setup, did you ever notice how good the music sounds when watching a DVD, especially a song that you also have on CD? Well, this is the same thing. And if you have a surround sound system, you won’t believe your ears.
Submitted by Bill S. (New York, NY)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No OUTSTANDING SOUND STAGE
THE RECORDING QUILITY IS GREAT.SOUND STAGE AND IMIAGING ARE GREAT.
Submitted by BRIANW (GAINESVILLE VIRGINIA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Fresh Life in an old release.
Dolby Digital was made for bands like Yes. The mixing of this DVD is excellent! I listened on a Dolby 5.1 surround. You feel you are in the middle of the stage listening to it. Any Yes fan would not be dissapointed
Submitted by a reviewer (Canton, Mi)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
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