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.
Yes: Rick Wakeman (piano); Chris Squire (bass instrument); Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford.
Personnel: Steve Howe (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Chris Squire, Jon Anderson (vocals); Rick Wakeman (grand piano, electric piano, harpsichord, organ, Mellotron, synthesizer); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion).
Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.
Liner Note Author: Bill Martin.
Recording information: Advision Studios, London, England (09/1971).
Photographers: David Wright; Martyn Dean; Roger Dean .
Arrangers: Yes; Rick Wakeman.
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 "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..." 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..."
FIVE STAR FRAGILE IF ONE MUST BUY A YES ALBUM ....ONE MUST START WITH FRAGILE. THIS CROWN JEWEL SHOWS THE BAND AT THE HEIGHT OF CAFR EATIVE AND EAR DROPPING MUSICIANSHIP.AFTER HAVING THIS FIRST ON 8 TRACK, THEN CASSETTE, AND THEN ALBUM. THIS REPRODUCTION OF FRAGILE IS A SONIC DREAM. CD UNIVERSE ROCKS. THIS IS A MUST BUY INTO WHAT IS SOMETIMES CALLED PROGRESSIVE ROCK Submitted by BIG AL LANDERS (MARCO ISLAND FLORIDA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 22 of 23 found this helpful.
Sounds almost like it was recorded yesterday Fragile was the first LP I ever bought back in 1972. It has never sounded so good! This release takes advantages of the advances made in the last few years in digital transfer technology, resulting in a crisp, vivid listening experience. As for the record itself, this (along with Close to the Edge and Relayer) is arguably part of the Great Trilogy of classic Yes releases that stands the test of time very well. Submitted by a reviewer (Atlanta, GA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The masterpiece before the Masterpiece... With Fragile, Yes flexes its musical muscle in a way the music world hadn't yet seen. Rick Wakeman's appearance on keyboards proved to be the missing ingredient which propelled Yes into the stratosphere (musically, lyrically, and within the music world).
"Roundabout" starts the album, and it doesn't get any better than that. Dueling guitar/keyboard solos, Jon Anderson's unique vocal treatment of the lyric, and Bill Bruford's unconventional drumming combine with Chris Squire's riveting bass to provide the first major single of Yes' career.
This album is unique in that it features a solo track for each group member...the best of which are Chris Squire's "Fish" and Steve Howe's "Mood For a Day".
The rest of the group songs ("Long Distance Runaround", "South Side Of The Sky", and "Heart of the Sunrise") are stunning in their composition and execution.
Bonus tracks on the remastered version are the group's treatment of Paul Simon's "America" and a rough cut of "Roundabout".
A terrific album, and must have for any Yes fan. Submitted by a reviewer (Lake Mary, FL) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The Epitome of Yes At this point in the group's career, they had gone almost flat-out broke to get Rick Wakeman and his extensive keyboards (and great keyboarding skills) and they tried combining their accepted style with this new excess. For that is what this album feels like: a ton of excess. Mind you, this is not a bad thing, for that means that there is something for everyone on this album, either on the long cuts or the shorter, one-minute-or-so songs. If I remember right, what the group had originally tried to do was combine the relatively hard-rocking instrumentality of Genesis with the harmonization of the Moody Blues. And this album does that, and more; it incorporates every element of Progressive Rock at that point in history. So not only is it a group masterpiece, it is also a landmark album, albeit it doesn't appear so. Put simply, if you like progressive rock, this is one album you should not pass up. You'll find something to like, whether you're a Moody or a Gabriel, or even a Marillion fan. You'll find something to like here. Submitted by Galen (Anchorage, Alaska) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
YES' BEST ALBUM EACH SONG A MASTERPIECE , THIS ALBUM IS THE PRISTINE DEFINITION OF PROG. ALL OF THE BAND PROVE THEMSELVES TO BE EXCELLENT MUSICIANS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS. ONE OF THE TOP ALBUMS OF ALL TIME PERIOD. Submitted by THE FISH (SOUTH SIDE OF THE SKY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
FIVE STAR FRAGILE
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