by Geoff Bailie
In what’s becoming an annual tradition, the next Yes Super Deluxe Edition has just arrived and it’s perhaps the defining prog rock album: Close To The Edge!
If you’ve seen The Yes Album and Fragile sets you’ll know what to expect in terms of format: a fresh remaster of the original album on CD and LP; a CD of 2025 Steven Wilson remixes of the album and instrumental mixes; a CD of “Rarities”; 2 CDs of some live material from that time period and finally a Blu-Ray with an Atmos, 5.1, Stereo, Instrumental mix plus the Remaster. It all comes housed in a 12 inch art book format with a booklet to contemporary photos, some commentary and all the track information.
There have been a variety of Yes reissues in recent years most notably the Rhino series which managed to pull some unheard tracks and versions out of the archives, and the Pangeric series which in mini gatefold format added in surround and hi res mixes on Blu ray. If you’re simply a fan of the music, everything that was on those releases is here, so those are effectively superseded plus you get some material on CD which was only on Blu-ray before (for example the instrumental versions which are incredibly revealing!) . So what else is here?
The remastered CD, 2025 Wilson Stereo mix and Instrumentals each give you a slightly different take on music that, I’m sure like me, you’ve played many times before. I know some Yes fans are less keen on the SW versions and … well you’ve got a choice now!
Next up up there are 3 new Steven Wilson “single edits”, this time of Siberian Khatru, Cord of Life from And You And I and Total Mass Retain from CTTE. These aren’t meant to be taken too seriously. Yes, or the label, did do some single edits back in the day and the originals are included here. These are alternative attempts by Wilson to capture some of the key elements in a brief track and … well if you’ve got the master tapes lined up, why not! A particular shout out on this disc for the “Dry Mix” of the band’s cover of America – this definitely deserves its place and is a really great Yes track.
Perhaps the thing most Yes fans will be excited about is CD 4 and 5 – Yes: Live at the Rainbow 16 December 1972. So first up the question: isn’t this just YesSongs? No – we do know that CTTE and Starship Trooper from the YesSongs album are from 15th or 16th December 1972, and the packaging says all the versions here are previously unreleased. What’s missing is the Steve Howe Mood For A Day / Clap guitar solo – especially given the Wakeman solo is here – but perhaps that was a technical issue or something. Also the track listing of the show is shifted around a bit from how it was played on the night but … it sounds amazing!!!! Of course we now have Alan White in the band bringing his own take on the CTTE and other tracks – but it’s a great performance and the sound quality is massively improved from that of YesSongs. So Yes fans will definitely devour and treasure these discs! [I’ve subsequently read some Yesfan debate about the origins of a few of these tracks – either way, it works together as an excellent representation of the band at this stage, which to me is the point of the box set.]
The Blu-Ray is notable for new Atmos, 5.1 and Stereo mixes. I have a 5.1 set up but not an Atmos one, so my listening to the Atmos mix is in the way my amp has down mixed it to 5.1. Both the downmix and the 5.1 are absolutely incredible renderings of the music. The danger with these mixes is that it’s possible for the remixer to go crazy and have sounds spinning and flying all round the sound stage. The tasteful remixer – of which I count Wilson as one of the very best – will attempt to use the space and movement in a way that is not distracting but is complimentary to both the album as you remember it and the ability to add extra separation which wasn’t previously possible. To my ears, the CTTE remixes are just right. Yes, when I play a 5.1 I want to hear things I didn’t notice before and I want to enjoy the spread that it offers – but I also want to feel like I’m playing the music I’ve known for many years rather than a listening to a technical gimic.
And finally of course there’s the packaging and the booklet which contains lots of great photos, artwork, and track information. It’s a similar 12 page format to other sets – not overloaded with information but perfectly good!
These Super Deluxe sets are definitely a great addition to any Yes collection. Short of the band and somehow finding further outtakes or studio sessions, which there is no guarantee exist, this really is the definitive summation of the album in the studio and in concert.
CD1: Original Album Remastered
1. Close to the Edge (2025 Remaster)
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
2. And You and I (2025 Remaster)
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
3. Siberian Khatru (2025 Remaster)
⸻
CD2: Steven Wilson 2025 Remix and Instrumentals
1. Close to the Edge (2025 Steven Wilson Remix)
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
2. And You and I (2025 Steven Wilson Remix)
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
3. Siberian Khatru (2025 Steven Wilson Remix)
4. Close to the Edge (2025 Steven Wilson Remix) [Instrumental]
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
5. And You and I (2025 Steven Wilson Remix) [Instrumental]
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
6. Siberian Khatru (2025 Steven Wilson Remix) [Instrumental]
⸻
CD3: Rarities
1. America (Single Version) [2025 Remaster]
2. Total Mass Retain (Single Version) [2025 Remaster]
3. And You and I (Promo Radio Edit) [2025 Remaster]
4. America (2025 Steven Wilson Remix)
5. Siberia (Studio Run-Through of “Siberian Khatru”) [2025 Remaster]
6. And You and I (Alternate Version) [2025 Remaster]
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
7. Close to the Edge (Rough Mix) [2025 Remaster]
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
⸻
CD4: Live at the Rainbow, London, England, 12/15/72
1. Siberian Khatru
2. I’ve Seen All Good People
a. Your Move
b. All Good People
3. Heart of the Sunrise
4. And You and I
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
5. Close to the Edge
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
⸻
CD5: Live at the Rainbow, London, England, 12/15/72
1. Excerpts from “The Six Wives of Henry VIII”
2. Roundabout
3. Yours Is No Disgrace
4. Starship Trooper
a. Life Seeker
b. Disillusion
c. Würm
⸻
Blu-Ray:
2025 Steven Wilson Atmos Mix
2025 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix DTS-HD MA
2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix
2025 Stereo Remaster
1. Close to the Edge
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
2. And You and I
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
3. Siberian Khatru
⸻
LP: Original Album
Side One
1. Close to the Edge
I. The Solid Time of Change
II. Total Mass Retain
III. I Get Up I Get Down
IV. Seasons of Man
Side Two
1. And You and I
I. Cord of Life
II. Eclipse
III. The Preacher the Teacher
IV. Apocalypse
2. Siberian Khatru
Add comment