One of the most ambitious albums in rock history, Yes’ “Tales from Topographic Oceans” arrives February 6th from Rhino Records YES’ epic 1973 double album, “Tales From Topographic Oceans“, is receiving a massive Super Deluxe Edition.
The massive collection spans 12 CDs, 2 LPs, and a Blu-ray and features a newly remastered version of the original double album on both CD and vinyl; rarities; previously unreleased studio and live recordings; and several new mixes by Steven Wilson, including a Dolby Atmos version.
Rhino.com will have an exclusive bundle of “Tales From Topographic Oceans (Super Deluxe Edition)” with a 12×12 Tales litho numbered and signed by Roger Dean, limited to 500.
“Tales” was the group’s sixth studio album. With creative juices flowing, the progressive rock band had made a significant breakthrough with their three previous albums in a little more than 18 months: 1971’s “The Yes Album” and “Fragile“, and 1972’s “Close To the Edge”, which saw them significantly expand the concept of traditional song lengths. Though they still had just a sole Top 40 single, “Roundabout,” YES were achieving significant airplay on the free-form FM stations with their longer tracks. As their fan base continued to grow, Atlantic released a 3-LP live set, “Yessongs”, in May 1973. “Tales” arrived just seven months later. To preview the set, the single edit for “The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” is out now
The origins behind “Tales from Topographic Oceans” trace back to a footnote in Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, which inspired Jon Anderson to imagine a four-part musical journey through ancient Hindu scriptures. That concept took shape across four side-long compositions: “The Revealing Science Of God (Dance of the Dawn),” “The Remembering (High the Memory),” “The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun),” and “Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil).”
To capture the album’s structural and spiritual ambition, Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Rick Wakeman (keyboards), and Alan White (drums) worked with longtime producer Eddy Offord at London’s Morgan Studios, using Britain’s first 24-track console. originally Released December 7th, 1973, “Tales from Topographic Oceans“ topped the U.K. album chart and reached #6 in the U.S., where it earned a Gold certification.
The new Super Deluxe Edition reveals deeper dimensions of the project with previously unreleased in-progress versions of all four album tracks, providing rare insight into the creation of Yes’ most audacious work.
The set’s live material was recorded early in the tour for “Tales” and includes previously unreleased performances of all four album tracks, along with earlier favourites “And You And I” and “Close To The Edge.” The shows include Zürich (April 21, 1974), Manchester (November 28, 1973), and Cardiff (December 1, 1973).
When the album came out, it took time for some fans and critics to catch up with the band, as writer Syd Schwartz of Jazz & Coffee recalls in the set’s liner notes. “Consensus was never the point,” he says. “Tales from Topographic Oceans” will continue to be debated, dismissed, defended, and rediscovered. Its resistance to easy categorization is not a failure—it’s the reason it endures. It’s a vast, unknowable ocean of sound and spirit. And it still hasn’t finished revealing itself.” Schwartz also notes the album would be a turning point for the future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inductees and GRAMMY® winners: “Without “Tales”, there’s no “Relayer”. No pivot to leaner, sharper structures in the later ’70s. No map gets drawn without first pushing the edges of the known world — and “Tales” is where Yes did exactly that.”
12CD/2LP/BLU-RAY BOXED SET INCLUDES NEWLY REMASTERED 1973 ALBUM PLUS UNRELEASED STUDIO AND LIVE RECORDINGS. STEVEN WILSON PROVIDES NEW MIXES, INCLUDING DOLBY ATMOS
The Fat Angel Sings 