Fragile by Yes

The first album with Rick Wakeman on keyboards, having replaced Tony Kaye with a lineup of Anderson, Howe, Squire, Bruford, and Wakeman, which would release, in addition to this masterpiece, Close to the Edge, in my opinion the group's pinnacle, followed immediately by Fragile.

But while Close to the Edge is in first place for the consistently high quality of all the songs, Fragile, which is less fluid, is my favorite album for the playfulness of some tracks and the tendency toward virtuosity, which when executed by musicians of this caliber is sublime.

In fact, some of the album's tracks are practically solos by the various members.

We Have Heaven is a sort of musical divertissement in which Jon Anderson sings all the vocal parts.

Five Per Cent for Nothing, which at just 35 seconds is the shortest song in YES's discography, is a rhythmic exercise by Bill Bruford;

Mood for a Day is one of Steve Howe's best-known classical guitar pieces;
The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) is built around a bass line by Chris Squire.

How could we not mention "Cans and Brahms" (extracts from Brahms' 4th Symphony in E Minor, Third Movement), just over 90 seconds long by the prodigious Rick Wakeman?
The great track "Heart of the Sunrise" is one of the album's best tracks, with a superb performance by Anderson and extraordinary work on Mellotron, piano, keyboards, and Moog by Wakeman.

But Roundabout is truly magnificent, with its spectacular intro, monstrous bass work, an epic nine-minute track with excellent acoustic guitars, a magnificent keyboard solo, and Jon's incredible vocals.

The artwork is magnificent, the first YES cover by Roger Dean.

A simply indispensable album.

Tracks
1. Roundabout (8:29)
2. Cans and Brahms (extracts from Brahms' 4th Symphony in E Minor, Third Movement) (1:35)
3. We Have Heaven (1:30)
4. South Side of the Sky (8:04)
5. Five Percent for Nothing (0:35)
6. Long Distance Runaround (3:33)
7. The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) (2:35)
8. Mood for a Day (2:57)
9. Heart of the Sunrise (10:34)
Running Time 39:52

The Lineup
- Jon Anderson - lead vocals and backing vocals
- Steve Howe - electric and acoustic guitar (octave flamenco), backing vocals
- Rick Wakeman - Hammond organ, grand piano, RMI Electra-Piano, electric harpsichord, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer
- Chris Squire - bass backing vocals, guitar (1)
- Bill Bruford - drums and percussion