Album of the Day

While reading the book Autobiography of a Yogi, Yes vocalist Jon Anderson became intrigued with four Hindu texts mentioned in it; working with bandmate Steve Howe, the two devised the concept for a double album of four side-long epics. As the guitarist recalled of TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS, “Side one was the commercial or easy-listening side ... side two was a much lighter, folky side of Yes, side three was electronic mayhem turning into acoustic simplicity, and side four was us trying to drive the whole thing home on a biggie.” Filled with virtuoso performances (particularly by keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who left the band after the accompanying tour), the 1974 collection was a Top 10, Gold-certified hit on both sides of the Atlantic. We’ll revisit TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS now to wish Howe a happy birthday.