Yes – Fragile [TrackList follows] – CD & audio-only Blu-ray Atlantic/ Panegyric

by | Nov 7, 2015 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Yes – Fragile [TrackList follows] – CD & audio-only multichannel Blu-ray Atlantic/ Panegyric GYRBD50009 [11/6/15] ****:

Like several other rock groups of the period, Yes has been scrounging around to reissue bits of their past recordings, including some which have never been available before. And in some cases including all sorts of physical things such as T shirts and facsimiles of original concert tickets etc. (not with this one).

This is the fourth in a series of remixed and expanded Yes Classics. Steven Wilson did the original multi-track studio masters and supervised the mix for 5.1 surround. There is also a new two-channel stereo mix by Wilson plus six additional tracks and four more newly mixed from the multi-track. The Blu-ray audio-only disc has an unbelievable variety of mixes, rehearsal takes, early mixes, two alternate takes, a 192K/24-bit flat transfer from the original stereo master tapes of the original album, and even a full-album needle drop from an original UK LP pressing, plus US promotion singles. I bet those latter items will really interest the staunch Yes aficianados, but for the rest of us – who cares?

Roger Dean expanded and restored his original artwork and the album is presented in a mini vinyl replica format with new sleeve notes and the complete lyrics to four of the songs. Although the Blu-ray includes the nine numbers in 96K/24-bit DTS-HD form, I found that the DVD-Audio of Fragile released in 2002 by Rhino had slightly better surround sonics. [Elektra/Rhino R9 78249] The lyrics sung by Jon Anderson and the rest of the vocalists were rather muddy and distant on the Blu-ray, but more forward and clearer on the DVD-Audio version. Also the DVD-A version includes a bonus track of the tenth tune, America – which is included on the Blu-ray if you look for it. No matter, it’s great to have one of the best albums by one of the top rock groups of the 60s and 70s in surround.

TrackList:

1. Roundabout
2. Cans & Brahms
3. We Have Heaven
4. South Side of the Sky
5. Five Percent for Nothing
6. Long Distance Runaround
7. The Fish
8. Mood for a Day
9. Heart of The Sunrise

—John Henry

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