Yes – Fragile VG+/VG+

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 12 November 1971 by Atlantic Records. It is their first album to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye after the group had finished touring their breakthrough record, The Yes Album (1971). The album consists of nine tracks, four of which are group compositions and the remaining five are solo pieces by each band member. The album showcases the band’s musical diversity and versatility, incorporating elements of folk, classical, jazz and rock music. The album also features the first collaboration with artist Roger Dean, who designed the iconic cover and would create many of their future album covers and logos.

The album contains some of the band’s most popular and influential songs, such as “Roundabout”, a complex and catchy song that became a hit single in the US; “Heart of the Sunrise”, a dynamic and epic song that features a memorable bass riff by Chris Squire; and “South Side of the Sky”, a powerful and atmospheric song that depicts a fatal expedition to Antarctica. The album also features some of the band’s most experimental and adventurous songs, such as “Cans and Brahms”, a classical arrangement by Wakeman; “Five Per Cent for Nothing”, a short and chaotic piece by Bruford; and “The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”, a bass solo by Squire that uses various effects.

Fragile received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, and became a commercial success, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart and No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified Platinum in the UK and double Platinum in the US, where it has sold over two million copies.