The 1973 double album that set the Prog Rock standard!

 

Tales from Topographic Oceans is the sixth studio album from the English rock band Yes, originally released as a double album on December 7, 1973 by Atlantic Records. It is a concept album based on singer Jon Anderson's interpretation of a footnote in "Autobiography of a Yogi" (1946) by Paramahansa Yogananda that describes four bodies of Hindu texts, collectively named the shastras. After he pitched the idea to guitarist Steve Howe, the two wrote the themes and instrumentation of four, side long tracks based on each text.

 

After its release, Tales from Topographic Oceans received a mixed critical reception and became a symbol of progressive rock excess with its detailed concept and lengthy songs. However it was a commercial success, becoming the first U.K. album to qualify for gold certification based on pre-orders alone. It topped the U.K. Album Chart for two weeks and reached No. 6 in the U.S. where it reached gold certification for more than 500,000 copies sold.

 

1. The Revealing Science of God - Dance of the Dawn

2. The Remembering - High the Memory

3. The Ancient - Giants Under the Sun

4. Ritual - Nous Sommes du Soleil