“People talk, a couple of hundred quid changes hands – and you’re in the charts. That got us going”: The Yes Album was very nearly Yes’ final release. But fate intervened three times

The Yes Album.

It’s difficult to imagine the world of prog without Yes, and all the interpersonal issues that punctuate the timeless music they’ve delivered down the decades. But if it hadn’t been for three quirks of fate in 1970 and 71, before they delivered The Yes Album, the world would have continued to turn without knowing what it was missing.

The band had recently parted with guitarist Peter Banks and hired Steve Howe in his place. They’d immediately felt an upturn in their musical proficiency – Howe merged with Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire and Bill Bruford in electric fashion.