Yes (1977) Wondrous Stories

 Jon Anderson is front and centre in this Yes single from 1977, it's one of his patented folk tales, this finds him at his peak with a wondrously soaring lead vocal over a bed of spellbinding acoustic strum. The Classic lineup of 1972 is reunited here after a three year hiatus for a succinct radio-friendly album, Going for the One(1977). Steve Howe capably handles the fantastical arrangement of Vachalia, while Chris Squire's close harmony adds a genuine choral depth, while the layered PolyMoog flourishes of Rick Wakeman help give the package a symphonic grandeur that came effortlessly to this group.  A band that systematically displayed Prog Rock's best and worst tendencies got the right ingredients and measurements for this concise album with strong pop and rock hooks combined with enough experimental material that would have been irresistible to rock fans not bowled over by punk.