Yes’s fourth album, Fragile, has received a Super Deluxe Edition, an extensive reissue featuring a newly remastered version of the original album on both CD and vinyl, plus rare and unreleased recordings. A Blu-ray disc completes the collection with Steven Wilson’s new mixes, including the album in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Mix DTS-HD MA. The new edition arrived June 28, 2024, via Rhino, with 4-CDs, one LP and a Blu-ray disc. It’s available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Fragile was released in November 1971 in the U.K. and January 7, 1972, in the U.S. The record launched the group to new heights with “Roundabout,” which became one of the band’s signature tunes, and its beloved B-side, “Long Distance Runaround,” as the album ultimately reached platinum in the U.K. and double platinum in the U.S. Listen to several alternate versions, previously unreleased live performances and Wilson mixes from the collection below.
Yes receiving their first Gold Record in the U.S., for Fragile, in April 1972
Fragile marked keyboardist Rick Wakeman’s debut with Yes, which included Jon Anderson (lead vocals), Chris Squire (bass, vocals), Bill Bruford (drums), and Steve Howe (guitar). After Wakeman joined in the summer of 1971, the band recorded nine songs for the album, four group arrangements (“Roundabout”), and five individual compositions, including Anderson’s “We Have Heaven” and Howe’s instrumental “Mood For a Day.”
From the May 15 announcement: Fragile (Super Deluxe Edition) introduces a new remix of the album and instrumental mixes by Wilson. Renowned audio engineer Bernie Grundman cut lacquers for the set’s LP. In addition, two discs of rarities provide a glimpse of the album’s creative journey, with early versions of “Roundabout” and “South Side Of the Sky.”
The set also includes unreleased live recordings from the Fragile Tour, including “Perpetual Change” and “Yours Is No Disgrace.”
As Best Classic Bands wrote in our Album Rewind of Fragile, “’Long Distance Runaround’ is quintessential Yes, combining delicate effects with powerful counter-streams. Howe’s jazzy dual-guitar figures open the track, quickly joined by Squire’s dominating bass. Listen to how masterfully Bruford takes his punctuation cues from both of them, finding a middle ground of support. The tempo and atmosphere change with Anderson’s entry, as the track becomes positively poppy, and Wakeman’s piano provides a deceptively simple doo-wop accompaniment. For anyone critical of prog-rock’s experimental bona-fides, ‘Long Distance Runaround’ is a cogent rebuttal: pithy, fun and always surprising.
Listen to the alternate version of “Long Distance Runaround/The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
Fragile holds a special place in Yes’ history as the first album to feature artwork by English artist Roger Dean, whose style is now synonymous with the band. Music journalist Syd Schwartz describes the deep connection between the two. “Few marriages of sound and vision are as perfectly suited as Yes and Roger Dean – it was like they grabbed the same shooting star simultaneously. The iconic Yes logo was still an album away, but Fragile established a cosmic vibe forever associated with Yes…”
Fragile (Super Deluxe Edition) Track Listing
Disc One: Original Album Remastered
“Roundabout”
“Cans And Brahms”
“We Have Heaven”
“South Side Of The Sky”
“Five Per Cent For Nothing”
“Long Distance Runaround”
“The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
“Mood For A Day”
“Heart Of The Sunrise”
Disc Two: Remixes & Instrumentals
2024 Remixes
“Roundabout”
“Cans And Brahms”
“We Have Heaven”
“South Side Of The Sky”
“Five Per Cent For Nothing”
“Long Distance Runaround”
“The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
“Mood For A Day”
“Heart Of The Sunrise”
“We Have Heaven” (Reprise)
2024 Instrumental Mixes
“Roundabout”
“We Have Heaven”
“South Side Of The Sky”
“Long Distance Runaround”
“The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
“Heart Of The Sunrise”
“We Have Heaven” (Reprise)
Disc Three: Rarities
“Roundabout” – U.S. Single Edit
“Long Distance Runaround” – U.S. Single Edit
“All Fighters Past” – Steven Wilson Mix
“South Side Of The Sky” – Early Take
“Roundabout” – Rehearsal Take/Early Mix
“Mood For Another Day”
“We Have Heaven” – Full Version (Steven Wilson Mix)
“South Side Of The Sky” – Early Version (Steven Wilson Mix)
“Long Distance Runaround” (Steven Wilson Edit) *
“Heart Of The Sunrise” (Steven Wilson Edit) *
“America”
“Roundabout” – Early Rough Mix
“We Have Heaven” – Acapella (Steven Wilson Mix)
Disc Four: More Rarities & Live
“Five Per Cent For Nothing” – Alternate Version *
“Heart Of The Sunrise” – Alternate Version *
“Long Distance Runaround / The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)” – Alternate Version *
“The Dean”
“America” – Instrumental *
Live at the Academy of Music, NYC (2/19/72)
“Long Distance Runaround / The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)” *
“Perpetual Change” *
“Yours Is No Disgrace” *
Blu-ray
2024 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix
2024 5.1 Mix DTS-HD MA
2024 Stereo Remix
2024 Stereo Remaster
2024 Instrumental Mix
Tracklist:
“Roundabout”
“Cans And Brahms”
“We Have Heaven”
“South Side Of The Sky”
“Five Per Cent For Nothing”
“Long Distance Runaround”
“The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
“Mood For A Day”
“Heart Of The Sunrise”
“We Have Heaven” (Reprise)
“America”
Fragile
LP One
Side One
“Roundabout”
“Cans And Brahms”
“We Have Heaven”
“South Side Of The Sky”
Side Two
“Five Per Cent For Nothing”
“Long Distance Runaround”
“The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
“Mood For A Day”
“Heart Of The Sunrise”
* previously unreleased
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI saw Yes as the warmup group for ELP in Chicago in 71 Fantastic Show. I saw Yes again 7 times and they never disappoint me, each show was beyond belief.
I first saw them if I remember correctly in Madison Square Garden in 1978, it was the in the round tour but I remember it being a great show. Saw them a few times after that they put on an excellent show, 2002 at the Shoreline amphitheater in Mountain View California.. you have to have Jon Anderson without a doubt
If you have to have Jon Anderson, look for him performing with The Band Geeks. Lots of Yes classics and some new material. An album is coming out in August 2024.
Thanks so much for the post. Fragile-era demos, early versions and live material? Yes, please. Sorry, but IMHO, the current pseudo-Yes and Anderson with Sound Geeks are all but minor shadows of the power, energy, musicanship and majesty of this band in its prime.