Album of the Day

Yes had been together for about a year when their self-titled debut was released on this day in 1969. The band's initial line-up featured Peter Banks on guitar and Tony Kaye on keyboards and its promise was clear on the Atlantic collection, an impressive mix of progressive rock, jazz and psychedelia. Along with such originals as “Sweetness” and “Looking Around,” the set includes knockout covers of The Beatles' “Every Little Thing” and The Byrds' “I See You,” and the quintet's vocal and instrumental virtuosity is on full display throughout. While the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers would scale even greater heights, this first longplayer remains rewarding; the great Lester Bangs called it “the kind of album that sometimes insinuates itself into your routine with a totally unexpected thrust of musical power” - to which we can only say YES.