YES‘ fourth album “Fragile” hit the American Top 10 in February 1972. Reaching platinum in the U.K. and double platinum in the U.S., the record launched the to new heights with hits like “Roundabout” and its beloved B-side, “Long Distance Runaround.”
To be released tomorrow, “Fragile [Super Deluxe Edition Box Set]” is an extensive reissue featuring a newly remastered version of the original album, Steven Wilson’s new mix of the entire album, a complete instrumental version of the album, rarities, live recordings, and more.
The new remix of the album by Wilson is just awesome. In addition, two discs of rarities provide a glimpse of the album’s creative journey, from early versions of “Roundabout” and “South Side Of The Sky” to unreleased live recordings from the Fragile Tour, including “Long Distance Runaround / The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus).”
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 he 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.”
The album 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 associate.
CD 1: Original Album Remastered 2024
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
CD 2: 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)
CD 3: 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)
CD 4: More Rarities & Live
Five Per Cent For Nothing – Alternate Version
Heart Of The Sunrise – Alternate Version
Long Distance Runaround/The Fish – 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
YES – Fragile [Super Deluxe Edition 4 CD Box Set] (2024)