12 Tons of Topographic Yes

We are snowed in over here in North Jersey, which is the perfect opportunity to dive into this massive 12-CD set dedicated to the most ambitious Yes album of them all.

Hailed by some and derided by others, Tales from Topographic Oceans was once seen as the pinnacle of progressive rock’s excess upon its release in late 1973 (early 1974 here in the United States). However, the past 50-odd years have been kind to its legacy, as our own Craig Peters proclaimed in a recent anniversary piece on the album.

“Hindu philosophy, (mostly) incomprehensible lyrics and general bombast aside, Tales from Topographic Oceans delivers plenty of rewards to the keen listener,” he wrote in 2023. “Just check out Howe’s solo at the beginning of side four … Wakeman’s keyboards on side two … Squire’s bass lines and White’s percussion and Anderson’s ethereal voice throughout…This is Yes at the absolute top of their game delivering one of the great masterpieces — some say the greatest — of the 1970s heyday of progressive rock.”

This Super Deluxe Edition does no favours for curbing Tales’ typecasting as an epic of magnanimous proportions. Sigh, indeed, nothing beats being stuck inside with 12 CDs of the same four sidelong tracks in varying contexts (although “And You And I” and “Close to the Edge” appear on the Zurich, Switzerland performance from April 21, 1974).

However, its mesmerizing performances of the quartet of album cuts that make this deluxe edition so essential for fans of Tales From Topographic Oceans. Take, for instance, the version of “Ritual” from Zurich, which closes out the set. If you are a Chris Squire fan, go directly to your streaming service of choice and press play and maybe fast forward to the 12 minute mark. You won’t regret it.

The version of “Ritual” from The Capitol Theatre in Cardiff, Wales, from Dec. 1, 1973, meanwhile, contains a fantastic drum solo from Alan White, looking to make his mark with audiences after replacing Bill Bruford, who left the band to play more with King Crimson.

Elsewhere, material like the “In Progress” version of “The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” finds guitarist Steve Howe in peak form as he seems to try and out Fripp Robert Fripp himself with some of his angular patterns.

The “In Progress” version of “The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” is longer than the original album opener by nearly eight minutes, and offers a rawness that gives the music more of an edge, allowing Howe and keyboardist Rick Wakeman — who would leave Yes following the Topographic tour — to really take off on their own sonic trajectories. Singer Jon Anderson shines here as well.

When it comes to the 2026 remix of Oceans by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson, “The Remembering (High The Memory)” arguably benefits the most from the audio upgrade. Everyone sounds so keyed in and on the same frequency, as Wilson’s crisp studio know-how really elevates the music to its highest resolution on disc.

 

VIDEO: TFTO box set announcement 

Tales from Topographic Oceans, recorded on the first 24-track console to be used in England back in ’73, remains a testament to the infinite possibilities of rock music in the hands of one of the genre’s most adventurous bands.

“Consensus was never the point,” writes Syd Schwartz in the liner notes. “Tales from Topographic Oceans will continue to be debated, dismissed, defended and rediscovered. Its resistance to easy categorization is not a failure — it’s the reason it endures. It’s a vast, unknowable ocean of sound and spirit. And it still hasn’t finished revealing itself.”

 

TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS (SUPER DELUXE EDITION)

CD Track Listing

Disc 1: Original Album Remastered

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)”

“The Remembering (High The Memory)”

 

Disc 2: Original Album Remastered

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)”

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)”

 

Disc 3: Steven Wilson 2026 Remixes

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)”

“The Remembering (High The Memory)”

 

Disc 4: Steven Wilson 2026 Remixes

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)”

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)”

 

Disc 5: Steven Wilson 2026 Instrumental Mixes

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)”

“The Remembering (High The Memory)”

 

Disc 6: Steven Wilson 2026 Instrumental Mixes

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)”

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)”

 

Disc 7: Rarities

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” – Single Edit

“The Remembering (High The Memory)” – Single Edit

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” – Single Edit

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)” – Single Edit 1

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)” – Single Edit 2

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” – Version 1

“The Remembering (High The Memory)” – In Progress

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” – In Progress

 

Disc 8: Rarities

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” – In Progress *

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” – In Progress 2 *

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” – In Progress 2 *

 

Disc 9: Rarities

“The Remembering (High The Memory)” – In Progress 2 *

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)” – In Progress *

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” – Version 2

 

Disc 10: Live 1973

“The Remembering (High The Memory)” *

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” *

Live at Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales (12/1/73)

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” *

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)” *

 

Disc 11: Live at Hallenstadion Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (4/21/74)

“And You And I” *

“Cord Of Life”

“Eclipse”

“The Preacher The Teacher”

“Apocalypse”

“Close To The Edge” *

“The Solid Time Of Change”

“Total Mass Retain”

“I Get Up I Get Down”

“Seasons Of Man”

“The Revealing Science Of God (Dance Of The Dawn)” *

 

Disc 12: Live at Hallenstadion Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (4/21/74)

“The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)” *

“Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)”

 

Blu-ray

2026 Dolby Atmos Mix

2026 5.1 Mix DTS-HD MA

2026 Stereo Remix

2026 Stereo Remaster

2026 Instrumental Mix

 

* Previously Unreleased