Yes was formed in 1968 by vocalist Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire. Anderson was a member of The Warriors with his brother Tony, and had performed on singles under the pseudonym Hans Christian. Squire was part of The Syn, and spent time to develop his bass-playing technique following the band’s split in 1967.
The first album recorded with the new line-up was Fragile, released on 26 November 1971. The record showcased the band’s growing interest in the structures of classical music. Each member contributed a solo, or near-solo, track. The album marked the beginning of the band’s long collaboration with artist Roger Dean, who designed the group’s logo, album covers, and stage sets, along with his brother Martin. Fragile peaked at number 7 in the UK album charts and number 4 on the Billboard 200 during a stay of 46 weeks, the band’s first to reach the top ten in America. Its best known track, “Roundabout, was released in the US as a single that peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in April 1972.
They are featured on the cover of this Cashbox Magazine
Cashbox Magazine 1973
