Tales from Topographic Oceans

Tales from Topographic Oceans is a double album by British progressive rock band Yes released on Atlantic Records in 1973.

Track listing

Tales from Topographic Oceans has a total running time of 81 minutes and 15 seconds spread amongst four tracks, all of which are at least 18 minutes in length:

1. The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) (20:27)
2. The Remembering (High the Memory) (20:38)
3. The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun) (18:34)
4. Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil) (21:36)

Tales from Topographic Oceans is perhaps the most controversial work amongst Yes' early albums and a major departure from those previous to it; it is generally regarded as the point where the positive critical reception built up by Yes' previous three studio albums declined (according to some, dramatically) though Tales from Topographic Oceans itself sold well, reaching #1 in the UK album charts. Many felt that the album lacked enough material for its playing time (it was inspired by a single footnote in a book which vocalist Jon Anderson had read) and at one point during the album's production, Yes' keyboardist Rick Wakeman left the band until after it was finished.