This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
The ultimate Yes? That’s a pretty bold claim.
After all, there have been plenty of Yes reissues, compilations and boxes over the years — including the massive and comprehensive five-disc set In A Word less than two years ago. Surely, if anything is the ne plus ultra of Yes collections, it’s that.
Of course, not everybody is that much into classic prog-rock. To the more casual fan, the easier-to-swallow three-disc set Ultimate Yes may indeed live up to its name. Like any good best-of, it provides a decent overview of the band’s lengthy career and various incarnations. The first two discs of the set bring you 26 FM staples from Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround and I’ve Seen All Good People to Going For The One, Owner Of A Lonely Heart and Lift Me Up.
The third disc offers a handful of so-so new cuts — including a shuffling acoustic version of Roundabout, a solo spotlight by guitarist Steve Howe and a grandiose Dvorak reworking by bassist Chris Squire — obviously aimed at enticing the faithful to shell out one more time for tracks they already own. Plus you get a spiffy Roger Dean cover, a nice double-gatefold digipak, and a poster-booklet with a brief bio, some data and not one single picture of the band (this can be either a pro or a con, depending on your view).
Bottom line: If you don’t own any Yes albums — or that five-disc box — this is the one you want. If you’re already a fan, The Ultimate Yes will ultimately prove to be a disappointment.
