Yes are the definitive symphonic progressive rock band — soaring harmonies, virtuoso musicianship and side-long suites that turned rock into something genuinely cosmic. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Close to the Edge”, “Roundabout”, “Heart of the Sunrise” and “Awaken” — the masterpiece, the signature anthem, the dramatic epic and the spiritual peak. The full ranking is below.

Cathedrals of sound

Formed in London in 1968, Yes turned rock into something symphonic: intricate, side-long suites built on Jon Anderson’s angelic vocals, Steve Howe’s dazzling guitar, Rick Wakeman’s cascading keyboards, Chris Squire’s growling lead bass and the polyrhythmic drumming of Bill Bruford and Alan White. Across a famously turbulent, ever-changing career they produced some of the most ambitious music in all of rock — from their untouchable 1971–72 run to a surprise 1980s pop-rock revival. Their catalogue spans more than fifty years and twenty-plus albums; the fifteen songs below are our pick of the very best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing songwriting, ambition, musicianship and lasting impact across their whole career. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the summit sits “Close to the Edge” (1972), an eighteen-minute suite many consider the single greatest prog song ever recorded. Beside it stand “Roundabout” (1971), their joyous signature anthem; “Heart of the Sunrise” (1971), the dramatic, ever-shifting epic Bill Bruford called the band’s true template; “Awaken” (1977), perhaps the most beautiful and spiritual thing they ever wrote; “Starship Trooper” (1971), a three-part classic that still closes their shows; and “And You and I” (1972), a gorgeous journey from acoustic hush to cosmic climax.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “I’ve Seen All Good People” (1971) is their most joyous singalong; “The Gates of Delirium” (1974) is a twenty-two-minute battle-piece to rival Close to the Edge; “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (1983) is the chart-topping smash that won them a whole new audience; “Siberian Khatru” (1972) is taut, riff-driven prog; and “Yours Is No Disgrace” (1971) is the side-long opener that announced the classic Yes sound.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Wonderous Stories” (1977) is a rapturous hit single; “Long Distance Runaround” (1971) is Anderson at his most melodic; “The Revealing Science of God” (1973) is the sprawling centrepiece of their most divisive album; and “South Side of the Sky” (1971) is a stormy, underrated Fragile epic.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with “Roundabout” — perhaps the perfect prog single, and the ideal way in. From there, “Heart of the Sunrise” and “Starship Trooper” show their epic side, before “Close to the Edge” takes you all the way.

The players

Yes are famous for their revolving cast — more than twenty full-time members over the decades. The classic line-up paired Jon Anderson’s soaring vocals with Steve Howe’s guitar, Rick Wakeman’s keyboards, Chris Squire’s distinctive lead bass and the drumming of Bill Bruford and, later, Alan White. Squire was the band’s one ever-present member until his death in 2015, and Yes have lost several others over the years, including guitarist Peter Banks and drummer Alan White. Today the band continues, led by guitarist Steve Howe.

Why they still matter

Few bands have shaped progressive rock as deeply as Yes — the gold standard for symphonic ambition, virtuosity and sheer scale. Their DNA runs straight through the modern symphonic prog of The Flower Kings and countless others, and they stand alongside fellow British giants Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson at the very heart of the genre. More than fifty years on, their best music still sounds like nothing else.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Yes albums, find an entry point with where to start with Yes, or dig into the underrated Yes albums. You can also place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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