The Ultimate Yes (2004)
Disc One
1. Time and a Word
2. Starship Trooper
3. Yours is No Disgrace
4. I've Seen All Good People
5. Roundabout
6. Long Distance Runaround
7. Heart of the Sunrise
8. South Side of the Sky
9. And You And I
10.America
11.Wonderous Stories
Disc Two
1. Siberian Khatru
2. Soon
3. Going for the One
4. Don't Kill the Whale
5. Tempus Fugit
6. Owner of a Lonely Heart
7. Leave It
8. It Can Happen
9. Rhythm of Love
10.Big Generator
11.Lift Me Up
12.The Calling
13.Open Your Eyes
14.Homeworld (The Ladder)
15.Magnification
Disc Three
1. Roundabout (acoustic)
2. Show Me
3. South Side of the Sky (acoustic)
4. Australia
5. New World Symphony
Let’s start with a bit of a warning label: there are a few different versions of this 3-CD compilation floating around out there, and the track lists aren’t always the same. So, buyer beware. For the record, I’m talking about the U.S. version here, but even that seems to differ from what you’ll find on various streaming services. Honestly, trying to pin down exactly what’s included on which edition is enough to make anyone dizzy.
That said, regardless of the tracklist quirks, it’s actually a pretty solid compilation. If you’re looking for a wide-ranging overview of the band’s career without committing to a sprawling box set, this delivers the goods reasonably well. Just be prepared for the fact that the third disc is, shall we say, generously labeled as “bonus” material. It’s basically five tracks—some acoustic reworkings of older songs and a couple of solo instrumentals. To be fair, they’re all quite pleasant and show the band in a more intimate, stripped-down setting, but let’s not kid ourselves: this isn’t essential listening. It’s the sort of thing you play once, nod approvingly, and then probably never return to again.
One thing to note for the diehards: you’re not going to find any of the sprawling, 20-minute epics here. No Close to the Edge, no The Gates of Delirium, none of the classic Yes marathons that make your average radio DJ weep at the thought of a single play. Some might see that as a glaring omission—and sure, for purists it’s a bit of a letdown. But let’s be real: there’s only so much music you can cram onto a disc without turning this into another five-disc box set. This is more about accessibility than completism.
Honestly, if you’re serious about collecting, you’d be better off tracking down the In a Word box set—assuming you can still find it. That release does a far better job of charting the band’s evolution while also giving those epic-length tracks the breathing room they need. But if you’re after a more streamlined introduction to Yes that still covers plenty of ground (albeit with a few compromises), this will do the trick just fine—confusing tracklist variations and all.
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