 |
|
Tales
From Topographic Oceans |
|
Artist |
Yes |
|
released |
December 20th
1973 |
|
Recorded |
August-October
1973 |
|
Genre |
Progressive
rock |
|
Length |
83:42 |
|
Label |
Atlantic
Records |
|
Produced by |
Eddy Offord
&Yes |
Tales From
Topographic Oceans was the 6th studio album by the
progressive rock band Yes. It is a double album
with each side of the album containing a single
piece of music. It is a concept album basic on the
Shastric scriptures (as found in a footnote within
Paramahansa Yogananda's book, Autobiography of a
Yogi) and was considered, apon its release, one of
the most controversial albums in progressive rock
history, as much for it's perceived
pretentiousness as for criticisms that it employed
too much musical padding.
In Grades
cricket,
it enjoyed something of a rebirth and reappraisal
after Bon Accord C.C. hummed it (for entertainment
value) to stave off boredom during games where the
draw was being played out by opposition batsmen.
(The idea that even the most boring record in the
world could provide more pleasure than playing in
a such a non-eventful match, was first suggested
by Bon Accords Andy Meres, ironically, now a huge
fan of the album).
The practice first
occurred during a Grade 3 game against Grampian TV
on 14th May 1985 at the dreaded Sheddocksley.
Grampian TV were one of the worst teams ever to
grace the Grades and their sole ambition was to
get draws (as they were patently incapable of
winning games). Bon Accord had lost the toss,
batted and posted a relatively modest total.
Grampian, however, made no attempt to play shots
and simply focused on survival. As ball after ball
went unplayed, Bon Accord fielders sought other
forms of amusement. Meres, at 1st slip, began
humming the opening bars of "The Revealing
Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)", the
opening track on the album.
Soon other Bons
joined in and the tedium gradually lifted. The
Bons were a very strong Grade 3 side in those days
and came up against the draw on many occasions, so Topographic Oceans
got a regular airing,
although the practice never caught on with other
clubs and indeed, even The Bons stopped a few
season later, but for a brief period, it was one
of the more surreal pages in Aberdeen Grades
cricket history.
Track listing:
- "The
Revealing Science of God (Dance of the
Dawn)" - 22:22
- "The
Remembering (High the Memory)" - 20:38
- "The
Ancients (Giants Under the Sun)" - 18:35
- "Ritual (Nous
Sommes du Soleil)" - 21:37
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