GENESIS v YES – ‘TOPOGRAPHIC or ‘THE LAMB’ – Which is Better?
Two albums I rate highly, but which one is the better album? In this video I discuss just that and weigh up the pors and cons of both.
If you like my channel and appreciate the work that goes into my videos, please support my channel. You can –
Become a Patron! – Be part of a Classic Rock Community!
There is a fine body of work on there now. https://www.patreon.com/classicrock
Make a one-time donation!
Help me to make more videos or buy stuff to annoy my wife with and unbox on my channel: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=46G7795CU9VBA&source=url
Gift me something to unbox from my Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1T8FFB9GS4H25?ref_=wl_share
Buy me a coffee.
All that talk is thirsty work: https://ko-fi.com/classicalbum
Like the Facebook page:
I add stuff on a daily basis: https://www.facebook.com/1968rock#
All music used in my videos come from the Free Music Archive: http://freemusicarchive.org/
#genesis&Yes #ranking #classicalbum
@georgeprior-vinylshowtell4934
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
What a superb appraisal of both. I remember once doing a poll on a prog forum a good few years back on this topic – it was neck and neck all the way.
For me Lamb wins by a mile. The Lamb wins over pretty much every other album ever recorded actually!
I revisited Tales again recently and it slowly grows on me each listen. I just feel that each piece does not flow so well, in comparison with other lengthy Yes tracks of the era. I'm talking Close to The Edge, Gates of Delirium, Awaken, etc. All 4 sides of Tales have superb melodies and moments, but just feel a bit 'cobbled' together to my ears.
Just opinions of course, no right or answers to this.
@Wanderlust073
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
As vinyl monuments to musical self-indulgence both, Lamb has many more stand out moments than Oceans imo.
@nealjones255
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
The lamb is my fav prog concept album
But I love yes also
Let’s enjoy both
@dav147
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
come on Barry this is an easy one The Lamb.
@stephenmccue2793
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Lamb by a country mile, also the better live
@Sonnenbringer
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
So much fun to hear your comparison of my two most valued albums! The two real epic ones.
They are so different but I love them both; in a way.
The Lamb is my favourite. It is the more accessible and catchy on. Always when I start it, I have to listen to the end.
There's so many wonderful melodies and rich atmospheres.
Tales is like the big four-headed sea monster you have to dive in. Lots of marvellous moments but you have to stay
very close on your path. The ugly Giant always wants to lead you astray.
But the Ritual finally transfixes and reconciliates. "We love when we play!"
Both are wonderful musical journeys and I don't want to miss a thing.
@Itzsleep30
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
lamb of course
@lorneturner5318
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Well done as usual…more Steve Hackett on a Genesis album would never go amiss.
@eduardopastorrubindecelis1078
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
While both albums are sublime, I find TFTO more cohesive and best rounded than LLDOB.
@karelvandervelden8819
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Yes is more emotional. Genesis intellectual.
But for me there isnt a contest between (these) art forms.
@rickdesarle9875
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Yes is far superior. Genesis = we want to be Yes.
@troublesomecorsair
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Wow that's impossible
but with a knife in my back I'd go Lamb
@tomhenninger4153
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I agree. Tales isn’t in my top 3 Yes albums. Too much wandering… and like you said causes my mind to wander.
Lamb isn’t my fav Genesis album, but it’s brilliant! Llamia and so many little beautiful songs even if the overall narrative is tough to follow.
Rock on!
@mikevieira8583
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Both would make better/good single LPs… Both are available in 5.1 surround, with Tales benefitting from the better remix.
@sergioleonardo8040
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Both albums are superb. I cannot just choose one. At different moments one or the other is the favourite.
@seamuscolgan7654
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Lamb for me!
@kennethmarshall306
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
The Lamb is an astounding achievement
@youmothershouldknow4905
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Yes? No! To the Lamb it must go!
@Paul07791
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I never heard Tales, probably was scared off by the bad mouthing; that Wakeman quote rings a bell. I do own Lamb, on cassette which I really like. Great reviews, will reconsider some of my life choices!!
@jefflevinson669
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
No question Lamb … I still Topographic was and is one of YES’s weakest albums
@davidpalmer5966
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I think there's a certain personal maturity in acknowledging the faults of something but loving it anyway, even if you're not quite sure why. That's my position on 'Topographic'. I'm a Yes man up to 'Going for the One', I love all those all 70s albums, but 'Topographic' is the one that – eventually: it took a while – sank into the very depths of me and found a home. I think it's absolutely wonderful and wouldn't shorten by a chord – or by one of Jon's enigmatic phrases.
And yes, the 'Lamb' is great too. I wouldn't argue with those who rate it higher. But 'Topographic' for me is an uplifting .experience.
@damonramirez
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
The Lamb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@marijanbrkic4875
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
The Lamb, without any doubt 👍🍻
@terencebunn8318
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Enjoyed the debate there, 👍. I’m 61 and Tales has been my favourite album since I first heard it in 1977. Lyrically captures better than any album the wonders of the Universe and our place in it, and has music sublime beauty. The Lamb is fantastic, but Tales belongs in a Category all it’s own.
@danielpecaro777
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Best Yes albums –
4. The Yes Album
3. Relayer
2. Fragile
1. Close to the Edge*
*Best of all progressive albums
@danielpecaro777
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Best Genesis albums –
4. Foxtrot
3. Trick of the Tail
2. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
1. Selling England by the Pound
@gj8683
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
"The Lamb is something I enjoy every time I play it," he says around 8:52. Same here. I'll take Peter Gabriel's witty lyrics full of cultural references and allusions, social commentary, stories within the larger narrative arc, and puns (especially It) over the mystical, ethereal, but often impenetrable lyrics of Tales. There are few tedious moments on the Lamb musically as well, IMHO, which I can't say for Tales. It may be that the making of Tales suffered more from internal conflicts than the Lamb did. In the latter's case, it was Gabriel on one end and the rest of the band on the other, to varying degrees.
@martijnvaassen
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I love both of these albums dearly and there's a right moment for listening for them both. Topographic makes me evaluate my spiritual path and where I am on it. The Lamb makes me want to protect my genitals and scare away big black birds.
@asmallwhitedog0479
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I like Genesis more, but Tales wins.
@johnw706
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
An interesting matchup .
I have been on board with both of these albums since they originally came out .
I saw both albums performed live on their bands' respective tours at Maple Leaf Gardens in the early 70s .
Live , it was no contest . The Lamb was far better live than Tales , although Yes performed the Tales sections flawlessly .
Gabriel , and the band were sensational when they played all of the Lamb live .
As for the albums , The Lamb wins hands down for me , although I could happily trim 5 or 6 songs from the album .
Tales contains some of Yes's finest passages , and I believe that there are 6 or 7 great songs buried in the 4 sections , that would have made a 5 star single album .
Anyway , both are a fascinating listen .
Cheers !!!
@peterthompson8014
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Well my nickname in high school was Rael so….
@jtoms3
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I love both bands but I'm just not a big fan of TFTO. The Lamb wins this one and for me it isn't close.
@davidkyle2073
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Come on – musically no comparison. LLDoB has many of the greatest iconic moments in the entire Genesis catalogue. ToTO is seldom hailed as containing any of Yes’s greatest moments. Nuff said…
@jdmresearch
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
The Lamb was also based on the movie “El Topo” by Jodorowski.
@Mrtapp5357
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Interesting. Saw both done live and in the 70’s I thought of these as my two favorites. Nowadays they’re so hard to listen to.
@luisaugusto3324
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
The Lamb have almost more 14 minutes of music, i like both álbuns…on stage Peter had a lot of work…lot of lyrics to Sing and allways in movement ,Jon Anderson on stage was..quiet and..dont need to Sing a lot.
@Cymru-1
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Yoyo up down same as you ….very difficult question
@edward2448
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Tales
@BigRedGroyp
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Kid Named Finger is that you?
@alvasoundartstudio6645
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
For me it is Topographic Oceans. It is pure aural Beauty, and ultimately Idealistic, which is so lost in our age. Lamb, is not so. To me Lamb is somewhat in line with common post modern perception and angst. Though yes it has a story and is crafted in an excellent manner. And I agree more Steve Hackett would have been great. Both albums are absolutely brilliant though. What is also interesting is that such a major creative and instrumental component/player/contributor to Topographic, Rick Wakeman, felt that it was rubbish, yet he has some very, very good parts. The rambling, low energy feel I think comes from his end to a great extent. Anderson and Howe are beyond well in and involved. The Ancient is an example of that, Steve Howe's playing is more than purposeful it is transcending. It takes him beyond as far as he can go as a player. Howe and Anderson, I think with Topographic were not only listening to the Muses, but actually became Muses themselves. White's drumming also is very much there, superb, and the percussion sound and playing, which I think was augmented, driven and at least co-composed and performed by Anderson, is also brilliant. Probably the best percussion orchestration bar none in rock music. I am a huge, huge fan of Bruford, but I don't think Topographic would have been what it is if Bruford had been involved. A question is, what would a Bruford/Anderson drum collaboration have sounded like? Anderson continues much of the percussion sound from Topographic with Olias. Squire is present and contributing, but it is almost nice to hear him in this more creative supportive role, which then is flipped with "Fish Out of Water" where he creates such a unique leader, creator perspective and presence. Squire I think becomes equal to a muse with "Fish…" Maybe he needed the experience with Howe and Anderson to develop in that capability. Perhaps for Squire each approach on the two albums fed each other. Wakeman gets by for for sure. Some wonderful sounds and parts, but his end does drop a bit. But even so, he is so good of a musician, and also a studio musician, so I think he knew and worked it to keep it together. Plus he was having a successful solo career, so perhaps his perspective is a bit skewed. In any event, Wakeman was the correct keyboardist for Topographic. Perhaps his lack of enthusiasm makes for those moments of lack, which actually opens up space for pondering of the subject and sound overall, maybe his doubting allows for a space to go "hmmm..", which allows the mind to take it all in. Perhaps he creative a bit of negative, or empty space, which perhaps makes Topographic more of an overall human condition album. Topographic is akin to Sibelius, or Mahler, or Debussy's La Mer with vocals, or perhaps St Mathew's Passion in scope. The Lamb is New York and London, pop art, with much more depth, ambition drive and expertise and, yes a broader aspect of Art. It isn't trite in any way as pop art can be, but it seems to be in that milieu. Lamb to me actually is a bit of a lead in into the Punk Music genre. The edge and perhaps some of the references are akin. Ultimately what does each have to offer philosophically, aesthetically? One perhaps is Light, One perhaps is Dark. I find one to be healing, one to be a bit anxious. One to be Beautiful, one to be Street.
@toddalee
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I listen to both. I listen to one then the other. My music collection is a harem – I go from to another and back again.
Comments are closed.