Yes - Close to the Edge. 1972 England

From last year, but wanted to get it featured. No need for me to go on and on about this one.

I'm going to take a wild guess and suspect you're aware of this album. One of the greatest moments in my entire collection can be heard at the six minute mark of the title track. I just turn into one big goose bump at that instant. There are so many albums I could point to that led the way to my eventual obsession with progressive rock, but Close to the Edge might be the most influential of them all. I was 16 when I first bought this album on LP. And I subsequently played it over and over and over... I mean entire evenings were dedicated, three and four hours straight. When I look back to 1981, that is when UMR Jr. became Mr. UMR. Everything in my life changed (not just music) - all for the better. Close to the Edge was my soundtrack. This is one of my 5 star masterpieces, no way it can be less at this point. There's no chance for any kind of logical objectivity. It's pure emotion now. 

Ownership: 

1977 Atlantic (LP). Gatefold. Upgraded in 2025; First acquired in 1981.

2013 Audio Fidelity (SACD). Acquired in 2025.

2003 Elektra / Rhino (CD). Triple fold out digipak. Booklet with historical liner notes, history, and four bonus tracks. Acquired in 2026.

Atlantic (MC). 80s pressing. Acquired in 2024.

Essentially rebuilt my Close to the Edge collection in the last two years. For a long time I owned the original German LP and the Japanese papersleeve CD as my two copies. If I can find it on 8 track and reel to reel, I'm keeping those too. Not sure there exists a reel version though.

1981; 1994; 2001; 6//05; 10/9/13; 11/18/14; 3/19/22 (review)