In September 1971, the Yes line-up of singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Bill Bruford, guitarist Steve Howe, and newcomer keyboardist Rick Wakeman embarked on a tour in support of the band's fourth studio album, Fragile. The tour saw the band play across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe until March 1972. Following the recording of their fifth studio album, Close To The Edge, the band resumed as a live act on 30 July 1972 to support the album. The tour saw the debut of drummer Alan White in the band after Bruford left when recording for the album had finished. The tour ended in April 1973, by which time Yes had made additional live recordings. Yessongs is the first live album from the band with songs selected from live recordings between February and December 1972. The band needed a triple album to fully capture their expansive and sprawling live show. The album received mostly positive reactions from music critics, though much of its criticism was directed at its sound quality. However, the album was a commercial success for the band, reaching number 7 on the UK and number 12 on the US. By 1998, the album was certified Platinum for selling over one million copies in the United States.
In honor of the album's anniversary, check out the 1975 English-produced concert film Yessongs featuring Yes performing during their Close to the Edge Tour in December 1972.