THE STEVE HOWE ALBUM

When all the members of Yes released solo- albums in 1975-76, Steve Howe came up with BEGINNINGS. The album reviewed here, THE STEVE HOWE album, was his second solo L.P. Comparing both albums is a useful exercise. On THE STEVE HOWE ALBUM, Steve sings very little, and this turns out to be a wise decision. There's no trace of vocal tracks which make the listener squirm with embarrasment, such as "Australia" and "Will o' the Wisp" on BEGINNINGS. (Hm. As a Belgian, from the city of Genk, I guess I should feel grateful for Steve's bizarre reference to my home country on "Will o' the Wisp"???) You could say that, overall, THE STEVE HOWE ALBUM is a more polished listening experience than its predecessor. On the other hand, the STEVE HOWE ALBUM lacks songs that are as catchy (or as moving) as "Pleasure Stole the Night" and "Break Away From it All", both of which were graced by Bill Bruford's incomparable drumming. Also, I must admit that my favourite track on BOTH of these early albums is "The Nature of the Sea" (once again on BEGINNINGS), perhaps the most inspired instrumental Steve ever recorded (with a little help from members of GRYPHON).

In spite of all these comparisons, I've got to admit that THE STEVE HOWE ALBUM is the only one of these two early albums without a dud! "Cactus Boogie" is great fun; "Double Rondo" is a far more satisfying attempt to play with a full orchestra than the boring title track of BEGINNINGS ("Double Rondo" also contains echoes of Steve's most melancholic moments on sides 1 and 2 of TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS), and "Concerto in D" is the slow movement from a Vivaldi concerto, played with impeccable taste on electric guitar - later to be revived in an even better acoustic version on the YES SYMPHONIC LIVE DVD.