Steve Howe - The Steve Howe Album (1979) [Remastered 1994]

The Steve Howe Album is the title of Yes guitarist Steve Howe's second solo album. It was released in 1979. The album featured current (Alan White) and former (Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz) Yes band members.

When Yes called their third album The Yes Album, it was probably because that's when they really hit their stride and formed a distinct sound. The songs from the first two albums were soon even phased out of live performances. I wonder if by calling his second solo release The Steve Howe Album, Howe is trying to convey the same message. Not that his first album was without merit, but all but three tracks are marred by his unsettling voice. Here his voice is only heard for a mere 50 seconds or so on but one of the 10 tracks.

The real success of The Steve Howe Album is in it's variety. There is a great mixture of solos, duets and layered pieces as well as a range from the lively to the serene. There are plenty of guest musicians to liven things up, including three Yes members or alumni, an orchestra and a string ensemble, as well as a solo violin, female vocalist and so on.

Track Listing

01. Pennants (4:34)
02. Cactus Boogie (2:05)
03. All's A Chord (4:57)
04. Diary Of A Man Who Vanished (2:35)
05. Look Over Your Shoulder (5:04)
06. Meadow Rag (2:42)
07. The Continental (2:54)
08. Surface Tension (3:31)
09. Double Rondo (8:15)
10. Concerto In D (2nd Movement) (4:51)

Produced by Steve Howe
Remastered by Joe Gastwirt

Line-up

• Steve Howe (Yes, Asia, GTR, Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, Bodast, Tomorrow, The Syndicats, Explorer's Club) - Acoustic, Electric & Bass Guitars, Spanish Guitar, Sitar Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo-Guitar, Pedal Steel, Moog Synthesizer, String Ensemble, Vocals
• Alan White (Yes, Circa, White, The Syn, Plastic Ono Band) - Drums (1, 5)
• Patrick Moraz (Refugee, Yes, The Moody Blues, Mainhorse, Vímana) - Piano (3)
• Bill Bruford (The Breed, Savoy Brown, Mabel Greer's Toy Shop, Yes, King Crimson, UK, Genesis, Earthworks, Chris Squire, Bruford, Kazumi Watanabe, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Bruford Levin Upper Extremities, Gong, National Health, Steve Howe, Gordian Knot, Annette Peacock) - Drums (3)

• Ronnie Leahy- Arp Synthesizers & Korg, Hammond Organ (1, 5)
• Clive Bunker- Percussion (2)
• Clair Hamill- Vocal (5)
• Graham Presket- Violin (7)

• 59 Piece Orchestra Conducted and Orchestrated by Andrew Jackman (9)
• String Ensemble (10)

Notes

Digitally Remastered from the Original Master Tapes by Joe Gastwirt at Ocean View Digital, W. Los Angeles, CA





Many thanks to the original uploader: Uncle Remus