Beginnings (Steve Howe album)
Beginnings is the first studio album by English guitarist Steve Howe, released in October 1975 by Atlantic Records. It was recorded and released during a break in activity from the progressive rock band Yes, after the band agreed for each member to put out a solo album. Howe uses various guest musicians, including past and present Yes bandmates Bill Bruford, Alan White and Patrick Moraz, as well as members of Gryphon.
Beginnings | ||||
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Studio album by Steve Howe | ||||
Released | October 31, 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Studio | Morgan and Advision Studios, London | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 39:51 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Producer | Steve Howe and Eddie Offord | |||
Steve Howe chronology | ||||
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The album reached No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 63 on the US Billboard 200. It was supported with promotional videos of "Ram" and "Beginnings".
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic |
AllMusic's retrospective review deemed Beginnings an artistic failure, summarizing that "The playing is strong throughout, but towards what end is the mystery -- none of the songs are particularly memorable, nor is the production[...] and Howe is such a weak singer that he'd have been better off[...] sticking to instrumentals."[1]
Track listing
The words and music are by Steve Howe except where noted.
- "Doors of Sleep" (Steve Howe, Alice Meynell) – 4:08
- "Australia" – 4:13
- "The Nature of the Sea" – 3:57
- "Lost Symphony" – 4:41
- "Beginnings" (Steve Howe, orchestrated by Patrick Moraz) – 7:31
- "Will o' the Wisp" – 6:00
- "Ram" – 1:53
- "Pleasure Stole the Night" – 2:57
- "Break Away From It All" – 4:19
Personnel
- Steve Howe – electric and acoustic guitars, bass, lap steel, mandolin, Moog, organ, washboard, vocals
- Graeme Taylor – guitar (3)
- Malcolm Bennett – bass, flute (3, 8)
- Colin Gibson – bass (4)
- Alan White – drums (1, 2, 4, 6)
- Bill Bruford – drums (8, 9)
- Dave Oberlé – drums (3)
- Patrick Moraz – piano on (4), grand piano, harpsichord, moog on (5), Mellotron on (6)
- Bud Beadle – saxophone (4)
- Mick Eve – saxophone (4)
- Patrick Halling, William Reid – violin (5)
- John Meek – viola (5)
- Peter Halling – cello (5)
- Chris Laurence – double bass (5, 8)
- James Gregory – flute, piccolo (5)
- Sidney Sutcliffe – oboe (5)
- Gwyd Brooke – bassoon (5)
Charts
Year | Chart | Position |
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1975 | Billboard Pop Albums | 63 |
1975 | UK Albums Chart | 22 |
References
- Eder, Bruce. Beginnings at AllMusic