Steve Howe's solo albums seem to hold a wide variety of music within. Generally, this disc presents the listener with acoustic guitar solos, progressive rock compositions, country-tinged songs, and more. Historically, the more complex music of Yes has consisted of smaller pieces brought in by the individual members and assembled almost piecemeal into complex song structures. An interesting aspect of Howe albums is the opportunity to hear works that could easily have been such segments and get a glimpse into where the band could have gone. This album is true to that format. Steve Howe performs nearly completely solo on this release, accompanied only on percussion by his son Dylan Howe. When looking over the liner notes on this one, be sure to check out the list of guitars used on the album. For guitar heads, that is always a welcome portion of any Howe solo album.
Carlos Santana seemed to kick off an early-21st century music industry craze – by combining a crusty classic rock veteran with other star-studded talent (as evidenced by Santana's highly commercial yet mega-hit Supernatural). On first glance, it appears as that longtime Yes guitarist Steve Howe also followed this guideline to a degree with his 2003 solo release, Light Walls…
Steve Howe's second solo effort is his most essential recording. The Steve Howe Album contains many of Howe's strongest and most original compositions. Whereas some of his albums can be associated with the sound of the bands in which he's played, this release is unique…
Before joining Yes, Steve Howe had nearly a decade's worth of experience with other groups under his belt. This is a first-rate 25-track compilation of his '60s work, with six previously unreleased cuts, starting in 1964 with the raw R&B/beat band the Syndicats, moving to soul-mod with the In Crowd, psychedelia with Tomorrow (six of the better tracks from their sole LP are included), and progressive rock with Bodast…
Beginnings (1975). "Beginnings" is the debut solo studio album of Yes' guitarist Steve Howe. The album was one of the five solo efforts released in the same period of time by all Yes' members during a hiatus of time by the band, after the release of their studio album "Relayer", in 1974. "Beginnings" also features some Yes’ members, Alan White and Patrick Moraz, and the ex-Yes' member Bill Bruford. There are also members of the progressive rock band Gryphon, Graeme Taylor, Malcolm Bennett and Dave Oberlé on one of the songs, besides other guest musicians.
"Beginnings" sounded overall most like a folkier version of Yes' sound with less emphasis on the keyboards. The material on the album is decent and varied. However, the problems here are the vocals of Howe himself. His voice fitted well into the vocal harmonies in Yes, but it reveals itself as very thin and helpless when it stands alone…