The Steve Howe Album

The Steve Howe Album
Studio album by
Steve Howe
ReleasedNovember 1979 (UK)
January 1980 (US)
Recorded1979
GenreProgressive rock
Length39:02
LabelAtlantic
ProducerSteve Howe
Steve Howe chronology
Beginnings
(1975) 		The Steve Howe Album
(1979) 		Turbulence
(1991)
CD reissue cover

The Steve Howe Album is Yes guitarist Steve Howe's second solo album. It was released in 1979. The album features Yes band members Alan White, Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz. Also featured is Jethro Tull's former drummer Clive Bunker on percussion on Cactus Boogie. Ronnie Leahy is also featured on keyboards for two songs; he would later play with Jon Anderson on his second solo album, Song of Seven in 1980.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Globe and Mail wrote that the album "is a nightmare in over-dubs, and despite the fact that Howe's playing ... is technically precise, it has all the passion of a chess match between two computers."[2] AllMusic, on the other hand, said that this "is his most essential recording" and "a culmination of everything Howe represents, every genre of music he loves so dearly, exquisitely played and arranged."[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Howe except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Pennants" – 4:35
  2. "Cactus Boogie" – 2:00
  3. "All's a Chord" – 4:55
  4. "Diary of a Man Who Vanished" (Leoš Janáček; arranged by Steve Howe) – 2:35
  5. "Look Over Your Shoulder" – 5:00

Side two

  1. "Meadow Rag" – 2:40
  2. "The Continental" (Con Conrad, Herb Magidson) – 2:50
  3. "Surface Tension" – 3:25
  4. "Double Rondo" (music by Steve Howe; orchestrated by Andrew Jackman) – 8:12
  5. "Concerto in D (Second Movement)" (Vivaldi; arranged by Steve Howe) – 4:50

Personnel

Guitars used on the recording

The inner part of the gatefold album artwork features pictures of the guitars that were used during the recording and a legend to indicate the tracks on which they were played. The photographs of the guitars are credited to Miki Slingsby.

Guitar 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Kohno Spanish Guitar x x x
Martin 0018 x x x
Gibson EB6 Bass x x x x
Gibson The Les Paul x x
Fender Stratocaster x x
Gibson Florentine Electric Mandolin x
Martin Mandolin x
Danelectro Electric sitar x x
Bacon & Day Banjo guitar x x
Gibson Les Paul Recording x
Gibson ES 175 D x x
Fender Telecaster x
Sho-Bud Pedal Steel x x x
Fender Twin Neck Steel x

Charts

Chart (1979) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[3] 68
US Billboard 200[4] 164

References

  1. ^ a b Ross Smith, David (2011). "The Steve Howe Album - Steve Howe | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  2. ^ Niester, Alan (9 February 1980). "The Steve Howe Album". The Globe and Mail. p. F4.
  3. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Steve Howe Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.