Beginnings
	Produced by Steve Howe and Eddie Offord
	Released on October 1975
	UK CHART POSITION #22 . . . US CHART POSITION #63
	Find it at GEMM
80319-2 cover [high resolution scan]

S teve Howe’s first solo album might have soared if not tethered to the guitarist’s tight leash of a voice. Suffice to say his vocal range is dwarfed by comparison to Jon Anderson, as the words “sleepy” and “humble” come to mind. That said, Beginnings is a better record than it’s given credit for, worth seeking out for “Lost Symphony” alone. Stepping back from the epic scale of recent Yes albums, Steve offers up a collection of songs and instrumentals that could be seen as eclectic or eccentric (similar in scope to Steve Hackett’s Please Don’t Touch). As one of that band’s principal musical architects, listeners won’t have to look far for similarities between the two, including a strong dose of “The Clap” on “Ram.” And yet Beginnings is not a case of Yes firing on fewer cylinders (despite the participation of Alan White, Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz). Howe is going for a homier sound, at times suggesting Camel (whose Andy Latimer is saddled with a similar voice), Steve Hackett and even George Harrison. His stringed arsenal is, as always, impressive -- bass and electric guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo and dobro guitar all find their way into the mix at some point. If you’re looking for the “lost” Yes album, try Olias; Beginnings is more of a prequel in terms of musical vision. It’s worth mentioning that I’ve never been impressed with the mix on this album, which crowds the sounds together during multitracking, especially on the opening “Doors of Sleep” and “Australia.” When more players are brought into the picture (“Beginnings,” “Pleasure Stole The Night”), the arrangements open up considerably. The digital remaster may well accentuate the problem, but it’s still a small price to pay for the occasional inspired passage. If you enjoy music that works on a conceptual level, better to begin with Olias, Six Wives, Flash or Story of I. You’ll get around to Beginnings eventually because of what it is: an alternate route through the land of legendary high adventure known as classic Yes.

80319-2 back cover

TRACK LISTING

1. DOORS OF SLEEP    (Steve Howe/Alice Meynell)    4:06
2. AUSTRALIA    (Steve Howe)    4:14
3. THE NATURE OF THE SEA    (Steve Howe)    3:54
4. LOST SYMPHONY    (Steve Howe/Jan Howe)    4:38
5. BEGINNINGS    (Steve Howe)    7:29
6. WILL O' THE WISP    (Steve Howe/Jan Howe)    5:59
7. RAM    (Steve Howe)    1:52
8. PLEASURE STOLE THE NIGHT    (Steve Howe/Jan Howe)    2:53
9. BREAK AWAY FROM IT ALL    (Steve Howe)    4:20

CREDITS

STEVE HOWE -- guitars, banjo, bass, dobro guitar, harpsichord, mandolin, Moog, organ, pedal steel, steel, vocals, washboard, inside cover photograph
ALAN WHITE -- drums
Malcolm Bennett -- bass (3), flute (8)
Gwyd Brooke -- bassoon (5)
Bill Bruford -- drums, percussion (8,9)
Colin Gibson -- bass (4)
James Gregory -- flute, piccolo (5)
Patrick Halling -- violin (5)
Peter Halling -- cello (5)
Chris Laurence -- bass (5), double string (8)
John Meek -- viola (5)
Patrick Moraz -- grand piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, Moog, piano, orchestration (4,5,6)
David Oberle -- drums (3)
William Reid -- violin (5)
Sidney Sutcliffe -- oboe (5)
Graeme Taylor -- guitar (3)
Eddie Offord -- engineer
Paul Northfield -- engineer
Declan O'Doherty -- engineer
Jeremey Stenham -- engineer
Roger Dean -- artwork
Martyn Dean -- photograph

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