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
Studio album by
Steve Howe
ReleasedOctober 31, 1975
Recorded1975
StudioMorgan and Advision Studios, London
GenreRock
Length39:51
LabelAtlantic
ProducerSteve Howe and Eddie Offord
Steve Howe chronology
Beginnings
(1975)		 The Steve Howe Album
(1979)

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
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

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.

  1. "Doors of Sleep" (Steve Howe, Alice Meynell) – 4:08
  2. "Australia" – 4:13
  3. "The Nature of the Sea" – 3:57
  4. "Lost Symphony" – 4:41
  5. "Beginnings" (Steve Howe, orchestrated by Patrick Moraz) – 7:31
  6. "Will o' the Wisp" – 6:00
  7. "Ram" – 1:53
  8. "Pleasure Stole the Night" – 2:57
  9. "Break Away From It All" – 4:19

Personnel
  • Steve Howe – electric and acoustic guitars, bass, lap steel, mandolin, banjo, Moog, organ, washboard, vocals
  • Graeme Taylor – guitar (3)
  • Malcolm Bennett – bass (3), flute (8)
  • Colin Gibson – bass (4)
  • Chris Laurence – bass (5), double strings guitar (8)
  • Alan White – drums (1, 2, 4-6)
  • Bill Bruford – drums (8, 9), percussion (9)
  • Dave Oberlé – drums (3)
  • Patrick Moraz – piano on (4), grand piano (4-6), harpsichord on (5), Mellotron on (6)
  • Bud Beadle – alto & baritone saxophone (4)
  • Mick Eve – tenor saxophone (4)
  • Patrick Halling, William Reid – violin (5)
  • John Meek – viola (5)
  • Peter Halling – cello (5)
  • James Gregory – piccolo flute (5)
  • Sidney Sutcliffe – oboe (5)
  • Gwyn Brooke – bassoon (5)

Charts
Year Chart Position
1975 Billboard Pop Albums 63
1975 UK Albums Chart 22

References
  1. Eder, Bruce. Beginnings at AllMusic
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