New Steve Howe 56-track Anthology

[bondegezou]

Add to the curiosity factor "Without Hope You Cannot Start The Day" (Backing Track). Neither this track nor Dangerous have Howe as a listed writer (not that we can get a lot from the writing credits during the ABWH/Union period, but still...).

My guess would be that Howe has versions of these tracks with him playing on them (and perhaps no Haun). That is, these aren't backing tracks of the versions on Union: these are unused backing tracks.

Didn't he collaborate with Annie Haslam once?

This release includes the entire recorded output of the Howe/Haslam collaboration: one impossible-to-find single and one track from a Yes tribute album.

Which albums are the tracks with Max Bacon from?

Look to be all from the post-GTR sessions. Phil Spalding was talking about these getting a release last year, so this would appear to be where.

Henry

[bondegezou]

I wonder if Masquerade by Asia is anything like Masquerade from Union.

That is the interesting question. The promo for this release refers to "a previously unreleased tune by Asia", so maybe it's nothing to do with the piece on Union or maybe the piece on Union is a later instrumental adaptation of an idea for Asia (as happened with "Running the Human Race" or "Countryside"/"Corkscrew").

More generally, I agree with other comments: that's 13 previously unreleased tracks, possibly another 2 previously unreleased variants, a fair few rarities (I count 6-9... depends what you count). That's what fans want if they're going to get a compilation that also includes "Roundabout" and "Heat of the Moment".

It's interesting also what Howe chooses to focus on. You've got half a disc of early stuff. Artistically and commercially, peak Howe is then from The Yes Album to GTR, and that's covered by another half a disc. And that's all! You could fill 3CDs easily of classic material from that period. Then Disc 2 is nearly all Yes and Asia tracks from periods that are less well regarded. Does Howe consider that ABWH-onwards period to be as important in his career, or is he thinking that most people buying this are going to own Close to the Edge and Relayer, so he's taking the opportunity to showcase his personal highlights from the 1990s and later?

By the way, there's an error in the listing given: "Lily's in the Field" is the other Howe/Haslam track.

Henry

[Dan Roth]

By the way, there's an error in the listing given: "Lily's in the Field" is the other Howe/Haslam track.

Fixed

[bondegezou]

By the way, I've got details of the release at http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wnsh.htm#sofar

Henry

[zorknapp]

I've already pre-ordered this.

The first Anthology release must have done well enough to merit this one. Glad to see that people are getting exposed to some of Howe's music they might not otherwise come across.

Mike

[bill g]

[QUOTE=Kevin Caffrey;715985]"Maiden Voyage"



A 2nd song with Annie? Starting to like the sound of this!

[bondegezou]

[QUOTE=bill g;716200]

A 2nd song with Annie? Starting to like the sound of this!

It's a shame they couldn't get a recording contract to do an album, as was their intent at one stage.

Henry

[bill g]

By the way, I've got details of the release at http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wnsh.htm#sofar

Henry

Wow, appreciate the extensive research!!

[Bruno Sampaio Barbosa]

From the Homebrew series:

[2steves]

I liked all of the ABWH songs on Union---interesting stuff ---way better than the yes west stuff.

[bondegezou]

From the Homebrew series

Not from the Homebrew series: those are fan compilations of various boots.

Henry

[Scott Bails]

I liked all of the ABWH songs on Union---interesting stuff ---way better than the yes west stuff.

Wow. Color me surprised.

[bill g]

I liked all of the ABWH songs on Union---interesting stuff ---way better than the yes west stuff.

Agreed. For the most part, the Yes west stuff isn't really my thing.

[Bruno Sampaio Barbosa]

Not from the Homebrew series: those are fan compilations of various boots.

Henry

Are fan compilations made with tracks from the Homebrew series. Nothing from bootlegs.

Bruno

[Roth-Handle Studios]

I lost interest when I realized it was 56 tracks and not 56 CDs.

I feel cheated.

[jrw]

That is the interesting question. The promo for this release refers to "a previously unreleased tune by Asia", so maybe it's nothing to do with the piece on Union or maybe the piece on Union is a later instrumental adaptation of an idea for Asia (as happened with "Running the Human Race" or "Countryside"/"Corkscrew").

More generally, I agree with other comments: that's 13 previously unreleased tracks, possibly another 2 previously unreleased variants, a fair few rarities (I count 6-9... depends what you count). That's what fans want if they're going to get a compilation that also includes "Roundabout" and "Heat of the Moment".

It's interesting also what Howe chooses to focus on. You've got half a disc of early stuff. Artistically and commercially, peak Howe is then from The Yes Album to GTR, and that's covered by another half a disc. And that's all! You could fill 3CDs easily of classic material from that period. Then Disc 2 is nearly all Yes and Asia tracks from periods that are less well regarded. Does Howe consider that ABWH-onwards period to be as important in his career, or is he thinking that most people buying this are going to own Close to the Edge and Relayer, so he's taking the opportunity to showcase his personal highlights from the 1990s and later?

By the way, there's an error in the listing given: "Lily's in the Field" is the other Howe/Haslam track.

Henry

Listening to this collection now. Masquerade is definitely a different version, albeit an instrumental still. It s credited to Asia, but I can't tell who the other musicians are.

[gojikranz]

Listening to this collection now. Masquerade is definitely a different version, albeit an instrumental still. It s credited to Asia, but I can't tell who the other musicians are.

grabbed the physical copy today (at a actual record store was pretty excited to see it) and masquerade is credited as performed by steve howe john wetton geoff downes and carl palmer.

there is also a note from steve saying "this is a previously unreleased instrumental, where i provide the melodies (and more structure only included here) in this previously recorded version of my grammy nominated 12 string guitar solo from union, in a fully blown rendition on a fender 6 string bass guitar"

now that wording is kinda confusing to me but is he saying this was made after the union version (previously recorded) so maybe it is a recent asia recording?
the copyright notice on it is 2017 but it can't have been done in 2017 given john wetton but it is odd as all hte other unreleased items have copyright notices dated the year they were recorded(except GTR which is 2015 which i guess is due to that rights thing discussed above).

compared with the first set this one is looking like a better value overall not only more unreleased stuff but the booklet is a lot better with a note on each song (or groups of songs). gonna enjoy listening to it all and reading along.

[chescorph]

This looks like an auto buy, wish this approach for a compilation would be done by others.

[bondegezou]

there is also a note from steve saying "this is a previously unreleased instrumental, where i provide the melodies (and more structure only included here) in this previously recorded version of my grammy nominated 12 string guitar solo from union, in a fully blown rendition on a fender 6 string bass guitar"

now that wording is kinda confusing to me but is he saying this was made after the union version (previously recorded) so maybe it is a recent asia recording?

Doesn't "this previously recorded version" refer to the Asia version, i.e. it pre-dates Union...?

Henry

[yamishogun]

Doesn't "this previously recorded version" refer to the Asia version, i.e. it pre-dates Union...?

Henry

Yes, that is correct.

[bondegezou]

I'm listening to what of this is on Spotify while I await my physical copy's delivery. The unreleased tracks are interesting: most of this post-GTR material has not been heard on boots before AFAIK. All these post-GTR songs, the songs with Keith West and various others, they're all fine, nice guitar playing, good riffs, but you can kinda see why they never got released at the time. They lack that something extra that Howe's writing with Anderson in Yes or Wetton in Asia or Hackett in GTR had.

Spotify also has a nice track called "Rising Sun", which is odd because that's not on any of the track listings...?

Henry

[bill g]

I'm listening to what of this is on Spotify while I await my physical copy's delivery. The unreleased tracks are interesting: most of this post-GTR material has not been heard on boots before AFAIK. All these post-GTR songs, the songs with Keith West and various others, they're all fine, nice guitar playing, good riffs, but you can kinda see why they never got released at the time. They lack that something extra that Howe's writing with Anderson in Yes or Wetton in Asia or Hackett in GTR had.

Spotify also has a nice track called "Rising Sun", which is odd because that's not on any of the track listings...?

Henry

Could be wrong but I thought Rising Sun (from Elements) was on the first anthology.

[bondegezou]

Could be wrong but I thought Rising Sun (from Elements) was on the first anthology.

Ah, yes, and Spotify's just confused them. Thanks.

Henry

[gojikranz]

Doesn't "this previously recorded version" refer to the Asia version, i.e. it pre-dates Union...?

Henry

haha it makes more sense now that I read it again. I think I read it as "than the" rather than "in this" (even though I typed it right!)

still pretty interesting that there is a fully done asia track that was heretofore unknown. makes you wonder if there are more goodies in the asia vaults. They haven't ever really done a good special edition (there was that box version of the debut but it didn't have any unreleased 80s additions).

side note: if you are like me and mothballs is your only collection of the early Steve Howe stuff than blow up by the in crowd and Spanish song by Canto will be new to you was pleased to not get just the same tracks as that one. though I am kinda surprised they didn't put nether street on there to give another yes classic moment in a different version.

[gojikranz]

also looks like the omega asia tracks and reno have been remixed and edited compared with the original versions(don't have the originals on hand right now to compare but all 3 run around 30 seconds less and the notes mention remixing by mike paxman)

Believe Again also seems to be edited a bit along with the enigmatic comment "about this recording?... the stories I couldn't tell...!".