Ed Sciaky: ... 93.3 WMMR ... Annie Haslam's here. Hi Annie!

Annie Haslam: Hello Ed.

Hello, welcome once again.

Thank you ...

So what's it going to be tonight, what do you hear, ... oh, your album came out ...

It did, at last ... at long last ...

You've been threatening since 1989 to put out another album ... since the last one escaped on Epic ... but now finally, actually, you were here last November when the album, or the album came out in Japan in November ... you were with ... here at Christmas with Sojourn ... where you did some lovely Christmas music with Amy Richan (sp?) and Sojourn and it was really, really a lot of fun ... and meanwhile as you said the process was ongoing to get the album released here, and lo and behold it has come out this past Tuesday on OneWay Records ... they've released Blessing In Disguise, the album credited to Annie Haslam's Renaissance which was, as we explained, kind of the renaissance of Annie ... the rebirth (Annie: "Um hmm.") of Annie as a solo artist really ... but with a band, with a great band that you've been collecting over the years ... so what have you been up to, you've been waiting a few months for this album to come out I guess ...

Yeah, umm, what have we been doing ... let's think ... umm, oh dear

Getting ready? Thinking ...

Thinking

Rehearsing, writing ...

Rehearsing, yeah, actually I've done some more writing ... I've done some more writing with David Biglin again... and some more stuff with Rave ... doing the garden (laughs).

Right ... how do you find your American garden compared to that lovely English garden?

You know my tomatoes just don't taste the same as they do in England ... and neither do my runner beans.

Your what beans?

The runner beans.

Runnah beans?

Well I think you call them pole beans ... the ones that run up ...

I don't call them anything, I'm ...

The big Italian beans ... and they grow up poles, you know ...

I see, umm hmm ...

No, they don't seem to taste the same somehow ...

The Schuykill water maybe? Or I don't know ...

I don't know.

Well you used to live in a lovely little town called Englefield Green. Well, I guess you miss it, I don't know if you miss that little ... lovely ...

Nawh, I don't really, no, the only thing I miss about England is the history.

I just saw a movie, you've got to see this movie, Braveheart, with Mel Gibson. It's about, it's the 1300s and he's leading the rebellion from the Scotland guys against the English king ... and it's like being there.

Was it good?

Yes, I liked it a lot ... but it's violent ... it's just intense ... it's like three hours of impaling ... you know. But it's good.

I have to go see that one, then.

But that's even before you lived in England ... the thirteenth century ... isn't it?

No, I was there then ... in another life, dear.

I see, you were the girlfriend of William Wallace ... who led the way for Edward the Bruce?

Actually, I was supposed to be Richard -- uh, hang on -- Richard the Third's wife, Anne Of Bohemia ... I have been in a previous life, so I was told, I think I've got my information right.

OK, Annie Haslam of course, the wonderful voice of the band Renaissance for all of these years before she lost her mind (Annie laughs) and moved here to America ... and, but anyway we talked about this album, Blessing In Disguise you did it with Tony Visconti, the famous producer/writer who used to work with Bowie and the Moody Blues and so on and married to May Pang of course, Tony is. And so, he wrote the music and you wrote the words.

Yeah, he wrote, we wrote six songs together and then I wrote another three songs together with one David Biglin, Mick Rossi and Rave Tesar.

I see; and some are them are then done for Thatcher tunes the folks [are asking] as well.

There is one on there that is. And actually Betty did write the words to "The Sweetest Kiss" which is the classical piece of music that was on Still Life -- the other classical album that I did -- which is Fauré's Pavanne.

And then there were some other songs then written by outside writers?

Uhh, yeah, Andrew Gold.

Right ... oh ... who was just in town with Linda Ronstadt. And Essra Mohawk ... our friend ...

Essra Mohawk, Jordan Rudess -- who's a brilliant keyboard player.

So this is a, really you've had, you know, several years to really work on getting this material together, writing it and collecting the other songs, and it's really a very nice production. Sixteen tracks, uh, fourteen tracks, and let's listen to one called "After The Oceans Are Gone" ... a little bit of ecology here for almost the end of this century I guess ... this is one of the Annie and David Biglin songs ...

(Ed introduces the song and plays it and then repeats the name of it and the album after it concludes.)

Annie's here with us tonight ... on the Classic Cafe ... regular visitor here ... (Annie: "I know.") well you know Annie lives in the area now ... and hopefullly we'll be seeing more of her live. There is a show coming up at the TLA which hasn't officially been announced ... tickets are not on sale yet ... but, probably people should start calling the TLA -- demanding that those tickets be put on sale -- (Annie: "Absolutely.") for June 30th. June 30th will be the date for the TLA show with Annie Haslam's Renaissance. And Annie's been amassing a wonderful group of fans who are in the fan club ... and just keep up to it and Annie sends out a lovely newsletter every once in a while telling every detail of her life ...

I know ... I can't help it (Annie laughs)

And, but it's nice ... it really is kind of a family feeling to the thing. I really enjoy reading it ... if they want to get in touch it's Box 12, is it?

It's PO Box 12, Folsom, Pennsylvania 19033, care of Joanne Shea

Right, Joanne Shea takes care of the Annie Haslam Appreciation Society, is it? (Annie: "I know." laughs) That's what it is (Annie: "I know, it sounds funny.") ... you don't have fans ... you have appreciators, yes -- of which I am one! Let's do; I want to play that Essra Mohawk song, in fact Cindy told me ... I don't know if Cindy is listening ... but Cindy told me that Essra is going to be here one night very soon. Cindy, when is that going to be? She's going to run in.

What's she going to play here?

I don't know. Cindy Drew does "Street Beat", of course, at 11 every Sunday night ... she says, come on in Cin ... when's that?

Cindy: It's going to be June 4th -- the first Sunday of June -- and June Ritch is going to be here as well ... but Essra is going to be like the guest DJ so ... she'll be happy to say hello.

So she won't be playing ...

She's going to be the DJ, she better play my album.

Now Cindy, in the vast "Street Beat" archives, do you have a tape of Essra doing this song that Annie did called "Can't Turn The Night Off"?

Ummmm man, Ed, why do you do this to me ... you humiliate me all the time ...

See you should be on, if you were on tape, if you were, you wouldn't have to go through this ...

Oh stop.

You're here live.

I'm always live.

I don't think ... she never recorded it.

Well that's why Cindy might not have it. You see it was a trick question.

I've got it ... yes ... no, not with me.

Do you? ... But not with you? What good is that ...

We'll premier it when Essra's on "Street Beat", OK?

OK that's good, I'd play some old demo that she probably can't stand ...

Is she doing live shows?

Um, well she's moved, she lives in Nashville now so um yeah does some showcases down there and she just put out a new CD.

Is she doing something here though when she comes in?

Yes, she's going to be performing at Doc Watsons that Friday night ... which is June 8th I think it is ... this whole women in music series ... oh great well you can see her there at Doc Watson's.

That's my birthday ... and his ... our anniversary as well. I only get one present though.

Wow ... I'm sure Essra could say something about that ... she's very cosmic ... everything she does ... it's like "oh I know why you called because I had this feeling" ... you know and if you have your anniversary and his birthday and your birthday that I'm sure she could say something about that ... so cosmic ...

Well, they were married on their birthdays, you see on both of their birthdays (so cosmic) ... but it wasn't really because they knew you see. Well the fact is that they met and found out they both had the same birthday so that's why they had to get married because that was too cosmic. But then they kind of cheated by deciding to have the wedding on their birthday; I don't think that was an accident.

Well now you'll never be able to forget each others' anniversary or birthday or you know ... so ...

Alright enough of this ... let's play ... this is, do you know this song Cindy, it's a great song? (I'll listen). And did you change, Annie, did you change it much from Essra's demo? I mean did you change the arrangement?

Not really, no ... except the vocals are different of course.

OK then, well then here it is, it's ahh ... where is it? Well of course it's you, not Essra. I mean arrangement-wise, this is ... similar ...

Similar, sim-i-lar.

This is a really great pop song ... this is my pick for the big smash single (Annie laughs) that should be discovered from this album.

(Ed plays "Can't Turn The Night Off".)

Great song ... Essra Mohawk's tune "Can't Turn The Night Off", Annie Haslam's Renaissance ... the new album is Blessing In Disguise and it's now out in America at a regular American price ... the import was like 36 bucks or something ... now you can get it domestically for regular price.

For 16.99, I think ...

Or something, or even less on sale ...

Oh, not yet, come on ... (Annie laughs)

No, it's no disgrace, you know you can can get new things for like on sale at places sometime 12.99 ...

Don't want to be on sale yet!

Well, you get the same amount of money no matter how cheaply they get it you know ... doesn't matter. Alright let me, I wanna do the title track, cause I think this is a great song and certainly a good song to title the album ... which was the song called "Blessing In Disguise" ... it's another one that you wrote ... it's one you wrote with Tony, wasn't it?

I wrote this with Tony ... and when I wrote the words I really wasn't sure what it was about ... it's very strange, it kind of came to me ... and then when I got the cancer -- I had breast cancer in 1993 -- I realised that the whole song was about that, and it was kind of, the words, it was kind of a preparation for what was going to come; so I believe it was sort of channeled to me. But, I know don't you don't think; I know you don't believe in all that kind of oo-oo-oo stuff ... but I do. I think it was channeled to me, so there.

Well, don't forget Jon Anderson's a good friend of mine so I've been very close to a lot of mysterious stuff for years ... yes, but I'm willing to accept that ... let's listen to "Blessing In Disguise" then, Annie Haslam's Renaissance, you're in Classic Cafe 93.3, WMMR; hopefully our good friend Steve Howe will be joining us shortly...

(Ed plays "Blessing In Disguise")

"Blessing In Disguise", that's just so beautiful, those vocals are just great ... really lovely

Tony did the backing vocals on that ... yeah, they're really good

He did or you ...

No, Tony did. All the male voices are Tony ...

And the females' are you ...

It's all male behind me ... yeah, it's all Tony ... he did that well, yeah

Yeah, I just saw Tony very briefly a couple of weeks ago up in New York. I was at a, went up to the a party for the Harry Nilsson tribute album and Tony and May were there; May was there and Tony was upstairs and I said hello to him and he was running out and I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but ... good guys, Tony Visconti and May Pang ... and we'll have to get him, still threatening to get him to come down some night and do a show here and talk about all his great productions (Annie: "Yeah") and whatever. Got about five after ten here , Ed Sciaky here with Annie Haslam, Classic Cafe, WMMR. We ... let's do one more from your album ... I like, you know, course I always liked "What He Seeks" ...

Oh yeah, we have a great time with that on stage (Ed: "that is great ...") ... I'd like, can I dedicate that to somebody. That would mean a lot, actually. You haven't met her but she's my auntie Gladys ... she's not really an auntie but she might as well be. You know sometimes you meet somebody that's closer than ... you know, as close as your mother, which she is really, she's fantastic ... full of life, isn't she Mark?

I see the hotline flashing so perhaps Steve Howe will be with us shortly. Let's do "What He Seeks" or as I call it "The Colours Of The Casbah"(Annie: "Oh right ...") which I still think should be made into a Disney Musical starting with this song. Here it is ... Annie Haslam's Renaissance ... WMMR ...

(Ed plays "What He Seeks".)

That was a tune that a woman got up and belly-danced, as I recall, wasn't it one night at the 23 East? ... yeah

Yes, she actually is a belly-dancer.

Well that's why she belly-danced ...

Exactly yes. And it made me feel really stupid cause I've been doing this kind of, trying to do it, and she got up and was doing it properly, and I felt a right twit you know ... it's good fun though ... it's always good fun doing that song.

You've got to have the right belly for it though, you know.

I know, I've gotta put on weight.

Yes, so don't worry about it. Just keep the day job, don't worry about the belly dancing. Just do the singing -- it's fine. Annie Haslam's Renaissance, it's called "What He Seeks" ... it's on the new album Blessing In Disguise which after having been a Japanese import for a few years (Annie laughs), for a few months rather, has now become an official American release on the fabulous OneWay label. Noted for their reissues of progressive stuff, this is their first venture into new, although they actually put out a Peter Banks record, (Annie: "Peter Banks, yeah"), which they have not sent me yet, but maybe they will ... and now the Annie Haslam's Renaissance CD Blessing In Disguise ... Annie's going to be back with her band June 30th at TLA ... tickets not yet on sale, we'll certainly let you know when they are ... and you're going to be doing a tune with Steve Howe I understand for a tribute album, a Yes tribute album, "Turn Of The Century".

Yes, I'm very excited about that.

OK, so stick around, Steve's going to be in, we can talk about that as we continue, yes ...

Still Life is coming out ...

Raise your hand when you want to say something ...

Dear, please sir, I would like to say, before I forget, that the album that I do with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is coming out also on OneWay Records.

OK

And also Repertoire Records in Germany are putting out a double CD set, the history of Renaissance , Da Capo, that's the name of that one.

And this will be different, you think substantially different, from the one that Sire put out here, the double best of ... or

Yeah, because I chose the songs ... so they're different songs ... on this. And also, looks like we may be putting out an album of unreleased songs ...

Umm, of the old Renaissance band, is that it?

No, towards the end of the band, actually. Like in the 80s we wrote some of these things. (Ed: "I see.") That's going to be interesting.

Well, check your Annie Haslam newsletter and this program and see Annie TLA June 30th. Also you're doing the Bottom Line June 16th, I understand, right? (Annie: "Yes). Any other gigs around the area that we need to know about ... Club Bené ... you doing that or you did?

Yeah, we did Club Bené on Friday, that was the first show.

How did it go?

It went very well, yeah, great, yep.

Alright, Annie Haslam will stick around ... Steve Howe's on his way ... we understand he's just crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge ... I hope he's not too tired. But no, he's in a car, he's coming over in a car, so he'll be here momentarily. Classic Cafe, WMMR [commercial announcements and short Bob Dylan retrospective]

[Steve Howe has come into the studio and the interview picks up with the following.]

Do you know that Bob Dylan originally called himself Bob Dillon, spelled D-i-l-l-o-n, cause he named himself after Marshal Matt Dillon from Gunsmoke and then changed it? (Annie and Steve laugh)This is true. And then he changed it to D-y-l-a-n and we've all been fans ever since. Well ... you know I mentioned Steve Howe has arrived. Hi Steve (Steve: "Hi there"). We're happy that you decided to come down for a little ride on the Jersey Turnpike.

Steve: Yeah, well thank you, thanks for inviting me. And [let me find] the right way of putting it, if I could get here, why not get here?

You were in Long Island for some kind of guitar convention, right?

That's right. Dix Hills has been a site where they have had a guitar festival for a ... plus fair and concert and bit of a jam after the show ... in a ... it's in a college and it really works nice cause they've got all these facilities ... like a 500 seats ... a concert hall.

So what did you do ... like kind of lecture and play and stuff ... and what?

Just playin' really. Last night, it was, I just did a spot ... just on my acoustic guitar. And just to go to the show and mill around and meet people and things ... and it was just sort of like one of my goals in life, you know, I can't explain.

Well this is what you do kind of ... just sometimes?

You see a lot of guitars, you meet a lot of dealers, buyers, sellers, traders, you know ... it's quite in with guitar ... world ...

Right

It's a happenin' thing. Especially this one in Dix Hills, 20th Century Guitar Magazine and Dick Risto (sp?), they put this show together every year now. And I heard people, you know, leaving saying "this is the classiest guitar show in the state".

Beyond the whole Yes cult business, there's this also ... there's this whole guitar cult business that goes on. People who are fans of the guitar ... and the playing of the guitar and you are revered as one of the masters, the maestros, (Steve laughs) of guitar Steve ... I know you know this I mean you know ...

Well you get people have said it, but you mustn't believe your own publicity ... you know ...

Well, well, it's true ...

Annie: I do!

Annie does.

Annie believes it. And of course, she's, of course, the mistress of the voice over here. In fact, actually Steve is going to be in the area to do some recording with Annie (Steve: "That's correct!") for a tribute album

That's right Annie. That's right ...

(laughs) uh, huh ... ooops.

We've got a lot of work ahead of ourselves the next couple of days. So it's ... we're doing it, you know, starting tomorow. And ...

The song that Annie's going to be doing with you is "Turn Of The Century", I understand, right ... which I played earlier tonight ... and it's always been one of my favourite songs (Steve: "Good"). Did you co-write that that with Jon, with Jon Anderson?

Jon and White.

And Alan White, yeah, a beautiful song ... cause I, and I'll tell you it's funny cause ... I'll never forget the visual effect that accompanied that song when you played it on that tour ... Going For The One ... There was a film of a ballerina kind of twirling across ... and of course I was able to go backstage and see how it was done. They had a projector on a track that moved across the stage so that she was dancing. But then she literally danced across this huge wide stage, rear projection, because the whole projector was on a dolly that moves across the stage and it was such a beautiful effect.

Funny you should mention that film, but that's been missing, forgotten, for many, many years. And I opened up a box, only a couple of months ago and in there ...

... was the film ...

in my studio was like this film and I turned it over and it said "including the ballerina" and it all came back (Annie: "Oh my ..."). Everybody had just forgotten about it. I mean it was just ... in 16 millimeter projector ...

You know, well, I'm still waiting to see film of the JFK stadium Yes, they did, I think your brother shot, didn't he, or something, or ... ?

Well, that was just a setup shot by my brother. He just set the whole ... you know, one of those staggered lens, staggered film things where you get, you know, a few stills every ten seconds ...

Right ... to see people coming in to ...

That's all they actually shot they tell me. And so the other bits of film ...

And then you shot the Yes soccer game ... which I'm also still waiting to see ... the famous Yes was at the Philadelphia Fury was it ... the soccer team (Steve: "That's right.") at Franklin Field one day. Yes, seems a lot of history that goes back with all of the Yes ...

Completely irrelevant history ...

Yeah, it's irrelevant, but it means something to me ... and it's my show and if I want to talk about it ... I'll talk about it.

You were great at the football match, Ed. You were doing the commentary.

That's right, and of course, the funny thing is, Annie has shared so many great moments in Philadelphia also ... the history of Renaissance, here in town and Annie's solo history as well. So it's really great to have you both and probably you two are the people who've appeared most on my show here ... although this is your first time here in this studio I think with me Steve (Steve: "Yes, that's right.") because we did a couple of taped interviews ... you were the first guest I had on the show ... and then again last year when you put out, or recently when you put out, the new live album which I guess we'll play some ... And we'll talk more with Steve Howe, formerly of Yes and who knows maybe again sometime ... and Annie Haslam of Renaissance, and now with Annie Haslam's Renaissance (Annie giggles) ... and everything kind of goes in circles ... and we'll continue with a few messages and we'll be back on the Classic Cafe ... WMMR. If you would like to talk to Steve Howe or Annie Haslam, we might be able to take a phone call or two. [commercial announcements]

Ed Sciaky here ... it's the Classic Cafe - 93.3 WMMR ... a rare live appearance in our studio tonight by Steve Howe and also Annie Haslam ... together here and I think we have a caller here that wants to ask a question of you. Hello ...

Rhea: Hi ...

Hi, you're on with Steve and Annie ...

Rhea: Hi, actually I'm standing right outside the studio; I just saw Steve on the way in (Ed and Steve chuckle). I ran over to the pay phone. I just wanted to know how the two of you decided to get together to do "Turn Of The Century". I think it's going to be a great idea.

OK, lovely. Yeah, well, the idea came from a guy who was managing Patrick Moraz called Gary Davis. And he just mentioned it to me one day that he had this idea and he ran it across Annie and he ran it across me. And we both said well, we'd quite like to do that. So in fact, you know, all the strings got pulled and things got in motion and Annie and I are sitting here today wondering, you know, whether we should, like, actually be working now, you know, because I'm sure we're both slightly workaholics ... at times.

Annie: Yeah, yeah ... I'm looking forward to it. It's quite challenging.

Do you want to try a line or two now just to give us an idea?

No way.

Why not?

No, isn't he awful! Oh, there's no echo.

Cool it Steve, I'll just insist that we you get your guitar out of the car and get you .. OK ... well thanks for calling ...

Rhea: Um-hmm.

This should be interesting ... it's going to be a Yes ... do we have a name for this album do you know or, what it's called?

No I don't think there's a title yet for it.

But it's kind of a tribute ... Steve, are you doing it with various people, is that the idea ... or is it ...

Well not really, I'm doing a very minimal amount ... I did something with Robert Berry where I just played at the end of his new version of "Roundabout" ... I don't play during the song. I play a sort of guitar cadenza on classical guitar at the end just to sort of like reflect on the way it used to be a little.

On who's? On who's track ...

On Robert Berry ... he was the singer with Three ... bass [guitar] player/singer lead he was a new member on GTR at one time ...

Right, Robert Berry, right ...

Robert Berry, and so I did a short appearance with him ... and you know and then this came up and this is obviously a little bit more, you know, closer to hand, really.

Yeah, well I think there's also something nice about Annie doing it ... being a female voice ... you know Jon Anderson's of course vocal is so ... his voice is so unique that it would be interesting to hear how other males approach the song ... actually Happy Rhodes (sp?) you know, a wonderful singer/songwriter friend of ours from Albany New York, is into Yes and played a couple of Yes songs at the Yes Fest in New York last September as kind of a tribute ... maybe we could get her involved in this ... that would be cool ... but, and that's the one where you made a video Steve which we showed ...

I made the video, yes ... cause I couldn't get there ... I mucked around in my house and made the crazy video, took a few bits of tape from recording sessions ...

Right, you still live in England ...

Yeah, very much so ...

Haven't escaped for tax reasons ...

(Laughs) Well if the labour government do get in ... in the end of all this, I mean, I'm going, you know, live in Switzerland, I think. Or whatever makes sense.

I see. Well, Annie could show you some real estate around, you know, this area ... cause she's very happily settled here, you know, right around Philadelphia ...

Well, you know, a friend of mine, Nicky Tate, he told me to buy a house, you know, well buy some land in Liditts (sp?), or Lancaster or somewhere down there ...

Well, that's right, he lives here now ...

What would you advise me of? Where would you advise me to move here?

She suggests you marry Mark Hoffman here and move here. It would be a ...

The main reason I came over here is because I couldn't ... is that there was no work for me in England ... (Steve:"Right.") ... no work for me at all.

Yeah, they don't appreciate the Brits much in Britain. You know that ...

Why is that? It's wierd. Yeah ...

Well, it's like, you know, back in the sixteenth century, John Dowling, who was one of the greatest early songwriters actually found exactly the same problem and he lived in Denmark, in the lap of luxury. But in England, he was like just worthless, but he's now the first guy who wrote down words and music together in England.

But you actually did, you did some gigs in England recently, didn't you when you did the tour ...

Oh yeah, I been playing England, yeah, I play there in about three weeks I start in Swindon ... Swindon folks ... The opening to my tour and I got up to Scotland a lot and do a lot of shows up there.

And this is a continuation of the tour for Not Necessarily Acoustic , or what ...

Oh no, it's Pulling Strings ... but Not Necessarily Acoustic is coming out there. But Pulling Strings is that last year's show ... with a bit more CD backing ...

So Not Necessarily Acoustic hasn't been released in England yet?

No, it's just come out now ... and Germany. The imports from America did sort of , like, take the edge off the deals.

This is so funny because Annie's album came out in Japan and she's worried that people are gonna go out and buy the import before the American version comes out. And now it is coming out, so ... funny isn't it?

It's hard to get it right. It's hard to get all the labels to say yes at the same time (Annie: "um hmmm.") and they put it out at the same time.

You had a book also I understand ...

Yes, I didn't had a book, (Ed: "You have a book.") I've got a book. You don't have a book and then it stops coming out (Annie laughs) ...

You have a book, and it's called what?

Steve Howe Guitar Collection. And it covers 110 of my guitars, and in full colour, and it's not expensive ... and it's made so people can get it done ... really I wasn't being cynical, (Ed: "How much is it Steve?") ... I think in the States it's about 25 or 27 dollars ...

Well that's not that cheap! (laughs)

Well considering it's a deluxe coffee table book, you know, covering the whole history of the guitar since day one ... I mean, for 27 bucks, I wouldn't complain about that.

Well that's reasonable. You also had another CD that came out called Mothballs.

Yeah, Mothballs ... is just come over.

It's just coming out in America here now. Right

It's being distributed by Feedback ... I think it is ... there are actually English copies coming.

OK, I think we talked about it a while ago ... but that's your very early material ... right

That's about 25 tracks from the 60s, yeah ... I was in four different groups in the 60s ... and made a few solo records that EMI didn't release ... so here we are.

And how's the response to that?

It's been quite good fun ... I mean, it was, surprising continuity in the guitar ... and I needed to do it to find out if I was there, really ... if I did play on these tracks ...

Let's play a little bit from Not Necessarily Acoustic ... what do you want to play here ... a couple of little things from the end ... this was recorded in Philadelphia, right, TLA

It's a couple of little cuts, recorded in the TLA and also some tracks were in Montreal ...

But you don't say which ... I tried to figure that out ... but ...

It's actually quite hard to track ... even myself ... but the guy who keeps going "whoa" after every song, he's in Philadelphia ... cause I remember him (Annie laughs). I think track 18 is "Swedish Rhapsody" which goes straight into track 19 which is "Whispering" ... on electric.

OK, some live Steve Howe, recorded at a great show and in fact he did another one since then at TLA ... it was really great to see Steve performing live at TLA right here in Philadelphia ...

(Ed plays from Not Necessarily Acoustic.)

A little bit of live music there from Steve Howe recorded right here in Philadelphia ... at TLA ... and some at Montreal ... They were at TLA or don't we know ...

I think those were TLA ...

You didn't say on the album.

Most, well no, it was hard, actually we started, we kind of lose track ... because we were dancing between both nights ...

You just want everyone in Philadelphia to think it was all recorded here and everyone in Montreal to think it was all recorded there.

Exactly.

But a nice album, and you did a little bit of Topographic Oceans ... a little highlights of Topographic

Yes, a nine-minute version ... as opposed to however many ... 69 minutes of it...

That just came out again remastered ... all the Yes albums have been remastered on Atlantic sounding very good ... and in fact, the two Steve Howe albums which had not been out on CD, or uh here in America, they were only out in Japan, they're now remastered and out domestically here so ...

They've become a whole sort of trend.

The Steve Howe industry rolls along here. And there's a double best of Renaissance by the way you can check out for Annie's Renaissance material ... and ... another one coming out in Germany soon ...

I can't get away from my past (laughs).

Well why should you?

What about this one? Aren't you gonna do much of this one? You know, is it decent?

Oh yeah, we've been playing some of that.

Oh good, Blessing In Disguise ...

It's a beautiful, beautiful album ... and check it out ...

I like the cat ... I was thinking my daughter's would like this ... oh, it's a little kitten and tickly ... my daughter's go, everytime they see a cat it's so tickly ... they love cats (Annie laughs).

And Steve, it's not expensive, check it out ... her album ... it's now out here, it's out here in America ... you might get it on sale, we'll check it out for you ... Annie can let you have one cheap ...

Well I'm looking at Annie's Japanese record and of course it has the usual ... they're so thorough, aren't they ... (Annie: "I know.") they're all like that, every lyric in Japanese in here ... incredible. Oh, we've lost Ed, he's fallen out the back of the studio. Can somebody pick him up? Oh, he's fallen down the shaft ... oh no.

I do have the two ... I have the Japanese pressings ... which cost me a lot of money originally ... of The Steve Howe Album and Beginnings and I also have an old Bodast thing here ... The Early Years

Oh yeah that's right, I do, I mixed that myself ... that was a ten years ... album.

This is not the stuff on Mothballs ...

Three tracks from that are on Mothballs ... I think about five tracks are from Tomorrow and the rest of it's very obscure.

And coming out on Feedback here, who also have an Elton John record, I'm told where he, when Elton was kind of down on his luck, real early on, late 60s, he recorded some stuff I think for Pickwick, some cover records which were sold real cheap, you know, of just anybody doing like the hits, you know ... and it was Reginald Dwight, it was Elton John singing the hits. I'll have to check that one out as well. So I guess folks want me to ask you at least, what, is there anything you know about Yes? Or what's happening? Are you in touch with them? Or anything happening at all?

(Snores) Well, you know, I don't know, it's one of those mystical, never quite gets, you know, the decision, it's a very sort of vague area at the moment ... and I dare say all their bands' and various record executives and managers are actually waiting to see if they can make a decision and get on with the next phase, whatever Yes has in store for it. And it's not for me to say that, yeah, you know something's happening ... it could be ...

Well what I heard is ... (laughs) there was some talk of Rick coming back with the band ... and then there was, you know, some discussion of whether they would continue with Tony and Rick ... or just Rick or, you know, uh, what would happen in that, and then talk of different projects perhaps ... have you heard anything about an orchestral re-recording of Tales From Topographic Oceans, an album of course that you co-wrote with Jon Anderson ...

Well, I mean, I heard a glimmer of something about it ... but I think the flame went out on it. And then much like many of the things you are asking me, you know I mean, you better speak to the guys about it. My lips are sealed at the moment. Well, I don't know anything ... I don't know anything at all. So, no, I don't know. They're just taking a while ... and Yes sometimes take a hell of a while to come around to these conclusions that need to be drawn.

And Bruce Springsteen can get back together with the E-Street band, then anything is possible in the world. Isn't it. And of course the Union tour was one of those dreams realised. All eight of you guys out together which was great. It was really ...

What are we gonna call it when we go out with all fourteen of us?

I don't ... (Annie laughs) ... that's right we have to get Peter Banks, Patrick Moraz, Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn and that'll be the day ... Trevor Horn, of course has gone onto a tremendous career as a producer, producer of the year, produced Seal ... and did Frankie Goes To Hollywood a while ago, but all kinds of other very good things.

Of course, brilliant, absolutely brilliant guy, lovely guy ...

Absolutely

A real good family guy

And Geoff Downes is still with ... working with Asia ... hey, you were in that group (laughs)

I was in that group, as well.

A couple of times ...

Can't we go onto something I wasn't in just for a change. No, I like to see Geoff, Geoff and the new singer John Paine ... they're holding the group together and they've got some new ideas ... and, you know ...

Right, Geoff sent me an album that they put out in Germany, I think, or some place ...

I think they're moving onto something bigger and better in their minds. I don't know what it is yet ... but I know I'm going to see them when I get back ... see what it is, yeah. But I always said you know, there might be another time I get with Asia, but ,there's just got to be no other guitarist and no silly producers, who wanna change the way group wanna play ... I'm only interested in working with other people the way they wanna play ... not the way, you know, (Ed: "Somebody else.") the industry is, bends them and shapes them, and so ...

Yeah, because, you know, a casual fan would go, well he was in Yes and they were hugely successful when he left ... then he was with Asia and they were huge, they just had this ... remember the first Asia album ... it's sold millions ... it was a monster success and you just kind of left that, and then you later, you were with GTR ... and that had a pretty big hit there "When The Heart Rules The Mind" ... and well, you left that ...

Maybe Annie knows why ...

Annie

No, I've got a question ... (Ed: "OK") ... John Wetton ... (Ed: "Yeah.") Did you know that he played in Renaissance? (Steve: "No, I didn't ... no ...") ... yeah, he did four or five shows with us ... he did the Reading Festival, that was one of them. But he did several shows ...

Playing bass?

Yeah ...

And did he sing too?

Yep, backing vocals ... yeah

Was he, who was he replacing, John Camp, at that time?

No, it was before ... before we got the actual nucleus together ... you know. I'm sorry I butted in, but it just reminded me of John Wetton when you said Asia, yeah.

Yeah, very small ...

Well, it's a big, very small, music community of all you English people were all over there, just all making records together and switching around. And then there was Greg Lake, who was in Asia for a few minutes while, remember, when John left, and they came ...

Greg always used to say to me, I said as I walked past him in the, you know, when Yes were recording in the same studio, as the LP used to say "in the wrong band" ... "let's come to our band" ... "oh yeah, don't want to play for them" ... (Annie laughs) there was a lot of fun ...

That would have been interesting ... Emerson, Lake, Palmer and Howe ...

It was going to be called HELP ...

HELP. H-E-L (laughs)

You can see why it was the kiss of death. Because right from the time that it was called, you know, somebody said, oh, let's do this called HELP ... no, that's the end of that idea ... but I do, I like those guys, you know, we go back together ... and what with Carl being in Asia as well ...

Sure, sure, right, that's right, Carl Palmer was in Asia ... but I think Jon used to tell me that like ELP was like a band that he idolized ... before he started, he and Chris got Yes going, they were like real big fans of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, you know

I think they were ... yeah

And, at that time I guess you were in Bodast (sp?) or Tomorrow, around that time ...

Somewhere, yeah, Bodast headed into, you know, out of Tomorrow, yeah

Yeah, interesting to see the first two Yes albums also reissued on CD ... and they kept that same silly picture of you on the front with, even though you weren't on the record you know, and the second Yes album ...

I can't imagine why, because the trouble was, the reason I ever got on the wrong album is that I just joined the band and they refused to release, they thought it was pornographic , ...

The naked drawing ...

There was a drawing of a woman and you could see both her legs but I mean it wasn't pornographic ... you know, it was just a very artistic sort of pose. It was drawn and it was really quite harmless considering, you know, the tripe that gets out there. So, you know, Yes had their album sleeve booted, you know, by the US ...

Right, with a picture of the band and they, there you were ... so the dated, and were in the band

Sort of post-hippy pictures ... you know, we're all sort of like, didn't look right ...

But, of course it was the Yes Album that was the big, it was your first album with the band that really broke Yes, and here in America. And I guess well Fragile really was the big, even bigger one that really did it with "Roundabout" but it was a wonderful time and I certainly spent so many great days on the road watching you guys play ... yeah, it was wonderful, you know, I'm sure you enjoyed it too.

Oh we did too, yeah, I mean, I couldn't change it ... you know, I mean, I'd obviously liked to have kept things together in a more organised sense, but that was inevitably not going to be the case ...

Yeah, it is, you know, really it's amazing, what with all of the backstage things that went on with the management and the band and, it's amazing that there was so much wonderful music produced by Yes over the years and you know you certainly were a major part of it. Certainly Topographic is a real Yes fan's all-time album and so much of the other stuff, you know ...

Well, it was a team, but it did have leadership occasionally from the writing team, whoever. It was Jon and I for a while, or you know, before I started , and occasionally it was Jon and Chris or whatever the team was ... enabled it to be, be strong. But it was down to the arrangement of the group that made Yes what it was. It wasn't any particular ingredient ... cause we did spark each other off ... which is a good thing to bear ...

So, as a guitarist, as an instrumentalist, you've chosen, kind of, this solo career that you've got going very successfully now and, but you've started to sing more ... you sang in these live shows which came out on this ...

Most probably I sing less now on the second leg, on the second sort of tour than I did on the first ... but I sing a bit because I love singing, but I, you know, I'm only a singer and a guitar, you know, I'm a guitarist and I sing a bit, you know. I consider myself a singer since I 've had singing lessons, but that's, I mean, I've got my voice to a point where it's better. But it's never going to be really a shining voice, you know, it's just going to be a ... soulful voice, maybe.

We were talking about Dylan cause his birthday is coming up and you're saying he really had a big influence on you I guess early on too, didn't he ...

That's it, yeah ... that's it ...

Why?

Well, this guy wrote good lyrics, I mean, he wrote all the lyrics that sum up life, you know, the way it really is, I mean, he told all the stories. And he said all the things that just were kind of outrageously true about life

Was his guitar an influence on you as a guitarist? Or was that not really it?

Not so much, I mean, I think he played on Leopard Skin Pillarbock's (sp) Hat ... pretty wacky (Ed: " Oh, really?") ... and of course, no, Bob does some great, and some really great guitar work ... and he's also a great guitarist ... and I always got turned on by it ... you know, and so.

Would you ever like to play with Dylan? Did you ever ... play ...

Yeah, I'd like to ...

You'd like to, you never have, of course. No ...

It's never happened, but if it happens ...

That'd be kind of cool.

He was creeping around Crouch End for about three months looking for a house or something in London (Annie: "Really?" ... laughs) Annie, yeah. And that's quite near where I live sometimes and it was like, you know, I kept thinking that I was going to meet him at the launderette or something ... (Ed: "uh huh") Bob, Steve, he said (Annie laughs and laughs) ... socks, no, towels ...

The truth is actually he was lurking around hoping to meet you, did you know that? He actually was ...

Yeah, I know he was ... he was with Dave Stuart (sp?) for a bit doing some things ... kind of looking into things.

Actually, Bob's son-in-law is a guy named Peter Himmelman (sp?), who is a really remarkable artist, singer-songwriter. Just, he's wacky and funny live but he writes the most wonderful serious songs that are just great, and he's a tremendous performer ... and I mention it because he's going to be in town this week, and people should check out Peter Himmelman, he's going to be playing at the Middle East this coming Wednesday night. And he's just one of these wierd guys. The records are great but you really don't get the essence of what he's about until you see him live. So if you can, do check out Peter Himmelman this Wednesday night. Are we going to see Steve Howe again soon live around here? Do you have any plans, or what?

Well, you know, I haven't tied down whether or not I do my sort of regular tour date or it might, it will depend greatly if anything sort of diverse comes up in the summer and late summer that I can sort of be part of and if that's the case, then that might do it. And I'm not talkin' about Yes, he's looking at me as if ...

Oh yeah, whaddya mean?

I'm talking about other sorts of concerts other sort of shows, where you know, I'm part of the bill, if you like. (Ed: "Yeah") And that's quite interesting ...

Well, you did, wasn't the thing, Night Of The Guitar didn't you play with a bunch of other guitarists?

Yes, that was some few years back in England ...

Now did you play with them or just a series, was it individual performances?

Well, we jammed a bit at the end but we did our own spots ... 15 minutes to 20 minutes each (Ed: "Yeah") and then, we sort of like, mucked around at the end.

Well, what would you like to do other than the solo tour? Would you like to get some other known musicians together, kind of do like a super tour, kind of thing ...

I would have liked to already have recorded my spanish guitar and orchestra record and be able to come to Philly and play with the local orchestras ...

At the Academy Of Music, or something, would be nice ...

Yeah, but I'm a bit behind that project, so, the arrangements are being worked on and that's ... well I thought I'd be doing something a little different so I could do the club circuit and do a slightly new show, but on the other hand if something else comes up, I'd rather do something a little bit different just for, you know, the perspective (Ed: "um hmm, um hmm" ) ... whether it's opening for, you know, somebody nice or exciting ...

You can open for me, if you like (laughs).

In fact Annie maybe could make room for you in the band ... I don't know ... she's got a great band together and she'll be playing June 30th at TLA by the way, Annie Haslam's Renaissance ... and

I think I'm playing in Scotland on June the 30th ... I can't do that one.

Well I won't, I guess I'll be at the TLA, it's closer ... laughs (Annie laughs too). But do come back Steve, really, always a pleasure to have you here with us in the studio. And the live shows are just great. Everyone was just enthralled by the last show at the TLA ... it was really great. Annie's shows have been great too. I really think the last TLA show was the best show I've ever seen you do Annie, it was just great. So I recommend people check that out. And perhaps the press -- like the Inquirer Dan DeLuca -- will come by and see the show maybe for a change and review it. And, let's play, let's do a little "Ram" or a "Clap" from your live album Steve, what do you like? ...

Yeah, "Ram" will be good ... it's short and sweet, it'sonly two minutes.

OK, alright, we have time for that, we can squeeze that in ... from Not Necessarily Acoustic, which is Steve's latest release, it came out on the Herald label, and it's got a lovely picture disc picture ...

It's not necessarily my latest release, I've just had released now on CMC of Voyages with Paul Sooten (sp?) but I've got a copy downstairs if you haven't got one ...

I haven't got one ... (they all laugh) ... Yes, OK, well, is it going to cost me a lot of money Steve or can I get, like you know, discount? Is it, so this is Phil Sooten; you did one with him (Steve: "Paul Sooten!"), you did one with him before?

Yeah, they're actually released -- both of those now ...

OK, is it credited to Phil, Paul Sooten and ... Steve Howe?

No, not Phil, not Phil Sooten ...

Paul Sooten and Steve Howe? What's it say on the label?

It's a joint record, yeah, Paul Sooten and Steve Howe.

Had you brought it up, we could have played a track.

I know ... I intended to ... we got downstairs, and did some autographs ...

Alright, alright we'll do "Ram". Steve, thanks a lot. Annie, thanks so much we'll see you soon (Annie: "Thanks.") And here is some acoustic, Not Necessarily Acoustic, Steve Howe on the Classic Cafe, WMMR ...

(Ed plays "Ram".)

And here, not the guitar of Steve Howe, but ... and they're wrapping us up with "Embryonic Journey". That was Steve Howe, and who's that guy screamin' hello in the middle of your record Steve?

He's not on the record, don't worry ... (all laugh) ...

Well that's it for the Classic Cafe tonight. Steve, thanks a lot for coming down, really appreciate that ... and as soon as we can get a hold of it we'll try and get that tape of you and Annie doing "Turn Of The Century" on that tribute album ... and give our best to whoever you meet along the way ... we'll see you next Sunday night for another edition of the Classic Cafe ... Ed Sciaky ... thanks for joining us this evening ...