Legendary guitarist Steve Howe to debut vinyl versions of "Portraits Of Bob Dylan" and "Natural Timbre," previously unreleased recordings of his performances.
Steve Howe, the former guitarist of Yes, is set to reissue two of his solo albums, "Portraits of Bob Dylan" (1999) and "Natural Timbre" (2001), on September 12, 2025. These reissues will be released through his own HoweSound label, marking the vinyl debut for both albums.
"Portraits of Bob Dylan" is a tribute album to Bob Dylan, featuring a distinctive arrangement of Dylan's songs. The album boasts an impressive array of guests, including Jon Anderson, Max Bacon, Allan Clarke, PP Arnold, Annie Haslam, Keith West, Phoebe Snow, and Howe's son Dylan Howe on drums. Howe emphasized that the arrangements are original and not mere copies of Dylan's versions.
The tracklisting for "Portraits of Bob Dylan" includes "One Too Many Mornings", "I Don't Believe You", "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", "Lay Lady Lay", "The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll", "Mama, You've Been on My Mind", "Well, Well, Well", "Just Like A Woman", "Pyramidology", "Going, Going, Gone", "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", "Buckets Of Rain", and "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands".
"Natural Timbre", on the other hand, focuses on acoustic music, using various instruments including acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, lap steel guitar, mandocello, koto, and more. The album highlights the universal beauty of acoustic tones, with Howe aiming to explore sound beyond electric guitar, favoring a soothing and harmonious acoustic experience.
"Natural Timbre's" tracklisting features "Intersection Blues", "Lost for Words", "Dream Rive", "Solar Winds", "Provence", "Your Move", "Golden Years", "Up Above Somewhere", "The Little Galliard", "Curls & Swirls", "Distant Seas", "To Be Over", "Family Tree", "In The Course Of The Day", "J's Theme", and "Winter (Vivaldi)".
Howe's son, Dylan Howe, is featured as a drummer on both reissued albums. The idea behind "Natural Timbre" was to show that the beauty of acoustic instruments is universal. Both albums are being reissued through Howe's own HoweSound label for the first time on CD and vinyl.
Steve Howe has announced the reissue of two of his solo albums, "Portraits of Bob Dylan" (1999) and "Natural Timbre" (2001), on his label HoweSound. The reissues, scheduled for September 12, 2025, will mark the vinyl debut for both albums. "Portraits of Bob Dylan" is a tribute to Bob Dylan, featuring a unique rendition of Dylan's songs with an impressive lineup of guests. The album includes tracks like "One Too Many Mornings" and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands". In contrast, "Natural Timbre" focuses on acoustic music, showcasing a variety of instruments such as the acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, and koto.
"Portraits of Bob Dylan" features Dylan Howe, Steve Howe's son, on drums, as does "Natural Timbre". The reissued albums aim to demonstrate the universal beauty of music, particularly acoustic instruments, as they are being reissued for the first time on CD and vinyl through HoweSound. The music industry, with its various genres such as rock, metal, blues, prog, and entertainment, is eagerly anticipating these reissues, adding new offerings to the vast library of music. Meanwhile, music enthusiasts are also looking forward to the release of potential companion books to accompany these albums.
In the meantime, fans of Steve Howe can enjoy live performances, perhaps waiting for more exciting announcements from the legendary guitarist and his new albums on the horizon. The reissues of "Portraits of Bob Dylan" and "Natural Timbre" promise to ignite fresh interest in Howe's solo career, offering a unique blend of eclectic styles, including his signature touch on the guitar, that has captivated audiences for decades. These upcoming reissues serve as an exciting reminder of the timeless appeal of music and the endless possibilities it offers, regardless of genre or format.
