Yes frontman Jon Davison demonstrated how strong a writer he is when left to his own devices on “Light of the Ages” from 2014’s Heaven and Earth. The succeeding “It Was All We Knew,” written solely by Steve Howe, doesn’t fare so well.
It’s not that Howe isn’t a gifted lyricist. Instead, “It Was All We Knew” again illustrates this album’s issue with lackluster production and arrangements.
Earlier included in demo form on Howe’s Homebrew 6, “It Was All We Knew” offers a retrospective look at love and personal growth. Howe creates a direct narrative which actually compliments Davison’s “Light of the Ages.”
Unfortunately, the arrangement and production are little better than Howe’s demo version. In fact, Howe’s guitars on the demo sound fuller and more dynamic than the Roy Thomas Baker-produced performance from Heaven and Earth.
Davison turns in a journeyman vocal, which is supported by Howe’s harmonies. The rhythm section comes up with few new ideas to make it their own, and the mid-song break down offers little spark to ignite the tune.
In the end, “It Was All We Knew” should have been saved for a Steve Howe solo album – or given a little more arrangement time to develop into a truly memorable Yes song.
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