a collection of grandiose constructs based on a misunderstanding of the nature of non rock composition.

the lloyds building by richard rogers by stephen betts by night: my favourite building in London, it's squashed into a tiny space so that the only view is up.

first manned flight; the opening chorus for Coming of the Railroad until I re-imagined opera based on my own capabilities.

a car going over a bridge: crossing the Tamar road bridge travelling east, imagined slowly with left and right views of the river and moving from the clotted D major of Cornwall to the flowing G major of England.

upper st. n.1: the junction of Cross street and Upper Street in Islington North London 2.30pm 3rd August 1988

post war celtic bungalow: external, internal and window. The forbidding pebbledash exteriors, the family within and the window between.

wall no. 1: composed 8th and 9th November 1989. The only thing you can do with a wall once you've put it up is take it down.

flight remix: the single from the hit album (a little British humour there everyone)

Credits:

Recorded at Hot Nights studios March April 1991
Engineered by Andy Parker and David Revell 
Assistant Roy merchant

Computer programming, voice and instrumental sampling by Philipp Erb

Sopranos                    Anne Rannie (Lloyds and Upper St.)
                                    Pamela Parry (First Manned Flight)
Mezzo Soprano          Valerie Macfarlane

Baritone                      David Stephenson

Bass                             Andrew Tinkler

Executive producers: Ross Fitzsimons and Robert Ittman

Produced by                Philipp Erb

Special thanks to:

Ross Fitzsimons, Philipp Erb, Martin Sexton, and Lustmord for their support and encouragement. 



a car going over a bridge

https://www.youtube.com/@thefranklyns https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556681353253

DESIGN IS NOT A MATTER OF OPINION.
 
The music presented here spans a forty year period and is best accessed via the 'playlists' and 'Albums' options on this page.

This is the SoundCloud page for Steve Betts. 
Music from Vachement Bath, Howard Hughes and the Western Approaches, L. Howard Hughes and The Books.
All tracks written/composed by Steve Betts. 
Video footage of performances with The Franklyns, The Western Approaches, The Associates, Eurythmics and Pete Murphy on the Youtube channel playlist.

All tracks downloadable for free on request.

In 1978 I formed a band called The Books and signed to Logo/RCA records and Virgin Music. 
The band recorded singles and an album, Expertise, all produced by Colin Thurston, and toured the UK supporting The Skids.

In 1982 I adopted the name L. Howard Hughes 
and began working with Billy Mackenzie and The Associates touring the UK, Europe and USA and recording the single 'Breakfast' and the album 'Perhaps'.
Around the same time I met Peter Murphy, from the band Bauhaus, who was beginning a solo career and worked with him co-writing and producing his first solo album, 'Should the World Fail to Fall Apart.'

In 1984 I formed another band, Howard Hughes and the Western Approaches and released singles on Abstract/Polydor and EG records. 

Throughout the 80s and 90s I worked with various artists touring and recording in Europe, the States and Japan as a session player, arranger, producer as well as writing, performing and releasing my own music.

In 2006 I formed a band called Vachement Bath and we played shows in London. I have also contributed to the 60x60 project as well as creating an online catalogue of work.  I led the BA(Hons)Music Performance and Production Programme at the University Of East London from 2014 to 2021 after which I co-formed my current band, The Franklyns. I live and write in the countryside.