Steve Scott is a musician, poet, and international traveler. He started off as a solo musician in the early days of Christian music. His work was sometimes seen as the alternative to alternative – stuff that was really out there. But his early albums are now considered classics. Some are even legendary, in that they have never been released and may never see the light of day.His lone album for Blonde Vinyl was his first of many spoken word/poetry-set-to-music albums. He included loops and samples of recordings he made while travelling around the world.
Scott has also authored many poems, books, and essays in his life time, as well as being a sought after teacher and speaker. More information about Scott’s literary and musical career can be read at his page on alivingdog.com.
Pre-Blonde Vinyl Career
Come Back Soon
Sangre Productions (1978)
01)
Steve Scott
Come Back Soon
3:30
Other Information:
The first Steve Scott recording. This compilation also included the Stratton/Howard Band, Wind, Matthew Brown, Panacea, Shelter, Sharon McCall, and John Reitz.
Moving Pictures
Solid Rock Records (recorded 1978, released 2026)
Produced by Larry Norman
Steve Scott – Lead vocals, guitar, dobro, bottleneck Larry Norman – Harmonies, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, steel drums Randy Stonehill – Guitar, crowd singing Mark Heard – Guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonies Tom Howard – Piano, string arrangements Jon Linn – Guitar and solos, slide Alex MacDougall – Drums, percussion Tim Jaquette – Bass Charles Norman – Guitar, bass, synthesizer Dave Coy – Bass Bobby Emmons – Crowd singing
01
Different Kind of Light
Scott
3:48
02
The Raft is Not the Shore
Scott
4:37
03
Permanent Revolution
Scott
3:01
04
Thief’s Song
Scott
5:00
05
The Love You Need
Scott
5:10
06
King for the Day
Scott
6:43
07
More Than a Dream
Scott
3:21
08
Come Back Soon
Scott
4:04
Other Information:
The long lost Steve Scott album. Recorded for Solid Rock Records in 1978, but never released until 2026. Different versions of songs recorded for this album have appeared on later albums.
Closeups
Solid Rock Records (recorded 1978, released 2026)
Produced by Larry Norman
Steve Scott – Lead vocals, guitar, dobro, bottleneck Larry Norman – Harmonies, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, steel drums Randy Stonehill – Guitar, crowd singing Mark Heard – Guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonies Tom Howard – Piano, string arrangements Jon Linn – Guitar and solos, slide Alex MacDougall – Drums, percussion Tim Jaquette – Bass Charles Norman – Guitar, bass, synthesizer Dave Coy – Bass Bobby Emmons – Crowd singing
01
Wild Boys
Scott
5:19
02
Stranger
Scott
3:59
03
Chapel of Stone
Scott
4:45
04
Broken Mirror
Scott
4:32
05
Name in Lights
Scott
4:47
06
Pilots Without Parachutes
Scott
6:56
07
Farthest Star
Scott
08
Stranger (good try version)
Scott
3:00
09
The Raft (alt bass instrumental)
Scott
4:26
Other Information:
The long lost Steve Scott album. Recorded for Solid Rock Records in 1978, but never released until 2026. Different versions of songs recorded for this album have appeared on later albums.
Rock & Religion Radio Special
Indepedent (January 4, 1980)
Steve Scott – vocals
01)
Intro
0:55
02)
Poem 1…Sun Poem
1:31
03)
Poem 2…Flight
1:10
04)
Poem 3…What Draws Our Gaze Down
05)
Poem 4…Janet I-Slow Motion
1:03
06)
Poem 5…Janet II-A Rumor Of Separate Worlds
1:24
07)
Poem 6…Janet III-The Other One
1:22
08)
Interview With Mary Neely
2:57
Explanation of “Janet” poems
09)
Poem 7…Lights And Shadows
1:53
10)
Poem 8…The Distance
1:01
11)
Poem 9…Prayer Of The Heart
2:06
12)
Poem 10…Meditations On The Covenant Names Of God
2:04
13)
Interview 2
3:25
Talks about why he writes poems
14)
Poem 11…This Sad Music
4:30
Recorded Live with The Scratch Band
15)
Outro
0:32
Other Information:
This is a a rare early poetry reading broadcast of Steve’s. The third poem is listed in the bootleg of this event, but there is no poem three read on the recording.
Love in the Western World
Exit Records (1983)
Produced by Steven Soles
Steve Scott – vocal, mouth organ Michael Roe – guitar, vocal Mark Tootle – keyboard, guitar Jan Eric Volz – bass, vocal, guitar Mark Proctor – pounding Steven Soles – tamborine, vocal Darla Griser – vocal
01)
Tower of Babel
2:57
Scott
02)
No Time Like Now
3:39
Scott
03)
Wall of Tears
4:58
Scott
04)
This Sad Music
5:01
Scott
05)
Love in the Western World
4:30
Scott
06)
Safety in Numbers
6:10
Scott
07)
Walking on Water Wasn’t Built in a Day
3:10
Scott
08)
Flesh and Blood
3:24
Scott
Emotional Tourist
Exit / A&M (unreleased, 1986)
Produced by Charlie Peacock
Steve Scott – lead vocals, some keyboards Steve Griffith – some production work, a bit of bass here and there, some background signing Mike Roe – guitars, background singing Mark Tootle – keyboards Aaron Smith – drums, cymbals Bongo Bob Smith – bionic orchestral and electronic percussion, synthesizer programming Gary Landakar – bass Daryla Griser – background vocals Benjamin Bossi – saxophone Charlie Peacock – keyboards
01
Emotional Tourist
Scott
02
Not a Pretty Picture
Scott
03
Sound of Waves
Scott
04
Love in the Western World
Scott
05
When Worlds Collide
Scott
06
Heaven Hears the Heart That Breaks
Scott
07
Memory Babe
Scott
08
Ship of Fools
Scott
09
Minor Characters
Scott
10
Ghost Train
Scott
Other Information:
Another even more long lost Steve Scott album. Recorded for Island Records, but never released. Pre-release cassettes were reportedly released. Different versions of songs recorded for this album have appeared on later albums.
Rice EP
Exit / Island (unreleased, 1987)
Produced by Charlie Peacock
Steve Scott – vocals Mike Roe – guitars Jimmy Albegg – guitar synthesizer Aaron Smith – drums Bongo Bob – percussive elements Mark Tootle – keyboards Charlie Peacock – keyboards Gary Landakar – bass guitars Mike Butera – saxophone Benjamin Bossi – saxophone
01
No More Parades
Scott
02
Something’s Got To Change
Scott
03
What is the Mystery
Scott
04
Call of the Wild
Scott
05
Shadow Play
Scott
Other Information:
Recorded for Island Records, but never released. Most or all of the songs on this were released on Lost Horizon. Different versions of songs recorded for this album have appeared on later albums.
Sound Of Waves / Call Of The Wild 7″
Alternative Records (unreleased 1989)
Steve Scott – vocal Mike Roe – guitar Aaron Smith – drum Mark Tootle – keyboard Gary Landaker – bass
01)
Sound of Waves
Scott
02)
Call of the Wild
Scott
Other Information:
This 7-inch was planned by Alternative Records, but never released.
Lost Horizon
Alternative Records (1989)
Produced by Mike Roe, Charlie Peacock, and Steven Soles
Steve Scott – vocal, mouth organ Mike Roe – guitar, vocal Aaron Smith – drum Mark Tootle – keyboard Gary Landaker – bass
Benjamin Bossi – saxophone John Flanagen – guitar Rick Estrin – harp Bongo Bob Smith – percussion Steve Griffith – vocal Jim Albegg – banjo, guitar Jan Eric – guitar, bass guitar, vocal Mark Proctor – drums Steven Soles – percussion, vocals Mike Butera – saxophone Daryla Griser – vocal
01)
Not a Pretty Picture
4:07
Scott
02)
No More Parades
3:59
Scott
03)
Something’s Got to Change
3:33
Scott
04)
What is the Mystery
4:44
Scott
05)
Call of the Wild
4:18
Scott
06)
Touch
5:34
Scott
07)
Shadow Play
4:19
Scott
08)
Wall of Tears
5:29
Scott
09)
Love in the Western World
5:00
Scott
10)
Emotional Tourist
4:03
Scott
11)
When Worlds Collide
4:18
Scott
12)
Ghost Train
3:29
Scott
13)
This Sad Music
5:16
Scott
14)
Ship of Fools
3:40
Scott
15)
Minor Characters
3:56
Scott
16)
Sound of Waves (12″ Version)
7:10
Scott
Other Information:
This album contains tracks from Emotional Tourist and Rice EP, as well as remixes from Love in the Western World. Alternative Records wasn’t sure that CDs would sell, so the last 4 tracks listed above are not on the casseette version.
Magnificent Obsession
Alternative Records (1990)
Produced by Mike Roe, and Charlie Peacock
Steve Scott – vocal, guitar Mike Roe – guitar, vocals Aaron Smith – drum Bruce Spencer – drum Mark Tootle – keyboard, voice Charile Peacock – keyboard Gary Landaker – bass, rhythm guitar
Steve Griffith – bass Bongo Bob Smith – percussion Eric Kleven – bass Mike Butera – saxophone Mark Proctor – wind chimes
01)
Love in the Western World
3:52
Scott
02)
Heaven Hears the Heart That Breaks
3:12
Scott
03)
Memory Babe
3:39
Scott
04)
Ghost Train
3:25
Scott
05)
Tower of Babel
3:09
Scott
06)
No Time Like Now
4:49
Scott
07)
Farthest Star
5:41
Scott
08)
The Love You Need
5:09
Scott
09)
Wonderful Fool
4:22
Scott
10)
Flesh and Blood
4:36
Scott
11)
Heaven Hears… (Remix)
3:36
Scott
12)
Come Back Soon
3:59
Scott
Other Information:
This album is a companion to Lost Horizon, featuring unreleased tracks and alternate versions of other tracks. The last 2 tracks listed above are not on the cassette version.
Blonde Vinyl Releases
The Butterfly Effect
BVCD3522 (1992)
Produced by Steve Scott
Steve Scott – vocals, samples, keyboard sequencing
01)
Sun Poem
2:52
Scott
02)
Slow Motion: (a) Slow Motion / (b) A Rumour of Seperate Worlds / (c) Signals
8:43
Scott
03)
No One Else to Blame
2:07
Scott
04)
Butterfly Effect
4:53
Scott
05)
No Memory of You
12:18
Scott
06)
Ghost / Explanation
3:46
Scott
07)
Lights & Shadows
5:10
Scott
08)
Flight
3:04
Scott
09)
“It’s As If” / Snapshots at the Taj
2:38
Scott
10)
Who Among the Angels?
4:51
Scott
11)
Jubilee Fragment
3:13
Scott
12)
The Beautiful Light
9:51
Scott
Post-Blonde Vinyl Career
Empty Orchestra
Twitch Records (1994)
Produced by Steve Scott
Steve Scott – All words and music
01)
[Untitled]
3:21
Scott
02)
[Untitled]
4:57
Scott
03)
[Untitled]
5:13
Scott
04)
[Untitled]
6:37
Scott
05)
[Untitled]
4:15
Scott
06)
[Untitled]
5:00
Scott
07)
[Untitled]
4:50
Scott
08)
[Untitled]
5:19
Scott
09)
[Untitled]
4:32
Scott
10)
[Untitled]
5:40
Scott
11)
[Untitled]
3:30
Scott
12)
[Untitled]
2:39
Scott
13)
[Untitled]
4:38
Scott
Other Information:
This album is collection of instrumental music and printed poems. The poems could be meditated upon while listening to the music, or even used as background tracks for a poetry reading.
Poems printed in the CD jacket are:
Third Floor Meditation
A Different Story
Old Year / New Year
The Voice
Rainbows at Midnight
Hitchhiking Down West Coast
A Section From Margins
Mime
Two
Passages of the Heart
We Dreamed That We Were Strangers
Glow Records/Rad Rockers (1996)
Produced by Steve Scott
Steve Scott – vocals, slide guitar, loops/sequences
01)
From Genesis to Revelation
3:38
Scott
02)
Tiger Sky
4:24
Scott
03)
Interlude
3:37
Scott
04)
The Lost Child
6:33
Scott
05)
Afterimages
5:47
Scott
06)
We Dreamed That We Were Strangers
8:08
Scott
07)
Dark Interval
1:51
Scott
08)
Hands
4:03
Scott
09)
Afterimages (Unspoken Remix)
3:47
Scott
10)
Beneath the Skin
5:50
Scott
11)
The Witness
12:16
Scott
Other Information:
This album is collection of spoken word poems over music.
More Than a Dream
Rad Rockers (1997)
Produced by Slack Shankar
Steve Scott – vocals, keyboards Tracy Tootle – vocals Mark Tootle – keyboards
01)
More Than a Dream
4:17
Scott
02)
Ghost Train
7:44
Scott
03)
Different Kind of Light
5:14
Scott
04)
The Sound of Waves
6:06
Scott
05)
A Selection From ‘Margins’
3:50
Scott
06)
Chapel of Stone
7:38
Scott
07)
Walking on Water Wasn’t Built in a Day
5:47
Scott
08)
Delta Remix
3:40
Scott
09)
The Descending of the Dove
7:31
Scott
10)
Put Your Hand to the Plow
7:07
Scott
11)
Jubilee
7:25
Scott
12)
Come Back Soon
5:40
Scott
Other Information:
This is a collection of previously unrecorded material and alt versions, some intended for the unreleased album Moving Pictures. However, these are newer recordings of those songs – the back cover says “All New Recordings – Recorded 1997.”
Awaiting The Dawn
Velvet Empire Records / Flaming Fish Music (1998)
10)
Steve Scott
Nervous System
4:10
Crossing the Boundaries
Glow Records (2000)
Produced by Slack Shankar
Steve Scott – music and words Gaylen Stewart – images
01)
Chirping in the Distance
2:28
Scott
02)
Something to Work With
2:34
Scott
03)
The Question
2:55
Scott
04)
Landing Signals
2:07
Scott
05)
Trading Places
1:35
Scott
06)
New Creations
4:10
Scott
07)
The Collection
3:59
Scott
08)
Unknown Columns
1:36
Scott
09)
As It Is Written
2:23
Scott
10)
Slow Motion Reflections
3:28
Scott
11)
Angel of the Disappearing Species
4:10
Scott
12)
The Market Place
5:00
Scott
13)
Real World
3:00
Scott
14)
Under the Influence of Light (Clear as a Bell)
2:32
Scott
15)
The Resurrection of the Body
5:49
Scott
Other Information:
This album was a multi-media exhibit in conjunction with painter Gaylen Stewart. The booklet includes sixteen full color art / collage paintings from the exhibit.
Love in the Western World (CD re-issue)
Millenium 8 (2000)
Produced by Steven Soles
Steve Scott – vocal, mouth organ Michael Roe – guitar, vocal Mark Tootle – keyboard, guitar Jan Eric Volz – bass, vocal, guitar Mark Proctor – pounding Steven Soles – tamborine, vocal Darla Griser – vocal
01)
Tower of Babel
2:57
Scott
02)
No Time Like Now
3:39
Scott
03)
Wall of Tears
4:58
Scott
04)
This Sad Music
5:01
Scott
05)
Love in the Western World
4:30
Scott
06)
Safety in Numbers
6:10
Scott
07)
Walking on Water Wasn’t Built in a Day
3:10
Scott
08)
Flesh and Blood
3:24
Scott
Re-issue bonus songs:
09)
Different Kind of Light
3:48
Scott
10)
More Than a Dream
3:57
Scott
11)
Call of the Wild (live)
3:56
Scott
12)
Love In The Western World (live)
4:40
Scott
13)
When the Fight is Over (live)
4:43
Scott
Emotional Tourist (retrospective album)
Arena Rock Records (2012)
Steve Scott – vocals
01)
Different Kind Of Light
3:47
Scott
Moving Pictures
02)
Emotional Tourist
4:00
Scott
Emotional Tourist
03)
Ghost Train
3:25
Scott
Emotional Tourist
04)
Not A Pretty Picture
4:05
Scott
Rice EP
05)
Love In The Western World
5:00
Scott
Love In The Western World
06)
Sound Of Waves
3:46
Scott
Emotional Tourist
07)
Shadowplay
4:15
Scott
Rice EP
08)
Farthest Star
5:36
Scott
Moving Pictures
09)
Come Back Soon
3:59
Scott
Come Back Soon
10)
Empty Orchestra
2:39
Scott
Empty Orchestra
11)
This Sad Music
5:13
Scott
Love In The Western World
12)
No Memory Of You
12:14
Scott
The Butterfly Effect
13)
Beneath The Skin
5:47
Scott
We Dreamed That We Were Strangers
14)
Slow Motion Reflections
3:28
Scott
Crossing The Boundaries
15)
Resurrection Of The Body
5:51
Scott
Crossing The Boundaries
Cross My Heat
Harding Street Assembly Lab (2017)
All tracks performed, & assembled by Steve Scott from 2009 – 2017
Recorded & Mixed at Studio W, Sacramento, CA
Engineered by Jimmy Ward and Jason Cambell
Mastered by Michael Roe
01)
Perhaps We are the Dream
3:34
Scott
02)
With Any Luck
3:37
Scott
03)
Speak
3:20
Scott
04)
How Many Words for Sorrow?
7:45
Scott
05)
The Gift of Tears
8:32
Scott
06)
Watching for Wings
7:25
Scott
07)
The Eclipse
5:32
Scott
08)
The Altar at Isenheim
11:32
Scott
09)
Lilias
7:53
Scott
Other Information:
According to Steve in a 2009 HM magazine interview, “I’m creating/finishing up more sound loops from my travels to accompany another spoken word project (working title: How Many Words for Sorrow?)”. Steve Scott commented below that the working title has changed to “Cross My Heat.”
From the Label:
“Cross My Heat” is Scott’s first release in nearly two decades (1998’s “Crossing The Boundaries”). Difficult to categorize, these nine pieces blend Steve’s penchant for life-reflecting prose & ethno-electronica.
“Those familiar with Scott’s singular oeuvre are well aware of his status as one-of-a-kind visionary. His expansive, evocative lyrics are supported by music that’s alternately rocking and dreamily atmospheric, often venturing successfully into exotic stylistic territory.” (Scott Shinder)
HSAL #63 – “The Way of the Sevenfold Secret”
Harding Street Assembly Lab (2023)
All pieces written and performed by Steve Scott.
Music Programs: Geoshred gets special mention – thanks for the awesome Indian flute.
Album recorded and mixed by Manuel Luz.
Mastered by Scott Reams at Mr. Cat, Sacramento CA
01)
Rainbows at Midnight
3:24
Scott
02)
Sixty-Five Roses (for Dylan Mortimer)
3:03
Scott
03)
The Way of the Sevenfold Secret
25:06
Scott
04)
(Epilogue) The Bells
3:05
Scott
05)
Burn (Leaving the Echo Chamber)
5:20
Scott
06)
(The Light)
2:29
Scott
07)
(The Door)
3:20
Scott
08)
(The Bread)
3:54
Scott
09)
(The Beautiful Shepherd)
2:49
Scott
10)
(The Companion)
4:13
Scott
11)
(The Vine)
3:14
Scott
12)
(The Life)
5:50
Scott
Other Information:
Track 3 is based on the 1926 booklet by Lilias Trotter entitled The Way of the Sevenfold Secret.
“(Epilogue) The Bells” first appeared in Stride (UK) in 2022.
From the Label:
The last time we were able to deliver a Steve Scott album, it was a collection of stories and feelings crafted over a decade’s (or more) worth of time. Perhaps it was the global pandemic’s penchant for driving focus, or maybe it was self-directed study of various religious texts, but something stirred our favorite British expat toward a cycle based on a 1926 booklet by Lilias Trotter. “Secret” begins with a pair of set pieces that read like memories as much as they do poems. The remainder of the album works through seven movements (plus an epilogue) that mirror Trotter’s writing.
Each poem is accompanied by subtly haunted tones that reinforce the presence of something more than Scott’s words. There are extended moments beyond the words that seem to invite reflection and internalization – as if the sounds that swirl around Scott mimic the role of Virgil leading Dante through the Inferno, Purgatory, and ultimately, Paradise.
Some albums resonate because the vibe they create invites an immediate repeated listen – the party doesn’t have to stop. The resonance of The Way of the Sevenfold Secret is paradoxical in that the listener may find the silence replacing the final track to be the perfect headspace to make sense of the meditation through which they were just ushered.
What a great site! Looking for reviews/comments on Steve Scott’s The Boundaries for a collected edition to be released in 2010. Or any Boundaries-related material like The Butterfly Effect. Thanks.
More than a Dream = new versions of songs some of the songs originally were intended for Moving Pictures. “Chapel of Stone” for example. All new 1997 recordings there though…..
The older I get the more I appreciate LOVE IN THE WESTERN WORLD and LOST HORIZON. I was too young to appreciate them when I first heard them, but I’ve been listening to them a lot recently. Solid stuff that stands the test of time.
Like John Warren, it took years for me to appreciate the depth of the Love in the Western World album. I found it on CD and rediscovered it, and it blew me away. Again. Makes me want to write again.
I consider myself blessed to have experienced the music and poetry of Steve Scott. If you read this, thank you Steve. I remember listening to The Butterfly Effect when it came out always late at night while driving alone. “Slow Motion” in particular still brings tears. The beauty is that I still don’t know why.
I just now saw that the 2012 release Emotional Tourist (retrospective album) is out. Does anyone know if the track “Come Back Soon” is the original recording from the 1978 Sangre LP of the same name? I would really like to hear the original recording of that song… Thanks…
I just checked – it is not the same version. The version on the retrospective album sounds like the version on Magnificent Obsession. I will try to add the original version to YouTube this week.
What a great site! Looking for reviews/comments on Steve Scott’s The Boundaries for a collected edition to be released in 2010. Or any Boundaries-related material like The Butterfly Effect. Thanks.
More than a Dream = new versions of songs some of the songs originally were intended for Moving Pictures. “Chapel of Stone” for example. All new 1997 recordings there though…..
The older I get the more I appreciate LOVE IN THE WESTERN WORLD and LOST HORIZON. I was too young to appreciate them when I first heard them, but I’ve been listening to them a lot recently. Solid stuff that stands the test of time.
How Many Words for Sorrow will probably be called Cross My Heat.
Like John Warren, it took years for me to appreciate the depth of the Love in the Western World album. I found it on CD and rediscovered it, and it blew me away. Again. Makes me want to write again.
How heartening to read the comments about Steve Scott’s music here. I feel like you’re my soulmates.
I consider myself blessed to have experienced the music and poetry of Steve Scott. If you read this, thank you Steve. I remember listening to The Butterfly Effect when it came out always late at night while driving alone. “Slow Motion” in particular still brings tears. The beauty is that I still don’t know why.
I just now saw that the 2012 release Emotional Tourist (retrospective album) is out. Does anyone know if the track “Come Back Soon” is the original recording from the 1978 Sangre LP of the same name? I would really like to hear the original recording of that song… Thanks…
I just checked – it is not the same version. The version on the retrospective album sounds like the version on Magnificent Obsession. I will try to add the original version to YouTube this week.