Steve Ward

I've been hunting for this CD ever since it disappeared from my streaming library (thanks, Apple Music). After a few false starts and a long stay on my Discogs Want List, I finally received the email I'd been waiting for: a mint-condition copy had surfaced at a reasonable price. Needless to say, I bought it immediately.

Although Opening Night is billed as a solo album by Steve Ward, I've always viewed it as the spiritual successor to the two albums he released under the Cherry Twister name. That connection is especially apparent on standout tracks like "California", "Wings" and "Western Skys," which carry forward the same melodic songwriting, lush harmonies, and power-pop sensibilities that made those earlier records so memorable.