Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Renaissance Appreciation Day

 


I've been wanting to write about Renaissance for a long time, but honestly never had the confidence that it would go over. A classical prog rock band with a soprano for a lead singer and songs about wizards, gypsies and Russia seemed like a hard sell on these pages. But I have loved this band since I first found my uncle's copy of "Ashes Are Burning" while flipping through his records in 1974, and then the deal was sealed when I got to see them live at Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum soon after.

Annie Haslam's voice is a miracle of nature. And though the band has never truly "rocked," they were played on rock radio quite often in their heyday. The pop melodies of songs like "Carpet Of The Sun" and "Spare Some Love" over these lovely, sweeping, majestic arrangements created a band like no other. And if you are a sucker for harmony as I am, songs like "Sounds Of The Sea," "Northern Lights" and the band's legendary "Ashes Are Burning" should hit the spot.


Renaissance lost their way after the best selling "Live At Carnegie Hall" album, but there are songs on just about every record worth your time. 

Haslam still tours under the name, though the last original member Michael Dunford passed in 2012. I saw them play live twice right before Dunford died, and Haslam sounded as she did in 1975. 

There's a Spotify playlist below for those willing to dive in. 





12 comments:

Keith35 said...

I absolutely love Renaissance. I have seen them many times since Dunford passes. Annie's voice is still incredible; and the band always puts on a good show. The last show I saw in 2019, Jim McCarty made a guest appearance.I think they should be considered a top tier prog band as their classic albums rank with the giants. Also, nobody else sounds like them

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's a store owner thing - the owner of local store Vinal Edge (yes, that's its name), who I thought was an unrepentant punk rocker, couldn't wait to go to a Renaissance reunion show last year and raved about it. He was happy that Jim McCarty also joined the band for a couple of songs. The debut album from the Relf version of the band rocked some (first album I bought with my own money!). That lineup's reunion album - Illusion's "Out of the Mist" - is also worth seeking in bins or on youtube.

drizzz said...

Must be something in the air- this blast from the past was posted yesterday- https://allerlei2013riffmaster.wordpress.com/2021/10/12/renaissance-capitol-theatre-passaic-nj-1978/

heartsofstone said...

I am in the same "Camp" as you are. Saw Renaissance in the 70s numerous times and thought they were outstanding. I think Ashes are Burning is awesome. A Jon Camp bass solo and Annie hitting that note at the end. Saw Annie and the new group a few years back and she is still a wonder.

Anonymous said...

Sal, you never cease to amaze me - never would've pegged you for a Renaissance fan. I used to be a fan back in the 70's but have hardly touched them since. Just recently sold 7 or 8 of their albums to a used records store. Probably a mistake but shelf space is quickly diminishing so...

I did hang onto Annie In Wonderland - Hunioco, what a song!

Randy

neal t said...

My fave I never heard on the air is Trip to the Fair. McCarty had another fm classic with a band Shoot & tune Sepia Sister

JohnnyC said...

Brings back memories of the Nightbird, Alison Steele. She was a huge champion of the band. I was more of a casual fan but I recall they toured the Eastern Seaboard regularly. They were even more rabidly followed in Philly than New York. The Youtube reactors haven't yet discovered them but I'm sure they'll be knocked over by the orchestration and Annie's voice. You would think with the ubiquity of social media and streaming that finally all the diversity of music made in the last 70 years would be exposed to the teeming millions. But, alas, it's going the other way. Even today's prog metal guitarists act like real guitar only started with Holdsworth. Blues based tonality is now just "boomer bending." Lol.

Jeff in Denton TX said...

I finally started listening to Renaissance about a decade ago after scoring a used copy of Ashes Are Burning on CD from the $2 bargain section at Half Price Books (a regional used books/music/movie chain based out of Dallas). A coworker had raved to me about Annie's multi-octave vocals and he was a fan of many of the same prog and psych artists that I liked, so it seemed logical that I would like them as well.

While my collection is still lacking some titles, I have definitely become a fan of their classic era. Jon Camp's fine Rickenbacker bass work suits the melodic material perfectly. Sal, I hope your post will turn more folks on to this under-appreciated band.

neal t said...

I might add for the youngsters a good portion of the classic rock audience backndaday hated them.

dogbreath said...

A bit of a secret pleasure back in the day in amongst Sabbath, Purple & their ilk. And who plays that super guitar soloing on Ashes Are Burning? None other than Andy Powell from Wishbone Ash (see what they did there?), a band I recall you struggling to get into some time ago.

Sal Nunziato said...

Dogbreath,
I picked up a collection over the summer that included the first four Wishbone Ash records. I quite liked the first album, and a good portion of the second and Argus.

dogbreath said...

Well, I don't think the Wishbone boys will be using your comments in advertisements for the back product but at least you gave it a go! Meant to say thanks for the Renaissance Spotify playlist too. Cheers!