Renaissance- Ashes Are Burning (First Listen)
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
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Song Link: • Renaissance - Ashes Ar...
Yes Cover: • Steve Howe Annie Hasla...
![RENAISSANCE - Ashes Are Burning [LIVE IN STUDIO] 1974 RARE](/img/n.gif)
You simply must listen to the "Live at Caragie Hall" album. It's the best thing they ever recorded. It's practically a religious experience. That album makes so much of their other work sound like a dress rehersal.
Yes, Renaissance is a criminally under-rated band if there ever was one, but they were kinda popular, especially in the Northeast area of the US in the mid to late 70's. But, if you want to talk about a criminally under-rated AND not-talked about 70's prog band it would be Caravan. These guys were extremely talented and had a run of fantastic albums from the late 60's to mid 70's. I, with no hesitation recommend listening to the song "Winter Wine" to get a taste of their whimsical Canterbury prog music. So unique. They even had long epics, (For Richard, or Nine Feet Underground). A band that has never been duplicated or, at least, mimicked. I mean, I haven't heard anyone sounding like them. There are a whole bunch of bands during the 70's that played Canterbury style prog, but Caravan was the best in my estimation. Give them a try if you want to hear a different take on prog.
Ty Ray! Caravan is on my list to get to
They emerged to early to be properly recorded in their live performances.
Renaissance was a prog pioneer band and their music was not broadcasted because world didn't use to listen to it yet.
No handycam, no internet, even black an white TV in so many countries....only radio stations medium wave, even FM was in the cradle
a very long road since then...
nevertheless, here we are celebrating and enjoying 50 years after...
Some guitarists have a very distinct 'voice'. From the first notes, I knew that was one of my great heroes - Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash. He was playing a guest appearance to return a favour to Annie, who did some singing for him previously.
Annie Haslam....a voice like few I've ever heard. Or even imagined.
Must remember the late great Betty Thatcher- a recluse who wrote most of their lyrics.
Good call Graham. No one knows her, yet she was part of the heart and soul of the band.
Ty for that; I'll have to read into her
@@Ignats75 she passed away in 2011. There is apparently only one photo of Renaissance with Betty. Great photo!!! She was here on UA-cam and I thanked her very much for all her contribution to Renaissance great lyrics. Very humble sweet response of thank you!!!
@@Ignats75 I had no idea thanks.
She wrote some extraordinary songs. The Sisters, At the Harbour are my favorite.🗿
Annie Haslam is the best singer! 🎶❤️
Annie, Kate Bush and Sandy Denny, there's no modern singers to touch them.
Saw them live 3x in early 80s. Bassist John camp plays great jazz during this song live.
Annie Haslam and Macy Prior (Steeleye Span) together are amazing. See their record “Silly Sisters”.
@@andrewspam Silly Sisters was a collaboration between Maddy Prior and June Tabor- not Annie Haslam.
I've always thought of her as the female equivalent to Jon Anderson. She got together with Steve Howe to do some Yes music. Check out their version of "Turn Of The Century".
I had the privilege to attend 3 of their concerts in the 70’s and 80’s. Amazing band, awesome sound in concerts.
Yeeeeeeees finally someone reacting to this gem of a band.
💎
Renaissance have always been overlooked by the mainstream. Their masterpiece is IMO
“Day of the Dreamer”
You really need to hear them on their live album “Live at Carnegie Hall” with the New York Philharmonic symphony is simply eargasmic.
The late DJ ALAN FREEMAN used to play them often (Saturday afternoons, Radio 1), he was a big prog fan, and responsible for most of my album purchases for years.
I was blessed to be at 2 of the the 3 nights it was recorded, in the 3rd and 5th rows.
This album still gives me chills.
That guitar solo is done by Andy Powell of British band Wishbone Ash. You should check out their album Argus which is filled with stunning twin guitar work.
Thanks for the info. The style had sounded to me like Alvin Lee.
So much British talent from this late 60s early 70s era , mind-blowing, along with Genesis , yes , jethro tull. a era we'll never see or here again.
Yes, my favourite Renaissance album. Carpet Of The Sun is the best song.
Renaissance is a unique band, Ashes are burning is a fantastic tune. Annie Haslam is a phenomenal vocalist to be sure..
100%
HE APPEARS TO BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME JOURNEY i DID WHEN i HEARD IT FOR THE FIRST TIME....INTENSE.
Haha! Probably
Great song! You must hear the Live at Carnegie Hall version. Annie sings at the end instead of a guitar solo and it blew me away when I heard it. Never heard anyone sing that high. And it was live too.
Seeing them live in the 70's totally transformed this song. When Annie hits that one high note the theater went dark and spotlights hit a slowly spinning mirror ball. And that's how they finished the song with Annie's soaring vocals in the dark. Beautiful!!
The live version gives me goosebumps to this day... The hight notes at the end and the Synergy with the audience... Wow
When I saw the look on your face in the promo, I knew exactly what you were experiencing. Your analysis is spot on regarding musicianship, how underrated they were/are as a band. Correct the song ranks up there with the Close to the Edge from Yes. I love this version from the album, but please please treat yourself and listen to the live version from Carnegie Hall. The guitar solo is replaced with Annie's voice which gives it a completely different feel, allowing her to really show off her vocals as she reaches the same register as the guitar solo, even higher in parts. You also have and very underrated bass of Jon Camp, who is a very close second to Chris Squire. The live version is about 28 minutes with a long bass solo from Jon Camp, also solo piano. I guarantee you will enjoy it. Again you are correct with the meaningful lyrics which are so symbolic on many levels. I cannot wait to hear you comment on the live version. Thank you for listening to my request as well as some others I am sure. One short song with lots of symbolism is titled "Let It Grow" . Enjoy and thank you so much!!!!
Jon's bass solo in Live at Carnegie may be my all time favorite bass solo.
Thank you so much Steph! I'll take a look at the live version this weekend probably, looking forward to it :)
@@JustJP Just watched the You Tube video of Ashes are Burning from Live at the Capitol Theater. this morning. I don't think that Jon's solo there is anywhere near as good as the one from Live at Carnegie Hall
I had the luck to be around when this group (w/Haslam) hit the sound scene and actually only bought the album (yes, vinyl) because I thought the cover was really cool. It only took one listen to become a fan and the first 5 albums were top notch (in my opinion), then they changed style, and basically lost me as a fan as far as new stuff. I personally think that their Live at Carnegie was the best, and still have the vinyl. I've been waiting for someone to do a react to this group which I believe was really only popular on the east coast and the west coast with only a very small following in the rest of the country. If you get to listen to that album(s), I think you would just get lost in it.
@@jennd8935 I agree with completely. I live in the St. Louis MO area. There was a group of people my ex and I hung out with who loved them and we did our best to expose them to as many as we could. One song I personally love that I feel is not well known is Let It Grow. Another is called The Harbour if I am remembering the title correctly. It is a very emotional moving piece about women waiting for their husbands and sons to return from their jobs on the sea.
Renaissance is a band with a unique sound! Very based on classical music! ❤️🎧
Yes they changed my life.
Even more than ELP.🗿
OMG !!! Renaissance, Annie Haslam, my first female voice crush !!! Only 8 years old when i first heard her but already touched and overwhelmed by the beauty of her voice. And the music... Ahhh ! Novella, the first album heard, never forget ! Thanks to bring me back to their music !
I had a crush also on Maddy Prior from Steeleye Span. They have a great record together (Silly Sisters).
"The Captive Heart", with Annie singing in choir with herself at different registers in the chorus, always gives me chills! And @andrewspam, I don't know much about Maddy Prior, but her hypnotic duo with Clodagh Simmonds to the beat of African drums at the end of Mike Oldfield's "Ommadawn" part 1 inevitably gets me to a trance.
You need to listen this song live in Live at Carnegie Hall 1976. Is even better, Annie Haslam surpass herself live in this song.
Renaissance is not mainstream, but for prog afficcionados the band is a first class band
Annie Haslam is a phenomenal vocalist and Renaissance a fantastic band of musicians! I don’t know where they fit genre wise though, progressive yes, rock no. Maybe folk, classical even operatic at times. Great song for sure..
Ron, I think they clearly fit in the Prog Rock genre. Particularly live. Mother Russia or Can You Understand has some great rock moments. Its just that their musicianship is so strong, that they sound more sophisticated. This song has some of the same characteristics as Suppers Ready-Time Changes-Instrumental solos-heavy lyrics.
Wow, an intellectual reaction channel, sorely needed. I love that you do progressive material w/ thoughtful reactions, but aren’t too snobby to tackle pop or folk. I’d like to suggest the “Kings of Convenience,” under-heard in the States, resisting categories such as folk, progressive pop or indie, w/ exquisite vocal harmony & spare, tasteful instrumentation that ventures beyond acoustic guitar to include upright bass and even brass, all wrapped in crystalline production, some of the best I’ve heard. Their album “Riot on an Empty Street” was one of 2004’s best, and the 5th and 6th tracks (“Know-How” and “Sorry or Please”) at ~8 minutes total would make a splendid introduction and video. Hope you’ll give it a try. Thanks for your great work. JSB
Sounds interesting Johann Sebastian. I'm going to check them out.
I just finished listening to your suggestions... pretty good stuff. I liked Know-How.
Ty so much JS. Every genre has something valuable in it; just gotta be open. Ty for the recs as well
Not my cup of tea per se. But they were very good. I prefer more "ornate" (for lack of a better word) instrumentation. But I can appreciate what they do. They remind me of Donavon Frankenreiter.
YES! YES! YES!
Now, on your own time, listen to the "Live at Carnegie Hall" version of this song and truly appreciate the musicianship of maybe the most underrated band of the progressive era. And then report back to us your impression of that performance.
I will! Ty ty
You're absolutely right, Renaissance are an overlooked band! I was lucky to have an opera trained girlfriend in 1974, who insisted on seeing them play in a small stage setting.What a show! Definately one of the pioneers of prog! We just did'nt have the availability of choices that we now enjoy.Peace-ferretfret in Ct.
That would be a great show to see!
I’m not familiar with Renaissance. That was pretty good, I’ll listen again!
Glad you liked it man!
Try ~ Running Hard
Woo Bino awesome track
The full album is great.
Take a couple of hours and listen to the live album.. It is mind blowing...
You should check out At the Harbour from the same album. Very haunting and beautiful, and you'll really appreciate the piano part. There is a clear Claude Debussy influence.
Ty Warren!
You are right. It is a perfect song. Brilliant. The guitar solo at the end, EPIC.
Prologue-Running Hard-Black Flame-Mother Russia-A Trip To The Fair-Midas Man-Can You Understand?-A Song For All Seasons-The Flood At Lyon(leeown)-The Discovery(instrumental)
I love it when someone discovers Renaissance. Great commentary. I first saw Renaissance in 1977 while I was in high school. Saw them over 20 times in the 70s and 80s. Fast forward to 2018, my wife and youngest son saw Annie and the band for the first time and finally understand when I've said this is a band that you have to see live to appreciate. Did it again in Nov 2019. Timeless, still the same. Great band, gorgeous music and you're left feeling like you came closer to heaven than ever before.
the electric guitar solo on this song was played by Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash ... Renaissance and Wishbone Ash had the same manager
love that guitar solo. it took on a procol harum feel.
They were a popular band in the Northeast USA back in the day. Her ability to soooooo clearly articulate her vocals with amazingly clean range was amazing, as was her beautifully graceful stage presence. They were special.
I'm so impressed with your respect & actually liking these kind of songs from this particular era, if only more young people embraced these songs, even with social media it isn't always apparent, but kudos to you, happy listening!
Ty Doug!
An epic, amongst the best progressive rock songs ever produced!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎹🎤☮️❤️👍🏻
Now you know how we all felt hearing it for the first time in 1973 after pulling the plastic wrap off the record cover. But first we were treated to Can You Understand?, Let it Grow, On the Frontier, SIDE 1 and Carpet of the Sun and At the Harbor SIDE 2, before getting totally blown away by Ashes. This was an album that deserves listening from beginning to end with eyes closed and totally relaxed.
I love Annie Haslam's voice. AAB is probably their best album. John Tout was a great pianist too.
Always liked this band....they were an equal blend of rock, classical, jazz and folk. And yes, Anne's voice was nothing short of stunning. Nice job....thanks.
Annie's voice in those last two verses - goosebumps on my goosebumps!
I just discovered this channel and the other one with your partner a couple days ago when I was doing a search for a live video of Firth of Fifth. I love this. Have spent the past two days going through the archives and catching up. Anyway, I got onto Renaissance in 1973 when I saw them as an opening act to Wishbone Ash. I was floored, immediately bought Ashes Are Burning album, which had recently been released, and fell in love. The guitar solo at the end of the title track was played by guest performer Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash. At that time, Ash had just released the album Argus, which has stood as their masterpiece album. Check out the opening track of Argus, "Time Was."
Ty so much Scott! Glad you're enjoying the videos. I'll actually have some Wishbone in the nearish future
Andy Powell's guest solo here was returning the favour of John Tout playing keyboard on WA's Argus album.
Such a pure voice and great musicians.. they have many great songs but never really got the coverage they deserved.
The guitar solo on this track was played by Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash. Amazing player and a beautiful track
Now listen to the live version with Annie 's solo voice at the end...the most amazing solo ever in rock history
This is an underrated band!
I used to be a fan of the Yardbirds, so I remember being surprised when they broke up and part of the band formed Led Zeppelin and part of the band formed Renaissance. Such different styles of music. No wonder they broke up. Renaissance did two albums before Annie Haslam joined the band to record "Prologue".
I absolutely share your enthusiasm for this track and love the fact that it was jam packed with interest from beginning to end. I've wondered if Renaissance aren't spoken of in the same breath as some of the other greats of prog because they have a woman lead singing but looking at other comments there's obviously loads of love out there for Annie Haslam which I share.
As great as this track is, as the bands live show piece it was beyond anything else. What I still love about all this old prog is that the bands truly dlivered stellar performances live. Yes, I was fortunate enough to Renaissance live (unfortunately only once0.
Me 2! 70s, Seattle
You have a beautiful combination of great talented musicians in this band.
👍👍👏 thoroughly enjoyed this one .... thank you! May I have another?
Always
They were amazing master musicians and among the top 5 Symphonic progressive rock songs in existence!
It is impossible to hear this and not feel good! 👏👏👏
This is true!
MORE British brilliance from that era.
Huge in their homeland as a folk band essentially that crossed over into rock,prog,classical even if you listen to the structure and were EVEN BETTER live.
Saw them support Steeleye Span (another legendary English folk band) and they were magnificent.
The outro chord pattern is the same as "All Along The Watchtower" and "Stairway To Heaven". It amuses me no end to interpose THAT guitar solo and switch up the vocal styles of Dylan, Haslam, Hendrix, and Plant, and ALL the lyrics.
Just saw your reaction. Yes, you got it correct...it's every member of the band that makes the song perfect.....not just one or two members and the rest replaceable fill-ins. I have been following Renaissance since my college days in the 70's and am glad you have discovered them.
Scheherazad is most decidedly underappreciated - a masterwork that few bands have ever come close to.
Good to see a new generation discovering what us older farts grew up with - musicianship at its finest.
Andy Powell (of Wishbone Ash) guests on the guitar solo. Superb!
Whaou! It's also a first moment for me. It was incredibly enjoyable to hear. And thank to you for the sound quality of the music in your channel.
Awesome! And ty, I'm glad it all sounds good :)
Dude, I haven't heard this song in over 40 years. Yet, the lyrics, the songs direction and structure was all coming back as it played. Long lost memory cells were coming back to life. Thanks so much for doing this. Still don't know what the heck she's singing about. Maybe consider looking into Carpets of the Sun or Mother Russia.
When I first heard the guitar solo it really reminded me of Wishbone Ash. Later I discovered that the guitar on the album version was played by guest guitarist Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash!
Great song, and great breakdown of it. Thanks. I recommend another of theirs: "Can You Understand"
Renaissance, the last Unicorn and Lord of the Rings. My youth was Fantasy . (not to forget David Eddings the Maloreon and the Belgariad Saga.)
Loved your reaction, it is my favorite. Renaissance and Yes are tied for my favorite band, so I was trilled you have reacted to them. I am surprised you never mentioned the harpsichord featured, which is the type of thing that makes Renaissance so unique. I fell in love with Annie, not just her voice, but her stage presence as well. I would still rate it as my favorite concert, which I saw in 1974 in Nashville.
He did highlight that transition the most, though. You could tell that passage really blew him away. Thatcher and Michael Dunford wrote so many of these classics, that would seem as though it would take a team of classical music composers.
One of my absolute favourites - and this since first listening to the Live at Carnegie Hall album way back in the 70's. So great, so mysterious. Listen to their Novella album, its even better.
Thank so much JP, you really did justice to this epic song by Renaissance. Let's hope more fans will appreciate it, and then get into other compositions of theirs! So encouraging to see the younger generation delving into music from half a century ago (ps. I am 66). Many thanks again!
Ty so much Antonio!
The guitar solo is by Andy Powell from wishbone ash
So fantastic that you have selected such a fine band and piece of music to review. I couldn't agree more with what you say and indeed couldn't have put it better myself. Superb band and superb video. Many thanks 👍
I am so glad that you're appreciating Renaissance. They've been a favorite of mine since about 77-78 when I discovered them. Unusually for prog groups, the guitar is almost always acoustic (the ending solo is unusual for them) and most of the lead licks are taken by the bass. Rather than guitar/synth/drums, the core of the group was bass/voice/piano. It created such a different structure that nothing else has ever sounded like this.
May 10, 1974. Miami Jai Alai Fronton. I went to see Procol Harum, with Dave Mason backing them and Renaissance on their Turn of the Cards tour as the opener. I had never heard of Renaissance but was totally amazed and a fan from the first moment. It was pure magic, with a barefoot Annie swaying in her white dress, the band crisp and tight, and we were all, as you said, mesmerized. Poor Dave Mason was booed off the stage after that; you just can't follow them with a singer/songwriter guitarist. Procol Harum managed to entertain the crowd, but all anyone talked about was Renaissance.
I recognized the look on your face as you listened. The word is entranced. You went where they took you, and were happy to be on the journey. That's their strength, even after you have listened to the song a hundred times, their music still draws you in and captures you, until it is done. If you haven't already, listen to Prologue, Mother Russia, and Can You Understand.
One of my favs since I was 12, still listening to in (I have it on my phone!)
I don't recall ever being aware of them but will try to check out more. That was great. Much appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed it
Completely agree with this whole review. Renaissance is a truly underrated band that deserves its place among the pioneering greats of that 1970s golden age of prog. This is probably my favorite Renaissance song, although they have so many great songs that it's sometimes hard to choose. But it's usually the one I play for people to introduce them to the band. It is great hearing them play this live as they extended the jam sections considerably and featured awesome bass guitar and keyboard solos. the version on King Biscuit Flower Hour Live was 30 mins long! The only thing missing from the live versions is Andy Powell's guitar solo at the end. Andy Powell (of Wishbone Ash) was a guest musician on the album version of the song and he didn't tour with the band. The band's main guitarist and primary songwriter, Michael Dunford, was an acoustic guitar player and rarely played electric guitar which is one of the reasons why the band has such a folky acoustic sound. But they make up for the lack of the electric guitar solo live with Annie's amazing beautiful vocalizations.
FYI Jon Tout plays keyboard on Wishbone Ash's Argus album, there was a symbiosis there at that time.
Great analysis as usual. IMO one of the most underrated bands and vocalist. Annie has to be one of the greatest female lead singers. If you really enjoy hearing driving piano played over bass then give the 2nd track off of ELP’s 1st album, “Take a Pebble”. That track has some similarities to Renaissance’s sound instrumental sound.
Ty Jm! Itll probably be my next ELP track
One of their greatest - together with "black flame" from Turn of the Cards(my faforit album wich also includes "mother russia"). Love all theire records in the 70s until "A Song for All Seasons" 78 , yes I like the early stuff without Annie Too.... - the more pop stuff in the late 70 and 80s sounds like another band - and after the "we try to sound like back than but it does not work" Tuscany I lost the interesst
The early stuff without Annie WAS a different band really - the membership totally changed. The old members went on to create the band Illusion, also rather good.
So glad you are listening to Renaissance!! I absolutely love their music. Have you heard Midas Man yet?
Ty Val! Don't think ive heard that one yet
Oh JP, back when this dropped even the prog crowd weren't sure what to make of the classical fusion...Annie Haslem oh my gods...and the live version from Carnegie Hall has one of the best bass solos of the time, and it still holds water. Thanks again for your willingness to jump in the deep end!
Great band, very prog and very unique. Annie did a version of Turn of the Century with Steve Howe that was very pretty. You can find it on UA-cam. Thanks mate, for making such interesting content.
Ty Dire! Yup, I got mentioned it and linked it in the description; its REALLY good
Forgot to say thanks for reacting to this fantastic song. Your USP is your willingness to react to bands that are outside the norm of the other reactors. Great analysis, as always thoughtful, insightful, intelligent and articulate. Oh, and interesting!
Thank you so much for that!
I remember seeing them live back in the day and they were mesmerising. I love their live at Carnegie Hall album showing mastery of their instruments with the orchestral embellishment. Annie is always perfection. P.s. a short and sweet song with Annie singing beautifully is ‘Captive Heart’ from the Novella album.
I got accustomed to Renaissance the first time I heard them in the 70's. My son discovered them from my CD/Album collection in the 90's and commented "wow, this band is really excellent".
I actually just recommended this song a couple of days ago, probably after you recorded this reaction. Great minds think alike? I’m glad you enjoyed it. And, I’m glad that you mentioned listening to the live version. On the live Carnegie Hall album this song is stretched out to a full album side. If you’re up for an extended bass solo and more of Annie “showing off”, you’ll enjoy it. I think that this piece shows bassist Camp at his best. Listeners who enjoy Chris Squire’s melodic, pick style of playing, typically enjoy Camp’s playing as well. Tout’s classical leanings fit well with this band. I just wish that there were better live videos from their halcyon days in the mid-70’s
Haha, yes probably (that happens so often believe it or not!) Ty as always rtw
you should revisit this from their LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL album of this song with the amazing bass solo.
Came to this one late, but the combination of Renaissance and you was irresistible. What an incredible track. If you lock at the structure and flow, this could be a Pink Floyd song with Annie in place of David on vocals, and the guitar/keyboard outro really brought me Gilmour/Wright vibes. Loved it, and your analysis.
I love Renaissance and my favourite album is “Novella”. Try it when you get chance 😃
I'm a big Renaissance fan in the UK. I hope that you got around to hearing one of the better live versions of this song, which has been used as an extended encore for many years. The bands best album in my view was Turn Of The Cards. If you haven't already heard it, give it a listen, especially Mother Russia & Black Flame.
Thank you so much Dave :) Love the Carnegie Hall performance. And yes; I've done both those songs as well; beautiful!
Wow--this is a day-maker on 2 levels--First, your genuine & spontaneously honest appreciation of this incredible piece of music (& not only because it reflects with my own), and second, your contextually being spot-on regarding Renaissance's deserved place among the Prog music world. First time viewer to your channel. You've really done a service to us music lovers. (I remember hearing this for the very first time on the 'Carnegie Hall' live vinyl back in the early 80s, & it blew me away.) Thanks, JP.
Ty so much Doug!!
@@JustJP You're welcome
3 years later, but I hope you did listen to the Carnegie Hall version. It's out of this world! And if you liked "Scheherazade", the same concert has an incredible version of it, too. And "Running Hard", from "Turn of the Cards", which is another one of their best accomplishments.
Fantastic band, that I first heard on (of all things) John Peel's radio programme on the BBC just before he 'discovered' punk... saw them three times in their pomp, and once more recently. The guitar at the end of this track is by Andy Powell, from Wishbone Ash - they shared management (Miles Copeland III) at the time. Thanks for the reminder!
You MUST hear the live version of this song on the Live at Carnegie Hall album. 23 minutes long with an incredible bass solo by Jon Camp and Annie's scat singing replacing Andy Powell's guitar solo at the end.
I saw them live in the early '80's in a small punk rock club in Madison, WI. I knew almost nothing about them, but decided to check them out, almost on a whim. I didn't know what to expect--but what I definitely didn't expect was to be blown away by them! The club was pretty packed, and Renaissance seemed to cast a magical spell over everyone. I still rank it as one the best concerts or gigs I'd ever experienced.
A little trivia: I didn't know it back then, but Renaissance was one of the bands founded by former members of the Yardbirds (Keith Relf and Jim McCarty). The Yardbirds also "gave birth to" Cream, Led Zeppelin, the Jeff Beck Group, Armageddon (also co-founded by Keith Relf) and other bands. The collapse of the Yardbirds was like a rock 'n' roll supernova, lol.
Also, both Jon Camp and Chris Squire played were masters of the Rickenbacker Bass Guitar.
And, Bryan, don't forget the mighty John Entwistle who, greatly influenced both Camp and Squire with his very prominent trebly tone and long fast lines up and down the fretboard, particularly in a live setting onstage. Now, as for Camp and Squire, the latter bassist has long been recognized by so many as one of (if not number one) the best ever, whereas Camp is, and was, vastly underrated, mostly due to the fact that the great Renaissance never achieved anything near the type of "commercial success" that say, Entwistle's and Squire's respective bands did.
I've heard this one three times since you posted it and I think it's really excellent! The weird thing is I don't recall it at all. Having seen Renaissance twice in the 70s when I was at college in Bolton (Annie's home town) it was surely on their playlist. I have the album Turn of the Cards, so I guess I'll be blowing the dust off it!
Like many here I love this but prefer the version from "Live at Carnegie Hall". If you like this, try "A Song For All Seasons" from the same titled album too. Absolutely gorgeous song as well. Definitely a MUST-LISTEN!!! And "Day Of The Dreamer" is an equally sumptuous song from the same album. I started listening to them with "Live at Carnegie Hall". So lucky to grow up in those days with this double live album, "Seconds Out" from Genesis, "Live Tapes" from Barclay James Harvest, "Live Dates" by Wishbone Ash and of course the triple "Yessongs" by Yes and "Wings Over America" from Paul McCartney and Wings. All are still played often :-)
I’ve always enjoyed the opening track to this album “Can You Understand”, I’d recommend you check it out!
"Can You Understand" is one of my favorite Renaissance tracks. It is always the first one that comes to mind when I think of Renaissance.
That was cool. Loved it!
And I agree... they seem always to be missed out on lists of 70s prog.
From my own experience, my brother got me into 70s prog rock when I was very young (it was playing in the background all the time, so I can't even say when I started to like it). He introduced me to all the classics but never this band. And I don't think it's because he wouldn't have liked it.
Strange indeed.
Glad you enjoyed it!
A must for everyone. Listen to the Live At Carnegie Hall version. The audience goes ballistic at the end. Jon Camp's excellent Bass Solo as Lead instrument!!!!
If you liked this song, you have to hear the live version from Carnegie Hall. Now, the electric guitars on the album were done by a guest guitarist, so not having someone to play that part live, well, you have to hear how they solved the lack of the instrument. Now, the only thing is, it's been extended to over 24 min, with a jamming section in the middle.
Thank you for this, great reaction. Why aren't Renaissance and Annie not on everyones' lists.
This is a great reaction video, well done JustJP, thanks again from a (very) long time Renaissance/Haslam fan.
Ty so much Mark!
excellent video on this beloved special brand of music, they were a blast back in the days, and that album was a huge success here in Brazil, especially the two fire hits that played all around the TV and radios, "Carpet of the Sun and Let it Go, beautiful more 'accessible' ballads. Annie haslam has been a regular artist to come down the tropics during her solo career and also convinced the band to come, and I was glad... She's recorded a solo live album here called Under Brazilian Skies, btw. Keep up the good music! Kudos
Can You Hear Me, Mother Russia, Can You Understand, Northern Lights.....Annie Haslam has the voice of an angel - matched later by Loreena McKennitt and today, a select few European songstresses - Charlotte Wessels (Delain) - April Rain, See Me In Shadow: Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation) - Memories, All I need
Dude! Renaissance! You played Renaissance! You are my favorite person right now. I saw these guys live in a little place in San Diego, The Bacchanal. We were on the back row and still barely thirty feet away. What a great night that was. Gonna say this again -- you are awesome. Carry on, Justin.
What a VOICE, bring me years After 50 years
This album and Turn of the Cards are my favorite. I've seen her live three times, so good.
The story of Renaissance is tied with the Yardbirds. Besides being the band that gave us three extraordinary guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page; it is also responsible for the birth of Renaissance and Led Zeppelin. The last formation of the Yardbirds has Keith Relf, Chris Dreja, Jimmy Page and Jim McCarty. As you all know, Page went and formed Led Zeppelin. Chris Dreja became a professional photographer while Relf and McCarty went on to form Renaissance. The lead singer was Keith Relf's younger sister Jane Relf and their two albums Renaissance (1969) and Illusion (1971) are very much the blueprint for the sound the band would be famous for as it continued without them. Besides contributing with her beautiful voice, Jane Relf is responsible for bringing in Betty Thatcher as a lyricist for the band. Various disagreements during the recording of their second album lead to everyone walking away before the album was released. Drummer Jim McCarty tried to pick up up the pieces with new musicians, in what later would be called 'the transitional line-ups'. He either left or was asked to leave before the band was reformed yet again, now with new management, becoming what is considered their classic line-up with which began the recording of Prologue (1972). McCarty returns on Ashes Are Burning (1973) featured as a guest musician in the band he helped create and name. Renaissance gained worldwide fame with this second incarnation and the voice of Annie Haslam, which is why few people know or make the connection with The Yardbirds, but there you are. As an FYI, Jim McCarty and Jane Relf along with some of the other original members of Renaissance (John Hawken & Louis Cennamo) reformed in 1976 under the name Illusion and released three albums Out Of The Mist (1977), Illusion (1978) and Enchanted Caress (1979).