Annie's voice is heart-gripping. And the most astounding thing is, they were able to perform this 1:1 on stage, as proven on their album "Live at Carnegy Hall". Absolutely phantastic.
The fact that somebody could conceive something like this and then write it all out and have it sounding so epic to me is just mind blowing. This isn't a song, this is a music adventure.
"He would vow to love her for the rest of all his dayssssssssssssssss....................." I have loved Annie voice now for nearly 50 years. Luckily I saw Renaissance in concert 3 times during their prime. Absolutely one of my favorite groups of the era! This album is an absolute masterpiece. Thanks for the reaction Jim.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this amazing album. Renaissance is my all time e favorite band. As far as an adaptation of Scherazade, guitarist Michael Dunford brought a full stage musical to the London stage.
Renaissance is a unique band in the world of progressive rock. For their greatest songs, they chose to compose music for a large orchestra in which the instruments of a rock band fit perfectly. The choice not to integrate electric guitar sounds is wise when composing such soft and evocative melodies. The power of the orchestra and its classical arrangements almost make us forget that we can rock without electric guitars. Jim, as you suggest in the video, I hope you will tell us what someone, like your sister, from the classical music world thinks of this work. For the sequel, I encourage you to listen to Ashes are Burning, one of the band's fan favorite song. For my part, in a more progressive rock perspective, I suggest you listen to Can You Hear Me from their album Novella or the majestic Opening Out/Day Of The Dreamer suite and their other and last masterpiece A Song For All Seasons. Many thanks Jim. You made my day.
Hi Jim. I completely agree with your analyse at the end. A shame some radios don't pay more attention to prog-rock like this here. I think on our french radio station devoted to musique which concentrate on classical and jazz. I really go angry that they don't give a damn to prog. If other French people read this: we should make a petition to change this !!
Annie Haslam received vocal training from an opera singer, performed in nightclubs and answered an ad for a female vocalist, and then she was the front person for Renaissance. A Cinderella story that she more than lived up to, she excelled in every way, shape and form. She can and does sing in four octaves and could well have been an opera singer had she chose to do so.
Renaissance and The Moody Blues always had the most complete orchestral integration of the prog era. Whoever was doing the arranging obviously knew how to handle all the tonal colors, not just string flourishes.
Thanks Jim, Renaissance music often moves me to tears even after 47 years of listening! Your sister will recognise the name 'Scheherazade' as it is a well known symphonic suite of 4 movements written by Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov, in the 1880's I think, and based on the same 'Tales of One Thousand and One Nights'. However there is very little in common melodically or musically with Renaissance's piece apart from an occasional phrase that seems similar. Another interesting fact is that Tony Cox, who did the classical arrangements, also did the same on the second Yes album 'Time And A Word'.
Musical Theatre is a a great way of describing it. You can't capture 1001 nights in an album side, but this was amazing. Have to harken back to Days of Future Passed and the Moody Blues for origins.
Once again, anytime you're up for Renaissance, my all-time favorite band, I'm there. Thanks for playing them. This album was way over the top orchestrally. And that is great! Not sure it's a better album than Turn of the Cards, just a bit different. For those who love a symphony and a story, it's hard to beat. You mentioned early in the album how much you liked the synthesizer you heard. Their next album, Novella, had a lot of that. Novella is my favorite album of this band. You will be brought to tears in the song The Sisters - my favorite song of all time. Hope you will give this album a spin. I KNOW you will love it - maybe even more.
Thanks for more Annie & Co.! "Live at Carnegie Hall" came out at this time, and features the orchestra. This is their sweet spot, and magical. And Annie is even more intense.
Some songs bring a joyous tear to my eyes, this one of them. What a glorious band. Hard to believe they were started from 2 original members of the Yardbirds. I love grand endings. This ending is right up there with Suppers Ready, Genesis and East Coast Racer, Big Big Train. More of this for this Texas boy! Great work Jim!!
Jim, when you do get to listen to the Live at Carnegie Hall album, you will find that 2 of the 4 album sides were recorded with the New York Philharmonic, and that the other 2 sides were just the band. What they did during the concert was start with just the band, brought the orchestra in for a number of numbers (including Scheherazade), then the band alone finished with their traditional encore, a tour de force 23 minute version of Ashes Are Burning, featuring an amazing bass solo from Jon Camp and Annie replacing Andy Powell’s guitar solo from the studio album with her own vocal stylings.
One of the things I haven't seen anyone comment on yet (probably surface level knowledge for most listening), is that the chorus chord progression is the exact one found in Rimsky-Korsakoffs classical piece 'Scheherazade'! I often hum it because it fits so clucking well! So I highly doubt your sister wont be able to appreciate it! E4 B3 D4 C4 B3 G3 A#3 F#3 Absolute masterpiece!!
@geitekop507 nice humble brag! Make people feel stupid so you can feel superior. Either that or you really need to work on your communication skills. I have both problems and wish you well on your journey.
Hadn't even heard of this band until you did Turn of the Cards, but swiftly picked that album up (and a Song for All Seasons) soon after, and am sure this and Ashes Are Burning will join the collection soon too (basically as soon as I can justify buying a Xmas present for meself, hello boxing day...?). Nicer to listen with you than preview stuff on Spotify, keep it up!
Although in her mid 70s, she still tours. She moved to the USA and resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania which is only about a 3 hour drive for me. I am so glad you decided to do this, and, by the way, the record is in excellent condition! Thank you for doing this. Perhaps, even if you don't do their live album "‘Live’ At Carnegie Hall" on your channel, I think you'll find it a real treat for you ears and mind!
I always find it funny how people who live in a very big country describe a three hour drive as “only”!!! That’s a major expedition in the UK, requiring overnight accommodation and a pit stop along the way!
I must also recommend another band and album from 2013, since we're on the subject of rock with orchestra. Orphaned Landis the band. All is One is the album. I can't help but think it will also be an all-time favorite of yours. Just incredible......
Jim, you hit on the one thing that sets Renaissance apart from other top 70's prog bands. Some of those groups did incorporate orchestral elements into their music (Yes' Time and a Word, for example), but nobody did it as deeply and fully as Renaissance. You're also right that it meant the band had a harder time being recognized for their individual talents because they were backed by such a huge symphonic ensemble. That's part of the reason I enjoy their later albums like Novella and Azure d' Or so much -- the individual band members shine much more brightly (although I agree Annie is sort of omni-present on all their records.) But for a band who built their entire brand on this kind of sound this album is rightly seen as the pinnacle of their career. It has elements of the orchestral moments on Alan Parsons Project albums, but you can also see how this gave rise to things like Mannheim Steamroller and Trans Siberian Orchestra. I do take issue with your characterization of musical theater as "corny". I don't consider Hamilton corny at all, for example. In fact, I'll bet if you played this for some young people today they'd call THIS corny. It's all a matter of taste and perspective.
We should keep in mind that this album was released in 1975, eight years after Days of Future Passed and five years after Time and A Word. Incorporating the music of a rock band along with a full orchestra took leaps in the three years from DoFP to TaAW, and again in the five years from TaAW to Scheherazade and Other Stories, much to the benefit of Renaissance's output.
It’s all personal preference I guess, I find a lot of musical theatre very corny and cringey. That’s my experience and feeling about it. This doesn’t have that quality. Which is good!
If it's live band and orchestra you're looking for, then the Carnegie Hall album is what you need. It's also pretty cheap on the market which is nice. Further working off the theme of orchestras playing a large influence, you should also get a copy of Caravan & The New Symphonia. The band 'fuses' with the orchestra and the result is simply wonderful. Again, it shouldn't be very expensive to obtain. Both albums are absolute gold.
Jim, The reason Renaissance has a grip on the Tri-State area in America is because the progressive FM radio stations gave the time to play this kind of music. NY/NJ/PA. Walt
WNEW-FM’s Alison Steele (The Nightbird) was a particular proponent of Renaissance at the time. So much so that Annie, on her first solo album dedicated a song, Rockalise, to her.
The lead male vocal was Michael Dunford. Actually, years ago when I lived in New Orleans and used to go to the symphony there, a "buried in Classical Music" friend I had met during an intermission visited me one evening and I played this album along with Turn of the Cards for him and he liked Renaissance so much that he went out and bought Scheherazade in the next few days.
Just a correction, and not trolling. Jon Camp (bassist) is actually the lead male vocalist here. However, Michael does provide backing/supporting vocals at times though, as do John Tout (keyboardist) and Terry Sullivan (drummer) as well. I saw them perform a couple of times back in the 70's with this same line-up. You did your classical music friend a big favor by introducing him to Renaissance, as you certainly broadened his horizons. I can relate, as I introduced a huge Grateful Dead & Zappa fan friend of mine to Genesis (back in the day, before they became a super group). "Supper's Ready" blew him away. ha!
@@foxtrotnow I should've known, since looking back to the 1970s when I saw them live several times, Jon Camp did most of the talking between songs -- generally him or Annie. I introduce people to Renaissance, Yes and also Focus whenever the opportunity presents itself. 😁
@@sethrichardson9974 Yeah, same here, and two more wonderful groups as well. Big fan of them also. Their are so many great artists in progressive rock, and they have enriched me for a great portion of my life. Have had the privilege to see YES, Focus, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Nektar, and others back in the day. More recently (2001 and forward) Porcupine Tree, Pallas, Flower Kings, Riverside and Marillion. 😊
@@foxtrotnow I saw several of them also, also ELP and Tull, and a German ProgRock trio called Triumvirat when they toured their first album. Those were great years for music.
@@sethrichardson9974 Loved Triumvirat! Never had the chance to see them here in the U.S., but have a few of their albums. "Spartacus" is probably my favorite. Yes, those were great years for music indeed. 👍
Jim, It was a JOY to see your reaction and deep heartfelt appreciation for this band. I had the the joy of seeing them twice in their hey day. I wish I had seen the Carnegie Hall shows with full orchestra but at least they were smart enough to record it for a double live record. I also love that you also noticed John Camps bass playing because it's as critical to their sound as Annie's voice is. And lets not forget how great a Rickenbacker bass sounds when played like he does. Down the road I recommend you listen to the "Opening Out suite (as I call it) from the album "A Song For All Seasons". the first 2 songs go together even though it's not presented that way in the album, so it's "Opening Out" followed by "Day of the Dreamer". It's a good album in general but these 2 songs listened together are standouts and stellar. Also the title track is also worth a listen but for sure try and get to the "Opening Out" suit, it will fill you with all the Renaissance pomp we love as well as some hauntingly beautiful sections highlighted with some of Annie's best vocals. Ok that's it, keep up the great work!
Turn your sister on to this, you might be surprised. I've learned this by turning total Classical Music friends on to Renaissance, among other ProgRock groups. I say this as someone who grew up on Classical Music and opera who has introduced Classical Music only types to Prog.
Annie still tours as Renaissance and is almost as good as ever - the recent Grandine il Vento/Symphony of Light is excellent but best avoid anything released in the 80s. I don't think it's musical theatre but definitely merits the 'symphonic prog' title. Others have recommended the 'Live at Carnegie Hall' album and I second that - it contains the definitive version of 'Ashes are Burning'. Finally, I shared a few words with Annie about 8 years ago and she remains a beautiful delightful woman.
Live at Carnegie hall is a great album by them, they do they do all of this long piece, next I would recommend Ashes are burning or Novella two really great albums.
if you're enjoy what you're watching, please send care packages to Jim's po box but they will never arrive.......... LOL thank you for sharing wonderful music, I enjoy what I'm watching !
Gabie, it will get there eventually. My one parcel, which, as Jim says in the unboxing, is what prompted him to get a PO Box in the first place took months to arrive. I believe I sent it in February, and he finally received it in April. Patience, Padawan. 😉
@@IllumeEltanin thank you for giving me hope. I sent Jim a birthday gift on september 17th and his b-day is coming next week, maybe he will get lucky next monday at the post office
Pleasent.... reminds me of Benjamin Britten's work in general feel. And that, to my mind, is a bit of the issue here in the UK. Orchestrated works were big in the UK in '40, '50s - so the likes of me had to sit through many hours of stuff like this in school. And appreciate it, as it was "modern". All very nice, but did OD several times over. Turn on the radio in late '60's and on - and hear much, much more exciting stuff! Stuff with dynamics, drive, tempo changes - stuff not like what we were made to sit through in school... The audience of the day, in UK, was rather burnt out and not looking for more of this sytle.
A real shame you were surrounded by idiots with bad advice in your formative years. At least now you can now catch up with lost time. There was probably also a deliberate stunting of people here as well, but I had disengaged from all popular everything in the '80s, and continued with the progressive evolution kickstarted by the geniuses you now discover. The regressive music that came along was a useful return to garage rawness, and the energy of subjective immediacy, but that too has a limit, and rarely produced anything approaching this level of quality. I'm just the messenger here. All corrections welcome. Have you yet gone down the Dead Can Dance rabbit hole? Thanks again for this treat. I know all their songs by heart. This is special. To women, life, and freedom!
Your thoughts remind me of another UA-camr, Andy Edwards. He has been sharing his thoughts recently about prog music. If you haven't listened to him yet you should check him out.
Not sure it was just ME surrounded by musical gatekeepers…. It was endemic in my formative years, but I think the confidence of exploration comes with maturity and a feeling of nothing to prove. I’m happy hearing this music now, it’s the right time to find it.
There's always been something slightly off with her voice to me too and I have no Idea what it is,she's technically brilliant but something does grate, wish I could put my finger on what it is
Annie's voice is heart-gripping. And the most astounding thing is, they were able to perform this 1:1 on stage, as proven on their album "Live at Carnegy Hall". Absolutely phantastic.
The fact that somebody could conceive something like this and then write it all out and have it sounding so epic to me is just mind blowing. This isn't a song, this is a music adventure.
When Annie goes into the upper stratosphere, my goosebumps get goosebumps.
Masterpiece level. This is easily on par with the greatest prog-epics from the big ones.
"He would vow to love her for the rest of all his dayssssssssssssssss....................." I have loved Annie voice now for nearly 50 years. Luckily I saw Renaissance in concert 3 times during their prime. Absolutely one of my favorite groups of the era! This album is an absolute masterpiece. Thanks for the reaction Jim.
I think the word Jim was looking for is beautiful!
I'm so glad you enjoyed this amazing album. Renaissance is my all time e favorite band. As far as an adaptation of Scherazade, guitarist Michael Dunford brought a full stage musical to the London stage.
Renaissance is a unique band in the world of progressive rock. For their greatest songs, they chose to compose music for a large orchestra in which the instruments of a rock band fit perfectly. The choice not to integrate electric guitar sounds is wise when composing such soft and evocative melodies. The power of the orchestra and its classical arrangements almost make us forget that we can rock without electric guitars. Jim, as you suggest in the video, I hope you will tell us what someone, like your sister, from the classical music world thinks of this work. For the sequel, I encourage you to listen to Ashes are Burning, one of the band's fan favorite song. For my part, in a more progressive rock perspective, I suggest you listen to Can You Hear Me from their album Novella or the majestic Opening Out/Day Of The Dreamer suite and their other and last masterpiece A Song For All Seasons. Many thanks Jim. You made my day.
I made your day? Wow…. Mission accomplished!
Hi Jim. I completely agree with your analyse at the end. A shame some radios don't pay more attention to prog-rock like this here. I think on our french radio station devoted to musique which concentrate on classical and jazz. I really go angry that they don't give a damn to prog. If other French people read this: we should make a petition to change this !!
Jim, if you check out the Live at Carnegie Hall album, you will find amazing live versions of this and Ashes Are Burning plus many others
Amazing bass solo on the Ashes Are Burning, one of the best ever.
@@ericanderson8886 I put Jon Camp as probably one , if not the most underrated bass players. I put him up there with Squire and Entwistle
One of my all time favourite albums.
I have the album, it will be the next Renaissance I think.
@@JimNewstead thank you so much. I am looking forward to seeing it and your facial expressions if you have not listened to the live album
Annie Haslam received vocal training from an opera singer, performed in nightclubs and answered an ad for a female vocalist, and then she was the front person for Renaissance. A Cinderella story that she more than lived up to, she excelled in every way, shape and form. She can and does sing in four octaves and could well have been an opera singer had she chose to do so.
Renaissance and The Moody Blues always had the most complete orchestral integration of the prog era. Whoever was doing the arranging obviously knew how to handle all the tonal colors, not just string flourishes.
Thanks Jim, Renaissance music often moves me to tears even after 47 years of listening! Your sister will recognise the name 'Scheherazade' as it is a well known symphonic suite of 4 movements written by Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov, in the 1880's I think, and based on the same 'Tales of One Thousand and One Nights'. However there is very little in common melodically or musically with Renaissance's piece apart from an occasional phrase that seems similar. Another interesting fact is that Tony Cox, who did the classical arrangements, also did the same on the second Yes album 'Time And A Word'.
Musical Theatre is a a great way of describing it. You can't capture 1001 nights in an album side, but this was amazing. Have to harken back to Days of Future Passed and the Moody Blues for origins.
Once again, anytime you're up for Renaissance, my all-time favorite band, I'm there. Thanks for playing them. This album was way over the top orchestrally. And that is great! Not sure it's a better album than Turn of the Cards, just a bit different. For those who love a symphony and a story, it's hard to beat. You mentioned early in the album how much you liked the synthesizer you heard. Their next album, Novella, had a lot of that. Novella is my favorite album of this band. You will be brought to tears in the song The Sisters - my favorite song of all time. Hope you will give this album a spin. I KNOW you will love it - maybe even more.
Thanks for more Annie & Co.! "Live at Carnegie Hall" came out at this time, and features the orchestra. This is their sweet spot, and magical. And Annie is even more intense.
Some songs bring a joyous tear to my eyes, this one of them. What a glorious band. Hard to believe they were started from 2 original members of the Yardbirds. I love grand endings. This ending is right up there with Suppers Ready, Genesis and East Coast Racer, Big Big Train. More of this for this Texas boy! Great work Jim!!
Shout out for Big big Train Jim has promised to get to them
Thanks Steve 👍🏼😁
Jim, when you do get to listen to the Live at Carnegie Hall album, you will find that 2 of the 4 album sides were recorded with the New York Philharmonic, and that the other 2 sides were just the band. What they did during the concert was start with just the band, brought the orchestra in for a number of numbers (including Scheherazade), then the band alone finished with their traditional encore, a tour de force 23 minute version of Ashes Are Burning, featuring an amazing bass solo from Jon Camp and Annie replacing Andy Powell’s guitar solo from the studio album with her own vocal stylings.
This 'Sheheeraaazaaaadd' part is one of my most important influences, both as a musician and listener, of my life! Wonderful , Great Album/Music...
Many parts of this song remind me of Gershwin's An American in Paris in the way they paint a picture with the music.
Love Renaissance!!!! Incredible band.
😎
One of the things I haven't seen anyone comment on yet (probably surface level knowledge for most listening), is that the chorus chord progression is the exact one found in Rimsky-Korsakoffs classical piece 'Scheherazade'! I often hum it because it fits so clucking well!
So I highly doubt your sister wont be able to appreciate it!
E4 B3 D4 C4 B3 G3 A#3 F#3
Absolute masterpiece!!
@geitekop507 nice humble brag! Make people feel stupid so you can feel superior. Either that or you really need to work on your communication skills. I have both problems and wish you well on your journey.
@@tomratcliff3755
Lmao
@@geitekop507 I know, right?
I was born at the right time, I was listening to Jethro Tull, Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, Kansas, and of course Renaissance at a very young age.
Hadn't even heard of this band until you did Turn of the Cards, but swiftly picked that album up (and a Song for All Seasons) soon after, and am sure this and Ashes Are Burning will join the collection soon too (basically as soon as I can justify buying a Xmas present for meself, hello boxing day...?). Nicer to listen with you than preview stuff on Spotify, keep it up!
Hey Jim. Another terrible day yesterday. A friend of mine lost her husband after a long battle with illness. Prayers for Nancy and her family.🙏🙏🙏
I’m so sorry Jeff. You’re going through it a bit at the minute, huh? Thoughts with your friends and with you.
@@JimNewstead Thank you Jim.😔
Saw them perform this at Liverpool Uni in 1974 and was immediately captivated.
The other band on the bill was Caravan. All that for £1.50p!
Love your video. You should listen to Opening out and Day of the Dreamer together next!
Although in her mid 70s, she still tours. She moved to the USA and resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania which is only about a 3 hour drive for me. I am so glad you decided to do this, and, by the way, the record is in excellent condition! Thank you for doing this. Perhaps, even if you don't do their live album "‘Live’ At Carnegie Hall" on your channel, I think you'll find it a real treat for you ears and mind!
I always find it funny how people who live in a very big country describe a three hour drive as “only”!!! That’s a major expedition in the UK, requiring overnight accommodation and a pit stop along the way!
@@JimNewstead Lol!🤣🤣🤣
I must also recommend another band and album from 2013, since we're on the subject of rock with orchestra. Orphaned Landis the band. All is One is the album. I can't help but think it will also be an all-time favorite of yours. Just incredible......
Jim, you hit on the one thing that sets Renaissance apart from other top 70's prog bands. Some of those groups did incorporate orchestral elements into their music (Yes' Time and a Word, for example), but nobody did it as deeply and fully as Renaissance. You're also right that it meant the band had a harder time being recognized for their individual talents because they were backed by such a huge symphonic ensemble. That's part of the reason I enjoy their later albums like Novella and Azure d' Or so much -- the individual band members shine much more brightly (although I agree Annie is sort of omni-present on all their records.)
But for a band who built their entire brand on this kind of sound this album is rightly seen as the pinnacle of their career. It has elements of the orchestral moments on Alan Parsons Project albums, but you can also see how this gave rise to things like Mannheim Steamroller and Trans Siberian Orchestra.
I do take issue with your characterization of musical theater as "corny". I don't consider Hamilton corny at all, for example. In fact, I'll bet if you played this for some young people today they'd call THIS corny. It's all a matter of taste and perspective.
We should keep in mind that this album was released in 1975, eight years after Days of Future Passed and five years after Time and A Word. Incorporating the music of a rock band along with a full orchestra took leaps in the three years from DoFP to TaAW, and again in the five years from TaAW to Scheherazade and Other Stories, much to the benefit of Renaissance's output.
It’s all personal preference I guess, I find a lot of musical theatre very corny and cringey. That’s my experience and feeling about it. This doesn’t have that quality. Which is good!
If it's live band and orchestra you're looking for, then the Carnegie Hall album is what you need. It's also pretty cheap on the market which is nice.
Further working off the theme of orchestras playing a large influence, you should also get a copy of Caravan & The New Symphonia. The band 'fuses' with the orchestra and the result is simply wonderful. Again, it shouldn't be very expensive to obtain.
Both albums are absolute gold.
Love these... They were far more popular here than in England. Which is a bit odd since they're so English. Check out the Live album
Jim,
The reason Renaissance has a grip on the Tri-State area in America is because the progressive FM radio stations gave the time to play this kind of music. NY/NJ/PA. Walt
WNEW-FM’s Alison Steele (The Nightbird) was a particular proponent of Renaissance at the time. So much so that Annie, on her first solo album dedicated a song, Rockalise, to her.
The lead male vocal was Michael Dunford.
Actually, years ago when I lived in New Orleans and used to go to the symphony there, a "buried in Classical Music" friend I had met during an intermission visited me one evening and I played this album along with Turn of the Cards for him and he liked Renaissance so much that he went out and bought Scheherazade in the next few days.
Just a correction, and not trolling. Jon Camp (bassist) is actually the lead male vocalist here. However, Michael does provide backing/supporting vocals at times though, as do John Tout (keyboardist) and Terry Sullivan (drummer) as well. I saw them perform a couple of times back in the 70's with this same line-up. You did your classical music friend a big favor by introducing him to Renaissance, as you certainly broadened his horizons. I can relate, as I introduced a huge Grateful Dead & Zappa fan friend of mine to Genesis (back in the day, before they became a super group). "Supper's Ready" blew him away. ha!
@@foxtrotnow I should've known, since looking back to the 1970s when I saw them live several times, Jon Camp did most of the talking between songs -- generally him or Annie.
I introduce people to Renaissance, Yes and also Focus whenever the opportunity presents itself. 😁
@@sethrichardson9974 Yeah, same here, and two more wonderful groups as well. Big fan of them also. Their are so many great artists in progressive rock, and they have enriched me for a great portion of my life. Have had the privilege to see YES, Focus, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Nektar, and others back in the day. More recently (2001 and forward) Porcupine Tree, Pallas, Flower Kings, Riverside and Marillion. 😊
@@foxtrotnow I saw several of them also, also ELP and Tull, and a German ProgRock trio called Triumvirat when they toured their first album.
Those were great years for music.
@@sethrichardson9974 Loved Triumvirat! Never had the chance to see them here in the U.S., but have a few of their albums. "Spartacus" is probably my favorite.
Yes, those were great years for music indeed. 👍
Jim, It was a JOY to see your reaction and deep heartfelt appreciation for this band. I had the the joy of seeing them twice in their hey day. I wish I had seen the Carnegie Hall shows with full orchestra but at least they were smart enough to record it for a double live record. I also love that you also noticed John Camps bass playing because it's as critical to their sound as Annie's voice is. And lets not forget how great a Rickenbacker bass sounds when played like he does. Down the road I recommend you listen to the "Opening Out suite (as I call it) from the album "A Song For All Seasons". the first 2 songs go together even though it's not presented that way in the album, so it's "Opening Out" followed by "Day of the Dreamer". It's a good album in general but these 2 songs listened together are standouts and stellar. Also the title track is also worth a listen but for sure try and get to the "Opening Out" suit, it will fill you with all the Renaissance pomp we love as well as some hauntingly beautiful sections highlighted with some of Annie's best vocals. Ok that's it, keep up the great work!
Thank you!
Jim, Jon camp is singing some lead parts with Annie.
They and Procol Harum combined orchestra and rock band better than any other. Check out Procol Harum Live with The Edmundton Symphony Orchestra 👍🏻
Turn your sister on to this, you might be surprised. I've learned this by turning total Classical Music friends on to Renaissance, among other ProgRock groups.
I say this as someone who grew up on Classical Music and opera who has introduced Classical Music only types to Prog.
Annie still tours as Renaissance and is almost as good as ever - the recent Grandine il Vento/Symphony of Light is excellent but best avoid anything released in the 80s. I don't think it's musical theatre but definitely merits the 'symphonic prog' title. Others have recommended the 'Live at Carnegie Hall' album and I second that - it contains the definitive version of 'Ashes are Burning'. Finally, I shared a few words with Annie about 8 years ago and she remains a beautiful delightful woman.
Live at Carnegie hall is a great album by them, they do they do all of this long piece, next I would recommend Ashes are burning or Novella two really great albums.
Novella is criminally underrated...
@@monsieurlehigh4912 novella is my favourite
The live version on Carnegie Hall is even better
Hope this lead you to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov🙂The word your looking for is Renaissance🤫
if you're enjoy what you're watching, please send care packages to Jim's po box but they will never arrive.......... LOL thank you for sharing wonderful music, I enjoy what I'm watching !
Gabie, it will get there eventually. My one parcel, which, as Jim says in the unboxing, is what prompted him to get a PO Box in the first place took months to arrive. I believe I sent it in February, and he finally received it in April.
Patience, Padawan. 😉
@@IllumeEltanin thank you for giving me hope. I sent Jim a birthday gift on september 17th and his b-day is coming next week, maybe he will get lucky next monday at the post office
I’ll check again tomorrow
Hey Jim, don't you mean that Kate Bush has a similar register? Seems to me that this is several years before Kate started laying down tracks.
Annie's voice - more than of Kate Bush - reminds me of Steeleye Span's Maddy Prior; only softer, more ethereal than Maddy.
Jacqui McShee is the singer who sounds closer to Annie, I think, and Pentangle weren't too far from Renaissance.
Pleasent.... reminds me of Benjamin Britten's work in general feel.
And that, to my mind, is a bit of the issue here in the UK. Orchestrated works were big in the UK in '40, '50s - so the likes of me had to sit through many hours of stuff like this in school. And appreciate it, as it was "modern".
All very nice, but did OD several times over. Turn on the radio in late '60's and on - and hear much, much more exciting stuff! Stuff with dynamics, drive, tempo changes - stuff not like what we were made to sit through in school...
The audience of the day, in UK, was rather burnt out and not looking for more of this sytle.
And I think that’s why punk took off so successfully a couple of years later!
A real shame you were surrounded by idiots with bad advice in your formative years. At least now you can now catch up with lost time. There was probably also a deliberate stunting of people here as well, but I had disengaged from all popular everything in the '80s, and continued with the progressive evolution kickstarted by the geniuses you now discover. The regressive music that came along was a useful return to garage rawness, and the energy of subjective immediacy, but that too has a limit, and rarely produced anything approaching this level of quality. I'm just the messenger here. All corrections welcome. Have you yet gone down the Dead Can Dance rabbit hole? Thanks again for this treat. I know all their songs by heart. This is special. To women, life, and freedom!
Is the live version from Carnegie Hall of Ashes Are Burning next?
Your thoughts remind me of another UA-camr, Andy Edwards. He has been sharing his thoughts recently about prog music. If you haven't listened to him yet you should check him out.
@@stephaniethurmer5370 Oh yes, please!
@@dhfenske I only recently discovered Mr. Edwards, and look forward to delving more deeply into his offerings. Thanks man! Cheers!
Not sure it was just ME surrounded by musical gatekeepers…. It was endemic in my formative years, but I think the confidence of exploration comes with maturity and a feeling of nothing to prove. I’m happy hearing this music now, it’s the right time to find it.
why is this album not on Spotify?
It is! open.spotify.com/album/1D0uoLl9Uf7bfBQjJfmlHc?si=MAR01kdxSi2De0hIcghcEw
@@JimNewstead Strange, this album is not available in Brazil 😕
feed for the brain and imagination.
Is it just me (it surely is) or is it better when Annie isn't singing. Sorry, her voice is obviously good but it grates slightly, not sure why.
There's always been something slightly off with her voice to me too and I have no Idea what it is,she's technically brilliant but something does grate, wish I could put my finger on what it is
Is the the slightly nasal quality, a bit like Wuthering Heights?
Obviously there's audible distortion with the stylus especially at the inner part of the vinyl disc. Annie however sings like an angel. :-)