What do you think of Renaissance?

laboitenoire · #1 12-09-2007, 07:23 PM

Well, the title says it all. What do you think of the 70s/80s art rock band Renaissance. I'm talking about the later lineup (the one that actually was vaguely popular), which was:

Annie Haslam (vocals)
Michael Dunford (acoustic guitar)
John Tout (piano)
Jon Camp (bass/vocals)
Terrence Sullivan (drums)

I've got Tales of 1001 Nights, vols. I and II, and every time I listen to them, I notice something different... I personally think their bassist is amazing (especially on the Prologue to Vol. I).

So, thoughts?

dls59 · #2 12-09-2007, 08:30 PM

Great band -- one of my favorites. I have several old LPs and a couple CDs. Camp was a phenominal "lead bass" player. "Carpet of the Sun" is my favorite Renaissance song, but there are so many good ones.

Rusty Chainsaw · #3 12-10-2007, 05:10 AM

The singer from my old band's dad, Neil Korner, played bass for them in one of their earlier incarnations. Good band. My old band even covered Northern Lights very early on.

Michael Jewels · #4 12-10-2007, 09:17 PM

Yeah, I like Renaissance. I got into them back in the late 70s. I always put them in the same category as Genesis.

Who can forget Mother Russia? www.youtube.com/watch?v=matvJEWAgeg Warning:10 minute depressing video.

My favorite album of theirs is Novella.

There's a good song on there entitled, "The Sisters".

Mike

funkalicious101 · #5 12-11-2007, 05:28 PM

Wow, I am sure glad I stubled across this thread.

I clicked on it with the intent of posting "Its okay, but I am definately more of a baroque guy"

But when I listened to some of their songs I was blown away. Thanks for making this thread Laboitenoire.

BobXboB · #6 12-12-2007, 06:44 AM

I saw them around 1981, great show.

rtav · #7 05-23-2009, 02:12 PM

I am a huge Renaissance fan, since about 1979. I've got all their stuff since Prologue, including the confusing hodge podge of Renaissance recordings of late.

Some of their stuff just didn't click for me (especially from Azur D'Or on), and while I liked Jon Camp's musicality and he could do some beautiful bass harmony lines ("Love Theme" from Scheherazade, the slow break in "Day of the Dreamer"), he seemed to have a tendency to overplay, leaving the rhythm section sounding unnecessarily thin.

The band's best feature was Annie's voice - incredible range, perfect sustain, all in all a beautiful voice - full, elegant, and never pitchy. Some of the band's work is stellar (Scheherazade, Novella, Turn of the Cards), some of it is not quite so great (Prologue, Only Angels Have Wings, Secret Mission, She is Love).

I think that they're weakest link was the lyrics when Betty Thatcher wasn't writing them... some of Jon's lyrics make me cringe and turn off the music, which is a shame, because when Renaissance is good, they are wonderful.

smaughazard · #8 05-24-2009, 09:05 PM

Annie Haslem is one of prog rock's best female voices.

I've always been partial to "Black Flame" from Turn of the Cards, but their version of Paul Simon's "America" is excellent, too.

WashburnBasser · #9 05-25-2009, 08:36 PM

Cool band, just checked them out!

KJung · #10 05-26-2009, 06:21 AM

We always described them as 'what Yes would sound like if the guys in the band couldn't really play'

I saw them at the Mississippi River Festival sometime in the 70's. Jean Luc Ponte opened for them and just burned. They came out, and two thirds of the audience left by the end of the first song.

Second tier prog band at best. It always used to bum me out that the bass player played a Ric and dressed in those robes, etc. that Squire was wearing at that time.

IMO of course.

Hoover · #11 05-26-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

It always used to bum me out that the bass player played a Ric and dressed in those robes, etc. that Squire was wearing at that time.

In fairness, Jon Camp did admit that he was completely obsessed with Chris Squire...not that that absolves him of being a clone, just that it at least demonstrates that he wasn't in denial about his obsession.

I was really into Renaissance around 1975, saw them at the Felt Forum that year, owned Turn Of The Cards, Scheherezade, and Novella on vinyl. Used to think Camp was the shiznit, Haslem was the shiznit, and the rest of the band at least knew how to hold their own in a support role.

Some 20 years later I found the two Tales Of 1001 Nights compilations on CD for like $5 each and bought 'em, and listening again after all those years was struck by several things:

1) their compositions, admitedly heavily influenced (almost to the point of plagarism) by late 19th century romantic composers, were harmonically gorgeous, lush, evocative.

2) .....and yet in practice most of their tunes wound up sounding like outtakes from off-Broadway musical theater.

3) Annie Haslem was not nearly as good as she originally seemed. Sorry, she was pitchy, and her voice took on a reedy quality in its upper range that would have gotten her tossed out of any half-assed junior college choir.

4) Jon Camp was indeed a devout disciple of the School Of Chris Squire...but he was really freakin' good at it. Second best Rick 4001 tone on record ever.

Illbay · #12 05-26-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laboitenoire

Well, the title says it all. What do you think of the 70s/80s art rock band Renaissance.

I really got into 'em back in the "Mother Russia" period (early 70s). They sort of slid out of my consciousness shortly after, but a couple of years back I "collected" several of there releases from Rhapsody.