Why has Renaissance gone obscure? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Svetonio

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 07:49

criticdrummer94 wrote:

I've become a huge fan of this band recently and I'm wondering why this band was never as successful as Yes, Genesis or Pink Floyd?

Perhaps simply because the expressiveness of their songs can hardly compare with Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd

Aussie-Byrd-Brother View Drop Down

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 08:04

Why did Renaissance go obscure? I suppose the pompous nature and grandly symphonic arrangments of their music was not ever going to have been considered fairly `cool', and the modern trendies who write off the likes of groups like ELP, etc for those same qualities and as having the worst elements of the excesses that progressive rock often presented would likely throw Renaissance in that group.

But there should DEFINITELY be a proper Renaissance Appreciation Thread? Someone like to do the honours?

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 09:27

^ I think this is a good appreciation thread, with this title we'll have to keep posting stuff to prove they are not obscure Tongue

rogerthat

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 09:32

Meltdowner wrote:

^ I think this is a good appreciation thread, with this title we'll have to keep posting stuff to prove they are not obscure Tongue

I like that spirit! Clap

Anyway....to repeat a request I made in another thread, any reviews/footage from their concert at NJPAC? I am really curious about how it sounded with Moraz in the mix...well, what all did Moraz play anyway? It's really nice that the 'new' Renaissance get these interesting artists over for some of the shows. There was Mary Fahl last year and year before or in 2012, a violinist performed on Mother Russia.

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 10:41

^ I'd like to see that too, Moraz is an excellent musician Thumbs Up

O666

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 11:29

Who said they gone abscure? I don't think so. I like them as many of "Big Name" bands and I will pay for their new releases even their solo albums (if their release solo albums). I have a Magenta EP with Annie Haslam named : Night and Day. You can compare Haslam and Christina. Haslam is great and Amazing.

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=12893

Edited by O666 - October 18 2015 at 11:31

rogerthat

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 11:35

If by big name bands you are thinking of bands like Magenta, that kinda says it all, right? Renaissance were a whole other league in the 70s. They packed Carnegie Hall, they inaugurated the Sight & Sound series on BBC albeit with not one of their best shows, they had a top 10 single. Unfortunately in trying to vault to even greater heights post Northern Lights, they tripped pretty hard and have fallen a long way since.

Anyway, though the title says something, this is now a Renaissance appreciation thread for all practical purposes. So what are your favourite Ren albums? Smile

Edited by rogerthat - October 18 2015 at 11:37

Aussie-Byrd-Brother View Drop Down

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 11:55

Personal favourite Renaissance album? `Prologue'! Just because it `rocks' that little bit more than the albums that came after it, and I don't think there's a poor moment on the whole disc!

But I secretly adore most of `Azure D'Or'! They made plenty of better albums, but I love the careful balance of prog and pop throughout the entire disc, even if they amp up the Genesis elements, not surprisingly as David Hentschell was involved in the album if I recall? Even a lot of the drumming sounds right off `A Trick of the Tail/Wind and Wuthering'! Only the wretched `Only Angels Have Wings' lets it down for me, what a dog of a song!

O666

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 12:16

rogerthat wrote:

If by big name bands you are thinking of bands like Magenta, that kinda says it all, right? Renaissance were a whole other league in the 70s. They packed Carnegie Hall, they inaugurated the Sight & Sound series on BBC albeit with not one of their best shows, they had a top 10 single. Unfortunately in trying to vault to even greater heights post Northern Lights, they tripped pretty hard and have fallen a long way since.

Anyway, though the title says something, this is now a Renaissance appreciation thread for all practical purposes. So what are your favourite Ren albums? Smile

Absolut Misunderstanding. I don't mean Magenta is a Big Name Band! I don't know why you said that. Please read my post again. I said :I like Renaissance as "Big Name" bands.Then I talked about Magenta's EP with Haslam to compare she and christina. When I say Magenta is a Big Name band?

I guess I know your mean. This is not fair and I don't expect this from you. Now I want to answer your question Honestly. Prologue (Their best IMO), Ashes, Turn of the Cards , Novella , Azure d'or (I love this one), Tuscany , Symphony of Light. And albums I don't like are : Camera , Time-Line (what is this!!!) . I don't want talk about "Schehezarade..." and " A song ..." and explain about them.

Edited by O666 - October 18 2015 at 12:18

rogerthat

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 19:16

Sorry mate, it wasn't clear what you meant by big name bands....because if you mean Genesis, Yes and the like, they are certainly not as popular as them, which is why the OP framed his question. Wasn't pulling your leg, really had nothing else to go upon but your mention of Magenta.

Anyway, nice to know about your favourites, interesting choices.

rogerthat

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Posted: October 18 2015 at 19:16

Originally posted by Aussie-Byrd-Brother

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote:

Personal favourite Renaissance album? `Prologue'! Just because it `rocks' that little bit more than the albums that came after it, and I don't think there's a poor moment on the whole disc!

But I secretly adore most of `Azure D'Or'! They made plenty of better albums, but I love the careful balance of prog and pop throughout the entire disc, even if they amp up the Genesis elements, not surprisingly as David Hentschell was involved in the album if I recall? Even a lot of the drumming sounds right off `A Trick of the Tail/Wind and Wuthering'! Only the wretched `Only Angels Have Wings' lets it down for me, what a dog of a song!

Mine would have to be Song for all Seasons, with Novella not far behind.

O666

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 05:58

rogerthat wrote:

Sorry mate, it wasn't clear what you meant by big name bands....because if you mean Genesis, Yes and the like, they are certainly not as popular as them, which is why the OP framed his question. Wasn't pulling your leg, really had nothing else to go upon but your mention of Magenta.

Anyway, nice to know about your favourites, interesting choices.

Don't be sorry. This is Normal in forum. I like (I know this is very dangerous for me!!!) to give you one example of Big Names that I meant : I don't like Gentle Giants (I think its enough for this time!) and I like Renaissance more and more and ...

IMO Special Guest or this kind of collaborations (like Magenta with Annie Haslam) show me that the guest is bigger. (I don't know how to say that clearly!!!) For example (again!!!) in this case Haslam bigger than Magenta IMO. (bigger not in SIZE mean). Thanks for your reply

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 08:54

Wow, more Prologue lovers...thought I was the only one out of the regulars! I'm still the only one apparently daft enough to give it a five star review here LOL

Looking at what I posted on this thread in 2012, I still really need to hear those first two pre-Annie Renaissance albums. I should make it a mission or something.

rogerthat

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 09:32

O666 wrote:

It's perfectly clear now, thanks! Actually, your example of Gentle Giant is a good one to bring home the point of the OP. Gentle Giant's highest charting album in the US was Free Hand at no.48. Lower than Novella and on par with Scheherazade. Also, none of GG's other albums enjoyed the same success in US whereas from Scheherazade through to Song for All Seasons Renaissance had a good run. They also had a top 10 single in UK and GG had none. But GG are today regarded as a big prog rock band (somebody even argued vehemently for them to be included in the Big Five/Six of prog) and Renaissance aren't. Rather than saying they have gone obscure, what has happened is there has been a sharp critical re-evaluation of their work which has proved unfavourable to them. I wonder what the reasons for that could be. Think having a chick as the front of a melodic, 'square' prog rock band makes some people not want to try them at all. I know that I only hopped in for the ride because I looked at the band's page on prog archives and decided the lady got the job for her singing and not her other attractions....oops! LOL

Just one theory I am throwing out in jest, don't mean offence to anybody. But that's the rub, this band was quite popular during their heyday but they haven't enjoyed the recall value of some of their contemporaries. Meanwhile, VDGG and GG have leapfrogged through critical re-evaluation rather than getting obscured.

rogerthat

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 09:33

Prog Sothoth wrote:

Wow, more Prologue lovers...thought I was the only one out of the regulars! I'm still the only one apparently daft enough to give it a five star review here LOL

Looking at what I posted on this thread in 2012, I still really need to hear those first two pre-Annie Renaissance albums. I should make it a mission or something.

If you like Prologue that much, you should enjoy the pre-Annie albums, especially the s/t.

SteveG

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 10:54

rogerthat wrote:

Prog Sothoth wrote:

Wow, more Prologue lovers...thought I was the only one out of the regulars! I'm still the only one apparently daft enough to give it a five star review here LOL

Looking at what I posted on this thread in 2012, I still really need to hear those first two pre-Annie Renaissance albums. I should make it a mission or something.

If you like Prologue that much, you should enjoy the pre-Annie albums, especially the s/t.

Strangely, part of the Brit's reason for never fully excepting the mark ll Renaissance, despite the hit with Northern Lights, is a preference for the mark l band featuring Keith Relf and Jim McCarty.

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GKR

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 11:56

Annie Haslam is a complete diva in my opinion. She's great. Magnificent voice.

I dont have (I guess) a favourite album, but I do listen Scherezade, Ashes and Novella a lot... althout I have a great feeling for Prologue, "Spare some Love always plays when I need to get good vibes.

Yeah, thats great we're talking about Renaissance on a thread especifically to it! Thumbs Up

- From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

O666

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Posted: October 19 2015 at 16:06

rogerthat wrote:

O666 wrote:

The great opinion and IMO theory. You answerd to some of my essential questions (honestly Problems) about G.G. Honestly I can't say my opinion clearly about them but you say that (my opinion) better than me. I can't add any thing to your reply.