Why has Renaissance gone obscure?

I only have A Turn of the Cards, but I don't really like it. Maybe my taste is representative of the general public. (Ha! No, it isn't.)

Maybe they weren't "rock" enough to enjoy crossover success in the mainstream rock world.  Yes had Roundabout, Pink Floyd had Money, Genesis had crossover success a little later once they got into the pop singles market.  But Renaissance always had a very classical bent, with few "rocking" moments.  Later on, Renaissance appeared to go the pop crossover route with stuff like Azure d'Or, and my best guess as to why that didn't work was probably lack of support from the record company, because there's good pop potential there.

I really loved Ashes are Burning. That one gets some plays from me.

rogerthat wrote: For a second tier band, Renaissance have done about as well as they could have hoped and they have been fortunate enough to retain a fanbase in spite of breaking up in the 80s, which has made their revival in the last few years possible.

Yes, exactly! There is still a lot of good-will and affection for the band, and they're currently wrapping up recording of a new studio album `Grandine Il Vento' for release early next year, which I'm sure many of us are looing forward to!

I haven't heard it in a few years, but I remember their last `Tuscany' was pretty decent too! Good an excuse as any now to go and grab it off the shelf for a listen!

I quite like most of what the did in the 70's.  I saw them perform at Neafest this past summer and they were fantastic.  That Annie is still able to sing like she did back in the 70's (well, very nearly, anyway......much like Jon Anderson) is very impressive.

The big thing I find with them is that they never really progressed.  From Ashes are Burning through A Change Of Seasons, there really is almost no new musical development.  They became more ambitious with the compositions, but the basic style and approach never changed.  I think that is why they've always been second tier amongst prog fans (though still beloved by many).

As to popular success, well I think that is obvious.  They had no hit records and no hit singles.  Not hard to understand why they are obscure to the general music listening public.

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?

Edited by moshkito - October 29 2012 at 17:06

However it may be, I really love that band, and Annie may be my favourite singer from prog, tied with Jon Anderson. They really got some magical moments.

moshkito wrote:     It's obvious why ... they didn't feel the need to dress up in costumes and imagine some kind of story!      Similarly, a lot of their early lyric material was written by an English poetess, btw ... but then, that's too intelectual to be progressive or appreciated by folks that think rock lyrics are more important if they talk about Jane or a bitch!

I know I am in the minority, but a growing one (right ClemofNazareth and Rogerthat?) who thinks that Renaissance' peak was 1978, "A Song for All Seasons".  That was a bit late for a prog act from the early 70s to peak.   Yes we are a minority, but a larger minority (in percentage anyway) than those who think Genesis, ELP, or Yes peaked in 1978.

infandous wrote: Yeah, I didn't really understand the comment either.  Especially since it's quite obvious they DID "dress up" on stage in the seemingly obligatory 70's stage outfits.  No capes, I guess, but some of Annie's dresses were quite medieval.  Of course, they didn't go to the lengths of groups like Yes or Genesis with the stage props and such, but I suspect that was down to not having the money for it.

They were also not theatrical so there was really nothing much to act out in the way of Genesis or Floyd.   But they all wanted to make a statement, nonetheless, like many other bands from the 70s.  Annie's dresses were supposed to reflect the character of the music.