LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL

As representative of the live indulgences of the progressive rock era as "Welcome Back my Friends" and "Yessongs", ""Live at Carnegie Hall" is Renaissance at their peak of popularity. It includes material from the era generally regarded as their best, in fairly good live versions. The main criticism is in the somewhat muffled sound in places, and the tendency to stick very close to the original song structures. The major exception, apart from the rambling and sometimes tedious "Song of Scheherazade, is the side-long "Ashes are Burning", which really showcases the talents of all members individually and collectively, and is never close to boring for 24 minutes. Annie's vocal histrionics in the closing minutes are miraculous. It is strange that the group really never took to that level of improvisation again either inside the studio or in concert, but this version of "Ashes" is really their most monumental achievement. When combined with a cross section of their 1972-1975 material, it makes the album worthwhile if you want a taste of what the group offers, although I would favour the two "Tales of 1001 Nights" for that purpose.