| | Renaissance Song For All Seasons CD Renaissance Discography of CDs
(6 Customer Reviews)
Three members of the classic Renaissance lineup, Annie Haslam, Michael Dunford, and Terence Sullivan, reunited in a sextet lineup -- filled out by Rave Tesar on piano and other keyboards, Mickey Simmonds on keyboards and vocals, and David Keyes on bass and vocals -- for a 2001 tour of Japan that yielded this 105-minute concert recording In the Land of the Rising Sun: Live in Concert. Haslam's voice is still in excellent shape, to judge by the results, hitting those high notes well, if not with quite the same power than she did in the '70s. The repertory encompasses both older and newer songs, from the Ashes Are Burning album all the way up thru the group's 21st century work, such as "Lady from Tuscany." The presence of two keyboard players, coupled with Haslam's vocal instrument, gives the group a vast melodic range, and fans will almost certainly be thrilled with the sonic textures and the sheer range of sounds generated by the group -- there seem to be genuine orchestral timbres here on "Opening Out" and other numbers, and there's also room for Dunford's acoustic guitar to be heard well on "Carpet of the Sun," and "Midas Man," among others. ~ Bruce Eder
Originally released in 1978, this is the U.S. CD debut with the original album cover artwork. 8 tracks including, 'Opening Out', 'Closer Than Yesterday' and 'She Is Love'. Standardjewelcase. 2001 release.
The next to last album by Renaissance as a full-time, ongoing group, A Song for All Seasons was a courageous effort in its time, wearing its classically based progressive rock colors proudly on its sleeve amid the punk and new wave booms that were sweeping across the musical landscape. Vocalist Annie Haslam and pianist John Tout generated some memorably beautiful moments, ably supported by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor/arrangerHarry Rabinowitz. The first two tracks, "Opening Out" and "The Day of the Dreamer," ultimately promise a little more in the way of classically based lyricism than the album delivered; and the harder rocking moments are only fitfully interesting, despite the best efforts of bassist Jon Camp and guitarist Michael Dunford. But the pop tracks here, most notably "Northern Lights," "Back Home Once Again," and the acoustic guitar-driven "Closer Than Yesterday" are appealing on a level that was mostly new to the group. A few more numbers like those, interspersed with the more ambitious works on this album, and Renaissance might have found that wider following that always eluded them. But ultimately the album pulls in one or two too many directions at once, especially on the moody "She Is Love." For a finale, the title track, "A Song for All Seasons," (clocking in at almost 11 minutes) plunges us back into heavily orchestrated art-rock head-first and several yards deep, and succeeds better than most of the group's ambitious suites and song cycles of the second half of the '70s. The album has some gorgeous moments, but coming out at the end of the '70s, it was timed about as poorly as any LP ever issued, in terms of finding an audience -- which doesn't stop modern audiences from savoring its appeal or those moments, three or four decades on. ~ Bruce Eder
Renaissance includes: Annie Haslam (vocals).
Song For All Seasons Music Renaissance Song For All Seasons Songs Song For All Seasons Music Song For All Seasons Music Review Average Rating: (4.2 out of 5 stars)    List All Reviews Orchestral Rock - A Lost Art It's too bad Renaissance isn't still together to make records as grand as A Song For All Seasons. Opening Out, the first track is filled with trademark Renaissance flair. Annie Haslam's forlorn vocals really set the tone for the rest of the CD. Day of the Dreamer, the second track, starts out with a bouncy rhythm but soon changes to a moody, distant calling. It's a nine-minute song that ends with Annie's forlorn echoes of lost love - very moving. From there, the record wallows a little - you really have to overlook the non-Annie tracks and count them only as filler. Northern Lights, the second to last track is probably Renaissance at their sunniest but the title track just rocks. I get totally emersed in its seemingly endless peaks and valleys. I think that A Song For All Seasons was a turning point by the band to establish a more commercial sound and for that the CD suffers a little but it more than makes up for it in the few tracks I've mentioned here. If you like your rock with an orchestral flair, this is one you'll really love. Submitted by mbn (Salt Lake City, Utah)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Song for All seasons Definately a Keeper. One is not dissapointed as whe you listen you will become part of the music. Why do the good artists dissappear? Submitted by Augur (Ripley,NY)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Beautiful songs I bought the CD to replace the noisy vinyl pressing on Sire Records (pressed by Capitol, which rarely did good work). Annie's four songs (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7) are worth the price of the entire CD, especially "Northern Lights". Sound quality is excellent, slightly better than the vinyl. Submitted by a reviewer (Ventura, CA,USA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
They still had it... ...when this was made. There are pieces that are simply as lovely as anything they ever did, leaving you wanting more. Melodies abound, haunting ones too. Submitted by a reviewer (Washington, D.C.)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
could have been their best this lp followed ''novella''and really could have been great if jon camp's 2 songs were not included.opening out is an excellent song.day of the dreamer was always one of my favorite ''renaissance'' songs.closer than yesterday and back home once again are solid pop songs as well as northern lights,the latter becoming a top 10 single in the uk.she is love is a total dud and should not have been included on the cd.the title track is a classic renaissance song with annie haslem singing lead vocals as only she can do.all in all its a great cd to get! Submitted by psufb (lock haven)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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Purchase Song For All Seasons CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Renaissance Turn Of The Cards CD (1974) (Import) Germany
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$15.75 The third album by this incarnation of Renaissance was a match for their previous success, Ashes Are Burning, with equally impressive performances ...
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