Biography
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, best known for their 1978 UK top 10 hit “Northern Lights” and progressive rock classics like “Carpet of the Sun”, “Mother Russia”, and “Ashes Are Burning”. They developed a unique sound, combining a female lead vocal with a fusion of classical, folk, rock, and jazz influences. Characteristic elements of the Renaissance sound are Annie Haslam’s wide vocal range, prominent piano accompaniment, orchestral arrangements, vocal harmonies, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser, and versatile drum work. The band created a significant following in the northeast United States in the 70s, and that region remains their strongest fan base.
The original line-up included two former members of The Yardbirds, Keith Relf and Jim McCarty, along with John Hawken, Louis Cennamo and Relf’s sister Jane Relf. They intended to put “something together with more of a classical influence”. Renaissance was born, and the band released a studio album in 1969, and another in 1971. Subsequently, John Tout replaced Hawken on keyboards, followed by a period of high turnover of musicians until the “classic line-up” of Haslam, John Tout, Michael Dunford, Jon Camp, and Terry Sullivan was established, although none of them was in the original band. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_(band)
Album & Cover
Scheherazade and Other Stories is the sixth studio album by the British progressive rock band Renaissance, released in 1975. Some critics consider it their best album, although others prefer earlier albums. This is the first album in which Renaissance (Annie Haslam’s version) did not use quotes from actual classical pieces. Contrary to popular belief, “Song of Scheherazade” is not based on Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, but does have a recurring six-note motif that alludes to that work.
Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK
Who Did What: Illustration – Colin Elgie
Label: Sire SASD-7510(US), BTM BTM1006(UK
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Trip To The Fair The Vultures Fly High Ocean Gypsy |
Side Two Song Of Scheherazade b1-Fanfare b2-The Betrayal b3-The Sultan b4-Love Theme b5-The Young Prince And The Princess As Told By Scheherazade b6-Festival Preparations b7-Fugue For The Sultan b8-The Festival b9-Finale |
Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Michael Dunford
Arranged By – Renaissance
Arranged By [Orchestral Arrangements] – Tony Cox
Bass, Vocals – John Camp
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Terence Sullivan
Engineer – John Kurlander
Engineer [Assistant] – Patrick Stapley
Keyboards, Vocals – John Tout
Lead Vocals – Annie Haslam, John Camp (tracks: B3)
Music By – Betty Thatcher, Tout (tracks: A1, B1, B2, B6, B7, B9), Camp (tracks: B2, B4, B6, B9), Michael Dunford
Producer – David Hitchcock, Renaissance
