Renaissance – Turn Of The Cards(1974)

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. Because Prologue was a new start for the band, with a line-up that now included none of the original members, it would frequently be referred to as their “first” album (for example, on the Live at Carnegie Hall album, both in a song intro and on the inside cover). Though all the songs are Renaissance originals, they were not written by any current members of the band but by former members Jim McCarty (from the first line-up) and Michael Dunford (ex-Nashville Teens, from the transitional line-ups), along with lyricist Betty Thatcher. Dunford would become part of the band again after Hendry’s departure, but was not officially a band member during the recording of next album Ashes Are Burning in 1973. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_(band)

Album & Cover
Turn of the Cards is the fifth studio album by the British progressive rock band Renaissance, released in 1974. It was the last Renaissance studio album to include excerpts from existing classical pieces. In the UK, this was the very first release (BTM 1000) on Miles Copeland’s fledgling label, BTM Records (British Talent Managers). In 1977, after releasing a total of 10 albums, including 2 more by Renaissance (BTM 1006: Scheherazade and Other Stories, and the double LP, BTM 2001, Live at Carnegie Hall), the label folded due to bankruptcy.

The cover picture features Warwick Castle. The first BTM UK pressings had an alternate back cover, with a moody close-up portrait of Annie Haslam framed in one of the ‘cards’. Later pressings, and in the US, a rather bland picture consistent in style and size with the other members portraits were added.

Cover Location: Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, England.
Who Did What: Tarot Cards Artwork  – Joe Petagno. Photography – A. Powell
Label: Sire SAS-7502(US), BTM BTM1000(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Michael Dunford
Arranged By [Orchestra] – Jimmy Horowitz
Bass, Vocals – John Camp
Composed By – Betty Thatcher, Michael Dunford
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Terence Sullivan
Engineer [Assistant] – Douglas Bogie, Mike Pela
Engineer [Remix] – Jeffrey Lesser
Keyboards – John Tout
Producer – Richard Gottehrer
Producer, Arranged By [Musical] – Renaissance
Producer, Engineer – Dick Plant
Vocals – Annie Haslam