"...Seeds Of Yesterday..."
There can't be
too many Renaissance fans that don't worship at the Hipgnosis-artwork feet of
their fourth and most accomplished platter "Ashes Are Burning" –
originally issued in Blighty October 1973 on Sovereign Records. It was also the
first album that really got them noticed in the USA where Sovereign via Capitol
Records managed to chart the LP in late September 1973 for four weeks peaking
at No. 171 (Renaissance would enjoy a further eight albums charting in
America). But which issue to buy on CD?
Some history as
to why you should choose the door marked 2019. Germany's Repertoire was for
ages the only go-to place for a digital-version with their June 1995 CD Reissue
on Repertoire REP 4575-WY (Barcode 4009910457528) – itself re-launched several
times including right up to May 2011. Repertoire also did a separate 2006
variant on REP 5078 (Barcode 4009910507827). All of these versions simply
transferred the 6-track LP and threw in a 12-page booklet. Next came Earthwest
Recordings EW0093CD (Barcode 803341355194) in 2012 – again another
straightforward transfer with bugger all mastering credits. None of these
issues offered a new remaster or anything else either...
That all ends
with this spectacular February 2019 Esoteric Recordings UK CD Remaster
(Esoteric are part of Cherry Red) which not only ups the Audio game
immeasurably for the album (Ben Wiseman transfer from original master tapes)
but has unearthed three BBC "In Concert" recordings done in January
1974 (back from a US tour and tight as a gnat's chuff) once thought to have been
lost forever – now found and sounding utterly superb – shockingly good
Previously Unreleased material from their primo period.
Renaissance fans
and lovers of Yes and Genesis music (circa 1973) will be lapping it the whole
beautifully arranged and melodious Symphonic Rock of it all. There is even a
guitar solo from Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash. Seeds of yesterday are indeed
breaking through - let’s get to the details…
UK released 22
February 2019 - "Ashes Are Burning" by RENAISSANCE on Esoteric
Recordings ECLEC 2646 (Barcode 5013929474642) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue
with Three Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (69:51 minutes):
1. Can You
Understand [Side 1]
2. Let It Grow
3. On The
Frontier
4. Carpet Of The
Sun [Side 2]
5. At The Harbour
6. Ashes Are
Burning
Tracks 1 to 6 are
their fourth studio album "Ashes Are Burning" - released September
1973 in the USA on Sovereign/Capitol Records ST-11216 and October 1973 in the
UK on Sovereign Records SVNA 7261. Produced and Arranged by RENAISSANCE - it
peaked at No. 171 in the USA (didn't chart UK).
BONUS TRACKS
(Previously Unreleased):
7. Can You
Understand
8. Let it Grow
9. Ashes Are
Burning
Tracks 7 to 9 are
BBC Radio 1 "In Concert" Recordings from 3 January 1974, Compared by
Alan Black
RENAISSANCE was:
Annie Haslam
(Lead Vocals)
Michael Dunford
(Guitars)
John Tout
(Keyboards and Vocals)
Jon Camp (Bass
and Vocals)
Terry Sullivan
(Drummer)
All Lyrics by
Betty Thatcher, Music by Michael Dunford - except "On The Frontier"
by Jim McCarty and Betty Thatcher
Guests:
Andy Powell of
Wishbone Ash - Guitar on "Ashes Are Burning"
Strings by
Richard Hewson on "Can You Understand" and "Carpet Of The
Sun"
The gatefold card
digipak repro's the UK artwork (the US variant used different photos) and a
16-page booklet with new Annie Haslam and Terry Sullivan interviews. The inner
sleeve with the lyrics is here too and superb new MALCOLM DOME liner notes.
Clearly both Haslam and Sullivan are aware that LP4 struck the right chord at
last - the Richard Hewson string arrangements framing their sound - pretty
melodies - good lyrics - and now gorgeous Audio care of a BEN WISEMAN Remaster
from original tapes. When the Acoustic Guitar/Haslam Vocal break comes in at
about 1:55 in "At The Harbour" - the Audio is just beautiful. It's
like that throughout and shockingly the three BBC sessions are amongst the best
I've ever heard come out of the Beeb.
Fans will love
the Prog Rock and Symphonic Rock of Side 1's "Can You Understand" -
very similar to the best parts of "Selling England By The Pound" -
also issued late 1973. "Let It Grow" feels like a lovelorn love song
that has stayed so sweet.
The
Acoustic/Vocals opening of "On The Frontier" feels like the 5th
Dimension meets Mellow Candle - that piano underpinning the combo voices. It's
the same for "Carpet Of The Sun" but I'm blown away by the BBC
renditions - near perfect and you can clearly hear the audience sharp intake of
breath as Renaissance sounds like a super-slick Greenslade or Supertramp - up
to the point that there are several shouts for 'more' after the epic
"Ashes Are Burning".
Mark and Vicky
Powell's Esoteric Recordings have done some humdingers in the last five years,
but this little sweetie is a very real Audio jewel in their heavily laden
reissue crown. Well done to all involved...
