Tales of 1001 Nights, Vol. 1

Tales of 1001 Nights, Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Like a prog-rock Pentangle, Renaissance served up a pleasing melange of classical, Celtic, pop, and rock influences that reached its peak during the mid-'70s recordings anthologized here. Live renditions of "Can You Understand" and "Carpet of the Sun" prove the band was as technically proficient (and long-winded!) on stage as they were in the studio. Annie Haslam's sweetly operatic vocals are complemented by orchestral-strength rock arrangements, including that obligatory Rickenbacker bass sound. With the inclusion of "Running Hard" and "Mother Russia," this collection features most of the band's best-known songs, although "Ashes Are Burning" is conspicuously absent. (Had to save something for volume two.) --Billy Grenier

Tracks:

Prologue
Can You Understand
Carpet Of The Sun
Running Hard
I Think Of You
Black Flame
Mother Russia
Ocean Gypsy
Trip To The Fair
The Vultures Fly High
The Young Prince And Princess As Told By Scheherazade

Amazon.com

Like a prog-rock Pentangle, Renaissance served up a pleasing melange of classical, Celtic, pop, and rock influences that reached its peak during the mid-'70s recordings anthologized here. Live renditions of "Can You Understand" and "Carpet of the Sun" prove the band was as technically proficient (and long-winded!) on stage as they were in the studio. Annie Haslam's sweetly operatic vocals are complemented by orchestral-strength rock arrangements, including that obligatory Rickenbacker bass sound. With the inclusion of "Running Hard" and "Mother Russia," this collection features most of the band's best-known songs, although "Ashes Are Burning" is conspicuously absent. (Had to save something for volume two.) --Billy Grenier

Customer Reviews:

Strictly for Progressive Rock aficionados.......2005-10-08

If one's musical inclination lies in the fusion of folk, rock and classical music, then "Tales of 1001 Nights -- Vols. I & II" by Renaissance should resonate comfortably with you.

Similar in musicality to Mannheim Steam Roller, but interwoven with thoughtful lyrics from Cornish poetess Betty Thatcher, many of the masterpieces which brought international acclaim to this seventies 'art rock' group are faithfully represented here, both in their Carnegie Hall and studio recordings between 1971 and 1979.

While the inclusion of "Rajah Khan", "The Flood at Lyons" and "Sisters" would have been nice additions to either of these albums (or perhaps another album a la "Tales of 1001 Nights -- Vol. 3"), it is nonetheless an absolute delight to hear many of Michael Dunford's skillfully crafted compositions, Annie Haslam's soaring vocals, Terry Sullivan's classical interpretations on keyboard, Jon Camp's lead bass and John Tout's percussion preserved on two CDs for future generations.

Though critics often label Renaissance a 'pretentious' progressive rock band, one should consider their musical repertoire in the context of instruments available and musical styles other bands had covered up to this time, in which case one will then realise the innovation and intelligence of these meistersingers.

GREAT COMPILATION OF RENAISSANCE!.......2005-05-26

This CD is well worth owning - especially if you can only have ONE Renaissance CD in a "limited collection". Although a CD it should whet your appetite for more Renaissance - perhaps in other formats. The song "I Think of You" which in some ways sounds like it belongs in a romantic film is, to put it mildly, simply captivating. Annie Haslam's sexy and dream-like vocals carries you to the past and back again. Carpet of the Sun demostrates that the band did actually come across quite well LIVE and did not rely on studio "gimmicks" to project imagery, fantasy, and imagination. I prefer this CD to the "VOL II" version which contains mostly later songs.

Excellent 70s Prog Rock!.......2003-04-05

The liner notes to this compilation say it all - there are two kind of people: those who've never heard of Renaissance and those that have and LOVE THEM.

For those who are new to Renaissance, this collection of their songs is a great place to start; this and "volume two." Think of Yes with an opera-trained female singer and you're kinda close to the Renaissance sound: progressive time and tempo changes, ambitious lyrical themes, the use of orchestral instruments, and the Rickenbacker electric bass! Jon Camp plays his Rickenbacker in the same manner as Chris Squire (Yes), approaching the bass guitar as though it were a melody instrument.

This first volume of their two-volume "best of" CDs begins with an "instrumental" that appeared on their first album, although this disc uses a live version. It's MOSTLY instrumental - a reworking of themes used in Russian classical music - though it also contains a vocalise from the angel-voiced Annie Haslam.

The CD continues with two more songs from the band's live Carnegie Hall album, including one of my favorite Renaissance songs, "Carpet of the Sun." (I'd have prefered the studio version of the song, from the "Ashes are Burning" album.) If you've only heard ONE Renaissance song in your life, it was probably this beautiful acoustic song; it was the closest the band ever came to a "hit."

More classic Renaissance songs follow, and one begins to hear the similarities between this band and that other 70s Progressive Rock band from England, Yes. But as wonderful as Jon Anderson's voice was (and still is, all these years later), Renaissance has the added advantage of vocalist Annie Haslam, who was trained by a world-reknowned opera singer and reportedly has an 8-octave range! Some may find this "opera" style of singing a little too much to bear, but it's the voice of the band and the reason so many fans love them!

If you like Yes and other Progressive Rock bands, check out this CD.

"Novella" is not represented;but also Ashes are burning ..........2003-03-25

Well the album "Novella" is not represented here, but also "Ashes are burning" is almost completely absent (except on the tracks "Carpet of the sun" and "Can you understand"). Usually I don't like such collections, even though I must admit that instead both "Turn of the cards" and "Scheherazade" are well included within; and moreover the ouput is quite excellent for a novice, such a good representation of their remarkable career.Otherwise I can't feel to recommend this anthology- as a perfect place to start-to every one who wants to know the best Renaissance stuff;in fact despite of containing some of the best pieces of music art,regarding their most famous and probably best albums, you don't find here some other jewels (I think also of the splendid title track within the album "A song for all season's, which is probably their best symphonic prog mini-suite, or "Can you hear me" from "Novella" -another must-have- which unfortunately have not been included here.)

Remarkable,even though not completely essential,collection by Renaissance...

your going to love this !.......2003-01-03

What a treat this CD turned out to be infact after playing it just once I ordered VOL 2. First of all the sound quality is remarkable considering this material comes largely from the early 70`s. This is a band thats not frightened to challenge conventional progressive boundaries, not only that they get big results . For me Renaissance are like a more restraint version of all the older progressive bands, they include odd timing meters and loads of classical orientation. Perhaps the big plus to Renaissance apart from there fantastic musical composisions is Annie Haslam, WOW what a great voice she has (beautiful) yet also dynamic, and the keyboard work of John Tout will surely not go unoticed on this CD. To sum it up it runs for over 70 minutes and in all of that time I cant say there is a bad song on it. When they compiled this CD they must have really thought long and hard about it because I have listened to many progressive bands and rarely before have i heard such beauty.
I guess for me this was a perfect selection (being new to Renaissance) I plan to get every one of there CD`s but this was a great place to start . I hope you like Renaissance as much as I do, if you like prog with classical influences your going to love this !

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