The Renaissance Zone

With Ashes Are Burning, it very much depends on which version.  My favourite is the one they played at Ashbury Park, 1979.  Kept it tight on the instrumentation front while Annie went bonkers on the vocal solo and hit the big Ashes are burning aWAYYY note with a lot of gusto, even by her standards.  Some other versions like the Albert Hall one are just unwieldy.  And Ashes is one track where the years have taken a toll on Annie or maybe it's her hearing issues.  Whatever it is, the vocal solo falls flat these days and, yes, I would be happy to see her shelve it because Tesar and Brislin come up with great piano/keyboard solos anyway. 

kenethlevine wrote: I love the live in Chicago version even though it's only the final part.  What she does there is beyond incredible, and so utterly accessible if people would just listen

Listened to this Jewel this morning. Cool Hipgnosis cocer.

SteveG wrote: Has anyone heard Annie's solo compilation, with songs recorded over the course of her career, titled Woman Transcending? I's got quite few non prog bright spots.

SteveG wrote: Yes it is. Was any of the material on this album previously released, or were they all kept in Annie's attic?

Tom Ozric wrote: I used to have Annie In Wonderland, and apart from one song which Jon Camp guested on, I didn't really get into it

I love it but then I do like it when a singer comes up with a very fresh approach to standards (which may not necessarily be something that interests prog rock listeners) and Annie hit If I Loved You and Going Home out of the park.  Nature Boy was patchy but the vocalise coda was outstanding, with even scat phrasing which I hadn't expected.  It's the album that demonstrates her versatility like nothing else she's done.

rogerthat wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: I used to have Annie In Wonderland, and apart from one song which Jon Camp guested on, I didn't really get into it I love it but then I do like it when a singer comes up with a very fresh approach to standards (which may not necessarily be something that interests prog rock listeners) and Annie hit If I Loved You and Going Home out of the park.  Nature Boy was patchy but the vocalise coda was outstanding, with even scat phrasing which I hadn't expected.  It's the album that demonstrates her versatility like nothing else she's done.

Wow !! I still have this LP - it was relegated to a cupboard in the garage years ago, I thought it went on one of our garage sales. It's not bad (3 stars) - I still prefer Renaissance from that period. As always, Roy Wood worked hard. Inside My Life is the song I love. Could've been on Azure D'or.

^ I will spin this once again later (currently on the lengthy onslaught of Iron Maiden's 'Book Of Souls'). See, many moons ago, I just went along to record fairs and bought any vinyl which had a familiar name(s) on it. I never honestly gave it a chance. I love the voice of Annie (she not too shabby on the eyes either ). I've always loved Wood's artwork (even with The Move).
Also, those Billy Sherwood 'guest star' projects has Annie singing on a track called 'Social Circles' (the first 'Prog Collective album). Even if the song itself is a little ropey, composition-wise, it's just bliss to hear this Angel's voice weaving the magic all over again.

^ Really, was it vocoded ?? I don't recall that, but I haven't spun the album for a while. I must check it out. I love both of those Prog Collective projects. I have no qualms with whatever ideas Sherwood pursues, he's a great musician etc.

^ Most of the 2nd LP features instrumental versions of many 'vocal' tracks which appeared earlier on the album.
But for now, I'm spinning A Song For All Seasons. Currently on the Genesis-like intro of Kindness (At The End). Love what Jon Camp adds to this wonderful band, he has the intricate, melodic sense of dear Chris Squire (with a lovely Rickenbacker to boot). Oh, and if anyone says the beautiful slow section of Day Of The Dreamer doesn't 'move' them, then they got no heart. Seriously, this thread has got me digging out my Ren LP collection. Opeth will just have to wait for now.