The Renaissance Zone

Stephanie Adlington is a pretty good jazz singer.  It was quite brave of her to attempt the folk-classical repertoire of Annie Haslam, given she was bound to only land brickbats for the most part.

I omitted to mention Nude.  Another 80s album that was pretty good.  I quite like 90125 though I know it is not an universal favourite to say the least.  Not 80s Genesis, notwithstanding their success, and certainly not 80s Renaissance.  Never heard Enchanted Caress. I guess Nevada is or was available on amazon.  

Yup, if only they had tried similar tones as on Nevada - either the Midwinter cover or Pictures in the fire (track). Still 80s but more 'timeless'.  I don't have a problem with the idea of wanting to do something different per se but it just came across as trying too hard to be different and sacrificing all their existing strengths at the altar of hipness. Even a good tune like Remember was ruined by Gosling's synths.  Not like KC's Discipline but then not a whole lot of 80s albums by 70s prog rock bands are that good.

there's actually a few good other performances in there, especially the sole track from Time Line, "Flight", is rather well done, as are some of the instrumental parts of Sheherazade and "Opening Out".

Interesting observation there because when I first heard this concert, I was surprised at how flat, how 80s Harrison sounded here.  Maybe he just didn't have a choice and/or was too inexperienced.  He said he was expected to perform the drum parts of Scheherazade in the audition and he was the only one who had learnt the track in advance which is why he got the job.  Camp in his trademark style of gently condescending banter said Harrison was the last guy to audition and it's always the last one who gets the job. 

It is.

And this is the New Jersey performance that Ken mentioned.  Full performance and maybe a shade better than Chicago but pity about the video quality and the camera focuses on that rotating ball for the 'meat' of the performance though we do get to see Annie as she unleashes that vocalise from hell at just over 18:30 in the vid. 

kenethlevine wrote: I suppose it's possible that they did play it, but the Annie backing Annie would have been a challenge. I think it's a lovely song and, like the all music guy alluded to, it was appealing in ways that were mostly new for the group.  I have read some comparisons to Abba.  I actually quite like Abba TBH, but to me this doesn't sound like them.  More like something Heart would have done as a ballad

fudgenuts64 wrote: What is the Park West concert you speak of? I've got Carnegie and Dreams and Omens, plus two boots from 1976 and 1979 - John Tout actually uses a Mellotron in some spots on the latter recording.

GKR wrote: Renaissance AND Curved Air in the same concert!!! My dream just come true!!! There is any good english soul that would give shelter to a desperate brazilian boy!?!?!