Renaissance: Under No Illusion
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=124179
Printed Date: March 06 2025 at 06:08
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Topic: Renaissance: Under No Illusion
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: Renaissance: Under No Illusion
Date Posted: October 02 2020 at 07:40
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I'm under no Illusion that not many people outside of the progosphere will have heard of the band Illusion, but as any progaholic will know, they're closely-related to the band Renaissance. Illusion appeared Out of the Mist with their first stunning album in 1977 and a follow-up self-titled album in 1978. Their third ultra-rare Enchanted Caress album arrived in 1979, but wasn't released until 1990. Illusion's fourth and final album, Through the Fire, was released under the name Renaissance Illusion in 2001. Illusion featured a 6-piece line-up of Jane Relf (of the original Renaissance) on lead vocals, Jim McCarty on vocals & acoustic guitar, John Knightsbridge on electric guitar, John Hawken on keyboards, Louis Cennamo on bass guitar and Eddie McNeil on drums & percussion. My favourite song from Illusion's debut album..... Face of Yesterday |
Replies:
Posted By: MortSahlFan
Date Posted: October 04 2020 at 11:28
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I'm one of a few who prefers Illusion over Renaissance.. "Face of Yesterday" was my favorite song of theirs until I found "Madonna Blue" shortly after... I'm constantly searching for more 70s female vocal prog. Stairway had some decent stuff with Jane Relf.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 04 2020 at 11:49
My favourite Jane Relf & Stairway song: Moonlight Skater  |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: October 04 2020 at 13:52
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Out of the Mist is a classic. I like the follow-up a lot, too. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 04 2020 at 14:06
This is the highlight for me from Illusion's second album..... Wings Across the Sea |
verslibre wrote:Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: October 05 2020 at 02:24
To each his own of course, but if I really prefer the ex-Yardbirds Renaissance to the Dunford/Haslam/Tatcher Renaissance (which owes everyting to McCarty), I don't think Illusion (the band) is better than the Mk2 Renaissance. Of course, Keith wasn't part of it (RIP), but Illusion was fairly disappointing (especially for those that were awaiting for the foolow up of Illusion (the Renaissance album) Of course those two Illusion (the band) albums are more like a product of its time and are more commercial oriented (moreso than the Mk2 Rennaissance, IMHO)
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 05 2020 at 04:38
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Kings & Queens: The opening song from the first Renaissance album, featuring a similar line-up to the later Illusion line-up, only without Keith Relf (1943-1976), who died tragically when he was electrocuted by his electric guitar shortly before he was due to begin recording the first Illusion album. |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: October 06 2020 at 22:20
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Love those two late 1970s albums. Renaissance Illusion is also very good but without much in the way of Jane - it's more like a Jim McCarty solo album really. Speaking of which, his "Out of the Dark" is absolutely superb. As Hugues implied, Renaissance MK II was able to maintain their fairly non commercial sound through most of the 1970s because they had enough of a following, at least until they didn't, while the 2 Illusion albums in the late 1970s were a bit more mainstream, but still great IMO. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: October 08 2020 at 12:22
 I never knew that. Awful. So sad. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 10 2020 at 03:46
Sadly, that happened back in the days when an electric guitar used to be plugged directly into the mains power supply, but I doubt if it could happen now with modern electric guitars.  This is my favourite song from the third Illusion album, Enchanted Caress... The Man Who Loved the Trees |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 05:51
Gone Fishing: a rare song from Jane Relf which was featured in an advert for Findus Fish Fingers!  |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 11:57
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Both solid albums , but still like the original Renaissance lp's better. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 12:24
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 13:04
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^ Jim McCarty made a really good comeback album in 2001 though with "Through the Fire", released under the name Renaissance Illusion. The opening track sounds like classic Renaissance from the early 1969-71 era..... One More Turn of the Wheel |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 13:17
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 13:26
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Oops it's actually listed under Illusion. I guess the band calling themselves Renaissance/Illusion was confusing. Lol ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 14:02
It's even more confusing if you include Michael Dunford's Renaissance too, who released two albums with Stephanie Adlington in the 1990's. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 14:07
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 14:20
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I haven't listened to that in a long time. I forgot how pedestrian Adington's voice sounds. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 15:10
That's true. I'm afraid Stephanie Adlington is no match for Jane Relf or Annie Haslam, although I still went out and bought the album, just on the strength of it being a Renaissance album, but I made a big mistake when I bought the "Time-Lines" album in 1983.
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 15:42
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Same here. Time Line was so disappointing after Camera Camera. Btw, l think RogerThat reviewed the Adington albums. But l never wanted to read them which is a shame as he's an excellent reviewer and super knowledgeable on all types of music. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 15:54
I actually took Renaissance' Time-Line album back to the record store and asked for my money back.
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 16:32
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Smart move. Wish I'd thought of that. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: October 11 2020 at 18:52
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I actually prefer "The Other Woman" to the contemporaneous Renaissance album "Tuscany". At least a few of the songs had some oomph to them, and, as I've said before elsewhere, the closing cut "Somewhere west of here" might be the best post Camera Camera, pre Grandine Il Vento Renaissance song, and is a slam dunk for Illusion fans. Unfortunately it's not on youtube! |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 27 2020 at 02:31
I like "The Other Woman" album and I have it on CD, but I'd much rather listen to Annie Haslam on "Tuscany" anytime.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 27 2020 at 03:08
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Two rare 1970's videos of the transitional line-up of Renaissance, featuring Binky Cullom on vocals! |