Renaissance – Live Fillmore West and Other Adventures (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Renaissance – Live Fillmore West and Other Adventures (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 04:26:47 minutes | 2,89 GB | Genre: Progressive Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Repertoire Records

In the wake of the Yardbirds’ demise, Jim McCarty and Keith Relf reconvened in the late 60s and devised a fresh musical concept that flourished within the creative spirit of new project Renaissance. Imaginative songs and ambitious arrangements blossomed with the assistance of singer Jane Relf, classically trained pianist John Hawken and virtuoso bassist Louis Cennamo. This important new multi-disc and DVD collection casts a spotlight on the evolutionary period of a now-legendary band. It is packed with fascinating, historic performances from their appearances on BBC radio and top German TV show Beat-Club, as well as rare demo’s, instrumentals, European radio broadcasts and a mini documentary. Painstakingly restored and remastered in conjunction with Louis Cennamo and Jim McCarty, this superb release includes extensive liner notes and memorabilia – an unmissable package for both collectors and Prog Rock devotees.

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Renaissance – Azure d’Or (Remastered) (1979/2022) [High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-Ray Disc]

Artist: Renaissance
Title: Azure d’Or (Remastered)
Genre: Progressive Rock, Pop Rock, Folk Rock, Female Vocal
Label: Esoteric Recordings
Release Date: 1971/2023
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Duration: 000:56:21+00:21:30
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video 17000 kbps 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio #1: LPCM Audio English 4608 kbps 2.0 / 96 kHz / 4608 kbps / 24-bit
Audio #2: DTS-HD Master Audio English 8230 kbps 5.1 / 96 kHz / 8230 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio #3: LPCM Audio English 13824 kbps 5.1 / 96 kHz / 13824 kbps / 24-bit
Size: 33.33 GB

Deluxe two CD + Blu-ray edition. Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the classic Renaissance album Azure D’Or. Issued in April 1979, the album followed the successful A Song For All Seasons and the hit single ‘Northern Lights’ released the previous year. Working once again with David Hentschel (who had also produced the albums A Trick Of The Tail and Wind And Wuthering for Genesis), the record featured excellent material such as ‘Jekyll And Hyde’, ‘Kalynda’ and ‘The Flood At Lyons’ and would be the last album by the band’s classic line-up and their last to chart in the UK. This expanded edition comprises two CDs and a region-free Blu-ray disc featuring a newly remastered original stereo mix from the original master tapes and also includes stunning 5. 1 Surround Sound and stereo mixes by Stephen W Tayler (which add new depth to the recordings) and additional unreleased bonus material from the album sessions.

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Renaissance – Scheherazade And Other Stories (1975) [Audio Fidelity 2014] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Renaissance – Scheherazade And Other Stories (1975) [Audio Fidelity 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 46:09 minutes | Scans included | 1,86 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 865 MB
Mastered by Kevin Gray | Audio Fidelity # AFZ-183 | Genre: Rock

This album was the group’s magnum opus in the perception of many onlookers and fans, and it still plays well, though its flaws are more evident than they were at the time. The “Song of Scheherazade,” really a suite for the group supported by the London Symphony Orchestra and a chorus, started with guitarist-composer Michael Dunford, who had a personal fascination with the medieval literary work Tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights, and was realized by Dunford and his composing partner Betty Thatcher, with bassist Jon Camp and pianist John Tout. The piece, really nine sections assembled together, was one of the more ambitious works to come out of the progressive rock boom — it fits together nicely and does have some gorgeous passages and many lyrical, powerful sections, although it also seems slightly repetitive, overstaying its welcome somewhat; additionally, it never uses the orchestra quite as effectively as one senses it might have, for anything except embellishment. Less ambitious and more completely successful are “Ocean Gypsy,” “The Vultures Fly High,” and “Trip to the Fair” on side one, all relatively unpretentious pieces which feature extraordinary singing by Annie Haslam.

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Renaissance – Live at Fillmore West 1970 (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Renaissance - Live at Fillmore West 1970 (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz] Download

Renaissance – Live at Fillmore West 1970 (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:08:52 minutes | 790 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Repertoire Records (UK) Limited

One of early prog’s great tragedies was the premature loss of the original Renaissance, who forged their exotic blend of classical rock for little more than a year before disintegrating then morphing into the safer Annie Haslam-fronted band of the same name. Renaissance had been planned by the late Keith Relf and drummer Jim McCarty during their last days in the Yardbirds, emerging in spring 1969 bolstered by the former’s singing sister Jane, firecracker virtuoso bassist Louis Cennamo and ex-Nashville Teens pianist John Hawken, who clinched their classically-infused new sound when he launched into a burst of Beethoven at rehearsal.
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Renaissance ‎- Novella (1977) (First UK Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Renaissance ‎– Novella
Vinyl | LP Cover (1:1) | FLAC | 24bit/96kHz & 16bit/44kHz
Label: Warner Bros. Records / K56422 | Release: 1977 | Genre: Symphonic-Rock

This album of ‘Renaissance’ is undoubtedly one of the highlights. I was reminded of my childhood memories of when music was always present. I’ve a vivid image of my dad coming up with a strange LP (strange to me at that time) of a certain Carl Orff with a very curious work called ‘Carmina Burana’, where he began with a chorus of voices and drums to accompany … ugh! great contribution to Orff to all contemporary music and taking nothing less than medieval scores … But why am I talking about Orff? Simple, because when I hear the first track of ‘Novella’ the song ‘Can you hear me?’, I come immediately to mind the opening of ‘Carmina Burana ‘. There’s a direct influence no doubt. And it’s not new to the Renaissance take classical music pieces and add to it letters.
This is one of the most successful albums of his career with ‘Ashes are Burning’, in my opinion.

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Renaissance ‎- Azure D’Or (1979) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Renaissance ‎- Azure D’Or (1979)
Vinyl | LOG | CUE | FLAC | Tags | Full LP Cover (1:1)
24bit/96kHz: 993mb – 16bit/44kHz: 301mb
Genre: Symphonic-Rock | Label: Sire Records Company ‎/ SRK 6068 | Release: 1979

In my view, “Azure D’Or” is the latest album of good quality from “Renaissance”. They move away from the long tracks, with commercial music glimpses, but maintaining the style that made them famous.
My ideal collection from this group, does end in “Azure D’Or”.
I chose two exquisite pieces “Golden Key” and “Kalynda” (my favorite).
Absolutely recommended.

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Renaissance ‎- Scheherazade And Other Stories (1975) (First US Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Renaissance ‎– Scheherazade And Other Stories
Vinyl | LOG | CUE | FLAC | Tags | Full LP Cover (1:1)
24bit/96kHz: 978mb – 16bit/44kHz: 280mb
Genre: Symphonic-Rock | Label: Sire Records Company / SASD-7510 | First US Pressing: 1975

When somebody asks me about symphonic prog’ I always think of Renaissance and specially of this amazing release, the arrangements, chorus and Annie Hasslam’s operatic voice are unique in the musical world and represent by own right what the word symphonic should mean.
Renaissance is a piano and vocals dominated band with elaborated arrangements but sometimes a bit light compared to most of the prog’ bands from the 70′s, not weak but softer and warmer. Using a comparison with sports, if Genesis and ELP are heavyweights that can kill the opponent with the first chord, Renaissance is like a middleweight, who also needs style and elegance to win the fight.
“Song of Sheherezade” a 24 minutes epic based on the 1001 Nights, it’s so impressive that people use to forget the rest of the album, something unfair because this release is well balanced and all the tracks have their own merits.
The album begins with a strange song called “Trip to the Fair” that starts with an impressive 3 minutes piano intro with chorus and light percussion that mixes with talent elements of different musical eras, which is suddenly followed by the wonderful voice of Annie. Maybe the problem with this song is that after the strong opening you expect something more powerful, but the band changes the direction of the song towards a softer and dreamy tune with some jazz chords that create a traveling fair atmosphere, but with the sacrifice of the power that the introduction make the listener expect, a good song but a bit uneven.
The second track (“The Vultures Fly High”) has a better balance, starts strong and ends stronger, less symphonic and more rock oriented than the rest of the album but powerful and fast, the band members show they are capable of making good short songs.
Side A (in LP format) ends with “Ocean Gypsy” a softer song where again Annie’s vocals are the highlight, with evident participation of the rest of the members, this song is more predictable than all the other tracks but stronger than the previous because makes clear that Renaissance is a complete band, not only a piano and vocals duet.
Side B is what makes Renaissance a transcendental band, “Song of Sheherezade”, without doubt their most elaborate work, an epic that has everything, solid piano, good orchestra and chorus plus excellent work of all the band, the Arabic atmosphere is perfect and the vocals not exclusively by Annie Hasslam are amazing, if you add the spectacular changes and sudden musical explosions you get an unforgettable masterpiece that must be listened before reading any review.
No progressive collection is complete without this album and “Live in the Carnegie Hall” where you can listen a more solid version of “Song of Sheherezade” (if this is possible).
5 Stars

progarchives.com

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Renaissance – A Song For All Seasons (1978) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Renaissance – A Song For All Seasons – 1978
Vinyl Rip in 24 Bit-96 kHz | Redbook 16 Bit-44 kHz | FLAC | Cue | No Log | Scans | 942 MB + 290 MB
1978 / Genre: Symphonic-Rock – Warner Bros – UK

A Song For All Seasons was a 1978 album by Progressive Rock band Renaissance. It marked the return of electric guitars to the band’s music after several years of absence. “Northern Lights” became a Top 10 hit on the U.K. charts and was the band’s best selling single. “For sure an attractive and very good sounding album with some great unforgettable tracks to discover… Enjoy this UK vinyl version”!

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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Renaissance – Turn Of The Cards (1974) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Renaissance – Turn Of The Cards (1974)
Vinyl Rip in 24 Bit-96 kHz | Redbook 16 Bit-44 kHz | FLAC | Cue | No Log | Scans | 854 MB + 234 MB
1974 / Genre: Prog-Rock – Symphonic Rock / BTM Records – UK

Those who happen to enjoy Classical music almost as much as Prog-Rock will find joy out of “Turn Of The Cards” “This is one of their best albums with great compositions, that will give you much listening pleasure; enjoy this attractive album!”

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

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Renaissance ‎- Ashes Are Burning (1973) (1st UK Gatefold Pressing) (24-Bit/96Khz + 16-Bit/44.1Khz) (Vinyl Rip)

Renaissance ‎- Ashes Are Burning (1973)
Vinyl | LOG | CUE | FLAC | Tags | Full LP Cover (1:1)
24bit/96kHz: 852mb – 16bit/44kHz: 244mb
Genre: Symphonic-Rock | Label: Sovereign ‎/ SVNA 7261 | 1st UK Gatefold Pressing | Release: 1973

Rennaissance are a group formed in England in 1969 by former Yardbirds members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty with the goal of experimentation between rock, folk, and classical forms. Over the next few years, the group would go through several line-up changes until they completed what most fans regard as the classic five-piece line-up, which would remain together through six studio albums including this one “Ashes Are Burning”. It was the first of several Renaissance albums to feature an orchestra playing along with the band on some songs, with a symphonic template similar to the sounds produced by Genesis, and a focus on haunting and beautiful female vocals. Andy Powell (of the group Wishbone Ash) guests as electric guitar soloist on the final title track, which became the band’s anthem piece. The album became the band’s first to chart in the US, and is regarded as the most fully formed and best album by the classic five-piece band line-up.

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