Annie Haslam, one of the most beautiful voices in prog...All killer musicians...

Ashes Are Burning

Carpet of the Sun is a must for everyone to hear. Annie's voice is angelic and there are several live versions to see.

This has come to be known as symphonic progressive rock!They were the best at this by far!

Woo hoo!! More Renaissance! ❤️ This song showcases Jon Camp's amazing bass, John Tout's keys, Annie's stellar voice, oh, heck the whole band soars here!! Such a classical Russian flavor throughout, pure power all the way, then the delicate acoustic section. So intricate, and pretty music. This will give you a sense of Scheherazade. Thanks!! ❤️

Never heard of this band until 3 hours ago hearing a song on the radio (WFMU) out of Teaneck, New Jersey. Used Soundhound to see who it was & it was Renaissance - 'Carpet Of The Sun'. Fast forward to now I look to see what Dethstrok9 has going on & bam, Renaissance. 46 years old never heard of this band n get hit w them twice in 3 hours. Weird.

One of my favorite bands from the 70s. I have seen them at least 4 times!

Renaissance was a very popular band in the Northeast in the 70's. I saw them in concert 3 times. Annie Haslam has the purest voice I have ever heard. A monumental song they did is Song Of Scheherazade. The album "Live At Carnegie Hall" is terrific. My 70's girlfriend's favorite song was Let It Grow.

Hi Daniel:. Every single song on both "A Turn of the Cards" and "Novella" would be worthy of your attention, either for the show, or for your private enjoyment. They are Landmarks. Loving the show. Peace.

Never heard this one. Almost sounds like the opening of a musical. I'll bet that gets your theater juices flowing.

Daniel....so glad you picked this song. In an interview Annie Haslam said that this was one of her two favorite songs in the Renaissance catalog. I had the honor seeing them play this live. Witnessed many great performances by them. I totally understand the fantasy angle!! You do fantastic work....keep it going!

My favorite Renaissance song is "Touching Once Is So Hard To Keep" from my favorite album of theirs, "Novella." You really should check it out sometime. It's notable for the sustained note Annie holds at the end.

Ocean gypsy was my favorite Renaissance song

I've heard this track more times than I can count. And still as soon as Annie starts to sing, her voice brings me out in chills down the spine. Just awesome.

Your stories are not long-winded. I find you to be a great story teller which plays in very well with your reactions :)

Quintessential Renaissance is "The Black Flame" and "Mother Russia" from the album "Turn of the Cards". "A Trip to the Fair" and "Running Hard" should be heard too. But the list of marvellous Renaissance songs is long and extraordinary. A fine choice you have made here, Daniel. Well done, Sir!

Great to see you finally getting back to some more Renaissance. I know so little about this group, but I've loved everything I've heard by them so far. Annie is one of the greatest hidden gems in all of rock.

SO pleased to watch a reaction to and interpretation of one of my personal top four songs from one of my top-three favourite bands (the other two being Genesis and Yes)! I'd love to see you react to loads more pieces by this massively-underrated band, perhaps most of all my personal favourite "Can You Hear Me", about city people hiding behind their social facades. Most of the lyrics of the classic period were written by (non-group) poetess Betty Thatcher. Sadly, along with Mike Dunford who wrote most of the music, neither still with us. IIRC, Dunford wrote the music, then Thatcher supplied the lyrics!

Wish you would react to other early Renaissance, like Scheherazade, especially the live version. They were not really popular through out the entire US, mostly on the east coast and the west coast, but Annie Haslam now lives in Pennsylvania!

Jon Camp /Bassist.

turn of the cards is one of my favorites.

"Kansas-esque" in some instrumental parts. Absolutely beautiful. Another group I was vaguely aware of, new exposure in music always invigorating.

One of my favourite groups of all time seen them live and they were awesome, good choice this whole album is worth listening to in one go, other albums you should check out are Scheherazade Novella and Turn of the cards not forgetting the amazing live at Carnegie hall

I love Renaissance. I just recently found them too. So far Kiev is probably my favorite but I haven’t listened to that many of their songs

Glad to find someone else who enjoys this group. One of my favorite songs by Renaissance is called: Ocean Gypsy

Saw them live at Red Rocks. Magical. Annie is also an artist, and we have one of her works hanging in our home. Ethereal.

Great album, wonderful song - Annie Haslam has a magnicent voice. Also have a listen to the album "Scheherazade" by them, I think it may be u your street.

I think you'll like their song Midas Man.

Renaissance should be better known, it's a fantastic sound, I suggest reacting to "Can you understand?", "Let it grow" and "Spare some love"

Daniel, Thanks for covering the music of the World, of human history. Great stuff formy spirit.

Another really good one that you will love reacting to is A Trip to the Faire!

Of course we are still here. This was a very interesting song as it did go to several places in my mind. Perhaps all the seasons melding into one

They were on3 of the best bands of the 1970’s! Annie Haslam had a five octave range voice!👍🏻❤️☮️🥰🎼✌🏻🎤

Love Renaissance! The whole Tale of a Thousand Nights album is amazing!

Still here at the end! Even when Renaissance was in their prime, I always felt like they never quite broke out, at least not as much as they should have. Was fortunate enough to see them live at Tanglewood, an incredible show. If you're looking to do some more, I'd strongly suggest you try Mother Russia - soaring vocals and amazing piano - and packed with drama. It almost feels like a short movie. Hope you get to it. Enjoying your channel as always!

The wondrous Annie appeared on a different reaction channel, and my hope is that she, and others, will grace your excellent show with their presence. I saw Renaissance live in Charlotte, and had most of their albums. What I find most gratifying is that, hearing the music, hot off the presses, whilst close to your age, I, and others surely, thought of most of the music your are reviewing now, as timeless. And you have picked up on that timeless quality, and will recognize it, and create it anew.

This is the best reaction video I’ve seen. It spoke to me (watched to the end). You have a large emotional range.. you should protect it. We aren’t supposed to be in touch with the thing you speak of all the time, or we couldn’t play our parts on this stage. This song is one of 3 of my all time favorites. Thanks for doing it. Subscribed

Renaissance have a long and excellent catalog of music. I’m still partial to the early, folkier albums like “Prologue” and “Ashes Are Burning.” Keep exploring!

I saw them as the back up band to Yes. A moment in time I remember Annie's long black flowing hair (extensions?) swaying back and forth keeping time for the band during their musical interludes. Actually, Renaissance is my favorite band because they're not appreciated enough. If they were more appreciated then they would be among my top five with JTull, Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, and ELP haha.

Watched it all! :) Great song.. wow.. Two thoughts.. 1 - Yeah the beginning few minutes reminded me of "Pirates" by ELP.. 2- I listened to the song again, after your take on it and I think you really painted a great mental picture for the piece as a soundtrack to the scenery and inner feelings you described. The ability to share that so well is gift you have that I'm sure will go a long way with your writing etc.

It was amazing live..in 78...what a band...

I was introduced to this band through Opeth and loved it immediately

I experienced Renaissance in reverse. I fell in love with this album then went back and discovered other great albums like Scheherazade. This was the last album with an orchestra which was unfortunate because their next two albums offered tunes that would have been great with the full orchestral sound. At The Crossroads especially. Great review.

"This" Renaissance is gorgeous. Still love Mark I the most. Formed by the Yardbirders Keith Relf and Jim McCarty. They were more gritty/groovy and mystical/magical, still very classically influenced. I"d recommend the opener of their debute; Kings and Queens - a remarkable epic!

Yes. Yes. "Carpet of the Sun", or "Can You Understand" are personal favs. Partially because those are the only ones I have heard.

Hi, Daniel. You should try the bands Fairport Convention, Wishbone Ash & Traffic. More music to dig.

So happily surprised to hear you've read The Silmarillion. Not an easy read but so, so worth the effort. And eerily relevant today.

Love your Pink Floyd sweatshirt! Saw Dave Gilmore live 2017 I have a similar T- shirt. Your reactions are great! 🎶❤️😎

I agree this album is epic, but their earlier works might be even better. Try ' Carpet of the Sun', 'Can you Understand', 'Prologue', 'Ashes are Burning' (the live version really catapults her voice range), and 'I Think of You'.

Annie Hamsa had a terrific voice. You would listen to the music just to hear her vocals. Probably the most perfect signature song Renaissance had was Northern Lights. Check it out if you haven't done so.

Good one, Daniel! I had this album at time of release, but barely played it for reasons below..... Some interesting, behind-the-scenes "schtuff" that I can share regarding this album and its Spring 1978 release: 'Twas on Sire Records in the U.S. At the time, Sire was more than fully-engaged in releasing and promoting their punk rock artists, and at the time of the "A Song For All Seasons" album release, the label was working LPs by the Ramones' "Road to Ruin," Talking Heads' "More Songs About Buildings and Food," The Rezillos, Dead Boys' We Have Come for Your Children," The Flamin' Groovies, Radio Birdman, The Paley Brothers, Plastic Bertrand, the Undertones, and others! Renaissance's "A Song for All Seasons" was right in the midst of ALL of these at the early- to mid-part of '78, and got completely (and unfortunately) lost in Sire's punk/new wave shuffle! I'm willing to bet band members would lament something similar about that era, and their short shrift, if they were interviewed today! In the midst of those albums (and attendant singles off some of them), Sire was influential as a leading punk/new wave label, completely immersed in getting sales and airplay for what was the leading edge of new wave at the time. I was working in the retail record end of the biz then, having just wrapped up 3 years in commercial FM rock radio. As Sire was distributed by Warner Bros., I had a great relationship with Houston's Warner Bros. regional rep, and was happy to do some independent promo work for him, but mostly for these Sire new wave releases, and saw, first-hand, the shuffle Renaissance ultimately got lost in, and sadly may have even contributed to overlooking them in favor of the label's punk flavor of that day! I'M SORRY!!😉 This was a terrific listen, though, and it was fun hearing your reflection, Daniel, and now, 43 years later, I would LOVE hearing the whole album!🎶👍

I stayed to the end and enjoyed your ‘rambling’. 😉 The music was new to me and I enjoyed it.

I'm late to the party on this reaction....thanks, good job as usual. Great song, brings back some fond memories.

Yes, I'm still here. And I'm TRYING to be The Face of Evil (tm) but the paperwork you gotta file to do that is enough to choke an alpaca.

Thank you for this, Daniel. You made my weekend complete!

A band to add to my collecting passion.

This is a Swan Song for Prog... 1978... end of a decade for the most wonderful music humanity had the privelege of... Man has Music, Man makes Music, Seasons and fashions change, Music remains

You need to react to their song from NOVELLA called "Can you hear me". It makes me tear up every time I listen to it.

I would like to suggest the song "Mother Russia" by Renaissance.

Glad you got to Renaissance. I'm not sure what your other Renaissance song was but my recommendations are Trip to the Fair, Mother Russia, and Scheherazade.

These guys are simply heavenly. Such a perfect combination. If you like this, I have a feeling that you will REALLY enjoy Caravan. In The Land of Grey and Pink and For Girls who Grow Plump in the Night! So good...

GREAT PURE RENAISSANCE! Firing compositionally and in execution on all their usual cylinders! Conscious and uplifting lyrically. Not much more to say that I have always loved about this band ........... BUT LIKE YOU! at the end I immediately expected there to be more & for it to move into another passage before the final climax. Many songs by them on this level would have continue through one more change & build up!!!

I don't find this heavy metal music like at all I find it very enjoyable musically. Will have to see if her voice grows on me, nice but not my favorite parts... I've never heard a bit of this music before I will have to go check out your other Renaissance reaction This is great. Thank you very much for introducing this and to whomever recommended this to you in the first place.

Wow, I thought I was the last American who still listened to Renaissance. From this album, the big hit was "Northern Lights", which is pretty good pop. A great album overall, though -- not a single weak track. I actually liked the next album, Azure d'Or, quite a bit, though it was less popular. And of course Annie has one of the all-time voices. As others have noted, the earlier pieces (Cold is Lonely, Scheherezade, Ashes are Burning, etc.) are a serious orchestral prog trip.

I watched all the way to the end, as I enjoyed hearing how the song inspired you to recall that wonderful walk you once went on. I'm so pleased that you picked out this song to react to, because I was going to suggest it to you at some point, but hadn't got around to it yet. Albeit a different style, the intro to this song is every bit as impressive as something like Rush's 2112. It's criminal that Renaissance weren't more popular and successful in their heyday, but uniquely creating a fusion between classical and rock music ended up being a space where too few fans of those genres felt able to go, which really is a great shame. As you experienced here, the "classic" line-up of the band comprised hugely talented musicians who were able to do justice to the extremely versatile and creative mind of guitarist and primary composer Michael Dunford (who's so sadly no longer with us). Although Michael was a guitarist, Renaissance has always been primarily a keyboard-focussed band, blessed to have the virtuouso wizardry of John Tout (who's also sadly passed away), along with Annie's stunning vocals of course, plus the brilliant rhythm section of Jon Camp (bass) and Terry Sullivan (drums). Their experimentation should be a beacon for prog rock but, instead, they're known and appreciated by too few, which is a crying shame. It's great that people like yourself are helping to introduce them to a new audience. Specifically regarding this song, I don't know if the lyrics were written in anticipation of what was going to happen, but this song was the last of their epic compositions (for more than 35 years at least), so it marked the end of an era,which was all too brief having only lasted for 6 glorious years (I won't get into the story of the first two Renaissance albums here). John Tout and Terry Sullivan left the band after this album, with this line-up never to record together again. The remaining members changed their style in an attempt to become more commercial and, presumably, increase their fanbase. Let's just say that it didn't work out and leave it at that. I very much hope you'll react to other Renaissance songs in the future. Others have been making suggestions, and there are plenty of great songs to choose from. I won't add to that, but will go off at a tangent and draw your attention to the band Illusion, which was formed by 4 of the 5 original members of Renaissance. I can wholeheartedly recommend that you should pencil in their magnificent song Madonna Blue to react to in the future (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZriDZrx40sjZhGw.html). I'm 100% certain that you won't regret giving it a listen, even if you don't react to it. More power to you! :)

I own many of Renaissance’s albums and saw them live in ‘77, but I’ve never heard this song. Thanks. I like it. It sounds like something that Nightwish would cover. I’ll have to get this album. Daniel, when you’re ready to create your first music video, you need to shoot it at that misty valley. I’m thinking of the videos that Jamie Dupuis shoots on location with his harp guitar as inspiration.

Help. I need rescuing from the woods, you left me behind, whilst I was trying to follow your mysterious story. Epic song since first listen to this and other non radio played songs from the album on first play.

The Hobbit films were awesome.. During lockdown my wife and I watched the entire 6 film Jackson series with the Hobbit films first so it was one seamless story. Also love all the Tolkein books.

The catalog of Renaissance's music is all awesome, there's a lot of similarity to Yes and ELP. I recommend Can you Understand?, and Mother Russia, to start with. Also, the entire Scheherazade album, especially Ocean Gypsy, maybe their best song.

Daniel, I stayed to the end. 😊 You spoke of people who you might consider evil, but others might not. Robert Heinlein said, "Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate - and quickly." Something to think about. 😁

You might also enjoy Bo Hansson's musical journey, Lord of the Rings. Achingly beautiful music.

Brilliant! Mesmerising track,great long build up intro before the great vocals of Annie Haslam, I always thought this other worldly & uplifting. John Camp on base!

Epic And Powerful!

You MUST listen to Scheherazade!!!!!! Amazingly epic!!!!!

Great reaction to a great unexpected song.

Epic, nothing else.

A song for all seasons is the last masterpiece song, of the band....nothing that follow had that power

You definitely gotta listen to Scheherazade its another long form prog epic, some really beautiful stuff in there

Sounds like Yes, too.

Their lyricist was also underrated. Hatcher, I think.🗿

Mother Russia and Northern Lights are other suggestions.

There is a slight structure resemblance to Tarkus. Good observation.

I love this type of bombastic epic symphonic prog. It reminds me a bit of Days of Future Past by The Moody Blues. Recommend TransAtlantic for a similar sound. The epic Whirlwind is a masterpiece. Try the opening Overture/Whirlwind/The Wind Blew Them All Away. ps, I wrote the Moody Blues reference before listening to your analysis.

Carpet of the Sun and Ocean Gypsy next please!

You must read The Once And Future King, by T. H. White, one of the all time fantasy classics.

I used to play this album for my dedicated metal head pals to ease them into other progressive music! Had an opera singing girlfriend,that I met at one of their shows in 1976! Peace and practice that guitar,it won't breakup with you for listening to Black Sabbath like my singer did!

I have never heard this band before--- I am puzzled how it could have escaped me-- I am usually drawn to music that takes me somwhere else --- I guess your never too old to discover something new to you --- However her voice is making me feel like I have heard her before but dont know where --- I am a fantasy book fan as well --

Blackmore's Night have a new album out.... Deff worth a meander into... Loads of Renaissance style stuff on there material..

When you said that you liked that part with the long build-up it made me think of sex. This song could be like a long sex act put into music. With all the subtleties and build ups and pullbacks, and crescendo's. It's really a beautiful thing to be able to put that into music.

I saw them live in the early1980’s after some of their best members were no longer with them though they still were excellent and Annie was fantastic.

Try reacting to Ocean Gypsy And Carpet of The Sun!

A different song with the same title was recorded by Jefferson Airplane in 1969, it's also about disorder and chaos but the sound could not be more different. It sounds like a saloon song and the lyrics detail how the band is falling apart. It was written by their drummer. As for movies give David Lynch a try, "Blue Velvet", "Lost Highway" and "Mulholland Dr." are all brilliant. If you want to get weird then try his student film "Eraserhead".

Had a Macarthur Park vibe

Nice video

First one of your reactions I've watched. The first thing you did was check the comments - that tells me it's highly unlikely to be their official channel because official channels are disabling comments. Music isn't supposed to be social I guess /s

Carpet of the Sun by Renaissance

Either something's wrong with my tablet or this is a mono recording. Not the best way to listen to Renaissance, but it still was beautiful.

Why pick this over Northern Lights? Odd choice I feel. BTW Keith Relf formed Renaissance after leaving The Yardbirds; this music is a long way from I Wish You Would! He accidentally electrocuted himself aged 33.

This song sounds like a James Bond 007 song.

Ocean gypsy 👍👍 please