Its about imprisoned russian writer Alekandr Solzhenitsyn...Annie is an angel from heaven

In their masterpiece, “Scheherazade and Other Stories”, you are treated to a Progressive Rock Opera where she shines and her soprano upper range is in full display, especially at the climax. JUST WOW!!!!!!

She has a once in a lifetime voice, five octave range with poise and presence, powerful enough to project above such a collection of master musicians, so clear and crisp that you can hear the Russian ice freezing solid. I was introduced to Renaissance in the summer of 1981. I am so very thankful for friends that exposed a young 18 year old to such experiences. That was 41 years ago. I mourn their loss everytime I hear Renaissance and I remember all those good times. "Ocean Gypsy where are you, The shadows followed by the stars Have turned to gold, turned to gold"

I saw a lot of great concerts in the late seventies: Yes, Genesis, Frank Zappa, Gentle Giant. But only once did I ever have front row center seats. And that was for Renaissance. Annie Haslam was absolutely phenomenal, swaying in her flowing dress, that pristine voice effortlessly coming through her, just fifteen feet away. Wonderful band. Blessings.

Love this one so much! Annie's voice is sublime, and the musicianship is top notch.

Annie Haslan has an amazing voice, indeed. "Ashes are Burning" is another great song by Renaissance.

This beautiful track is a tribute to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who was banished from Russia by the Communist regime for his writings. Another incredible song, not mentioned very often, is "Can You Understand": kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m6ySg7uG37PHkZ8.html

Renaissance, like Dead Can Dance after them, never bothered to write bad songs. You can play anything by them and I will be here to listen to it. I've memorized most of their songs. Thanks for being such a formidable lion king of music. "Kiev" another timely song of theirs. Look up "Gulag Archipelago". Peace on Earth.

Annie always sang in bare feet. She needed that freedom I guess. But my God, what a voice. Perhaps even THE voice.

Very important song in my childhood

If I recall correctly, this is a tribute to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the famed Russian author & dissident who was imprisoned....

Congratulations Harri! You found Renaissance. They were big in the early 70's. Most of their concerts were in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania area. I saw them 3 times.. never disappointed. On their studio albums Annie's voice is always crystal clear. Try Ashes Are Burning, At The Harbor, The Sisters, and the magnificent Song Of Scheherazade.

I'm so glad a few reactors are bringing such an underrated group to light. Shout out to reactors like Harri and justJP!

They also do a song called Kiev. Given what is going on in the world today you should check it out.

The song was about Archipel Gulag and Solzhenitsyn, a political prisoner and writer in the USSR then, 70ies. Annie had a beautiful voice, even not very known in Europe and the US, and of course even not here in Germany, Renaissance was one of my all time ProgRock favorite bands, I bought the first album in summer 1973 on a vacation in the Netherlands, called "Prologue", and I just loved this kind of "classical driven" Rock, ProgRock fairytalish music of that UK Band. Annie lives since long near Philadelphia, US. Michael Dunford, the master mind of that band passed away in 2012 I guess.

Annie Haslam has one of the greatest voices I have ever heard. Just spellbinding.

Renaissance!!! Wonderful Band!!! Annie Haslam, Yes!!!

Renaissance is my all time group. They often toured and played with orchestras. All of their albums have orchestras on them. Please react to Scherazade from their Live at Carnegie Hall album. It's 26 minutes in length, but it's a class. Thanks and peace be with you.

I’ve just watched this video. Always interesting to hear other musicians’ (particularly classical musicians’) opinions of pieces like this. Mother Russia is a fine piece, with highlights for me of the fine vocals, bass guitar line, and complentary piano chords with little flourishes.

The song is about dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn.On the band's 1977 double LP Live at Carnegie Hall Annie Haslam introduced the song and said it was about him before she sang the song. The aforementioned album is fantastic. I recommend that you also react to Scheherazade or Ashes Ashes Are Burning. At the Carnegie Hall Concert the band performed with a full symphony orchestra.

Yes Harri my friend, you did a reaction to "Can you Understand?" by Renaissance back in December requested by me...lol! Renaissance is my favorite folk/prog rock band next to Curved Air. I can take this one off my future request list...lol. There is still so much to show you with this group my friend. John Tout (pianist) was amazing in this track, and of course Annie's beautiful vocals. I love that you got a chance to react to this one. Whether in studio or live Renaissance is the best!

This band even in the 70's was overlooked. however they were some of the best musicians at that time and Annie's voice is beautiful. funny she lives about 30 min from me now and gives a Christmas concert every year.

The beginning the piano and guitar are beautiful and delicate. Her voice is lovely. Your analysis is spot on Harri.

Fabulous live band back in the day

Perfect pitch and control with little or no vibrato. I saw them live many times in the Philly area, including the Academy of Music (wow, they made the hair on my arms stand up). There is none quite like her or even nearly skilled vocal wise.

Profound lyrics and singing with the soul of the land history

At the Harbour, The Sisters are great songs!

Saw Renaissance in the late 1970s (while at University) when they performed a concert in Atlanta. They were amazing - and Annie's voice was crystal clear! Always one of my favorite groups, they got a lot of airplay on Auburn University's radio station at the time.

Annie is an amazing talent.

I *love* this band, for the reasons you give: superb musicianship, sublime singing from Annie Haslam, always engaging songs. One of the things that Renaissance stand out is that Annie Haslam is one of a *vanishingly* rare breed: women in prog! I mean, who else is there, apart from perhaps Sonja Christina from Curved Air?

70's progressive album rock. No radio-friendly 3 minute songs here. Yes, heavy classical music influence and a very talented group of musicians. I am ancient enough to have seen them live.

Good choice. "Can You Understand" is wonderful, sublime, etc. Folks out there. Which song of theirs ends with Annie singing a note that's way up there in the stratosphere?

It's so nice to see younger people discovering this music. This is the stuff I grew up with, rock and roll to get the blood pumping, and this perfection in sound. And no autotune :) Love the jacket, by the way.

I got hooked on Renaissance at college in the early '80s. They had several very distinct periods/styles, but I loved them all. Early stuff like the eponymous album; middle stuff like Ashes are Burning and Scheherezade and Turn of the Cards; later stuff like A Song for All Seasons and Azure d'Or. And oh my word I was in love with Annie Haslam. I would tag them as "Orchestral Rock" as opposed to prog; but then nobody is really prog if you compare them to Gentle Giant or groups like that...

Very much prog rock with a strong classical leaning. Beautiful playing by all but loved John Tout's touch on the piano. Please check out: Ashes are Burning Things I Don't Understand Ocean Gypsy and any other Renaissance track! lol

Annie hurt hit her back and was wearing a back brace one of the several times I saw them in concert. Couldn’t tell the difference. Bonus fact: Annie has at least 1 album with Steve Howe (YES), and was considered as a replacement when Jon Anderson left Yes

Wow, new to me!

AlexanderSolzhenitsyn Russian novelist

May I recommend reviewing their last two albums, 'Tuscany ' and 'Grenadine il Vento' . While neither sold well, both were amazing return to form, for them, with new musicians.

Being a longterm fan of Renaissance, I can tell you that Annie Haslam's voice is for real. No matter the material, she brings it....and is still doing so now, in her 70's. Not many can do that....

Interesting pick !

The song was written for the benefit of a Russian writer, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. He was an outspoken dissident, and was imprisoned for years in a Russian gulag, for the crime of writing private letters criticizing Stalin and the Soviet system, and almost died there. The song was written to bring attention to his plight and add to public pressure for Russia to release him, which they eventually did.

They are a symphonic progressive rock band back in the 1970’s and became just rock with a hint of progression later after their incredible keyboard player left the band! The song is indeed how The Soviet Union controlled their people lithe way Ras-Putin is doing today! A masterpiece by them is Ashes Are Burning, And another one showing Annie’s vocals is Carpet of The Sun.

What a voice! Preternatural.

Saw them live in Red Rocks. Magic. Annie's voice? Ethereal.

The studio version has so much more orchestration and dramatic sound.

Been listening to this band and album since a good friend gave it to me back in the mid 70's. Her voice sounds like they picked it up off the recorded album version of this song, it is almost exact. What's this song about? Harri, have you read any Russian history?

I hope you'll have time with all your zillions of requests to do another Renaissance reaction. They have SO many great classic songs. 'Day of the Dreamer', 'Can you hear Me', 'Ashes are Burning', to name a few.

One of my favorite bands

Red blood, white snow, he knows frozen rivers won't flow.

This song is about the Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Its about Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the dissident writer who would up in a gulag. Imprisoned for one's art.

It's about the Russian writer Alexander Soshenizin who got locked up in a Gulag for years back in the Soviet Union,. He later got released and emigrated, if I remember correctly, to the UK. That was back in the 70's.

Hi Harri, My favorite is Day of the Dreamer on the later Song for all Seasons album. I am not aware of a taped live performance of this one but the studio version is great.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is what it's about from what I understand

Ah, very pretty. When I saw the title I thought you were doing the Sisters of Mercy song. Nope, very different! 😄

Hi Mr. Harri, I am not the expert, I think it would be Ren, sounds like Ben, you know.. ♠W.G.

The song is about and in support of Russian author and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Solzhenitsyn

YOU SHOULD LISTEN To Running Hard Renaissance!

her voive has a five octive range.

listen to Carpet of the sun Renaissance

When I click on "Ashes are Burning" I am brought to "Mother Russia" rather than Ashes are Burning. Something is wacky.

I'd put in my 5cents worth for Ocean Gypsy

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a6hlapt92r7GgH0.html The concert this came from

Annie is an amazing vocalist. But I can't be the only one that hears Veruca Salt singing "I Want It Now" whenever I hear Annie sing.

Progressive Rock is not a great platform for female vocalist. This is a major exception.