Ashes Are Burning [Import]

Product Description
Probably One of the Best and First Fully Formed Album, Mixing Russian, French, and Indian Influences in Musical Settings that Are Both Lively and Elegant. Features Andy Powell on Title Track. Now Available on CD for the First Time.

Ashes Are Burning,Renaissance,Repertoire,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Ashes Are Burning [Import]

Average customer rating: The main member always was Michael Dunford. Ashes are burning Burned out on "Ashes" and Renaissance? The Renaissance Masterpiece The beginning of a creative peak

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: Repertoire ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Turn of the Cards Scheherazade & Other Stories Prologue Novella Song for All Seasons ASIN: B000006X8V Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

1. Can You Understand
2. Let It Grow
3. On the Frontier
4. Carpet of the Sun
5. At the Harbour
6. Ashes Are Burning

Album Details

Probably One of the Best and First Fully Formed Album, Mixing Russian, French, and Indian Influences in Musical Settings that Are Both Lively and Elegant. Features Andy Powell on Title Track. Now Available on CD for the First Time.

Customer Reviews:

The main member always was Michael Dunford........2007-06-05

I have been reading several reviews, several, several, and the motto has been always the same, "The spectacular Haslam's voice, the spectacular Haslam's voice" again and again and again, hey, you all, pay attention please; Ok her voice is the first impact and the trade mark of this band, and I love her voice too, but everybody has been forgotten that Michael Dunford always composed all the songs, virtually all the songs since the first time, and mainly on this album where he composed all the songs, simply the entire album, he was the genius of the band, "he was the Renaissance soul". You can replace eventually a singer, a bassist, but try to replace the genius composer, try to replace Michael Dunford here in this case and for sure Renaissance wouldn't have existed. Only later John Camp started to contribute and share the compositional task with Dunford, but Dunford kept himself as the main composer untill the end. Remember Annie has never composed anything. I repeat, I love Annie Haslam's voice it is superbly beautiful but you all have forgotten the real hero here. This album in my opinion it doesn't have only one weak moment, or a weak composition, it is perfect and the best Renaissance work, and don't forget John Tout's unbelievable piano playing ability he is a real piano genius, all the group was on their peak, superb work, "Ashes are burning" is the best song, but you can recognize that is a masterpiece since the first piano notes of the "Can you understand". Simply perfect. Moving, Essential to all progressive rock fans.

Ashes are burning.......2007-05-08

I knew this album. Particularly I liked very much their music. I do recommend this album.

Burned out on "Ashes" and Renaissance?.......2007-02-21

I was happy to see that the music from Renaissance is still being printed. I was a fan of the band when this album came out, saw them once in concert, and loved the haunting melodies, vocals, and bass lines. Listening to the album now, however, it definitely sounds dated and somewhat predictable. Haslam's voice is still wonderful to listen to and the title track is the best. I would probably recommend Novella over this work if you wanted to purchase only one album.

The Renaissance Masterpiece .......2006-07-20

1973's "Ashes Are Burning" is the fourth Renaissance album, which saw the band say goodbye to guitarist Rob Hendry and a hearty hello to guitarist/songwriter Michael Dunford. "Ashes Are Burning" is also the band's masterpiece, with stunningly superb songs & performances from beginning to end. It's just an incredible listening experience. All six songs on "Ashes" are musical works of art in their own right. The nearly 10-minute "Can You Understand" sees Renaissance thundering in like a powerful storm, before the thunder gives way to the calm and beauty of Annie Haslam's voice and the lovely accompanyment by the band. Then they go thundering out again at the end. It's brilliant! The next four pieces, "Let It Grow," "On The Frontier," "Carpet Of The Sun," and "At The Harbor" are simply gorgeous numbers. But the band save the best for last---the title track, which is 11 1/2 minutes of astounding, passionate classical/rock (with a thrilling, jamming instrumental bridge and powerful conclusion, too). It is without question the Renaissance signature song, the number they always concluded their concerts with, and rightfully so. Absolutely phenomenal work from the whole band---Annie Haslam's astonishing five-octave voice, and the equally astonishng playing of guitarist Michael Dunford, bassist Jon Camp, keyboardist John Tout, and drummer Terry Sullivan. "Ashes Are Burning" is a sensational album from a sensational group. Buy it now!

The beginning of a creative peak.......2006-06-05

This 1973 album marks the beginning of the bands signature sound and a four album period that shows them at a creative peak. The lineup on this album included lead vocalist Annie Haslam, John Camp (Rickenbacker 4001 bass and vocals), John Tout (acoustic piano, harpsichord, organ, moog synthesizer, and vocals), Michael Dunford (acoustic guitar), and Terence Sullivan (drums/percussion and vocals). Of the musicians, Annie Haslam's soaring soprano, John Tout's delicate acoustic piano playing, and John Camp's aggressive and trebly Rickenbacker bass sound really make this album work for me. Some people have complained about Michael Dunford's approach to the guitar but I actually like his folky strumming on the acoustic - it works well with the material. In addition to the core musicians, guest Andy Powell plays electric guitar on Ashes are Burning, and various pieces of an orchestra are featured here and there.

The six tracks on the album range in length from 3'34" to 11'24" (with most in the 3-7 minute range) and feature haunting melodies and soft acoustic textures, with some heavy bass playing. In general the overall style is that of progressive rock, with a great deal of English folk influences and European classical. In fact, there are a number of classical sounding melodies scattered throughout the album that sound awfully familiar - I am sure that if I took out some recordings by (for example) Debussy or Prokofiev, I would probably unravel the mystery. My favorite tracks include the proggy Ashes are Burning with it's churchy organ work and Can you Understand? although the rest of material is pretty strong.

This album is strongly recommended to prog fans that do not mind a lot of classical and folk mixed in with their prog rock. Other great albums include Turn of the Cards (1974); Scheherazade and other Stories (1975); and Novella (1977).

Average customer rating: Magnificent! This is the 2006 remaster (REP 5078)-German import Michael Dunford was the real genius of the band. The remastered cd's.

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: Repertoire ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Turn of the Cards Prologue Novella Turn of the Cards Scheherazade & Other Stories ASIN: B000FQWGAG Release Date: 2006-07-18

Tracks:

1. Can You Understand
2. Let It Grow
3. On the Frontier
4. Carpet of the Sun
5. At the Harbour
6. Ashes Are Burning

Album Details

Born Out of the Ashes of the Yardbirds, Renaissance Underwent a Transformation in the Early 70s, Following Personnel Changes and the Arrival of Singer Annie Haslam and Acoustic Guitarist Michael Dunford. The Group Developed a Unique Style that Fused Strands of Folk, Classical and Pop Music. First Released in 1973, "Ashes Are Burning" features Dunford's Melodies and the Lyrics of Poet Betty Thatcher. The Band Established Its Style with Six Romantic, Yet Dynamic Compositions Augmented by an Orchestra-including the Title Track that Became Known as the Band's Anthem. Melodic, Cleverly Arranged and Subtly Performed, Each Song is a Model of Good Taste, Imbued with an Indefinable Magic. This Edition Comes in Mini LP Vinyl Replica Packaging with the Original Artwork, Including a Booklet with Authoritative and Extensive Liner Notes (Including an Interview with Michael Dunford) by Respected and Journalist Chris Welch.

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent!.......2007-07-19

One day back in 1973 I was cruising home from college with the top down . . . when all of a sudden what do I hear? This lovely music was radiating from my 4-speaker system. It was Renaissance' "Can You Understand?" I was smitten! I immediately found out who it was (I had no idea initially) and went out and got the LP for the home and the 8-Track (how quaint!) for the car! 34 years later I now have the CD copy and I would highly recommend this record to anyone who loves good music! It's a classic in every sense of the word!

This is the 2006 remaster (REP 5078)-German import.......2007-07-10

and the sound is STUNNING.
It comes in a LP mini sleeve with a very nice insert.
No FBI logo, no UPC code on cover-they put love into this, one of 3 remasterings, and used a sticker on the outer cellophane wrapper instead.

Michael Dunford was the real genius of the band........2007-06-05

I have been reading several reviews, several, several, and the motto has been always the same, "The spectacular Haslam's voice, the spectacular Haslam's voice" again and again and again, hey, you all, pay attention please; Ok her voice is the first impact and the trade mark of this band, and I love her voice too, but everybody has been forgotten that Michael Dunford always composed all the songs, virtually all the songs since the first time, and mainly on this album where he composed all the songs, simply the entire album, he was the genius of the band, "he was the Renaissance soul". You can replace eventually a singer, a bassist, but try to replace the genius composer, try to replace Michael Dunford here in this case and for sure Renaissance wouldn't have existed. Only later John Camp started to contribute and share the compositional task with Dunford, but Dunford kept himself as the main composer untill the end. Remember Annie has never composed anything. I repeat, I love Annie Haslam's voice it is superbly beautiful but you all have forgotten the real hero here. This album in my opinion it doesn't have only one weak moment, or a weak composition, it is perfect and the best Renaissance work, and don't forget John Tout's unbelievable piano playing ability he is a real piano genius, all the group was on their peak, superb work, "Ashes are burning" is the best song, but you can recognize that is a masterpiece since the first piano notes of the "Can you understand". Simply perfect. Moving, Essential to all progressive rock fans.

The remastered cd's........2007-01-10

As most Renaissance fans will know the songs I'll simply focus on the remastering. Of the 3 that Repertoire has released(along with 'Turn of the Cards' & 'Scheherazade...') this is the best sounding. 'Turn of the Cards' & 'Scheherazade...' are both a bit over-ripe. You constantly feel like you have to turn down the stereo. The sound is definitely not muddled and much, much better than the earlier cd's. 'Ashes..' on the other hand has a warm feel to it & you can finally hear the orchestra and drums much clearer. There is even a moment in the song 'Ashes Are Burning' in which you can hear Annie Haslam's chair squeaking. As a vast improvement on the older cd's, I would recommend the remasters to any Renaissance fan. Buy them. You'll be glad you did.

Average customer rating: Desert Island collection must! Bravo First half uneven, second half soars Awesome Achievement!!! burning the way..

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: One Way Records Inc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Progressive Rock | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Progressive Rock | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Prologue Turn of the Cards Scheherazade & Other Stories Azure d'Or Song for All Seasons ASIN: B000002RA5 Release Date: 1992-09-11

Tracks:

1. Can You Understand
2. Let It Grow
3. On the Frontier
4. Carpet of the Sun
5. At the Harbour
6. Ashes Are Burning

Album Description

1991 reissue on One Way of the prog veteran's second album for Capitol (and fourth overall), originally released in 1973. Features all original cover artwork. This CD has six tracks, including 'Can You Understand?' and 'Let It Grow'.

Customer Reviews:

Desert Island collection must!.......2002-01-10

Somebody hate Renaissance, and there are a few clunky lyrics and an occasional amateurish-sounding vocal line but you can't beat the overall musical quality and the greater emotional impact of their work.
This album is my favorite of all of theirs, so I would rate it as one of my top ten CDs to have with me when I am stranded on a deserted island for ten years.
Add it to your collection!

Bravo.......2001-08-13

I am a Progressive Rock fan and a "Yes" fanatic. I am not alone in liking both groups as there is a 'Listmania' that is nothing but Yes and Renaissance listed. I was told that if one loves Yes' "Close to the Edge" that there is 95% that you will love this album. I borrowed a friends CD and am now addicted to it and buying my own.

This fits into the "Golden Age" Progressive/Art-Rock/Sympho-rock genre that Yes/ELP and others pioneered in the early 1970s. In America, Renaissance, did not get catapulted into the same popularity as Yes. This group is as talented as Yes and very similar in terms of raw indivdual talent, composition and creation of their own sound which blends the Structure of Classical Music with Rock. Whereas Yes, particularly in the Rick Wakeman era, blends together Symphononic Music (heavy on Mozart motifs) with Rock; Renaissance blends English medival folk and chamber structures with Rock to produce a very pleasent sound indeed. I assume more people are familiar with Yes, so I am continuing the comparision. Renaissance is most like Yes' Close to the Edge album, but a little more mellow/orchestral. Highly recommend to anyone, but in particular Yes' fans.

First half uneven, second half soars.......2001-03-06

With their second post Relf album, Renaissance took the same approach that they had on "Prologue" -- John Tout's piano and Annie Haslam's soprano combining to make pleasant and enjoyable "classical" rock considerably less overbearing than acts like Emerson, Lake, and Palmer etc. made. The results are also quite similar to "Prologue," although, at its best, "Ashes Are Burning" is a somewhat more accessible effort.

The first half of the album is a bit uneven. "Can You Understand," which opens the album, is a nice if not terribly remarkable start, while Haslam's vocals venture on slightly shrill territory of "Let It Grow."

But things pick up considerably for the second half. "Carpet of the Sun" is a brief song with a strong melody that is perfectly complimented by Annie Haslam's lovely vocal turn, while "At The Harbor" is a more "traditional" Renaissance song -- longer in length (nearly seven minutes) while projecting a more somber mood than the cheery "Carpet." But it is the closing title track that really highlights the album.

Clocking in at nearly eleven and a half minutes, the title track showcases the entire band and in the process creates an epic song that "progressive" rock is both famous and, in some cases, infamous for. Yet this song brings a more accessible approach to the genre with a strong melodic sense that so often got lost among so many of the genre's other acts.

Awesome Achievement!!!.......2001-02-27

My favorite Renaissance album. This is the album where they found their identity for years to come. If you enjoy King, Crimson, Yes, Moody Blues, and ELP - You should enjoy this album tremendously.

burning the way.........2001-01-31

Classical folk rock with a jazz influence - that's Renaissance, and by the time of Ashes Are Burning they had finally developed their distinctive sound. No one before (or since) had blended soaring melodies, complex orchestration and the occasional classical quote with the modern stylings of rock and jazz like this. Of course, it's also easy to recognize Annie Haslam's gorgeous voice by itself; her singing alone is worth the price. Her voice acts as an additional instrument, an integral part of the composition rather than following a vocal line 'over' the other instruments.

Apart from an occasionally awkward lyric ("Let It Grow," which is still a beautiful song nonetheless), this album is strong and consistent, start to finish. "Let It Grow," "Carpet of the Sun," and "On the Frontier" show the group's cheerful and sunny side. The longer pieces "Can You Understand" and the title track stretch out and cover more musical ground than many entire albums. Overall it's an eminently positive album - quite a marked contrast to the following Turn of the Cards, which can be downright depressing. This one is for a sunny autumn day, 40 minutes of life-enriching beauty not to be missed.

Average customer rating: If Manly Men Could Sing...

Great Russian Artists: Pavel Lisitsian Manufacturer: Russian Disc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001LPS Release Date: 1995-12-01

Tracks:

1. In The Silence Of Teh Night Op.4 No.3
2. She's Beautiful As NOon, Op14, No. 9
3. There Are Many Souds, Op 26, No 1
4. I'm Lonely Again, Op.26 No. 9
5. We Met Yesterday Op.26, No. 13
6. Everything Passes Op.26, No. 15
7. I Beg You - Don't Go Away Op.4 No.1
8. April! A Joyful Spring Day
9. In My Soul, Op. 14 No. 1
10. I Was At Her Place Op.14, No. 1
11. It Hurts So Op.21, No. 12
12. An Excerpt From Musset
13. A Dream, Op. 8, No. 5
14. A Dreadful Minute , Op. 26 No. 6
15. Death Op.57 No.5
16. Over Burning Ashes Op.25, No. 2
17. Reconciliation Op.25 No.1
18. Mad Nights Op. 60 No. 6
19. Amidst Gloom Days, Op.73 No.1
20. We Sat Together, Op. 73 No. 1
21. The Lights WEre Going Out In The Rooms Op. 63 No.5
22. Let The Winter Op. 65 No.4
23. Only He Who Knew Op. 6 No. 6
24. Don Juan's Serenade Op.28 No. 6

Customer Reviews:

If Manly Men Could Sing..........1999-12-11

I chose that title to convey the rough power of this great baritone's voice. His sound is quite far from the carefully refined Fisher-Dieskau and may not be to everybody's taste, yet the listener will be moved by the emotion and power which are bound together in this amazing sound. Once you play this CD on your own stereo, you will understand how imperfect the sound samples on this website are. Born November 6, 1911 in the town of Vladikavkaz, Pavel Lisitsian was actually Armenian, not Russian. From 1940-1966 he was a leading baritone with the Bolshoi, famous for roles such as Prince Yeletsky, Eugene Onegin, Amonasaro and Escamillo. When he sets his voice to song literature, we frequently hear the dramatic sound he employed to bring those stage characters to life. This particular collection of songs is a super value, offering a generous amount of wonderful material for a low price. The most famous songs of Tchaikovsky & Racmaninoff are here, vignettes of romantic ecstasy and desolation.

Average customer rating:

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: Repertoire/Hepcat ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000252DLM Release Date: 2002-11-07

Average customer rating: Three of Renaissance's greatest songs are on this album

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Visi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005A45T Release Date: 2001-02-12

Tracks:

1. Can You Understand
2. Let It Grow
3. On The Frontier
4. Carpet Of The Sun
5. At The Harbour
6. Ashes Are Burning
7. At The Harbour (Short Version)

Album Description

Japanese reissue of the progressive rock act's 1973 album (currently out-of-print domestically), packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. 2001 release.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Version featuring an LP Style Slipcase, Digitally Remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Three of Renaissance's greatest songs are on this album.......2001-09-21

Half of the half-dozen songs on Renaissance's second album from 1972 are prime examples of the group's progressive (nee classical) rock sound. The best proof of this is that "Can You Understand?", "Carpet of the Sun" and "Ashes Are Burning" are also performed on the 1976 "Live from Carnegie Hall" album.

The title track is undoubtedly the ultimate Renaissance encore piece. Indeed, it serves as the final track on not only that pair of albums but also the two volume "Tales of 1001 Nights" set, where it is moved from its contemporary pieces on the first volume to the last track on the second. "Ashes Are Burning" is the perfect encore piece because it serves so well as an extended showcase for solos by the group's members.

In contrast, "Can You Understand?" has always been the ideal opening song for a Renaissance album, with its driving piano melody that spurns the rest of the band to match it as the song progresses. Yet within this 10 minute epic we are also treated to Annie Halsam singing accompanied only by acoustic guitar, before the song again builds upon a larger them appropriated from a Russian classical composer.

"Carpet of the Sun" remains the group's best known "single," not only because it is one of the few songs short enough to be given airplay, but also because Annie Halsam's vocals with that dazzling trill continues to delight. More than any other singer of her time, Halsam's singing voice was an instrument integral to the composition and performance of each song, which is why she is as effective singing a series of la's as she is singing Betty Thatcher's lyrics.

Michael Dunford wrote the music for all but one of the songs on this album, which marked his official return to the group. Jim McCarty did the music for the remaining track ("On the Frontier) while Richard Hewson wrote and conducted the orchestral arrangements that became a defining element of Renaissance's work. This limited edition album also includes a "short" version of "At the Harbor," as a minimalist inducement to pick up this album even if you already own it. In retrospect, what is most impressive about "Ashes Are Burning" is how quickly the group found its voice after the release of their first album, "Prologue." For the next six years things would only be getting better with many considering their next effort, "Turn of the Cards" to be their best album.

Average customer rating:

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000BRHUK0 Release Date: 2001-02-12

Average customer rating:

Ashes Are Burning Renaissance Manufacturer: Sovereign ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000GGSKUU Release Date: 2006-07-03

Tracks:

1. Can You Understand
2. Let It Grow
3. On the Frontier
4. Carpet of the Sun
5. At the Harbour
6. Ashes Are Burning

Album Details

Original Mini Vinyl Artwork which Includes a Booklet with Authoritative and Extensive Liner Notes by Respected Author and Journalist Chris Welch. Also Includes an Interview with Michael Dunford of Renaissance.

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