Added: 5 years ago
From: ephillipblack
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  • her voice, these words so lifting; heavenly soft and sweet

  • Never realized they were on the show. I still play their music over and over again. Annie's voice is brilliant and the musicianship and arrangements are magical.

  • Simplesmente lindo.

  • Oh dear, I've got this in my plastic collection. I was thinking of getting it out and giving it a play but I don't think I'll bother now. It really has aged pretty badly. Annie still has a stunning voice though

  • You Claim Midnight Special for this recording. Was this the 1977 Wilmette Park Free Summer Concert Series the MS Sponsored by any chance? If so, I was in the audience and singing my heart out along with Annie. Back then I was a Lyric Soprano like her. Older and deep alto now.

  • Not only can she sing, but Annie is great to meet in person....

  • I love her voice , makes me feel in another time

  • Great band !! Amazing sound from Rickenbacker bass !!

  • Thanks Renaissance and Annie and Yes for growing through life as a pacifist with the help of your lyrics and music!

  • An incredible band. Annie had a voice like nobody else and the musical arrangements, by this wonderful band, were magnificent. I saw the twice in the 70's, in Toronto. I was blown away.

  • No words to say, only listening!!

  • Im from that generation, she was just the best voice (the singer from Hearth was Di

  • Wow! I wish I had known about them back then.

  • Beatiful music and magic!!

  • Magical. Wondrous. Spiritual. Love them.

  • love love love love love!!!!!!

  • Excellent video, I'm sure this up-coming youngster must be related somewhere along the lines search for O Holy Night - Daniel Haslam

  • What an amazing voice!!!

  • 23 people have no conciousness

  • Ótimo!!!!

    

  • Five...count em...FIVE octaves...Like a pipe organ with a soul...amazing.

  • Восхитительно!!! Волшебно!!!

  • grupo maravilloso, tantos recuerdos familiares, sensasional, arminia, belleza, mensajes, unicos.

  • grupo maravilloso, tantos recuerdos familiares, sensasional

  • AAAAAA! MY FAV

  • Perhaps a collaboration with the Moody Blues ! But then, since they traveled the high road of musical inspiration separately in synch..it was a collaboration of sorts...an unintentional conspiracy of quality.

    Tom Loughlin Jr, Utica NY

  • I was lucky to see them a couple of times in the early 1970's

    took it all for granted a bit as there was so many other bands around at the time

    thanks for reminding me how great they were

  • I've loved Annie's voice ever since the first time I heard it, and that was one hell of a long time ago. :) Reniassance is one of the greats of prog rock.

  • Annie is the greatest female vocalist in prog history without a doubt.I have always loved how crisp and clean Renaissance's sound was.No one else sounded like them.

  • As George Kastanza once said, 'who cares about eye brows'.

  • nice voice. shame about the eyebrows.

  • Interviewed them for my Music Scene segment on KCRA-TV when they came to play Sacramento around the time "A Song for All Seasons" came out - 1978, I think. Wish I'd kept the film. Fortunately, I did keep the album. Still listen to it occasionally. They were great. Thanks for posting.

  • This was at a time when intelligent musicians made music, not like now when any ignorant moron can make a 'hip-hop', or pop album.

  • This was at a time when intelligent musicians made music, not like now when any ignorant moron can make a 'hip-hop', or pop album.

  • @rdw7300, "too seriously"? What does that even mean? All great artists take their work seriously, otherwise their work wouldn't be great. I think they understand their songs won't cure cancer.

  • Progressive rock at it's finest.

  • Renaissance on Facebook,

  • They seemed to take themselves a bit too seriously. Alot of the art- prog- rock acts did.

  • Beautifull song. I'll have to ask for an Encore on 9/16/11 to get this one included after they play 2 albums that don't have this song on them. I'l try to remember to let ya' know if it happened.

  • this song enchanted me at first time

  • She has a beautiful voice

  • I still can't believe I missed Renaissance when they were "current." I love it!

  • We got free tickets to see them when I was at USF (Tampa) in '77.

    Incredible voice!

  • I remember this show as they were in the states touring for Novella. Seems like they played something else as well but time constraints on Midnight Special interrupted it. But then they weren't disco so what do you expect. LOL!

  • a god

  • Teewoods, It's difficult to describe. It's like Classical Rock Opera with Orchestration without the orchestra. Yet Annie's 6-octave voice is worth a listen every time! The Band (altho' mostly now New) Sounds like a symphony because of their talent. One experiences a different kinda' feeling with each song.... But there's no escaping the fact that Annie Haslam's Voice is something to be heard, lest you live yout lifetime never experiencing the 9th Wonder of My World.

  • Saw R in Potsdam NY in '76...wonderful, unforgettable performance...

    Thanks for posting!

  • Ah i like this kind of music, just like the carpenters, what type of music genre is this?

  • I'm about to purchase a Ticket to their new 2011 Tour, show in Norfolk CT. (9/16/2011)

    ... I wouldn't miss it for the World ! (some new bandmembers, but they have great credentials). Hope to SEA-YA' there!

  • Great music

  • i am coming to you..

    to the this very day... 34 years later...

    and i will still tell you are marvelous...c

  • you are making me cry... this is so very beautiful

    i have loved you for over 30 years...

  • these people had a positive message..so did alot of others...their voices are becoming silenced by the darkness...

  • make no mistake, this is a great tune

  • this is heavens music, now compare this to the crappy garbage they call hip hop or whatever disgusting nname they call it.

  • an angel amoungst us

  • That was good

  • Even today, this song reminds me of what is yet possible! I holds on and stays in your head! Thank you, Annie and Renaissance!

  • esta musica ha estado conmigo desde qe tenia 20 anos , y todavia a mis 45 anos no puedo dejar de escucharla , ha estado en mis mejores y peores momentos, la tengo en mi ipood, ipad , como me gustaria verlos en concierto

    

  • OH My GOD she gave me goosebumps! ANNIE! You R amazing! Loved seeing you LIVE in the 70's & listening to you on vinyl. Hope to catch you on this year's tour! Am telling my friends all over the place to GO see Renaissance!

  • She's all that but still had to draw her eyebrows on like Joan Crawford.

  • she has to have the best vocals of any female singer ever

    

  • My comments would mimic mea1701a's below....truly one of my favorites of all time....saw them in NYC in 73, 74 and once again sometime later, but in 2010 had the pleasure of meeting Annie on the 40th reunion tour. It was truly memorable.

  • Visit the band's website  renaissancetouring com/

  • this is a treat....thanks

  • maravilha , essa voz...belíssima de encantos...Renaissance.

  • I got nearly any of the vinyls... and I will NEVER sell them! Not in any case, folks!

  • Her five-octave vocal range makes singing so effortless.

  • Saw them twice, in 77 and 79 (somewhere in there!) Not just a fan, but a groupie! Nothing like that anymore!

  • EARTH MOTHER.

  • how many people see the resemblance between her and Florence and the Machine...awesome voices!!

  • omg me and my little sis ( when she was 4 or 5 but she's 6 now) used to have this on HER mp3 player and we listened to this while playing Kung Fu Panda for ps2 gosh do I miss those times

  • I was lucky enough to see this live in Philly at Penn's Landing in 1976as part of the Bicentennial celebration

    Perfect evening with a gentle breeze off the river allowing her dress to flow with the music

    It left an indelible memory that still brings a chill down my spine every time I reflect. Great music and artists live forever

  • I was lucky enough to see this live in Philly at Penn's Landing in 1976as part of the Bicentennial celebration

    Perfect evening with a gentle breeze off the river allowing her dress to flow with the music

    It left an indelible memory that still brings a chill down my spine every time I reflect

  • Wow. Carmel mountain is beautiful. What an absolutely lovely place to have a concert!

  • what a voice, and i got a kiss off her at sunderland poly in 1977 or there abouts.

    Thanks for the post.

  • Amazing moment !!

  • My first rock concert that I was in , was Renaissance concert in 1977/78 in Israel , Haifa town

    It was holiday for Rock lovers in Israel

    The concert was in Romema basketball hall in Carmel mountan,

    It was the best moment in my life

    Lord!

  • The Midnight Special forever!

  • Goosebumps every time!

  • Annie -- best voice ever!!!! And hot, too.

  • Renaissance is preparing for their 2011 tour believe it or not!

  • that artist is awesome i heard the firth in early of 1988 and i think that she still sing wondelful

  • BELA VOZ

  • Good. But I thought it would be Jane Relf !

  • @mickigoe Actually, Jane Relf did do a very early version of this song - it's included on a CD called 'Jane Relf's Renaissance.' It's a rough demo, and the lyrics are slightly different. Very cool to hear. Of course, Jane's interpretation is different than the way Annie sings it, but still worth a listen. Jane's version must've been recorded right before 'Renaissance Mark I' broke up.

  • @progfan10 Thanks for the info - really liked the early Renaissance. Cheers mate.

  • Saw them in 73 74 at Carnegie Hall,,  Annie's voice blew me away,, I heard she was originally trained as an opera singer

  • she is awesome - what is she doing now?

  • @12mustangps - Annie & friends are still touring. I saw them in Toronto, Canada in July 2010. She still sounds & looks great.

  • I saw Renaissance in concert in Dallas in early 1978, they were pretty good but had the misfortune to follow the great Al Dimeola.

  • @Scottwax

    Similar story here. Same time-frame, Jean-Luc Ponty opened.

  • Please someone could find "Kindness" its a amazing song... why I cant find here !?

  • I was incredibly lucky to have seen the band in a bar on Long Island around 73. We were so close we could almost touch Annie Haslam. The show was amazing and this song was just the peak of a great set. Never in my life have I heard a voice this beautiful and I may never again. I played The Record until it was worn. I I am so glad there are videos of this from near that time.

  • if i wanted to check out a couple of their albums, which ones should i get?

  • @lilmonstar98

    Scheherazade and other Stories is a good primer. Novella, the one released after it, is their most demanding and imo also their most rewarding. The next one, Song for all Seasons is more 'commercial' but also kicks more ass than previous releases. The three albums prior to Scheherazade - Prologue, Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards - are also worthy. Basically the albums before they 'lost it' are all worthwhile if you liked what you've sampled so far.

  • @CrimsonKing589051 Thank you so much for your thoughtful suggestions! I'll definitely take your advice :D

  • @lilmonstar98

    No problem :D. I also recommend Annie Haslam's solo album Annie in Wonderland (you are just in time to get hold of the remaster btw). But if you are really into prog and all, you may not like that too much.

  • @lilmonstar98 - Check out "Turn of the Cards". It 's always been my favourite. Enjoy.

  • THIS PROG HYPPIE ROCK ROCKS HARD!!!!!!

  • @london2z Wow! What a great opportunity you had. I, too, wondered why they hadn't been more popular. It seemed that it was more a regional popularity on the East Coast. Anyway, it surely feels an honor, so to speak, to have known of them and heard their music. I'm wearing out the you the Saturday Night Live version on You Tube of Carpet of the Sun. LOL! I just love watching and listening to Annie sing that song. :))))))

  • It has been 30+ years, I guess, since I last heard this song. I would recall the chorus and sing it from time to time but when I found it on you you tube recently, I was happy beyond words. MEMORIES!!! I have no words but to say that this, in it's entirety, touches me at the depths of my being. Annie channels from another place outside of this dimension. Sorry. That's the best that I can come up with. BEAUTIFUL beyond words!!!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

  • @58peteydog I love your comment. I saw them live at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, '77, I think. I was floored, speechless. What a show! And in such a beautiful venue, old opera-house Victorian. We were way up in a balcony, yet heard her voice as though she were right next to me. Al di meola was the head-liner, but Renaissance put him to shame, in spite of his virtuosity. Hard to believe that so few people there knew of Renaissance. I could tell from conversations I overheard.

  • In the 70's Progresive Rock and the sofisticated Hard Rock/Metal saved us from punk,disco,and Gordan Lightfoot(OUCH!)

    Annie Haslam is one of the most incredible vocalists with 5 octaves. Ian Gillian of Deep Purple was about 5 also. Even 4 is just incredible to have.

    What a joke music has become today with Lady Gaga,Justin Beiber,Glee,and American Idol. And these grunge and gothic bands are not any better.

    Commercialism and the media are trying to poison everybody!

  • @triumphrocker76

    I highly doubt he has five octaves unless - or maybe even if - falsetto extensions are counted. I have never heard Annie use all five octaves if she has ever, come to think of it. But her voice is so perfectly connected and there is such an unbelievably uniform and consistent quality about it across her range. So much penetration/resonance both low and high too. THAT makes her very unique.

  • The year of punk, as far as the music press was concerned. This will last and inspire, other stuff of that date will not.

  • Probably the most beautiful voice of the rock/progressive era. And the rest of the band is great, too!

  • Qué voz!

  • Please could someone bring to us... kindness ! It´s an amazing song ! Please !

  • RM: Annie Haslam's Queen in 1977 +++

  • Mto bom

  • Renaissance means special and magic memories... those were the beautiful days of my life...

    still enjoy to hear.

  • ANNIE HASLAM THE VEGETARIAN ANGELIC VOICE THAT MADE RENAISSANCE THE PIONEERS THAT STARTED THE " NEW AGE " MUSIC. THEY WERE WAY AHEAD OF THEIR TIME. THEIR ALBUM "NOVELLA" IS STILL MY FAVORITE MYSTICAL NEW AGE MUSIC.

  • I only came upon Renaissance's work four months ago (it seems longer, lol) but already they're one of my favorites, and I'm really glad they're still together. I just hope more of the younger generation like me can discover this kind of thing...prog forever!

  • Annie is an angel crashed down amongst us mere mortals to sooth our savage breasts!

    Thumbs up if you agree!

  • @borgduck I give her 3 thumbs up!

  • @borgduck Do you mean savage beasts? My breasts haven't been very savage, lately. I'll work on that, though. Kidding...

  • @borgduck haha savage breasts... do you mean beasts? hahaha

  • @hannaaaaaaaaahfish The oft-misquoted quote is music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. He is correct.

  • @borgduck - I totaly agree with you !!!!

  • @borgduck

    Maybe, but I went to see them in 77 and she wouldn't sign an autograph. My impression was she was less than a pleasant person. I was a huge fan and I was only 17. Never bought another one of their albums. The whole band seemed arrogant.

  • @larkstoungeinaspic This saddens me so!

  • thats a giant voice,when i hear all that stuf today.............uhhhh....col­d

  • a GREAT VIDEO IS "Im skebedibadiz".

  • loved rhem back in the day saw them "live at carnegie hall" in 1975? or was it 1976?

  • Eine irre Stimme.

    Danke Thomas für den Tipp

    Johnny

  • All of the BBC sight & sound concert has now been posted - enjoy it before the suits take it down!

  • For nearly 40 years I have known the works and the masterpieces of Renaissance and it has greatly impacted my life in the most positive way. Annie's talent is awe inspiring to those who first hear her and gives comfort & joy to those who have heard her for a long time and hopefully for a long time to come. Thank You!

  • @mea1701a All of the BBC sight & sound concert has now been posted - enjoy it before the suits take it down!

  • TheCancarlo, I'm with you there!

  • I think Annie Haslam is the best female voice ( and sexy ) voice of ever... perhaps the only comparison could be with Kate Bush. Don't you think so ?

  • @TheCancarlo I'm with you there!

  • @Maxwegg

    I just stated what I observed, maybe I over generalize, but that's inevitable when you construct stereotypes.

  • Annie is an angel sent here from Heaven amongst us mere mortals!

  • Annie is an angel sent down from Heaven amongst us mere mortals.

  • She has such a great voice

  • lembra-me a minha juventude, foi um grande grupo com uma optima vocalista, as melodicas sao fantasticas

  • I LOVE ANNIE

  • WONDERFUL!!

  • And the weirdest eyebrow prize goes toooooooooooo...

  • "And the weirdest eyebrow prize goes toooooooooooo..." Yeah, but everything else there is perfect.

  • Such a beautiful song. I had this video in my head constantly, all day whilst walking aimlessly through the countryside for 9 hours!

  • Sounds a lot like Yes.

  • Ottawa Tonight Blusfest!

    Nice

  • WOW Nice voice!

  • A fantastic voice!

  • I just saw Renaissance on Friday, June 25, 2010 in Greensburg, PA (along with Steve Hackett). Met her after the show. Very, very nice and she still has the chops (plus I was able to purchase and original piece of her arwork.)

  • j'ai hâte au festival d'été!!!

  • Le pur soprano d'Annie Haslam s'élance haut dans l'azur infini.

  • She and they are a "class act", and always were, from the very beginning.

  • P.S. Happy B-Day Annie: June 8( from one gemini to another): June 16th).

  • @gemini16th She's a Gemini?! so am I!!

  • I was in jr, high in '77- remembered catching "Renaissance" on the Midnight Special(the performance here). I remembered falling in love with their music(this was the era of "art rock"), and they REALLY fit this catagory! Annie Haslam's voice was incredible- great rage of emotions. For a collection of their best work, pick- up copies of their "1,001 Nights, Vols. 1 & 2"

  • happy birthday Annie!!!!!

  • Annie had one of the best voices ever.

  • i didnt realise 30 years ago when into motown what i had missed with annie haslam,stunning, voice like no other and probably still as gorgeous now .

    i play carpet of the sun everyday it cheers me up no end,totally magical thankyou annie and gang

  • Annie Haslam ~ yes!!

  • I m from Poland My Eanglish is bad

    Jestem z Polski Mój Angielski jest słaby

  • What CD is it??

  • @jaamnik601

    Ashes Are Burning. This particular performance, like so many others of this band, has sadly never made it to CD/DVD. That brings me to an interesting question: how many here think this is probably her best performance of this song at least out of the ones that a lot of fans would have heard? I do think she's more relaxed and confident here than in the Carnegie Hall or Albert Hall performances and nails the trill at the end brilliantly, even better than in the studio cut.

  • @CrimsonKing589051 Thanks !!!!!!!! :)

  • @CrimsonKing589051 - Agree with you there, buddy. Not only a superb performance by Annie, but the overall sound of the band in this performance is really 'complete'. Best version I've heard to date.

  • @arbonne1805

    Absolutely, I just love Dunford's intro on this version, there's so much verve there. Camp packs in a lot of punch too. Just the right balance between sounding relaxed, which the song demands, and showing some energy, which is generally required in the live environment.

  • @CrimsonKing589051 Always liked the way Camp nailed his bass lines like lead guitar solos :-) I Like this performance way more than the studio version, which (to my ears anyway) sounds flat by comparison. Plus, I never did like the orchestration in the studio version. I'd heard live performances before listening to it and was pretty disappointed when I finally bought the album.

  • @arbonne1805

    Couldn't agree more except I got in through the studio versions and was sort of taken aback to see the band play it so much better here. I think not only Annie but the band as a whole had really matured as performers by the time of this performance. The live performance of Touching Once at Albert Hall from the same year is magnificent too.

  • @CrimsonKing589051 I think you've hit the nail on the head - maturity. Good songs can develop into superb songs as a band develops its sound, gigs enough and becomes tighter as a unit. This is a classic example, as it's such a confident overall band performance. Really cooking on gas at this point in their career.

  • @arbonne1805

    I think 1977 should be called the year of Annie Haslam :D, you know, Chinese style (1976 would be the year of Phil Collins maybe!). Novella, the live album at Royal Albert Hall, her first solo album Annie in Wonderland which has the incredible Rockalise and sundry live stuff like this.

  • @CrimsonKing589051 Year of the Haslam. Hmmm. Nice ring to it. And if it's Chinese stylee, it should be coming round again soonish. Not sure I'm with you on the Year of the Collins though, although WaW and ToTT were both released that year I guess. On second thoughts, they're great albums, so I'll give a nod to the Year of the PC :-)

  • @arbonne1805

    I guess Wind and Wuthering was released in 77? Anyway, what actually clinched it for me was the Brand X album, Unorthodox Behaviour, where Collins showed the world what a monster he truly was, for Genesis's delicate prog didn't quite afford the space for him to go all out. Of course, he was superb on songs like Cinema Show too, but Brand X was something else. I guess you are a proghead? :P

  • I personally think that Genesis' last quality studio album was Wind and the Wurthering. And not coincidentally, that was also Hackett's last studio album with them. I think three things finally ruined this classic progressive/art rock band: 1) Hackett was being marginalized as to HIS musical contributions, so he left; 2) Phil Collins lusted for more mainstream (radio) success and was pushing for a more pop sound; 3) Progressive and art rock sales declined due to punk / new wave. ALL three BAD!

  • @philipatoz

    I don't really care for any Genesis album post Wind and Wuthering, but And then there were three. Well, as I said in the comments to another link, prog losing favour and punk taking over was a seismic shift in the music industry and not that, long term, seems to have done much good for music.

  • @CrimsonKing589051, it appears we have a similar take on Genesis/progressive rock. One thing that is particularly difficult to sustain is ANY genre of music that doesn't consistently attract substantial numbers of female fans. Women liked Genesis quite a bit because they were song oriented and melodic, in addition to their progressive traits. But more purely progressive bands attracted a much higher % of males. The same trend is true of jazz, instrumental, virtuoso and musician-oriented bands.

  • @philipatoz Not sure how far I agree about the female angle, though it's true that both jazz and classical attract a lot of women.  For instance, Renaissance clearly have a larger male than female following.

  • @CrimsonKing589051, you're right - just my observation that if music is more virtuoso and musicianship oriented, particularly if it is mostly instrumental, you'll find a much higher percentage of a male audience. I think if there were more female instrumentalists - particularly on guitar, bass, drums, then their would be more female fans. Renaissance had beautiful vocals and fans - unsurprising they had lots of female fans. Cheers!

  • @philipatoz I agree with the first part, it's generally true that males look at music more analytically (hence the interest in instrumentation, arrangements) while females look at it more emotionally. But females generally like tough girl types, like Slick or Joplin, that's why Ren has more male fans than female. Males tend to like a high pitched female voice, so they are, paradoxically, more fond of the softer stuff in this case. Music's tricky business. ;)

  • One of my FAV Renaissance song....how you describe this type of music?

  • @iannickCZ You're right!