RENAISSANCE : DAY OF THE DREAMER

 

  1. Can You Hear Me
  2. Carpet of the Sun
  3. Day of the Dreamer
  4. Back Home Once Again
  5. Can You Understand / The Vultures Fly
  6. A Song for All Seasons
  7. Prologue
  8. Ocean Gypsy
  9. Running Hard

Label : Mooncrest Records

Release Year : 2000

Length : 73:41

Recording Date : 1977 - 1978

Venue : unknown

Review (AllMusic) : This CD is a most satisfying listening experience, despite a few shortcomings in the packaging. Released under the auspices of Annie Haslam at a time when Renaissance had splintered in several different directions (with even Jane Relf reportedly getting ready to start using the group name again), it's assembled from what appear to be several live performances - the notes by Haslam would lead one to believe that these date from the late '70s, and the lineup of Haslam, Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp, and Terry Sullivan. But as there are no dates or actual credits, that's impossible to say with 100-percent certainty - what is true beyond doubt is that the sound is excellent (almost too good for a '70s-vintage concert recording) and the performances are superb from beginning to end; not only is the band tight and loud, but Haslam is in even better shape vocally than the rest of them are instrumentally. Indeed, fans of Jon Camp's bass work will especially love this CD, because his playing is way up front here without being obtrusive (just powerful).

Notes (Discogs) : Collection of live tracks recorded at various shows in the mid-1970s. The first 7 tracks may come from an unreleased concert recording from 1978. Tracks 8 & 9 are from 1977 and previously released on "the BBC Sessions" (1999).

Review (Wikipedia) : Day of the Dreamer is een livealbum van de toen nog geheel Britse muziekgroep Renaissance. Na de twee varianten Michael Dunfords Renaissance en Annie Haslams Renaissance is nu gekozen voor Renaissance featuring Annie Haslam. Het ware beter geweest, dat vermeld werd dat dit Renaissance in de "oude" succesvolle samenstelling was. De site gewijd aan Renaissance houdt het erop dat de opnamen zijn van een eenmalig concert uit 1978, behalve voor de twee laatste tracks, deze waren waarschijnlijk al te horen op BBC Sessions. De tijd kan wel kloppen gezien de kwaliteit van de stem van Haslam, die in latere jaren toch wat onzuiverder werd. Daar is hier nog geen sprake van. Exacte datum en plaats van concert zijn onbekend. Er werd in ieder geval niet met symfonieorkest gespeeld; het is alleen de band.