Live at Carnegie Hall [Import, Live]

Renaissance | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Live
• Label: Repertoire
• ASIN: B0000073BB
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,224 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prologue

2. Ocean Gypsy

3. Can You Understand

4. Carpet of the Sun

5. Running Hard

6. Mother Russia

Disc: 2

1. Scheherazade

2. Ashes Are Burning

Editorial Reviews

1994 reissue on Repertoire of the prog icon's 1976 double live album for BTM, complete with the original artwork. Contains all eight tracks on two CDs within a double slimline jewel case. Includes 'Mother Russia', 'Ocean Gypsy' and 'Ashes Are Burning'. The album was recorded with the NewYork Philharmonic backing Renaissance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For 30 years, I've considered this a "top 5" album, January 18, 2007

By 

Squire Jaco (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at Carnegie Hall (Audio CD)

Even though there were many other great (usually shorter) songs from their first few albums that didn't even make it to this album, "Live at Carnegie Hall" is still pretty much a "best of" for Renaissance up to their 1976 output. They grandly showcase their unique brand of classical rock (complete with orchestra!), which was often heavily influenced by Russian romantic and impressionist composers of classical music. Annie Haslam's voice is as beautiful as ever here, and she hits a high note at the end of "Scheherazade" that still astounds me. I love the between-songs dialogue between her, John Camp and the very appreciative audience. Camp's bass solo on "Ashes are Burning" - simply sublime! In fact, the whole band sounds tight. This is an absolute treasure for progressive rock lovers.

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 9.3/10; Performance = 9.5/10; Production = 9/10; CD length = 10/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 9.4 ("5 stars")

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great CD, May 16, 2004

By 

Nathan P. Couch Jr. "ncouch" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at Carnegie Hall (Audio CD)

I don't even know where to begin with this collection. There is no bad cut here. There is, however, romance and adventure. Magic and myth. Joy and sadness. The voice of Annie Haslam will take you up and wisk you away on a journey of the mind and heart. A journey you will want to take over and over. Whether in the middle of the night or in the bright sunlight. I have many favorites including "Scheherazade", "Ocean Gypsy", Ashes Are Burning", and "Can You Understand". Really they are all good because of the voice (Annie Haslam) and the incredible backing of Tout, Camp, and Dunford this band is the best. Without doubt in the top 5 of my collection - all time.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top of the heap, November 21, 2007

By 

Billy O (Reno, Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at Carnegie Hall (Audio CD)

After years of reading these posts, I've decided to weigh in with my own, and it is this: "Live at Carnegie Hall" is, simply, Renaissance's finest moment.

My relationship with their music began late one autumn night in 1976 at the University of Nevada in Reno. A twist of the radio dial to an obscure FM station landed on "Running Hard." I took it all in, and fortunately the DJ later identified the band. I was hooked.

The next day I headed for the record store, but all they had in stock was the "Carnegie" double LP, and reluctantly I seized it. Good decision, turns out. From then on -- and to this day -- I have none of the band's studio recordings save for "Novella." Don't know that I even want them, either. Live recordings never appealed to me, but Renaissance, especially "Carnegie," I humbly bow to.

I wish I could have been there that summer solstice weekend in 1975. Imagine hearing "Scheherazade," live on stage for the first time. Blows my mind listening even now, three decades later, and imagining having a seat in Carnegie Hall.

To those of you who wish to argue over the finer points of the Renaissance sound, album versus album, song vs. song, go right ahead. I can't read a lick of music, but I know great sound when I hear it, and anytime Renaissance played live, it was indeed great.

I own the "Carnegie" CD, both volumes of the King Biscuit Royal Albert Hall performance (love the orchestra leader's reference to "Ren-AYE-saunce" in the intro) and "British Tour `76." I do not wish to compare, only enjoy. None disappoints, as each has its own personality.

"Carnegie," though, sits top of the heap. Some think the band played it too safe; I say so what. They, and the orchestra, were so on their game -- Jon Camp, especially, with his muscular bass guitar. And his solo on "Ashes Are Burning"? Stupendous. What I'd give to see a video of that.

Keyboardist John Tout amazes; clearly among the elite of the era. And what can one say about Annie Haslam that hasn't already been said? There are great female voices in music, but she defies categorization and rises a classy and oh, so gorgeous head and shoulders above them all. The guy yelling, "You're lovely!" in the Carnegie audience during a pause in "Ashes Are Burning" said it best.

Other late 60s/70s-era bands I cherish -- those were my formative years, after all -- but time has eroded my tolerance. Seems that after one play I find myself reaching for my Renaissance CDs, and "Live at Carnegie Hall" is first among equals. Such staying power I can only attribute to the band's musicianship created in a rare, Beatle-esque convergence of talent.

Sadly, Renaissance never got the attention and fame the band so richly deserved. But gladly, I hit the right radio station that fateful night back in `76. Thanks to "Live at Carnegie Hall," I revel to this day in a band that transcends time and outlasts fads and fly-by-nighters.

Great music ­-- and a heavenly voice -- always will.