Lunch with Renaissance to start the week – recorded on April 3, 1974 at My Father’s Place in Roslyn New York by WLIR-FM.
In 1974 Renaissance was, at least in America, still gaining a foothold in the Prog community. Starting initially as Symphonic Rock, led by former Yardbirds founder Keith Relf in 1969, it was something of a shock to fans expecting an extension of something Psych and Blues based. But after two albums the Relfs (Keith and sister Jane) left, with the remaining members regrouping and re-tooling in more Prog genre, bringing in Annie Haslam whose voice and range astonished everyone within earshot. It would be one more revamp in 1971 that would be the lineup remaining until 1979.
This concert comes during that middle period which many considered their best. After Northern Lights, their breakthrough hit in 1979, they became lumped in with the burgeoning “soft rock” genre, after 1983 and the future had another re-vamp, re-group and re-tool before calling it a day (temporarily). So this 1974 recording comes from a time Renaissance is probably best known by Prog standards when they were a staple on FM Radio.
If you aren’t familiar with this era of Renaissance, check them out. If you aren’t familiar with the band at all, have a visit here ( https://amzn.to/4dgU2VZ ) and go shopping.
In the meantime . . .
