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| cover = RenAzure.jpg
| cover = RenAzure.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = 1979
| released = May 1979
| recorded = November 1978 – February 1979
| recorded = November 1978 – February 1979
| venue =
| venue =
| studio = Maison Rouge Studios, London
| studio = Maison Rouge Studios, [[London]]
| genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[symphonic rock]]
| genre = [[Progressive rock]]
| length = 42:55
| length = 42:55
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] <small>(UK)</small><br />[[Sire Records|Sire]] <small>(North America)</small>
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] <small>(UK)</small><br />[[Sire Records|Sire]] <small>(North America)</small>
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| prev_title = [[A Song for All Seasons]]
| prev_title = [[A Song for All Seasons]]
| prev_year = 1978
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = [[Camera Camera]]
| next_title = [[Camera Camera (Renaissance album)|Camera Camera]]
| next_year = 1981
| next_year = 1981
| misc = {{Singles
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Azure d'Or
| name = Azure d'Or
| type = studio
| type = studio
| single1 = The Winter Tree" / "Island of Avalon
| single1 = The Winter Tree
| single1date = 20 April 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-04-21.pdf|title=Music Week|page=48}}</ref>
| single1date = 1979
| single2 = Jekyll and Hyde" / "Forever Changing
| single2 = Jekyll and Hyde
| single2date = June 1979<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/684/mode/2up|title=The Great Rock Discography|year=1995|page=684 |isbn=9780862415419 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles }}</ref>
| single2date = 1979
}}
}}
}}
}}
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}}
}}


'''''Azure d'Or''''' is the ninth studio album by the British [[progressive rock]] band [[Renaissance (band)|Renaissance]], released in 1979.
'''''Azure d'Or''''' is the ninth studio album by the English [[progressive rock]] band [[Renaissance (band)|Renaissance]], released in May 1979.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/684/mode/2up|title=The Great Rock Discography|year=1995|page=684 |isbn=9780862415419 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles }}</ref>


==Overview==
==Overview==
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"Forever Changing" was the only Renaissance song on which drummer Terry Sullivan wrote all the music. His only other writing credit with the band was on the title track of the preceding album, ''[[A Song for All Seasons]]''.
"Forever Changing" was the only Renaissance song on which drummer Terry Sullivan wrote all the music. His only other writing credit with the band was on the title track of the preceding album, ''[[A Song for All Seasons]]''.

"The Discovery" was the only fully instrumental song ever released by the band (not including certain sections of "Song of Scheherazade", from the 1975 ''[[Scheherazade and Other Stories]]'' album).


A pre-release track listing, published in the Renaissance Appreciation Society newsletter, included the song "Island of Avalon". This song ended up being omitted from the album; the band members weren't sufficiently pleased with it, having not invested their usual amount of time in it. It was ultimately used as the non-album [[B-side]] to "The Winter Tree" in April 1979;<ref name=renhist>[http://www.nlightsweb.com/lib/renhist.htm The History Of Renaissance<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> it was the only such B-side of the Haslam era of the band. It was released on CD in 1997 on the compilation ''Songs from Renaissance Days''.
A pre-release track listing, published in the Renaissance Appreciation Society newsletter, included the song "Island of Avalon". This song ended up being omitted from the album; the band members weren't sufficiently pleased with it, having not invested their usual amount of time in it. It was ultimately used as the non-album [[B-side]] to "The Winter Tree" in April 1979;<ref name=renhist>[http://www.nlightsweb.com/lib/renhist.htm The History Of Renaissance<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> it was the only such B-side of the Haslam era of the band. It was released on CD in 1997 on the compilation ''Songs from Renaissance Days''.
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| title1 = Jekyll and Hyde
| title1 = Jekyll and Hyde
| lyrics1 = [[Betty Thatcher]]
| lyrics1 = [[Betty Thatcher]]
| music1 = Michael Dunford
| music1 = [[Michael Dunford (musician)|Michael Dunford]]
| length1 = 4:39
| length1 = 4:39
| title2 = The Winter Tree
| title2 = The Winter Tree
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{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| headline = Side two
| title1 = Secret Mission
| title6 = Secret Mission
| lyrics1 = Camp
| lyrics6 = Camp
| music1 = Camp
| music6 = Camp
| length1 = 5:00
| length6 = 5:00
| title2 = Kalynda (A Magical Isle)
| title7 = Kalynda (A Magical Isle)
| lyrics2 = Camp
| lyrics7 = Camp
| music2 = Camp
| music7 = Camp
| length2 = 3:42
| length7 = 3:42
| title3 = The Discovery
| title8 = The Discovery
| note3 = Instrumental
| note8 = Instrumental
| lyrics3 = –
| lyrics8 = –
| music3 = Camp
| music8 = Camp
| length3 = 4:24
| length8 = 4:24
| title4 = Friends
| title9 = Friends
| lyrics4 = Thatcher
| lyrics9 = Thatcher
| music4 = Dunford
| music9 = Dunford
| length4 = 3:31
| length9 = 3:31
| title5 = The Flood at Lyons
| title10 = The Flood at Lyons
| lyrics5 = Camp
| lyrics10 = Camp
| music5 = Dunford
| music10 = Dunford
| length5 = 4:55
| length10 = 4:55
}}
}}


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===Renaissance===
===Renaissance===
*[[Annie Haslam]] – lead (1–2, 4–7, 9, 10) and backing vocals
*[[Annie Haslam]] – lead (1–2, 4–7, 9, 10) and backing vocals
*Michael Dunford – electric guitar (1, 5–6, 8–10), [[Twelve-string guitar|12 string acoustic guitar]] (1–2, 4–9), classical guitar (5, 8), [[mandolin]] (4), [[autoharp]] (5, 10)
*[[Michael Dunford (musician)|Michael Dunford]] – electric guitar (1, 5–6, 8–10), [[Twelve-string guitar|12 string acoustic guitar]] (1–2, 4–9), classical guitar (5, 8), [[mandolin]] (4), [[autoharp]] (5, 10)
*John Tout – piano (1–2, 4–7, 9–10), [[Yamaha CS-80]] (1–6, 8–10), [[Yamaha CS30/CS30L synthesizer|Yamaha CS30]] (1–2, 6, 8, 10), [[ARP String Ensemble]] (1–4, 6–7, 10), [[ARP Pro Soloist]] (4–5), [[ARP 2600]] (8), [[Hammond B3]] (8), Yamaha electric piano CP 70 (8), [[Mellotron]] (9–10)
*John Tout – piano (1–2, 4–7, 9–10), [[Yamaha CS-80]] (1–6, 8–10), [[Yamaha CS30/CS30L synthesizer|Yamaha CS30]] (1–2, 6, 8, 10), [[ARP String Ensemble]] (1–4, 6–7, 10), [[ARP Pro Soloist]] (4–5), [[ARP 2600]] (8), [[Hammond B3]] (8), Yamaha electric piano CP 70 (8), [[Mellotron]] (9–10)
*Jon Camp – backing and lead (3) vocals, bass (1–2, 4–10), bass pedals (4–10), cello (1), 12 string acoustic guitar (5), electric guitar (6–8)
*Jon Camp – backing and lead (3) vocals, bass (1–2, 4–10), bass pedals (4–10), cello (1), 12 string acoustic guitar (5), electric guitar (6–8)
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{{Renaissance (band)}}
{{Renaissance (band)}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:1979 albums]]
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[[Category:Albums produced by David Hentschel]]
[[Category:Albums produced by David Hentschel]]
[[Category:Sire Records albums]]
[[Category:Sire Records albums]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Records albums]]
[[Category:Warner Records albums]]

Latest revision as of 05:21, 25 August 2024

Azure d'Or
Studio album by
Renaissance
ReleasedMay 1979
RecordedNovember 1978 – February 1979
StudioMaison Rouge Studios, London
GenreProgressive rock
Length42:55
LabelWarner Bros. (UK)
Sire (North America)
ProducerDavid Hentschel
Renaissance chronology
A Song for All Seasons
(1978) 		Azure d'Or
(1979) 		Camera Camera
(1981)
Singles from Azure d'Or
  1. "The Winter Tree"
    Released: 20 April 1979[1]
  2. "Jekyll and Hyde"
    Released: June 1979[2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

Azure d'Or is the ninth studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in May 1979.[4]

Overview

[edit]

With this album the band stopped using an orchestra, choosing instead to overdub multiple instruments themselves in an attempt to emulate an orchestral sound.[5] It was also the band's first album to exclusively feature short songs with no long "epic" pieces.

"Forever Changing" was the only Renaissance song on which drummer Terry Sullivan wrote all the music. His only other writing credit with the band was on the title track of the preceding album, A Song for All Seasons.

A pre-release track listing, published in the Renaissance Appreciation Society newsletter, included the song "Island of Avalon". This song ended up being omitted from the album; the band members weren't sufficiently pleased with it, having not invested their usual amount of time in it. It was ultimately used as the non-album B-side to "The Winter Tree" in April 1979;[6] it was the only such B-side of the Haslam era of the band. It was released on CD in 1997 on the compilation Songs from Renaissance Days.

Following this album's release, Renaissance underwent major changes that left it with a very uncertain future. In 1980, following a short tour of Israel, both John Tout and Terry Sullivan left the band. Tout (who was dealing with some personal stress due to the death of his sister) had made a major mistake during a concert and walked offstage. After this it was mutually decided that he should leave the band. Terry Sullivan, a longtime friend of Tout's, then left the band as well on principle. On top of all this, the band's label, Warner Brothers/Sire, dropped the group due to disappointing sales of Azure d'Or.[6]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Jekyll and Hyde"Betty ThatcherMichael Dunford4:39
2."The Winter Tree"ThatcherDunford3:03
3."Only Angels Have Wings"Jon CampCamp3:41
4."Golden Key"ThatcherDunford5:12
5."Forever Changing"ThatcherTerence Sullivan4:48
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
6."Secret Mission"CampCamp5:00
7."Kalynda (A Magical Isle)"CampCamp3:42
8."The Discovery" (Instrumental)–Camp4:24
9."Friends"ThatcherDunford3:31
10."The Flood at Lyons"CampDunford4:55

Personnel

[edit]

Renaissance

[edit]
  • Annie Haslam – lead (1–2, 4–7, 9, 10) and backing vocals
  • Michael Dunford – electric guitar (1, 5–6, 8–10), 12 string acoustic guitar (1–2, 4–9), classical guitar (5, 8), mandolin (4), autoharp (5, 10)
  • John Tout – piano (1–2, 4–7, 9–10), Yamaha CS-80 (1–6, 8–10), Yamaha CS30 (1–2, 6, 8, 10), ARP String Ensemble (1–4, 6–7, 10), ARP Pro Soloist (4–5), ARP 2600 (8), Hammond B3 (8), Yamaha electric piano CP 70 (8), Mellotron (9–10)
  • Jon Camp – backing and lead (3) vocals, bass (1–2, 4–10), bass pedals (4–10), cello (1), 12 string acoustic guitar (5), electric guitar (6–8)
  • Terence Sullivan – drums (1–2, 4–10), percussion (1–2, 4, 6–9), timpani (5–6, 10), glockenspiel (5), gong (6), chimes (6, 10), xylophone (10), backing vocals (4)

Production

[edit]
  • David Hentschel – producer, engineer
  • David Bascombe – assistant engineer
  • Dick Plant – vocals recording
  • Gered Mankowitz – art direction and photography

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 48.
  2. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 684. ISBN 9780862415419.
  3. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Azure D'or – Renaissance review". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  4. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 684. ISBN 9780862415419.
  5. ^ Liner notes from the Tales of 1001 Nights compilations
  6. ^ a b The History Of Renaissance
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