Illusion (band)
Illusion | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Progressive rock |
| Years active | 1977–1979 |
| Labels | Island Records Edsel Records Brisk Production Promised Land |
| Past members | Jane Relf Jim McCarty John Hawken Louis Cennamo John Knightsbridge Eddie McNeill |
Illusion were a British progressive rock band formed in 1977. They released two albums, Out of the Mist (1977) and Illusion (1978) on Island Records, before folding in 1979.[1] A third release titled Enchanted Caress (made up of demos for a proposed 3rd album, from the late 70's) was released in 1990.[2]
Illusion were intended to be a reunion of the original line-up of Renaissance (whose second album was titled Illusion), but singer and guitarist Keith Relf died before the project was realised.[3] The band's lineup now featured Louis Cennamo on bass, John Hawken on keyboards, Jim McCarty moved from drums to play acoustic guitar and share vocals with Jane Relf, while Eddie McNeill replaced him on drums and John Knightsbridge (from Thrid World War, and later of Ruthless Blues) on lead guitar.[4]
In 2001, McCarty, Cennamo, Hawken and Jane Relf reunited to record Through the Fire, an album of new material - under the name Renaissance Illusion[5]
Members
- Jane Relf - vocals
- Jim McCarty - vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Hawken - keyboards
- Louis Cennamo - bass
- John Knightsbridge - guitars
- Eddie McNeill - drums
Discography
Out of the Mist (1977)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Isadora" | Jim McCarty | 6:56 |
| 2. | "Roads to Freedom" | McCarty, John Hawken | 3:53 |
| 3. | "Beautiful Country" | McCarty, Hawken | 4:21 |
| 4. | "Solo Flight" | McCarty, Hawken | 4:23 |
| 5. | "Everywhere You Go" | McCarty | 3:18 |
| 6. | "Face of Yesterday[6]" | McCarty | 5:45 |
| 7. | "Candles Are Burning" | McCarty | 7:10 |
| Total length: | 35:55 | ||
- Personnel
- Jim McCarty - vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- Jane Relf - vocals
- John Hawken - piano, synthesizers, mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo - bass guitar
- John Knightsbridge - electric and acoustic guitar
- Eddie McNeil - drums, percussion
Illusion (1978)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Madonna Blue" | McCarty | 6:46 |
| 2. | "Never Be the Same" | McCarty | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Louis' Theme" | Louis Cennamo, Jane Relf | 7:41 |
| 4. | "Wings Across the Sea" | McCarty | 4:49 |
| 5. | "Cruising Nowhere" | McCarty | 5:01 |
| 6. | "Man of Miracles" | Keith Relf,[7] McCarty, Hawken | 3:27 |
| 7. | "The Revolutionary" | McCarty, Hawken | 6:15 |
| Total length: | 37:28 | ||
- Personnel
- Jim McCarty - vocal, acoustic guitar, percussion
- Jane Relf - vocal
- John Hawken - piano, synthesizers, mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo - bass guitar
- John Knightsbridge - electric and acoustic guitar
- Eddie McNeil - drums, percussion
Enchanted Caress (1979)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nights in Paris" | McCarty | |
| 2. | "Walking Space" | McCarty | |
| 3. | "The Man Who Loved the Trees" | McCarty | |
| 4. | "Getting into Love Again" | McCarty | |
| 5. | "As Long as We're Together" | McCarty | |
| 6. | "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" | Richard Rodgers | |
| 7. | "Living Above Your Head" | McCarty | |
| 8. | "Crossed Lines" | McCarty | |
| 9. | "You Are the One" | McCarty | |
| 10. | "All the Falling Angels" | K. Relf | |
| 11. | "Roads to Freedom" | McCarty, Hawken | |
| 12. | "Face of Yesterday" | McCarty |
- Personnel
- Jim McCarty - vocal, acoustic guitar, percussion
- Jane Relf - vocal
- John Hawken - piano, synthesizers, mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, harpsichord
- John Knightsbridge - electric and acoustic guitar
- Louis Cennamo - bass guitar (1-5), (7-10)
- Eddie McNeil - drums, percussion (1-5), (7-10)
- Keith Relf - vocals, acoustic guitar (10)
- Session Personnel
- Chas Cronk - bass (6)
- Tony Fernandez - drums (6)
- Notes
- Recorded in 1979 but was released as an album in 1990. Contains demos for a planned third album, including a 1976 Keith Relf demo and a John Knightsbridge solo instrumental.
- Slaughter on Tenth Avenue features John Knightsbridge on guitar, Chas Cronk on bass and Tony Fernandez on drums.
- All The Falling Angels features Keith Relf on vocals and Louis Cennamo on bass.
Through the Fire (2001)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "One More Turn of the Wheel" | McCarty | |
| 2. | "Good Heart" | McCarty | |
| 3. | "Glorious One" | McCarty | |
| 4. | "Through the Fire" | McCarty | |
| 5. | "Blowing Away" | McCarty | |
| 6. | "Mystery of Being" | McCarty | |
| 7. | "Beat of the Earth" | McCarty | |
| 8. | "Beyond the Day" | McCarty | |
| 9. | "My Old Friend" | McCarty | |
| 10. | "Through the Fire (reprise)" | McCarty |
Personnel
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References
- ^ http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=5128
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/artist/1199948-Illusion-24
- ^ http://www.jamesmccarty.com/bio/renaissance-illusion/
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-the-mist-mw0000365788
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/through-the-fire-mw0000455130
- ^ remake of a song from Renaissance's Illusion album (1971)
- ^ posthumously uses lyrics written by Keith Relf
External links
- Northern Lights Renaissance website; includes Illusion discography etc.
- John Hawken website
- Allmusic
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