Search - Renaissance :: Da Capo Story of

A good start -- but only a start

Keith A. Morse | Aurora, CO USA | 01/17/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I give this album a low rating *only* because I disagree with some of the selections. The first few selections, from the pre-Annie Haslam days, are interesting only for historical perspective. The vocals are weak and the instrumental arrangements are not that interesting. The material picks up once Haslam's vocals appear and reaches its peak during the "Scheherezade" and "Novella" selections. The rest of the band were accomplished players in their own rights and really get to show their chops on these albums.Things start to tail off with the selections from "Song for All Seasons," "Azure d' Or" and "Camera Camera." The reasons for this tailing off are well-laid-out in other reviews on this site.Had I been programming this album, I'd have jettisoned the previously unreleased tracks, such as "Africa," and the pre-Haslam material and made room for the entire side two of "Scheherezade." I also would have shoehorned in "Day of the Dreamer" from "Song for All Seasons" and skipped "Northern Lights," which sounds like an escapee from an ABBA album (eyeeew!).But such is always the case with "best-of" albums. I'll be adding "Scheherezade," "Novella" and "Song for All Seasons" to my collection. In another life, so to speak, Annie Haslam could have been a Broadway star. Many of Renaissance's tunes, especially the later stuff, sound and feel like show tunes. Ms. Haslam has the voice and stage presence to pull it off. I'd even break down and see the "Phantom" if she were playing the female lead."

A good collection - but not the best

A. C. H. Bergh | 07/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Renaissance were an unique group, and this is an excellent colection of their version of essentially accoustic (although often heavily orchestrated) progressive rock.Still, if you're looking for a compilation, I suggest you at least have a look at Tales of 1001 Nights, Volumes One and Two (check the reviews here at Amazon). The two CD's collectively should be a bit cheaper than Da Capo, and the selection is better, focusing more on the best material the band produced. For example, some slightly weaker tracks which are featured here in the studio versions are included on 1001 Nights in stronger live versions, taken from the wonderful Live at Carnegie Hall. Later - artistically much less successful - albums such as Camera Camera are included in Da Capo, but justifiably excluded from 1001 Nights.It depends what you what, I suppose: a clear-headed overview, covering more or less everything (including some weaker moments), or the best the band ever did."

A Very good collection

Stephen Byrnes | Honolulu, HI United States | 09/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I thought the 4 selections from the group's first line-up were OK, especially "Island," but, given that this band is remembered for its SECOND line-up, I didn't understand why they were included. Nevertheless, this is a solid compilation CD. Generally, there are 2 songs from each of the albums. I'm glad I got this double-CD."