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]
azure, ninth, studio, album, english, progressive, rock, band, renaissance, released, 1979, studio, album, renaissancereleasedmay, 1979recordednovember, 1978, february, 1979studiomaison, rouge, studios, londongenreprogressive, rocklength42, 55labelwarner, bros. Azure d Or is the ninth studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance released in May 1979 4 Azure d OrStudio album by RenaissanceReleasedMay 1979RecordedNovember 1978 February 1979StudioMaison Rouge Studios LondonGenreProgressive rockLength42 55LabelWarner Bros UK Sire North America ProducerDavid HentschelRenaissance chronologyA Song for All Seasons 1978 Azure d Or 1979 Camera Camera 1981 Singles from Azure d Or The Winter Tree Released 13 April 1979 1 Jekyll and Hyde Released June 1979 2 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 3 Contents 1 Overview 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3 1 Renaissance 3 2 Production 4 ReferencesOverview EditWith 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 EditSide oneNo TitleLyricsMusicLength1 Jekyll and Hyde Betty ThatcherMichael Dunford4 392 The Winter Tree ThatcherDunford3 033 Only Angels Have Wings Jon CampCamp3 414 Golden Key ThatcherDunford5 125 Forever Changing ThatcherTerence Sullivan4 48 Side twoNo TitleLyricsMusicLength6 Secret Mission CampCamp5 007 Kalynda A Magical Isle CampCamp3 428 The Discovery Instrumental Camp4 249 Friends ThatcherDunford3 3110 The Flood at Lyons CampDunford4 55Personnel EditRenaissance 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 photographyReferences Edit Renaissance singles Strong Martin Charles 1995 The Great Rock Discography p 684 ISBN 9780862415419 Eder Bruce Azure D or Renaissance review AllMusic Retrieved 6 July 2011 Strong Martin Charles 1995 The Great Rock Discography p 684 ISBN 9780862415419 Liner notes from the Tales of 1001 Nights compilations a b The History Of Renaissance Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Azure d 27Or amp oldid 1124738421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
