Turn of the Cards is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in July 1974.[2] It was the last Renaissance studio album to include excerpts from existing classical pieces.[3] It was also the first album recorded by the group after Michael Dunford, who had written songs for their previous three albums, joined the group as an acoustic guitarist.
In the UK, this was the first release on Miles Copeland's fledgling label, BTM Records (British Talent Managers).[4] In 1977, after releasing a total of 10 albums, including two more by Renaissance (Scheherazade and Other Stories and the double LP Live at Carnegie Hall), the label folded due to bankruptcy.[5]
Hipgnosis, who had previously designed the covers to the band's albums Prologue and Ashes Are Burning, designed the cover. After producing a storyboard of ideas, they visited the recording studio to get a feel for the music, then produced the final artwork.[4] The castle in the background is Warwick Castle. The first BTM UK pressings had an alternate back cover, with a close-up portrait of Annie Haslam framed in one of the 'cards'.
Background and recordingedit
For Turn of the Cards, Renaissance again made use of De Lane Lea Studios and co-producer/engineer Dick Plant. Richard Gottehrer, co-founder of Renaissance's new American record label Sire Records, is also credited as co-producer of the album, but according to drummer Terry Sullivan, Gottehrer never set foot inside De Lane Lea Studios and his sole involvement with the album was collaborating on the final remix of "Things I Don't Understand", which was done at Record Plant Studios in the U.S.[4] "Things I Don't Understand" was a problematic track from the beginning. During the first take the band went into a spontaneous instrumental jam that they were all very pleased with, but after returning from a break they found that the tape op had accidentally erased the entire recording.[4] The producers did numerous mixes of the song in a struggle to find a sound that everyone could be satisfied with.[4]
"Things I Don't Understand" was founder member Jim McCarty's last released contribution to the band. However, it was an old Renaissance song; bassist/vocalist Jon Camp said that when he joined Renaissance back in 1972, it was already a part of the band's set list.[4]Prologue was the last time McCarty actively wrote songs for Renaissance, rather than simply allowing them to use material he had already written.
Jimmy Horowitz did the orchestral arrangements on the album. Sullivan recalled, "He was a true gentleman and a total professional. His approach was to have a soft touch on the strings, which was exactly what we were looking for."[4]
"Running Hard" quotes a melodic phrase first used in "Mr. Pine" from the Illusion album, as well as the piece "Litanies" by French composer Jehan Alain, both at keyboardist John Tout's suggestion.[4] The music to "Cold Is Being" is taken from "Adagio in G minor" (attributed to Tomaso Albinoni, but actually composed by Remo Giazotto); it was credited in the back notes ("Thanks to Jehan Alain for the opening piece of RUNNING HARD and Albinoni for COLD IS BEING"). "Mother Russia" is cited by Jon Camp as being a case where he made major compositional contributions without being credited for them.[6]Betty Thatcher wrote the lyrics, which are based on the famous novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, before Renaissance had any music for the song, breaking from the band's usual pattern of only using Thatcher's lyrics when she wrote them for a piece of music they had given her.[4] Sullivan said he was present when Thatcher wrote the lyrics to "Black Flame", which she did while seated in a special writing chair in her house.[4]
The album's title was inspired by the cover art Hipgnosis created.[4]
Some credits on the original album were later inexplicably cropped: "Many thanks to Miles Copeland, Julian, Shirley" had originally read, "Many thanks to Miles Copeland, Julian, Shirley, Richard and Natalie Halem."
Expanded 2020 editionedit
In 2019 Esoteric Recordings announced a re-mastered and 4 disc (3 CD plus 1 DVD-audio) expanded edition of the album which was released on 20 March 2020.[7]
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Not to be confused with Turn cards or A Turn of the Cards Turn of the Cards is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance released in July 1974 2 It was the last Renaissance studio album to include excerpts from existing classical pieces 3 It was also the first album recorded by the group after Michael Dunford who had written songs for their previous three albums joined the group as an acoustic guitarist Turn of the CardsCover design by Hipgnosis tarot cards by Joe PetagnoStudio album by RenaissanceReleasedJuly 1974 1974 07 Recorded1974StudioDe Lane Lea Music Centre Wembley UKGenreProgressive rockLength40 54LabelBTM Sire RCAProducerRenaissance Dick Plant Richard GottehrerRenaissance chronologyAshes Are Burning 1973 Turn of the Cards 1974 Scheherazade and Other Stories 1975 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 In the UK this was the first release on Miles Copeland s fledgling label BTM Records British Talent Managers 4 In 1977 after releasing a total of 10 albums including two more by Renaissance Scheherazade and Other Stories and the double LP Live at Carnegie Hall the label folded due to bankruptcy 5 Contents 1 Cover art 2 Background and recording 3 Expanded 2020 edition 4 Track listing 4 1 Expanded edition 5 Personnel 5 1 Renaissance 5 2 Additional musicians 5 3 Production 6 References 7 NotesCover art editHipgnosis who had previously designed the covers to the band s albums Prologue and Ashes Are Burning designed the cover After producing a storyboard of ideas they visited the recording studio to get a feel for the music then produced the final artwork 4 The castle in the background is Warwick Castle The first BTM UK pressings had an alternate back cover with a close up portrait of Annie Haslam framed in one of the cards Background and recording editFor Turn of the Cards Renaissance again made use of De Lane Lea Studios and co producer engineer Dick Plant Richard Gottehrer co founder of Renaissance s new American record label Sire Records is also credited as co producer of the album but according to drummer Terry Sullivan Gottehrer never set foot inside De Lane Lea Studios and his sole involvement with the album was collaborating on the final remix of Things I Don t Understand which was done at Record Plant Studios in the U S 4 Things I Don t Understand was a problematic track from the beginning During the first take the band went into a spontaneous instrumental jam that they were all very pleased with but after returning from a break they found that the tape op had accidentally erased the entire recording 4 The producers did numerous mixes of the song in a struggle to find a sound that everyone could be satisfied with 4 Things I Don t Understand was founder member Jim McCarty s last released contribution to the band However it was an old Renaissance song bassist vocalist Jon Camp said that when he joined Renaissance back in 1972 it was already a part of the band s set list 4 Prologue was the last time McCarty actively wrote songs for Renaissance rather than simply allowing them to use material he had already written Jimmy Horowitz did the orchestral arrangements on the album Sullivan recalled He was a true gentleman and a total professional His approach was to have a soft touch on the strings which was exactly what we were looking for 4 Running Hard quotes a melodic phrase first used in Mr Pine from the Illusion album as well as the piece Litanies by French composer Jehan Alain both at keyboardist John Tout s suggestion 4 The music to Cold Is Being is taken from Adagio in G minor attributed to Tomaso Albinoni but actually composed by Remo Giazotto it was credited in the back notes Thanks to Jehan Alain for the opening piece of RUNNING HARD and Albinoni for COLD IS BEING Mother Russia is cited by Jon Camp as being a case where he made major compositional contributions without being credited for them 6 Betty Thatcher wrote the lyrics which are based on the famous novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich before Renaissance had any music for the song breaking from the band s usual pattern of only using Thatcher s lyrics when she wrote them for a piece of music they had given her 4 Sullivan said he was present when Thatcher wrote the lyrics to Black Flame which she did while seated in a special writing chair in her house 4 The album s title was inspired by the cover art Hipgnosis created 4 Some credits on the original album were later inexplicably cropped Many thanks to Miles Copeland Julian Shirley had originally read Many thanks to Miles Copeland Julian Shirley Richard and Natalie Halem Expanded 2020 edition editIn 2019 Esoteric Recordings announced a re mastered and 4 disc 3 CD plus 1 DVD audio expanded edition of the album which was released on 20 March 2020 7 Track listing editAll tracks are written by Michael Dunford and Betty Thatcher except where notedSide oneNo TitleWriter s Length1 Running Hard Dunford Thatcher nb 1 9 372 I Think of You 3 073 Things I Don t Understand Dunford Jim McCarty9 29 Side twoNo TitleWriter s Length4 Black Flame 6 235 Cold Is Being Dunford Thatcher nb 2 3 006 Mother Russia 9 18 Expanded edition edit Bonus Tracks for 2020 re mastered amp expanded editionNo TitleWriter s Length7 Everybody Needs A Friend Previously unreleased recorded De Lane Lea Studios Wembley 23 March 1974 Andy Powell Ted Turner Martin Turner Steve Upton 8 Mother Russia Single edit for a U S only single Previously unreleased on CD 9 Things I Don t Understand New stereo mix Dunford McCarty 10 Black Flame New stereo mix 11 Mother Russia New stereo mix 2020 re issue Disc two Live at the Academy of Music 17 May 1974No TitleWriter s Length1 Can You Understand 2 Black Flame 3 Carpet of the Sun 4 Cold is Being 5 Things I Don t Understand Dunford McCarty 6 Running Hard 2020 re issue Disc three Live at the Academy of Music 17 May 1974No TitleWriter s Length1 Ashes Are Burning 2 Mother Russia 3 Prologue Dunford nb 3 2020 re issue Disc four Turn of the Cards 5 1 Surround sound amp High resolution stereo mixesNo TitleWriter s Length1 Running Hard Dunford Thatcher nb 4 2 I Think of You Michael Dunford and Betty Thatcher 3 Things I Don t Understand Dunford Jim McCarty 4 Black Flame Michael Dunford and Betty Thatcher 5 Cold Is Being Dunford Thatcher nb 5 6 Mother Russia Michael Dunford and Betty Thatcher Personnel editRenaissance edit Annie Haslam lead and backing vocals Michael Dunford acoustic guitar backing vocals Jon Camp listed as John Camp bass co lead vocals on track 3 backing vocals John Tout keyboards backing vocals Terence Sullivan drums backing vocals percussion Additional musicians edit Jimmy Horowitz orchestral arrangements Production edit Dick Plant producer engineer Richard Gottehrer producer Douglas Bogie Mike Pela assistant engineers Jeffrey Lesser remix engineer at Mediasound Studios New York Hipgnosis cover designReferences edit Eder Bruce Renaissance Turn of the Cards review AllMusic Rovi Corporation Retrieved 6 July 2011 Strong Martin Charles 1995 The Great Rock Discography Canongate Press p 684 ISBN 9780862415419 Liner notes from the Tales of 1001 Nights compilations a b c d e f g h i j k Dome Malcolm 2020 Turn of the Cards Booklet Renaissance Cherry Red Records Ltd pp 5 14 Liner notes from CD reissue Jon Camp Interview 2012 Archived from the original on 29 September 2020 Retrieved 2 February 2024 Esoteric New Releases Retrieved 3 April 2020 Notes edit The introduction to the song is borrowed from Litanies by Jehan Alain The music to this song taken from Adagio in G minor by Remo Giazotto This release credits Annie Haslam as co writer Earlier releases of the song credit either Dunford alone or Dunford and Thatcher The introduction to the song is borrowed from Litanies by Jehan Alain The music to this song taken from Adagio in G minor by Remo Giazotto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Turn of the Cards amp oldid 1202352147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
