On May 12, 2023, Francis Monkman died aged 73. He was musician (keyboards, guitar) and movie score composer, member of bands Sisyphus which evolved in Curved Air, and founding member of band Sky. He recorded and toured with Renaissance, The Shadows, Al Stewart, Lynsey de Paul, Phil Manzanera, Brian Eno and Brian Bennett. As leader, Monkman released 14 albums.
Tag Archives: Renaissance
The Miracles: Renaissance
On April 18, 1973, “Tamla” label released “Renaissance”, album by The Miracles. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren, Marvin Gaye, Frank Wilson, Clay McMurray, Leonard Caston, Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson.
Personnel:
- Billy Griffin – lead vocals
- Ronnie White – baritone backing vocals
- Pete Moore – bass backing vocals
- Bobby Rogers – tenor backing vocals
- Marv Tarplin – guitar
- Smokey Robinson – executive producer
Track listing:
- What is a Heart Good For – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
- If You’re Ever in the Neighborhood – Don Fenceton, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
- I Wanna Be with You – Willie Hutch
- Wigs and Lashes – Larry Mizell
- Don’t Let It End (‘Til You Let It Begin) – Christine Yarian, Freddie Perren
- I Love You Secretly – Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover, Marvin Gaye
- I Don’t Need No Reason – Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer
- Nowhere To Go – Clay McMurray, Dennis Jackson, Gary Fears
- I Didn’t Realize the Show Was Over – Richard Hutch, Willie Hutch
Louis Clark
On February 13, 2021, Louis Clark died aged 73. He was musician (keyboards) and arranger, member of the band The Buccaneers (later Monopoly), worked with The Raymond Froggatt Band, Renaissance, Annie Haslam and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, but was best known for his work Electric Light Orchestra and Hooked on Classics.
Renaissance: Tuscany
On October 25,, 2000, “EMI Music Japan” label released “Tuscany”, the twelve Renaissance album. It was recorded 1987 – 1999, at “Astra Studio” in Monks Horton, Kent, England, and was produced by Michael Dunford, Annie Haslam, Roy Wood, Hal Jay Greene and Jim Wood.
Personnel:
- Annie Haslam – lead and backing vocals
- Michael Dunford – guitars
- Mickey Simmonds – keyboards, orchestral arrangements
- John Tout – piano, harpsicord, keyboards
- Roy Wood – bass, keyboards, percussion, orchestral arrangements, backing vocals
- Alex Caird – bass guitar
- Terence Sullivan – drums
- Rob Williams, David Woolgar – engineer, mixing
- David Ivory & Cheek – mastering
- Hal Jay Greene, Jim Wood – executive producer
Track listing:
All tracks by Michael Dunford and Annie Haslam.
- Lady from Tuscany
- Pearls of Wisdom
- Eva’s Pond
- Dear Landseer
- In the Sunshine
- In My Life
- The Race
- Dolphin’s Prayer
- Life in Brazil
- One Thousand Roses
Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty: The Rite of Strings
On July 17, 1995, “Gal Saber” label released “The Rite of Strings” album by Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke, and Jean-Luc Ponty. It was recorded in April 1995, at “Studio 56” in Hollywood, and was produced by Di Meola, Stanley Clarke, and Jean-Luc Ponty.
Personnel:
- Al Di Meola– guitar
- Stanley Clarke– double bass
- Jean-Luc Ponty– violin
Track listing:
- Indigo – Al Di Meola
- Renaissance – Jean-Luc Ponty
- Song to John – Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea
- Dedicated to the memory of John Coltrane
- Chilean Pipe Song – Al Di Meola
- Topanga – Stanley Clarke
- Morocco – Al Di Meola
- Change of Life – Jean-Luc Ponty
- La Cancion De Sofia – Stanley Clarke
- Memory Canyon – Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty: Aurora
On February 26, 1976, “Atlantic” label released “Aurora”, the 13th Jean-Luc Ponty album. It was recorded in December 1975, at “Cherokee Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Jean-Luc Ponty.
Personnel:
- Jean-Luc Ponty– acoustic and electric violin, violectra, autoharp, keyboards
- Daryl Stuermer– acoustic and electric guitars
- Patrice Rushen– acoustic and electric piano, synthesizer
- Tom Fowler– electric bass
- Norman Fearrington – drums, percussion
- Larry Hirsch – engineer, mixing
- George Putko – engineer, studio assistant
- Zal Schreiber – mastering
- Jim Marshall– photography
- Jean-Paul Oren – photography
- Phil A. Ceccola – cover photo
Track listing:
All tracks by Jean-Luc Ponty.
- Is Once Enough?
- Renaissance
- Aurora, Pt. 1
- Aurora, Pt. 2
- Passenger of the Dark
- Lost Forest
- Between You and Me
- Waking Dream
Tony Banks: Five
On February 23, 2018, “BMG Records” label released “Five”, the sixth Tony Banks studio album. It was recorded in 2018, at “Angel Studios” in London, “CNSO Studio Gallery 1” in Prague, Czech Republic, and was produced by Nick Davis and Tony Banks.
Personnel:
- Tony Banks– piano, celesta, liner notes
- Czech National Symphony Orchestraand choir
- Nick Ingman– conductor, orchestrations
- John Barclay – cornet, trumpet
- Martin Robertson – saxophone, duduk
- Frank Ricotti– percussion
- Skaila Kanga– harp
- Simon Rhodes – engineer
- Steve Price – engineer
- Tom Mitchell – mixing
- Nick Davis– mixing
- Miles Showell – mastering
- Stefan Knapp– artwork
- Ryan Art – sleeve design
- Emily Banks – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Tony Banks.
- Prelude to a Million Years
- Reveille
- Ebb and Flow
- Autumn Sonata
- Renaissance
Renaissance: Ashes Are Burning
In October 1973, “Sovereign” label released “Ashes Are Burning”, the fourth Renaissance studio album. It was recorded April – August, at “De Lane Lea Studios” in London, and was produced by Dick Plant, Annie Haslam, John Tout, John Camp and Terence Sullivan.
Personnel:
- Annie Haslam– lead and backing vocals
- Andy Powell– guitar
- John Tout – keyboards, backing vocals
- John Camp – co-lead and backing vocals, bass
- Terence Sullivan – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Michael Dunford – acoustic guitar
- Richard Hewson– strings arrangements
- Dick Plant – engineer
- Richard Goldblatt – engineer assistant
- Hipgnosis– design
Track listing:
All tracks by Michael Dunford and Betty Thatcher, except where noted.
- Can You Understand?
- Let It Grow
- On the Frontier – Jim McCarty, Betty Thatcher
- Carpet of the Sun
- At the Harbour
- Ashes Are Burning
Renaissance: Scheherazade and Other Stories
In July 1975, “BTM” label released “Scheherazade and Other Stories”, the sixth Renaissance studio album. It was recorded in May 1975, at “Abbey Road Studios”, and was produced by David Hitchcock, Annie Haslam, Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp and Terence Sullivan.
Personnel:
- Annie Haslam– lead and backing vocals
- Michael Dunford – acoustic guitars, backing vocals
- John Tout – keyboards, backing vocals
- Jon Camp – bass, bass pedals, lead and backing vocals
- Terence Sullivan – drums, backing vocals, percussion
- Terry Penman – keyboards
- Tony Cox – orchestral arrangements
- John Kurlander – engineer
- Patrick Stapley – engineer assistant
- Hipgnosis- design
Track listing:
- Trip to the Fair – Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher, John Tout
- The Vultures Fly High – Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher
- Ocean Gypsy – Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher
- Song of Scheherazade
- Fanfare – John Tout
- The Betrayal – Jon Camp, Michael Dunford, John Tout
- The Sultan – Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher
- Love Theme – Jon Camp
- The Young Prince and Princess as told by Scheherazade – Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher
- Festival Preparations – Jon Camp, Michael Dunford, John Tout
- Fugue for the Sultan – JohnTout
- The Festival – Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher
- Finale – Jon Camp, Michael Dunford, John Tout
Vanilla Fudge: Renaissance
On June 14, 1968, “Atco” label released “Renaissance”, the third Vanilla Fudge studio album. It was recorded in 1968 and was produced by Shadow Morton.
Personnel:
- Mark Stein – lead vocals, keyboards
- Vince Martell – vocals, guitar
- Tim Bogert- vocals, bass guitar
- Carmine Appice – vocals, drums
Track listing:
- The Sky Cried/When I Was a Boy – Mark Stein, Tim Bogert
- Thoughts – Vince Martell
- Paradise – Mark Stein, Carmine Appice
- That’s What Makes a Man – Mark Stein
- The Spell That Comes After – Essra Mohawk
- Faceless People – Carmine Appice
- Season of the Witch – Donovan Leitch
musicalphabet 