| Illusion | ||||||||||
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| Studio album by Renaissance | ||||||||||
| Released | 1971 | |||||||||
| Recorded | Spring/Summer 1970 at Olympic Studios and Island Studios, London | |||||||||
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock | |||||||||
| Length | 44:31 | |||||||||
| Label | Island Elektra Records (US) Repertoire Records (reissue) |
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| Producer | Keith Relf | |||||||||
| Renaissance chronology | ||||||||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [1] |
Illusion was a 1971 album by progressive rock band Renaissance. It was originally released only in Germany and did not receive a wider release until 1973.[2] It was first released in the U.K. in 1977, with a cover that had the original front and rear cover artwork swapped.[3]
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The original Renaissance lineup fell apart during the recording of this, their second album. Jim McCarty was the first to leave; he departed in 1970, when the band was about to start a European tour, because he hated to fly. Keith Relf and Louis Cennamo left next, subsequently forming the new group Armageddon.[2] McCarty continued to be associated with Renaissance as a songwriter, however, receiving writing credits on the new band's first, second and third albums.
John Hawken kept the band going by recruiting new members, including Michael Dunford and Terry Crowe, former bandmates of his from The Nashville Teens. New bassist Neil Korner had previously been part of The New Vaudeville Band (though he did not appear on their big hit, "Winchester Cathedral".)[4] This new lineup, which recorded "Mr. Pine", was one of several short-lived transitional lineups that existed between the original one and the classic Annie Haslam band.
"Mr. Pine" is the only released Renaissance track in which members of the original lineup (Hawken, Jane Relf) are heard together with a member of the classic lineup (Dunford). It includes a theme that was later used in the far better-known Renaissance song "Running Hard"[5] (from Turn Of The Cards, 1974).
In order to complete the album, the (already disbanded) original lineup got back together—minus Hawken and plus guest keyboardist Don Shin—to record "Past Orbits Of Dust".[2]
One track recorded during the Illusion sessions, a fairly short song called "Statues", was not used on the album. It was eventually released in 2002 on the album Live + Direct.[6]
Illusion is notable for being the first Renaissance album to feature lyrics by Betty Thatcher, who would work with the band throughout its entire "classic" period (1972–79) and beyond. Thatcher was brought to the band by her friend Jane Relf.[2]
When the four surviving members of the original Renaissance reunited in 1976, after the death of Keith Relf, the Renaissance name was still in use by their successors in the band, and they named the band Illusion. Their first album under that title, "Out of the Mist", included a reworking of the song "Face of Yesterday", while their second album was simply titled "Illusion".
Island 89 076 Germany, Netherlands, France (1977: Island HELP 27 UK)
(on most tracks)
(on "Past Orbits Of Dust")
(on "Mr. Pine")
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