Illusion (UK band)

Illusion
Origin London, England
Genres Progressive rock
Years active 1977–1979
Labels Island Records
Edsel Records
Brisk Production
Promised Land
Associated acts Renaissance
Members
Jane Relf (vocals)
Jim McCarty (vocals, acoustic guitar and percussion)
John Hawken (keyboards)
Louis Cennamo (bass)
John Knightsbridge (guitars)
Eddie McNeill (drums)

Illusion were a British band formed in 1977. They released two albums, Out of the Mist and Illusion on Island Records. Their music was classically-inspired, sophisticated, and polished. The band undertook a number of tour dates but found their style of music out of fashion with the rise of punk rock and disbanded.

Illusion were intended to be a reunion of the original line-up of Renaissance (whose second album was titled Illusion), but singer and guitarist Keith Relf died before the project was realised. Jim McCarty moved from drums to play acoustic guitar and share vocals with Jane Relf, while Eddie McNeill replaced him on drums and John Knightsbridge took Keith Relf's place as guitarist following his death.

In 2001 the four core members issued an album of new material under the name Renaissance Illusion, but did not play any concerts in support of the album.

Contents

Discography

Out of the Mist

Edsel Records (EDCD 369) UK 1977 total time 35:55

Track listing

  1. Isadora (J.McCarty) — 6:56
  2. Roads To Freedom (J.McCarty/J.Hawken) — 3:53
  3. Beautiful Country (J.McCarty/J.Hawken) — 4:21
  4. Solo Flight (J.McCarty/J.Hawken) — 4:23
  5. Everywhere You Go (J.McCarty) — 3:18
  6. Face of Yesterday (J.McCarty) — 5:45 [1]
  7. Candles are Burning (J.McCarty) — 7:10

Personnel

Illusion

(1978)

Track listing

  1. Madonna Blue (J.McCarty) - 6:46
  2. Never Be The Same (J.McCarty) - 3:18
  3. Louis' Theme (L.Cennamo/J.Relf)- 7:41
  4. Wings Across The Sea (J.McCarty) - 4:49
  5. Cruising Nowhere (J.McCarty) - 5:01
  6. Man Of Miracles (K.Relf/J.McCarty/J.Hawken) - 3:27 [2]
  7. The Revolutionary (J.McCarty/J.Hawken) - 6:15

Personnel

As for Out of the Mist

Enchanted Caress

(recorded 1979, released 1990) These are demos for a planned third album, plus a 1976 Keith Relf demo and a John Knightsbridge solo instrumental.

Track listing

  1. Nights in Paris (McCarty)
  2. Walking Space (McCarty)
  3. The Man Who Loved the Trees (McCarty)
  4. Getting Into Love Again (McCarty)
  5. As Long as We're Together (McCarty)
  6. Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (R Rodgers) - John Knightsbridge guitar, Chas Cronk bass, Tony Fernandez drums
  7. Living Above Your Head (McCarty)
  8. Crossed Lines (McCarty)
  9. You Are The One (McCarty)
  10. All The Falling Angels (Relf) - Keith Relf vocals, Louis Cennamo bass

Through The Fire

(2001) (by Renaissance Illusion, featuring McCarty, Cennamo, Hawken & Jane Relf)

Track listing

  1. One More Turn of the Wheel (McCarty)
  2. Good Heart (McCarty)
  3. Glorious One (McCarty)
  4. Through the Fire (McCarty)
  5. Blowing Away (McCarty)
  6. Mystery of Being (McCarty)
  7. Beat of the Earth (McCarty)
  8. Beyond the Day (McCarty)
  9. My Old Friend (McCarty)
  10. Through the Fire (reprise) (McCarty)

Personnel

with

References

  1. ^ remake of a song from Renaissance's ILLUSION album (1971)
  2. ^ posthumously uses lyrics written by Keith Relf

External links