RENAISSANCE - Scheherazade and Other Stories (1975-1994) WV (image+.cue), lossless

This album was the group's magnum opus in the perception of many onlookers and fans, and it still plays well, though its flaws are more evident than they were at the time. The "Song of Scheherazade," really a suite for the group supported by the London Symphony Orchestra and a chorus, started with guitarist-composer Michael Dunford, who had a personal fascination with the medieval literary work Tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights, and was realized by Dunford and his composing partner Betty Thatcher, with bassist Jon Camp and pianist John Tout. The piece, really nine sections assembled together, was one of the more ambitious works to come out of the progressive rock boom -- it fits together nicely and does have some gorgeous passages and many lyrical, powerful sections, although it also seems slightly repetitive, overstaying its welcome somewhat; additionally, it never uses the orchestra quite as effectively as one senses it might have, for anything except embellishment. Less ambitious and more completely successful are "Ocean Gypsy," "The Vultures Fly High," and "Trip to the Fair" on side one, all relatively unpretentious pieces which feature extraordinary singing by Annie Haslam. by Bruce Eder  
Tracklist:
1 Trip To The Fair 10:51
2 The Vultures Fly High 3:04
3 Ocean Gypsy 7:05
Song Of Scheherazade (24:37)
4.1 Fanfare
4.2 The Betrayal
4.3 The Sultan
4.4 Love Theme
4.5 The Young Prince And The Princess As Told By Scheherazade
4.6 Festival Preparations
4.7 Fugue For The Sultan
4.8 The Festival
4.9 Finale
Credits:
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Michael Dunford
Arranged By – Renaissance
Arranged By [Orchestral Arrangements] – Tony Cox
Bass, Vocals – John Camp
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Terence Sullivan
Keyboards, Vocals – John Tout
Lead Vocals – Annie Haslam, John Camp (tracks: 4.3)
Producer – David Hitchcock, Renaissance
Written-By – Betty Thatcher, Tout (tracks: 1, 4.1, 4.6, 4.7, 4.9), Camp (tracks: 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.9), Michael Dunford