From the sellers private vinyl record collection, an album for 1970's Progressive Rock connoisseurs.
RENAISSANCE - PROLOGUE - SOVEREIGN RECORDS - SVNA 7253
This album is the 3rd Studio album released by Progressive band Renaissance, but is the 1st album with a completly new line up from the Keith & Jane Relph days & includes Annie Haslam as vocalist.
SOVERIGN RECORDS was a brief record label from 1972 to 74 & part of EMI, Issuing progressive bands of that era. It was owned by Ben Nesbit & encompassed within the Big Ben Music publishing Co. This album is an original Soverign release.
This copy was purchased mid 1973 from "Musicland" 44 Berwick Street, London W1 (Oh Happy Daze) & is an original second pressing. In fact, there were some 57 versions of this record issued. It was released in the UK,USA ,France,Germany, Italy,Japan,Russia,Portugal,South Africa,Canada, Romania & Brazil.
The record identification is as follows :- Second Pressing with beginning of rim text is EMI RECORDS LTD. Dark Auqa Blue Mono colour label with lettering & numbering in Silver
Matrix/Runout (Side A Variant 2) SVNA 7253 A-1 RM
Matrix/Runout (Side B Variant 2) SVNA 7253 B-2 RM
On the gatefold cover rear 1E 064 93685 is smaller & enclosed in brackets below the prominent Catalogue No.
The record is graded between Excellent (EX) to Very Good (VG) It has no visible surface marks and plays without issue. The label information is perfect and there is no hole distortion. It is in excellent condition for its 52 years of age
The cover is graded (G). It is a cardboard gatefold cover and is unfortunately non laminated, There are some very minor creasings to the top RH & LH corners together with some very minor ring wear manifesting on the rear face as shown. The interior faces and spine are unmarked. The outer spine has some deteriation as shown. Overall, a cover in very good condition for its lengthy 52 years of age.
The Paper Sleeve is the original and is in very good condition. It has some very minor creases on the top surface as shown. The reverse face has the standard EMI information regarding Care of Records together with the EMI "Important Notice" Data. Overall, It has survived its 52 years usage incredibly well.
The songs were recorded at Nova Sound Studios 27-31 Bryanston St, Marble Arch, London, W1. within June/July 1972
The engineers were Mick Glossop & Mike Weighell
The producers were Miles Copeland & Renaissance
The cover design was by the amazing Hipgnosis together with Ronchetti & Day
Photography was by Miles Copeland & others.
Song arraignments were by Mick Dunford & John Tout
The musicians who played on this album were :- Annie Haslam - Percussion, Vocals, John Tout - Keyboards, Vocals. Terry Suullivan - Drums. John (Jon) Camp - Bass, Tambura, Vocals. Rob Hendry - Guitars, Mandolin, Chimes, Vocals. Additional Musicians were Francis Monkeman - VS3 synthesizer.
In 1971 Renaissance went through a further major personnel change initiated by manager Miles Copland. Terry Crowe,who shared vocals with Annie Haslam was dismissed, together with the then bass player Neil Korner. A brief succession of bass players followed including John Wetton, Frank Farrell & Danny McCulloch until the position was stabilised by Jon Camp. Drummer Ginger Dixon who was Terry Slade's replacement was also dismissed & Terence Sullivan replaced him. Mick Dunford then guitarist, was tasked with composing in collaboration with Cornwall based poet Betty Thatcher, whose association as lyricist went back to the bands very beginning. New guitarist Mick Parsons joined for live work but was tragically killed in a car accident prior to the commencement of the recording sessions. He was replaced at the last minute by guitarist Rob Hendry & this line up recorded the Prologue Album, but Hendry left the band soon after the recordings.
Prologue continued the original conception of Renaissance envisaged by founder members Keith Relf & Jim McCarty, to produce an amalgam of classical influences, soft rock, together with prominent piano accompliments & arrangements. This successful formula produced six studio & one live album, until personnel issues & changing musical tastes resulted in different musical directions for the band & eventual disbandenment.
Dispatched as "48Hr Tracked" Small Parcel (0-2kg)
Apologies for Royal Mail cost increase from 2nd April 2024
Some observations on Grading :-
MINT (M) The Record is in brand new condition, no surface marks, nosound quality deteration. Records designated sealed or un-played qualify asmint.
EXCELLENT (EX) The RECORD shows some signs of being played, but withminimal lessening of sound quality. The COVER &/or packaging may showslight wear &/or creasing.
VERY GOOD (VG) The RECORD has obviously been played many times, butmanifests no sound quality deterioraton. Despite noticeable surface marks&/or light scratching. Visible wear & tear on the COVER oradditional items, without major defects, is acceptable.
GOOD (G) The RECORD has been played so much that the sound qualityhas noticeably deteriorated, pehaps with some distortion and mild scratches.The COVER and contents may suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spinesplits, discolouration, etc.
FAIR (F) The RECORD is still just playable, but has not been cared forpropery and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. TheCOVER and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.