Ashes Are Burning
Encyclopedia
Ashes Are Burning is an album by progressive rock band Renaissance
, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music
). It was the first of several Renaissance albums to feature an orchestra playing along with the band on some songs.
The song "Can You Understand?" uses a quote from "Tonya and Yuri Arrive at Varykino", a theme from Maurice Jarre
's score for Doctor Zhivago
. (According to David Samuel Barr, a friend of the band who wrote the liner notes for the Tales of 1001 Nights compilation, Dunford had thought this melody to be a public domain Russian folk tune.) Because of confusion over the Jarre quote, some live collections (including Live at the Royal Albert Hall : King Biscuit Flower Hour Vol. 1 and some unauthorized releases) mistakenly credit "Can You Understand?" entirely to Jarre.
The song "On the Frontier" was previously released (also in 1973) by former Renaissance member Jim McCarty
's band Shoot. It was the title track of their only album.
The lyrics for "Carpet of the Sun" printed on the LP's inner sleeve included an extra verse which is not sung on the recording. The verse begins with "Come along and try, looking into ways of giving. Maybe we will try, find a dream that we will live in".
, as a double album called In the Beginning. While Prologue was reissued in complete form, the Ashes song "At the Harbour" was edited down to 3:07. This was because a change in copyright laws in the interim had changed the copyright status of certain early 20th century works, including Claude Debussy
's La Cathédrale Engloutie, excerpts of which begin and end the full version of "Harbour."
The 1988 CD version of In the Beginning (on one disc) had edited versions not only of this song, but of "Ashes Are Burning" and one Prologue song.
The early-1990s CD reissue of "Ashes are Burning," on One Way Records (not the 1970s Christian label), contains the full-length version of "At the Harbour."
in other EU territories: oc 064 94663
All songs by Dunford-Thatcher except where noted.
Guitar solo on "Ashes Are Burning": Andy Powell
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...
, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
). It was the first of several Renaissance albums to feature an orchestra playing along with the band on some songs.
Information about the album
Michael Dunford, who had been working with Renaissance in a composer-only role, had rejoined the band by the time this album was released. However, he wasn't officially part of the band when the album package was designed, so he doesn't appear in the cover photos and is listed as a guest musician.The song "Can You Understand?" uses a quote from "Tonya and Yuri Arrive at Varykino", a theme from Maurice Jarre
Maurice Jarre
Maurice-Alexis Jarre was a French composer and conductor.Although he composed several concert works, he is best known for his film scores, and is particularly known for his collaborations with film director David Lean. Jarre composed the scores to all of Lean's films since Lawrence of Arabia...
's score for Doctor Zhivago
Doctor Zhivago (1965 film)
Doctor Zhivago is a 1965 epic drama-romance-war film directed by David Lean and loosely based on the famous novel of the same name by Boris Pasternak...
. (According to David Samuel Barr, a friend of the band who wrote the liner notes for the Tales of 1001 Nights compilation, Dunford had thought this melody to be a public domain Russian folk tune.) Because of confusion over the Jarre quote, some live collections (including Live at the Royal Albert Hall : King Biscuit Flower Hour Vol. 1 and some unauthorized releases) mistakenly credit "Can You Understand?" entirely to Jarre.
The song "On the Frontier" was previously released (also in 1973) by former Renaissance member Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
's band Shoot. It was the title track of their only album.
The lyrics for "Carpet of the Sun" printed on the LP's inner sleeve included an extra verse which is not sung on the recording. The verse begins with "Come along and try, looking into ways of giving. Maybe we will try, find a dream that we will live in".
In the Beginning reissue
In 1978 Ashes Are Burning was reissued, together with the preceding album ProloguePrologue (Renaissance album)
Prologue was a 1972 album by progressive rock band Renaissance.-Information about the album:In 1972, Renaissance's then-new management disbanded the lineup at the time , retaining only Haslam and Tout to build a new band around. The new members added at this point were Camp, Sullivan, and...
, as a double album called In the Beginning. While Prologue was reissued in complete form, the Ashes song "At the Harbour" was edited down to 3:07. This was because a change in copyright laws in the interim had changed the copyright status of certain early 20th century works, including Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
's La Cathédrale Engloutie, excerpts of which begin and end the full version of "Harbour."
The 1988 CD version of In the Beginning (on one disc) had edited versions not only of this song, but of "Ashes Are Burning" and one Prologue song.
The early-1990s CD reissue of "Ashes are Burning," on One Way Records (not the 1970s Christian label), contains the full-length version of "At the Harbour."
Track listing
EMI-Sovereign SVNA 7261,in other EU territories: oc 064 94663
All songs by Dunford-Thatcher except where noted.
- "Can You Understand?" - 9:51
- "Let It Grow" - 4:14
- "On the Frontier" (McCarty-Thatcher) - 4:55
- "Carpet of the Sun" - 3:31
- "At the Harbour" - 6:48
- "Ashes Are Burning" - 11:20
Personnel
- Annie HaslamAnnie HaslamAnnie Haslam is an English progressive rock vocalist and songwriter.Originally a fashion student, she began studying under opera singer Sybil Knight in 1970 and developed her five-octave vocal range...
- lead & backing vocals - Jon Camp (listed as "John Camp") - bass, backing vocals, co-lead vocal on "On the Frontier"
- John Tout - keyboards, backing vocals
- Terence Sullivan - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Michael Dunford - acoustic guitar
Guitar solo on "Ashes Are Burning": Andy Powell
Andy Powell
Andy Powell is an English guitarist and songwriter, and best known as a founding member of Wishbone Ash.-Early life and career:...