Nevada (UK band)
Encyclopedia
Nevada were a British folk/progressive
band and a spin-off from Renaissance
, featuring Annie Haslam
on vocals and Mick Dunford on guitar. Their Christmas single, "In the Bleak Midwinter
" reached the lower edges of the UK singles chart
in 1983.
had been moderately successful during the 1970s, having a top ten UK singles chart hit in 1978 with "Northern Lights", but were better known as an album band, and for their live performances, particularly at Carnegie Hall
. In 1979, the band had taken a less symphonic/orchestral and more electronically based turn with the album Azure d'Or
, which resulted in disappointing sales and resultant dropping by their label, Warner Bros. Records
. Meanwhile, the lineup of Renaissance was in flux, as John Tout and Terry Sullivan left for varying reasons.
, played keyboards on the Renaissance album Camera Camera
and later on Time-Line
. The single "In the Bleak Midwinter
", a version of the Christmas carol
by Gustav Holst
and Christina Rossetti
was released for the 1982 Christmas market, but did not enter the UK singles chart until January 8 1983. It spent one week on the chart at number 71.
Their second single, "You Know I Like It" did not trouble the charts and the project went no further. Renaissance finally folded in 1987; Haslam and Dunford embarked on solo careers, and Gosling wrote music for television and film.
; as well as the four single tracks, it included six other songs, and five bonus tracks recorded by Renaissance. The versions of the tracks released as singles are different on this compilation, possibly due to licensing issues, and the recording quality varies greatly.
Renaissance bonus tracks
All tracks credited to "Dunford/Newsinger" except where noted; Newsinger is the married name of Renaissance lyricist Betty Thatcher
Album
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band and a spin-off from Renaissance
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 :...
, featuring Annie Haslam
Annie Haslam
Annie 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...
on vocals and Mick Dunford on guitar. Their Christmas single, "In the Bleak Midwinter
In the Bleak Midwinter
"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a Christmas carol based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti written before 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem....
" reached the lower edges of the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1983.
Background
RenaissanceRenaissance (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 :...
had been moderately successful during the 1970s, having a top ten UK singles chart hit in 1978 with "Northern Lights", but were better known as an album band, and for their live performances, particularly at Carnegie Hall
Live at Carnegie Hall (Renaissance album)
Live at Carnegie Hall was a 1976 live double album by progressive rock band Renaissance. It presented songs from all of the band's Annie Haslam-era studio albums thus far, including the forthcoming Scheherazade and Other Stories.-Side A:#"Prologue" - 8:10 [Time on vinyl album 7:35 ] Live at...
. In 1979, the band had taken a less symphonic/orchestral and more electronically based turn with the album Azure d'Or
Azure d'Or
-Personnel:*Annie Haslam - lead & backing vocals*Jon Camp - bass, guitars, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Only Angels Have Wings"*Michael Dunford - guitars*John Tout - keyboards*Terence Sullivan - drums, percussion, backing vocals on "Golden Key"...
, which resulted in disappointing sales and resultant dropping by their label, Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Meanwhile, the lineup of Renaissance was in flux, as John Tout and Terry Sullivan left for varying reasons.
Nevada
The reduced version of Renaissance then took stock; according to the sleeve notes to their CD, "It was time to stand back, take a breather, experiment, and to embark on a new working relationship with their fellow countryman Peter Gosling". Gosling had been in the 1960s band "Moon Train" which had been managed and produced by Bill WymanBill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
, played keyboards on the Renaissance album Camera Camera
Camera Camera (Renaissance album)
Camera Camera was a 1981 album by progressive rock band Renaissance.-Information about the album:After losing two of their five members and being dropped from their label, Renaissance signed on to I.R.S. Records. The departed members were replaced by keyboardist/singer Peter Gosling and drummer...
and later on Time-Line
Time-Line
Time-Line was a 1983 album by progressive rock band Renaissance and the last album released by Renaissance before they disbanded in 1987....
. The single "In the Bleak Midwinter
In the Bleak Midwinter
"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a Christmas carol based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti written before 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem....
", a version of the Christmas carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
by Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
and Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti
Christina Georgina Rossetti was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems...
was released for the 1982 Christmas market, but did not enter the UK singles chart until January 8 1983. It spent one week on the chart at number 71.
Their second single, "You Know I Like It" did not trouble the charts and the project went no further. Renaissance finally folded in 1987; Haslam and Dunford embarked on solo careers, and Gosling wrote music for television and film.
Pictures in the Fire
This was a compilation CD of Nevada's material, released in 2000 by Mooncrest RecordsMooncrest Records
Mooncrest Records is a British record label that was formed in 1973 as a subsidiary of Charisma Records.They issued albums by Shirley Collins , Iain Matthews , Shakin' Stevens and Alan Hull . More recently they have handled Fairport Convention and Michael Chapman...
; as well as the four single tracks, it included six other songs, and five bonus tracks recorded by Renaissance. The versions of the tracks released as singles are different on this compilation, possibly due to licensing issues, and the recording quality varies greatly.
Track listing
All tracks credited to "Dunford/Gosling" except where noted- "Pictures in the Fire" - 3:19
- "You Know I Like It" - 4:46
- "Once In a Lifetime" - 3:44
- "Star of the Show" - 4:03
- "Fairies" - 4:44 (a precursor to "Faeries (Living At The Bottom Of The Garden)" which appeared on Camera CameraCamera Camera (Renaissance album)Camera Camera was a 1981 album by progressive rock band Renaissance.-Information about the album:After losing two of their five members and being dropped from their label, Renaissance signed on to I.R.S. Records. The departed members were replaced by keyboardist/singer Peter Gosling and drummer...
in 1981) - "Lady of the Sea" - 3:06
- "Mr Spaceman" (Jim McGuinnJim McGuinnJim McGuinn, born James Slusarek, is an American radio personality. He served as program director of the now defunct Y100 100.3FM and its predecessor, WDRE in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , both of which changed formats after being bought by Radio One. McGuinn also served as Program Director for...
) - 4:32 - "Tokyo" - 3:01 (written as a candidate for the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
) - "In the Bleak MidwinterIn the Bleak Midwinter"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a Christmas carol based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti written before 1872 in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem....
" - 3:44 - "Motorway Madness" - 4:16
Renaissance bonus tracks
All tracks credited to "Dunford/Newsinger" except where noted; Newsinger is the married name of Renaissance lyricist Betty Thatcher
- "Love Is a State of Mind" - 3:30
- "I Am a Stranger" - 4:16
- "On and On" - 4:15
- "No Beginning No End" - 4:15
- "Mother Russia" - 10:21
Discography
Singles- 1980: "In The Bleak Midwinter"/"Pictures In The Fire"- Polydor POSP 203
- 1981: "You Know I Like It"/"Once In A Lifetime"- Polydor POSP 229
Album
- 2000: Pictures In The Fire Mooncrest RecordsMooncrest RecordsMooncrest Records is a British record label that was formed in 1973 as a subsidiary of Charisma Records.They issued albums by Shirley Collins , Iain Matthews , Shakin' Stevens and Alan Hull . More recently they have handled Fairport Convention and Michael Chapman...
CREST CD 054
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...
- vocals - Mick Dunford - guitar
- Peter Gosling - keyboards, vocals
- Raphael Rudd - keyboards
- Mark Lambert - guitars