Jane Relf

Brian A. Williams

posted on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:12:55

Entitled "Jane's Renaissance: The Complete Jane Relf Collection, 1969-1995" (Ren

Jane is the sister of Keith Relf (1943-1976). Keith Relf and Jim McCarty were the primary writers of the songs that Jane sang. Keith and Jim were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as members of the Yardbirds. Jane Relf was the first vocalist of Renaissance (1969-70). She also sang with Illusion (1976-79), and Stairway (1986-95).

The correct tracklist is as follows:
Disc One: 1. Wanderer; 2. Island (single); 3. Statues; 4. The Sea; 5. Gone Fishing; 6. Make My Time Pass By; 7. Everywhere You Go; 8. You Are the One; 9. Getting into Love Again; 10. Roads to Freedom; 11. The Man Who Loved the Trees; 12. There’ll Be No Going Back / Carpet of the Sun (rough mix); 13. Without a Song from You; 14. Medley: Kings and Queens / Bullet / Past Orbits of Dust / Mr. Pine; 15. Love Goes On; 16. Face of Yesterday (1971); 17. Island (album cut); 18. Medley: Golden Thread / Madonna Blue /Isadora / The Revolutionary / Candles are Burning.

Disc Two: 1. Ship of Happiness; 2. AquaMarine; 3. Sunset Point; 4. Bird of Paradise; 5. Moonlight Skater; 6. The Lovers; 7. Cruising Nowhere; 8. Beautiful Country; 9. As Long As Were Together; 10. Please Be Home; 11. Man of Miracles; 12. Face of Yesterday (1977); 13. Wings Across the Sea; 14. Louis Theme; Bonus track: Carpet of the Sun (rough mix).

Total music time - 156 minutes.

"Jane's Renaissance" marks the CD debut of her solo singles (Gone Fishing, Without a Song from You, and Make My Time Pass By). Another vocal demo bonus (Carpet of the Sun) is included. "Carpet of the Sun" was made popular by the subsequent Renaissance lineup ("Mark 2") whose vocals were by soprano Annie Haslam.

Disc 1 covers older material (late 1960s to mid-1970s), and Disc 2 covers later material (mid-1970s to mid-1990s). Some medleys include portions of songs where she was lead vocalist, excluding the remainder of the same songs with male vocals. As far as genre, it flows like early 1970s Moody Blues, or late 1970s Alan Parsons Project, with a 4-octave mezzosoprano at lead vocal. Fans of the following other artists would enjoy Jane Relf's work: Pink Floyd, Strawbs, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Judy Dyble / Trader Horne, Pentangle, Loreena McKennitt, October Project/Mary Fahl/Marina Belica, Tori Amos, Sarah Maclachlan, Fleetwood Mac/Christine McVie.

This release will likely show that Jane Relf, along with her bandmates Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, John Hawken (keyboards), and Louis Cennamo (bass), is perhaps the best-kept secret in the history of classical/progressive/ folk rock.

For another review, see:
http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/digest/digest.php?a=viewr&id=830