Illusion (band)
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Illusion | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Progressive rock |
| Years active | 1977–1979 |
| Labels | Island Records Edsel Records Brisk Production Promised Land |
| Past members | Jane Relf Jim McCarty John Hawken Louis Cennamo John Knightsbridge Eddie McNeill |
Illusion were a British progressive rock band formed in 1977.[1] They released two albums, Out of the Mist (1977) and Illusion (1978) on Island Records, before folding in 1979. A third release titled Enchanted Caress (made up of demos for a proposed 3rd album, from the late 1970s) was released in 1990.[2][3]
Illusion were intended to be a reunion of the original line-up of Renaissance (whose second 1971 album was titled Illusion), but singer and guitarist Keith Relf died before the project was realised.[4] Thereafter, the band's new lineup featured Louis Cennamo on bass, John Hawken on keyboards, Jim McCarty moved from drums to play acoustic guitar and share vocals with Jane Relf, while Eddie McNeill replaced him on drums and John Knightsbridge (from Third World War, and later of Ruthless Blues) played lead guitar.[5]
In 2001, McCarty, Cennamo, Hawken and Jane Relf reunited once again to record Through the Fire, an album of new material, under the bandname Renaissance Illusion.[6]
Members[edit]
- Jane Relf – vocals
- Jim McCarty – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – guitars
- John Hawken – keyboards
- Louis Cennamo – bass
- Eddie McNeill – drums
Discography[edit]
Out of the Mist (1977)[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Isadora" | Jim McCarty | 6:56 |
| 2. | "Roads to Freedom" | McCarty, John Hawken | 3:53 |
| 3. | "Beautiful Country" | McCarty, Hawken | 4:21 |
| 4. | "Solo Flight" | McCarty, Hawken | 4:23 |
| 5. | "Everywhere You Go" | McCarty | 3:18 |
| 6. | "Face of Yesterday" | McCarty | 5:45 |
| 7. | "Candles Are Burning" | McCarty | 7:10 |
| Total length: | 35:55 | ||
- Personnel
- Jane Relf – vocals
- Jim McCarty – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – electric and acoustic guitar
- John Hawken – piano, synthesizers, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo – bass guitar
- Eddie McNeil – drums, percussion
- Notes
- "Face of Yesterday" was a remake of a song from Renaissance's Illusion album (1971)
Illusion (1978)[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Madonna Blue" | McCarty | 6:46 |
| 2. | "Never Be the Same" | McCarty | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Louis' Theme" | Louis Cennamo, Jane Relf | 7:41 |
| 4. | "Wings Across the Sea" | McCarty | 4:49 |
| 5. | "Cruising Nowhere" | McCarty | 5:01 |
| 6. | "Man of Miracles" | Keith Relf,[7] McCarty, Hawken | 3:27 |
| 7. | "The Revolutionary" | McCarty, Hawken | 6:15 |
| Total length: | 37:28 | ||
- Personnel
- Jane Relf – vocal
- Jim McCarty – vocal, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – electric and acoustic guitar
- John Hawken – piano, synthesizers, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo – bass guitar
- Eddie McNeil – drums, percussion
Enchanted Caress (1979)[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nights in Paris" | McCarty | 3:13 |
| 2. | "Walking Space" | McCarty | 3:58 |
| 3. | "The Man Who Loved the Trees" | McCarty | 3:28 |
| 4. | "Getting into Love Again" | McCarty | 3:32 |
| 5. | "As Long as We're Together" | McCarty | 3:41 |
| 6. | "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" | Richard Rodgers | 3:30 |
| 7. | "Living Above Your Head" | McCarty | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Crossed Lines" | McCarty | 3:18 |
| 9. | "You Are the One" | McCarty | 4:00 |
| 10. | "All the Falling Angels" | K. Relf | 5:27 |
- Personnel
- Jane Relf – vocal, percussion
- Jim McCarty – vocal, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – electric and acoustic guitars
- John Hawken – piano, analogue synthesizers (Moog/ARP), Mellotron (original), Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo – bass guitar (1–5), (7–10)
- Eddie McNeil – drums, percussion (1–5), (7–9)
- Keith Relf – vocals, acoustic guitar (10) (See Notes below)
- Session personnel
- Chas Cronk – bass (6)
- Tony Fernandez – drums (6)
- Notes
- Recorded in 1979 but was released as an album in 1990. Contains demos for a planned third album, plus a 1976 Keith Relf demo and a John Knightsbridge solo instrumental.
- "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" features John Knightsbridge, with Chas Cronk on bass and Tony Fernandez on drums.
- "All the Falling Angels" features Keith Relf, with other musicians including Louis Cennamo on bass. It was Keith's last recording before his death (May 1976).
- See YouTube video (JimMcCarty and Co) for original Home Demo version of "All the Falling Angels".
Through the Fire (2001)[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "One More Turn of the Wheel" | McCarty | |
| 2. | "Good Heart" | McCarty | |
| 3. | "Glorious One" | McCarty | |
| 4. | "Through the Fire" | McCarty | |
| 5. | "Blowing Away" | McCarty | |
| 6. | "Mystery of Being" | McCarty | |
| 7. | "Beat of the Earth" | McCarty | |
| 8. | "Beyond the Day" | McCarty | |
| 9. | "My Old Friend" | McCarty | |
| 10. | "Through the Fire (reprise)" | McCarty |
Personnel
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|
References[edit]
- ^ "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: I2". www.PlanetMellotron.com. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Illusion discography, album releases & credits". Discogs. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "The History of Renaissance". www.jtl.us. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Renaissance & Illusion biography by Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds, Renaissance & Illusion". www.JamesMcCarty.com. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Illusion - Out of the Mist (1977) | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Renaissance Illusion - Through the Fire (2001) | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Posthumously uses lyrics written by Keith Relf
External links[edit]
- Northern Lights Renaissance website; includes Illusion discography etc.
- John Hawken website
- Illusion biography by Bradley Torreano, discography and album reviews, credits & releases at AllMusic
- Illusion discography, album releases & credits at Discogs
- Illusion albums to be listened as stream on Spotify
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