Time-Line the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in April 1983.[1][2] It was the last album released by Renaissance before they disbanded in 1987.

Time-Line
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1983
RecordedJuly–August 1982
StudioHerne Place Studios, Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
GenrePop rock
Length41:54
LabelIllegal / I.R.S.
ProducerRenaissance
Renaissance chronology
Camera Camera
(1981)
Time-Line
(1983)
Tuscany
(2001)

With this album, Renaissance departed from their signature sound and toward 1980s pop, a change which had begun on their previous album, Camera Camera. It was a commercial failure and received the worst reviews of the band's career.[3] It was followed by a band hiatus of nearly 20 years.

While Camera Camera's sound was influenced by the band members who had played as Nevada (Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford, along with keyboardist Peter Gosling), on Time-Line Jon Camp took charge of the musical tone and direction.[2] He wrote all the lyrics, strongly influenced the musical style, and went so far as to call this the band's "best album."[4]

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]

In a retrospective review, Allmusic called Time-Line "the same kind of new wave-prog hybrid as Camera Camera, with anachronistic -- but irresistible -- little numbers like 'Richard the IX'" and "An enjoyably peppy record."[2]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Jon Camp and Michael Dunford, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Flight"Annie Haslam and Camp4:09
2."Missing Persons" (Camp)Haslam3:36
3."Chagrin Boulevard"Haslam and Camp4:23
4."Richard IX" (Camp)Haslam3:40
5."The Entertainer"Haslam4:45
Side two
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
6."Electric Avenue"Haslam and Camp4:57
7."Majik"Haslam3:10
8."Distant Horizons" (Camp)Haslam3:58
9."Orient Express" (Camp)Haslam3:55
10."Auto-Tech"Camp5:21

Personnel edit

Renaissance edit

  • Annie Haslam - lead and backing vocals
  • Jon Camp - bass, backing, co-lead and lead vocals, guitars
  • Michael Dunford - guitars, backing vocals

Additional musicians edit

  • Peter Gosling, Nick Magnus, Eddie Hardin - keyboards
  • Peter Barron, Ian Mosley - drums
  • Bimbo Acock - saxophone
  • Dave Thomson - trumpet

Production edit

  • John Acock - engineer
  • Kevin Metcalfe - mastering at Utopia Studios, London

References edit

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 684. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ a b c d Mureika, Tomas (2011). "Time-Line - Renaissance | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  3. ^ Elliot, Russell W. (10 November 2002). "The History of Renaissance". Northern Lights: The Renaissance Fan Site. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. ^ Liner notes from the Tales Of 1,001 Nights compilations