Renaissance were one of progressive rock’s most distinctive and beautiful bands, built around the soaring five-octave soprano of Annie Haslam. Formed in 1969 by two ex-Yardbirds, the group found its classic form in 1972, fusing rock with classical music, folk and lush orchestral arrangements — and scoring an unlikely hit with “Northern Lights.” Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Ashes Are Burning”, “Song of Scheherazade”, “Mother Russia” and “Northern Lights” — their majestic signature epic, a twenty-four-minute orchestral suite from their masterpiece, a stirring, Solzhenitsyn-inspired classic, and their beloved UK top-ten hit. The full ranking is below.

Prog’s most beautiful voice, and a love of the classics

Renaissance were unlike any other band of the progressive era. Formed in 1969 by former Yardbirds Keith Relf and Jim McCarty, the group was completely rebuilt by 1972 around the extraordinary five-octave soprano of Annie Haslam, the sparkling piano of John Tout and the compositions of guitarist Michael Dunford. Where their peers reached for volume and virtuosity, Renaissance reached for beauty: folk melodies, full orchestras and Haslam’s crystalline voice, drawing openly on Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov and Bach. From the beloved epic “Ashes Are Burning” to the twenty-four-minute “Song of Scheherazade” and the surprise hit “Northern Lights,” these fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, that voice, the orchestral grandeur and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Ashes Are Burning” (1973), the majestic eleven-minute epic that stands as their signature piece. With it: “Song of Scheherazade” (1975), the twenty-four-minute orchestral side-long suite from their masterpiece; “Mother Russia” (1974), the stirring, Solzhenitsyn-inspired epic; “Northern Lights” (1978), their beloved UK top-ten hit; “Carpet of the Sun” (1973), a soaring, sunlit folk-pop ballad; and “Can You Understand” (1973), the gong-and-piano epic that opens their most-loved album.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “A Song for All Seasons” (1978) is the orchestral epic closer, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic; “Ocean Gypsy” (1975) is a hauntingly beautiful ballad; “Running Hard” (1974) is a propulsive, organ-driven opener; “Can You Hear Me” (1977) is the sweeping epic that opens Novella; and “Day of the Dreamer” (1978) is a shape-shifting, keyboard-rich classic.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Trip to the Fair” (1975) is an eerie, music-box-tinged journey; “Touching Once (Is So Hard to Keep)” (1977) is a lush showcase for Haslam’s five-octave range; “Prologue” (1972) is the jazzy, Bach-flecked instrumental that opened the Haslam era; and “A Face of Yesterday” (1971) is a lovely ballad from the band’s early, pre-Haslam days.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with Ashes Are Burning, many fans’ favourite, and Scheherazade and Other Stories, widely considered their masterpiece, then Turn of the Cards and A Song for All Seasons, home to “Northern Lights”. Their early, pre-Haslam albums and the later, synth-oriented Azure d’Or reward deeper exploration.

The players

Renaissance were defined by Annie Haslam’s remarkable five-octave voice, and by the classic 1970s lineup that formed around her: guitarist and chief composer Michael Dunford, pianist John Tout, bassist Jon Camp — whose bass often took the lead — and drummer Terence Sullivan, with words supplied by non-performing lyricist Betty Thatcher. Of that classic lineup, only Annie Haslam survives today: Michael Dunford died in 2012, John Tout in 2015 and Terence Sullivan in 2026, while Keith Relf, who co-founded the original band, had died back in 1976. Haslam still performs the music today.

Why they still matter

Renaissance proved that progressive rock could be as graceful and melodic as it was ambitious. Often compared to Yes and early Genesis but sounding like neither, and kindred spirits of The Moody Blues, Barclay James Harvest and fellow travellers Curved Air, they built a body of orchestral, classically infused music crowned by one of the greatest voices in rock. Decades on, “Ashes Are Burning” and “Song of Scheherazade” remain high points of the entire genre.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Renaissance albums, find an entry point with where to start with Renaissance, or dig into the underrated Renaissance albums. You can also place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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