Renaissance (
Atco Records catalog no. [SD] 33-244; originally available in both mono and stereo) is the third album by rock band
Vanilla Fudge, released in June 1968. It was their first album to feature mostly original material, with five of its seven tracks penned by band members.
In addition to the band's original songs, Renaissance also included "The Spell That Comes After" (written by
Frank Zappa's and
Herb Cohen's protege
Essra Mohawk, but erroneously credited on original pressings of the LP to Zappa's art director
Cal Schenkel), and a
cover version of "Season of the Witch", originally written and performed by Scottish folk singer
Donovan. The band also interpolates lyrics from a second Essra Mohawk song, "We Never Learn", into their rendition of "Season of the Witch".
CD reissues of Renaissance include three additional songs that were originally released as non-LP singles concurrently with the album.
Renaissance peaked at #20 on the Billboard album charts in July 1968. It also reached #8 in Finland.[1]
The single, Season Of The Witch, PT. 1, reached #52 in Canada.[2]