[1] Under a Violet Moon (Blackmore/Night) - 4:23
[2] Castles and Dreams (Blackmore/Night) - 3:33
[3] Past Time with Good Company (Traditional) - 3:24
[4] Morning Star (Blackmore/Night) - 4:41
[5] Avalon (Traditional) - 3:02
[6] Possum Goes to Prague (Blackmore) - 1:13
[7] Wind in the Willows (Piell) - 4:11
[8] Gone with the Wind (Traditonal) - 5:24
[9] Beyond the Sunset (Blackmore) - 3:44
[10] March the Heroes Home (Blackmore/Night) - 4:39
[11] Spanish Nights(I Remember It Well) (Traditional) - 5:22
[12] Catherine Howard's Fate (Blackmore/Night) - 2:34
[13] Fool's Gold (Blackmore/Night) - 3:31
[14] Durch Den Wald Zum Bach Haus (Blackmore) - 2:31
[15] Now and Then (Night) - 3:11
[16] Self Portrait (Blackmore/Dio) - 3:18
Guests:
John Ford - Bass, Vocals, Backing
Jeff Glixman - Keyboards, Producer, Engineer
Joe James - String Arrangements, Pre-Production
Jens Johansson - Keyboards
George Marino - Mastering
Roy McDonald - Keyboards, Producer
Mark Pender - Trumpet
Kevin Dunne - Drums
Mick Cervino - Bass
Miri Ben-Ari - Violin
Adam Forgione - Additional Keyboards
Peter Rooth - Bass, Drum programming
Jason Chapman - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Scott Hazell - Backing Vocals
Sue Goehringer - Backing Vocals
John Gould - Backing Vocals
Trish - Backing Vocals
Mike 'Metal' Goldberd - Military Drum
Des Geyer Schwarzer Haufen:
Thomas Roth - Bagpipes, Vocals
Albert Danneman - Bagpipes, Vocals
Albrecht Schmidt-Reinthaler - Harpsichord
Jost Pogrzeba - Percussion
Christof Heus - Trumpet
Adolf Lehnberger - Trombone
Gell Spitz - Trumpet
Rolf Spitz - Trombone
Mr. and Mrs. Heller - Hurdy Gurdys
The Minstrel Hall Consort - all other instruments
1999 CD Intersound 3741
2001 CD Steamhammer/SPV 7241
Under a Violet Moon is the second album by Blackmore's Night, and
guitarist Ritchie Blackmore had a very clear idea of what he wanted for
the sophomore release by the Renaissance-oriented world and new age
music outfit. The former Deep Purple and Rainbow six-stringer and
vocalist Candice Night wanted to take Blackmore's Night on an extensive
tour, so they made a conscious effort to record a more up-tempo album,
making the music more conducive to live performance than much of the
relaxed material on their debut, Shadow of the Moon. Countless guest
musicians contribute to this album, which was co-produced by Blackmore,
Jeff Glixman (best known for his work with Kansas), and Roy McDonald. A
variety of sonic textures are found on the album, but the faster
numbers do dominate the proceedings and therefore fulfill Blackmore and
Night's musical desires. "Under a Violet Moon" is propelled by
Blackmore's darkly rich acoustic guitar lines, Night's urgent vocals,
and the driving handclaps and tambourine. "Past Time With Good
Company," a traditional melody attributed to Henry VIII, utilizes
appropriately regal-sounding horns. Rolling rhythms and swirling
melodies illuminate the superb "Morning Star." Bassist John Ford shares
singing duties with Night on "Wind in the Willows." Blackmore breaks
out the electric guitar for some soloing on "Gone With the Wind." The
cosmic instrumental "Beyond the Sunset" has a soothing, new age
dreaminess to it. "March the Heroes Home" has a sparse arrangement at
first, but as each instrument comes in the dramatic feel is heightened.
Blackmore's lightning-fast acoustic guitar runs are matched by the
violin on "Spanish Nights (I Remember it Well)." The guitarist dips
into his past for a rearranged version of "Self Portrait," which first
appeared on 1975's Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.
Bret Adams, All-Music Guide
Wer von dieser Platte typische Blackmore-Hardrock-Sounds à la
Deep Purple oder Rainbow erwartet, muß leider enttäuscht
werden. Wer sich den E-Gitarren-Gott jedoch auch in einem rein
akustischen Gewand vorstellen kann und zudem auf mittelalterliche Musik
steht, liegt hier goldrichtig. Auf dem zweiten Blackmore´s
Night-Longplayer konzentriert sich der exzentrische, früher auch
gerne mal herumrandalierende Saitenhexer fast ausschließlich auf
leise Renaissance-Klänge, die noch am ehesten etwas mit den
romantischeren Mike Oldfield-Tracks zu tun haben. Nur bei "Gone With
The Wind" packt er seine legendäre Fender Stratocaster aus, setzt
aber selbst da mehr auf Feeling als auf aufjaulende Licks. Wenn
man´s genau nimmt, steht Blackmore bei diesem Projekt auch gar
nicht im Vordergrund, sondern liefert lediglich das instrumentale
Rahmenprogramm für das glockenhelle, wunderschöne Organ
seiner jungen Lebensgefährtin Candice Night, deren leicht
melancholische Gesangsmelodien den Gänsehaut-Faktor dieser CD
rasant in die Höhe treiben. Eine Neubearbeitung des Rainbow-Songs
"Self Portrait" gemahnt noch einmal an alte Zeiten, aber eigentlich hat
Blackmore das gar nicht mehr nötig, denn mit Blackmore´s
Night ist er in Deutschland erfolgreicher als zuletzt mit Rainbow.
Michael Rensen, Amazon.de
There's always been a hey-nonny-no element to Ritchie Blackmore's
music, at least in Deep Purple's more extravagant phases. Now with lady
fair Candice Night the guitarist fully indulges his penchant for
medieval posing. Violet Moon shrouds a bevy of fan-faring trumpets,
hurdy-gurdies and Blackmore's unusually anonymous plucking, while
Night's vocals are as ethereal as double tracking will allow. Moon
celebrates an Arcadian vision of "the Knights and days of olde / The
beggars and the thieves / Living in an enchanted wood" according to the
title tune, blissfully ignorant that the Dark Ages were filled with
senseless bloodshed and general intolerance. Instead, Blackmore's field
of folk is choked with silly Merlin-figures (who in "Wind in the
Willows" atypically recommends that drunkenness to cure the world's
ills), golden rings, sage travelers and mournful nightingales. This
expurgated Tolkein is never challenged by the music, even when Sir
Blackmore is adopting Henry VIII's tunes to his own ends on a song like
"Past Time With Good Company." The lordly perspective can't hide how
ridiculous Blackmore looks in tights, or that Rick Wakeman did it
better long, long ago.
Dancing to the feel of the Drum
Leave this World behind
We'll have a drink and toast to ourselfes
Under a violet Moon
Tudor Rose with her Hair in curls
Will make you turn and stare
Try to steal a kiss at the Bridge
Under a violet Moon
Raise your hats and your Glasses too
We will dance the whole Night throught
We're going back to a Time we knew
Under a violet Moon
Cheers to the Knights and Days of olde
the beggars and the thieves
living in an enchanted wood
Under a violet Moon
Close your eyes and lose yourself
In a medievel mood
taste the tresures and sing the lunes
Under a violet Moon
This my delight on a shiny night
the seasons of a year
to keep the lanterns burning bright
Under a violet Moon
Castles And Dreams
Solitare with a Song in her Heart
but what a sad song to sing
turned her back on all that she knew
In the hope of a golden Ring....
And the Rains come down
And the Stars fell from the Sky
Oh, how dark the Night...
It always seems those Castles and Dreams
Fade with the morning light
such a sad story
that time loves to tell
copper coins shine for the Sun
from the floor after wishing well
So the Jewel of jepordy
shines with each dangerouse step
So unsure of what we've become
What we have and what we have left...
Past Time With Good Company
past time with good company
I love, and shall until I die
grutch who lust , but none deny
so god be pleased thus live will I
for my pastance
hunt, sing and dance
my heart is set;
all goodly sport
for my comfort
who shall me let?
youth must have some dalliance
of good or ill some pastance
company methinks then best
all throughts and funcies to digest
for idleness is chief mistress
of vices all: than who can say
but mirth and play
is best of all ?
past time with good company
I love, and shall until I die
grutch who lust , but none deny
so god be pleased thus live will I
for my pastance
hunt, sing and dance
my heart is set;
all goodly sport
for my comfort
who shall me let?
company with honesty
is virtue, vices to flee;
company is good and ill
but any man hath his free will
the best ensue
the worst eschew:
my mind shall be
virtue to use
vice to refuse
thus shall I use me...
Morning Star
There are shadows in the sky
Dancing in the air
Calling to my heart
Saying, "If you dare,
We're running fast
We're running far
Trying to catch the morning star..."
And time and space
Our only sheild
keeping secrets
Unrevealed
Falling night
Breathes in the dark
Trying to catch the morning star...
*I can fly through my mind when I see them as they shine
Can it be so hard to try and charm the exclusive morning star...
So within the chase
We soon will find
The light of the moon
those left behind
Try to free the gypsy in their hearts
By trying to catch the morning star...
*Repeat
Now that the time
Has come and gone
Illusion has past
And we're on our own
Know the dream is never far
When trying to catch the morning star...
Avalon
To the days of Avalon
Where magic rules as king
The moon beneath the castle walls
As the nightingale sings...
The golden bird
He gave to me
What happiness he brings
Like a star on a Christmas tree
As the nightingale sings
*And so we sat, hand in hand and watched the fireflies
And never spoke a single word
But lived to do or die
We lived to do or die
Back to the days of Avalon
Where magic ruled as king
The moon beneath the castles walls
As the nightingale sings...
We read of tales of treason
A soldiers legacy
Blood beneth the crimson sky
Fighting without reason
But the crime of loyalty
A tattered flag left to fly...
Back to the days of Avalon
Where magic ruled as king
The moon beneath the castles walls
as the nightingale sings...
Possum Goes To Prague
(Instrumental)
Wind In The Willows
As I went a walking
One morning in spring
I met with some travelers
On an old country lane
One was an old man
The second a maid
The third was a young boy who smiled as he said
*"With the wind in the willows
The birds in the sky
There's a bright sun to warm us wherever we lie...
We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine
To share on our journey with all of mankind."
So I asked them to tell me their name and their race
So I could remember each smile on their face
"Our name, they mean nothing...
They change throughout time
So come sit beside us and share in our wine"
*Repeat
So I sat down beside them
With flowers all around
We et from a mantle
Spread out on the ground
They told me of prophets
And peoples and kings
And all of the one god that knows everything
"We're traveling to Glaston
Over England's gren lanes
To hear of men's troubles
To hear of their pains
We travel the wide world
Over land and the sea
To tell all the people
How they can be free..."
*Repeat
So sadly I left them
On that old country lane
For I knew that I'd never see them again
One was an old man
The second a maid
The third was a young boy who smiled as he said...
*Repeat
Gone With The Wind
Twisting turning
The winds are burning
Leaving me without a name
How will we ever find our way...
Snow was falling
I could hear the frightened calling
Fear taking over every man
Life meaning nothing more than sand...
*Wind will sweep away
The traces I was here
A story in a teardrop
That's all I have to give...
Rage inferno swallowing the life that I know
Strenght is the only way to fight
You must look up to see the light...
Gone With The Wind...Gone With The Wind...Gone
With The Wind...
Take all I know
Turn it into darkened shadows
They'll disappear in the sun
When a new story has begun
She survived the nightmare
Began a whole new life here
But I can see behind those eyes
She still sees those fires in the night...
Twisting and turning
Oh, the winds are burning
Leaving me without a name
How will we ever find our way...
Beyond The Sunset
(Instrumental)
March The Heroes Home
I sing the praise of honored wars of glory and of kings
The bravery of soldiers, The joy that peace can bring
The captains on their way home, The ribbons on their chests
They've packed away the firearms the trumpets lay to rest...
They've taken in the battlefields with one last weary breath
And set their sights on something new while there's still
something left
The poets and the dreamers thank the stars above
For leaving hatred in the dust and bringing back the love...
*Over land and over sea
March The Heroes Home
For the faithful, for the free
March The Heroes Home
We'll be waiting when you
March The Heroes Home
All the night and day through
March The Heroes Home...
The flowers laughing in the fields boast colors bright and new
A hind of freedom in the air, the chimes are ringing true
They're bringing in the New Year and ringing out the old
Beconing the springtime though winter winds blow cold...
Spanish Nights (I Remember It Well)
Silent she rose
From the cold desert sands
Painted in shadows
A dark caravan...
Quiet as a wisper
With moves like a cat
She ruled like a storm cloud
Her eyes glowing black...
*Oh, and they cried Malguena
Wait for me Malaguena
I remember it well...
Oh, and they cry Malaguena
Wait for me Malaguena
I remember it well...
Oh, too well...
And so they rode
On the wings of a song
Spinning in silence
The world was their own...
two lovers locked in the arms of the dance
Freedom begins with the game of the dance
*Repeat
And now they rise
Like a wave on the seas
Lost in a rhythm
And ever they'll be...
Catherine Howard's Fate
Oh, to my dearest ruler and lord
Merciful husband
Nobelest of king...
Your heart of gold has long since tarnished
In my champer
What will the morning bring?
What it my heart that doth betray me
Cause I loved more than one man?
Is it true your wear a wounded spirit?
Pray let me mend it and make our love anew...
Allow me to be your humple servant
Once again, as before...
Are you like the others, so quick to judge
And for this the queen must fall
What is my heart that doth betray me
Cause I loved more than one man?
Truth within the writings of a letter
Signed and sealed poor Catherine Howards fate...
Truth within the writings of a letter
Signed and sealed poor Catherine Howards fate...
Fool's Gold
Somewhere in a market square
The cobblestone still shine
Glassy eyes behold the sight
Through another cup of wine...
The one eyed jester skips and turns
As he makes his way through the crowd
While the travern's royalty try not to laugh aloud...
The jester does another spin
And then falls to the floor
A show of hands, a short "Hurrah!"
A plea for him to do more...
The ease of laughter comes so fast when you're not in
A jester's shoes
Cause when you've only Fools Gold, you've got nothing
more to lose...
Who holds the riches
The jester or the king?
A fortress made from Fools Gold
Or the tears that treasure can bring?
The king he sit upon his throne
The worlds weight on his chest
When your mind begins to race you've got no time to rest
"Where is my clown?
I need him now, to take my troubles away..."
The harlequin rushes in as his work begins for the day...
While somewhere in a market square
The cobblestones still shine...
Durch Den Wald Zum Bach Haus
(Instrumental)
Now And Then
The past time so familiar
But that's why you couldn't stay
Too many ghosts, too many haunted dreams
Beside you were built to find your own way...
But after all these years, I thought we'd still hold on
But when I reach for you and search your eyes
I see you've already gone...
*That's OK
I'll be fine
I've got myself, I'll heal in time
But when you leave just remember what we had...
There's more to life than just you
I may cry but I'll make it through
And I know that the sun will shine again
Though I may think of you now and then...
Can't do a thing with ashes
But throw them to the wind...
Though this heart may be in pieces now
You know I'll build it up again and
I'll come back stronger than I ever did before
Just don't turn around when you walk out that door...
*Repeat
That's OK
I'll be fine
I've got myself,I'll heal in time
And even though our stories at the end
I still may think of you now and then...
Self Portrait
Paint me a picture and hang it on the wall
Color is darkly, the lines will start to crawl
Down...down...down...
Spin me around and around
Draw me away to the night from the day, leave not a trace to
be found...
Down...down...
Nothing is real but the way that I feel and I feel like going
Down,down,down,dow,down, down, down,
down, down, down, down,down
Paint me a picture of eyes that never see
Flashes of lightning that burn for only me...
Hey,hey,hey - there's only the devil to pay...
I'm ready to go, pull me down from below
Give me a place I can lay
Hey,hey - nothing is real but the way that I feel and I
feel like going
Down,down,down,down,down,down,down,
down,down,down,down,down...
Nothing is real but the way that I feel and I feel like going -
Nothing is real but the way that I feel and I feel like going
Down,down,down,down,down,down,down,
down,down,down,down,down...