Some Reviews of Ron's CDs THE FOLK SONG MAGAZINE Vol.41 #2    Aug./Sept./Oct. '96 RON RENNINGER, Another Kite To Fly, (Vienna Virginia 2042850). There are some great songs here. "The Corner Of Gunhill And Hell" is about growing up where a kiss is a means of persuasion and a lie is a tool you could learn to use well. "Flowers In The Sidewalk" is about being in the wrong place in a relationship. "Twilight" chronicles a dying love that is not quite light, not quite dark and not quite over, although it's not like it was. "Even The Strongest Of Trees" is well-crafted with imaginative images, but suffers from excess repetition of the theme line. The instrumental cuts provide good interludes, almost intermissions, of well-played guitar music. It would have been nice if the liner notes had described the songs, or better yet, contained the lyrics. Renninger's clear voice almost makes up for this lack, though, and he proves to be an excellent writer. On the whole, this one is highly recommended. -- VH   The magazine of folk, electric folk, traditional and world music. (#70, Jun/Jul '97) Ron Renninger Another Kite to Fly [Vienna Virginia VV2042850 (1996)], Ron Renninger There But for the Grace of Love [Vienna Virginia VV2052850 (1997)] Another Kite to Fly, the first solo recording by Ron Renninger, is a self-confessional, autobiographical collection of well written acoustic based songs. Renninger's years as a studio musician shows in the simple but effective use of backing musicians. A couple of instrumentals round out what is an enjoyable set of music. His second recording has many of the charms of the first. Renninger's still writing songs drawn from personal experience, still using a very simple backing and still retaining a warmth that draws you into the stories he's telling. (JLe)   SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997   TOP 12 INDEPENDENT RECORDINGS RON RENNINGER There But for the Grace of Love All around are lonely souls with sadness in their eyes/And I think there but for the grace of love go I. In his title track, Ron Renninger has written a song of heartbreak and celebration. It's kind of a "God Bless The Child That's Got His Own" folk song. Throughout the 15 tracks here Renninger displays a knack for summing up the good and the bad when it comes to affairs of the heart. "Sweet Old Time" is an ode to the good. "Highway Of Love" with its car and road metaphors, examines the bittersweet side. Renninger is based in New York City and boasts a pretty colorful musical history. At sixteen his band, Basement Concession, was the first act signed to the newly formed Sire Records. He's shared stages with folks like Van Morrison, Lucinda Williams, Sonny Terry and more. Grace is his fourth solo album. When he's not addressing the many facets of love, Renninger takes on more topical subjects: the death of Carl Sagan in "Sometimes Stars Fall Too Soon", dysfunctional families in "They Die But They Don't", and the mayhem brought on by guns in "Piece". Simple instrumentation keeps his voice and nimble finger-picking in the forefront. Renninger seems to be an artist whose fuse and muse still burn bright.

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