Blackmore’s Night – The Village Lanterne (2006)
Folk Magic & Medieval Rock in Full Bloom
Released on April 4, 2006, The Village Lanterne is the fifth studio album by folk/neo‑medieval rock band Blackmore’s Night, the long‑running musical partnership of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night. Blending Renaissance‑inspired melodies with contemporary folk and rock, this album captures a vivid tapestry of storytelling, atmosphere, and instrumental richness that has become the band’s signature sound.
🎵 Album Overview
On The Village Lanterne, Blackmore’s Night delivers a warm, evocative journey through pastoral landscapes, village gatherings, and wistful lyrical reflections. The album features original songs alongside creative reinterpretations of classics such as “Streets of London” and adaptations that combine medieval instrumentation with rock influences — including a medley incorporating Deep Purple’s “Child in Time.”
The single “Just Call My Name (I’ll Be There)” previewed the album, while tracks like “Olde Mill Inn” later appeared in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Yes Man.
📀 Tracklist
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25 Years – 4:57
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Village Lanterne – 5:13
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I Guess It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – 4:50
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The Messenger (Instrumental) – 2:55
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World of Stone – 4:25
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Faerie Queen / Faerie Dance – 4:56
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St. Teresa – 5:26
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Village Dance (Instrumental) – 1:58
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Mond Tanz / Child in Time – 6:12
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Streets of London – 3:48
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Just Call My Name (I’ll Be There) – 4:49
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Olde Mill Inn – 3:20
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Windmills – 3:27
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Street of Dreams – 4:31
Bonus / special editions include:
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Call It Love (bonus track)
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Street of Dreams (feat. Joe Lynn Turner)
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Once in a Garden (Japanese edition)
🎤 Personnel & Production
Core Band Members
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Ritchie Blackmore – electric & acoustic guitars, hurdy‑gurdy, percussion
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Candice Night – lead vocals, backing vocals, shawms, recorder, rauchpfeife
Supporting Musicians
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Sir Robert of Normandie (Robert Curiano) – bass
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Pat Regan & the Minstrel Hall Consort – keyboards
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Sisters of the Moon (Lady Madeline & Lady Nancy) – harmony vocals
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Bard David of Larchmont – keyboards/backing vocals
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Sarah Steiding – violin
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Anton Fig – drums
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Albert Dannemann – bagpipes & backing vocals
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Ian Robertson & Jim Manngard – backing vocals
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Joe Lynn Turner – guest vocals (bonus version of “Street of Dreams”)
Production
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Produced by: Pat Regan
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Label: SPV / Steamhammer (US)
📈 Chart Performance & Sales
The Village Lanterne performed well across Europe and Japan:
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#13 on the German Albums Chart
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#32 on Japan’s Oricon Albums Chart
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#33 in Finland and placements in Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, and more.
In Japan, the album sold approximately 14,979 copies, according to sales tracking data.
🧠 Did You Know?
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Film Connection: The track Olde Mill Inn was featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 Jim Carrey movie Yes Man.
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Creative Covers: “Streets of London” is a reinterpretation of the classic folk song by Ralph McTell, while Mond Tanz / Child in Time blends Blackmore’s Night’s medieval style with a nod to Deep Purple’s iconic track.
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Expanded Editions: Some versions of the album include a bonus duet of “Street of Dreams” with former Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner — linking Blackmore’s Night back to Ritchie Blackmore’s rock roots.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
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The album title evokes images of village square gatherings under lantern light — fitting perfectly with the band’s blend of storytelling, Renaissance flair, and folk‑rock sound.
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The Village Lanterne continued Blackmore’s Night’s pattern of combining original compositions with inventive reinterpretations of traditional and rock‑influenced material.
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The release was followed by the live CD/DVD Paris Moon (2007), which featured live performances of songs from this album.
Blackmore's Night Full Discography
Download Blackmore's Night Albums from Amazon Music
More Albums:
Blackmore's Night - Shadow of the Moon (1997)
Blackmore's Night - Under a Violet Moon (1999)
Blackmore's Night - Fires at Midnight (2001)
Blackmore's Night - Ghost of a Rose (2003)
Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols (2006)
Blackmore's Night - All Our Yesterdays (2015)
Blackmore's Night Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1997--2023)
