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Deluxe new remaster w/3 BONUS tracks. CLASSIC live 1972 album, featuring the hit Conquistador
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Now here is a treasure worth having !
Procol Harum with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,
recorded live in concert in November 1971.
Released here in a remastered and expanded edition.
I saw them only once, at the Albert Hall supporting
Jethro Tull in October 1970 but their music had been
around in my life for some 3 or so years before that.
I remember my Father singing 'Homburg'
around the house circa 1967.
I suppose you could say that they have been a
significant part of the soundtrack to my life.
It is truly magical to hear this recording again.
The band's epic, widescreen music, enchanced by Gary Brooker's
plaintive voice and haunting piano, feels entirely at home
in the company of a full orchestra and chorus.
The sound is deep and rich and incredibly vivid given
its advanced age. The balance between band and orchestra
is beautifully managed. Chris Thomas's production is masterful.
So to the music :
'Conquistador', a marvelous song, never
sounded more magnificent than here.
The strings and brass in the opening bars are truly thrilling.
Keith Reid's lyrics were always such an important part of
Procol Harum's vision. Not just songs but great stories too.
You can almost smell the sea in 'Whaling Stories'.
Chris Copping's hammond organ, growling away in the background,
the whooping horns, the choral intrusions and Dave Ball's
towering central guitar solo create a maelstrom of sound.
Drummer B.J.Wilson deserves a special mention all his own.
It is hard to imagine a more musical percussionist.
His thundering presence in 'A Salty Dog' (surely one
of the greatest songs of the past half-century) propels
the performance forward to greater and greater heights.
The emotion generated by the full ensemble is truly electric.
The pizzicato strings and piano at the close is magical.
Brooker's voice is an elemental presence.
'All This and More' is rock solid.
The five-part suite which comprises 'In Held 'Twas In I',
from its narrative opening (a quaint take on spiritual
enlightenment), to the awe inspiring tumult of the "Grand Final"
conclusion is, in sum, both a lament for the lost world of
late-sixties, Sgt.Pepper-psychedelia and a nod to the band's
unique status as masters of a medium not best known for its
eloquence or literary finesse.
New inclusion 'Luscus Delph', a less well-known song in the
band's canon joins its rightful place with the best of all
they have achieved in this cracking performance.
The two rehearsal pieces 'Simple Sister' and 'Shine On Brightly',
despite their rough edges are a more than worthy inclusion.
Not just a re-release - a musically historic event.
Make room for it in your heart and life !
Essential.
Procol Harum with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,
recorded live in concert in November 1971.
Released here in a remastered and expanded edition.
I saw them only once, at the Albert Hall supporting
Jethro Tull in October 1970 but their music had been
around in my life for some 3 or so years before that.
I remember my Father singing 'Homburg'
around the house circa 1967.
I suppose you could say that they have been a
significant part of the soundtrack to my life.
It is truly magical to hear this recording again.
The band's epic, widescreen music, enchanced by Gary Brooker's
plaintive voice and haunting piano, feels entirely at home
in the company of a full orchestra and chorus.
The sound is deep and rich and incredibly vivid given
its advanced age. The balance between band and orchestra
is beautifully managed. Chris Thomas's production is masterful.
So to the music :
'Conquistador', a marvelous song, never
sounded more magnificent than here.
The strings and brass in the opening bars are truly thrilling.
Keith Reid's lyrics were always such an important part of
Procol Harum's vision. Not just songs but great stories too.
You can almost smell the sea in 'Whaling Stories'.
Chris Copping's hammond organ, growling away in the background,
the whooping horns, the choral intrusions and Dave Ball's
towering central guitar solo create a maelstrom of sound.
Drummer B.J.Wilson deserves a special mention all his own.
It is hard to imagine a more musical percussionist.
His thundering presence in 'A Salty Dog' (surely one
of the greatest songs of the past half-century) propels
the performance forward to greater and greater heights.
The emotion generated by the full ensemble is truly electric.
The pizzicato strings and piano at the close is magical.
Brooker's voice is an elemental presence.
'All This and More' is rock solid.
The five-part suite which comprises 'In Held 'Twas In I',
from its narrative opening (a quaint take on spiritual
enlightenment), to the awe inspiring tumult of the "Grand Final"
conclusion is, in sum, both a lament for the lost world of
late-sixties, Sgt.Pepper-psychedelia and a nod to the band's
unique status as masters of a medium not best known for its
eloquence or literary finesse.
New inclusion 'Luscus Delph', a less well-known song in the
band's canon joins its rightful place with the best of all
they have achieved in this cracking performance.
The two rehearsal pieces 'Simple Sister' and 'Shine On Brightly',
despite their rough edges are a more than worthy inclusion.
Not just a re-release - a musically historic event.
Make room for it in your heart and life !
Essential.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is just about as perfect an alliance as has been recorded between a rock band and an orchestra. Procol Harum first performed thus in Stratford, Ontario in the late 60s and here in 1971 A&M sent a mobile studio and Chris Thomas to Edmonton, Alberta to record this epic album. Of course you might say that Procol Harum music lends itself to orchestration - but then Conquistador was actually a "late addition", as Gary Brooker thought they needed a fast number!
I must also commend their recent (May 2009) DVD & CD release of an orchestral event in Denmark - at Ledreborg Castle - which again shows the band at the peak of their powers. That's 45 years (as Paramounts and Procol Harum) and still going strong.
All of these 2009 re-masterings have been excellent, and this (along with the truly magnificent Grand Hotel) are the pick of the crop
Highly recommended.
I must also commend their recent (May 2009) DVD & CD release of an orchestral event in Denmark - at Ledreborg Castle - which again shows the band at the peak of their powers. That's 45 years (as Paramounts and Procol Harum) and still going strong.
All of these 2009 re-masterings have been excellent, and this (along with the truly magnificent Grand Hotel) are the pick of the crop
Highly recommended.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
One may initially wonder how an album UK charting at 48 and devoid of Procol Harum's unique masterpiece ' Whiter Shade of Pale' can be so majestic and memorable. Just listen once to know exactly why. For me this is Procol Harum at their unsurpassed best.
The collaboration between rock group, symphony orchestra and choir can never have been finer. Live albums frequently lack something, suffering the absence of studio sophistication. Here's a perfect exception. All the undoubted risks taken in this one-off live performance endear an exceptional magic and musicality. The consistent accolades of the musical press at the time confirm my seeming bias, with phrases like 'a highly talented album', 'the music...some of the finest I've heard', and so they went on.
Procol Harum Live was one of the first vinyl albums in my collection and has profoundly influenced my musical taste thereafter. Deciding to re-acquaint myself with this 40th anniversary CD version is one of the best decisions I've made. The clarity, presence and sheer musicality from all those decades ago have just added further slendour over time with digital remastering. The bonus tracks and excellent booklet add a further dimension to the package. Whether a Procol Harum fan or not, I commend you to savour this memorable evening in rock history. One thing's for sure, you'll not be disappointed. Any shade of pale will be turned vividly white!
The collaboration between rock group, symphony orchestra and choir can never have been finer. Live albums frequently lack something, suffering the absence of studio sophistication. Here's a perfect exception. All the undoubted risks taken in this one-off live performance endear an exceptional magic and musicality. The consistent accolades of the musical press at the time confirm my seeming bias, with phrases like 'a highly talented album', 'the music...some of the finest I've heard', and so they went on.
Procol Harum Live was one of the first vinyl albums in my collection and has profoundly influenced my musical taste thereafter. Deciding to re-acquaint myself with this 40th anniversary CD version is one of the best decisions I've made. The clarity, presence and sheer musicality from all those decades ago have just added further slendour over time with digital remastering. The bonus tracks and excellent booklet add a further dimension to the package. Whether a Procol Harum fan or not, I commend you to savour this memorable evening in rock history. One thing's for sure, you'll not be disappointed. Any shade of pale will be turned vividly white!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very Good, but
These re-releases are of excellent quality. However, they could have been released as single disk with two albums and an occasional bonus track thereby taking up less space and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by John Rempel
Brilliant Live CD
Thanks to the positive reviews I decided to get this and I am very glad I did.
The sound is stunning with the drums, vocals etc all very clear and well balanced. Read more
The sound is stunning with the drums, vocals etc all very clear and well balanced. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bring_back_the_60s
A magnificent reissue of Procol's spectacular concert
Anyone who owned & loved this superb live performance by Procol Harum on vinyl will be blown away by the wonderful soundstage that this exemplary reissue provides. Read more
Published on 23 April 2010 by Soundsearcher
Outstanding!
This CD has my favorite Procol Harum song (Conquistador), which is why I bought it. I have a vinyl "Greatest Hits" LP that I compared Conquistador to. Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by Mark Serrano
Band and Orchestra - great success
I'm not really a huge fan of Procol Harum, but this album is magnificant. Many prog rock bands tried recording with orchestras, but on the whole ended up using the orchestra as... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2009 by The Soft Machine Operator
another successful musical diversion
Combining bona fide rock music with a classical orchestra had up until the release of this live album been viewed with some uncertainty and doubt by the listening audience, as the... Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2009 by Mr. F. M. Havicon
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