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Deluxe 2009 remaster w/2 BONUS unreleased tracks. 1973 LP hailed as 'a masterpiece of musical perfection & lyricism'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
By 1973 Procol Harum were looking and sounding out of step with contemporary trends. With glam-rock dominating the best-sellers and everyone seemingly in awe of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon', this album was overlooked by record-buyers despite attracting some of the best reviews of the band's career. The reviews were fully justified, for 'Grand Hotel' might just be Procol Harum's forgotten masterpiece. It opens with the title track, a self-contained work of art of immense proportion telling of romancing and sleeping in an affluent hotel, the whole thing shot through with a hopeless nostalgia that reeks of decadence. Although not a concept album as such, what follows builds on these themes and begins to assume darker hues as the the songs progress towards a final plea for medical treatment. At the heart of the collection is the harrowing 'For Liquorice John', a heart-tugging account of a suicide which serves as an appropriate corrective to the preceeding tales of hotel-room trysts, drunken reverie and self-induced sickness. This is adult entertainment of a very sophisticated nature and it is significant that this record appears to have addressed the same issues as the Eagles did on 'Hotel California' some thee or four years later but in a far more assured manner. The Salvo re-issue is simply magnificent and a credit to a band which on 'Grand Hotel' achieved a creative peak that was barely noticed at the time. Now, then, would be a good time to appreciate its enduring worth.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Procol Harum were / are one of the great 60s combos, who, despite releasing a massive-selling, era-defining single in the shape of 'A Whiter Shade of Pale', never quite reached the kind of massive global success of some of their contemporaries. 'Grand Hotel' is probably their defining album, where their Classical leanings merged seamlessly with their full-on rocking notions. The title track is as rich as the foods and wines listed in the song lyric, but on tracks like 'Toujours L'Amour', their abilities to rock out as tough as anyone, with BJ Wilson's spiffy drumming and Mick Grabham's fiery lead guitar work much in evidence. There's more though; 'TV Caesar' is positivley funky, as is 'Bringing Home The BAcon', and there is not a duff track on the album. This is a great album, and this fine reissue looks and sounds wonderful.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
October 13th 1970. The Royal Albert Hall, London.
Jethro Tull, Tir Na Nog and "special guests" Procol Harum in concert.
Now there was a gig for a young Wolf to get steamed up about.
The anthemic quality of Procol Harum's music and Mr Brooker's
unshowy yet affecting voice were captivating from the beginning.
'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' and 'Homburg' (1967); 'A Salty Dog' (1969);
'Conquistador' (1972) were all part of the dizzy soundtrack to my
largely misspent teenage years.
The classy, complex, classically oriented arrangements set
the band apart from their peers. This was BIG music.
Life-enhancing, enduring and loaded with irresistible pathos.
1973 saw the release of perhaps their most opulent
and engaging project. 'Grand Hotel' is, indeed, music of
grand design and epic ambition.
The evenly paced piano and organ entry to the opening
title track is quickly catapulted by B. J. Wilson's thundering
percussion into an uproariously lavish big-boned, wide-screen,
production number.
Orchestra, choir and a complete fin de siecle Viennese ballroom
are all thrown headlong into the mix.
Gloriously excessive but by some strange internal magic it all holds together.
Magnificently.
'For Liquorice John' allows Mr Brooker's plaintive vocals to soar.
Keith Reid's impressionistic lyrics compliment the elusive melody perfectly.
Likewise 'TV Caesar' with it's fine central guitar solo from Mr Grabham.
'Toujours l'Amour' and 'Bringing Home The Bacon' prove that the band
was no slouch when it came down to rocking-out either.
'A Souvenir Of London' creates a kind of whimsical one-man-band ambience.
'A Rum Tale' and 'Robert's Box' are more than worthy makeweights.
Final song 'Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)' brings the album to a
magisterial conclusion. Christine Legrand's charming Swinglish
vocal contribution is an absolute stroke of genius. I smile with joy
every time I hear it.
Beg, borrow or steal to get this album into your life.
After thirty five years my vinyl copy is wearing a little thin but I'm
hoping that it will last for as long as I'm able to watch the sun rise.
Jethro Tull, Tir Na Nog and "special guests" Procol Harum in concert.
Now there was a gig for a young Wolf to get steamed up about.
The anthemic quality of Procol Harum's music and Mr Brooker's
unshowy yet affecting voice were captivating from the beginning.
'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' and 'Homburg' (1967); 'A Salty Dog' (1969);
'Conquistador' (1972) were all part of the dizzy soundtrack to my
largely misspent teenage years.
The classy, complex, classically oriented arrangements set
the band apart from their peers. This was BIG music.
Life-enhancing, enduring and loaded with irresistible pathos.
1973 saw the release of perhaps their most opulent
and engaging project. 'Grand Hotel' is, indeed, music of
grand design and epic ambition.
The evenly paced piano and organ entry to the opening
title track is quickly catapulted by B. J. Wilson's thundering
percussion into an uproariously lavish big-boned, wide-screen,
production number.
Orchestra, choir and a complete fin de siecle Viennese ballroom
are all thrown headlong into the mix.
Gloriously excessive but by some strange internal magic it all holds together.
Magnificently.
'For Liquorice John' allows Mr Brooker's plaintive vocals to soar.
Keith Reid's impressionistic lyrics compliment the elusive melody perfectly.
Likewise 'TV Caesar' with it's fine central guitar solo from Mr Grabham.
'Toujours l'Amour' and 'Bringing Home The Bacon' prove that the band
was no slouch when it came down to rocking-out either.
'A Souvenir Of London' creates a kind of whimsical one-man-band ambience.
'A Rum Tale' and 'Robert's Box' are more than worthy makeweights.
Final song 'Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)' brings the album to a
magisterial conclusion. Christine Legrand's charming Swinglish
vocal contribution is an absolute stroke of genius. I smile with joy
every time I hear it.
Beg, borrow or steal to get this album into your life.
After thirty five years my vinyl copy is wearing a little thin but I'm
hoping that it will last for as long as I'm able to watch the sun rise.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Epic and haunting.
Procol Harum's brand of prog rock was a world away from the toe curling, self indulgent claptrap of Rick Wakeman (even though he's a top bloke!), and Emerson Lake & Palmer. Read more
Published 3 months ago by christopher grant
Grand Hotel by Procol Harum
Wow
amazing Album I first purchased way back in 1973
Gary Brooker's vocals are amazing
great to hear it again. hard to believe it's almost 40 years old!!!
amazing Album I first purchased way back in 1973
Gary Brooker's vocals are amazing
great to hear it again. hard to believe it's almost 40 years old!!!
Published 16 months ago by R. Macgregor
2009 CD reissue is done no favour by modern technology
Let's begin at the positive end: the digi-pack is appealing and Patrick Humphries' sleeve notes hit the exact right balance between introducing this album to the uninitiated and at... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by Philip S. Walker
Grand Procol
After the short-lived Procol Mark IV that recorded the "Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra" LP, a revitalized Procol Mark V returned to the studio in 1973 to bring the... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2010 by Christopher Abbot
Amazing album; nice job on the mastering
This is the album that first brought me into the Procol Harum fold. I read a great review by Steve Simels in Stereo Review (the best band in Christendom if I recall), and picked it... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2009 by originalsnuffy
Finest hour....
"Tonight we sleep on silken sheets ..." Soulful-voiced Gary Brooker's opening line to this masterpiece of an album metaphorised changed fortune, with the band dressed up,... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by Rob Brook
my personal favourite procol album
Most fans will agree that procol's best album nominations should be A Salty Dog, Something Magic and Grand Hotel - three very different albums which can't really be compared side... Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2009 by Mr. F. M. Havicon
Procol Harum at Its Most Procol Harum
Along with their wonderful live album with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Harum would return to its trademark, exquisitely melodramatic essence once again with Grand Hotel--if... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2008 by Juan Mobili
One from the past
Orchestral rock.
Sounds horrid?
This HUGELY atmospheric concept work is highly memorable for tasteful guitarwork and the vocalists warmth and range. Read more
Sounds horrid?
This HUGELY atmospheric concept work is highly memorable for tasteful guitarwork and the vocalists warmth and range. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2004 by John Power
One of the greatest lp/cd's of the period
Wonderfull and typical Brooker/Reid music. Great symphonic Rock,with 'Grand Hotel' as a masterpiece that can fill in with any kind of music-and is often filled with any kind ,on... Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2001 by J. ENGELS
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