Customer Reviews

Classic Tracks & Rarities: An Anthology

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having long since decided that the "30th Anniversary" box was a little more than I wanted (both in terms of quantity and price), I went out and bought the expanded version of "Procol Harum...," and figured I'd eventually have to do likewise with the following three albums. Then I stumbled upon this release, couldn't believe the low price, figured there must be a catch--but ordered it anyway. I'm here to tell you all: Ain't no trick here, just treats! Surprisingly, though the band's terrific debut album's widely considered one of their best, a full five of its tracks are not represented on this collection in any form, so having that album is still advisable. Otherwise, the "Shine On Brightly," "A Salty Dog" and "Home" albums are all majority-represented here, along with a handful of rarities; B-sides and previously unissued out-takes. A few notes not pointed out by previous reviewers that you may be interested in: First, the stereo version of "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" is NOT the same version as the classic single; a completely different take. On its downside, the drumming's not nearly as powerful or fill-driven, but on the upside, this one goes on a good minute-and-a-half longer than the single version. Second: The alternate versions of "Conquistador" and "She Wandered Through The Garden Fence" are both in true stereo, and are actually very close to the album versions: Therefore, much moreso than with "Whiter Shade," these tracks provide a pretty good blueprint for how the first album would sound were it ever mixed to stereo. Outside all that, just a few of my personal favorite tracks are the outstanding single "Homburg," the fairly psychedelic "Shine On Brightly," the moody ballad "Too Much Between Us," and the delightfully morbid "The Dead Man's Dream" (cosmic coincidence, perhaps, that that song and Bloodrock's masterpiece "D.O.a. came out at almost the exact same time.) In fact, listening to that and several other songs on this collection, it occurs to me that Keith Reed had a penchant for dark, foreboding and sometimes diabolical lyrics--enough to make Jim Morrison sound like a minstrel boy. Anyhow, if you're looking for a great collection of early, golden-era Procol--and great bang for your buck, this is the collection you want--in which case, I urge you to click that Add To Shopping Cart button today!

What Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville were to the unbridled optimism of nineteenth century American literature, Procol Harum was to the delirious idealism of flower power hippie-dom that bloomed ever so briefly in the late `60s and early `70s. They were the fly in the ointment, the ash in the soup, the reminder that even the sunniest day is followed by night.

It seems particularly appropriate that they traveled under a curse throughout their career. The song that gave them a career in the first place, A Whiter Shade Of Pale, also destroyed their career, causing the public to marginalize everything that came later and dismiss them as a "one-hit wonder." This was the public's loss; Procol Harum was one of the most sophisticated, intelligent, original groups to emerge from a decade overflowing with musical talent.

I had the pleasure of seeing them perform and their intensity was hair-raising. Not only did they burn the house down, they played with the discipline of a string quartet. Procol Harum's frequently plaintive sound, the combination of Gary Brooker on piano and Matthew Fisher on organ, topped off by Brooker's vocals, was instantly recognizable. But more important still was the band's secret weapon, lyricist Keith Reid. Reid's lyrics, at times so vivid they seemed carved out of his own flesh, were invariably smart, compelling, and piercing.

This superb and reasonably priced 2-CD anthology travels far and wide through Procol Harum's first four albums, including A Salty Dog, widely considered their high water mark. There are also many bonus features to delight the connoisseur including previously unreleased singles and alternate takes. Too many highlights to mention but a few gems do jump to mind: Wish Me Well, Juicy John Pink, A Salty Dog, Pilgrims Progress, Your Own Choice, Homburg, and A Christmas Camel. The world of rock is replete with hacks and poseurs; these guys were artists of the first order. Repent Walpurgis.

Let's face it - Procol Harum is not for everyone. However, if you like them, then this CD seems to be a good value.

It has nearly all of "A Salty Dog", so it is worth the price right there. Plus much of "Shine On Brightly", and with "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Conquistador", this compilation covers all the bases - except one ----->> Devil Came From Kansas (the missing millimeter).

Sound quality is a little harsh as it is late 60's-to 1970 music for the most part. However, Robin Trower had his strat moaning, Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher had the keyboards going, BJ Wilson was banging the drums and the various singers were belting it out some great lyrics - though no one had a really great voice.

The 2-disc set includes a booklet of liner notes on the represented albums and included songs. At one point it refers to Procol Harem of 1968 as "expanding upon their symphonically influenced bombastic rock style", and the fantastic 1969 album "A Salty Dog" as "combining a synthesis of high-energy blues and grand classical-inspired influences..." Yeah, whatever :-)

A possibly better choice is another inexpensive 2-disk option called "The First Four", which is the complete first 4 albums. The trade off is that though it has the complete "A Salty Dog" album (with "Devil Came from Kansas"), "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is not included as it was released as a single, and only subsequently re-released in the USA on the original album (re-titled "A Whiter Shade of Pale"). However, the fourth album ("Home") is rather lackluster.

Some great music.

This is such a good album! It was not until recently that i had even heard of Procol Harum, but I was greatly surprised at the uniqueness and quality of all of the recordings on this album. This is a great introduction for anyone who has never heard of them before, and i highly reccommend it.

Starting out at the top makes it difficult for an encore. A Whiter Shade of Pale cracked the top 40 making Procol Harum an "overnight" success. The difficult part was following up this studio creation with an album and band that could carry it off. Classic Tracks and Rarities lives up to its title. The bulk of the band's first album is represented here with a few alternate mixes thrown in for long time fans. The second disc concludes (strangely enough)with the 1997 stereo mix of Pale.

Also well represented are the band's second, third and fourth albums. Their masterpieces remain their debut and A Salty Dog. The former album touches on a number of styles and themes but remains grounded in R&B grit courtesy of Gary Brooker's vocals. The later album has all the ambition of their sophomore effort (their weakest album of their first four)but the R&B and pop smarts of the debut. The title track is a winding, bizarre narrative with a hook and melody that rank among Brooker & Reid's finest.

The booklet offers a fine assessment of the band and its music. Although there's quite a bit of fawning (particularly when it comes to their second album) on their work, it presents a pretty good assessment of Procol Harum's musical impact. Since there isn't a true stereo mix of the original album available (all previous mixes were in the phased stereo format popular during the 60's), the remix of Pale is about as close as were going to get to hearing it in the stereo format.

Unlike Shoebox, I am a long time Procol fan, and welcome Shoebox's neophyte observations. In contrast, I suggest this collection is for those Procol fans looking for unique tracks that they haven't heard before. Several songs on this CD are never-before heard (at least by me) alternate takes, including "Conquistador" and "Quite Rightly So." "Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone)" has an interesting sound effect in its original recording included on CD 1. The 2 CDs end with the stereo version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale," a unique, but similar recording of the standard single.

Also included are all your favorite Procol Harum songs. Your collection will have an absolute void if you don't get this unique offering.

In my "CDs I have to buy now that I have finally accepted vinyl's demise" list (coming soon to mania like you) THIS will hit the top number one of all times. I looked through all of the individual album/CD creations, thinking esoterically, that I must have them all in the original "album." After fumbling through a few of the other compilations and denting my credit card on too many of the so called "Ya gotta hear this cuz it's an import" tribulations -- I FOUND THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION.

A few absolutes were necessary in my trek. Of course, "Whiter Shade of Pale", which I have played at window-rattling db every Xmas eve since 1969 (and which will be the song played among the "funeral tapes" selections) was a must. But after hearing and loving "A Salty Dog" and realizing the brilliance of Brooker's vocals and songwriting (while Keith Reid penned the lyric) I was hooked.

This, during my uppity nose "purist blues and jazz collecting" era, was quite a turnabout. Do not go through life without hearing the tracks on this compilation and discovering the extra takes to thrill your Procul-hungry ears.

What a delight. I will play Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and follow up with both "sides" of this two-pack CD without missing a critical beat. Follow the careers of the original band and find yourself in a plethora of genius that could only come from the era of the Aquarius children.

procol harum will always been remembered for that one hit
that sum up everything for any love bird's yes you know that song "whiter shade of pale" that organ based song that has swamped procol harum ever since..it's such a classic yet procol harum went and made some of the finest and hillarous tunes my 19 year old ears have had the pleasure to hear and nowdays in the charts it's mostly pretentious c*** so it's why i've gone back to the good old years when rock and roll meant something than other of makin' a quick buck it had a message a beat and a sound that can't be heard today
procol harum made that sound and they made it damn good NO excellent
either going from that hit single i won't mention it again
lime street blues[fantastic lyrics great solo]
hombug[beautiful piano]
seem to have the blues[mostly all the time]
etc...
so let me put the record start procol harum weren't just a one hit wonder for the love birds to get their clinches on the disco floor
they made classic songs alright

not knowing that much about harum and reading all these great reviews i thought 36 tracks for $10 + $3 s&h, why not. when i listened to disc one i thought i should of spent my money elsewhere.disc two was different. i listen to disc two quite a lot. disc one: 2 stars. disc two: 4 stars for a total of 3 stars.IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF SIXPENCE sounds a lot like the kinks' WHEN I TURN OFF THE LIVING ROOM LIGHT. ABOUT TO DIE sounds a whole lot like e.l.o.'s MAMA. the vocals on MONSIEUR ARMAND sound a like a dave davies solo album track backed by the kinks some where around 1967 or so.