Grand Hotel [Import, Original recording remastered]

Procol Harum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: SALVO
• ASIN: B002GNYJK6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,782 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

After a long run of significant radio and chart activity with classic songs like Whiter Shade of Pale and Conquistador, in 1973 Procol Harum delivered which many fans believe is their strongest effort of all time, Grand Hotel. Founders Gary Brooker and Keith Reid wrote this stunning masterpiece on the heels of their platinum effort Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. From the opening piano chords on the classic title track, "Grand Hotel", the listener knows they are truly in store for a fantastic excursion that only Procol Harum can offer.

This hit album continues in the fine tradition of their previous classic recordings with the wonderful "Toujours L'Amour." This tale of unrequited love was a concert staple for years and has become one of their most treasured songs from this fine album. Featuring the ever present Mick Grabham on lead guitar, this track along with other rockers like "Bringing Home The Bacon" and "Robert's Box" keep a guitar drenched approach throughout these exciting recordings.

With some help from the legendary classical vocalist The Swingle Singers' Christianne Legrand, "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)" has gone on to become one of their most loved songs in their long recording history.

Complete with lush orchestrations and skillful instrumentation by members Brooker, Reid, Chris Copping, the late B.J. Wilson, Alan Cartwright and Mick Grabham, Procol Harum's Grand Hotel was truly a highly artistic achievement for this popular classic rock act.

As an added treat for the fans, Gary Brooker has given Friday Music a bonus track for this newly remastered CD, a very rare live version of "Grand Hotel" from a 1973 performance at The Rainbow Theatre in London.

Grand Hotel has gone on to stand the test of time over the years, however, it hasn't been available in North America for over two decades. Thanks to Procol Harum, they have teamed up with Friday Music to deliver this monumental effort along with a bunch of newly re-mastered versions of their all time classic recordings- The Procol Harum Remasters series. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Progressive Rock Masterpiece, June 8, 2003

By 

Christopher Henrici (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Grand Hotel (Audio CD)

Procol Harum's Grand Hotel- recorded in 1973 - is a masterpiece of progressive rock. You all know about the other classic from the same year- Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon ( for this reviewer, ELP's Brain Salad surgery also qualifies). Like Dark Side of the Moon, Procol's Grand Hotel album has excellent production and sound quality. It also represents a step further for this band on every level- as noted by another reviewer- this is where it all came together for them. Aided by Producer Chris Thomas and the use of strings and a chorus, Procol creates a luxurious wall of sound for many of the songs on Grand Hotel. The superb production, musicianship and compositions represent the zenith of Procol Harum's achievement... nothing they did before or since was as good. Other than Broken Barricades, many of the Earlier Procol albums were pretty lightweight and patchy compared to Grand Hotel...they just don't have the power and sonic sophistication that this recording does. I agree with the people who feel that this was the classic line up of the band (though I'm sure there are plenty of Matthew Fisher proponents)- Mick Grabham proved to be a much better guitarist for Procol Harum, his sound and style being more compatible than Trower. Grand Hotel's title track alone makes it worth owning, but there are plenty of other nuggets to be found here...it is consistently good almost throughout. Even TV Ceaser is a musically great song, once you acclimate yourself to its lyrics..other than the title track, "Bringing home the bacon" is the showstopper of the album, featuring some of the best drumming and guitar work of any Procol song. "For Liquorice John" and "Fires which burnt brightly" marry lyrics with music perfectly- they also provide the albums most emotional songs. I really like the Chris Thomas produced period of Procol Harum, and this one is the best of the lot (Exotic Bird's and Fruit is also excellent). Anyone seeking a slightly different flavor of progressive rock would do well to start with Grand Hotel...an album which manages to be both sophisticated AND heavy. It also deserves mention that Repertoire Records did an outstanding job with both the audio remastering and graphic artwork for this reissue...pick it up and discover a diamond in the rough.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand In Every Way..., February 4, 2010

By 

4-Legged Defender "Anthony C. Rubbo" (ATL. GA.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Grand Hotel (Audio CD)

Following the huge success of their prior LP, 'LIVE WITH THE EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA', # 5 on the Billboard Album charts, Procol continued similiarly w/ use of orchestrations on this, their 6th release, with spellbinding results. Every track is a jewel, every word is a gem, and this one has always been one of my favorite Harum LP`s even after all these years. It`s grand on every level, magnificent perhaps, and caters to their strengths like no other. The album cover and title track remind me of the Greta Garbo movie of the same name that came out in the mid 1930`s - it reeks of a lush, languid, elegant decadence and despair, as does the film. Brooker wrote some of his most memorable melodies for this LP, and Keith Reid penned indelible lyrics to further burn the tunes to permanent memory ('Grand Hotel' and 'Fires Which Burnt Brightly' in particular). The vastly underrated B.J. Wilson (RIP) provides some of his most superlative, muscular drumming - why more people don`t acknowledge his skills as a drummer has always irked me to no end - listen to the incredible foundation he provides on 'Bringing Home The Bacon' and the powerful accents he uses to diffuse and dissect the orchestrations on the title track as proof. Unfortunately, when this LP came out in 1973, Glam-rock was all the rage, so this one slipped between the cracks for many listeners, though it did go to #21 on Billboard, but was never going to stand toe-to-toe w/ the likes of Ziggy Stardust or 'Dark Side' or Roxy Music (another fave of mine). If hindsight teaches us anything, this Lp deserves a re-examination like few others do.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Classic Rock Album - 30 later years - still the best, December 18, 2005

By 

Robert W. Grandcolas "Stiggs" (Eatontown, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Grand Hotel (Audio CD)

One of the greatest adult classic rock albums of all times! The album is like a tour of a Grand Hotel where every room contains a demonstration of a human depravity - over-eating, drinking, obsessive love, mindless TV, drug addiction, suicide, sex and war. Classy, forbodding, sad, angry, funny and purposefully campy.

Fantasitc lyrics, music and musicianship. A wild and crazy use of orchestras, choirs, pianos, electric guitars, organs and drumming. Along with the lyrics (real poetry!)- its a roller coaster ride. The experience is greatest when the album is played loud!

The record sounds fantastic. There is almost no hiss and the base sounds great. Crystal clear sound! Brookers piano can be heard clearly and his voice is one of the best in any music anywhere.

Requires only a little patience, but numerous listenings. Analyzing the Keith Reid metaphors in the poetry is challenging but fun and his bidding you enter the hotel on the inside cover is classic. Grand Hotel is an absolute must for mature thinking people who want more then the usual dribble in their rock.

Friday Music's booklet has all the lyrics. The CD includes the wonderful addition of a live version of Grand Hotel with lots of Garry's piano and his diversion into Over The Rainbow!