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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential Procol Harum, June 4, 2003
This review is from: Live in Concert With Edmonton Sym Orchestra (Audio CD)
If you were allowed to own only one Procol Harum album, this would be the one for me. It's incredible how under difficult circumstances, they were able to produce such a great Live album (OK, admittedly they re-recorded some of it, but even so). Conquistador rocks, A Salty Dog soars and In Held It Was In I with its subtle piano at the beginning of the grand finale never fails to move me. The re-issue has a great set of liner notes and a bonus track - Luskus Delph which had only appeared as a single B-Side so far. Get this one. Satisfaction guaranteed!
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best classic-rock concert ever, February 3, 2004
This review is from: Live in Concert With Edmonton Sym Orchestra (Audio CD)
I don't have the CD yet, only the old LP, and I now I'm going to order the CD, because Procol Harum live with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is a musical jewel. The early 70's brought us experiences of merging rock bands with classic orchestras. Usually, the results were strange (remember Deep Purple's "Concerto for a group and an Orchestra"?), but not in this case. This album is probably the best that any rock band did with an orchestra. A perfect product, an ageless music that is recommended for all prog. music lovers. Listen to the horror in "In the automn of my madness" and to the grand "Grand finale" (both are parts of "In held't was in I"). Listen to the Spanish trumpets in "Conquistador". Listen to "Whaling stories". Though I have few vinyl records of the band, I don't know much about its members, but it's obvious that Gary Brooker and Mathew Fischer have a classical music background ("Homburg" and "Whiter shade of pale" are good examples). In this case they proved, that PH's music sounds even better with an Orchestra behind - most of the titles sound here much better than the original studio albums. So the bottom line: One of the best prog. albums of all times.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SYMPHONIC ROCK'S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT, March 27, 2003
This review is from: Live in Concert With Edmonton Sym Orchestra (Audio CD)
Procol Harum was, and now that they have re-formed again, a band that alternates between clasicaly influenced ballads and hard blues driven rock. On occasion, the band would perform with various symphony orchestras while on tour. This recording from 1971 is with the incredible Edmonton Symphony and focuses on the band's classical side. It had been out of print for quite some time and I'm more than pleased to see it back. This is an incredible concert,especially when you consider the fact that Robin Trower had just left very abruptly, leaving the band scrambling for a replacement guitarist. Dave Ball nails Trower's parts so well that hearing the original studio material is a bit of a letdown. There's just no comparison between the versions of Whaling Stories. The live one is superior They way Ball attacks on the Grande Finale solo is one of those rare things that I listen to again and again and never cease to be amazed, even after 32 years! Oddly enough. Dave Ball only worked with the group on this album. I don't recall ever hearing of him afterward. Gary Brooker's soulful voice is in fine form here and still is today. Sure, for many it may seem way too pretentious, but Procol Harum hasn't spent it's entire career doing long overblown pieces. They deserve recogintion for the trail they blazed fusing symphonic music to Rock as well as some hard driving Rock with some occasionaly demented lyrics. In closing, one of the best live recordings in the history of Rock&Roll!!
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