Customer Reviews

Live in Concert With Edmonton Sym Orchestra

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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!!

I have always thought of this recording as one of the gems of a generation; I had the vinyl LP, but was not in the best condition. I had to buy a CD version from a supplier in Russia..
I am at peace again....the live version of "I held T'was I" has to rank as one of the top 5 songs ever recorded....the finale always has the hair on my arms raised. Do yourself a favor; don't buy that 12 pack of Bud Light and get this CD....

This presentation is a jewel that you will treasure forever. And only if you've dug through their interviews and recollections about this effort will you understand how polished it is, despite plenty of hiccups throughout the concert. Prior to recording the program before a live audience, PH history points out that, despite their intellect, talent, and vision, this whole production could have directed by Mack Sennett. Things that were iffy came out perfectly, cues that were given were missed, the audience was spellbound by the music from all directions - even above their heads - and frequently turned in their seats to see if a band was behind them, also. Most everything that could have spoiled this collaboration with a symphonic orchestra and chorus occurred in the weeks prior, especially their fear of the unknown once Trower left in a huff. It all came together beautifully, flaws and all. If you know the men in the band you'll understand how they perservered and accepted the concert as a very special tribute to their skills. The unsuspecting audience was enriched and overwhelmed at night's end, not truly aware of what they had heard. But they were first in line to buy this production and keep the magic for their lifetimes. Do the same.

I too had the MFSL CD and thought that it sounded OK.... although I knew from experience there was a lot of information missing, I assumed, due to poor master tapes, etc. I worked on a project with MFSL back in the eighties and knew how capable they were of doing some great things.
I received the remasterd disc from Repertoire and about fell out of my chair the first time I listened. It is indeed amazing what modern technology can do to restore some of these "treasures". This CD is one that every musician should, by law, be required to have - it really is that good. BUY IT - It will become one of your favorites! A soaring masterpiece for all music lovers! ... Rob P.

For those of you who are just about to shell out huge bucks on eBay for the 15-year old Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab version of this album... DON'T BOTHER. This CD is sonically superior to the MFSL disc, and has extra tracks to boot.

Talk about a band being in their element! This album melds rock band and orchestra better than any I've heard, including PH's Grand Hotel. Not only did they take an old album track and turn it into a top 10 hit in "Conquistador", but the band took two epic-length pretensions from previous studio efforts, "In Held Twas In I" and "Whaling Stories", and made them seem as if rock was MEANT to be played with a full orchestra and chorus. Both are wonderfully arranged and stirringly played. The band's classic "A Salty Dog" is presented in its finest incarnation on record.
The only weak moment on the album is the truncated ending of "All This and More", a bad example of musicus interruptus and the only real indication of the whole affair's rushed arrangements and lack of rehearsal. And let's not forget Gary Brooker's notorious spoonerism, "...and though the cloud crapped desperately they could not see the joke!" HILARIOUS!
This is a classic of early '70s rock, right up there with Jethro Tull's Thick As A Brick which was released around the same time. Get it before it becomes "rare".

On the 18th of November 1971, Procol Harum recorded this concert with a 52 piece symphony orchestra and 24 singers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This is the evidence of this grand event.

Already well established as a rock band of serious music that leaned way into the classicial/artsy rock that was gaining in popularity as the 1970's unfolded infront of us. Procol Harum, could produce hits such as: "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and please record buyers with such epic pieces as: "A Salty Dog" & "In Held 'Twas In I."

Lead guitarist Robin Trower had left the band after the sessions for their excellent LP: "Broken Barricades" to explore a more blues/rock orientated direction away from the classicial format of Procol Harum. The group quickly replaced Robin with guitarist, David Ball and headed out to tour the world once more. This concert from Edmonton would be the high-point of the tour.

From: "Conquistador" through to the grand finale of: "In Held 'Twas In I", this show is a perfect marriage of rock and classical music forms. This orchestra and the large chorus is not here to linger in the background. "Glimpses Of Nirvana" will show you that an orchestra can hold the power of a heavy metal band {while you watch your windows rattling!}

Groups such as Deep Purple and The Nice, had already played concerts with orchestras, but the results were mixed as the rock band seemed to opposed to The orchestra in a fight for dominance. This time out Gary Brooker and his band, got it all perfect. The performance featured here is as much orchestra as it is rock band, it all bleeds together and breaths life as one BEAST. This is the record, for which all others that want to attempt this should listen to first. If the music doesn't fit as perfectly as Procol's does to orchestration...Don't do it, this one already did it better!

Again, this is not rock music, it is something else all together. The mission of this group was to produce something 'Bigger' than pop/rock music, something for the ages. Right here on this disc they have done so.
FIVE STARS !!!

Procol Harum's work throughout the years has been uneven, but this collaboration with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is one of their shining moments. I have worn out more than one vinyl version of this recording over the years, and I also have the MFSL version of this CD. While it is true that the MFSL disc suffers in comparison to this one, keep in mind the state of technology in 1971. We do owe a debt to Wally Heider's mobile studio for the tapes that allowed Repertoire to do such a splendid job of remastering. This recording belongs in everyone's collection, whether they are a fan of Procol Harum or not. If you are not moved in some manner by the time you hear "Grand Finale", then you had better check your pulse.