Customer Reviews

Something Magic

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With their record sales in decline, and no hit singles in several years either, Procol Harum entered the studio to record their "make it or break it" tenth album, 1977's "Something Magic." Onboard was new keyboardist Pete Solley, while former keyboardist Chris Copping moved over to play bass, replacing Alan Cartwright. "Something Magic" is easily Harum's most controversial album, primarily for the 18 1/2-minute epic, "The Worm & The Tree," which takes up the second-half of the album, and was roundly criticized at the time as being pretentious. However, I say the controversy has been completely blown out of proportion. "Something Magic," although not the greatest record Procol Harum ever made, is a very excellent album. Bad? Not at all. Gary Brooker & company, in my opinion, have *never* recorded a bad album, and "Something Magic" is no exception. The title song, "Wizard Man," and "Mark Of The Claw" are all first-rate Harum pop-rockers, "Skating On Thin Ice" is the track that mostly resembles classic Harum of old, and it's great. And "Strangers In Space," with it's hypnotic, ethereal feel, is very beautiful stuff.And "The Worm & The Tree"? Granted, I can understand why this epic piece, structured like a children's rhyme set to music, with Brooker *speaking* all of the lyrics instead of singing them, probably wouldn't work as a live number. But, as a studio creation, I think "The Worm & The Tree" works just fine. The music is wonderful (including some excellent orchestral arrangements), the band's performance is strong, and Brooker's narration is quite good (even when he's not singing, Gary Brooker has a great voice!). And the story itself, written by band lyricist Keith Reid, is a very good allegorical tale about life, death, and re-birth. Pretentious or not, I like "The Worm & The Tree." And I like the whole album, too.Deciding that they'd finally run out of steam as a band, Procol Harum disbanded following the tour for "Something Magic," and Gary Brooker went on to a short-lived solo career, releasing three albums on his own. But, like in the tale of "The Worm & The Tree," Procol Harum was NOT gone for good. 14 years later, Harum were re-born with their fantastic comeback album, 1991's "The Prodigal Stranger." But "Something Magic," despite the poor sales, was a great album for Harum to end their first phase of work together. It's also a fond farewell to the band's late, great drummer, B.J. Wilson, who made his final appearance with the band on this release (he passed away in 1989). "Something Magic" is an excellent Procol Harum album, "Worm" and all.

I bought this years ago when it first came out on vinyl, hoping it would be an improvement over it's very uneven predecessor, Procol's Ninth. I was appalled at the musical stench that arose from the grooves of the album as it played. The Worm and the Tree was the worst; it was a sad swan song for the most intellectual song writing duo of the 60s/70s and for the band that gave voice to their creative vision. The words and music reeked of creative and spiritual exhaustion.
In the last couple of years, I have rediscovered my old love for the music of Procol Harum and have been building a CD library that includes many recordings that were not readily available in the days of the LP. Recently, I decided to give Something Magic another shot and so ordered this remastered reissue.
Repertoire Records has done a fine job presenting this recording in the most attractive light possible. Included with the CD is an informative and well-written booklet that gives the listener an idea as to why Procol Harum was on the rocks at this time.
Now that I have revisited the album and have listened with new ears, I find that it has risen in my esteem. Gary Brooker and Keith Reid were still a formidable songwriting team. Just read the lyrics of the first four songs and listen to the musical arrangements on them. They scream classic Procol Harum. Even The Mark of the Claw, the music for which was written by Mick Grabham, is Brookeresque in its sound.
The Worm and the Tree remains problematic. The music, particularly in part one is often gorgeous and dreamy. The lyrics on the other hand, though they are meant to be allegorical, are often maudlin and jejune. As for the final two "bonus" cuts, they are OK, but rather disposable and not worthy of the Procol Harum I knew.
Though this album may not delight everyone, those who are Procol Harum fans should own it to remind themselves that even at their nadir, this was (and is again) a very good band. On the strength of the first four songs and select parts of the infamous Worm and the Tree, this CD rates a solid three.

I enjoyed this album. It features organist Pete Solley on a Yamaha of all things, replacing Chris Copping's Hammond. While the Yamaha can imitate the Hammond, it adds a new dimension of the synthsizer, which was emerging technology in the 70s. This album includes the obligatory Procal 3/4 waltz, with BJ Wilson's outstanding, explosive drumming. While many have panned the song/poem "the Worm & the Tree", I feel the piece has withstood the test of time. It's composition is sophisticated, well executed and spans many musical styles. Recited or sung, the piece has merit, especially when put in the context of 1977. I recommend this album. It is Procal Harums 10th and final effort (if you don't count the re-union albums of the 1990s) and is worth a listen.

Wow, Procol Harum frenzy must be reaching a fever pitch for this album to get reissued. It's really hard to imagine what Gary was thinking with The Worm & the Tree. Really awful. I recently read a review which said that this album may encapsulize why punk was necessary. Perfect. Buy anything and everything by Procol Harum except this album! It does have some novelty value for the sole PH Mick Grabham composition - the Mark of the Claw - which features a pretty outrageous synth solo from Pete Solley.

Procol Harum were on their way out, in a world beseiged with disco and punk. Chris Copping switched back to bass, and Gary Brooker brought Pete Solley in for the coveted organ role. And Pete even played some synthesizers (BLGH) to attempt to keep Procol in tune with the times, but....no. And having schlockmeisters, Ron & Howie Albert to "produce" (heh-heh-heh) "Something Magic" ensured its - and the group's - imminent demise. STILL, though: the fourth song, Guitarist Extraordinare Mick Grabham's "The Mark Of The Claw" made purching the album worth it. It's a grinding rock and roller, but the astounding solo that Pete Solley plays on the song almost justifies synthesizers' very existence. Go on, you've bought albums and/or CD's for just one song before...

Having been a rabid fan of Procol Harum ever since they burst on the music scene in the late 1960s, I am committed to acquiring every piece of music they record. But that doesn't mean that each and every record is worthy of the same high praise. Something Magic is a record that sparked strong feelings in many fans at the time of its release and is widely considered to be Procol's nadir, that proverbial straw that broke the camel's back as far as fan loyalty was concerned. But if you revisit it on this Salvo reissue, you may well find that its not nearly as bad as you remember. There are some great songs here that hold their own when compared to some of what is generally considered to be the band's best.
Even though I already own Something Magic on vinyl and on an earlier CD release, I was willing to hear what Salvo had done with it. And as with previous Salvo remasters, it turns out to be an aural improvement. Here's what I like: the stately, stirring title cut; the gliding waltz of Skating On Thin Ice; the classic Procol sound embedded in The Mark of the Claw; and the appropriately spacey Strangers In Space. Of the bonus tracks, only the jazzy instrumental Backgammon is worthy of a second listen.
The problem that most fans had/have with this album is the sometime astounding, yet often atrocious ditty The Worm And the Tree. This could be a masterpiece if properly redone, but in its present form suffers most from the puerile poetry pawned off as art. Granted, the music at the beginning is often soaring and inspired but it never manages to overcome the snicker-inducing vapidity of the lyrics.
As with other Salvo releases, this one comes with a handsome and informative booklet that tries to explain the album in the context of its time. That goes a long way in mitigating the damage done by The Worm and the Tree in the eyes of this fan. So if you like Procol Harum and have not heard Something Magic, give it a listen while it is cheap and available.

This is a great example of the artistic potenial of when a band matures.
A nice combination of progressive rock and classical music. The lyrics are both symbolic yet direct. Recommended to all die hard procul harum fans.

Maybe not their best album (Like "Live w/ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra", but, still Excellent, one of my favorites, right up there with "A Salty Dog". The only weak Procol albums in my humble opinion are "Tropical Birds & Fruit", "The Prodigal Stranger", and that horrible "other" orchestral album w/Tom Jones singing "Simple Sister" on it. All other P.H. albums are GREAT ! Also, check out Gary Brooker's first solo album "No More Fear of Flying" - very good/fun also and produced by none other than The Beatles' genius producer George Martin.

...that a lot of people don't like. If you're just starting buying PH, please make this one and Procol's Ninth the last two you buy. But if you like all those other albums don't stop there, buy Gary Brooker's No More Fear of Flying and then buy these last two.

Reaching the final leg of a ten-year run, complete with the highest highs (mega-hit A Whiter Shade Of Pale) and many lows (the loss of Matthew Fisher and Robin Trower, lack of commercial success, etc.), Procol Harum released their last "official" album in '77 (they would regroup briefly over a decade later). Nicknamed "Something Tragic" by its detractors, this album unfortunately showcases a band that sounds old, tired and ready to retire. Gary Brooker's once-soaring vocals sound hoarse and strained here. So much so, that Brooker actually recites the lyrics to the side-long The Worm & The Tree instead of singing them - a "tragic" lapse in judgement. It is rumored that British actor James Mason was originally chosen to recite the words, not a brilliant idea either. Musically, the band makes a valliant attempt to regain their classic form on the orchestrated title cut and Skating On Thin Ice, but it's just not enough to halt the slide. After a final tour to promote the album, Procol Harum quietly faded away. "Those at peace shall see their wake..."