Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome addition to Procol's recorded legacy, June 5, 2000
Recorded in front of an audience by the BBC in 1974 for broadcast on Radio One's "In Concert" programme, this album (not released commercially until 1999) is the only official record of the band playing live sans orchestra. Made just after the release of "Exotic Birds & Fruit", it features the same personnel and six of the songs to be found on that album. The live sound is a little rough in places and the instrumental balance is not as finely judged as on the band's albums of this era (when Chris Thomas was their regular producer). That said, the album provides ample evidence of Procol Harum's often underestimated rock sensibilities. The quality of their songs and the band's well-honed instrumental prowess shine through and the band-only arrangements of songs like 'Grand Hotel' (originally recorded with choir and strings) in articular emphasise that Procol Harum where first and foremost impressively accomplished rockers. Gary Brooker is in fine voice throughout and BJ Wilson's excellent drumming consistently plays a far more significant structural role in the arrangements than is common in rock music. Mick Grabham's guitar-playing, on the other hand makes telling contributions to each song without indulging in axe-hero excesses (though he's impressively raunchy on the guitar-dominated 'Simple Sister'). Chris Copping's and Alan Lancaster's playing (on Hammond organ and bass respectively) is impressive and perfectly weighted within Procol's generally piano-led sound. The only fly in the ointment is the disappointing production work of Jeff Griffin. BBC staff producer Griffin had tremendous experience of working with a wide variety of musicians but seems to have made no attempt to respond to the complexities of Procol's musical arrangements with their important shifts in instrumental significance within and between songs. Instead, he seems to have opted for a "set it up once, then leave it alone" approach. The chosen settings serve the songs from "Exotic Birds & Fruit" reasonably enough (which is just as well: this broadcast was, after all, a promotional exercise in support of that album) but make some of the finer points of the earlier songs hard to pick up, even for the afficionado. This is a shame, as otherwise this release would be a near-perfect addition to Procol Harum's recorded legacy. As it is, even with its production shortcommings, this is an essential purchase for those who like Procol Harum and is highly recommended to anyone who's interested in hearing how this intriguing band could rock when freed from the accretions of the "symphonic rock" sound for which they are unfairly best known.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Captures the Essence, December 9, 2004
I agree with other reviewers who complain about poor mixing and shoddy engineering on this CD. Both stink! But those responsible know it and apologies of a sort are included in the liner notes, so I won't continue belaboring the issue.
Despite all its faults, BBC Live In Concert captures the essence and the excitement of a live Procol Harum performance. I've seen them many times and each time the band, both as a group and individually, has never failed to give its all. And this CD is no exception.
I like every song here, but special mention should be made of luscious renderings of the rarely-performed New Lamps For Old, Beyond the Pale (despite that some of the piano part seems to be missing), a hard driving Simple Sister, a delicate Grand Hotel, and a rousing Nothing But the Truth.
I'll knock a star off for the recording, but this CD should still be in the collections of true Procol Harum fans. The band is still playing, but live gigs are rare so this suffices as an interim fix while awaiting the next tour.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great songs, good performances, bad recording, March 4, 2003
I must echo previous reviewers: The engineering on this live record is quite subpar. Instrumental balances are terrible. But enough of the negative.
I saw the band live during this period and remember the experience as being awesome; Brooker played and sang his heart out, Wilson took drumming to a whole new level, and the rest of the band were tight and expressive. Here, however, the performances seem a tad off kilter. Not terrible, mind you, but perhaps the poor recording has something to do with this impression.
In my opinion, this album is only for completists and collectors. For a true taste of this band's accomplishments on a live recording, get In Concert With the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, where Procol Harum make it seem as if rock was meant to be played with a full orchestra and chorus.
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