Record Reviews
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  | ARTHUR BROWN ~ VAMPIRE SUITE
TRACK 1035 (Barcode: 823566010029) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003
This is another criminally overlooked album by the great British Rock singer / songwriter / bandleader Arthur BrownFind albums by this artist, the unsung hero of the British scene. The album was recorded with drummer Mark BrzezickiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Josh PhilipsFind albums by this artist (ex-Procol HarumFind albums by this artist), bassist Richard StudholmeFind albums by this artist and guitarist Roger ManningFind albums by this artist. Several additional musicians play on selected tracks, including a brass section. The album includes two CDs: CD1 presents a thirteen-tracks musical suite, while CD2 presents a recitation of the fifty+ minutes long story, which is the concept behind the suite. All the music is co-credited to Brown, Brzezicki and Philips.
The music is absolutely brilliant, exactly what one might expect from Brown, with great melodic Rock oriented songs, great Brass arrangements, superb Hammond organ solos and everything needed to make it a gas. Brown is in incredible form and so are all the musicians, and the resulting album has not a dull moment. Brown’s operatic / theatrical vocals lost nothing of their charm over time and the album proves that he was active “behind the scenes” continuously over the years, in complete contrast to his “one hit wonder” status.
Overall, this is a wonderful Rock album, full of great songs and superb instrumental work, which should keep every Rock / Prog fan absolutely happy. Unfortunately, the album disappeared into the haze many years ago, but it is certainly worth searching for. Satisfaction guaranteed – there is only one Arthur Brown out there and he is an absolute wizard.
| | Updated: 26/02/2023Posted: 26/02/2023 | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PROCOL HARUM ~ LIVE AT THE UNION CHAPEL (COLLECTORS` EDITION)
EAGLE VISION 030 (Barcode: 5034504903098) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2004
If everything Procol HarumFind albums by this artist ever did was to record their 1967 single “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”, they would have already ensured their position in the Rock’s Hall Of Fame as authors of the definitive, hypnotic and most brilliant Rock song of all times. Of course (and luckily for all Procol Harum’s many admirers, myself included) they managed quite a bit more with a long chain of brilliant albums recorded in the 1960s and 1970s and two reunions: the first one in 1991 and the second in 2003. The 2003 reunion resulted in the recording of a new album called The Well`s On FireFind albums with this title, and a world tour to promote the album. This DVD documents the final concert of the tour upon the band’s return to UK. The unusual setting for the concert – a church – adds a dramatic background to this spectacular event and makes this DVD even more spectacular and theatrical than expected. The band includes two of the band’s founding members Gary BrookerFind albums by this artist on piano & vocals and Matthew FisherFind albums by this artist on organ, accompanied by Matt PeggFind albums by this artist on bass, Geoff WhitehornFind albums by this artist on guitar and Mark BrzezickiFind albums by this artist on drums. With several months of touring behind them the band plays spotlessly and the strength of the material reaches its full glory. The material form the new album is included and of course many of the band’s greatest past achievements, including the full version of “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”, which is quite a rarity. Additional material includes interviews and other bonus stuff. The CD included in this set contains the highlights of the concert. This is a must for all Procol Harum fans and basically for anybody who loves great Rock. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS, 139 minutes.
| | | DVD+CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PROCOL HARUM ~ THE PRODIGAL STRANGER (EXPANDED EDITION)
ESOTERIC 2634 (Barcode: 5013929473447) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1991 Released: 2018
This is a reissue of the tenth studio album by the seminal British Classic Rock group Procol HarumFind albums by this artist, one of the last active representatives of the great music wave that started over five decades ago. It is separated by fourteen years from the group´s previous studio album "Something MagicFind albums with this title", which was the last of a string of alums the group recorded at a steady paste in the 1960s and 1970s. This album marks the return of the founding member, Hammond organ player Matthew FisherFind albums by this artist, who left the group after the recording of their third studio album "A Salty DogFind albums with this title". As a result three founding members of Procol Harum are present on this album: vocalist / pianist Gary BrookerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Robin TrowerFind albums by this artist and Fisher. The group´s other members on this album are bassist Dave BronzeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mark BrzezickiFind albums by this artist. The album offers twelve new songs, all composed or co-composed by Brooker with Fisher and producer Matt NobleFind albums by this artist. The lyrics are as usual by the poet Keith ReidFind albums by this artist. The album is dedicated to B. J. WilsonFind albums by this artist, the groups founding member drummer, who died in 1990. This remastered and expanded edition adds three previously unreleased bonus tracks: two demos and one live track.
The release of the album was followed by a tour promoting the album. Trower refused to tour and was replaced by Geoff WhitehornFind albums by this artist. The tour yielded the second live album by the group entitled "One More TimeFind albums with this title".
Musically the album does not follow closely the classic Procol Harum sound and musical direction and in retrospect is the groups most straightforward Pop / Rock oriented album in their entire career. In spite of the double keyboards (piano and Hammond organ) the production shifts the overall soundscape into more contemporary (at the time) environment, which sadly damages the result. The basic melodies and the lyrics are still potentially great, but the album does not reach the same level of depth and the characteristic Procol Harum ambience, as one would have hoped for. As the A/M live album proves, the material was much better suited for concerts than for an intimate home listening experience.
Nevertheless it is still a solid Classic Rock album, which can be enjoyed by the many fans of the group and an important document of the group´s illustrious musical legacy.
| | Updated: 09/04/2022Posted: 28/01/2019 | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | PROCOL HARUM ~ THE WELL`S ON FIRE
EAGLE 209 (Barcode: 5034504120921) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003
This is the eleventh studio album by the seminal British Classic Rock group Procol HarumFind albums by this artist, one of the last active representatives of the great music wave that started over five decades ago. It is separated by twelve years from the group´s previous studio album "The Prodigal StrangerFind albums with this title". Although only two founding members of Procol Harum are still present on this album: vocalist / pianist Gary BrookerFind albums by this artist and Hammond organ player Matthew FisherFind albums by this artist, the sound and the musical style of the group remain pretty stable over time. The piano / Hammond organ double keyboards dominated sound, which has been the group´s trademark over time, is here and so are Brooker´s unique dramatic vocals. The group´s other members are guitarist Geoff WhitehornFind albums by this artist, bassist Matt PeggFind albums by this artist and drummer Mark BrzezickiFind albums by this artist. The album offers twelve new songs, almost all composed by Brooker except for a couple of Fisher´s contributions, and one instrumental piece by Fisher. The lyrics are as usual by the poet Keith ReidFind albums by this artist.
Musically the album does not break any new ground, but it stays, as already mentioned above, faithful to the band´s tradition to produce highly melodic lyrical and even melancholic songs, which often amalgamate elements of British Folk and some Classical Music influences. It is perhaps more Rock oriented than earlier releases, but not dramatically so. Reid´s lyrics are, as usual, full of meaningful statements, moral and social observations and other characteristics of his writing, which are in complete contrast to contemporary monosyllable dominated monstrosities that pass for lyrics. The songs vary in their intensity and expressiveness, but the best of them are certainly up to par with the great legacy of Procol Harum at its best.
Overall it is mostly "more of the same", which in the case of a band like Procol Harum is quite a compliment. The group extensive touring and their ability to produce new material gained them a solid following and fan base among the next generation of music lovers, that did not grown up in the glow of their early stardom, which can only be said about very few other Classic Rock groups out there. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 28/01/2019Posted: 28/01/2019 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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