Record Reviews

	PROCOL HARUM ~ SOMETHING MAGIC REPERTOIRE 4918 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 10th and last album from 1977. Still great songs and well done production, but the age of Procol Harum was unfortunately coming to its dawn. A good note to let bygones be bygones.
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PROCOL HARUM ~ SOMETHING MAGIC (DELUXE EXPANDED EDITION) ESOTERIC 2740 (Barcode: 5013929474086) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2020 This is a reissue of the ninth studio album by the seminal British Classic Rock / Progressive 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 and the group´s tenth album overall. This album´s lineup includes two founding members: vocalist / pianist Gary BrookerFind albums by this artist and drummer B. J. WilsonFind albums by this artist with keyboardist Pete SolleyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Mick GrabhamFind albums by this artist and bassist Chris CoppingFind albums by this artist. The album, recorded in Miami at the highly respected Criteria Studios, was co-produced by the group and the team of brothers Ron AlbertFind albums by this artist and Howie AlbertFind albums by this artist, who were the sound engineers. Brooker wrote five songs, one a lengthy three-part suite over nineteen minutes long, which feature lyrics by Keith ReidFind albums by this artist and Grabham added one song also with lyrics by Raid. Three of the songs include wonderful orchestrations, including the a.m. suite. This remastered and expanded edition adds three bonus tracks (a B-side of a single and two live demo tracks, eventually not included on the original album). A bonus CD features a BBC Radio Concert from March 1977. On this album the American co-production had a more limited, if any, influence on the overall sound and ambience of the group´s music, which returned to their classic Prog oriented direction. This album closes the cycle of their original streak of the first nine studio albums released between 1967 and 1977. Brooker´s incredible vocals and the group´s instrumental work are superb in every respect and the group was also incredibly effective when playing live, as evident on the bonus CD. The initial reception to the album was very cold and the album did not chart on either side of the pond, which of course had nothing to do with the quality of the music, but with the changing musical atmosphere and the Punk revolt against anything reasonably musical. Overall this is another strong album in the Procol Harum impressive legacy, which offers a wonderful example of their unique stylistic idiosyncrasy, which knows no parallels. It lost absolute nothing of its power and elegance over time and sounds every bit as wonderful as it did at the time of its release. It is obviously an essential item in any serious Classic Rock / Prog collection.

Updated: 09/04/2022Posted: 20/03/2021

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