Grand Hotel/Over the Rainbow [Live][*] - Procol Harum, Arlen, Harold
After a long run of significant radio and chart activity with classic songs like Whiter Shade of Pale and Conquistador, in 1973 Procol Harum delivered which many fans believe is their strongest effort of all time, Grand... more » Hotel. Founders Gary Brooker and Keith Reid wrote this stunning masterpiece on the heels of their platinum effort Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. From the opening piano chords on the classic title track, "Grand Hotel", the listener knows they are truly in store for a fantastic excursion that only Procol Harum can offer. This hit album continues in the fine tradition of their previous classic recordings with the wonderful "Toujours L'Amour." This tale of unrequited love was a concert staple for years and has become one of their most treasured songs from this fine album. Featuring the ever present Mick Grabham on lead guitar, this track along with other rockers like "Bringing Home The Bacon" and "Robert's Box" keep a guitar drenched approach throughout these exciting recordings. With some help from the legendary classical vocalist The Swingle Singers' Christianne Legrand, "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)" has gone on to become one of their most loved songs in their long recording history. Complete with lush orchestrations and skillful instrumentation by members Brooker, Reid, Chris Copping, the late B.J. Wilson, Alan Cartwright and Mick Grabham, Procol Harum's Grand Hotel was truly a highly artistic achievement for this popular classic rock act. As an added treat for the fans, Gary Brooker has given Friday Music a bonus track for this newly remastered CD, a very rare live version of "Grand Hotel" from a 1973 performance at The Rainbow Theatre in London. Grand Hotel has gone on to stand the test of time over the years, however, it hasn't been available in North America for over two decades. Thanks to Procol Harum, they have teamed up with Friday Music to deliver this monumental effort along with a bunch of newly re-mastered versions of their all time classic recordings- The Procol Harum Remasters series.« less
After a long run of significant radio and chart activity with classic songs like Whiter Shade of Pale and Conquistador, in 1973 Procol Harum delivered which many fans believe is their strongest effort of all time, Grand Hotel. Founders Gary Brooker and Keith Reid wrote this stunning masterpiece on the heels of their platinum effort Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. From the opening piano chords on the classic title track, "Grand Hotel", the listener knows they are truly in store for a fantastic excursion that only Procol Harum can offer. This hit album continues in the fine tradition of their previous classic recordings with the wonderful "Toujours L'Amour." This tale of unrequited love was a concert staple for years and has become one of their most treasured songs from this fine album. Featuring the ever present Mick Grabham on lead guitar, this track along with other rockers like "Bringing Home The Bacon" and "Robert's Box" keep a guitar drenched approach throughout these exciting recordings. With some help from the legendary classical vocalist The Swingle Singers' Christianne Legrand, "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)" has gone on to become one of their most loved songs in their long recording history. Complete with lush orchestrations and skillful instrumentation by members Brooker, Reid, Chris Copping, the late B.J. Wilson, Alan Cartwright and Mick Grabham, Procol Harum's Grand Hotel was truly a highly artistic achievement for this popular classic rock act. As an added treat for the fans, Gary Brooker has given Friday Music a bonus track for this newly remastered CD, a very rare live version of "Grand Hotel" from a 1973 performance at The Rainbow Theatre in London. Grand Hotel has gone on to stand the test of time over the years, however, it hasn't been available in North America for over two decades. Thanks to Procol Harum, they have teamed up with Friday Music to deliver this monumental effort along with a bunch of newly re-mastered versions of their all time classic recordings- The Procol Harum Remasters series.
CD Reviews
Perfection
Lawrence A. Strid | Mission Viejo, CA | 05/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Procol Harum is difficult to categorize in the annals of classic rock. Were they prog rock? Blues/R & B rock? It really doesn't matter, as they had a sound all of their own, that no other group of their age could duplicate. Their emphasis was on a "song format", as opposed to a "performance format", wherein the latter the song was just a vehicle for various soloists to do their instrumental break on. Keith Reid's lyrics add both elegance and humor to each composition on this outing. Grand Hotel captures the band at their best: the production is top rate, the strings and choir highlight but don't overshadow the band, the songs are magnificent; and the performances of the individual band members are enthralling, especially Brooker's dramatic vocals and elegant piano work and Mick Grabham's restrained but inspiring guitar work. Procol Harum had class, intelligence, and inspiration; qualities desperately lacking in many of their contemporaries and even more so with what is on the charts in the 21st century. There will never be anything like them again, and Grand Hotel presents them at the pinnacle of their creativity."
Procol Harum at Its Most Procol Harum
Juan Mobili | Valley Cottage, NY USA | 02/15/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Along with their wonderful live album with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Harum would return to its trademark, exquisitely melodramatic essence once again with Grand Hotel--if you had any doubts of what I said, just ponder on this title.
Gone, long gone, is Matthew Fisher and after Broken Barricades--harder set, fiercely led by his guitar--Robin Trower has departed. Yet, Chris Coping on organ and Mick Grabham on guitar more than make do in replacing such essential colors in Procol Harum's music.
Whether it was that "Barricades" did not please their constituency or that Keith Reid--their full-time lyricist--was ready for a more grandiose backdrop to his ambitious scenes, Grand Hotel faithfully returned to what had made the Procol Harum's great from A Whiter Shade of Pale onwards. From it's very opening, with Grand Hotel and Toujours L'amour--To Everyone Love--the stately arrangements and Brooker's circumspect voice take over the proceedings.
The whole album moves confidently forward from there. Robert's Box, Souvenir of London, Fires--and even Bringing Home the Bacon--are tracks that may or may not become your all-time favorites but will remind you why these guys were capable of, and how far from finished they still were then."
A "Grand" album!!
Michael Halmy | Culver City, CA USA | 08/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Procol Harum was not your run of the mill 60's band. One listen to "Whiter Shade of Pale" and you knew you were hearing something different. Grand Hotel, while not as well known as other hit albums in the early 70's, contained some very amazing songs done in an unusual style. The signature tune, Grand Hotel, makes one feel that they have been transported to Europe in song, while Bringing Home The Bacon and Roberts Box show a muscular side to this group that some listners might not have ever experi-
enced. Aside from the amazing American group, The Band, probably no other group so strongly and tastefully used both organ and piano in their band format. Take a trip on a most wonderous musical journey and vist Procol Harum's, Grand Hotel."
Like a five star Hotel!
STABERDEARTH | Bethlehem, PA USA | 12/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this as an LP when it first came out. My then girlfriend, now wife loved it, probably more than I did and I'm the music fiend! There is a fluid ebb and flow to the whole work. Having now caught up and having bought the CD, I am reminded how good it really does sound after listening to a worn out LP and subsequent cassette recording for so long.
This is the sort of masterpiece that you can sit down to, relax, have a listen, and let your mind wander where it will without interruption by any bad filler, or thrown in off topic tracks. It is extremely coherent in theme and musical quality thanks to the genuises of Reid and Brooker. There was really nothing like it in its day and that is what made it fresh, and still does in the present day!
I dare you to listen to any one track and find an equivalent or similar tune to any of them, today or then. Missing from the CD jacket is the very in sync to the music artwork contained within the LP covers. Sort of an art deco style reminiscent of the roaring twenties but brought forward into almost a retro new agey 50's style before rock and roll kicked in. Very minimalist but ever the more comprehensive in description as a result due to the lack of clutter.
The songs are fresh and upbeat and in true Procol Harum style the back bone is piano but also with abundant guitar licks and solos and a powerful drum beat signature on every tune. The lyrics are to be savored and always seem to have flowed spontaneously with and around the music. Both Brooker and Reid were obviously in the same room upon conception. To finish, my favorite has always been Brooker's voice which is quite unique and hard to miss in any crowd.
My only disappointment is that Christianne LeGrand's phrasing on Fires (Which Burnt Brightly) does not go on longer! Just when she begins cooking she's concluding! If she ever sang in concert on a prolonged version of this, I sure missed it!
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1