Procol Harum – The Long Goodbye (Symphonic Music of Procol Harum) (1995)
Artist: Procol Harum
Album: The Long Goodbye (Symphonic Music of Procol Harum)
Genre: Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock
Label: BMG
Year Of Release: 1995
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
1. Conquistador – 3:36
2. Homburg – 4:46
3. Grand Hotel – 6:43
4. Simple Sister – 5:51
5. A Salty Dog – 5:54
6. Pandora’s Box – 3:00
7. A Whiter Shade Of Pale – 5:22
8. Repent Walpurgis – 5:40
9. (You Can’t) Turn Back The Page – 4:11
10. Strangers In Space – 6:50
11. Butterfly Boys – 3:46
12. The Long Goodbye – 6:02
Personnel:
– The London Symphony Orchestra
– The London Philharmonic Orchestra
– The Sinfonia of London
– The Chameleon Arts Chorus
– Nicholas Dodd / arrangements, conductor
– Darryl Way / arrangements, conductor
– Christian Kabits / arrangements
– Gary Brooker / vocals, piano, organ, harpsichord, accordion, arrangements, producer
With:
– Jerry Hadley / vocals (3)
– Tom Jones / vocals (4)
– Geoff Whitehorn / guitar (1,4)
– Robin Trower / guitar (8)
– Andy Fairweather Low / guitar (11)
– Mario Constantinou / bouzouki (3)
– Matthew Fisher / organ – All Saints Church, London (8)
– James Galway / flute (6)
– Dave Bronze / bass
– Mark Brzezicki / drums
This CD has been with me since 1998, I think. But I rarely played it until couple of days ago I got a short message at my cell phone: “Mas, do you have GRAND HOTEL song of Procol Harum?”. Then I found this CD at my collection and I spun it again WOW!
“Love it” or “Hate it”? It’s really up to you! For me personally, I have strong reasons why I love this Gary Brooker solo album (rather than Procol Harum’s one, I think). First, I have always loved the bands (the classic ones, of course) that I loved during my childhood were taken into a grandiose effort using a full-blown orchestra. This happened as well to “Symphonic Music of YES” and even I love “Yessymphonic” CD and DVD as well. Why? Because I want to hear how it differs with the original studio album recording. Second, anything about rock music that is later combined with full orchestra has created a curiosity for me to listen to it. Am now waiting for August 29, 2006 when Dream Theater release their DVD / CDs resulting from their concert with a full orchestra. So that’s why I tend to like “symphonic music of ..” kind of thing.
Let’s talk about this album which was recorded for a full year period from April 1994 until March 1995. Quite a long time to produce a single album. This is understandable because it involves many musicians and different orchestra: The London Symphony Orchestra and The London Philharmonic Orchestra (even though only two tracks: “Simple Sister” and “[You Can’t] Turn Back The Page”. Arrnegrs include: Nicholas Dodd (who also serves as Conductor), Darryl way, Gary Brooker, Christian Kabitz. Gary Brooker produced this album.
The album comprises great tracks like my all-time Procol Harum favorites like “Conquistador” (3:36), “Homburg” (4:46), “Grand Hotel” (6:45), “Repent Walpurgis” (5:40), “A Whiter Shades of Pale” (5:21). Well, the good part about this symphonic music is that all of the tracks with vocal in its original studio version, it is also featured here – mostly by brilliant and unique voice of Gary Brooker. Most arrangements don’t differ in melody with its original version; the difference lies on the textures of the song because almost all Mathew Fischer’s unique mellotron / organ sounds are now replaced with string section. “A Salty Dog” (5:53) is better being performed here than the original version – according to my taste.
It’s quite surprising that Tom Jones was invited to fill in the vocal line in “Simple Sister” (5:51). “Pandora’s Box” (3:00) is great with flute work by James Galway. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (5:21) arranged with this orchestration has made me nggeblak! man. It’s truly great! I do enjoy both, this version as well as the original. It sheds light of my bright childhood really. Oh man I remember vividly how I regularly swam at Bengawan Solo river and after that took a break while listening a cassette of this song . What a wonderful childhood with rock music man! And now . “Repent Walpurgis” is ready to kill my bone! I cannot afford to sustain with the catchy organ melody (which is now replaced with soft orchestration) at the opening part .. Oh my GOD! What a great melody this song offers . especially when thee guitar solo by Robin Tower enters the scene . it really kills me! Subhanallah ..
Of couse, I don’t want to tell every single passage of emotional ecstasy that I experience while I’m listening to this album as it will take a novel long review – which, I believe, you won’t read it anyway! My advise simple: BUY THIS ALBUM! If you claim yourself as claro (classic rock) mania, this orchestrated version of Procol Harum’s tunes is a MUST! Otherwise, don’t call yourself as a true claro lover! That’s why I give this solo album by Gary Brooker a five star rating – it’s a masterpiece of classic rock arrangement! Don’t miss this one man! Keep on proggin’ ..!
Review by Gatot
