New Procol Harum CD

**Rufus** · 02-02-2017

I believe their last studio album was released in 2003

Any fans and recommendations?

http://www.antimusic.com/news/17/Feb...14_Years.shtml

**bRETT** · 02-02-2017

Absolutely makes my day! Nothing to recommend except that you probably buy it-- Brooker remains a great singer and the last two Procol albums, while a bit homogenized for my taste, were both worth owning.

**Mister Triscuits** · 02-02-2017

Great news!

**arturs** · 02-02-2017

about time! I've been waiting patiently for a follow-up to Well's on Fire. IF the new one turns out as good as that one, I'll be very happy.

**Levgan** · 02-03-2017

YAY!

(Sorry, can't add anything meaningful, but I'm genuinely delighted to hear this).

**malgeo** · 02-03-2017

This really is great news, though it's too bad that Keith Reid won't be writing the lyrics. According to this Gary Brooker interview, he and Keith Reid are no longer in touch.

**rcarlberg** · 02-03-2017

"Novum" is a term for an egg, is it not? Makes it sounds like something is about to hatch.

**Mister Triscuits** · 02-03-2017

Originally Posted by malgeo

This really is great news, though it's too bad that Keith Reid won't be writing the lyrics. According to this Gary Brooker interview, he and Keith Reid are no longer in touch.

Oh, that is too bad. So now it's really just Brooker and the "new guys."

Originally Posted by rcarlberg

"Novum" is a term for an egg, is it not? Makes it sounds like something is about to hatch.

You're thinking of "ovum." Novum means new.

**rcarlberg** · 02-03-2017

You know if Procol Harum keeps putting out new albums every 14 years I don't know if I can keep up with them.

**Yodelgoat** · 02-05-2017

I really liked the Prodigal stranger. Was that their last? I'm thinking that was in the 90's wasnt it? Time to catch up.

**Mister Triscuits** · 02-06-2017

Originally Posted by Yodelgoat

I really liked the Prodigal stranger. Was that their last? I'm thinking that was in the 90's wasnt it? Time to catch up.

Prodigal Stranger was the first reunion album, from 1991. Robin Trower was on the album, but split before the band went on tour. The only other studio album since then was The Well's On Fire, from 2003, which I think is a better album overall. Matthew Fisher was still on board for that one, but he burned his bridges a couple of years later by bringing a lawsuit against Gary Brooker for royalties on "A Whiter Shade of Pale." (It was a real tug-of-war: Fisher was awarded 40% royalties in 2006, the decision was overturned on appeal in 2008, and then reinstated in 2009 when Fisher took it to the House of Lords.) That leaves Gary Brooker as the only performing member remaining from the '60s-'70s versions of the band.

**bRETT** · 02-06-2017

Originally Posted by Mister Triscuits

Prodigal Stranger was the first reunion album, from 1991. Robin Trower was on the album, but split before the band went on tour. The only other studio album since then was The Well's On Fire, from 2003, which I think is a better album overall. Matthew Fisher was still on board for that one, but he burned his bridges a couple of years later by bringing a lawsuit against Gary Brooker for royalties on "A Whiter Shade of Pale." (It was a real tug-of-war: Fisher was awarded 40% royalties in 2006, the decision was overturned on appeal in 2008, and then reinstated in 2009 when Fisher took it to the House of Lords.) That leaves Gary Brooker as the only performing member remaining from the '60s-'70s versions of the band.

There was also The Long Goodbye, which I think Brooker considers a proper Procol Harum album (though that's debatable). Plus a few stray tracks that were played live but not released, like "Last Train to Niagra" (with a lyric full of old Procol/Trower references).

**bobg56** · 04-19-2017

I see that the Japanese version has a bonus track. Anybody know what it is?

**gojikranz** · 04-19-2017

looking forward to this as I have been getting into Procol more lately. I was hoping they would be on the Yestival but alas not to be. any word of an American tour for this?

**Mister Triscuits** · 04-20-2017

Originally Posted by bobg56

I see that the Japanese version has a bonus track. Anybody know what it is?

There appear to be two bonus tracks: one called "Honour" that is not in the standard track listing, plus a second version of "Sunday Morning."

**Trane** · 04-21-2017

Originally Posted by Yodelgoat

I really liked the Prodigal stranger. Was that their last? I'm thinking that was in the 90's wasnt it? Time to catch up.

Originally Posted by Mister Triscuits

Prodigal Stranger was the first reunion album, from 1991. Robin Trower was on the album, but split before the band went on tour. The only other studio album since then was The Well's On Fire, from 2003, which I think is a better album overall. Matthew Fisher was still on board for that one, but he burned his bridges a couple of years later by bringing a lawsuit against Gary Brooker for royalties on "A Whiter Shade of Pale." That leaves Gary Brooker as the only performing member remaining from the '60s-'70s versions of the band.

I don't think either albums as good

Prodigal Stranger is almost an insult to BJ Wilson's fantastic drumming (just RIP by its release), with those awful 80's drums, which totally ruins my listening experience

TWOF is rather much better in that regard, but there that great closing instrumental

**Trane** · 06-12-2017

has anybody got returns on Procol's latest??

**battema** · 06-12-2017

I got it on a whim...but it isn't really my thing. I personally prefer The Well's on Fire by a pretty considerable stretch.

**BarryLI** · 06-12-2017

Gary's in fine voice (Ian Anderson take note) and there are a couple of excellent cuts, outside those it's nothing to write home about.

**arturs** · 06-12-2017

^^^ PH opened for Tull when I last saw them. 2010? Gary's voice was fantastic. Ian's was, well, you know... After hearing Gary belt out Simple Sister I kept thinking how great it would be if Tull would invite him out to sing on a few of their tunes while Ian concentrated on flute.

**battema** · 06-12-2017

I saw Procol Harum open for Yes on one of their first tours with Jon D as singer. And yes: Gary Brooker's voice was insanely good, especially considering he'd taken a bad fall not long before.

His voice on Novum is indeed the high point. Songwriting, not so much (IMHO).

**rcarlberg** · 06-26-2017

Originally Posted by BarryLI

Gary's in fine voice (Ian Anderson take note) and there are a couple of excellent cuts, outside those it's nothing to write home about.

Originally Posted by battema

His voice on Novum is indeed the high point. Songwriting, not so much (IMHO).

Originally Posted by Amazon

Novum sees a new lyrical direction for Procol Harum with the songs all featuring words by Pete Brown, most famous for his song writing collaboration with the members of Cream. This has given a different feel to the songs, retaining the thought provoking content for which the band has always been known but with a different slant and elements of humor. As ever, the music and musicianship within the band is of the highest level and this long-awaited collection of brand new songs is sure to be devoured greedily by Procol Harum's devoted fan base.

Listening to samples online, I never realized how much I'd miss Keith Reid's lyrical input.

**Levgan** · 06-26-2017

Depsite my enthusiastic reaction prior in this thread, I must confess this album has been a disappointment. I echo those who wrote that there's not much to recommend here apart from Gary's voice, which is still in fine shape. None of the songs stuck in my head for long, and upon listening I could barely discern where one track ends and another one begins. In other words, as much as it pains me to say it, this is a rather dull record, and Reid's lyrics are sorely missed too. And this comes from someone who regards Procol Harum as one of his favorite bands ever.