Procol Harum - Grand Hotel

[Sunhillow]

I think this is my favorite Procol Harum-album, mainly for its consistency. It's their most laid-back, AOR-influenced album, but the overal traditional mood with almost fun 'barok'-overtones (title-song, Fires, Souvenir from London) makes this the only Procol Harum-album I can listen to from start to finish.

Here's the closing track:



Anyone cares to share their opinions about this album in particular?

[Trane]

Personally I'm not really a fan of post-Trower Procol (the Edmonton Symphony excepted, which is more of a recap of their first era anyway).... it lacked the magic.... only Brooker and the ever-excellent drummer BJ Wilson left ... The magic was gone, IMHO

[Yodelgoat]

I really like this album a lot, Some great tunage and you're right from front to back it is unique and interesting. The remaster sounds just incredible (used it in my studio as an A/B reference for mastering - "B" is always the loser, lol...)

Procol is never dull, even Prodigal Stranger is quite good. (sorry, I'm straying off the thread topic) But I listen to post Trower PH albums more than when he was in the band. Exotic Birds and Fruit is another winner for me. Grand Hotel is definitely the top of the heap IMO. I recall how impressed I was when I heard a DJ say the "Souvenir in London, was banned frrom the British Airwaves - I have no idea if that was actually true, but I was probably 13, and I said " I gotta hear this song!"

[Man In The Mountain]

Probably my favorite Procol Harum album. Other than the Edmonton Symphony one.

[Adv3MP]

I love everything about this album. The cover is awesome, the inside booklet with the Lp was great for staring at while the songs swept by, the production sweet, the compositions absolutely lovely (the melodies stayed in my head for days afterwards), and the lyrics disguised and oftentimes vague enough to keep you wondering. As terrific as Matt Fisher is, more often than not, I prefer Chris Copping's organ style. To me, his playing was THE most tasteful hammond playing I've ever encountered. He neither overplayed nor underplayed in any song EVER. Those organ parts are among my favorite things about this album and Procol Harum in general.

(sigh) They don't make 'em like that any more. Great, GREAT album.

We actually did a cover of Robert's box for the Procol Harum tribute that came out many years ago. Was great fun.

[Progbear]

Not as good as Exotic Birds and Fruit but I still like it. “A Souvenir of London” is one of those annoying “nudge-nudge-wink-wink” songs of theirs I dislike but I like most of the rest, particularly the title track and “Fires (Which Burned Brightly)” which are stunning, especially the latter (the appearance of a Swingle singer made all the difference).

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MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")

"Parece cosa de maligno. Los pianos no estallan por casualidad." --Gabriel Garcia Marquez

N.P.:“The Brook”-Dawn/Loneliness

[bRETT]

Not as good as Exotic Birds and Fruit but I still like it. “A Souvenir of London” is one of those annoying “nudge-nudge-wink-wink” songs of theirs I dislike but I like most of the rest, particularly the title track and “Fires (Which Burned Brightly)” which are stunning, especially the latter (the appearance of a Swingle singer made all the difference).

I think "Souvenir" fit by virtue of there being a lot of jokes on this album, really the only Procol album to have a lot of non-gallows humor on it. But I agree that EB&F was a much better album over all (though its joke track, "Fresh Fruit" can go). Side one of EB may be my favorite album side of theirs.

[Scrotum Scissor]

It's good. I agree with Trane that none of the post-Trower records are as consistantly great as the first four, but the strong songwriting more than makes up for the sometimes weak ones. And I always kinda liked Mick Grabham's style of playing, ever since his days in Cochise.

[gregory]

Brilliant, consistent album, full of great songs - title track of course, A Rum Tale, TV Ceasar, For Liquorice John, Fires, Bringing Home The Bacon. One of my favorite PH, along with debut and A Salty Dog. Much better than Exotic Birds and Fruit. And quite on par with Procol's Ninth.

[JeffCarney]

Another masterpiece in a long line of them from Procol.

[Yodelgoat]

Mick Grabham was in a band called Cochise? Is that the band with all the redhead guys that I used to see in cutout bins back in the 70's? I bought that album and kinda liked it... I had completely forgotten about it... Time to go google Cochise...

Update: different band. The other was a weirdo band of misfits from LA that never went anywhere but into the bargain bin.

[bRETT]

Mick Grabham was in a band called Cochise? Is that the band with all the redhead guys that I used to see in cutout bins back in the 70's? I bought that album and kinda liked it... I had completely forgotten about it... Time to go google Cochise...

Update: different band. The other was a weirdo band of misfits from LA that never went anywhere but into the bargain bin.

The Cochise with Grabham (and BJ Cole) had at least one album released by United Artists in the US. Saw it in a used bin recently but it cost a bit.

[Casey]

Still have it on vinyl. Picked it up when in college. I thought it was great then but I haven't heard it in 30+ years. I'll have to dig it out this weekend. Thanks for the nudge.

[mogrooves]

It's a bit sketchy, but I prefer it to the more lionized A Salty Dog....

[singring57]

By far my favourite Procol album, every track is a gem. Love the album cover too.

[Mister Triscuits]

Love the album cover too.

Didja know that Mick Grabham wasn't yet in the band when they took the photos for the album cover, so that's his head spliced onto Dave Ball's body?

That also means that most of the album was recorded with Dave Ball on guitar, but Mick Grabham replaced most of Ball's parts.

[Progbear]

Mick Grabham was in a band called Cochise? Is that the band with all the redhead guys that I used to see in cutout bins back in the 70's? I bought that album and kinda liked it... I had completely forgotten about it... Time to go google Cochise...

Update: different band. The other was a weirdo band of misfits from LA that never went anywhere but into the bargain bin.

I think you’re thinking of Couchois.

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MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")

‘“What blow, Goblin?” said Corinius.’ --E. R. Eddison

N.P.:“Earthly Powers”-Zombi/Spirit Animal

[Scrotum Scissor]

The Cochise with Grabham (and BJ Cole) had at least one album released by United Artists in the US. Saw it in a used bin recently but it cost a bit.

Cochise had three LP releases, of which the first two are absolutely worth hearing. This band belonged to the "rural underground" of UK post-psychedelia, playing a mix of (US) West Coast-influenced rootsy folk (at times even bordering on country) and acidic hard rock. Other acts from that scene included Quiver, Gypsy (UK), Global Village Trucking Co., Capability Brown, Audience, Shape of the Rain, Mighty Baby, Brinsley Schwarz (with Nick Lowe!) and the wonderful Help Yourself. Their most famous asset was undoubtedly those inimitable Welsh legends, Man. Typically, these groups would shun commercialism altogether and dedicate themselves to what was left of the British hippie ideal, with their zenith appearing at the Glastonbury Fayre festival in '72.

Two members of Cochise went on to play with Dave Gilmour on his first solo record, Grabham went to Procol and B. J. Cole obviously became the most proficient British steel-guitar studio musician.

Grabham with Cochise, from their second album Swallow Tales: