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Gary Brooker - Piano, vocal Keith Reid - Words BJ Wilson - Drums Chris Copping - Organ Alan Cartwright - Bass Mick Grabham - Guitar BJ Cole - Pedal Steel Guitar Producer: Chris Thomas |
| Nothing But The Truth | Beyond The Pale | As Strong as Samson | |
| The Idol | The Thin End of The Wedge | Monsieur R. Monde | |
| Fresh Fruit | Butterfly Boys | New Lamps For Old | |
| [Bonus track] Drunk Again ('B' side: see here) | [Bonus track] The Blue Danube: mp3 sample here | ||
Liner note
A successful follow-up to Grand Hotel was in order for Procol Harum as
their rock classic Exotic Birds and Fruit climbed the album charts and
received significant airplay in 1974. The award winning duo of Gary Brooker
and Keith Reid continued their winning streak with this fine collection of
songs that would go on to be some of their most acclaimed in their long
history. Recorded in London during the winter of 1973 and 1974, the band had
to resort to a three-day week work schedule, confining to the country’s then
energy crisis laws. In the midst of difficult recording conditions, the band
still managed to yield a wonderfully solid collection of memorable rock
oriented material, akin to their previous efforts Home and Broken
Barricades.
Nothing
But The Truth kicks off this album, and from the driving piano provided by
Gary Brooker and the orchestral arrangements throughout the duration [sic] of
this incredible album, the listener is treated to song after song of classic
Procol Harum. Mick Grabham and Alan Cartwright’s guitar and bass work are
stunning and the much emulated drumming of the late B.J. Wilson truly added to
the uniqueness of these tracks.
Keith Reid’s prophetic lyrics helped deliver another hit single for the team
with the haunting As Strong As Samson. Joined by B.J. Cole on pedal
steel guitar, this tune has gone on to be one of the more enduring songs from
this fine album. “Fighting for freedom the truth and the word. Fighting the
war for the end of the world.”
For those who endlessly “search for holy grail”, the toast-like Beyond
the Pale shows the classical orientation of this popular band. Cleverly
mixing and weaving melodies and meters unlike other rock acts of the time,
Procol Harum continued to cover new territory on this song as well as the
powerful The Idol. Keith Reid’s imagery combined with Gary Brooker’s
unmistakable vocals helped deliver one of the more profound songs from this
album “And so they found he’d nothing left to say. Just another idol
turned to clay.”
Friday Music is excited to present Exotic Birds and Fruit for the first
time ever on compact disc in North America. It hasn’t seen the light of day
here in almost three decades. As another installment in our Procol Harum
Remaster series, this already fine collection is now available for all to hear
with two very rare bonus tracks: Drunk Again, which was originally the
b-side of Nothing But The Truth; and the recently-discovered extended
studio version of Strauss II’s The Blue Danube. Gary Brooker noted
recently “In spring 1975 Procol were on tour in Europe when they had a call
from the City Fathers of Vienna asking if they would record The Blue Danube
for a special release celebrating 150 years since the birth of Johann
Strauss II. Feeling honoured, they said yes and rushed out to buy a tape of it
and were shocked to find out that it wasn’t the short ‘little ditty’ we
all know but a long and complicated piece with close to a dozen tunes going
on! Nevertheless, they learnt it, and, under the watchful eye of Chris Thomas
at Apple Studios, duly and with great respect, did what only Procol could do.”
After the success of Live With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Grand
Hotel, Procol Harum continued to receive further acclaim with their
landmark Exotic Birds and Fruit album. Although it has been thirty
years since its vinyl release, just think of it as a fine vintage wine that
only grows better over the years. Enjoy!
Joe Reagoso 2004
Thanks, Jill, for the typing
