Procol Harum Album: “Exotic Birds and Fruit [Repertoire Bonus Tracks]”

This album was a return to form for the Procol gang after the previous year's so-so 'Grand Hotel'. While that album was a sort of shakedown cruise for the recent line-up change of the band, this release found the hard touring band focused and ready to rock. Yeah, they could rock! Despite their reputation as a 'progressive rock' group they were never more than a few steps removed from the RnB combo they started out as. Gary Brooker and Keith Ried came up with a great bunch of songs here. "Nothing But The Truth", "As Strong As Samson", and "Butterfly Boys" are among the finest tunes in the group's long history. The bad news; they shoulda quit right after this release cuz it was a slow decline from here on out. So treasure this one, and if you like it as much as I do you'll want their 'Live BBC' cd too, because it was recorded during this era. It's great to see so many Procol Harum albums being released on CD these days, so to whom it may concern; howza 'bout puttin' out 'Broken Barricades'?

Whoever this Alan Niester is, his tarring and feathering of this Procol Harum album (CD) did not hold up then and does not hold up now. The man is quite frankly full of Shiite. I do not know what version of Exotic Bird and Fruit he was listening to but given what things were back then, I am sure something clouded his tastes at that particular moment in his own psychedelic time warp...

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Exotic Birds and Fruit: Procol Harum (Chrysalis CHT 1058): Alan Niester in Rolling Stone, 20 June 1974

Exotic Birds and Fruit is another slab of false majesty for which this band has become noted: elephantine, grandiose production, pretentious, empty lyrics and the sort of artistic posturing that would embarrass Ted Baxter.

Except for the bouncy Nothing but the Truth, every cut on the album has been heard at least twice already - and wasn't that interesting the first time around. The last sign of any vitality or originality in the band was heard on Broken Barricades; even the syphilitic attempts at humor attempted in Grand Hotel are now missing. Procol Harum is a perfect example of a band that has outlived its usefulness, and even staunch fans will undoubtedly be disappointed by this latest effort.

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This is a classic example of why it is so important to read a host of reviews and not any one from some supposed credible source in a rock magazine. Held true then, holds true now.

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"More on" Alan Neister - several years later and still can't understand which album Niester was listening to or reviewing. I can usually walk away from differences in opinion on stuff I either like or do not, but not this time. This one is like confusing solid gold with pyrite and swearing to know the difference by writing a review about it in Rolling Stone!

I saw the band playing this album at the Colston Hall in Bristol and it was unusual to be so moved by songs not heard before. PH is probably the most under-rated band in the world: this is a superb album.

Stand-outs are Strong as Sampson, The Idol (Mick Grabham's finest hour with PH), Beyond the Pale - in fact, all of it. The playing is, as ever, first-class, world class, and Brooker's straining urgent vocals never sounded better. Strong as Sampson even has BJ Cole on pedal steel, whom I had the pleasure of meeting when my old mate Mike Wedgwood was playing in Kiki Dee's band with him. This is majestic, well thought out, brilliantly played and important music. I cannot recommend highly enough, even if you loathe PH. B J Wilson was one of rock's best and most underrrated drummer, along with Rod De'Ath from Rory Gallagher's brilliant band, and here he gives a lesson in economical brilliance and power, not to mention timing.

And they're still at it. The Well's On Fire is another excellent album recorded only a few years back. And they're still fantastic live.

File under indispensible. As important as Air Cut by Curved Air (see my review).

I'm not prepared to say "Exotic Birds & Fruit" is the best Procol Harum album. I will say that it's the one I've played the most over the years (on vinyl).

Great songs, great playing, great lyrics, great singing. The production is a little "thick" but very listenable.

"The Idol" tends to go on interminably, much like "TV Caesar" from their previous album Grand Hotel. Hence, it's a song I tend to skip over, but it's the only one.

"New Lamps For Old" is the perfect coda for the album; the drumming of B.J. Wilson is sublime, much like on the title track to the album Broken Barricades, an album I'm still waiting to see on CD.

One of the most underrated rock bands of the 70's strikes again, and by this point in their career, they showed NO signs of slowing down (unfortunately they DID start going downhill after this album in terms of songwriting quality).

Procol Harum really feels like they are maturing on Exotic Birds and Fruit. The music is solid and consistently pleasing, though the lyrics seem more important this time around compared to previous releases.

"As Strong as Samson" is one of my favorite songs of all time. The vocal melody build up, the quiet eerieness of the atmosphere that reminds me of growing up and maturing (and having kids- yuck!) and the all-around pleasant tone. It's a really well-written song. I can't put it any other way. Truly one of the bands best ever tracks.

"Beyond the Pale" reminds me of drunken pirates swinging back and forth, and dancing on a ship. haha. I'm sure that's just an image for me personally. The band probably didn't intend the song to sound that way. "Butterfly Boys" is a good rocking tune. Procol Harum doesn't want to abandoned their old ways of contributing at least one rocker on each album, and I applaud them for that. "New Lamps for Old" scares me. It reminds me of growing old (unlike "Strong as Samson" which reminds me of growing up and trying to let go of the past). I don't like feeling old. It's cold, lonely, and scary. However, the melody is really nice (and haunting come to think of it).

Yes, it's a great album. Buy it now.