Procol Harum Album: “Grand Hotel [Repertoire]”

One of the greatest adult classic rock albums of all times! The album is like a tour of a Grand Hotel where every room contains a demonstration of a human depravity - over-eating, drinking, obsessive love, mindless TV, drug addiction, suicide, sex and war. Classy, forbodding, sad, angry, funny and purposefully campy.

Fantasitc lyrics, music and musicianship. A wild and crazy use of orchestras, choirs, pianos, electric guitars, organs and drumming. Along with the lyrics (real poetry!)- its a roller coaster ride. The experience is greatest when the album is played loud!

The record sounds fantastic. There is almost no hiss and the base sounds great. Crystal clear sound! Brookers piano can be heard clearly and his voice is one of the best in any music anywhere.

Requires only a little patience, but numerous listenings. Analyzing the Keith Reid metaphors in the poetry is challenging but fun and his bidding you enter the hotel on the inside cover is classic. Grand Hotel is an absolute must for mature thinking people who want more then the usual dribble in their rock.

Friday Music's booklet has all the lyrics. The CD includes the wonderful addition of a live version of Grand Hotel with lots of Garry's piano and his diversion into Over The Rainbow!

One of the greatest adult classic rock albums of all times! The album is like a tour of a Grand Hotel where every room contains a demonstration of a human obsession - over-eating, drinking, love gone bad, mindless TV, drug addiction, suicide, sex and war. Classy, forbodding, sad, angry, funny and purposefully campy.

Fantasitc lyrics, music and musicianship. A wild and crazy use of orchestras, choirs, pianos, electric guitars, organs and drumming. Along with the lyrics (real poetry!)- its a roller coaster ride.The experience is greatest when the album is played loud!

Get the Repertoire or Friday Music lable only!! Repertoire's and Friday Music version have the best sound. There is no more hiss and the base sounds great. Crystal clear sound! Garry's piano can now be heard clearly and his voice is one of the best in any music anywhere.

Requires only a little patience, but numerous listenings. Analyzing the Keith Reid metaphors in the poetry is challenging but fun. Grand Hotel is an absolute must for mature thinking people who want more then the usual dribble in their rock.

The Repitoire version has the more beautful booklet with the classic photo of Ketih Reid introduing the band and bidding you enter the hotel on the inside cover.

The Friday Music version has an excelent addition of a live version of Grand Hotel with lots of Garry's piano and a diversion into Over The Rainbow!

Procol Harum is difficult to categorize in the annals of classic rock. Were they prog rock? Blues/R & B rock? It really doesn't matter, as they had a sound all of their own, that no other group of their age could duplicate. Their emphasis was on a "song format", as opposed to a "performance format", wherein the latter the song was just a vehicle for various soloists to do their instrumental break on. Keith Reid's lyrics add both elegance and humor to each composition on this outing. Grand Hotel captures the band at their best: the production is top rate, the strings and choir highlight but don't overshadow the band, the songs are magnificent; and the performances of the individual band members are enthralling, especially Brooker's dramatic vocals and elegant piano work and Mick Grabham's restrained but inspiring guitar work. Procol Harum had class, intelligence, and inspiration; qualities desperately lacking in many of their contemporaries and even more so with what is on the charts in the 21st century. There will never be anything like them again, and Grand Hotel presents them at the pinnacle of their creativity.

I'll keep it short...If you happen to be a drummer, this album is for you. B.J. Wilson may be the finest rock drummer in this category of music you will ever hear. Having seen the band just prior to this albums release, I can honestly say that never has there been a drummer who "fit" the music quite the way he did. He will be greatly missed. Truely an amazing album...

Grand Hotel shows Procol Harum breaking sharply with the past and doing so in spectacular style while retaining echoes of their glorious musical history. I've been a Procol addict from the very beginning. There is nothing in pop music like the haunting melodies and lyrics which spring from the minds of the genre's most talented songwriting duo, Gary Brooker and Keith Reid. Grand Hotel represents a turning away from the increasingly guitar-driven music of Broken Barricades and Home and back to the piano and organ oriented music of the first three albums that I think Brooker is more at home with. The songwriting on Grand Hotel is elegant and always enigmatic. The best three cuts are the title song, A Rum Tale, and Fires (which burnt brightly). Those who miss the stinging guitar of Robin Trower should like Bringing Home the Bacon and TV Caesar. If one had to pick a "best album" from the first ten, Grand Hotel would certainly rank second or third.