Procol Harum Album: “Long Goodbye: Symphonic Music of Procol Harum”

This is an album you either love or hate, as evidenced by the others reviews on amazon. I think it's the best album I've bought this year. Procol purists may object to the London Symphony being included, but I think Procol is one of those rare groups that is on a higher level, and that a top flight orchestra makes their music even better. They are more than just a rock band, or just another 60's group. As with their album with the Edmonton Symphony in 1971, they are capable of rising even higher than their usual high level of sophistication. And sorry, Canadians, but the London Symphony is better than the Edmonton Symphony. And it shows. This is one of the best albums of the last decade, and the symphonic arrangements do not detract from the original versions unless you think a band is made up of nothing but guitars and drums.

Good to hear one of the oldies but goodies. I purchased it because someone gave me a mix and Humborg was one of the song and it is so "crazy" I fell in love wirh it. I want it played at my memorial after I die.

Not as bad as some of the reviewers described it, but not as good as the 1971 live album with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, this album suffer from ups and downs. Weak perfomances of "Whiter shade of pale", "Homburg" and "Pandora's box" (shame on James Gallway)- the originals of the three are in the highest level of rock music and it was a big mistake to try to change them. "Grand Hotel" (that is sung by James Hedley) is good, and so are "Conquistador", "Simple sister" (with Tom Jones) "Don't look back" and "Butterfly boys". The rest are so-so. I agree with Mattias, that the 1971 live album is much better, but "Simple sister" is not that bad.

PU! Does this one stink! The London Symphony does nothing but drown out Procol Harum! This can only be called a sham at best! Robin Trower and Matthew Fisher only appear on one song...Repent Walpurgis, but you'd never know it by the fact that you can barely hear them! I've heard Muzak renditions of these songs that were better, and they never passed themselves off as the real things! Just do yourself a favor and save your money on this one!