Disco de Procol Harum: “Live at the Union Chapel”

There are very few bands from the days of my youth that continue to capture my musical interest, but Procol Harum is one of the few. With the issue of Live At the Union Chapel, they prove that they deserve to be numbered among the musical elite.

If you are reading this review, then you probably already have some knowledge of the band and a measure of affinity for their music. If you remember them only the way they were in their heyday, here is an opportunity to see that the band remains a vital unit. The production on this DVD is excellent, the sound largely crystalline, and the ambience conducive to the enjoyment of the kind of music the band plays.

I haven't watched any of the extras, but the quality of the performance alone makes this a five-star offering. There are songs from nearly every album except Prodigal Stranger and Something Magic, but the largest number come from their latest CD The Well's On Fire. My favorites are thrilling renditions of Shine On Brightly, Pandora's Box, An Old English Dream, Homburg, Simple Sister, The Question, Wall Street Blues, and of course A Whiter Shade of Pale. Repent Walpugis is missed, I'd have liked to see it replace This World is Rich or Good Captain Clack, but unfortunately it did not.

Gary occasionally trips over the lyrics and I think that Robin Trower is really missed on Whiskey Train, but those aren't really complaints, just observations. Overall, Live At The Union Chapel is a Procol fan's dream.

If you are a Procol Harum fan, and did not get to see any of the shows when they were on their 2003 world tour, this DVD is a splendid opporunity to see the band's "bookends", Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher, working on stage together once again. If you were fortunate enough to have caught one of their shows as I was, then Live At The Union Chapel is a fine souvenir of their memorable tour. It is particularly a necessary addition to the fan's collection as Fisher has once again left the band.

Add this to your collection while you can. In my opinion, it is the best and most important DVD of 2004.

Procol Harum is one of the legendary classic rock bands of the last century.

Their magnificent all of time superhit "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" is considered as my favorite song for many decades. I read that John Lenon was amazed when hearing the song for the first time for its extraordinary lyrics and the superb Hammond B3 organ with the magic Leslie amplifier rotating sound. After those long years they performed this concert in London's Union Chapel. And what a concert!!! The music surrounds you magicaly and even songs which are not so popular or known to me are amazing.

Gary Brooker is like no one else...Warm, greatly performing, and highly carismatic. The great organ player Matthew Fisher is unbelievable...He's The soul of the band, shy and highly talented giving the band its exclusive taste.

Although reviews and documents show that Fisher was playing on a Hammond M102 which is also one of the high ended Hammond series, its sound is almost identical to that of the B3. The same M102 organ was also used by Booker-T and the MG's and many other prestigious bands of this decade.

This DVD is a real document for a great band sharing on making modern music history.

If you've been looking for that perfect Procol Harum DVD, look no further. This is the one! The venue is intimate and the cathedral-like chapel is the perfect backdrop for the band's best-loved works. The production is altogether superb on both audio and video. (There are even alternate camera locations on some tracks, like one from the back of the hall.) The three-part concert is relatively long but you won't notice it, the performances move right along. The band performs a dozen songs from the 60's and 70's (and not necessarily the ones you might guess). They play another eight songs from their latest album, The Well's on Fire, which freshens things up. Gary Brooker's voice is in fine shape and he is playing on a *real* piano this time out. One highlight is the song "As Strong As Samson" from the mid-70's which the've reworked a bit, giving guitarist Geoff Whitehorn room to stretch in the middle. He and bassist Matt Pegg play off well against one another. You've got to see how they do the gull sounds at the beginning of "A Salty Dog." Yes, AWSOP includes the rarely heard third verse. And don't miss the shot of Keith Reid in the audience toward's the end of the main show. All in all, a very rewarding experience. Savor it! (Now, if only they could book a gig with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra..... )

I have been a long time Procol fan, and this DVD is a godsend. It has a decent mixture of songs from early through their most recent CD. All are played well, the sound balance is excellent and all musicians can be heard in the surround mix. The best part of the whole program was the third verse in "A Whiter Shade of Pale". It is on the sheet music, but I have never heard it sung, and it is here in all it's glory. Now, I have heard rumors that there is a fourth verse around, but no verification that anyone else has ever heard it. This combination of musicians have been the longest lasting of late and the strongest version of PH, almost matching the group of the first four recordings. Buy it, you will listen to it often. Shine On, Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher!

I had seen the video of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" on Youtube, which lead me to discover the DVD concert "Live at Union Chapel". I bought the DVD just for that one song, but I have to say that I enjoyed all of the other pieces as well ( almost all of them anyway ). Gary Brooker gives a great interview and delivers a masterful rendition of AWSOP. Loved it.