Disco de Procol Harum: “In Concert with Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir [Bonus Tracks] [DVD]”

Yes Indeed Procol continue to amaze those whom have followed their legacy which is vast in scope and depth. After presenting us with the grand Union Chapel Concert DVD in 2004 this 2006 followup finds the group in a much elegant setting with the Danish National Orchestra filmed on location in the majestic town of Lejre in Copenhagen. First the set list which is vast and envelops the statistic of legendary proportions:

1. Grand Hotel

2. Something Magic

3. Butterfly Boys

4. Homburg ( Brilliant!)

5. The VIP Room

6. Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)

7. Nothing But the Truth

8. Into the Flood (New)

9. Simple Sister

10. A Salty Dog ( Chilling!)

11. An Old English Dream

12. Sympathy for the Hard of Hearing ( From Brookers 1982: Lead Me to the Water, unfortunately out of print!)

13. A Whiter Shade of Pale

14. Whaling Stories

15. Conquistador

BONUS FEATURES!

1974 Dutch TV Special never aired outside of Denmark

1. Bringing Home the Bacon

2. Toujours L'Amour

3. Grand Hotel

4. The Devil Came From Kansas

5. The Idol

6. Butterfly Boys

Includes the late great B.J. Wilson on drums

What can be said to enhance the legendary music of Procol Harum? My salute and praises can be read on my review of the Union Chapel DVD.

What brings to mind is this music can never define a period of history or culture for Procol is eternally transcendent and the scope of work is always fresh and speaks to the current times. If only those who have never ventured within the vastness of greatness will but sip the wine, alas to be drunk for ever.

Again, a quality offering from Brooker and company amongst cellos, violins and string sections in 2006 as once ventured in 1972 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Yes indeed friends, This is one gigantic magical beast that roams the planet undiscovered and swallowed into the eternal.

Nicely done Boys! I await the next chapter........

I have many DVDs of rock bands performing with orchestras and/or choirs. None of them come anywhere close to the quality of the sound found here. There are clear reasons for this described in the wonderful booklet that accompanies the DVD. Most orchestras are recorded by a grid of overhead microphones that do not serve to separate the various instruments. Choirs are usually recorded in similar fashion. But NOT here. Each member of the symphony was close miked with their own individual microphone and fed into the board on their own channel, so that when the band's bassist asked the sound man for more oboe in his ear piece, the sound man asked back, "Which oboeist?" Each member of the choir had their own high quality hand mike, affording a similar advantage. The sound is simply fantastic from the orchestra and choir.

Also fantastic is the sound from the band although the mix puts the Commander's vocals and piano, the drummer and the guitarist quite high in the mix compared to the organ and bass, but Gary Brooker plays and sings so brilliantly that you want him high in the mix.

If you need a single example of how this all comes together just give a listen to A Salty Dog. This is probably my favorite Procol song. Brooker was, I believe, 62 years old when this was recorded and one could excuse him on that basis if his voice wasn't what it used to be, but it remains absolutely fantastic.

The part of this song after the line "Our tears were tears of joy" is possibly my favorite moment in any song by any band ever. The arrangement of the orchestra/choir during this section will raise the hairs on your neck and cover your skin with goose pimples. And the Commanders singing is hugely powerful. This one tune is worth the price of the entire DVD, but there are many, many more major highlights, with Grand Hotel coming in a close second.

This DVD is one for the ages. It is a must hear for Procol fans and it would be a great way for those not familiar with their great music to be introduced.

A perfect performance in a beautiful country by a world class act.

A selection of superb music composed by Gary Brooker which is complimented by eloquent lyrics by Keith Reid that spans 40 years of a professional partnership performed by Procol Harum's virtuoso musicians. Imagine a symphony orchestra and choir masterly weaved in and out of the majestic music performance of classic songs, such as "Whiter Shade of Pale", "Grand Hotel" and the not so often performed but nevertheless inspiring "Into the Flood" and "Sympathy For The Hard Of Hearing"

I was fortunate to attend the concert and this DVD is an aural and visual treasure.

I've been following Procol Harum for nearly 40 years and I'm still amazed at the quality of their performances and the endurance of their timeless, passionate material. Many bands, once no longer staples in the public eye, fade into obscurity and attempt to generate income solely on scrapping the bottom of their archival music catalogs for material to release for sale. Most of it is total rubbish and clearly a valid reason to remain 'unreleased'.

However, on the re-issued, remastered CD catalog, Procol Harum have done a superior job rounding up the very best and historical material 'from the vaults' and giving their true fans a real value for their hard earned money. P.H. still create and perform music held to their own highest standards, decade after decade.

In today's economy, we all have to cut corners and it becomes very difficult to justify making a purchases of non-essentials. As (many of us) glide into our mid-to-late 50's, we cannot afford to gamble on a purchase that may be questionable and somewhat less than rewarding. With many Procol videos to choose from, and 'others' watching our every spending move, we choose to avoid the investment rather than make a difficult or unpopular decision.

Dear Procol fans, this DVD performance may not contain every favorite you'd like to see included; it does not for me as well. However, the performances are top notch! Gary's vocals, the band's performance, and the orchestra & choir are all superb, 5 Star performances! If you close your eyes you'd think you were back at the now famous Edmonton concert. This performance of "Conquistador" is flawless, and my all time favorite "A Salty Dog" is remarkable.

Okay, so you've held off on any (what some of us might call) luxury purchases. All your spare cash goes to the kids, then perhaps the spouse, but you remain with a wish list a mile long and the remote in your hand. It's not like you're harvesting from little Johnny's college fund; just give yourself this small 'pat on the back' for all the things you do that no one notices.

Remember what it was like to order something and be so excited you'd check the mailbox every day anticipating its arrival? That youthful fun can be yours again, with a very mature and rewarding surprise at the other end.

Buy this DVD today! You deserve it!

An interesting collection of mostly the same songs, many played quite differently with a full orchestra and choir. The sound, while good, does not have the richness and deep bass (especially in DTS) of "Live at the Union Chapel". But it is the video that is almost unwatchable. Instead of concentrating on the Procols, the video keeps cutting every second and a half to a different aspect of the orchestra, to Gary, to the orchestra, to the choir, to the conductor, to Gary, to everyone except Matt Pegg. Speaking of Pegg, where's his bass? I can't hear it. If there is only one DVD to buy, please get the Union Chapel.