Disco de Procol Harum: “The Prodigal Stranger”

Obviously, purists are less likely to positively view music that doesn't match their vaunted standards (i.e. memories) of the band's previous excellence. Thankfully, there are shallow people like myself who are happy there are more than the first three records to listen to. This record is part of a wider history. I find them here trundling down familiar veins--updated. The core guys Brooker, Reid, Fisher and Trower are on board. As usual it's more Brooker/Reid and as usual they don't let Trower get too much spotlight, but it's the group. It's the sound. It's quite a ways further down the road than many would have predicted. The songs are powerful and well performed and I detect no rough edges--this is the nineties remember. Quite a bit had changed from Whiter Shade of Pale. Starts right in with the big crunchy sound of The Truth Won't Fade Away. Other harder tunes like Man With a Mission and All Our Dreams Are Sold firm up the program. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and Learn To Fly are upbeat rockers as well. The King of Hearts (slyly quotes WSOP) is quality Procol. The Pursuit of Happiness closes the show. Fitting. Procol Harum always had something nobody else had--that's why they affected so many. I know I still listen. So here's a dozen Procol Harum songs that we didn't have until this record. Thank you.

Like many reunions, this one is only partially successful. The writing, both lyrics and music, is just as strong as it was during Procol Harum's heyday. However, there are no really great Robin Trower guitar solos like there were then. Remember "Repent, Walpurgis"? Brooker's piano is still great, as is his wonderful blues voice. Keith Reid is still one of the finest, if not the finest, rock lyricist. The overall impression, at least to me, is that there is just something missing. I bought the CD, and I still play it often, but it does not measure up to "Salty Dog" or "Grand Hotel". I do recommend it, but only if you already have their first 4 or 5 CDs and "Grand Hotel". It's good, but it could have been so much better.

Promises can't always be kept. With "Prodigal Stranger" Procol Harum held the promise of recapturing the fire that burned so brightly before it petered out with "Something Magic". Unfortunately even though the album featured four key members of the band-- vocalist/keyboardist Gary Brooker, lyricist Keith Reid, organist Matthew Fisher and guitarist Robin Trower--the material penned by Brooker & Reid (occasionally with Fisher and Trower)was so generic that ANY band could have written it.

The early 1990's production does the songs no favors either as it is over slick and buried whatever promise existed in the material in the first place. Reid an often complex (and occasionally obtuse) lyricist writes material that lacks any of the mystery and fire of his best material and that leaves the soulful Brooker with little to sing soulfully. Even Trower's guitar solos lack his distinctive flair and the worst idea was to replace Fisher's hammond organ with generic sythesizers.

In it's own way "Prodigal Stranger" is worse than the band's last studio album

as at least that album had some musical and lyrical ambition sorely lacking here. That isn't to say that the album is completely without something memorable. There are a couple of songs here including the opening track "The Truth Won't Fade Away" has some of the band's old fire and "Learn to Fly" is memorable as well but the rest of the album could easily be mistaken for the AOR junk that Steve Winwood was churning out in the late 80's early 90's.

The Brooker, Reid and Fisher would find that fire again with their fine follow up album

which manages to update the band's sound while still staying true to the essence of Procol Harum.

This album has a really good song on it, The Truth Won't Fade Away. Beyond that, the entire collection sounds like they went to Michael McDonald and said, "Hey, Mikey, write us some boring, inoffensive 80's stuff that you're so famous for!" I bought it used for a dollar or two from an Amazon partner, so I'm not that disappointed. I got what I paid for.