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B Bill (the sailor) View Drop Down
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Points: 2 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote B Bill (the sailor) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Procol Harum
    Posted: February 19 2025 at 14:22
Is it time that the Exotic Birds and Fruit album is universally accepted as the greatest album of all time? Has there ever been a better opening lyric (albeit extemporised) as “Is It On Tony?”. OK, Kevin Ayers’ “Just sitting here, picking the holes in my sneakers” must give it a run for its money. And Gong’s “What Does It All Mean Brian?”. Starting off with a question lures the listener in. “To Be Or Not To Be?” who cares? Discuss 
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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 29438 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2025 at 22:39
No. Procal Harum - a lot of great songs but never nailed an album imo. Personally I like 1977's Something Magic. That was an excellent prog album but punk was just around the corner. It was to be another 14 years before their next release.
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Points: 928 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Valdez Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2025 at 23:07
Where’s my continental bride?
My continental slip and slide.

Grand Hotel is a masterpiece.
https://bakullama1.bandcamp.com/album/sleepers-2024
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Atavachron View Drop Down
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Points: 65602 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Atavachron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2025 at 23:17
One of the great progenitors of prog, regarding A Whiter Shade of Pale --

A trailblazer showing rock could and would evolve, and simply one of the best albums of its time. One that reminds us the active and forward progression of rock was becoming not just a genre or even a movement, but an all-encompassing reality. A Grand Era of Prog that was not to be denied by critic nor listener when the artists were in charge of the art if not the asylum, represented here in one of its earliest stages, lovingly preserved for our pleasure and revelry.
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."   -- John F. Kennedy
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Octopus II View Drop Down
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Points: 12392 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Octopus II Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Yesterday at 01:46
One of my favourite albums. Smile

Procol Harum – Grand Hotel – Vinyl (Gatefold, LP, Album), 1973 [r6228213] | Discogs
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20414 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Yesterday at 03:00
Originally posted by B Bill (the sailor) B Bill (the sailor) wrote:

Is it time that the Exotic Birds and Fruit album is universally accepted as the greatest album of all time? Has there ever been a better opening lyric (albeit extemporised) as “Is It On Tony?”. OK, Kevin Ayers’ “Just sitting here, picking the holes in my sneakers” must give it a run for its money. And Gong’s “What Does It All Mean Brian?”. Starting off with a question lures the listener in. “To Be Or Not To Be?” who cares? Discuss 


Procol never made a perfect album or even a very very good one, IMHO, and especially not after Trower left the band

I've always had the feeling Brooker tried to keep the band alive with albums he dominated alone after Edmonton. I have no fave between Hotel Fruits & Ninth, but Magic is certainly very embarrassing.
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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MortSahlFan View Drop Down
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Points: 3075 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MortSahlFan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 hours 19 minutes ago at 09:21
I like them, but the greatest album? No. That's "Beyond The Pale"
https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition

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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 29438 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 6 hours 48 minutes ago at 20:52
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

Originally posted by B Bill (the sailor) B Bill (the sailor) wrote:

Is it time that the Exotic Birds and Fruit album is universally accepted as the greatest album of all time? Has there ever been a better opening lyric (albeit extemporised) as “Is It On Tony?”. OK, Kevin Ayers’ “Just sitting here, picking the holes in my sneakers” must give it a run for its money. And Gong’s “What Does It All Mean Brian?”. Starting off with a question lures the listener in. “To Be Or Not To Be?” who cares? Discuss 


Procol never made a perfect album or even a very very good one, IMHO, and especially not after Trower left the band

I've always had the feeling Brooker tried to keep the band alive with albums he dominated alone after Edmonton. I have no fave between Hotel Fruits & Ninth, but Magic is certainly very embarrassing.

Erm Question
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20414 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 1 hour 19 minutes ago at 02:21
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

Originally posted by B Bill (the sailor) B Bill (the sailor) wrote:

Is it time that the Exotic Birds and Fruit album is universally accepted as the greatest album of all time? Has there ever been a better opening lyric (albeit extemporised) as “Is It On Tony?”. OK, Kevin Ayers’ “Just sitting here, picking the holes in my sneakers” must give it a run for its money. And Gong’s “What Does It All Mean Brian?”. Starting off with a question lures the listener in. “To Be Or Not To Be?” who cares? Discuss 


Procol never made a perfect album or even a very very good one, IMHO, and especially not after Trower left the band

I've always had the feeling Brooker tried to keep the band alive with albums he dominated alone after Edmonton. I have no fave between Hotel Fruits & Ninth, but Magic is certainly very embarrassing.

Erm Question

LOLHug

Symphonic-weenie stuff, IMHO 

That sidelong suite was a terrible and unforgivable faute de gout in 77, much more so than ELP's sidelong epic in Luv Bitch in a few semester later.


.
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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