Procol Harum:Union Chapel

"Procol Harum, Live at Union Chapel" displays superb musicianship seasoned by the world tour the group had just completed in 2003. Gary Brooker does a masterful job of singing and piano playing and the band is the finest England has to offer, original member, Matthew Fisher on organ, Geoff Whitehorn on guitar, Matt Pegg on bass and Mark Brzezicki on drums. Procol Harum's music should be much better known as there is no better progressive rock. The powerful beauty and richness, wit and good spirits of Procol Harum's compositions and lyrics by Keith Reid are a pinnacle of rock history and they haven't let up a bit. Some terrific new material from their excellent 2003 CD, "The Well's on Fire" is performed among such classics as "Conquistador", "A Salty Dog", "Homburg" and "A Whiter Shade of Pale". The digital video was skillfully shot in widescreen on high definition cameras, with excellent lighting, direction and editing. The sound quality is great and in surround sound you will feel like you are in Union Chapel on that memorable night. Don't miss this one and tell your friends, this is a classic.

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.

Most music listeners equate Procol Harum with one song recorded at

the height of the musical regeneration of the 60's. "Whiter Shade of

Pale" has been covered by 260 artists to date, little wonder, as it

lies at the pedestal of euphony and speaks to a culture and its

beginings.

Procol Harum belongs to the ages, as do Led Zeppelin, the

Beatles,The Kinks,Free, Cream, Traffic and many other inovators of the

genre. The difference is Procol Harum is still a living aeonian spirit

whom roams the earth changing, reinventing the past to fit the present

and plan the future.

For the average music fan, Procol's history begins and ends with

"Whiter Shade of Pale" a pity really, as this is a band who over the

past 35 plus years of its unceasing quest for the holy grail of

communication have managed to climb peaks few have reached.

From 1968's follow up "Shine on Brightly" containing the masterful

20 minute plus one sided vinyl take of "In Held 'Twas In I" through

2003's "The Emperor's New Clothes" from their 13th studio offering,

Procol Harum have repatriated time and time again those lost ideals

that make music so eternally exhilarating.

The Procol followers are a devoted lot, keeping the spirit alive

in whatever manner needed. Fiercely devoted to spreading the word and

anointing seekers with Procol mythology and idealogy that solidify's

their legend.

Procol Harum - Live at the Union Chapel is a rare oppertunity to

witness what the band does best on their home turf at the end of their

recently released "The Well's on Fire" a burning testimonial

on the current state of affairs.

Replacing legendary drummer B J Wilson would be a monumental task,

he who created those voluptuous drum fills throughout "A Salty Dog",

"About to Die", "Piggy Pig Pig", "As Strong as Samson" and many others

during his ten year tenure. Mark Brzezicki of Big Country notoriously

and reverently fits inside the current configuration since joining in

1991 for "The Prodigal Stranger".

Robin Trower,whom many consider rivaled Hendrix with his guitar

pyro technics, contributing the meat on "Whisky Train" ( Home 1971),

and coming into his own on 1971's "Broken Barricades" would put to

task anyone whom stepped up to the challange and I must say, Geoff

Whitehorn has filled the bill with Tower's style and spirit while

remaining his own unique talent.

Filmed at the Union Chapel, a wonderful and animated hall as

described by Brooker as "almost performing inside some sort of

kaleidoscope" and brings a very special vibe to the procedings.

Opening with a blindingly forceful version of "Shine on Brightly"

the band move through the core movments of contemporary offerings from

"The Well's on Fire" and throw in some brimmingly incandescent

memories of times past.

"Strong As Samson" hold a special place in my fondness for Procol

as it began on 1974's "Exotic Brids and Fruit" one of my favorite and

most cherished Procol offerings and in their 2003 version burns bright

touching the original and transcending any expectations.

For those folks who only remember Procol for "Whiter Shade...." I

emplore you to take some time and traverse the spectrum of Procol's

past recorded vinginetes of glorification put to tape. For those of

you who know what I'm talking about already have this in hand, and

those who are just finding out, come and witness a band for all ages

as "Live at the Union Chapel" destifies with an acurate eye.

This is a band who embraces the dignity of the creative artistic

process while touching the heart and soul of what it truly means to be

alive and well through 35 years of legendary showmanship and

integrity.