Track Listing

1. Nothing But The Truth
2. Beyond The Pale
3. As Strong As Samson
4. Idol
5. Thin End Of The Wedge
6. Monsieur Armand
7. Fresh Fruit
8. Butterfly Boys
9. New Lamps For Old
10. Drunk Again
11. As Strong As Samson

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160369 in Music
• Released on: 2001-03-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

CD Description
By the time of this, its eighth album, in 1974, Procol Harum had weathered the departure of several key members. The band's previous release, GRAND HOTEL, was its first after the departure of guitarist Robin Trower. EXOTIC BIRDS & FRUIT isa more polished affair and a return to form for the band.
The songs by pianist/singer Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid possess the thrilling tensions that result from combining grandeur and lushness with R&B-based soulfulness. As always, drummer B.J. Wilson is a powerful yet unassuming presence, with a signature style that adds just the right amount of flair to the propulsiveness. The set is full of memorablesongs, including the powerful opening number, "Nothing But the Truth", the cabaret-like "Beyond the Pale", and the anthemic and relentless "The Idol".

Customer Reviews

Procol Harem's finest album, an undiscovered gem!
This is a very favorite album of mine. I'm not a big Procol Harum fan, but this is a really fine album. It's lively stuff, a little rockier than most of their work, certainly more so than their early works and less self indulgent. It has the usual Procol Harum mix of strident piano and guitars with Gary Brookers powerful vocals and gentler moments with some evocative and thought provocing lyrics. The Idol, Stong as Samson and Beyond the Pale are particular favorites and Monsiuer R Monde and Nothing but the truth are both rollocking great boogie/rock tracks to drive very fast to. It's surprising that this album is not better known.

Their Finest Hour !
This was recorded during the notorious 3 day week in the UK, when there were frequent power cuts; due to strikes against wage constraints. These were imposed due to a financial crisis trigged by a sharp rise in the price of oil - Plus Ca Change! Against this background, the image of a golden age of plenty portrayed by the painting on the cover, Exotic Birds and Fruit by Bogdani, is ironic to say the least. It does, however, point to the feast within.

This is less elaborate than Grand Hotel. It shows PH as a great band, with the twin pillars of Brooker and Reid driving the show.

Many people rate this as their finest work and it contains one of Reid's best songs, "Strong as Sampson", which was released as a single, but failed to trouble the charts despite rave reviews. "ain't no use in preachers preaching, if they don't know what they're teaching ..."

If you are new to Procol Harum then this is a very good place to start. If you bought their 2003 work "The Well's on Fire", then you will enjoy this... despite the gap of 30 years between the two.