Reissue of the hit British rocker's 1970 album for A&M. Contains all nine of the original cuts, plus nine bonus tracks, 'Rockin' Warm-Up/ Go Go Go (Move On Down The Line)', 'The Dead Man's Dream' (Take 7), 'Procol Hav... more »e A Laugh...', 'Still There'll Be More' (Instrumental Take 3), 'About To Die' (Instrumental Takes 1 & 2), 'Barnyard Story' (Take 4 Remix), 'Piggy Pig Pig' (Take 2 Remix), 'Your Own Choice' (Take 14 Remix) and 'Whaling Stories' (Take 2). 18 tracks total, all in stereo. 1999 release.« less
Reissue of the hit British rocker's 1970 album for A&M. Contains all nine of the original cuts, plus nine bonus tracks, 'Rockin' Warm-Up/ Go Go Go (Move On Down The Line)', 'The Dead Man's Dream' (Take 7), 'Procol Have A Laugh...', 'Still There'll Be More' (Instrumental Take 3), 'About To Die' (Instrumental Takes 1 & 2), 'Barnyard Story' (Take 4 Remix), 'Piggy Pig Pig' (Take 2 Remix), 'Your Own Choice' (Take 14 Remix) and 'Whaling Stories' (Take 2). 18 tracks total, all in stereo. 1999 release.
CD Reviews
The Greatest Band, Best Album, Best Song of All Time
J. Speer | Philadelphia, PA | 05/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sorry, I stole that title from another review of the same album, but consider this, then, a whole-heated seconding of that opinion.You will never hear a better band, album, or song than Procol Harum, Home, and Barnyard Story, in that order. This is my opinion, and with a little research you can find out that most people don't agree with my opinions. However, even the broken clock is correct twice a day, and I'm keeping my hands firmly pointed on "Home."You'll also see that many many people consider this the best thing in rock music since the discovery of sound waves. This is true."
Once I thought it was the worst...I was dreadfully wrong
cerdes | Topeka, KS USA | 09/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Honestly, after first listening to this album, I admit feeling a little let down. The only song that seemed to be worth my time was the 7 mintue mini-epic "Whaling Stories." But, like any true music fan, I decided to give the album a second chance. I was certainly glad that I had! Though I still cannot stomach the album's opener, the horrible rocker "Whiskey Train," I have developed a new appreciation for the remaining eight songs. The album features lyricist Keith Reid at his absolute darkest with most of the chosen subject material concerning itself with death and decay. The haunting "Dead Man's Dream" is more than enough to support the above assertion. Musically, the album finds Procol in a much heavier and simpler mode. This only works to their advantage as Reid's lyrics seem to demand this sort of songwriting. Highlights of the album include the angry-versed but musically light-hearted "Still There'll Be More," the moving ballad of a young girl's demise "Nothing That I Didn't Know," and the synthesis of many different musical styles in "Whaling Stories." Overall, the album is another superb creation from Procol Harum. One warning: this album may be difficult to handle at first, but please, by all means, give it another chance!"
An Overlooked Album
Cyclone | 11/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is excellent. Has lyrics that are haunting at times which I love. The songs are very well crafted. You don't get to hear as much of Robin Trower's guitar as you would like. (Maybe that is why he went solo not long after) I recommend this for any fan of classic rock."
Lost Classic that should be in every collection!
William Scalzo | Niagara Falls, NY | 10/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OK I'm going to rave here a bit-Procol Harum were simply one of the finest rock bands to ever lay down vinyl. Gary Brooker possessed one of rock's all-time greatest soulful voices and was a fine piano player to boot. Robin Trower was remarkably adept at adapting himself to the style-hopping this band was famous for, whether it was a screaming hard rock solo, a delicate acoustic passage or just backing the band's two talented keyboardists, Trower was always up to the task. Ditto for drummer B.J. Wilson. Matthew Fisher, whose Hammond organ sound on "A Whiter Shade of Pale" helped define Procol Harum, had left the band after "A Salty Dog" along with bassist David Knights. Chris Copping replaces both men here, which leads to less organ work, as one might expect. As always, the band's secret weapon was lyricist Keith Reid, who was fashioning each album in PH's classic sequence after a certain theme, such as the seafaring tales of A Salty Dog. On Home, the theme was death, which might sound depressing but instead led to one of the band's very best records. Home is such a brilliant amalgamation of styles that a song-by-song breakdown is in order.
"Whiskey Train" - Fisher's departure seems immediately apparent on this hard-charging blues rocker fueled by Trower's Hendrixian riffs. But have no fear, Procol Harum's usual mix of styles is just around the corner. This tale of a drunkard trying to quit the bottle before it kills him gets things off to a great rocking start.
"The Dead Man's Dream" - absolutely phenomenal prog-rock type of track slows things right down during Brooker's melodic piano intro. Soon the nightmarish, proto-death metal lyrics take over and the track builds to an organ-drenched horror show soundtrack. Simply awesome!
"Still There'll Be More" - An upbeat, very melodic track that sounds like it should have been a hit single, until you realize that it's about a lunatic on the loose. "I'll blacken your christmas, I'll p--- on your door, you'll cry out for mercy, still there'll be more." Sing along with the serial murderer kids!
"Nothing That I Didn't Know" - The lilting strains of Trower's acoustic introduce Brooker's sad tale of a man who's beloved has tragically died, and he wishes it could have been him instead. The dirge like pace fits the lyrics to a tee.
"About to Die" - seeing the pattern in the song's themes yet? Another rumination on death, co-penned by Trower who's emotional riffing fuels this mid-tempo rocker.
"Barnyard Story" - Man, can Brooker's voice just tear you to pieces emotionally! His sombre piano leads this deceptively simple yet profound tale. Brooker's best vocal on an album filled with sterling performances. Words can't even describe this track, not only one of the best on this record, but one of their all time best period. By the time Brooker sings the final line, "Maybe death will be my cue," you'll already feel that this is one of the greatest records you've ever heard and they're not even close to done yet!
"Piggy Pig Pig" - A more uptempo rocker with lots of proggy touches and a crazy ending that shows the humourous side of this often serious band. Of course it's the blackest of humour but on this album it just fits!
"Whaling Stories" - along with "Barnyard Story", the highlight of the album. This is the prog mini-epic of Home and this track does have it all. PH was long known for their ability to switch among different styles from song to song while always retaining their identity. Here they do it in one 7 minute song. Dramatic symphonic prog sections, screaming hard rock guitar leads, powerful quiet sections and flat-out rocking, all topped off by Brooker's soulful vocals. The finale alone is worth the price of admission. A prog-lovers wet dream!
"Your Own Choice" - If you hate getting songs stuck in your head, be forewarned! This is the most instant-classic catchy number on the whole disc, and coming right at the end, it leaves you with an upbeat feeling after all the death and drama. Or does it? The first two verses tell us to choose our way of life and live it every day. In the third and final verse the protagonist commits suicide by drowning himself in a river. Only Procol Harum could pull this off, the perfect and most perfectly fitting ending to one hell of a classic record.
All of this band's late 60's to mid 70's output is highly recommended, but if you insist on only two, make it A Salty Dog and Home.
"
Robin steps up
Peter Baklava | Charles City, Iowa | 05/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Home was Procol Harum's fourth release, and quite a departure from the group's previous efforts. With organist Matthew Fisher gone, Procol coalesced around their 'one-two' punch of drummer B.J. Wilson and guitarist Robin Trower to create a surprisingly hard rocking album.
Between "Salty Dog" (1969) and "Home" (1970), Robin Trower showed the most astonishing leap in his guitar mastery. Previously he had demonstrated tasteful leads that augmented songs well, but on "Home" he cuts loose with powerfully muscular guitar that propels Procol Harum to a new level of excellence.
To be sure, it is Trower's rocker, "Whiskey Train" that gives the album a great kick-off. "Still There'll Be More" and "Piggy Pig Pig" feature great, ripping fretwork. The piece de resistance of the the album, though, is "Whaling Stories", where Trower blazes through one of the most spine-tinglingly great solos in all of rock.
I had the great fortune to see these fellows in Minneapolis in 1971 at a place called the Depot (later featured in Prince's "Purple Rain" movie). When the band exited the dressing room and headed toward the stage, I still remember Trower, looking like a gnome with the unmistakably long-fingered hands of an artist. Procol was collectively great that night.
In fact, I don't mean to minimize the talents of Gary Brooker, B.J. Wilson, or Chris Copping. But, at this stage of the game, Procol was a showcase for Trower. He completed one more album with the group, and went on to his solo career, where he was always faulted for sounding too much like Jimi Hendrix. Well, people, Hendrix's influence on rock was much like Charlie Parker's on jazz. Many sax players followed Parker's lead, but they weren't denigrated like guitarists in the wake of Hendrix.
"Home" is the sound of Robin Trower finding his voice. I still think of it as a pinnacle in his career. Check it out for yourself.
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1