Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Procol Harum
Label: Chrysalis Records
Released: 1974
Runtime: 37:00
Rating: 3.5/5
»Exotic Birds And Fruit« was the seventh studio album from English prog rock legends Procol Harum. Fun fact: on the Argentine market, this record, with its great cover art by the well-known Slovenian painter Jakob Bogdani, went by the name »Payaros Y Frutas Exoticas«, which translates as »Birds And Exotic Fruit«. According to the band’s chief, singer, pianist and songwriter Gary Brooker, »Exotic Brids And Fruit« was a logical stylistic reaction to the previous two Procol Harum outings, the live album »Procol Harum Live In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra« (1972) and the studio album »Grand Hotel« (1973), on both of which the band had worked with an orchestra.
By 1974, Brooker and his buddies were totally sick of the orchestra, so on »Exotic Birds And Fruit«, where they teamed up with producer Chris Thomas again, they decided to go back to their sonic roots. The album was made under rough conditions: they recorded it in winter, during the big strike by British electrical workers, who, in their fight with the Conservative government of then-prime minister Edward Heath, were regularly cutting off the power supply to push through their demands. So the band got through the blackouts with the help of an auxiliary generator, and you can hear it in the noticeably gloomier atmosphere of some of the album’s pieces compared to most of their earlier work.
On »Exotic Birds And Fruit«, Procol Harum tried to freshen up their signature symphonic prog rock a bit with a few new ideas, like the guest pedal steel guitar courtesy of BJ Cole. With bassist Alan Cartwright on board, organist Chris Copping could focus purely on organ duties, which you can hear in the bigger presence of his solo flights. Alongside Brooker’s piano, he’s the main guarantor of Procol Harum’s triumphant symphonic tradition on »Exotic Birds And Fruit«, while B.J. Wilson once again laid down a rock-solid, dynamic drum foundation. Keith Reid didn’t hold back this time either, serving up mocking, biting social commentary in his lyrics, which blends well with the dark nature of most of the compositions on »Exotic Birds And Fruit«.
Opener »Nothing But The Truth« is stuffed with layered piano-and-organ arrangements and nearly danceable rhythms, while Brooker, backed by guitarist Mick Grabham’s sharpened guitar phrases, delights with his distinctive, warm voice. The gloomy, almost eerie pulse reaches epic proportions on the standout »Beyond The Pale«, where Brooker takes a somewhat more sullen approach to the vocals, since it’s a bitter satire of the aforementioned blackouts that hit right in the middle of a freezing winter. The song’s title is, of course, a satirical nod to Procol Harum’s biggest hit, »A Whiter Shade of Pale«.
»Exotic Birds And Fruit« is an album that didn’t include many Procol Harum classics, but the nostalgia-tinged »As Strong As Samson« definitely belongs among them, with its very subtle symphonic arrangements, bluesy guitar passages, passionate drum fills and a lovely atmosphere peaking in a moving chorus. »The Idol« is another pretty dark and sarcastic creation, where the melodramatic mood builds on the piano, while Copping’s lively organ keeps lending an epic undertone throughout Brooker’s bravura vocal performance. Toward the end, Grabham shines with an outstanding guitar solo that’s on the enviable level of his famous predecessor Robin Trower, though that’s admittedly a bit of an unfortunate comparison.
»The Thin End Of The Wedge« is the darkest piece on the album, at times sounding like music from some horror flick, mostly thanks to the sacral sound of the organ, the slow rhythm, scattered piano passages and sullen vocal bits. The slightly harder-rocking »Monsieur R. Monde«, another Procol Harum classic, crackles with electric atmosphere thanks to a punchy guitar phrase, quick drum rolls and spirited piano-and-organ flourishes. It’s also one of the rare chances to hear Gary Brooker in the middle of an angry, almost furious vocal outburst. »Fresh Fruit« is a short burlesque with black humor and a stumbling piano arrangement of the kind that had popped up in a similar fashion on earlier Procol Harum albums.
Reid’s lyrics on »Butterfly Boys«, which has an almost danceable rhythm, are a satirical take on the top brass at Chrysalis Records. Procol Harum were signed to them at the time, but they were getting more and more fed up with the deal. One of the album’s better moments is the nostalgic ballad »New Lamps For Old«, where Brooker, together with the warm sound of Copping’s organ, wins you over with his distinctive vocal magic. Atmosphere-wise, Porocl Harum even come a little close to the pulse of their unforgettable classic »A Salty Dog«, helped along by similar lyrics, full of nostalgia for the good old days long gone, while the (not necessarily positive) triumph of some new, modern era had set in.
As a bonus track on the reissue, you get the burlesque »Drunk Again«, originally the B-side of the single »Nothing but The Truth«. It’s a rock’n’roller with ‘drunken’, bluesy passages and cheeky lyrics that sound like a parody of the everyday life of your typical rock star and the lifestyle of most of their followers.
Taken as a whole, »Exotic Birds And Fruit« was still a thoroughly solid effort, packing in a handful of really good songs, while elsewhere the Procol Harum guys, leaning more and more on their sharpened sense of humor, were already running short on real songwriting inspiration and fresh ideas. Their main problem was that at this stage of their career they’d already made all their key statements and could hardly surprise anyone with anything truly new that would let them keep evolving as a band. The old cats were slowly running out of steam, but they still had enough energy left to put out two more solid studio albums over the next two years, after which the band bid the music scene farewell for a good while.
Lineup
Gary Brooker – vocals, piano
Chris Copping – organ
Mick Grabham – guitar
Alan Cartwright – bass guitar
Barrie James Wilson – drums
Keith Reid – lyrics
GUEST MUSICIAN:
B.J. Cole – pedal steel guitar
Production
Chris Thomas
Track list
1. Nothing But the Truth (3:13)
2. Beyond the Pale (3:03)
3. As Strong as Samson (5:05)
4. The Idol (6:38)
5. The Thin End of the Wedge (3:44)
6. Monsieur R. Monde (3:40)
7. Fresh Fruit (3:05)
8. Butterfly Boys (4:25)
9. New Lamps for Old (4:07)
