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Some great songs but not all of Procol's best

Joan May | CA USA | 05/29/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm never completely satisfied with the choices in "best of" collections. I would have included the great Cerdes (Outside the Gates of) off the first album -- one of guitarist Robin Trower's finest hours, and more of Matthew Fisher's compositions, especially those he sang -- Pilgrim's Progress, Wreck of the Hesperus, (from A Salty Dog) and In the Autumn of My Madness (from Shine On Brightly)... and different songs from the HOME album - e.g Whaling Stories, Nothing I Didn't Know, the latter a tour de force for master drummer B.J. Wilson. Nevertheless, there are some great songs in this collection of course, and those buying it should enjoy it. I don't agree with your critic's assessments of the various songs' relative merits -- my favorite song of all time is A Whiter Shade of Pale, for example, not primarily for the words but rather for Fisher's glorious uncredited composition - the song's enchanting organ melody. But I respect others' differences of opinions as far as musical taste is concerned. I do feel compelled to correct factual errors in reviews, however: Mick Grabham -- a fantastic guitarist -- did NOT play on Whisky Train or The Devil Came From Kansas -- that was Robin Trower."