Procol Harum - Something Magic (1977/2012) [Complete CD] Japan + 3 Bonus Tracks

Something Magic is the ninth studio album by Procol Harum, and was released in 1977.

Electing to work with producers Ron and Howie Albert when Leiber and Stoller (who had produced the band's preceding album) were not available, Procol Harum flew into Miami with more than enough material for their album. However, the Alberts rejected more than five of these tracks, leaving only four from the material the group had intended to use. Vocalist/composer/piano player Gary Brooker then offered up the epic "The Worm and The Tree", a piece by lyricist Keith Reid that Brooker had been toying with on and off for several years. Under mounting pressure to complete the musical composition and orchestral arrangements for the 19-minute epic (which according to Reid was about "how the press tried to break up the band") Brooker turned to local Miami arranger Mike Lewis to complete the orchestral arrangements for the title track "Something Magic", and band member Chris Copping to complete the woodwind arrangement for "Skating on Thin Ice".

With work completed on "The Worm and The Tree", Brooker previewed it for co-producers Ron and Howie Albert who approved of the piece (a surprise, given that it had a lot in common with the epic orchestral/progressive rock piece "In Held Twas In I" from Shine on Brightly). Guitarist Mick Grabham offered up his only composition, set to Reid's "The Mark of the Claw", to help fill out the album (on the 2009 Salvo reissue, Grabham is incorrectly credited with writing the single "Wizard Man" with Reid). The Alberts insisted that the band's steady drummer B.J. Wilson use a click track for the album, an unusual demand given his work on the band's previous releases. After this album was released, Copping left the band. Dee Murray (Elton John's bassist) replaced him for the North American tour promoting this album.

Tracklist:
01 - Something Magic 0:00
02 - Skating On Thin Ice 3:36
03 - Wizard Man 8:26
04 - The Mark Of The Claw
05 - Strangers In Space
The Worm & The Tree
06 - Part One: Introduction, Menace, Occupation 21:55
07 - Part Two: Enervation, Expectancy, Battle
08 - Part Three: Regeneration, Epilogue

Bonus Tracks:
09 - Backgammon (Single B-Side) 38:57
10 - You'd Better Wait (Live) 42:24
11 - This Old Dog (Live) 47:11

Procol Harum
Pete Solley – organ and synthesisers
Chris Copping – bass guitar
B. J. Wilson – drums
Mick Grabham – guitar
Gary Brooker – piano and vocals
Keith Reid – lyrics