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1974 studio album by Procol Harum
Exotic Birds and Fruit
is the seventh studio
album
by British
progressive rock
band
Procol Harum
.
[3]
It was released in 1974.
[4]
The cover artwork for the album is by
Jakob Bogdani
, a noted Hungarian artist whose paintings centered on exotic birds and fruit.
In Argentina, the album was titled
Pajaros Y Frutas Exoticas
(literally translated as "Birds and Exotic Fruit").
Recording
[
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]
Collaborating again with producer
Chris Thomas
, Procol Harum recorded the album at
George Martin
's Air London Studios in London. According to singer/songwriter/piano player and bandleader Gary Brooker, the album was recorded in reaction to the two preceding albums which used extensive orchestration. Brooker stated, "We made the live album with an orchestra. We'd then taken the orchestra into the studio for 'Grand Hotel'...we'd had enough of orchestras".
[5]
The album features the song "Butterfly Boys", written about the founders of the band's record label at the time,
Chrysalis
. The band were unhappy with the terms of their contract and expressed that frustration in song.
Reception
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]
Exotic Birds and Fruit
met with a good critical reception
[6]
but only rose to No. 86 on the
Billboard
album charts
.
[7]
In Denmark, it peaked at #9 upon release, and in early 1975 it re-entered the Top 20 peaking at #19.
[8]
The album was preceded by the single release of the opening track, "Nothing but the Truth", backed with the single-only
B-side
track "Drunk Again".
2009 Salvo reissue
[
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]
In 2009 Salvo reissued Procol Harum's entire discography on CD remastered by Nick Robbins. The reissue for
Exotic Birds and Fruit
included two bonus tracks selected by Brooker and Keith Reid. "Drunk Again", the B-side to the single "Nothing but the Truth", appeared on CD along with an alternate
mix
of "As Strong as Samson".
Track listing
[
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]
All music by
Gary Brooker
, all lyrics by
Keith Reid
.
Side one
Title
|
---|
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
|
---|
Side two
Title
|
---|
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
|
---|
Bonus tracks on 2000 and 2009 reissue:
Title
|
---|
10.
| "Drunk Again" (B-side)
| 4:31
|
---|
11.
| "As Strong as Samson" (
single version
)
| 3:46
|
---|
Charts
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Personnel
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]
- Procol Harum
Production
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]
Release history
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]
References
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]
External links
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]
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Studio albums
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Live albums
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As Liquorice John Death
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Songs
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Related articles
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