Grand Hotel | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 1973 | |||
Studio | AIR (London, UK)[1] | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, symphonic rock | |||
Length | 41:01 | |||
Label | Chrysalis, Esoteric Recordings (2021 remaster), Repertoire (2000 German reissue) | |||
Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
Procol Harum chronology | ||||
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Grand Hotel is the sixth studio album by Procol Harum. Released in 1973, it signalled a change of direction for the band. Guitarist Dave Ball, who had joined the band for their live album the previous year, left shortly after the photo shoot for the proposed album's cover, to be replaced by Mick Grabham. Grabham's head was superimposed on the front and back cover of the album on Ball's body. Although the band had gone through significant personnel changes in previous years, the band would enter its most stable phase with this lineup.
The album reached No. 21 on the Billboard album charts. It peaked at #4 in Denmark,[2] where the group was always well received.
Although Grand Hotel appears on the surface to be a concept album, the "concept", according to lyricist Keith Reid, doesn't extend beyond the title tune.[3]
The single "A Souvenir of London" was banned by the BBC for the reference to venereal disease in its lyrics. Reid claimed that the song was really inspired (regardless of how it turned out and was interpreted) by a visit to a souvenir shop near George Martin's AIR Studios where the album was recorded. "Almost every album has had at least one comic song...and this one was a bit tongue in cheek" Reid stated as part of an interview for the 2009 CD reissue.[4]