Here is the first of the first-round matchups in Friday13th's 2021 Prog Rock Tournment. As you can see, my rec is up first.
Procol Harum - Live With the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
"This was Procol's best selling album ever. The pluses include live performances of some of Procol's proggiest material ever, including their 19-minute opus classic 'In Held 'Twas in I', and the acknowledged best version of their song "Conquistador" (much better than the studio version on their first album). The LP is also historic as being one of the earliest collaborations between a symphony orchestra and a rock band. The only real minus in that their great guitarist Robin Trower was no longer with them, and organist Matthew Fisher had also long since left the band. But Dave Ball and Chris Copping do a fine job in their place, and Procol lyricist Keith Reid makes an appearance on 'In Held 'Twas in I' during the spoken interlude that begins, 'Held close by that which some despise'. Overall, this was one of the classic live albums of the 1970s, and a highlight in the career of one of my favorite bands." - Divaman
Youtube playlist [album only first 5 tracks]: https://tinyurl.com/vdw69bex
vs.
Tantra - Misterios e Maravilhas
"It definitely shows the best symphonic prog in Portugal. The album is full of long instrumental passages, loaded with feeling and elegance, beautiful melodies and a strong emotional charge, with ripped solos from keyboards and electric guitars, and percussion with multi-rhythmic dynamics. Almost all instrumental, only two tracks have lyrics: À Beira do Fim and Partir Sempre, curiously the first and the last one, respectively." - Zig
Youtube: https://youtu.be/fmFMLZXPPiQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0nbsfmdRTPkqR7v5Y35Mk3 (with Bonus tracks)
Voting concludes next Monday. I've given them each one listen so far, although obviously I'm intimately familiar with the Procol Harum album.
I'll let you know who I voted for (although let's be honest - it would take a lot to get me to vote against my own rec, especially since it's an album I already love), and who wins.
