PROCOL HARUM
Crossover Prog • United Kingdom
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Formed 1967 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK - Disbanded in 1977 - Reformed in 1991 and still active as of 2017
PROCOL HARUM came out of the ashes from a band called the PARAMOUNTS that had its roots back in 59 (!!) and had split in early 66. Gary Brooker meet lyricist Keith Reid and began writing songs and by 1967, it became clear that they would need the help from their old colleagues from PARAMOUNTS days to form their new band to be called PROCOL HARUM. They developed a really new sound with two KB (piano for Brooker and Hammond organ for Fisher) and a guitarist extraordinaire called Robin Trower who was greatly influenced by JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE. They quickly became one of the precursor of progressive rock (along the MOODY BLUES and The NICE) and mixed in some classical influences (BACH in "Whiter Shade of Pale") and sold millions of singles but also albums.
They became the first band to build a multi-movement suite that lasted a whole side and this was in early 68 in their second album called "Shine on Brightly" and became a real influence for all progressive groups to come. By their fourth album "Home", the sound had evolved to an almost hard-rock but by the following one, the guitarist Robin Trower left for a long and successful solo career, leaving Brooker alone at the driving wheel. From their "Grand Hotel" album, the sound will be tamer but still explosive but all of the succeeding album would follow suit, the band still enjoyed many hit singles. Until they folded in 77, victim of the punk wave. They sporadically reform around the Brooker-Reid duo and Fisher to record a new album and small tour, the most recent being in 2003.
PROCOL HARUM is highly recommended for all the progheads who are interested in the birth of prog and its roots as well as its inventive use of an symphonic orchestra often used a real instrument in their music.
: : : Hugues Chantraine, BELGIUM : : :
PROCOL HARUM Videos (YouTube and more)
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PROCOL HARUM discography
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PROCOL HARUM top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
3.88 | 381 ratings
Procol Harum [Aka: A Whiter Shade of Pale] 1967 |
4.06 | 383 ratings
Shine On Brightly 1968 |
3.59 | 291 ratings
A Salty Dog 1969 |
3.57 | 193 ratings
Home 1970 |
3.35 | 176 ratings
Broken Barricades 1971 |
3.90 | 264 ratings
Grand Hotel 1973 |
3.43 | 154 ratings
Exotic Birds And Fruit 1974 |
2.85 | 120 ratings
Procol's Ninth 1975 |
3.03 | 135 ratings
Something Magic 1977 |
2.43 | 85 ratings
Prodigal Stranger 1991 |
2.00 | 2 ratings
Liquorice John Death: Ain't Nothin' to Get Excited About 1998 |
3.05 | 96 ratings
The Well's On Fire 2003 |
3.32 | 60 ratings
Novum 2017 |
PROCOL HARUM Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
4.09 | 146 ratings
Live In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra 1972 |
4.07 | 21 ratings
BBC Live in Concert 2000 |
3.82 | 11 ratings
One More Time 2003 |
4.07 | 33 ratings
In Concert With The Danish National Concert Orchestra And Choir 2009 |
PROCOL HARUM Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
3.17 | 16 ratings
Live (DVD) 2002 |
4.13 | 21 ratings
Live at The Union Chapel 2004 |
4.71 | 24 ratings
In Concert With The Danish National Concert Orchestra And Choir 2009 |
PROCOL HARUM Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
PROCOL HARUM Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
4.54 | 24 ratings
A Whiter Shade Of Pale 1967 |
4.00 | 1 ratings
In the Wee Small Hours of Sixpence 1968 |
3.57 | 7 ratings
Quite Rightly So 1968 |
4.00 | 8 ratings
Homburg 1968 |
4.10 | 10 ratings
A Salty Dog 1969 |
4.00 | 1 ratings
The Dead Man's Dream 1970 |
4.00 | 1 ratings
Poor Mohammed / Broken Barricades 1971 |
4.04 | 9 ratings
Conquistador (live) 1972 |
3.50 | 4 ratings
Robert's Box 1973 |
4.00 | 1 ratings
Grand Hotel / A Rum Tale 1973 |
3.40 | 5 ratings
Souvenir Of London 1973 |
4.00 | 1 ratings
Beyond the Pale / Fresh Fruit 1974 |
3.67 | 6 ratings
Nothing But The Truth 1974 |
4.14 | 7 ratings
Pandora's Box 1975 |
3.67 | 3 ratings
Something Magic 1977 |
3.00 | 1 ratings
The Truth Won't Fade Away 1991 |
3.00 | 2 ratings
(You Can't) Turn Back the Page 1991 |
3.50 | 2 ratings
A Whiter Shade Of Pale - 40th Anniversary Edition 2007 |
3.21 | 5 ratings
Missing Persons (Alive Forever) 2021 |
PROCOL HARUM Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by Prog Network
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by alainPP
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by alainPP
1.A Whiter Shade Of Pale first single from Procol Harum and a unique sound, a unique Hammond organ; the instrument of choice, the one that rocked my tender years, even when I was still in my mother's womb... yes we have all been there; in short a title that I put at the Pygmalion of the musical adventure, on the same level as when a man loves a woman, in short a languorous organ which fills the ambient air by sucking in all the other instruments to amplify its own; so yes some will say that it was also one of the best titles to be able to look for the boy to flirt with; yes this moment when we could stay close to each other without there being a 'me too' which would separate the two lovebirds, this moment when the future couple could imagine chatting next to each other other, touch yourself without having the fear of a complaint in the ass....! In short, let's come back to this title OMNI, to Gary and his stratospheric voice, to Barrie James who typed 'slower than him you can't', to David who took the step, the one with whom you had to dance (a word which has lost its meaning nowadays, when the woman could feel certain body parts of the man and vice versa!), to David who launches a solo but I'm not so sure, to Matthew who was one of the first to showing that prog rock could use an instrument other than the guitar to melt.
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by altered_beast
While the first thing that occurs to me when I think about this album is the overly silly and catchy Skip Softly (My Moonbeams)" comes to mind. Also the keyboard into of Quite Rightly So also comes to mind. Overall this album is an early Prog powerhouse. Robin Trower a Blues guitarist playing in a very Classical based band is something that sticks out like a sore thumb and makes Procol Harum a memorable and interesting band.
Side B a number of tune building an epic track making this album a very important part of Prog history. The title track also being very memorable and having Classical elements that improve what was heard on the debut album. The year this album was released and what it was pulling off always made it impossible not to view as what I see as the most epic album by Procol Harum. I don't feel like they ever came even close to topping this in the studio at least. Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic live album that could be called essential along with this. 2 of recordings nobody should overlook in their lifetime.
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by Progmin23
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by WJA-K
In Held 'Twas In I is brilliant. It's every inch a prog classic. It's very obvious to me that acts like Genesis and Aphrodite's Child followed in their footsteps. On top of that, it is engaging, fun and brilliantly played. a solid 10 out of 10, certainly considering the time it was released. A time of experimentation indeed, but none had followed this path. 10/10
The rest of the album is more straightforward Procol Harum Is I have come to know them (through the classic tracks Whiter and Homburg).
Quite Rightly So is a great tune and should have been a hit 9/10
Shine on Brightly is another strong track. I especially like the squeaking guitar. 8/10
Skip Softly start rather uninteresting, but halfway through it totally changes and turns into an epic 8/10
Wish Me Well is a straight-up blues track. nothing wrong with it and confidently played and sang 7.5/10
Rambling On is very much what I know and love of Procol Harum. It has a resemblance with Homburg and Wither. 8/10
Magdalena starts the second side and introduces the epic. Another one that is close to their staple sound. 7.5/10
This album is a piece of the puzzle of prog. And on top of that, it is great. I thought about giving it five stars. The second side deserves it. But the first is merely very good. So 4 stars it is.
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by
A Crimson Mellotron
Prog Reviewer
'Shine On Brightly' features Gary Brooker on vocals and piano, Robin Trower on guitar and vocals, Matthew Fisher on piano, organ and vocals, Dave Knights on bass guitar, B. J. Wilson on drums, and finally, Keith Reid's lyrics. Side one is occupied by a couple of nice, more radio-friendly psych-pop tracks, definitely good material, as the band display fine songwriting skills as well as lovely instrumentation. Then side two opens with another 3-minute song in the same vein as the ones found on side one (maybe a tad bit more obscure, but still good), just to let the big winner of the album to unfold before the ears of the listeners - 'In Held 'Twas In I', or the first really big progressive rock epic. The band were quite ambitious for assembling this great composition, linking together all the different parts in a gorgeous manner, pretty much in the spirit of what would become a recognizable trait of many long songs representing the 70s art rock revolution in the face of bands like Yes, Jethro Tull, ELP, Genesis, Crimson, Floyd and many more. The song also features various influences, another testimony for its prog credentials, stepping firmly into symphonic rock, classical, baroque pop, and eventually a bit of psychedelia, alongside the narrative of the first part 'Glimpses of Nirvana'.
All in all, 'Shine On Brightly' is from one side the proof that Procol Harum was not just some one-hit wonder band, also acknowledging the fact that they went on to release good albums after this one, and from another, it is a great collection of early, more accessible art rock songs, full of energy, picturing an interesting episode in the development of one of rock music's most enigmatic and pompous subgenres.
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by SteveG
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by
DangHeck
Prog Reviewer
This is my first time actually hearing its B-side, "Lime Street Blues", rootsy and, of course, bluesy. Once again, evidence in their early discography that this is a post-Dylan, post-The Band world, and they're just livin' in it. Very alright with it. It is an interesting juxtaposition to "Whiter Shade", but as a single of course it works great. Rootsy in its organ and bluesy in its piano and guitar lead. The drums are certainly something you could have found in many a Beat track of the '60s. Being merely a blues-driven R'n'B number does, though, bring this otherwise essential single down a peg. I'm sure you can guess with a mean average what I gave each side.
Procol Harum Crossover Prog
Review by
DangHeck
Prog Reviewer
Our album starts with "Conquistador", a track that does not translate as simply Psychedelic Rock nor as simple, radio-ready Rock music (I suppose, too, this concept in general was still relatively new)--though it is relatively poppy--significant in 1967. Well known, Procol Harum was a key player in what we now know to be (early) Progressive Rock. Perhaps, in the popular Psychedelic vein, a contemporary could be found in The Doors, but unlike them they offer more Pop and have more Soul. To me, therefore, innately British (more on that sentiment below).
"She Wandered Through the Garden Fence" is a sure favorite of mine, I feel a must-hear from early Prog. Poppy, too, this has a memorable hook, bright organ (neo-classically poised, I must add) and straight- ahead rhythm, though I quite like the very-of-the-time drumming. Wonderfully placed next is "Something Following Me", a soulful number, but very straight, even in comparison to the former. With Beat, R'n'B and 'Northern Soul', as it were, the UK has had a longstanding love and appreciation for the genre (Soul, that is).
Very other, we have the sort of honky-tonk "Mabel". It's cute haha. Interestingly enough, though at first glance I'd say it doesn't have a lot to offer, it does have some notable textural choices. Gratefully, we move onto the very cool groove of "Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of)", a backwards name if there ever was one. This is organ-driven and features some nice, bluesy lead guitar throughout. Honestly, this latter element is one I often forget they have going for them. And they really do: great soloing.
Starting the second side with a memorable piano riff and simmering organ, "A Christmas Camel" (har-har) is another with sure Proto-Prog significance to my ears. This is followed by the upbeat "Kaleidoscope" (Boy, the Freaks really loved those things, didn't they?), with fuzzy guitar, Rock 'n' Roll piano and Ringo drag, much to my delight. Good track. Much more low and slow is "Salad Days (Are Here Again)"--God, I sure do know a lot of songs and albums entitled "Salad Days"--this track is very R'n'B and yet also reminds me of the Roots Rock of mid-60s Bob Dylan (likely, really). The organ is nice, but ultimately the song is a low-light.
Next is "Good Captain Clack", a sort of Music Hall quickie-but-a-goodie. Fun track with group vocals and what sounds like a Wurlitzer. The album then ends perhaps with the most progressive track of them all, "Repent Walpurgis", with cool, rolling drums, open organ and a strong build of guitar soloing to the middle section, a near-solo piano, which it itself builds with the rhythm section and a triumphant and yet wary classical-inspired theme.
True Rate: 3.5/5.0