Procol Harum's contribution to progressive rock

Deep Purple is really laughable sounding like a fight between the Rock group and the orchestra...that cracks me up!! I believe that to be true and the album felt awkward for that reason. Ian Gillian had a dynamic voice back then and it's easy to comprehendthat he possessed a skilled and diverse voice on the Jesus Christ Super Star album. I'm not a fan of that album, but it's impressive that the guy could sing musicals because it takes hours of Devotion and he nailed that part. You might think that DP Concerto would work out because of his talent ..but no.


The unpredictability of life never ceases to amaze me. Out of all the Deep Purple members I felt that Roger Glover wrote the most Progressive Rock album.
It was titled Elements and the way in which he approached that project was in fact very serious and outstandingly perfect. The first time I heard the album it was played over a beautiful P.A. system by a sound tech friend and I sat through that album trying to convince myself that it was Roger Glover. The way Simon Phillips strikes the drum head at the intro is like thunder and then the orchestra comes in and then the vocals. Then the next track was energetic and relentless in power with coming across as such I was reminded of Passport Cross Collateral or Infinity Machine. The repeated theme is a bit reminiscent of Pink Floyd, but the album throughout delivers other elements of Prog which truly rates alongside Canterbury and Symphonic...Jazz Rock.


When listening to "Waiting" played by Phil Lee from the Gilgamesh album Another Fine Tune I can hear those chord voicings on Glover's Elements. Phil Lee plays the piece on a Classical nylon string guitar and it is melodic to the dissonance just as Elements would be. It feels odd to me that Roger Glover was the only member of Deep Purple to release an album like this. Some sections of the album such as short soundscapes that bridge the pieces remind me of David Bedford style of composition on The Odyssey and Instructions For Angels. Apparently he was quite capable of writing Progressive Rock.

As for Brooker, he's the only one that wrote or rearranged songs using a symphonic orchezstra usefully ... Agreed - Deep Purple's orchestral album (for instance) sounds more like a fight between the rock group and the orchestra, with the rock group winning on points.

Syzygy wrote: my original plan when I proposed Harum's inclusion was for Proto-prog along the Moody Blues and The Nice. I believe both of them spent a couple of months in that category before being moved elsewhere. I agree that Procol Harum belong in proto prog with The Nice and the Moodies, but for me Procol Harum is the most important of the three. The Nice brought the classical and jazz influences to rock music, but essentially played arrangements for organ, bass and drums (and did so quite brilliantly) but didn't really incorporate the influences into memorable original songs. The Moody Blues were very adventurous sonically and their albums were thematically coherent, but this was essentially window dressing for otherwise (mostly) quite straightforward songs. Procol Harum, in the Run of albums leading up to Edmonton, integrated classical flourishes into very well written songs with Keith Reid's scholarly lyrics adding another dimension. And yes, Procol Harum had their share of straightforward rockers in their repertoire, and the Moodies and the Nice certainly had their moments, but for me Procol had the most fully realised vision.

Hi,

Sean Trane wrote: kenethlevine wrote: Interesting Hugues, when I look at your lust I realize for the most part that I prefer the "non-prog" Procol songs.  Of that list I do like the 2 big hits and Salty Dog, and I think "Simple Sister" and "Repent Walpurgis" are ok, but never got into the other "epics". What about "Power Failure", "Pilgrim's Progress" and "Nothing I didn't Know", plus some of the proggy work on "Grand Hotel", such as "Fires which Burned Brightly"? Yeah, you're right. I didn't include these three because I ran out of place in my CDr compilation. you should get a load of Skip Softly (Moonbeans), though.

Interesting Hugues, when I look at your lust I realize for the most part that I prefer the "non-prog" Procol songs.  Of that list I do like the 2 big hits and Salty Dog, and I think "Simple Sister" and "Repent Walpurgis" are ok, but never got into the other "epics".

Edited by kenethlevine - December 26 2021 at 11:01

In Concert with the Edmonton Orchestra broadened what was to be expected from a live record in a glorious way.

Just saw this thread. I very much agree on all said here, and in my own PH reviews I have expressed a pity for their low visibility in ProgArchives. One of the most influential bands in the proto prog era of the 60's.

My fave album is Grand Hotel, but the jewels are scattered on several albums that also tend to contain less interesting (and certainly less progressive) stuff, IMHO.