PROCOL HARUM [AKA: A WHITER SHADE OF PALE]

In 1967 a spiritual father PROG was born with just a title... but what a title!! 1.Conquistador an avant-garde sound I weigh my words, realize at the time, wonderful with this orchestration coming from the classic and a Hammond that of Matthew 2. She Wandered Through the Garden Fence flirts well with the Anglican melodies of the BEATLES, that's a fact; afterwards we are facing a proto title like GENESIS did with its first opus 3. Something Following Me on the same dynamic with a piano and a tune reminding me of what MANFRED MANN will do, with another organ; here to note the well done Robin solo 4. Mabel for the interlude which also smells of the bucolic and rural atmosphere of the BEATLES titles, WINGS, later QUEEN, saloon atmosphere, without prog 5. Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of) with the organ in the forefront and a bluesy tune with another beautiful lively solo on the guitar; 5 mins longest title 6. A Christmas Camel piano begins, the fashion of the 60s, the search for air above all; good used, vintage yes and fortunately but the instruments suggest that it would not take much to find a hit 7. Kaleidoscope more pop than anything else, a little organ break at the end but quickly done 8. Salad Days (Are Here Again) with another title driven by the piano and assisted by Matthew 9. Good Captain Clack for the second interlude with a dynamic ballad that could be found in a saloon; the fairground organ brings a little progressive sensuality 10. Repent Walpurgis for the last title and progressive reminiscences at the... PROCOL HARUM with this organ which is finally used in the place it should have had before; a warm, tormented slow with Robin who also lets loose and the most accomplished piece for the UK version; the variation with the famous 'Bach prelude' in the middle is worth noting; OK, I'm going to see what else there is on the US version. 11. A Whiter Shade Of Pale ... just a title instead of the 1st title... well I couldn't ignore it and not talk about it; one of the most beautiful slow songs of all time, quite simply; What else can I say except that this Hammond was surely one of the most beautiful inventions and revolutionized a new musical genre... progressive rock?