Any Procol Harum lovers?
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Topic: Any Procol Harum lovers?
Posted By: Moogtron III
Subject: Any Procol Harum lovers?
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 05:23
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Procol Harum. Not an unknown band, mind you, but always a but underrated in progland. The band name was derived from a dog's name if I'm not mistaken, and that dog's name meant "Far away from these" < --- that's procul harum in Latin, if my Latin is still okay There have been a few threads about whether they were progressive or not. Well, they're in PA now, so now they're OFFICIALLY labeled as progressive So, having said, that leads us to a more interesting question: do you like or even love Procol Harum? I do: their first 7 albums are very good, I think. I didn't check out later albums yet. Their classic sound was developed in: Procol Harum ('67) Shine On Brightly ('68) A Salty Dog ('69) They became more radically experimental in: Home ('70) Broken Barricades ('71) They did a live album with an orchestra: Live In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra ('72) They returned to their classic sound in: Grand Hotel ('73) The last one, although retrogressive, is my favourite at this moment, although I like all of the albums I mentioned above. Their 8th album, Exotic Birds And Fruits, is supposed to be good too. Something I have on my mind: I always felt that Genesis' Supper's Ready was very strongly influenced by In Held Twas In I, their magnificent epic from the album Shine On Brightly. In general, because of the almost religious matter that was covered in both songs, a bit tongue in cheek but still serious, and more specific: Willow Farm as a comedy track within the more serious epic Supper's Ready, which reminds me very much of Twas Teatime At The Circus in In Held Twas In I. What are your thoughts / feelings about that?
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Replies:
Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 06:57
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I like their early work quite lots! The band was quite succesful in Finland at the 60's, and you can find their albums easily from any major CD store around here. My favourite albums from them are "Home" and the orch.live from 1972.
I have few times seen their name written in this way. This would explain this "spelling error".
Sounds logical. |
Moogtron III wrote:Posted By: Gluonio
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 07:06
 I really love them!Salty dog is one of my favorite songs ever!And 'In Held Twas in I' is one of the greatest prog epics ever!!And what about "Repent Walpurgis"!!!!I always put this one in my prog complilations!IMHO PROCOL HARUM are superb!!!!------------- ...But my dreams are for dreaming and best left that way-and my zero to your power of ten equals nothing at all... |
Posted By: Alucard
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 10:28
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For me they were just the band that played ' A whitershade...' ,until I got nearly their entire backing catalogue last year and they have become one of my favourite bands especially the outfit with Mathew Fisher. A great mixture of Soul, Classic and then some... and one of the best Organ sounds.My favourite record is 'Shine on brighly'. ------------- Tadpoles keep screaming in my ear "Hey there! Rotter's Club! Explain the meaning of this song and share it" |
Posted By: beterdedthnred4
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 11:43
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I have their first 4 albums and Live in Edmondton (spelling?) and I can't get enough. Quite Rightly So is one of the most perfect songs ever written |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: July 15 2005 at 13:27
| Yes, I think Procol Harum were one of the first progressive bands, along with The Nice, and made some incredibly good and consistent albums- their first 8 albums are all brilliant, and 'A Salty Dog' and 'Grand Hotel' are two of my favourite prog songs ever, being very elegant and sophisticated. |
Posted By: gr8dane
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 08:01
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I never owned any of their early stuff. I got 'Exotic birds and fruit',which is not very experimental,but with tight songwriting though.
------------- Shake & bake. |
Posted By: Don_Frog
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 11:35
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I have a couple of their albums. They're not my favorite band,
but I play them from time to time. They did some good stuff. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 19:31
| Never liked Salty Dog, always preferred mine with onions and chillies. Seriously a fine band who are often underrated, usually i'm fighting against bands being named prog but these guys are A1. Definitely prog. |
Posted By: plodder
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 19:33
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Saw them live many years ago. Worst. Show. Ever. No heart or emotion. Simply awful. Sorry. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/plodder/?chartstyle=basicrt10"> 
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Posted By: Paulieg
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 19:37
| Yes I like Prool Harum. I am even more of a Robin Trower fan. I love his first five albums, ecspecially "Bridge of Sighs. What a guitar player. |
Posted By: Guillermo
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 21:47
Well, I have some of their albums, and they are good. Yes, I agree. "Supper`s Ready" has influences from "In Held Twas in I". I only have listend to the live version of this song in their "Live with the Edmonton..." album. If you are interested in a very good website dedicated to Procol Harum: http://www.procolharum.com/ - http://www.procolharum.com/ There is the story of their name and the meaning of their name in Latin, among a lot of things. ------------- Avatar: Photo of Solar Eclipse, Mexico City, July 1991. A great experience to see. Maybe once in a lifetime. |
Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 22:18
never heard that band! ------------- [HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!> |
Posted By: ldlanberg
Date Posted: July 16 2005 at 22:50
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I like just everything I've heard from Procol Harum. I'd always thought about purchasing some of their Lps - just never have. They were a serious art rock group who never lost their perspective; never fell off-the-edge by tinkering with extended nonsense . Good, concise drama with a backbone.
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 17 2005 at 10:19
Thanks! |
That's a great site, and also interesting what's been told about their name. Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 23:23
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I have all the albums except Broken Barricades ... if you haven't heard Exotic Birds And Fruit, you're in for treat Moogtron, it contains one of my favourites PH tracks ever in As Strong As Samson, and also has a number of other interesting pieces like Thin Edge Of The Wedge. I consider to be the strongest of the post-Trower albums ... Procol's Ninth also has some great songs ... Pandora's Box and Fool's Gold come to mind ... and although Something Magic is definitely a bit flat compared to the other PH album it also has its moments ... the title track for one ... I don't know whether or not the two reunion albums are worth getting ... Prodigal Stranger (in the early 90s and The Well's On Fire (2003) are more about sentimentality than they are about great progressive music ... ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 23:27
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great band In Held Twas I (1968) and Whiter Shade of Pale (1967) are monuments of the genre as much as anything else. ------------- 
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 06:21
Thanks, that sounds really good! |
Posted By: MANTICORE
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 15:45
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-------------  |
Posted By: Guillermo
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 00:57
Yes. It is a great site, and it is not their official website, it is a Fan Website! I have a book called "Pete Frame:The Complete Rock Family Trees". he says that Procol Harum came to Mexico to play some concerts in 1975 because the then President of my country asked them to come here! My brothers and some cousins went to one of their concerts here in 1975. I was 10 years old, and I didn`t go because at that time Rock concerts were not safe as there were riots! The now defunct Goverment`s TV channel broadcasted songs from the concerts in two parts (two one hour programmes) also in 1975. My brothers said that the President`s sons liked Procol Harum! (By the way, this ex-President was recently under investigation for some crimes done during his goverment period; of course, like one ex-President of one South American country, he was almost "absolved" ------------- Avatar: Photo of Solar Eclipse, Mexico City, July 1991. A great experience to see. Maybe once in a lifetime. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 02:59
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I had to fight the big fight to get Procol Harum included. There was major reticence and even a thread claiming them not being prog, comparing them with Bruce Springsteen, Creedence CR and joe Cocker . MMMMMMMmmmmmhhhh.....
The first album has Repent Walpurgis and Gates Of Cerdes outside of Whiter Shade Of Pale (not on the original vinyl. though). Shine On Brightly: Moogtron, I never thought somebody would bring that up! Been on my mind for years , but never dared to say it to Genesis fans, fearing for my life if I did. A Salty Dog and Home have fine tracks but the Hammond Organ is clearly taking a step back and the sound is more aggressive. Broken Barricade is IMHO , Brooker trying to make Trower happy as that is almost only riffy guitar tracks, not even good ones , though as Brooker had to compose for guitar on a piano! Trower was still not happy and took off for the superb solo carreer we know. Edmonton was a superb recap and my fave with the first two. Grand Hotel , Exotic Birds and Ninth are all correct albums but only about a third of the tracks I really enjoy. Magic was IMHO everything but and was even ridiculous especially the suite. Wrong Timing for such an epic. Prodigal Son , I have not heard but Well's On Fire is correct on Grand Hotel level.
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
This guy knew what he was talking about!
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 03:22
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For you whose eyes are open wide I totally agree ... ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 03:37
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The DVD Live at Union Chapel is excellent doing all their classic bar Whaling Stories and ITHII suite. Brooker and Fischer are in excellent shape and Geoff Whitehorn plays very well (but does not fill Robin's shoes). Very much a treat! ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Drachen Theaker
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 03:58
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I like their early stuff a lot - haven't heard any of the
later albums. Pilgrim's Progress (off Salty Dog) is one of my favourite tracks of all time. That fade out with the organ/piano riff, ethereal vocals and gorgeous drumming - pure musical heaven! ------------- "It's 1973, almost dinnertime and I'm 'aving 'oops!" - Gene Hunt |
Posted By: M. B. Zapelini
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 07:34
| Procol Harum could be called as a proto-prog band, helping to set things straight in 1967. But most of their work is not progressive. So what? Genesis lasted 27 years, and only seven of it are progressive (1970-1977). Prog rock or not, Procol Harum was at their peak an excellent band which recorded some of the most beautiful songs in all rock'n'roll scene: "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "Repent Walpurgis", "A Salty Dog", "Pilgrim's Progress", "Broken Barricades", "Grand Hotel", "Whaling Stories", "Broken Barricades", "As Strong As Samson", et cetera. |
Posted By: Bilek
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 09:03
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This is one of the most controversial bands for me (one that creates big controversy, within my musical taste!): It is simply a proto-prog band, much influenced by and depending on blues (the genre I hate the most, along with simple pop and punk...), which writes shorter, mainstream, simple, accesible songs in opposition to the side length intricate epics and electronic experimentals of my favorite bands Yes, King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, Amon Düül II, Eloy, Van Der Graaf Generator etc.... but... this is a big but, which means I simply love this band!!! I downloaded each one of their albums I could find, with the exception of "Home" and "Broken Barricades", which, from Moogtron III's explanation, I understand to be the most experimental albums! I better be quick to get them somehow, too! Not to mention the orchestra supported live album I want to mention one album, which actually closes the classical PH period, but mostly overlooked and underrated by many (including those in this thread so far): Procol's Ninth. The songs might mot be as superb as you expect (with the previous Procol albums in mind), but I believe it is even better than Grand Hotel and Exotic Birds. (I think many are overwhelmed by the fact that the name is simply an allusion to Beethoven's Ninth... Don't be fooled, many albums with great sounding original names fail to please musically Unfortunately the band failed to deliver such classic works after their reunion in the '90's, and even 2003's The Well's on Fire is a disaster. Such a bad conclusion for a classic band like this! ------------- Listen to Turkish psych/prog; you won't regret: Baris Manco,Erkin Koray,Cem Karaca,Mogollar,3 Hürel,Selda,Edip Akbayram,Fikret Kizilok,Ersen (and Dadaslar) (but stick with the '70's, and 'early 80's!) |
. I have the rest "classic" albums, plus 1991's and 2003's reunion efforts, and a best of (A&M edition) in mp3 format.
)Posted By: Tonny Larz
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 11:06
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I really like the first 3-4 albums by Procol.....and yes ,Sean...it truly is prog...so thanks for gettin´them in here !!! ive heard most of the later albums,but they do not seem to have the same impact on me as the aformentioned. However the brilliant Robin trower went on to do even ...dare i say it ..greater stuff on his solo albums....than that of the early Procol albums. I guess you could call it blues prog....especially on his: "Bridge of sighs" / " For earth below" / "Long misty days". Also...as mentioned...Procol harum "Live" ( In Copenhagen) and " Union chappel" are great live performances...although Geoff whitehorn...doesnt reach the Trower level at any point !!! ------------- "Everybody wants to go to heaven,but nobody want to die" quote unknown. |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 11:24
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I think that PROCOL HARUM's music is mostly art-rock with some occasional traces of symphonic prog - they played an important role in the seminal years of prog rock, but they didn't go much further exploring the whole potential of prog (as opposed to Emerson in the last Nice albums and ELP, or KC, for example), so I guess that they remained proto-prog all through the years, even when it became fashionable and later, when it started its mid-70s decay. That being said, THEIR '72 LIVE ALBUM WITH THE EDMONTON ORCHESTRA IS ONE OF THE BEST PROG ROCK LIVE ALBUMS EVER!!!... AT LEAST, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. Regards. |
Posted By: jojim
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 17:48
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"Whisky train" on "HOME" is for me the ultimate rock song. It's pure
energy and drive. Nobody could imagine that they were able to do that.
The whole album is highly dramatic - and heavy concerning the sound. I
like it very much. ------------- YES - Close to the edge / UK - UK / GENESIS - The lamb lies down / KING CRIMSON - Discipline / MIKE OLDFIELD - Tubular bells / JETHRO TULL - Aqualung / GENTLE GIANT - Three friends / TMO - IMF |
Posted By: cmidkiff
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 18:38
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I don't have any of their albums yet, which one do you suggest I try first? ------------- cmidkiff |
Posted By: CrazyDiamond
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 20:25
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Procol Harum.. I've just bought their "First album...Plus!" in wich there are different takes and some unknown songs. Great band, I like "In held twas in I" a lot. ___BYE___ ------------- 
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Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 22:44
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I suggest you start with the following three: If you like these but you don't get too excited about them, try their amazing "Live at Edmonton", so maybe you could see the first two of the above under a new light and complete your knowledge about PH's more orchestral side. If still you don't get too excited about them, don't go any further. If you enjoy them all, just buy the reamining 60s and 70s albums and keep on enjoying. My fave PH studio albums are "Shine On Brightly" and "Grand Hotel", with "Home" and "Broken Barricades" as close seconds. Regards. |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 22:48
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Lots of PH fans out there then ... I started a favourite PH album poll in the prog polls section ... I'm curious to see which album is most popular ... Grand Hotel has taken a surprising early lead ... although most who have posted in this thread seem to favour Shine On Brightly .... ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Retroventuremod
Date Posted: July 27 2005 at 01:02
------------- I asked Bobby Dylan I asked the Beatles I asked Timothy Leary But he couldn't help me either They call me the seeker THE WHO! |
Posted By: Guillermo
Date Posted: July 27 2005 at 20:02
Today, I saw here in Mexico City in a Record shop a package called "The First Four". It is an import package (I don`t remember the place of mfg.) which has the "Procol Harum", "Shine on Brightly", "A Salty Dog" and "Home" albums in 2 CDs. But it is hard to find other albums by this band here, like "Grand Hotel", "Ninth", "Something Magic", "Exotic Birds and Fruit". ------------- Avatar: Photo of Solar Eclipse, Mexico City, July 1991. A great experience to see. Maybe once in a lifetime. |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 12:31
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not quite Biggles territory ... but I have just listened to 10 PH albums in a row ... plus reviewed two compilations I had on casette ... that Gary Brooker's got a set of pipes ... I'm tellin ya' ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 00:17
This was the last PH album I heard ... and you're right very riffy, but aside from Simple Sister, not even the best riffy songs, I notice the organ really took a step back when Chris Copping came in and was doubling up on bass and organ for Home and Broken Barricades ... good thing they fixed this problem and made Grand Hotel, Exotic Birds and Procol's Ninth ... a really excellent second wind!  ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 08:14
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Along with NICE and MOODY BLUES, PROCOL HARUM was one of the first progressive rock band. Leader Gary Brooker, after the experirence in the band PARAMOUNTS ( an R&B band who survived until 1965), formed a connexion with lyricist KEITH REID and with him attempted to combine rock's structure with classical music. In the spring of 1967 they recorded "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", a song constructed on BACH's "Aria Sulla Quarta Corda" ( like COLOSSEUM did on their debut album). The song had a great success ( first position in England) and it was voted the best English song of the seventies. Progressive Rock was born on those Baroque melodies. My favourite albums :
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Posted By: akin
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 09:08
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Well, I have all their studio albuns plus the live with Edmonton
Orchestra. I can assure they're progressive (one of the first prog
bands along The Moody Blues and The Nice). They were different because
the band has two keyboard players and it was the first band to have a
lyricist just to make the lyrics (and Keith Reid did the lyrics of all
their own compositions). The three ones blend psychedelic, classical and blues. Their masterpiece is in Shine On Brightly, that is the suite In Held twas in I, probably the first progressive rock suite with lots of instruments, five great parts, sound effects, etc. Their third, A Salty Dog, is more symphonic, with orchestral parts and beautiful arrangements Then, with Fisher's departure, the spot goes to guitar. Home and Broken Barricades have more hard rock influences, though progressive and even symphonic. Simple Sister, Broken Barricades, Whaling Stories are great songs of these albums. Then there's the great concert with orchestra, where everything is perfect. After Trower's departure, the spot goes to Brooker, and his pompous arrangemets. Grand Hotel, Exotic Birds and Fruits, Procol's Ninth and Something Magic are all this way. The last one has a great suite, of 18 minutes. For me it's very interesting with great arrangements, moog passages and so on. All of them are great albums with good songs. Then their nineties comeback is the least interesting, because there lacks a good bass and good drums. Although there are Brooker, Fisher and Trower, in this album we can see how a good bassist and a good drummer are important. Despite of the beautiful arrangements trying to do something like they did in the mid seventies, the drums and the bass can't help making the sound turn poppish. And the well is on fire is a decent album, with Brooker and Fisher, and good musicians in guitar, bass and drums, in the level of seventies album. There are great songs, mainly the instrumental that closes the album. Well, I like them all and Shine on Brightly and A Salty Dog are frequently in my sound system. They're very underrated and should be taken away of this full of prejudice definition proto-prog and put in the major categories (as they should do with the Moody Blues and the Nice). |
Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 09:46
I like Procol Harum's music. I don't know if I like the music as much, at the point to become their lover because of their musical acomplishment, but yes, I do think they are a great band. ------------- ¡Beware of the Bee! |
Posted By: XTChuck
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 11:46
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I had been a PH fan for many years, had bought all their records and waited years to see them perform live. Finally got the opportunity in 1977. Although their recordings really captured their true talent as a band, their live show was below average. They played a lot of their more well-known tunes but for some reason their performance teetered on boring and I really can't figure out as to why. To this day, however, I still enjoy listening to my three favorites by them "A Salty Dog", "Broken Barricades" and "Exotic Birds and Fruit".
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Posted By: The Wizard
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 20:03
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I'm a casual fan I guess. They are a pretty great band. Unfortunately they are somewhat forgotten by the mainstream. -------------  
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Posted By: roaryg
Date Posted: January 10 2006 at 21:35
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I have been authorized by my wife to add to this thread. She doesn't like
prog but she LOVES Procol Harum. She was a teenager during the 1960s and got to see them live four times from 1968 to 1972. The last time they opened for Ten Years After, which she thought was sad as it indicated they weren't a top band any more (they were the headliners the other tims. She has some black and white photos from one of their concerts. She says Robin Trower was AWESOME live. But I suspect that means she had the hots for him, so I try not to think about it too much. ------------- Tim FM, Nash the Slash, Camel |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 01:05
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Anybody seen this videoclip yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyMNtSa5g_U - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyMNtSa5g_U ?
It's for their song 'Dead Man's Dream', from their album "Home", one of their most haunting and creepy songs ever. This videoclip's tune is not the album version, a bit less polished, but it's still quintaessential PH. Not to be missed!
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Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 01:35
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The Procolers are pretty much basically my heroes. I'm CONVINCED they invented true progressive music (although the genre kicked off in '66 with the Who).
In fact, on this night of nights, I shall up my ratings system to allow their debut album the five star status it deserves. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 12:05
| I think Procol is great! Those first three albums, though a bit inconsistent at times, all have seriously perfect songs (Repent Walpurgis, In Held Twas In I, and Pilgrim's Progress immediately come to mind). After Fisher left the I think the quality fell off a bit, though both Home and Broken Barricades have excellent work by Trower. |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 13:01
| I like them a lot actually. I was introduced through the obvious "Whiter Shade..." which I thought was magnificent (heard it in Scorsese's short in New York Stories). Got the album, then went on to explore Broken Barricades and Grand Hotel both of which were excellent. Then I finally got A Salty Dog which has quickly become my favorite album of theirs. I guess my favorite elements of their sound are Gary Brooker's vocals and Matthew Fischer's organ work which has so much depth. Keith Reid's lyrics are also very interesting and appealing to me. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 17:25
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Hey, nice to see that an old thread of mine been has been dug up again.
Cesar Inca: That YouTube video is really heavy! Some of the images remind me of Pink Floyd's Set Your Controls For The Heart Of The Sun on Live At Pompeii. I think musically The Dead Man's Dream is some of the best things Procol Harum ever did. It's such a strong composition. I realised that it was the first time that I saw a full video of a Procol Harum song. I checked their page on PA and saw that they had no archive footage dvd. Maybe some day.
The Whistler: Procol is one of the most important proto-prog pioneers, I'm sure. Too bad that they don't always get the credit for that.
Jammun: Why is it your opinion that the first three albums are a bit inconsistent? Just wondering, because my feeling is that they were quite well balanced, as far as I can see. I agree with you about Fisher and Trower.
Bro Spence: I think Keith Reid is one of the most original writers of lyrics (or "words" in his own words
) from prog rock. |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 20:00
No Kidding, Bridge of Sighs is so good , it deserves inclusion on our site . As for Procol Harum, Robin's wicked, I mean WICKED playing on Whiskey Train is enough for at least a dozen  ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: March 23 2008 at 20:22
I mean inconsistent in the sense that there seem to be some filler tracks here and there: Mabel on the first LP, Skip Softly on the second, Juicy John Pink on the third. I don't mean it as a knock on those first three LP's. They are among my all-time favorites.
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: March 24 2008 at 03:25
Yes, I see what you mean, I agree.
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Posted By: febus
Date Posted: March 28 2008 at 13:05
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I think i own almost all their albums, only PROCOL 9TH is missing.
Yes, they should get as many mentions on PA like bands like ...Genesis or others.
I even never got tired of Whiter Shade of Pale....this organ sound is still doing it to me
 I even like the maligned THE WORM AND THE TREE from SOMETHING MAGIC, imagine that!!
GRAND HOTEL
 is my fave from this great band |
Posted By: weetabix
Date Posted: April 14 2008 at 08:27
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I have posted this before and I love this L.P. all that fantastic music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiNU22nLf48 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiNU22nLf48
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: April 14 2008 at 16:42
Yes, Cerdes remains great music, as well as most of the music on the first album
 |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: April 17 2008 at 15:04
| Procol Harum was probably the first prog band I got into because my dad is a huge fan. My fav PH album is probably A Salty Dog. |
Posted By: Prof.
Date Posted: April 22 2008 at 14:59
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I bought their compilation album The First Four(their first four albums) just so I could listen to Conquistador, and it was $25. But ill be damned if it wasnt one of the best choices I made, I love their stuff now.
Not sure if I like Procol Harum or Shine On Brightly more, they are both so good.
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Posted By: stowbury
Date Posted: August 15 2008 at 17:00
| Yes, Procol Harum is my favourite band - I think I've still got all 10 LPs from their first lifetime. As you can see Exotic Birds and Fruit is my most cherished of all, but very closely contested for top spot by Grand Hotel, with a number of others following close behind. I can't believe it was a struggle to get them included here as a prog rock band. Their extraordinary musical invention combining classical instrumentation and melody with electric rock exuberance is what prog rock is all about. Is it because the Brooker/Reid partnership and associated talents also produced genuine songs in the traditional sense, to rival Lennon/McCartney, and sung with a soulful resonance beyond the compass of most rock front-men? I'm also surprised at reports of disappointing concerts. Their gig at the New Theatre in Oxford in '77 was the best I ever had the pleasure of attending, including a drum solo from Power Failure developed and extended into 10 minutes of unbelievable percussive virtuosity by the incomparable Barrie Wilson, who never played an uninteresting rhythm, yet always exactly the right one to complement the other instruments and enhance the overall sound. Refer to Strong as Samson, my favourite from EB&F for a supreme example. |
Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 16:18
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Yes Great prog band the first song that i heard was A Whiter Shade of Pale and are AWESOME!!! killing Hammond organ by Mattew Fisher and the voice of Brooker, is a damn Great song!!!
After that i bought the album and have very good songs, for example Cerdes, Repent Walpurgis.
Then i bought A Salty Dog! wow a great disc with the title track becoming one of the most haunting tracks of all prog rock.
will continue with next albums
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