<> Nightwol's Guide to Procol Harum <>

Last modified: Sunday, 14 August, 2016
 

Procol Harum

Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Type of music generally:

Progressive Rock

Status:

Now touring and recording again.

See also:

Beyond the Pale - the ultimate Procol Harum web resource.

Robin Trower, Matthew Fisher, and Gary Brooker all had solo careers outside of Procol Harum.

Comparisons:

Incomparable. (nightwol@geocities.com)

Covers/own material:

Own material.  All lyrics written by non-performing band member Keith Reid, music (with few exceptions) written by pianist/vocalist and band leader Gary Brooker.

General comments:

My all-time favourite band. (nightwol@geocities.com)

Recommended first album:

Old testament - Grand Hotel (nightwol@geocities.com)
New testament - The Well's on Fire (nightwol@geocities.com)

Recordings:

  • Procol Harum (1967)
  • Shine on Brightly (1968)
  • A Salty Dog (1969)
  • Home (1970)
  • Broken Barricades (1971)
  • Live in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1972)
  • The Best of Procol Harum (1972 compilation)
  • Grand Hotel (1973)
  • Exotic Birds & Fruit (1974)
  • Procol's Ninth (1975)
  • Rock Roots (1976 compilation)
  • Something Magic (1977)
  • The Prodigal Stranger (1991)
  • BBC In Concert (1999)
  • The Well's on Fire (2003)

    • Procol Harum

    Release info:

    1967 -- Regal Zonophone -- LRZ 1001

    Availability:

    Widely available

    Ecto priority:

    Highly recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    David Knights -- bass
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Denny Cordell

    Comments:

    Originally released as Procol Harum, without the band's recent hit single A White Shade of Pale (the standard practice in British pop at the time), the album was released in the states with the single included as the title track and the latter title and format was retained thereafter. More TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Shine on Brightly

    Release info:

    1968 -- Regal Zonophone -- SLRZ 1004

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    Recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    David Knights -- bass
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Denny Cordell

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    A Salty Dog

    Release info:

    1969 -- Regal Zonophone -- SLRZ 1009

    Availability:

    Often available

    Ecto priority:

    Highly recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    David Knights -- bass
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Matthew Fisher

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Home

    Release info:

    1970 -- Regal Zonophone -- SLRZ 1014

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    Recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Chris Copping -- bass
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    The departure of Matthew Fisher led to a significant hardening of the band's sound with this release and the result is their most bluesey album.

    More TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Broken Barricades

    Release info:

    1971 -- Chrysalis -- ILPS 9158

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    Recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Chris Copping -- bass
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    This was the last album to feature Robin Trower and the sound is dominated by his Hendrix-channeling guitar work, making this Procol's most straightforwardly rock-sounding record.

    More TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Live in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

    Release info:

    1972 -- Chrysalis -- CHR 1004

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    Highly recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Dave Ball -- guitar
    Alan Cartwright -- bass
    Chris Copping -- organ & harpsichord
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Guest artists:

    Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
    Da Camera Singers

    Produced by:

    Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    The Best of Procol Harum (compilation)

    Release info:

    1972 -- Fly Records

    Availability:

    No longer available.  Never released on CD (AFAIK).

    Ecto priority:

    Highly recommended (if you can find it!)

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Chris Copping -- bass
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    David Knights -- bass
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Denny Cordell, Matthew Fisher, Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    TBA. Also released on EMI's "Music for Pleasure" label (MFP 5277) in 1972, under the title A Salty Dog! (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Grand Hotel

    Release info:

    1973 -- Chrysalis -- CHR 1037

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    Highly recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Alan Cartwright -- electric & acoustic bass
    Chris Copping -- organ
    Mick Grabham -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums, percussion, and 22 mandolins

    Guest artists:

    Christianne LeGrand -- vocals
    The Pahane Recorder Ensemble

    Produced by:

    Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Exotic Birds & Fruit

    Release info:

    1974 -- Chrysalis -- CHR 1058

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    Highly recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Alan Cartwright -- bass
    Chris Copping -- organ
    Mick Grabham -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums, percussion

    Guest artists:

    BJ Cole -- pedal steel guitar

    Produced by:

    Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Procol's Ninth

    Release info:

    1975 -- Chrysalis -- CHR 1080

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    For fans only

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Alan Cartwright -- bass
    Chris Copping -- organ
    Mick Grabham -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums, percussion

    Produced by:

    Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Rock Roots (compilation)

    Release info:

    1976 -- Cube Records

    Availability:

    No longer available.  Never released on CD (AFAIK).

    Ecto priority:

    For fans only.

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Chris Copping -- bass
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    Bobby Harrison -- drums
    David Knights -- bass
    Ray Royer -- guitar
    Robin Trower -- guitar
    BJ Wilson -- drums

    Produced by:

    Denny Cordell, Matthew Fisher, Chris Thomas

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Something Magic

    Release info:

    1977 -- Chrysalis -- CHR 1130

    Availability:

    Sporadically available

    Ecto priority:

    For fans only

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Chris Copping -- bass
    Mick Grabham -- guitar
    Pete Solley -- organ & synthesizer
    BJ Wilson -- drums & percussion

    Produced by:

    Procol Harum/Ron & Howie Albert

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    The Prodigal Stranger

    Release info:

    1991 -- Zoo -- PD 90589

    Availability:

    Widely available

    Ecto priority:

    For fans only

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    Robin Trower -- guitar

    Guest artists:

    Dave Bronze -- bass
    Mark Brzezicki -- drums
    Steve Lange -- backing vocals
    Maggie Ryder -- backing vocals
    Henry Spinetti -- drums
    Jerry Stevenson -- mandolin & guitar
    Miriam Stockley -- backing vocals

    Produced by:

    Matt Noble with Gary Brooker, Keith Reid and Matthew Fisher

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    BBC In Concert

    Release info:

    1999 -- Strange Fruit -- SFRSCD 089

    Availability:

    Widely available

    Ecto priority:

    Recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Chris Copping -- organ, banjo
    Mick Grabham -- guitar
    Alan Lancaster -- bass
    BJ Wilson -- drums & percussion

    Produced by:

    Jeff Griffin

    Comments:

    Recorded in front of an audience by the BBC in 1974 for broadcast on Radio One's "In Concert" programme, this album (not released commercially until 1999) is the only official record of the band playing live sans orchestra.  Made just after the release of Exotic Birds & Fruit, it features the same personnel and six of the songs to be found on that album.  The live sound is a little rough in places and the instrumental balance is not as finely judged as on the band's albums of this era (when Chris Thomas was their regular producer).  That said, the album provides ample evidence of Procol Harum's often underestimated rock sensibilities.  The quality of their songs and the band's well-honed instrumental prowess shine through and the band-only arrangements of songs like 'Grand Hotel' (originally recorded with choir and strings) in particular emphasize that Procol Harum where first and foremost impressively accomplished rockers.

    Gary Brooker is in fine voice throughout and BJ Wilson's excellent drumming consistently plays a far more significant structural role in the arrangements than is common in rock music.  Mick Grabham's guitar-playing, on the other hand makes telling contributions to each song without indulging in axe-hero excesses (though he's impressively raunchy on the guitar-dominated 'Simple Sister'). Chris Copping's and Alan Lancaster's playing (on Hammond organ and bass respectively) is impressive and perfectly weighted within Procol's generally piano-led sound.

    The only fly in the ointment is the disappointing production work of Jeff Griffin.  BBC staff producer Griffin had tremendous experience of working with a wide variety of musicians but seems to have made no attempt to respond to the complexities of Procol's musical arrangements with their important shifts in instrumental significance within and between songs.  Instead, he seems to have opted for a "set it up once, then leave it alone" approach.  The chosen settings serve the songs from Exotic Birds & Fruit reasonably enough (which is just as well: this broadcast was, after all, a promotional exercise in support of that album) but make some of the finer points of the earlier songs hard to pick up, even for the aficionado.  This is a shame, as otherwise this release would be a near-perfect addition to Procol Harum's recorded legacy.

    As it is, even with its production shortcomings, this is an essential purchase for those who like Procol Harum and is highly recommended to anyone who's interested in hearing how this intriguing band could rock when freed from the accretions of the "symphonic rock" sound for which they are unfairly best known. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    The Well's on Fire

    Release info:

    2003 -- Eagle -- EAGCD 209

    Availability:

    Widely available

    Ecto priority:

    Recommended

    Group members:

    Gary Brooker -- piano & vocals
    Matthew Fisher -- organ
    Geoff Whitehorn -- guitar
    Mark Brzezicki -- drums & percussion
    Matt Pegg -- bass

    Guest artists:

    Roger Taylor -- backing vocals

    Produced by:

    Rafe McKenna and Procol Harum

    Comments:

    TBA. (nightwol@geocities.com).

    Further info:

    Shine On, 56 Brecknock Road, London, N7 0DD, UK.

    Thanks to Steve Fagg for his work on this entry.

    Return to The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music

    Entry last updated: Saturday, 21 February, 2004  

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