Procol Harum [1967] Procol Harum

Procol Harum
Formed
1967 in London, England


Biography by Bruce Eder

Procol Harum is arguably the most successful "accidental" group creation -- that is,
a band originally assembled to take advantage of the success of a record created in the studio --
in the history of progressive rock.
With "A Whiter Shade of Pale" a monster hit right out of the box,
the band evolved from a studio ensemble into a successful live act,
their music built around an eclectic mix of blues-based rock riffs and grand classical themes.
With singer/pianist Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid
providing the band's entire repertory,
their music evolved in decidedly linear fashion,
the only major surprises coming from the periodic lineup changes
that added a new instrumental voice to the proceedings.
At their most accessible, as on "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Conquistador,"
they were one of the most popular of progressive rock bands,
their singles outselling all rivals, and their most ambitious album tracks still have a strong following.

Procol Harum's roots and origins are as convoluted as its success
-- especially between 1967 and 1973 -- was pronounced.
Pianist Gary Brooker (b. May 29, 1945, Southend, Essex, England)
had formed a group at school called the Paramounts at age 14,
with guitarist Robin Trower (b. Mar. 9, 1945, Southend, Essex) and
bassist Chris Copping (b. Aug. 29, 1945 Southend, Essex),
with singer Bob Scott and
drummer Mick Brownlee.
After achieving a certain degree of success at local youth clubs and dances,
covering established rock & roll hits, Brooker took over the vocalist spot from the departed Scott, and the group continued working after its members graduated -- by 1962, 
they were doing formidable (by British standards) covers of American R&B,
and got a residency at the Shades Club in Southend.

Their first recording, produced by Denny Cordell,
was of a piece of surreal Reid poetry called "A Whiter Shade Of Pale,"
which Brooker set to music loosely derived from Johann Sebastian Bach's
Air on a G String from the Suite No. 3 in D Major.

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Bila ingat Procol Harum pasti ingat "Whiter Shade Of Pale".
Whiter Shade Of Pale sesungguhnya merupakan puisi yang diciptakan Keith Reid
yang kemudian oleh Gary Booker dibuatkan aransemennya musiknya.
Puisi/Lagu ini aslinya mempunyai 4 verse dan hanya dibawakan secara penuh pada saat konser saja, sedangkan dalam album recording hanya dibawakan 2 verse saja!
Sebagian orang menduga ini adalah adaptasi musik
dari komposer classic J.S. Bach - Suite No. 3 in D Major - Air on a G String.
Namun Booker menolak hal ini.

- Whiter Shade Of Pale -
{Brooker, Fisher, Reid}

We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray

(Chorus)
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, 'There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see.'
But I wandered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen vestal virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have just as well've been closed


- 2 verse tambahan -

She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,'
though in truth we were at sea
so I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree
saying, 'You must be the mermaid
who took Neptune for a ride.'
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died

If music be the food of love
then laughter is its queen
and likewise if behind is in front
then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
and attacked the ocean bed

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Procol Harum
Release , 1967 - Deram

Review by Bruce Eder

Procol Harum's self-titled, debut album bombed in England,
appearing six months after "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Homburg" with neither hit song on it.
The LP was successful in America, where albums sold more easily,
but especially since it did include "A Whiter Shade of Pale"
and was reissued with a sticker emphasizing the presence of the original "Conquistador,"
a re-recording which became a hit in 1972.
The music is an engaging meld of psychedelic rock, blues, and classical influences,
filled with phantasmagorical lyrics,
bold (but not flashy) organ by Matthew Fisher,
and Robin Trower's most tasteful and restrained guitar.
"Conquistador," "Kaleidoscope," "A Christmas Camel,"
and the Bach-influenced "Repent Walpurgis" are superb tracks,
and "Good Captain Clack" is great, almost Kinks-like fun.
Not everything here works, but it holds up better than most psychedelic or progressive rock.



Musicians : 
Gary Brooker - Harmonica, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals 
Matthew Fisher - Guitar, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond) 
David Knights - Bass, Guitar (Bass) 
Keith Reid - Lyrics 
Robin Trower - Guitar 
B.J. Wilson - Percussion, Drums


Title
1. A Whiter Shade of Pale (Brooker, Reid)
2. She Wandered Through the Garden Fence (Brooker, Reid)
3. Something Following Me (Brooker, Reid)
4. Mabel (Brooker, Reid)
5. Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of) (Brooker, Reid)
6. Christmas Camel (Brooker, Reid)
7. Conquistador (Brooker, Reid)
8. Kaleidoscope (Brooker, Reid)
9. Salad Days (Are Here Again) (Brooker, Reid)
10. Repent Walpurgis (Fisher)

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