Some people say that I have horrible taste for music because I listen to Procol Harum, The Alan Parsons Project and Barclay James Harvest... And I must answer: I am so happy that I have such a "horrible" taste for music which permits me to understand the greatness of these 3 groups!!
Those who say that condemn themselves to musical banality...no worries mate - you got it right! (12 years later comment! I'm sure by now they've become enlightened)
That’s why it is so important to NOT listen to what other people say. I too love all the bands you mentioned. To me they are part of the modern classical composers who’s music will be listened to many years from now like your Bachs and Beethoven.
I am a life long, full time performing and touring singer and guitarist. My life is music and has been for over 40 years. My top 5 list of favorite albums of all time, which are all from the late 60s, does not include a studio album by Procol Harem, even though they are one of my favorite bands. That being said, and this may be surprising, this *exact* performance from Beat Club 1971 of A Salty Dog, and especially this *exact* performance of Repent Walpurgis from this same broadcast, is literally in my Will to be played at my funeral. This version of Repent Walpurgis from this very broadcast is absolutely my favorite, and most personally moving and endearing pop music moment of all time. I've always loved both songs, and bands that I have been in over the decades have performed both songs often, but for some reason, this particular version of Repent Walpurgis, especially when Brooker goes into the Bach "Air on a G String" part in the middle of the song, has always brought me to tears. Every time. It just did again. Treasure this very particular moment in this wonderful band's history. Treasure Gary's incredible, unique voice. Treasure B.J. Wilson, the drummer that turned down Jimmy Page to join Led Zeppelin, the drummer that created the greatest, yet most simple drum riff intro to a rock song on the studio version of Joe Cocker's "With A Little Help From My Friends". Treasure Matthew Fisher's utterly genre defining tone, touch and melodicism on the B3. Even Keith Emerson tips his hat to Matthew. Fisher Was First. Even before The Nice. And perhaps allow yourself some time to read their story in an excellent biography of the band by Henry Scott-Irvine that I came across a few years ago, called The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade of Pale. I couldn't put it down and read the entire book in a day and a half. Sorry for the long post. I've been wanting to put those sentiments about this performance into words for years. Shine On Brightly.
Great tribute to Bach. Procol's members were probably the first to realize that Bach was composing rock music before it existed. What a great and timeless group.
Damn, Didn't known this til I saw your comment. Thanks Gary and Procol, for filling my life with GREAT progrock and introducing me in their way to classical music.
@@annblacker6401 I was able to exchange greetings with Gary after a great show back in the 70s. it still makes me happy to this day. They will always remain my favorite band. They were one of a kind.
RIP Gary - I am in Stuttgart tonight where Procol Harum were booked to play - my wife and I came anyway - Procol Harum have been and will continue to be a massive part of my life
@@P.DuncanMonk Personally, I am trying to evoke the sixties in my own music. Check out my latest ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-76OxSEgWN9c.html and let me know what you think in the comments section. Thanks so much! Take care.
Dave Ball, Guitarist and member of Procol Harum, met my thanks to this post. I bought a 7-seat VW off him, and drove it for years... Had some fabulous conversation and jams too- His house in Cannock Wood England had a plaque reading 'Ball Achres' outside. a lovely man, dearly missed.
GRANDISSIMA performance !!!!! Vi è anche il contributo di JS BACH nella parte centrale del brano eseguita al piano da GARY BROOKER , fantastica , GOOSEBUMPS !!!!! REPENT WALPURGIS ribattezzata anche come FORTUNA che splendido brano ,un CAPOLAVORO di strumentale !!!!!!!
On a reunion tour in the 90's, in NYC, Gary Brooker said they had time for just one more song and asked the audience if they wanted Repent Walpurgis or A Whiter Shade Of Pale? The audience screamed for Repent and they played it. Then Gary said the promoter told him "you guys are great - play one more and I'll pay the union all the overtime" so they did A Whiter Shade. What a night.
I know this was posted 14 years ago. I just found it. One of my all-time favorite songs. I was in a rock band as an organist and insisted we have this on our playlist. I loved playing this song and just riffing in the middle of it. Such great memories.
It's an excerpt from "Pop 2", a formidable, daring musical magazine on French television between 1970 and 1973, an unmissable event in pop-rock culture and a privileged witness to the golden age of progressive rock. Legendary!
I used to hate "Conquistador", it was played about every 20 minutes on 'popular' radio in the 70's. . But I can finally listen to it with appreciation. I avoided hearing "Whiter Shade" so as not to have it ruined for me I would nominate Procol Harum as one of the greatest bands of the greatest era music has ever known.
Bj called me from california in 1972.I met the band inat Mannies in new york and gave BJ a letter I wrote previously for him.I thought it was a joke when my dad said a BJ wilson was on the phone.sHe was so sincere to thank me for the letter.And said Procul Harum made him what he was.Really missed....
My opinion - for what it's worth - BJ Wilson was not just a timekeeper when he played. He played an "Instrument" with all that implies, so the colours are completely integral to the end result. He was quite unique I think in how he played. Of course, there have been, and are thousands of drummers who play instrumentally so please don't bother listing them out here - but no one was quite like BJ. Just thought I would say that. Dave Ball (the tall Superman)
Is it just me or does anybody else hear that this particular composition they made seem to be a huge influence on Pink Floyd I just don't know what came first I think it is the song "echoes" maybe I am thinking about or something similar from that era but if Procol Harum came up with this first then Gilmore and Waters definitely was influenced by this absolutely no doubt (not a shot at them Pink FLoyd is tops and all the's guys ripped from each other here and there it's called "influences" lol.... but this is a freaking epic piece and everybody contributed greatly to it.
Manchmal findet man einfach keine Worte mehr, um das zu beschreiben, was man tief in sich fühlt - es ist einfach das, was es ist - tief empfundene universale Liebe, die alles heilt und alles vereint. Diese Musik bringt mich dahin, wo ich es fühlen kann... Danke!
I still have my original first pressing of their debut album. The Beatles are reported to have played it many times while doing promo work in a southern England forest. It and the follow-up A Salty Dog are masterpieces. The band was never the same after Trower left. 1967 was a great year for music.
Procol Harum. So much more than just the genius Whiter Shade of pale ,,,, so so many astounding tracks ,,, thank you for giving so much to all true music lovers ,,,, my fave just ,,,, A Salty Dog ,,,, but wow utterly spellbinding,,, G
@@scottdavison1420 Yes, he did. The back of the first album says: “With the exception of ‘Repent Walpurgis,’ for which Matthew Fisher may be held responsible,” everything else is Brooker/Reid. However, the piano interval in the middle is J.S. Bach’s Prelude in C Major, part of his first piece in” The Well Tempered Clavier.” In 1853, composer Charles Gounod created a version of “Ave Maria” that’s sung over this piece. The studio recording truncates Bach’s prelude, but in this live recording, Gary Brooker plays the entire piece. Still one of my favorite pieces of all time.
I'd hurd this composition for the first time at a french TV show "Les enfants du rock", 44 years ago. On my opinion, it was the most beautiful of Procol Harum.
My very first real girlfriend, and probably my only real one (the woman that is half a year older than I), listened to this - I was still 9, she was already 10, and then I lost her; my best friend, my soulmate, my wife... and I miss her - after over 50 years, I miss you every day, dear sweet patient real Angel...
BJ Wilson was en excellent drummer, and very underrated. After Procol Harum disbanded alcohol took over his life, which ended in a tragic way all to early.
Recorded in Montmartre in Paris. 1971 I think. Was supposed to be before a live audience, but there was a metro strike that day and the traffic was so bad they wouldn't let the film/tv company block the street with their trucks and so we got moved to a small theatre in Montmartre instead. All a bit surreal. And the people who did turn up at the original venue had a riot in the street instead (as they do). Hope that helps. More than you bargained for no doubt! Dave (the skinny Superman)
The arrangement of the band members in a circle illustrates exactly what is heard in this song-- a perfect balance between all the instruments... The Hammond A100 and piano mesh perfectly, with guitar entering precisely when it should. Drums are awesome thoughout.. perfect.
I still remember when I bought the LP soon after it was released. I was listening to this song again and again... nice, slow version. And great video and audio quality.
One of the greatest rock bands of all time. As with others, this is the first time I have heard this song of theirs and glad I did! Thanks for posting.
Very well said, Estivator. Today is the 23rd anniversary of B.J.'s passing. Even today, whenever I listen to B.J.'s work, I hear something new. I could not agree more on his talent and sensitivity, nor could I have phrased it more beautifully. And I must believe that we go on, surrounded by music, until we all hear one another play again.
in the 70s gary brooker said procol harum didnt feel very self confident in the early years .yet look what they did. what we have today is loads of confidence and no talent
Love it.played it at school of music from Bach s prélude.gréât hammond sound from Chris Copping..BJ hit hardly his drums .stunnîng. Gary is on a 1/2 grand Pleyel like mine thé sound with mics are at right places to gave such sound prêtty difficult .I never succeeded on my own one.great rendition..
Любимая группа и одна из лучших их вещей. Первый раз послушал этот альбом и немного "обалдел", настолько он отличался от всего, что слушал ранее (Beatles, Stones, Animals etc...). Стал вслушиваться и влюбляться. Супер! RIP, genius Gary Brooker. Thanks!
@@mstwilight1612 Thanks 👍 I was a British English language consultant in Kyiv one year and Odessa three. Leaving Odessa ten months before vladolf putler invaded (a hunch) I'm from Kensington and Chelsea in London originally. I met so many of the ussr generation, who could never seem to relax. One man who could ☺ was my friend Alexei. He was a businessman in the port, had learned English language proficiently. Expanded his customer base because of it. (Obviously this is not my language anymore, as it's in most spheres in the 🌏). He was a youth komisar in the ussr, just before it collapsed. He told me he had the responsibility, to censor from a printed list, provided by the politburo administration. He kept lots...😂
I don't know if I'll ever get over BJ's death. A master percussionist who reached in and grabbed every corpuscle of my being then and does still today, perhaps more so since I'm now old enough to appreciate just how gifted he was and what a sensitive soul, almost too sensitive for this world. Would that there could have been some intervention to prevent his demise. Such a waste.
I was just going to post that I thought Dave Ball was the best guitarist Procol Harum had after Robin Trower, maybe despite Robin Trower. Then I saw that he himself had posted several time here. WOW! RIP Dave, such a great musician.
This song.... it's amazing! I heard it on the radio today, and was immediately entranced. Bares such a strong resemblance to Floyd, absolutely amazing.
