Everyone has their band that isn't in the Rock and Roll hall of fame, and you can't understand why they're not. Procol Harum is mine. I loved these guys from the minute I first heard "A Whiter Shade of Pale.' They've always had a steady following but to me never reached the recognition they so deserved. I was 16 when Procol Harum released "A Whiter Shade of Pale". This was 1967, the "Summer of Love" and Procol Harum's psychedelic/Progressive rock was perfectly made for this time. If you take your favorite substance, wait about 45mins, Then lay back and listen to "Shine on Brightly", Procol's 2nd album . The cut, "In held twas in I', was one side of the original vinyl album. My opinion is this work is so mind bending and beautiful that it should be experienced. As the narrator said. Guitar god, Robin Trower was the original Procol guitarist. Gary Brooker, again my opinion is a musical (Rock and Roll) genius, as was his partner and co-writer, Keith Reid. There's so much more of Procol Harum to hear after the release of "A Whiter Shade of Pale, but it seems that too many didn't keep up with them. These guys were extremely talented musicians. Everyone I knew, anxiously awaited the release of a new Beatles album. You didn't need to hear it first, you just bought it when you saw it. My feelings for the music of Procol Harum was very much the same.
I hope u saw them live. I saw them with 3 different axemen at different times. As great as they were on record, they were even better live. It was like hearing Beethoven played through Marshalls...
@@keithpittell3944 first time I saw them live was when they released "A Salty Dog." I saw them live at least a half dozen times since then. The last time was in 2017 on Long Island, N.Y. My favorite band has always been the Beatles, but Procol Harum is a real close second. Their work over 50 years was just amazing. "In Held Twas in I" from the "Shine on Brightly" album is a psychedelic masterpiece. Too many people stopped at "AWSOP" and never heard the many albums that followed. Still worth listening to them today. They're timeless.
Hall of famé is crap commercial prise ,many boring bands got it ! Procol were a musicians band far far far better than many of thé prized ones ! Really don't bother about it .Procol MK2 had 4 virtuosos ! Brooker ,Fisher ,trower and BJ Wilson , and Dave knights was a pretty good bassist too ( do thinck hé ought to join thé 1rst Expérience! )
Procal Harum First. Excellent work! I always admired Brooker for including quite prominently “Words. Keith Reed” When asked which song best defined the essence of the late 60’s early 70’s Ringo Starr immediately stated Whiter Shade of Pale exceeding even their own material. Gary was a larger than life figure in the British Music Scene. Always included in every Wake or Tribute involving his fellow Musicians. He did not age and Sang in 22 just as in 67 . Nobody wrote lyrics like Keith they commended intellect demanded attention and what a learned Story Teller he was. Trower well what can I say except Trower. Now there were many Prog Groups and Thematic dalliances but no one had the BALLS to even attempt ( A Salty Dog) it was almost Operatic . This Group deserves the Hall of Fame and more. I will miss Brooker as I will Jeff Beck. May this Genius of arrangement and interpretation RIP . I had a First PressingFrench Import of the 1st Lp and wore it out.Thank You some much talent in the. UK
… one of my „absolute favourite bands. Love their music and saw the band live in Austria (Brooker, Wilson, Cartwright, Copping and Grabham, my favourite line-up).
My very good friend Colin Husband got me on to them with A Saltly Dog , back in 1970,The milk of human kindness is still one the songs I've loved through the years. RIP GB
Worth a mention here is Gary Brooker's side project No Stiletto Shoes. The nature of the band meant that the line-up varied, but typically would consist of Gary Brooker - keyboards / vocals, Andy Fairweather Low - guitar / vocals, Dave Bronze - bass, Henry Spinetti - drums and Frank Mead - saxophone. I saw them many times, most frequently at Club Riga in Southend. A great night out!
Thank you for the tip on Brooker’s Side Project. I worked for Polygram and Inthink we had two Solo Lps which had some great songs. I do not remember which Label but what a loss. If you’ve seen the DVD filmed outside in I think Austria? With the Symphony Orchestra great. Nod To Fair-weather Low. He was often Clapton’s back up or rhythm guitarist often with Albert Lee.
Awesome Procol Harum is one of my favorite bands top 10 songs from Procol Harum 10 - Beyond the Pale 09 - Grand Hotel 08 - The Devil Came From Kansas 07 - Whiskey Train 06 - A Salty Dog 05 - Homburg 04 - Robert's Box 03 - Conquistador 02 - A Whiter Shade of Pale 01 - Pandora's Box
A Whiter Shade of Pale was a blessing and curse for the band. It was a monster hit world wide and Procol Harum could never achieve that again. Fortunately, Reid and Brooker continued to write and record fantastic songs on their terms. A few later albums flailed when trying to be "marketable", but they shine brightest being true artists. A Salty Dog, the Idol, Repent Walpurgis, New Lamps for Old, Quite Rightly So - Please do yourself a favor and deep dive this band's catalog. I was lucky to have seen them a few years ago live before Brooker departed our dimension.
Definitely a wonderful and talented group and always one of my favs. Saw them, I believe, in 1971 at SUNY STONEY BROOK, LI NY. Incredible concert in support of their album,"HOME." Maybe their all time best band lineup. Will never forget their playing of " Whaling Days." Trowers guitar was ripping a hole in the universe and BJ Wilson was drumming like a madman. Those were the days, my friends.
I became a Procol Harem fan with the release of their first album, in early 1974 I was dating a girl that really didn't know much about the band but knew I liked them, she had tickets to see Rod Stewart and traded them for Procal Harem tickets for us, that was when I knew she was the girl of my dreams, we married 5 months later and 50 years later she's still making me happy, all thanks to Procol Harem tickets,
Not the clearest video I've seen. Mathew Fisher not only played on "A Salty Dog" he produced it. You should also mention that Mathew Fisher made several solo albums, he also produce Robin Trower's first album and The Pretty Things, among others.
2 band members were fired after their biggest hit single? Grounds for a class law suit that - especially as it was done to bring former members back into the band. Shameful conduct.
I think this video should never had been made because if you paid attention at all to the band, then you would know that they were around and touring all over the world especially after The Well's On Fire was released in 2003. They had the same lineup for almost all of those years as well. A great superlative version of the band. Don't get me wrong. Your video is actually quite good...but they have been around and doing well except for the periods before Prodigal Stranger (1991) and for a time after that....and until they toured regularly after releasing Wells On Fire....I personally have been heartbroken over Gary Brooker's death. He was a great human being and an amazing composer.....He will be missed.
Exactimundo... I saw them with 3 different axemen, Trower, Ball and Grabham. Their concerts were transfixing with all 3, leaving u weak and spent at the end. Beethoven through Marshalls...
First, they cheated their first and greatest organist, Matthew Fisher, of his rightful royalties in their first and greatest hit, and kept him WAITING FOR FIFTY YEARS.
In the USA, the first Procol Harum album was simply titled “Procol Harum.” “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was not included. I believe the album was not immediately available following the 1967 AWSAP summer hit. I thought this was the case in the UK as well. Not sure! As for the US album release, I still have an early copy - the one that had the cover poster inside. The poster has been framed for decades now. It’s still hanging on my wall.
Not my favorite band, but a few things they did remain on my personal playlist. I would've liked them more if Brooker's piano led songs had more variation and musical surprises. The underlying talent was there. For me, the band's core has always been Copping, Brooker and Wilson. Everyone else just dropped in and out.
Rock and Roll Hall of fame, are you crazy. That great institution are for the likes of Roberta Flag, Donna Summers, Cindy Lauper, and The entire Rap crew. J Tull, Procol Harum, Ten Years After, J Winter and Edgar, Wishbone Ash, those who made Rock history don't belong. Some real musicians should have done like Mark Knopler, don't show up and ignore. Maybe they only had Lou Reed inducted after he passed away, they could not take a chance to be ignored. Truth is these musicians are also a bunch of Pimma donnas
@@paulwebster4780Dragnet was a popular tv. series during this time period. The main character’s catch phrase was “Just the facts Mam.” I was not referring to your gender. I tend to forget that everyone that enjoys this era of music and culture are not necessarily from it. Rookie mistake, no offense.
