Exposé Online banner

Procol Harum

Procol Harum
Country
England
Profile
Procol Harum is a British rock band. Formed in 1967, they contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale." Although noted for its baroque and classical influence, Procol Harum's music also embraces the blues, R&B and soul. The band originally developed out of a group called The Paramounts, which featured Gary Brooker (piano, vocals), Robin Trower (guitar), Chris Copping (bass), and B.J.Wilson (drums). The Paramounts broke up after being unable to replicate the success of their first single, "Poison Ivy." Brooker teamed up with lyricist Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher (organ), Ray Royer (guitar), and David Knights (bass). This configuration recorded the single "A Whiter Shade of Pale" in 1967 with a session drummer, which was a big seller on both sides of the Atlantic. For the subsequent album sessions, Royer and the studio drummer were replaced by former Paramounts Trower and Wilson to form the first real version of Procol Harum. The twin keyboard arrangement, with Brooker on piano and Fisher on organ, became one of the band's dominant characteristics, and over the next few albums, they delved into more elaborate and progressive styles. Another former Paramount, Copping, later joined the fold, and many personnel changes followed, including the departures of both Fisher and Trower, with Brooker being the only constant — along with lyricist Reid. The band ceased activity from 1977 to 1991, when the first of many new versions got together, often including former members.
Website
http://procolharum.com
Related articles (8)
Releases on file (20)
The Ed Palermo Big Band — The Great Un-American Songbook - Volumes I & II The Ed Palermo Big Band — The Great Un-American Songbook - Volumes I & II
(Cuneiform Rune 435/436, 2017, 2CD)
Procol Harum — Novum Procol Harum — Novum
(Eagle Records ER416592, 2017, CD)
Various Artists — Shine on Magic Hotel - Procol Harum Tribute Various Artists — Shine on Magic Hotel - Procol Harum Tribute
(Mellow MMP534, 2014, CD)
Procol Harum — The Well's on Fire Procol Harum — The Well's on Fire
(Eagle Records ER 20006-2, 2003, CD)
Procol Harum — BBC Live in Concert Procol Harum — BBC Live in Concert
(Fuel2000 302-061-055-2, 2000, CD)
Claes Johansen — Procol Harum - Beyond the Pale Claes Johansen — Procol Harum - Beyond the Pale
(SAF ISBN 0-946719-28-4, 2000, BOOK)
Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales
(Rhino Records R2 72451, 1996, 5CD)
Procol Harum — The Prodigal Stranger Procol Harum — The Prodigal Stranger
(Zoo 61422-31011-2, 1991, CD)
Procol Harum — Something Magic Procol Harum — Something Magic
(SALVOCD029, 1977/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Procol's Ninth Procol Harum — Procol's Ninth
(SALVOCD028, 1975/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Exotic Birds and Fruit Procol Harum — Exotic Birds and Fruit
(SALVOCD027, 1974/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Grand Hotel Procol Harum — Grand Hotel
(SALVOCD024, 1973/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Procol Harum — Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
(SALVOCD023, 1972/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Broken Barricades Procol Harum — Broken Barricades
(Repertoire REP 4980, 1971/2002, CD)
Procol Harum — 30th Anniversary Anthology Procol Harum — 30th Anniversary Anthology
(Westside WESX 301, 1970/1997, 3CD)
Liquorice John Death — Ain't Nothin' to Get Excited About Liquorice John Death — Ain't Nothin' to Get Excited About
(Repertoire REP 4982, 1970/2002, CD)
Procol Harum — Home Procol Harum — Home
(SALVOCD021, 1970/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — A Salty Dog Procol Harum — A Salty Dog
(SALVOCD020, 1969/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Shine on Brightly Procol Harum — Shine on Brightly
(SALVOCD018, 1968/2009, CD)
Procol Harum — Procol Harum (AKA A Whiter Shade of Pale) Procol Harum — Procol Harum (AKA A Whiter Shade of Pale)
(Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22497, 1967/2015, 2CD)

Latest news

2020-09-09
Simeon Coxe RIP – Simeon Coxe, best known for his experimental electronics in the band Silver Apples, has died at the age of 82. The band's 1968 debut album set the stage for both German electronic music and experimental punk music a decade later. Coxe died on September 8 from pulmonary fibrosis. » Read more

2020-09-05
Gary Peacock RIP – Legendary bassist Gary Peacock, veteran of many recordings and performances with Paul Bley, George Russell, Roland Kirk, Bill Evans, Tony Williams, and many more. » Read more

2020-07-22
Tim Smith RIP – Tim Smith, leader of the eccentric band Cardiacs, has died at the age of 59 after many years of health problems. Cardiacs was known for intense and complicated music that combined punk energy with the rhythmic and harmonic sophistication of progressive rock. » Read more

2020-07-12
Judy Dyble RIP – Singer-songwriter Judy Dyble, who was a founding member of Fairport Convention and one of the distinctive voices of the 60s folk revival in Britain, has died at the age of 71. Her passing came at the end of a long illness, though which she continued to work. » Read more

2020-07-06
Ennio Morricone RIP – Famed composer Ennio Morricone has died at the age of 91. The creator of scores for more than 500 movies, some of his works have become the most recognizable sounds in the history of cinema. His soundtracks for Sergio Leone's Westerns made from 1964 to 1971, are iconic landmarks in film music, but he also composed for dramas, comedies, and other genres. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2016 for The Hateful Eight. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Church of Hawkwind - Church of Hawkwind – [this was written about the 1994 reissue on Griffin Records - ed.] The 1982 incarnation of Hawkwind that wrote Church of Hawkwind comprised Dave "Baron von" Brock, Harvey Bainbridge, Huw...  (1994) » Read more

Nyl - Nyl – This prog rock quartet from Russia aims at two often hefty contrasting concepts: commercialism and ingenuity. It’s amazing how a complex structure flows out in a sing-song refrain. You can’t...  (2005) » Read more

Donovan - The Donovan Concert: Live in L.A. – 60s folk icon Donovan appeared at the Kodak Theater in LA on his 2007 tour to a packed house of acolytes from the Transcendental Meditation foundation (led by filmmaker David Lynch). From the get-go,...  (2009) » Read more

James Coleman - Zuihutsu – We’re all familiar with the swooping outer-space sound of the theremin, the venerable electronic instrument played by waving the hands in the air around an antenna, so when I received a copy of a...  (2003) » Read more

Asia - Archiva 1 & 2 – Probably the best question to ask at this point is: What relevance does Asia have within the context of a progressive rock journal? By now the question is largely rhetorical because the answer is...  (1997) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

If Syd Barrett were still making music, we wouldn't need Vibravoid

More recommendations
Paul Sears - Angels & Demons That Play book

Print issues