Procol Harum Procol Harum (/ˈproʊkəl ˈhɑːrəm/) are an English rock 1.2 “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, commercial band formed in 1967. They contributed to the develop- success and debut album (1967) ment of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 hit single At Olympic Studios, southwest London, with session "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which is considered a classic drummer (and non-Paramount) Bill Eyden, producer of popular music and is one of the few singles to have sold Denny Cordell and sound engineer Keith Grant, the over 10 million copies.[1] Although noted for its baroque group recorded "A Whiter Shade of Pale", and it was re- and classical influence, Procol Harum’s music also em- leased on 12 May 1967. With a structure reminiscent of braces the blues, R&B and soul. Baroque music, a countermelody based on J. S. Bach's In October 2012, the band was nominated for induction Orchestral Suite N° 3 in D Major by Fisher’s Hammond into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[2] organ, Brooker’s soulful vocals and Reid’s mysterious lyrics, the single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and the Canadian RPM Magazine chart. It did almost as well in the United States, reaching No. 5.[3] In Australia, 1 History it was No. 1 for many weeks, setting a record of 8 weeks in Melbourne. 1.1 Origins, The Paramounts, early years After “A Whiter Shade of Pale” became a hit, the band set out to consolidate their studio success by touring; and formation (1964–67) their live debut was opening for Jimi Hendrix in 1967. The group’s follow-up single, "Homburg", with a line-up The Paramounts, based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, led change of former Paramounts B.J. Wilson on drums and by Gary Brooker and Robin Trower and including Chris Robin Trower on guitar, reached No. 6 in the UK, No. Copping and B. J. Wilson, scored a moderate British suc- 15 in Canada, and No. 34 in the US. cess in 1964 with their version of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Poison Ivy", which reached number 35 in the The group’s eponymous debut studio album was recorded UK Singles Chart. Unable to generate any follow-up suc- between the two hit singles, but was held back until early cess, the group disbanded in 1966.[3] 1968. A series of singles charted lowly in the US and UK, though rarely both at the same time. The Paramounts were signed to EMI UK for their re- leases; until one day before Procol Harum linked with EMI UK again, they were called The Pinewoods. A 1.3 Follow-up albums and break-up last-minute offer from Chris Blackwell's fledgling Island (1968–1977) Records label was given the thumbs down by Brooker and band. The band’s follow-up album, Shine On Brightly, was re- In April 1967, Brooker began working as a singer- leased the following year and sees a greater excursion into songwriter and formed Procol Harum with non- progressive rock stylings. Their third album, A Salty Dog Paramounts Keith Reid (poet), Hammond organist (1969), was popular among fans and their first album to Matthew Fisher, guitarist Ray Royer and bassist David sell well in the UK. The title track in particular gained a Knights.[3] Guy Stevens, their original manager, named good deal of US FM radio airplay. However, one noted the band after a friend’s Burmese cat.[4] The cat’s US writer previewed the LP and the story ran in print as "Cat Fancy" name was Procul Harun, Procul being the “A Salty Duck”. Fisher, who produced the album, de- breeder’s prefix.[5] parted the band soon after its release.[3] In the absence of a definitive origin, the name attracted The group would have many personnel changes,[9] but various interpretations,[6] being said to be Latin for “be- their line-up for their first three albums was Brooker (pi- yond these things” (but the correct Latin translation of ano and lead vocals), Trower (guitar and lead vocals), “beyond these things” is “Procul his”)[7] or translated as Fisher (organ and lead vocals), Knights (bass), Wilson “of these far off things”, the genitive plural “harum” per- (drums), and Reid (lyricist). Former Paramount Chris haps agreeing with an understood “rerum”, “things”.[8] Copping joined on organ and bass in 1970.[3] The group The name of the band is frequently misspelt; often with appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970.[10] By 1971, “Procul”, “Harem”, both, or other variations. the disparities in style had become too great and, after 1 2 1 HISTORY the release of their fifth album Broken Barricades, Trower 1.5 2000s left to form his own power trio band and was replaced by Dave Ball.[3] From late 1972 until 1977, the group’s gui- In 2000, Procol Harum received some attention after tarist was Mick Grabham. By 1968 their first compilation the song “In Held Twas in I” appeared on the band album In Concert 1968 was released but only in Germany. Transatlantic’s debut album. Procol Harum returned to success on the record charts in Since 2001 the band, comprising Brooker, Fisher, Geoff the following years with a symphonic rock sound, often Whitehorn (guitar), Matt Pegg (bass) and Mark Brzezicki backed by symphony orchestras. At this they were one (drums), has made several tours of mostly Europe, but of the first groups to achieve success; Procol Harum Live: also Japan and the US. A 2001 concert in Copenhagen, In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was a Denmark was released on DVD in 2002. In 2003 the No. 5 gold album in the US in 1972, as well as reaching band released a new studio album, The Well’s on Fire, No. 48 in Britain. "Conquistador" (a track from their first and appeared at the Progman Cometh festival in Seattle. album, re-charted for accompaniment by the Edmonton Their concert in London on Friday 12 December 2003, Symphony in 1971) was a hit single in 1972, getting to with much of the material from that album, was released No. 16 in the US and No. 7 in Canada, whilst reaching on DVD in 2004: Live at the Union Chapel. Fisher left No. 22 in the UK. Their follow-up album, Grand Hotel, Procol Harum in 2004. did fairly well, reaching No. 21 on the US Billboard 200 in 1973.[3] The album also received a Silver Certification The band resumed a limited touring schedule in 2005, (over 60, 000 copies sold) in the United Kingdom. with Josh Phillips replacing Fisher on Hammond, leav- ing Brooker as the only original performing member. In In 1975 Procol Harum played the final night at the June 2006 they played at the Isle of Wight Festival. In Rainbow Theatre in London.[11] More personnel changes August they played two outdoor concerts with the Danish contributed to declining sales in the later part of the Radio Orchestra at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark, which 1970s, with “Pandora’s Box” being their final UK Top 20 were tele-recorded. An hour-long edit of the show was hit in 1975.[3] Its parent album, Procol’s Ninth saw a re- broadcast on Christmas morning, 2008 on Danish Chan- connection with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller who both nel DR2 and the full concert was issued on DVD on 11 produced and wrote with the band. The band broke up May 2009 (with six extra tracks from a Danish television in 1977, after seeing Something Magic stall at No. 147 in recording of the band from 1974). the US Billboard 200 chart.[11] They reunited for a single performance five months later, when “A Whiter Shade Later in 2006 they played in Switzerland, Norway and of Pale” was named joint winner (along with Queen's Denmark, but with Geoff Dunn replacing Brzezicki on "Bohemian Rhapsody") of the Best British Pop Single drums, because the latter’s other band Casbah Club was 1952–1977 at the BRIT Awards, part of Queen Elizabeth touring with The Who.[14] However, Dunn ended up re- II's Silver Jubilee.[12] placing Brzezicki for the band’s European tour in 2007. Recording from the Italian concerts were later released as One Eye to the Future – Live in Italy 2007. Procol Harum also played an orchestral concert in Sweden on 30 June. 1.4 Reformation and the 'Nineties (1991- They performed with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra at 1999) the outdoor opera venue Dalhalla, near Rättvik. On 20 and 21 July 2007, fans arranged the celebration of The band reformed in 1991 with Brooker, Fisher, Trower the 40th anniversary of the success of “A Whiter Shade and Reid (Wilson had died in 1990), and released The of Pale”, and invited the band to play. This took the form Prodigal Stranger, but sales were modest.[11] After the of two concerts at St John’s, Smith Square in London. album’s release, a new incarnation of the band, with 20 July saw Procol Harum play a mixture of songs from Brooker and Fisher but not Trower, toured the US and their early days through to the début of a couple of new the world for a few years in the first half of the 1990s.[3] songs, “Sister Mary” and “Missing Persons”. The follow- ing night 'Gary Brooker and Guests’ performed a fixture In August 1995 Procol Harum played at the Cropredy of obscure songs by Brooker–Reid that had either never Music Festival, as guests of Fairport Convention.