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Procol Harum (album)
Encyclopedia
Procol Harum is the self-titled first album by British rock band Procol Harum
, released in September 1967. The original Deram release of the LP included a large poster of the album cover artwork by Dickinson.
Though the album was recorded on multi-track, it was issued in mono-only in the UK, and in mono and rechanneled stereo in the US. Despite extensive searching, the original multi-track tapes have not been located and thus a stereo mix of the original 10 tracks may never be possible. Several alternate takes (marked + in the list, below), however, have been mixed into stereo and are available on CD.
and Keith Reid
, except when noted.
and Keith Reid
, except when noted.
and Keith Reid
, except when noted.
All songs written by Gary Brooker
(music) and Keith Reid
(lyrics), except "Repent Walpurgis" written by Matthew Fisher
, after works by French organist Charles-Marie Widor
and German composer Johann Sebastian Bach
. In 2005, Matthew Fisher filed suit in the Royal Courts of Justice against Gary Brooker and his publisher, claiming that Fisher co-wrote the music for "A Whiter Shade of Pale". According to cnn.com, on July 30, 2009 the House of Lords issued a final verdict on the case. A lower court had ruled in Fisher's favor in 2006, granting him co-writing credits and a share of the royalties. A higher court partly overturned the ruling in 2008, giving Fisher co-writing credit but no money. The Court of Appeal had previously held that Fisher had waited too long to bring his claim to court. The House of Lords disagreed, stating there was no time limitation for such claims. Lord David Neuberger of Abbotsbury's opinion stated: "Fisher's subsequent contribution was significant, and, especially the introductory eight bars, an important factor in the work's success...".
The track "Salad Days (Are Here Again)" is credited as being from the film Separation
.
The album has been repackaged and reissued many times. Two of the significant reissues are:
s "50 Albums That Built Prog Rock".
On "A Whiter Shade of Pale" only:
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which 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"...
, released in September 1967. The original Deram release of the LP included a large poster of the album cover artwork by Dickinson.
Though the album was recorded on multi-track, it was issued in mono-only in the UK, and in mono and rechanneled stereo in the US. Despite extensive searching, the original multi-track tapes have not been located and thus a stereo mix of the original 10 tracks may never be possible. Several alternate takes (marked + in the list, below), however, have been mixed into stereo and are available on CD.
Original UK release
All songs written by Gary BrookerGary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
and Keith Reid
Keith Reid
Keith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
, except when noted.
Side one
- "Conquistador" - 2:42 †
- "She Wandered Through the Garden Fence" (two versions of this song were released--one with a 'firm' ending, not a 'fade-out') - 3:29 †
- "Something Following Me" - 3:40 †
- "Mabel" - 1:55
- "Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of)" - 5:07 †
Side two
- "A Christmas Camel" - 4:54
- "Kaleidoscope" - 2:57 †
- "Salad Days (Are Here Again)" - 3:44 *
- "Good Captain Clack" - 1:32
- "Repent Walpurgis" (Matthew FisherMatthew FisherMatthew Fisher is an English organist and singer-songwriter, and was responsible for the organ sound on the 1967 single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.-Biography:...
) - 5:05 †
-
-
- From The Film, SeparationSeparation (1967 film)Separation, a film produced in 1967 and released in 1968, was written by and starred Jane Arden and directed by Jack Bond. The film explores the life of a middle-aged woman following the breakdown of her marriage...
- From The Film, Separation
- † alternates takes exist in stereo
-
Original U.S. release
All songs written by Gary BrookerGary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
and Keith Reid
Keith Reid
Keith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
, except when noted.
- "A Whiter Shade of PaleA Whiter Shade of Pale"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
" - 4:04 - "She Wandered Through the Garden Fence" - 3:18
- "Something Following Me" - 3:37
- "Mabel" - 1:50
- "Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of)" - 5:04
- "A Christmas Camel" - 4:48
- "Conquistador" - 2:38
- "Kaleidoscope" / "Salad Days (Are Here Again)" - 6:31
- "Repent Walpurgis" (Matthew FisherMatthew FisherMatthew Fisher is an English organist and singer-songwriter, and was responsible for the organ sound on the 1967 single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.-Biography:...
) - 5:05
German LP release (Polydor 184 115)
All songs written by Gary BrookerGary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
and Keith Reid
Keith Reid
Keith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
, except when noted.
Side one
- "HomburgHomburg (song)Homburg was Procol Harum's follow-up single to their initial 1967 hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale". Written by pianist Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid, "Homburg" reached number 5 in the UK charts, number 15 in Canada, and number 34 in the United States...
" - 3:55 - "She Wandered Through the Garden Fence" - 3:29
- "Something Following Me" - 3:40
- "Mabel" - 1:55
- "Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of)" - 5:07
Side two
- "A Christmas Camel" - 4:54
- "Kaleidoscope" - 2:57
- "Salad Days (Are Here Again)" - 3:44
- "Conquistator" - 1:32
- "Repent Walpurgis" (Matthew FisherMatthew FisherMatthew Fisher is an English organist and singer-songwriter, and was responsible for the organ sound on the 1967 single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.-Biography:...
) - 5:05
CD Release
- "A Whiter Shade of PaleA Whiter Shade of Pale"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
" - 4:06 - "Conquistador" - 2:38
- "She Wandered Through the Garden Fence" - 3:24
- "Something Following Me" - 3:37
- "Mabel" - 1:53
- "Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of)" - 5:03
- "A Christmas Camel" - 4:49
- "Kaleidoscope" - 2:53
- "Salad Days (Are Here Again)" - 3:38
- "Good Captain Clack" - 1:30
- "Repent Walpurgis" - 5:02
Bonus tracks
- "Lime Street Blues" - 2:59
- "HomburgHomburg (song)Homburg was Procol Harum's follow-up single to their initial 1967 hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale". Written by pianist Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid, "Homburg" reached number 5 in the UK charts, number 15 in Canada, and number 34 in the United States...
" - 3:55 - "Monseigneur Armand" - 2:23
- "Seem to Have the Blues All the Time" - 2:46
All songs written by Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
(music) and Keith Reid
Keith Reid
Keith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
(lyrics), except "Repent Walpurgis" written by Matthew Fisher
Matthew Fisher
Matthew Fisher is an English organist and singer-songwriter, and was responsible for the organ sound on the 1967 single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.-Biography:...
, after works by French organist Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor was a French organist, composer and teacher.-Life:Widor was born in Lyon, to a family of organ builders, and initially studied music there with his father, François-Charles Widor, titular organist of Saint-François-de-Sales from 1838 to 1889...
and German composer Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. In 2005, Matthew Fisher filed suit in the Royal Courts of Justice against Gary Brooker and his publisher, claiming that Fisher co-wrote the music for "A Whiter Shade of Pale". According to cnn.com, on July 30, 2009 the House of Lords issued a final verdict on the case. A lower court had ruled in Fisher's favor in 2006, granting him co-writing credits and a share of the royalties. A higher court partly overturned the ruling in 2008, giving Fisher co-writing credit but no money. The Court of Appeal had previously held that Fisher had waited too long to bring his claim to court. The House of Lords disagreed, stating there was no time limitation for such claims. Lord David Neuberger of Abbotsbury's opinion stated: "Fisher's subsequent contribution was significant, and, especially the introductory eight bars, an important factor in the work's success...".
The track "Salad Days (Are Here Again)" is credited as being from the film Separation
Separation (1967 film)
Separation, a film produced in 1967 and released in 1968, was written by and starred Jane Arden and directed by Jack Bond. The film explores the life of a middle-aged woman following the breakdown of her marriage...
.
The album has been repackaged and reissued many times. Two of the significant reissues are:
- Procol Harum...Plus!, a 1998 CD compilation on the Westside label including all the songs from both the Deram and Regal Zonophone releases, plus "Homburg" (The group's second single) and nine additional tracks from the period.
- A monauralMonauralMonaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
, audiophileAudiophileAn audiophile is a person who enjoys listening to recorded music, usually in a home. Some audiophiles are more interested in collecting and listening to music, while others are more interested in collecting and listening to audio components, whose "sound quality" they consider as important as the...
vinyl LP edition released in 2003 by Classic Records, with yet a different track order, including "Homburg" as the opening track, and without "A Whiter Shade of Pale" or "Good Captain Clack." The set includes bonus singles of the original monaural and alternate stereoSTEREOSTEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
versions of "A Whiter Shade of Pale." - Procol Harum's lyricist Keith ReidKeith ReidKeith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
told Songfacts that the music for "Conquistador" was written before the lyrics. He added that this was unusual as "99 out of 100" of the Procol Harum songs back then, "were written the words first, and then were set to music." The live version from the album Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony OrchestraProcol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony OrchestraProcol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, by the UK band Procol Harum, was released in 1972; it was recorded at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 18 November 1971. It is the band's best selling album, certified Gold by the RIAA...
charted as a US single in 1972.
Legacy
The album was named as one of Classic Rock magazineClassic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
s "50 Albums That Built Prog Rock".
Personnel
- Matthew FisherMatthew FisherMatthew Fisher is an English organist and singer-songwriter, and was responsible for the organ sound on the 1967 single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.-Biography:...
– organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... - Dave KnightsDavid KnightsDavid Knights was the original bass guitarist in Procol Harum. He played bass on the hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale". He was in the band long enough to play on their first three albums...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - B.J. WilsonB.J. WilsonBarrie James "B.J." Wilson was an English rock drummer.-Career:Born in Edmonton, London, England, Wilson was the drummer for Procol Harum. He did not play on their first hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale" , but joined the group soon afterwards...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Robin TrowerRobin TrowerRobin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Gary BrookerGary BrookerGary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Keith ReidKeith ReidKeith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
– lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
On "A Whiter Shade of Pale" only:
- Ray Royer (in place of Trower) – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Bill EydenBill EydenBill Eyden was a renowned English jazz drummer....
(in place of Wilson) – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....