There's only two short threads on this band, so I thought they haven't been overdiscussed.I can see someone voting for anything on this list except the three b-sides. The songs from this were staples on the local classic rock station's 1965-1975 Sunday afternoon programming.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:01 (two years ago) link
It's almost definitely "Conquistador" (even though I'm not sure I recall this live version) but I'll try to listen to the whole thing before voting.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:08 (two years ago) link
Seems maybe to be live in Canada, so...
― Bewlay Brothers & Sister Rrose (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:24 (two years ago) link
I only know "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Homburg" tbh. I thought I knew "Conquistador", but I don't recognize it after all.
― Authoritarian Steaks (Tom D.), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:37 (two years ago) link
Of course we didn't have classic rock stations.
The only Procol song I really like (other than the obvious) is Pandora's Box, which isn't on here as even though it dates from this era it wasn't recorded until later. So Whiter it is.
― john p. coltrane in hot pursuit (Matt #2), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:42 (two years ago) link
Oh, it's the version of "Conquistador" with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra? I think that's the only version I know, actually. Maybe it fit the MAPL criteria for Cancon? It's the song I always heard on classic rock radio. Still brought a smile whenever I hear it at the Beer Store pre-COVD.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:43 (two years ago) link
The live "Conquistador" was their other hit in the states.
― blue whales on ambient (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:45 (two years ago) link
Although checking wiki, I see "Homburg" went to #34 Pop, so they actually had 3 Top 40 hits here.
― blue whales on ambient (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:48 (two years ago) link
How did they get connected with Edmonton's (of all places') symphony orchestra?
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:50 (two years ago) link
I don't own anything by this band but I always enjoy them when I listen to them. I sometimes regret missing the chance to seem them from the fences at Bluesfest a couple of years ago.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:51 (two years ago) link
*see
Listening to the original studio version of "Conquistador" now, it seems oddly stripped down.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Sunday, 25 April 2021 14:55 (two years ago) link
Yes, this live version was their second big hit, and probably prompted the release of this greatest hits record (with a picture of a spiral galaxy on the cover, to convince buyers that they were some kind of cosmic space rock). Gary Brooker was talking somewhere about writing the orchestral arrangements on the plane to Edmonton!
I'm pretty sure that Keith Reid was the first full-time non-performing lyricist for a rock band, unless you count some of Brian Wilson's early collaborators. It shows how much rock had changed in 3 years - can you imagine any of the British Invasion groups with a poet in their ranks?
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 25 April 2021 15:52 (two years ago) link
A Salty Dog is worth listening to if you don’t know it. Probably will vote for Conquistador though.
― that's not my post, Sunday, 25 April 2021 16:13 (two years ago) link
i went with a salty dog. the drum entry alone. those rich chords. really nicely put together, perfect prog. just one more iota of bombast would have pushed it over into kitsch.
― Thus Sang Freud, Sunday, 25 April 2021 16:56 (two years ago) link
I'm pretty sure that Keith Reid was the first full-time non-performing lyricist for a rock band, unless you count some of Brian Wilson's early collaborators.
Didn't the Grateful Dead have a non-performing lyricist? And then there's Pete "Pirates" Sinfield too, although maybe he started a bit later.
― john p. coltrane in hot pursuit (Matt #2), Sunday, 25 April 2021 17:51 (two years ago) link
Reid & PH got together about six months/a year before Robert Hunter was working with the Dead, and around two years before Sinfield & Crimson.
Pete Brown working with Cream might just predate Reid, but he wasn't a full-time.
― blue whales on ambient (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 25 April 2021 18:14 (two years ago) link
Cream are almost the opposite phenomenon - by my count, they had five non-members who wrote original lyrics on their three albums (with Pete Brown making the most notable contributions). I'm not sure at what point in Dead history Hunter went from "guy who writes lyrics for Jerry" to full-fledged group member.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 25 April 2021 19:07 (two years ago) link
bernie taupin maybe worth mentioning too, though he met elton '67 compared to '66 for reid & procol harum.
― Thus Sang Freud, Sunday, 25 April 2021 19:21 (two years ago) link
I was thinking of lyricists of "band members" (although Bernie appears in the band photos on Rock of the Westies, at least).
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 25 April 2021 19:24 (two years ago) link
A friend texted me (with the old needs more cowbell joke) whisky train the other day. Cowbell was cool but I did not love the song
― Heez, Sunday, 25 April 2021 19:36 (two years ago) link
later obv but blue oyster cult had partnerships with a lot of outside lyricists (richard meltzer, patti smith, michael moorcock, john shirley), and sandy pearlman did production songwriting, conceptual stuff, imagery, lyrics, you could argue he was the band leader though not actually in the band
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 25 April 2021 19:43 (two years ago) link
though they were around as soft white underbelly in 67, then stalk forest group and some of the early boc material dates to the early days
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 25 April 2021 19:45 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Friday, 30 April 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
"Homburg" is an improvement on "A Whiter Shade of Pale" in terms of lyrics, performance, production and dynamics. "A Salty Dog" doesn't remind me of any other "rock" record except John Cale's "Paris 1919". I'd hate to see either of them ignored.I've seen a few reviews that criticize Gary Brooker's singing. He's no Steve Winwood in terms of range and power, and there's a certain emotional inflexibility to his style, but I think he's particularly skilled at putting over the funny or witty lyrics, and I wouldn't attribute the failure of any Procol Harum song to his vocals.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 30 April 2021 03:22 (two years ago) link
"Homburg" is better than WSOP and Gary Brooker is a good singer. Also John Cale wanted to work with Chris Thomas on Paris 1919 because of his work with Procol Harum
― Authoritarian Steaks (Tom D.), Friday, 30 April 2021 11:59 (two years ago) link
I've never heard the word Conquistador pronounced as "con-kwis-ta-dor" before. I'm assuming that's a UK thing, and not the result of everyone involved failing to correct Gary Brooker's pronunciation?
― enochroot, Friday, 30 April 2021 23:57 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 1 May 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
Interesting, I thought there'd be at least one Robin Trower partisan to vote for "Whiskey Train".
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 1 May 2021 00:13 (two years ago) link
Twas 50 years ago today that Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was recorded.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 18 November 2021 15:22 (two years ago) link
RIP Gary Brooker
https://procolharum.com/gary-brooker-obituary.htm
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 February 2022 15:35 (two years ago) link
oh boy. shine on brightly, gary.
― Thus Sang Freud, Tuesday, 22 February 2022 15:43 (two years ago) link
Oh no, RIP Gary.
― Blu Ray Davies (Tom D.), Tuesday, 22 February 2022 15:44 (two years ago) link
I loved PH a lot as a teen, and even had the organist at my wedding play "Whiter Shade." Even though I haven't really listened to them in decades this news is making me very sad. RIP.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 22 February 2022 15:50 (two years ago) link
i loved them as a teen too, which was long ago. i saw them on the grand hotel tour at c.w. post college. the internet tells me that steeleye span opened(!), but they must not have made a big impression on my teenage self.
― Thus Sang Freud, Tuesday, 22 February 2022 16:09 (two years ago) link
Oh wow what a memory.
― "She has an ibook" - direct quote (I M Losted), Tuesday, 22 February 2022 20:00 (two years ago) link
PH were great though. they played much, much louder than one would expect.
― Thus Sang Freud, Tuesday, 22 February 2022 20:04 (two years ago) link
A gentler song than was typical for them:
Too Much Between Us
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 23 February 2022 17:08 (two years ago) link
Nothing's better left UNsaid
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 30 March 2023 02:54 (one year ago) link