Theres alot more to them than Whiter Shade of Pale - their albums are all being re-released at the moment. Its a good time to consider them ....

I'm with you on this one 73, I've got three of their albums and quite enjoyable they are too but not a patch on the 'live' performances. I had the good fortune to see them supporting Jethro Tull, they were superb, I'd have happily paid to see either of them so what a bonus.
They're still knocking out the odd concert to this day, I saw them on the box a couple of months ago, Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher being the only originals.

......and where were you when I ask for a round for TYA! Nada, zip!............then you come on here asking for us to support your band. Bloody cheek I call it. Anyway they put salt on dogs and I'm not going to stand for that at all. No I'm just not having it I tell you.

I once bought 'Procol's Ninth' on the strength of 'Pandora's Box'. I soon wished I hadn't. Keyboards too prominent, not enough guitar, preposterous lyrics. ELP-lite, in fact.

A big, resounding 'nay', I'm afraid.

Mark - I didn't realise Fisher and Brooker were still working together after the 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' royalty case. Was this recently?

They were great in their early days, though for some reason never bought one their albums, but I heard many. I have considered buying All This and More ... (3CD & DVD).

"Remember how good it could be"

I've got all their stuff...as knocked out mentioned, because of the early success of 'Whiter Shade..' there later work/albums tended to be overlooked. I preferred the albums with Robin Trower on and my favourite albums are 'A Salty Dog' (an absolute classic in my book) and the much harder rock on 'Home' which had some of Trower's best work (''Whisky Train'' and ''About To Die''). Good stuff knocked out!! Makes a change from your more usual barking mad posts!

wow I have been away but never have I seen a thread I have hesitantly openned grow : sorry Mr Anderson a round for TYA, I don't follow you...Mr Kibble sounds like a good show, I saw Procal Harem in Brum Town Hall in 70s supported by Viv Stanshall - it was fine.
Tripmender (great name) - haven't heard 9th for a while but there a song Unquiet Zone on it that is piano heavy but I remember it fondly...Wow, I didn't know about the compilation Mr Deadhead I'll go and have a look at it. Mr Schizoid you have the lot - fair play Sir, I am - as ever - outgunned, on an unrelated matter I would lke to thank you for pointing me back to King Crimson who I gradually scraping the surface of....my medication is more effective so the barking mad stuff will fade away, at least until the relapse.

Was the 'gunned' pun intentional 73? Schiz supports Arsenal, I agree Schiz, Salty dog is immense, closely followed by the debut album.

S.C; they've been shown on sky arts (I think) recently, not too sure when it was filmed but they were no spring chickens so I would guess sometime within the last five years. They did a concert in what looked like a church, chap called Pegg (not Dave) played bass, to answer Trip in concert the guitarwork was always more prominent, I forget his name but the guitarist about blew the roof off on 'whiskey train' .... mustard.

Side note for SC; further to my message the other day about the Charlotte, theres ructions going off now, the owners want to renovate the building changing it into students flats, stand by for more fireworks. Thats topical innit.

Cheers mate - I'll look forward to the next bulletin.

think the procols are incredibly underrated - although I've heard v little of the later (proggier?) stuff... first 4 albums are excellent - check out stuff like "a christmas camel" on the first album - soulful, passionate, charged, knocks the spots off the likes of Traffic. "Whiter shade of pale" was a millstone that even now stops them getting their due...

oh, and "in held Twas In I" is a rock suite that actually repays repeated listening (although Brookers monologue at the start is beyond comic...)

It's HARUM, not HAREM!!

Well spotted that man!

oops sorry Martin, I'll get me coat.

Just watched Procol Harum on youtube - repent walpurgis - its good. Their name came from a cat who was called procol harem which was latin for beyond, and was mispelt....no I have that wrong but there is something in it.

What???? a budgie?

Just noticed there are loads od 40th anniversary editions out, Anyone know how good they are soundwise.

My copies are from earlier releases Peter and they're OK, I can't see the record companies taking a backward step regarding quality, the only thing to watch for is possible remixing (hope they haven't).

Peter I have got the first 6 remasters 40th editions they sound the same as the Repertiore remasters to me so only worth getting if you don't have the Repertiore versions, I don't think I'll bother with the Something Magic one, as one side of it is utter nonsense to me. I will buy the Exotic Birds and Fruit and Ninth remasters though.
best bones
B.O.F.

Yes I have always liked procol's ninth - unquiet zone, fools gold, couple of nice versions - I might even buy the cd as opposed to cherry-picking downloads.....

there was no budgie involved

I think they were named after Guy Stevens' moggy. At least it wasn't called Tiddles!

Yes because the 1970s prog rockers Tiddles (famous for the triple disc, Roger Dean gate-fold sleeved, mega-album Space Dreams of the Wizard's Cat) whose work later inspired Andrew Lloyds-Bank to extend the T.S. Eliot-Ness-Monsters's hugely succesful musical Pussy would have objected to Procol borrowing their miaow-moniker - who spiked my drink ? and with what?