I'm reasonably sure I saw Procol in concert more times than any other band I can think of. In any case, with their flawless admixture of Bob Dylan, J.S. Bach, gospel organ and piano, and Ray Charles, they were -- unquestionably -- the only prog band that ever mattered.
As I've been saying too often lately, this death shit is really starting to piss me off.
8 comments:
RIP one of the great singers in R&R. Loved his rendition of Old Brown Show in the wonderful Concert for George.
Sad, sad and sad.
Your description of them being a mixture of Dylan, Bach and Ray Charles is so totally spot on.
Vince
I loved Procol Harum.
Steve, it was your “Finest Band in Christendom” feature in Stereo Review (January 1973) first that turned me on to the band. I bought the back catalog and fell in love with Shine on Brightly and A Salty Dog. I spent hours learning the guitar duet in “Toujours l’Amour” on Grand Hotel. I remember feeling crushed when Procol’s Ninth came out - where had the songwriting magic gone? And I remember feeling sad when I learned singular drummer BJ Wilson had died.
RIP Gary Brooker and thanks for the memories.
I'm at a loss of words at how his death saddens me. Steve, I attended my first Procol Harum show with you at The Anderson Theater. in February 1968, a magical night.
Procol Harum live and on record provided me with some of my greatest musical moments, Brooker was humble, hardworking and amazingly talented.
And a gentlemen the few times I met him!
I guess I did have a few works of tribute for a very special man!
Allan Rosenberg
My memory of Procol was seeing them live after their first album came out. (It may have been with you Steve.) It was one of the top live shows I ever have seen. I was astounded at how flawlessly they reproduced the album tracks live. The stately, baroque, majesty of the songs was mesmerizing. And so different from most everything else that was out there at the time!
And when they finished, they went offstage.
When came back for their encore, they absolutely blew my mind because instead of more of the same, which I expected, they did Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis type of stuff! I couldn’t believe they could do that stuff too!!
I’ve always loved harmony singing; but I don’t think there was any of that that night. Broker’s voice commanded the stage all by himself.
Truly, one of the greats!
Salty Dog was a "great" album - imo.
It made me rediscover them
Steve, I also discovered Procol Harum (and you) through your piece in the January 1973 issue of Stereo Review. Your enthusiasm and vivid prose persuaded me to immerse myself in their music, and I acquired all their albums in short order. Gary Brooker was a seemingly modest man despite his enormous accomplishments — the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with. I never saw the “Old Testament” version of the band, since they never played my home in Montana. I finally made the trek to see them in Seattle in 2012. Even though they were relegated to opening for Yes, their set sparkled. Gary engaged in friendly banter with the audience, saying to cheers at one point, “We’d like to come back and play with your symphony.” I was thrilled to see the band at last! Gary Brooker was a great musician and a great man. + Rest In Peace Gary
I became a Paler after absorbing their first LP, on Deram, which I purchased in 1967 at Wallichs Music City in Hollywood CA on something of a whim. Liked but didn't love WSOP, but had heard "She Wandered Through the Garden Fence" on KRLA-AM and decided to squander my pitiful allowance on the full LP. Well, I tellya. This news broke my heart.
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