Procol Harum – Procol Harum

Procol Harum – Procol Harum

Procol Harum is the 1967 debut studio album from "Procol Harum", one of the pioneering records of British psychedelic and progressive rock. Produced by Denny Cordell and recorded at Olympic Studios in London between April and June 1967, the album combines Gary Brooker's distinctive piano and vocals with Matthew Fisher's Hammond organ, Robin Trower's guitar, Dave Knights' bass and B.J. Wilson's drums.

The album followed the extraordinary success of "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", although the original UK LP deliberately omitted the hit single. The UK version was issued by Regal Zonophone in December 1967 as catalogue LRZ 1001, with the ten-track programme beginning with "Conquistador" and ending with the expansive "Repent Walpurgis". The US Deram edition used a different configuration and included "A Whiter Shade Of Pale".

Musically, Procol Harum occupies a fascinating position between psychedelic rock, early progressive rock, classical influence and British art rock. "Conquistador" combines a dramatic piano-and-organ foundation with Robin Trower's guitar, while "She Wandered Through The Garden Fence", "Something Following Me" and "Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of)" demonstrate the band's unusually sophisticated songwriting and atmospheric arrangements for the period.

The closing "Repent Walpurgis" is particularly notable for Matthew Fisher's organ work and its classical influences. Fisher incorporated elements derived from J.S. Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier, alongside other musical ideas, helping establish the blend of rock and classical vocabulary that would become important to progressive rock.

For fans of Procol Harum, The Moody Blues, early King Crimson, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, British art rock and 1960s organ-driven rock, this original self-titled debut captures the band at the beginning of their career and is an important early example of the emerging progressive-rock sound.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Conquistador
2. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence
3. Something Following Me
4. Mabel
5. Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of)

Side B

1. A Christmas Camel
2. Kaleidoscope
3. Salad Days (Are Here Again)
4. Good Captain Clack
5. Repent Walpurgis