Procol Harum Audio Cassette, CD's & Vinyl Record Albums

Procol Harum is a British progressive rock band, formed in the early 1960s. They are best known for their #1 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", though they have had a devoted cult following throughout their career. The roots of Procol Harum are in a live band led by Gary Brooker and Robin Trower called The Paramounts, popular performers in the early 1960s. They signed to Parlophone in 1963 (see 1963 in music) and released "Poison Ivy", a moderate British success in 1964 (see 1964 in music). They were unable to recreate this success, however, and the band fell apart in 1966 (see 1966 in music). Brooker began working as a songwriter and soon formed a band called The Pinewoods, who recorded "A Whiter Shade of Pale" before changing names to Procol Harum. With the sudden success of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and The Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin", their label Deram Records became known as the premiere progressive rock label. With its haunting tonality and Bach flavouring, both provided by Hammond organist Matthew Fisher, soulful vocals and mysterious lyrics, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached #1 on the British charts and did almost as well in the United States, reaching #5. In the years since, it has become an enduring classic, placing on several polls of the best songs ever. The group would have many personnel changes [1], but their "classic" lineup for their first three albums was Gary Brooker (piano and lead vocals), Robin Trower (guitar and lead vocals), Matthew Fisher (organ and lead vocals), David Knights (bass), B.J. Wilson (drums), and Keith Reid (lyricist). Between 1973 and 1977, the group's guitarist was Mick Grabham, a very worthy successor to Trower. Procol Harum produced a unique sound that emphasized Brooker's melancholy vocals and an evocative mix of his classically-trained piano, Fisher's elegant, church-like organ, and Trower's searing guitar licks, along with frequent black humour and a penchant for unpredictable experimentation.