{"title":"Procol Harum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProcol Harum was formed in 1967 by singer and pianist \u003ci\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/i\u003e, after the disbandment of a rhythm \u0026amp; blues band. Their first single, \"A Whiter Shade of Pale,\" co-written by Brooker and Reid, became a #1 hit and established them as pioneers of symphonic rock. Although subsequent albums and singles didn't achieve the same level of success, Procol Harum's unique sound continued to captivate audiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe original line-up for their first single included Gary Brooker on vocals and piano, Matthew Fisher on Hammond organ, David Knights on bass, Ray Royer on guitar, and drums by session drummer Bill Eyden. After a hiatus, Procol Harum re-formed in 1991 with Brooker on vocals and piano, Keith Reid providing lyrics, Fisher on Hammond organ, along with guest musicians Dave Bronze on bass, Mark Brzezicki on drums, and Jerry Stevenson playing mandolin and guitar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith their distinctive blend of rock music infused with symphonic elements, Procol Harum has carved out a unique place in the music industry. Fans of artists like The Moody Blues or Emerson Lake \u0026amp; Palmer will appreciate Procol Harum's innovative sound that pushes boundaries while captivating listeners.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"shine-on-brightly-3","title":"Shine On Brightly","description":"\u003cp\u003eReleased in the USA in September 1968 and in the UK in December of the same year, \u003cem\u003eShine On Brightly\u003c\/em\u003e followed on from the huge international success in 1967 of the band’s debut single ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ and the follow-up single ‘Homburg’. The album built on the creative path begun on Procol Harum’s self-titled debut album issued in January 1968.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/strong\u003e (voice, piano), \u003cstrong\u003eRobin Trower\u003c\/strong\u003e (lead guitar), \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Knights\u003c\/strong\u003e (bass guitar), \u003cstrong\u003eB.J. Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e (drums), and \u003cstrong\u003eMatthew Fisher\u003c\/strong\u003e (Hammond organ) took the music of the band to new heights with their second album. Dominated by the 17-minute epic suite ‘In Held ‘Twas In I’, Procol Harum re-wrote the rule book of popular music with the material written and recorded for \u003cem\u003eShine On Brightly\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis new vinyl edition of this classic album has been cut at Abbey Road Studios and utilizes the gatefold sleeve design of the September 1968 US release.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black LP.","offer_id":50397018653003,"sku":"2168887","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ProcolHarumShineOnBrightly_749b9186_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726487376"},{"product_id":"a-salty-dog","title":"A Salty Dog","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Salty Dog\u003c\/i\u003e is the third studio album by English progressive rock band Procol Harum, originally released in 1969. The album has an ostensibly nautical theme, as indicated by its cover (a pastiche of the famous Player's Navy Cut cigarette pack).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Salty Dog\u003c\/i\u003e showed a slight change of direction from its predecessors, being thematically less obscure. The title track itself was their first track with an orchestra, as would be referred to in the live album performance some three years later.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn his retrospective review, Bruce Eder of AllMusic wrote, \"This album was where they showed just how far their talents extended across the musical landscape, from blues to R\u0026amp;B to classical rock. In contrast to their hastily recorded debut, or its successor, done to stretch their performance and composition range\", calling the title track \"one of the finest songs ever to come from Procol Harum and one of the best pieces of progressive rock ever heard\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50407093764427,"sku":"1161571","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/74d4db65-b07e-44ed-bf07-7179f9933588_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726594496"},{"product_id":"sight-and-sound-77","title":"Sight and Sound  77","description":"\u003cp\u003eBest known for their timeless classic “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” the music of Procol Harum defied categorization. The music blended intricate melodies, poetic lyrics and Gary Brooker's haunting vocals to create a sound that was both compelling and ethereal. This is a legendary BBC recording and one of Procol Harum's last live shows before they went dormant for over 13 years. An unforgettable live experience now captured on this vinyl release.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cult Legends","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50445338345803,"sku":"2207409","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8717662594458_feea8939_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727036662"},{"product_id":"missing-persons-alive-forever","title":"Missing Persons (Alive Forever)","description":"\u003cp\u003eEsoteric Antenna release a new CD EP by the legendary \u003cstrong\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/strong\u003e – \u003cem\u003eMissing Persons\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCompleted during lockdown conditions imposed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, the EP title track is a poignant and emotive song in the finest musical tradition of \u003cstrong\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cem\u003eWar is Not Healthy\u003c\/em\u003e is also a fine observation of war and its impact on humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith the lyrical subject matter of both songs being particularly apt for the times we live in, this new music from \u003cstrong\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/strong\u003e is timely.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Antenna","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50460743827787,"sku":"1117448","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/79454a32-d3fb-42b3-a966-f28fc596836f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727237520"},{"product_id":"the-european-broadcasts-1971-to-1977","title":"The European Broadcasts, 1971 to 1977","description":"\u003cp\u003eHaving helped define the 60s with A Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum's music took on a great many colours throughout the following decade, as their psychedelicised baroque pop shaded into art rock and progressive rock across such albums as Broken Barricades (1971), Procol's Ninth (1975) and their final studio release for 14 years, Something Magic (1977). Recorded for broadcast on French, British and German TV, the three performances gathered together on The European Broadcasts 1971 To 1977 find the group on enchanting form, whether delivering early classics such as 'Conquistador' and 'A Salty Dog' or pulling ever more startling tricks out of the bag on latter-day favourites 'Pandora's Box' and 'Wizard Man'. A Whiter Shade Of Pale makes an obligatory appearance, but it's testament to Procol Harum's catalogue that the performances surrounding it are just as dazzling.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nova Tunes","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50478687846731,"sku":"2023814","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_aff7fe2a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727488822"},{"product_id":"shine-on-brightly-4","title":"Shine On Brightly","description":"\u003cp\u003eProcol Harum was a big contributor to the development of symphonic rock, and by extension, progressive rock. During the 50th year anniversary of the debut album Procol Harum, both this and the second album release are reissued by Music On Vinyl.\u003ci\u003e Shine On Brightly\u003c\/i\u003e is the second studio album by English rock band Procol Harum. The title of the epic \"In Held 'Twas in I\" is an acrostic, taking the first word from the first movement as well as the first word from a verse later in the movement as well as the first word from each of the three successive movements as shown in the track listing. \u003ci\u003eShine On Brightly\u003c\/i\u003e was influential in the development of progressive rock by breaking pop and rock music standards with the 17-minute epic \"In Held 'Twas in I\", which marked the beginning of the lengthy progressive rock suites that would occur later in the 1970s. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50480106832203,"sku":"2208932","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Shine_On_Brightly_2009_Remaster_d2404d78_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727516417"},{"product_id":"broken-barricades-expanded-edition","title":"Broken Barricades: Expanded Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003eEsoteric Recordings presents the re-mastered and expanded 3 CD clamshell box edition of the classic 1971 album by \u003cstrong\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/strong\u003e; \u003cem\u003eBroken Barricades\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing a line-up of \u003cstrong\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/strong\u003e (vocals, piano), \u003cstrong\u003eChris Copping\u003c\/strong\u003e (organ, bass guitar), \u003cstrong\u003eRobin Trower\u003c\/strong\u003e (guitar, vocals) and \u003cstrong\u003eB.J. Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e (drums), \u003cem\u003eBroken Barricades\u003c\/em\u003e was released in June 1971 as the band’s fifth album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis album showcased diverse styles with tracks such as \"\u003cem\u003eSimple Sister\u003c\/em\u003e,\" \"\u003cem\u003eMemorial Drive\u003c\/em\u003e,\" \"\u003cem\u003eLuskus Delph\u003c\/em\u003e,\" \"\u003cem\u003eSong for a Dreamer\u003c\/em\u003e,\" \"\u003cem\u003ePower Failure\u003c\/em\u003e,\" and the title track, and was a Top Fifty hit in both Europe and the USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis expanded edition has been newly re-mastered and includes 36 bonus tracks, with 32 being previously unreleased. These bonus tracks feature the complete live concert for WPLJ FM in New York City from April 1971, the entire session for the BBC Radio One show “Sounds of the 70s” from October 1971, and a previously unreleased Swedish radio concert in Stockholm, also from October 1971.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe release comes with a lavishly illustrated booklet containing material from \u003cstrong\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/strong\u003e’s personal archive and an essay by \u003cstrong\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/strong\u003e authority Roland Clare, featuring exclusive commentary by \u003cstrong\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eRobin Trower\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eKeith Reid\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50489279578443,"sku":"1064972","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/c86d054e-34ab-4a36-a274-b5b8c393f4fd_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727641446"},{"product_id":"procol-harum","title":"Procol Harum","description":"\u003cp\u003eNewly remastered vinyl edition of the classic 1968 self-titled debut album by Procol Harum. Originally released in January 1968, the LP followed on from the huge international success of the band’s debut single ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ and the follow up single ‘Homburg’. Cut at Abbey Road Studios, this new vinyl edition of \u003cem\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/em\u003e includes a bonus 12-inch EP featuring the classic singles ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ and ‘Homburg’, along with their B-sides.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the finest releases of the era Procol Harum captured the exquisite song writing of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid and the excellence of the musicians in the group, namely Brooker (voice, piano), Robin Trower (lead guitar), David Knights (bass guitar), B.J. Wilson (drums) and Matthew Fisher (Hammond organ). The overall result was a collection of songs that would prove to be truly ground-breaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Black","offer_id":53022138433867,"sku":"R7321-3833","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Screenshot2025-07-25at21.43.02.png?v=1753514214"},{"product_id":"grand-hotel","title":"Grand Hotel","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn expanded 2-disc edition of \u003cb\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/b\u003e’s acclaimed \u003ci\u003eGrand Hotel\u003c\/i\u003e, first released in March 1973. It was the first album to feature \u003cb\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/b\u003e (piano, vocals), \u003cb\u003eAlan Cartwright\u003c\/b\u003e (bass), \u003cb\u003eChris Copping\u003c\/b\u003e (organ), \u003cb\u003eMick Grabham\u003c\/b\u003e (guitars) and \u003cb\u003eB.J. Wilson\u003c\/b\u003e (drums), and still stands as one of the band’s most distinctive records.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the richly orchestrated title track to \u003ci\u003eFor Liquorice John\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFires (Which Burnt Brightly)\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBringing Home The Bacon\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eToujours L’Amour\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRobert’s Box\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGrand Hotel\u003c\/i\u003e moves with real breadth and character. The NME called it “A masterpiece of musical perfection and lyricism,” and it remains one of \u003cb\u003eProcol Harum\u003c\/b\u003e’s best loved works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition adds five bonus tracks, three previously unreleased, from the early sessions, plus a DVD (NTSC \/ Region Free) with a previously unreleased \u003cb\u003eRTBF\u003c\/b\u003e television performance filmed in Belgium in November 1973. Also included are a replica of the original LP book and an illustrated booklet with material from \u003cb\u003eGary Brooker\u003c\/b\u003e’s archive and an essay by \u003cb\u003eRoland Clare\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"2CD","offer_id":58224160407883,"sku":"R5349-4338","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_5bdc2b33-c851-48a8-a3e8-89c0819450cf.jpg?v=1787389540"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_ef88cdd1_thumbnail_4096_4dbffc14-eb2b-4b57-a359-f426a85fb08f.jpg?v=1726487354","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/procol-harum.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}