http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.43248&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rssProcol Harum had a genuinely freakish history, transforming from successful R&B journeymen to progenitors of the prog-rock movement, thanks to a major hit with a melody cribbed from Johann Sebastian Bach that came out before they were even a proper band.<br><br> The nascent art rockers began as members of the Paramounts, an R&B outfit featuring pianist Gary Brooker, drummer B. J. Wilson and guitarist Robin Trower. The band -- which the three friends had formed as 14-year-old schoolmates -- not only had a chart hit (with a cover of the Coaster's "Poison Ivy"), they also had the distinction of being named by the Rolling Stones as their favorite British R&B group. But after reaching a respectable #35 with "Poison Ivy," the band never again charted, and were eventually reduced to serving as a backing band for proto-pop stars Sandy Shaw and Chris Andrews.<br><br> In September of 1966, the members went their separate ways, Trower and Wilson joining other bands and Brooker becoming a full-time songwriter with partner Keith Reid. Within a year, the songwriting duo had a prodigious body of work, and assembled a band they inexplicably dubbed the Pinewoods, with Brooker as pianist/singer, Matthew Fisher on organ, Ray Royer on guitar, Dave Knights on bass and Bobby Harrison on drums. Their first effort, produced by Denny (Joe Cocker, Bob Marley, Tom Petty) Cordell, was a brilliant yet esoteric scrap of poetry penned by Reid called "A Whiter Shade of Pale," which Brooker set to music loosely based on Bach's "Air for G String" from Suite No. 3 in D Major. By the time the recording was ready to be released, the Pinewoods had changed members, as well as their name -- taking their new moniker from either Steven's cat, or a rather loose translation of the Latin word, "procul," meaning "far from these things," which reflected the rather occult mood of the 1960s. Cordell sent a copy of this idiosyncratic single to infamous pirate station Radio London, and listeners responded enthusiastically after the very first spin, calling the station to demand more plays of the rather arcane sounding song. Decca Records, who hadn't yet released the single, recognized the demand for the record by pushing up the release date, getting discs into stores a month early. <br><br> Problem was, this ad hoc band had only the one tune, and had never before played live. But they managed to put together a credible set list and opened for Jimi Hendrix at London's Saville Theatre in June of 1967, about the same time that "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" reached the top spot on the U.K. charts, where it remained for a full six weeks (it went on to peak at number five in the U.S.). By July, the song became the number one selling record in the world, and had initiated a new genre dubbed "classical rock." Heady with success, bandleader Brooker didn't crack open champagne bottles, but instead fired Royer and Harrison, replacing them with his old school chums-cum-band members Robin Trower and B.J Wilson, forming what would become Procul Harum's seminal line-up. A second single, "Homburg," was recorded with this entirely new line-up, and that too scurried up the charts, landing at a healthy number six, proving they were not left-field one hit wonders.<br><br> After those initial successes, Procol Harum went on to record a string of ambitious concept albums much weightier than anything the Who attempted, tackling themes of insanity, death, sex, and spiritual regeneration. As the band entered the '70s, the line-up shifted, the subject matter became less macabre, and the band oddly inched their way back toward their R&B roots with 1977's <I>Procol Ninth</I>, produced by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. The band continued to make credible albums which sadly sold fewer and fewer copies, until the group finally disbanded quietly in 1991 (though they frequently get together for reunion gigs, and Gary Brooker is an occasional participant in Ringo Starr's Allstars review). - Jaan UhelszkiArt & Progressive Rocken720Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:15:38 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.43248&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Procol Harum had a genuinely freakish history, transforming from successful R&B journeymen to progenitors of the prog-rock movement, thanks to a major hit with a melody cribbed from Johann Sebastian Bach that came out before they were even a proper band.<br><br> The nascent art rockers began as members of the Paramounts, an R&B outfit featuring pianist Gary Brooker, drummer B. J. Wilson and guitarist Robin Trower. The band -- which the three friends had formed as 14-year-old schoolmates -- not only had a chart hit (with a cover of the Coaster's "Poison Ivy"), they also had the distinction of being named by the Rolling Stones as their favorite British R&B group. But after reaching a respectable #35 with "Poison Ivy," the band never again charted, and were eventually reduced to serving as a backing band for proto-pop stars Sandy Shaw and Chris Andrews.<br><br> In September of 1966, the members went their separate ways, Trower and Wilson joining other bands and Brooker becoming a full-time songwriter with partner Keith Reid. Within a year, the songwriting duo had a prodigious body of work, and assembled a band they inexplicably dubbed the Pinewoods, with Brooker as pianist/singer, Matthew Fisher on organ, Ray Royer on guitar, Dave Knights on bass and Bobby Harrison on drums. Their first effort, produced by Denny (Joe Cocker, Bob Marley, Tom Petty) Cordell, was a brilliant yet esoteric scrap of poetry penned by Reid called "A Whiter Shade of Pale," which Brooker set to music loosely based on Bach's "Air for G String" from Suite No. 3 in D Major. By the time the recording was ready to be released, the Pinewoods had changed members, as well as their name -- taking their new moniker from either Steven's cat, or a rather loose translation of the Latin word, "procul," meaning "far from these things," which reflected the rather occult mood of the 1960s. Cordell sent a copy of this idiosyncratic single to infamous pirate station Radio London, and listeners responded enthusiastically after the very first spin, calling the station to demand more plays of the rather arcane sounding song. Decca Records, who hadn't yet released the single, recognized the demand for the record by pushing up the release date, getting discs into stores a month early. <br><br> Problem was, this ad hoc band had only the one tune, and had never before played live. But they managed to put together a credible set list and opened for Jimi Hendrix at London's Saville Theatre in June of 1967, about the same time that "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" reached the top spot on the U.K. charts, where it remained for a full six weeks (it went on to peak at number five in the U.S.). By July, the song became the number one selling record in the world, and had initiated a new genre dubbed "classical rock." Heady with success, bandleader Brooker didn't crack open champagne bottles, but instead fired Royer and Harrison, replacing them with his old school chums-cum-band members Robin Trower and B.J Wilson, forming what would become Procul Harum's seminal line-up. A second single, "Homburg," was recorded with this entirely new line-up, and that too scurried up the charts, landing at a healthy number six, proving they were not left-field one hit wonders.<br><br> After those initial successes, Procol Harum went on to record a string of ambitious concept albums much weightier than anything the Who attempted, tackling themes of insanity, death, sex, and spiritual regeneration. As the band entered the '70s, the line-up shifted, the subject matter became less macabre, and the band oddly inched their way back toward their R&B roots with 1977's <I>Procol Ninth</I>, produced by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. The band continued to make credible albums which sadly sold fewer and fewer copies, until the group finally disbanded quietly in 1991 (though they frequently get together for reunion gigs, and Gary Brooker is an occasional participant in Ringo Starr's Allstars review). - Jaan Uhelszki http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821498&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29821498 alb.29821498 Procol Harum art.43248 9.99 One Eye To The Future alb.29821498 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/1/5/1785117_170x170.jpg 2009-09-27 00:00:00.0 null true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821498&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821498&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.8732563&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.8732563 alb.8732563 Procol Harum art.43248 9.99 Live At Union Chapel alb.8732563 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/0/9/9/1479904_170x170.jpg 2008-02-26 00:00:00.0 null true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.8732563&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.8732563&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.269228&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.269228 alb.269228 Procol Harum art.43248 9.99 The Well's on Fire alb.269228 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/7/0/5/1855074_170x170.jpg 2009-12-01 00:00:00.0 2003-03-04 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.269228&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.269228&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.272460&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 2 Jul 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.272460 alb.272460 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Procol Harum/Shine on Brightly alb.272460 2002-07-02 00:00:00.0 2002-07-02 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.272460&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.272460&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.97966&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 28 Aug 2001 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.97966 alb.97966 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 A Whiter Shade of Pale [Disky] alb.97966 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/2/4/7/487429_170x170.jpg 2001-08-28 00:00:00.0 2001-08-28 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.97966&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.97966&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.117198&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 12 Dec 2000 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.117198 alb.117198 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Greatest Hits [Metro] alb.117198 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/5/8/0/540852_170x170.jpg 2000-12-12 00:00:00.0 2000-12-12 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.117198&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.117198&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.322029&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Sat, 1 Jan 2000 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.322029 alb.322029 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 BBC Live In Concert alb.322029 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/5/0/9/389053_170x170.jpg 2000-01-01 00:00:00.0 2000-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.322029&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.322029&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.97836&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 8 Jun 1999 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.97836 alb.97836 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Home [Home...Plus] alb.97836 1999-06-08 00:00:00.0 1999-06-08 00:00:00.0 false false http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.97836&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.97836&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.311139&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 15 Dec 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.311139 alb.311139 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Three Classic Albums alb.311139 1998-12-15 00:00:00.0 1998-12-15 00:00:00.0 false false http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.311139&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.311139&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.317000&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Mon, 17 Nov 1997 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.317000 alb.317000 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 30th Anniversary Anthology alb.317000 1997-11-17 00:00:00.0 1998-04-21 00:00:00.0 false false http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.317000&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.317000&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.205527&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 7 May 1996 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.205527 alb.205527 Procol Harum art.43248 9.99 Greatest Hits (A&M) alb.205527 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/7/2/3/1323274_170x170.jpg 1996-05-07 00:00:00.0 1996-05-07 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.205527&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.205527&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.185321&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 18 Jul 1995 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.185321 alb.185321 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 The Long Goodbye: Symphonic Music... alb.185321 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/6/1/6/186163_170x170.jpg 1995-07-18 00:00:00.0 1995-07-18 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.185321&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.185321&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.99202&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Tue, 27 Aug 1991 00:00:00 -0700 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.99202 alb.99202 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 The Prodigal Stranger alb.99202 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/7/0/4/514079_170x170.jpg 1991-08-27 00:00:00.0 1991-08-27 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.99202&variant=play&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.99202&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.111019&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.111019 alb.111019 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Procol's Ninth alb.111019 null 1975-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.111019&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.111019&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.152319&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.152319 alb.152319 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Grand Hotel alb.152319 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/4/3/413417_170x170.jpg null 1973-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.152319&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.152319&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.209487&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Mon, 26 Oct 1987 00:00:00 -0800 Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.209487 alb.209487 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 The Best of Procol Harum [A&M] alb.209487 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/1/4/3/413416_170x170.jpg 1987-10-26 00:00:00.0 1973-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.209487&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.209487&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.201184&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.201184 alb.201184 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Broken Barricades alb.201184 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/5/7/8/278753_170x170.jpg null 1971-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.201184&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.201184&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.128521&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.128521 alb.128521 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Home alb.128521 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/5/7/8/278752_170x170.jpg null 1970-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.128521&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.128521&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.301223&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.301223 alb.301223 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 A Salty Dog alb.301223 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/4/7/8/278749_170x170.jpg null 1969-03-01 00:00:00.0 false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.301223&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.301223&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.111537&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss Art & Progressive Rock Procol Harum Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.111537 alb.111537 Procol Harum art.43248 0.0 Procol Harum alb.111537 null 1968-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.111537&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.111537&variant=data&rws=%2Fprocol-harum%2Fdiscography.rss