Few bands in rock history have seamlessly fused soulful rock with classical sophistication quite like Procol Harum.
Founded in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1967, the group not only helped define the era’s progressive sound but was also responsible for one of the most iconic songs of the era, “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”
A Band Born From Experimentation
Procol Harum traces back to The Paramounts, an R&B band fronted by pianist-singer Gary Brooker and guitarist Robin Trower.
When The Paramounts broke up in 1966, Brooker partnered with poet-lyricist Keith Reid, who he was introduced to by producer Guy Stevens. The two were a match made in heaven, with Reid’s imaginative lyrics and Brooker’s classical-tinged melodies fitting together perfectly.
Stevens came up with the band’s name, inspired by a friend’s Burmese cat named Procul Harun, with a spelling error later cementing the band’s moniker.
“A Whiter Shade of Pale”
Recorded in April 1967, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was an instant phenomenon. Matthew Fisher’s haunting organ line, loosely inspired by Bach’s Suite No. 3 in D major, paired perfectly with Reid’s surreal verses.
Within a month, the song was No. 1 in the UK and topped charts across Europe and Canada. It would eventually sell over 10 million copies worldwide.
The single became inseparable from the Summer of Love, and critics have since hailed it as one of the greatest songs of all time.
Rolling Stone has since ranked it 57th on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and the BBC once declared it the UK’s most-played record of the past 70 years.
Words and Imagery
Keith Reid’s colorful lyrics have long fascinated Procol Haram fans. Speaking to Uncut magazine, Reid explained:
“I was trying to conjure a mood as much as tell a straightforward girl-leaves-boy story. With the ceiling flying away and the room humming harder, I wanted to paint an image of a scene. I wasn’t trying to be mysterious, I was trying to be evocative.”
Although often linked to psychedelia, Reid rejected drug influences, citing books and imagination as his most significant influences.
Symphonic Reinventions
Procol Harum’s early albums like Shine on Brightly (1968) and A Salty Dog (1969), expanded on their progressive sound, but their boldest experiment came in 1971, when they performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Canada. “Conquistador,” the live album of this concert, was a surprise hit.
Despite the success, this symphonic approach would not return for decades, resurfacing in one of their most celebrated performances.
Ledreborg Castle: A Career-Defining Concert
In August 2006, Procol Harum performed live at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark, accompanied by the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir.
The group played 15 songs in total, which was later released as a live album. Almost everyone agrees the highlight was an awe-inspiring rendition of “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”
The recording became a viral sensation, with over 100 million views on YouTube.