Procol Harum 1967

The ornate trappings of an old cathedral make the perfect backdrop for a band whose gothic feel was a large part of its initial success. Procol Harum was in fine form for this show recorded for the cameras on the venerable British outfit's final date of its extensive 2003 world tour. This isn't entirely the greatest-hits summary that some might have wanted…

There is a track listing on the back cover of Metro Doubles' two-CD Procol Harum compilation, Classic Tracks and Rarities: An Anthology, and potential purchasers are encouraged to consult it before buying this album. It is a natural tendency to assume that a collection with a title like that surveys the group's entire career, but in fact, this one focuses on only the first four albums, Procol Harum, Shine On Brightly, A Salty Dog, and Home…

This is a reissue of Procol Harum's third and fourth albums released in 1969 and 1970. While there was outside and perhaps internal pressure to equal the success of "A Whiter Shade of Pale," this band was not deterred from creating wonderfully creative music that sometimes matched the grandeur of its 1967 smash but just didn't translate into a "hit."…

It makes no bones about it in the packaging so it would be churlish to get upset, but this collection of first album-era stereo mixes and alternate versions is strictly for Procol Harum collectors only. The ten-track CD has previously unissued stereo mixes of five songs from the Procol Harum album; an instrumental version of "Pandora's Box," date of original recording not given (good distorted guitar and organ dueling, though); "previously unissued alternate stereo mixes" of "Wish Me Well," a song from the Shine on Brightly album, and the single "In the Wee Small Hours of Sixpence"; a long version of "Repent Walpurgis," another song that appeared on Procol Harum; and the alternate stereo version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale."

British rock group Procol Harum began life as a psychedelic band and evolved into one of the leading acts in art rock and prog rock, all without changing much about their essential approach. Lead singer and pianist Gary Brooker gave the group their trademark sound with his downbeat vocals and lush melodies, while primary lyricist Keith Reid added words that often pondered the unpredictability of fate in songs like "A Whiter Shade of Pale," "A Salty Dog," and "Conquistador." Their music was executed with keen skill and passion, and the band was also one of the first to experiment with large-scale orchestration, as well as performing on-stage with a full symphony ensemble.

After the multi-million selling "A Whiter Shade of Pale," Procol Harum coalesced around a new line-up and cut a debut album in two days, the sales of which were only fair (because the hit song wasn't on it originally)…

Since 2001 the band has made several tours of mostly Europe, but also Japan and the US. This DVD captures the band performing many of their most popular tracks in Copenhagen, Denmark on 15th December 2001…