PROCOL HARUM Debut Album

Original released on LP Regal Zonophone LRZ 1001 (mono)

(UK, January 1968)

Procol Harum's delayed UK debut LP was released in several earlier overseas editions, many with differing track listings. The mono American London-Deram issue of August 1967 featured "A White Shade Of Pale", but ommited "Good Captain Clack". The italian release of November 1967 on RCA Records offered not only a vibrant cerise pink cover, restored for this edition, but also the most radical track variance. "AWSOP" and "GCC" were both replaced in favour of an alternate mix of Procol's second single "Homburg". As it was Number 1 in Italy with sales in excess of 300,000. It is featured here in a stereo mix, alongside "Shine On Brightly" sung in Italian (but re-titled "Il Tuo Diamante"), because it too featured on the italian edition - some ten months prior to its global release as the title track of Procol's second album, in November 1968. The album failed to chart in the UK when it was first released. However, when re-issued in the Spring of 1972 (entitled "A Whiter Shade Of Pale") as a Fly Records 'doubleback' released, coupled with their 1969 album "A Salty Dog", it reached a UK chart position of 27.

PROCOL HARUM - "Shine On Brightly"

Original released on LP Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1004

(UK, December 1968)

Original released on LP Polydor 184162

(GERMANY, 1968)

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). Then they did "Shine on Brightly", which initially drew on recordings going back to late 1967 - in the course of preparing their first proper LP, the band junked an entire side of blues-based numbers in favor of the 18-minute suite "In Held 'Twas I," which rivaled anything yet heard from such established progressive rock outfits as the Nice or the Moody Blues in length and surpassed them in audacity, with an extensive spoken part surrounded by virtuoso classical and psychedelic passages (and even a featured spot for Dave Knights' bass). It all proved that they were more than a one-hit wonder and, released in late 1968, the album extended the definition of progressive rock, even as it kept much of the music rooted in established rock genres. "Skip Softly," for all of its grand piano pyrotechnics, was also a showcase for Robin Trower's bluesy, high-energy guitar attack, and "Wish Me Well" was an even better vehicle for his instrument, while "Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone)" was an interesting exercise in nostalgia highlighted by Matthew Fisher's organ. (Bruce Eder in AllMusic)

PH GRAND HOTEL

Original released on LP Chrysalis CHR 1037

(UK, March 1973)

Procol Harum's first album for Chrysalis, "Grand Hotel", found the band returning to the grandeur of earlier works such as "Shine on Brightly" and "Salty Dog". Robin Trower's replacement Mick Grabham is capable, even powerful, but not nearly as distinctive as his predecessor; consequently, the material tends to rely more on ornate arrangements than guitar riffs, making this somewhat more dignified than either of their previous studio albums, "Home" and "Broken Barricades". Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid step up with strong material, notably the title track, "Toujours L'Amour", and "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)". While the keyboard and orchestra-based arrangements harken back to earlier triumphs, the lyrics deal less with whaling stories than with social commentary; "A Souvenir of London" is about social diseases, with "T.V. Caesar" about the pervasive influence of television.