PROCOL HARUM - self-titled Compilation 12" Vinyl LP Album

 

High Resolution Photo # Procol Harum Album Front Cover Vinyl Record

'A Whiter Shade Of Pale', based on a Bach cantata, was released in the summer of 1967 to meet with spectacular British and American success. This mysterious. haunting song. now acknowledged as a pop classic, heralded the arrival of Procol Harum into the music business. In many ways it was an overnight success for they were by no means a long-established group. In 1966 Gary Brooker had teamed up with lyricist Keith Reid and together they produced some adventurous material.

Album Description:

Historical Context: 1967 – A Year of Revolution and Reinvention

To understand the impact of Procol Harum’s self-titled debut, one must step into the whirlwind of 1967. This was the year of the so-called “Summer of Love,” when the counterculture reached its zenith and music served as both soundtrack and manifesto. The Vietnam War raged, protests ignited across campuses, and in London and San Francisco, flower power blossomed into full technicolor. The Beatles released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” forever changing the landscape of rock. Amid this cultural tempest, Procol Harum emerged with a sound that was at once steeped in classical tradition and boldly experimental.

The Music Genre: Psych and Acid Rock

Procol Harum’s debut album is firmly rooted in the psychedelic movement, though it carries a sophistication rare in the genre. Psychedelia of the era was often about fuzz pedals, free-form jams, and surreal imagery, and bands like Pink Floyd, The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane epitomized the style. Yet Procol Harum’s take was different: instead of leaning purely on distortion and improvisation, they grafted Bach-inspired organ lines and stately piano into their acid-tinged soundscape. The result was a fusion of classical gravitas and kaleidoscopic experimentation, aligning them with peers such as The Moody Blues, who were also stretching rock into symphonic territory.

Musical Exploration and the Album’s Character

Listening to this record is like stepping into a baroque dream filtered through the prism of 1960s psychedelia. The opening track, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” was already a global sensation, blending Matthew Fisher’s Bach-like organ with Gary Brooker’s soulful vocals. Songs like “Rambling On” and “A Christmas Camel” wander into surreal landscapes, balancing whimsy and weight. Meanwhile, “Conquistador” hints at the cinematic sweep that would later become a Procol hallmark, and “Homburg” offers an almost hymnal meditation on melancholy. The album refuses to settle, constantly shifting between the mystical, the ironic, and the grandiose.

Key Figures Behind the Music

At the heart of Procol Harum stood the partnership of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid. Brooker, with his commanding piano and plaintive voice, provided the musical backbone, while Reid, who rarely appeared on stage, penned lyrics that were cerebral, poetic, and cryptic. Guitarist Robin Trower would later become a driving force in reshaping the band’s sound, though in these early sessions it was the organ of Matthew Fisher that defined their identity. Drummer B.J. Wilson contributed a sensitivity unusual for rock drummers of the era, his rhythms flowing like tides beneath the ornate arrangements. Together, these individuals created a collective voice that transcended the sum of its parts.

Formation and Evolution of the Band

Procol Harum was born in Southend-on-Sea, England, in 1966, from the ashes of a rhythm-and-blues group called The Paramounts. Gary Brooker, seeking new creative ground, linked up with lyricist Keith Reid, whose enigmatic poetry required music to match its complexity. Early line-up changes were frequent, a reflection of the unsettled times: guitarists and drummers came and went before the core stabilized. The release of “A Whiter Shade of Pale” propelled them instantly into the international spotlight, but it also cemented them as a band that would always battle the weight of its own colossal debut hit.

Controversies and Reactions

The album’s release in France on Impact Records brought with it more than just acclaim. Procol Harum’s music baffled critics who couldn’t easily file it under pop, blues, or classical. Some accused the band of pretension, especially with their use of baroque motifs in a supposedly “youthful” genre. Others raised eyebrows at Reid’s dense, sometimes opaque lyrics, which stood in contrast to the more immediate love-and-protest themes of the time. Still, the very debates around the album underscored its significance: Procol Harum dared to stretch rock’s vocabulary, to challenge its boundaries, and in doing so, they helped lay the foundation for what would soon be called progressive rock.

Conclusion: A Bold Step Into the Unknown

“Procol Harum” is more than just a debut; it is a statement of intent. It captures a moment when music was reinventing itself in real time, when bands were searching for new languages to express a rapidly changing world. By marrying psychedelia with classical grandeur and poetic mystique, Procol Harum carved out a space that was uniquely their own. In the crowded, explosive year of 1967, this album remains a haunting, compelling document of a band unafraid to reach further, dream stranger, and sound unlike anyone else.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Psych, Acid

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • The label of the record has been printed as a stroboscope and can therefore be used to check that the turntable is running at 33 1/3 speed.
Label & Catalognr:

Impact Records – Cat#: 6886 555

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl LP Record

Year & Country:

Unknown Year – Made in France

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. A Whiter Shade of Pale
  2. Rambling On
  3. Skip Softly
  4. A Christmas Camel
  5. A Salty Dog
Video: PROCOL HARUM - A Whiter Shade Of Pale - promo film #1 (Official Video)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Conquistador
  2. Cerdes
  3. Quite Rightly So
  4. Whaling Stories
  5. Homburg
Video: Procol Harum - Homburg (single 1967)

Additional Information:

In Brief: Apart from “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, this album demonstrates that Procol Harum was actually a psych/acid band.

Explore Procol Harum's Discography: A Gallery of Vinyl Albums from the Pioneers of Progressive Rock

PROCOL HARUM - Broken Barricades
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Broken Barricades ( 1971, Germany )  album front cover

Chrysalis 6499 657 , 1971 , Germany

"Broken Barricades" emerged during a pivotal period in the history of rock music. The album was released in 1971, a time when the genre was undergoing significant evolution.

Broken Barricades ( 1971, Germany ) 12" Vinyl LP
PROCOL HARUM - Exotic Birds And Fruits
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Exotic Birds And Fruits ( 1974, Germany )  album front cover

Chrysalis 6307 531 , 1974 , Germany

"Exotic Birds and Fruits" arrived in the midst of a dynamic cultural landscape, where experimentation and artistic freedom were celebrated. The album echoed the prevailing sentiment of the era.

Exotic Birds And Fruits ( 1974, Germany ) 12" Vinyl LP
PROCOL HARUM - Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 ( 1969, England )  album front cover

Pickwick Records SHM 956 , 1969 , England

This superb collection includes many of Procol Harum's best songs and includes "Conquistador" and of course "A White Shade of Pale". It is a must for all devotes of good progressive rock music.

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 ( 1969, England ) 12" Vinyl LP
PROCOL HARUM - Homburg b/w Good Captain Clack
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Homburg b/w Good Captain Clack (1967, Germany)  album front cover

Polydor 59 122, Essex Music Intern , 1967 , Germany

The 7" single featuring "Homburg" on the A-side and "Good Captain Clack" on the B-side by Procol Harum is a notable piece of musical history that emerged during the vibrant era of the late 1960s.

omburg b/w Good Captain Clack (1967, Germany) 7" Vinyl Single
PROCOL HARUM - Ninth
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Ninth ( 1975, Gt Britain )  album front cover

  Chrysalis CHR. 1080 , 1975 , Gt Britain

"Ninth" released in the dynamic period of the late 1970s, this album masterfully fuses progressive rock and symphonic nuances, with introspective lyrics.

Ninth ( 1975, Gt Britain ) 12" Vinyl LP
PROCOL HARUM - A Salty Dog b/w Long Gone Geek
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - A Salty Dog b/w Long Gone Geek (Austria)  album front cover

  Polydor 59 293, Essex International , , Austria

Released during the iconic era of the late 1960s, this "Salty Dog" encapsulates the essence of Procol Harum's progressive and experimental style.

A Salty Dog b/w Long Gone Geek (Austria) 7" Vinyl Single
PROCOL HARUM - Self-Titled
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Self-Titled (Impact Records France) album front cover

Impact records 6886 555 , , France

In 1966 Gary Brooker had teamed up with lyricist Keith Reid and together they produced some adventurous material. Procol Harum was assembled to perform the Brooker-Reid compositions: their debut single was 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'

ROCOL HARUM - Self-Titled (Impact Records France) 12" Vinyl LP
PROCOL HARUM - Whiter Shade Of Pale
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - Whiter Shade Of Pale Original  ( 1967, England ) album front cover

DERAM DM-126 , 1967 , England

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" 7" Genuine 1st pressing Single is a coveted collector's item. This vinyl exemplifies the band's breakthrough sound.

Whiter Shade Of Pale Original ( 1967, England ) 7" Vinyl Single
PROCOL HARUM - A Whiter Shade Of Pale & Salty Dog
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - A Whiter Shade Of Pale & Salty Dog (1967, Austria) 
 album front cover

Cube Records 2338 008 , 1967 , Austria

Iconic tracks like "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and the maritime-themed "Salty Dog," Procol Harum's enduring legacy is encapsulated in this two LP's vinyl release

A Whiter Shade Of Pale & Salty Dog (1967, Austria) 12" Vinyl LP
PROCOL HARUM - A Whiter Shade Of Pale & Salty Dog
Thumbnail of PROCOL HARUM - A Whiter Shade Of Pale & Salty Dog (1967, Germany, Star-Power Edition)  album front cover

  Intercord 25 100-9 , 1967 , Germany

Procol Harum's Germany 2LP Vinyl Album, merging "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Salty Dog," epitomizes the band's influence in the transformative late '60s music scene.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale & Salty Dog (1967, Germany, Star-Power Edition) 12" Vinyl LP