“Procol Harum” is the debut studio album by English rock
band Procol Harum. It was released in September 1967 by record label Regal
Zonophone following their breakthrough and immensely popular single "A
Whiter Shade of Pale". The track doesn't appear on the original album but
was included in the US issue of the album.
All songs were originally credited written to Gary Brooker (music) and Keith Reid (lyrics), except "Repent Walpurgis" written by Matthew Fisher, after works by French organist Charles-Marie Widor and German composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
In 2005, Matthew Fisher filed suit in the Royal Courts of Justice against Gary Brooker and his publisher, claiming that Fisher co-wrote the music for "A Whiter Shade of Pale". On 30 July 2009, the House of Lords issued a final verdict on the case in Fisher's favour. A lower court had ruled in Fisher's favour in 2006, granting him co-writing credits and a share of the royalties. A higher court partly overturned the ruling in 2008, giving Fisher co-writing credit but no money. The Court of Appeal had previously held that Fisher had waited too long to bring his claim to court. The House of Lords disagreed, stating there was no time limitation for such claims. Lord David Neuberger of Abbotsbury's opinion stated: "Fisher's subsequent contribution was significant, and, especially the introductory eight bars, an important factor in the work's success...".
Procol Harum's lyricist Keith Reid told Songfacts that the music for "Conquistador" was written before the lyrics. He added that this was unusual as "99 out of 100" of the Procol Harum songs, back then, "were written the words first, and then were set to music."
“Procol Harum” was released in September 1967. Though the album was recorded on multitrack, it was issued as mono-only in the UK, and in mono and rechannelled stereo in the US. Despite extensive searching, the original multitrack tapes have not been located and thus a stereo mix of the original ten tracks may never be possible. Several alternate takes, however, have been mixed into stereo and are available on CD.
All songs were originally credited written to Gary Brooker (music) and Keith Reid (lyrics), except "Repent Walpurgis" written by Matthew Fisher, after works by French organist Charles-Marie Widor and German composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
In 2005, Matthew Fisher filed suit in the Royal Courts of Justice against Gary Brooker and his publisher, claiming that Fisher co-wrote the music for "A Whiter Shade of Pale". On 30 July 2009, the House of Lords issued a final verdict on the case in Fisher's favour. A lower court had ruled in Fisher's favour in 2006, granting him co-writing credits and a share of the royalties. A higher court partly overturned the ruling in 2008, giving Fisher co-writing credit but no money. The Court of Appeal had previously held that Fisher had waited too long to bring his claim to court. The House of Lords disagreed, stating there was no time limitation for such claims. Lord David Neuberger of Abbotsbury's opinion stated: "Fisher's subsequent contribution was significant, and, especially the introductory eight bars, an important factor in the work's success...".
Procol Harum's lyricist Keith Reid told Songfacts that the music for "Conquistador" was written before the lyrics. He added that this was unusual as "99 out of 100" of the Procol Harum songs, back then, "were written the words first, and then were set to music."
“Procol Harum” was released in September 1967. Though the album was recorded on multitrack, it was issued as mono-only in the UK, and in mono and rechannelled stereo in the US. Despite extensive searching, the original multitrack tapes have not been located and thus a stereo mix of the original ten tracks may never be possible. Several alternate takes, however, have been mixed into stereo and are available on CD.
“Procol Harum” este albumul de debut al trupei engleze de
rock Procol Harum. A fost lansat in septembrie 1967 de catre marca Regal
Zanophone, urmand loviturii date de single-ul “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, care a
avut o popularitate imensa. Piesa nu apare pe albumul original, dar a fost
inclusa in editia lansata in Statele Unite.
Toate cantecele au fost atribuite la origine lui Garry Booker (muzica) si Keith Reed (textile), cu exceptia “Repent Walpurgis” scrisa de Matthew Fisher dupa interpretarea organistului francez Charles Marie Vidor a compozitiei lui Johann Sebastian Bach.
In 2005 Matthew Fisher a deschis proces la Curtea Regala de Justitie impotriva lui Garry Booker si a editorului sau, reclamand ca a fost co-autor la muzica de la “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. Pe 30 iulie 2009 Camera Lorzilor a dat verdictul final in favoarea lui Fisher. O curte inferioara judecase in favoarea lui Fisher in 2006 acreditandu-l pe acesta ca fiind co-autor si acordandu-I si o parte din drepturile de autor. O curte superioara a schimbat partial verdictul in 2008, recunoscandu-l pe Fisher drept co-autor, dar neacordandu-i drepturi banesti. Curtea de Apel a retinut anterior ca Fisher a assteptat prea mult ca sa faca plangerea. Camera Lorzilor nu a fost de accord cu aceasta, stabilind ca nu este o limitare in timp pentru astfel de plangeri. Opinia Lordului David Neuberger of Abbotsbury stabilea ca:” Contributia subsecventa a lui Fisher a fost semnificativa si mai ales cele opt masuri introductive, care au fost un factor important in success.” Textierul lui Procol Harum, Keith Reed, a povestit pentru Songfacts ca muzica pentru “Conquistador” a fost scrisa inaintea versurilor. El a adaugat ca acesta a fost un lucru neobisnuit, deoarece in 99 de cazuri din 100, pana atunci, se scriau intai versurile si apoi muzica.
“Procol Harum” a fost lansat in septembrie 1967. Desi albumul a fost inregistrat pe mai multe piste, a fost lansat mono in Marea Britanie si mono si recanalizat stereo in Statele Unite. In ciuda cautarilor intense benzile originale inregistrate pe mai multe piste nu au putut fi gasite si nu se putea face niciodata un mix stereo al celor 10 piese originale. Totusi exista cateva preluari alternative care au putut fi mixate stereo si pot fi gasite pe CD.
Toate cantecele au fost atribuite la origine lui Garry Booker (muzica) si Keith Reed (textile), cu exceptia “Repent Walpurgis” scrisa de Matthew Fisher dupa interpretarea organistului francez Charles Marie Vidor a compozitiei lui Johann Sebastian Bach.
In 2005 Matthew Fisher a deschis proces la Curtea Regala de Justitie impotriva lui Garry Booker si a editorului sau, reclamand ca a fost co-autor la muzica de la “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. Pe 30 iulie 2009 Camera Lorzilor a dat verdictul final in favoarea lui Fisher. O curte inferioara judecase in favoarea lui Fisher in 2006 acreditandu-l pe acesta ca fiind co-autor si acordandu-I si o parte din drepturile de autor. O curte superioara a schimbat partial verdictul in 2008, recunoscandu-l pe Fisher drept co-autor, dar neacordandu-i drepturi banesti. Curtea de Apel a retinut anterior ca Fisher a assteptat prea mult ca sa faca plangerea. Camera Lorzilor nu a fost de accord cu aceasta, stabilind ca nu este o limitare in timp pentru astfel de plangeri. Opinia Lordului David Neuberger of Abbotsbury stabilea ca:” Contributia subsecventa a lui Fisher a fost semnificativa si mai ales cele opt masuri introductive, care au fost un factor important in success.” Textierul lui Procol Harum, Keith Reed, a povestit pentru Songfacts ca muzica pentru “Conquistador” a fost scrisa inaintea versurilor. El a adaugat ca acesta a fost un lucru neobisnuit, deoarece in 99 de cazuri din 100, pana atunci, se scriau intai versurile si apoi muzica.
“Procol Harum” a fost lansat in septembrie 1967. Desi albumul a fost inregistrat pe mai multe piste, a fost lansat mono in Marea Britanie si mono si recanalizat stereo in Statele Unite. In ciuda cautarilor intense benzile originale inregistrate pe mai multe piste nu au putut fi gasite si nu se putea face niciodata un mix stereo al celor 10 piese originale. Totusi exista cateva preluari alternative care au putut fi mixate stereo si pot fi gasite pe CD.
List of tracks
1.- Conquistador: 00:00
2.- She Wandered Through the Garden Fence: 02:42
3.- Something Following Me: 06:10
4.- Mabel: 09:52
5.- Cerdes (Outside the Gates Of): 11:48
6.- A Christmas Camel: 16:55
7.- Kaleidoscope: 21:50
8.- Salad Days (Are Here Again): 24:47
9.- Good Captain Clack: 28:32
10.- Repent Walpurgis: 30:03
11.- A Whiter Shade of Pale: 35:09
Bonus tracks:
12.- Goin' Down Slow (Live, 1969): 39:12
13.- Lime Street Blues: 47:00
14.- Homburg (mono): 49:53
Personnel
Procol Harum
Gary Brooker – vocals, piano
Robin Trower – guitar (all but US 1)
Matthew Fisher – organ
Dave Knights – bass
B.J. Wilson – drums (all but US 1)
Ray Royer – guitar (US 1)
Keith Reid – lyrics
Additional personnel
Bill Eyden – drums (US 1)
Technical
Simon Platz - executive producer (for Fly Records)
Eddy Offord, Frank Owen, Gerald Chevin, Keith Grant,
Laurence Burridge - engineer
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