Procol Harum arose phoenix-like from
the remnants of the Paramounts- a Southend group who had a minor
chart placing during 1964 with their remake version of the Coaster's
'Poison Ivy'. At its break-up, following a run of unsuccessful
singles, Brooker had teamed up with his friend, Keith Reid, intending
to earn his living by song writing. After creating their first
material, Brooker set about putting together a new band to play
it and Procol Harum was born.
Little could Brooker and Reid have known
that they had between them created one of the greatest anthems
of the 1960s. With Brooker's plaintive vocal and Reid's strange
unintelligible lyrics,. Procol Harum's first release was a smash
hit reaching #1 in the UK and #5 in the USA. Reid has never given
any explanation of the lyrics, insisting that they just sounded
right that way. However, the hastily recruited band began to
fall away when their success led to a need to go on the road.
Fortunately, Brooker was able to persuade two former Paramounts,
Robin Trower and Barry Wilson, to replace Royer and Harrison.
The new line-up went on to chart with 'Homburg' and 'Quite Rightly So'.
By the end of 1969, the band line-up
had evolved back to what it had been with the Paramounts at their
peak. As they moved into the 1970s they modified their sound
somewhat, even producing an album with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
Further changes in line-up took place during the 1970s, but their
popularity never waned- always finding a receptive audience
for their great original 1960's classic. Although the band had
dissipated by the 1980s, there have been several short term re-unions
and Brooker can always be relied on to sing Reid's strange lyrics
again whenever the opportunity arises.. |