Procol Harum Songs Ranked
Procol Harum is an English rock band formed in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for their baroque and classical influence, Procol Harum’s music is described as psychedelic rock and proto-prog. In 2018, the band was honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was inducted into the brand-new Singles category. The band’s 13th album, Novum, was released on 21 April 2017 and the band played 36 dates in the UK and Europe to promote it. However, the most significant concert of the year came in March when the band played with an orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Whilst leaving the stage at the end of the first half, Gary Brooker fell and was seriously hurt. He reappeared for the second half with his head bandaged and nursing “a broken hand”. In 2018 the band again toured in Europe, including an orchestral show at the London Palladium on 9 October. They commenced 2019 with a Caribbean cruise hosted by Justin Hayward, with many well-known rock acts. A US tour was due to follow. Here are all of the Procol Harum songs ranked.
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12. As Strong As Samson (Exotic Birds and Fruit, 1974)
“As Strong as Samson” is the most classic number on the album and really deserves it. Wonderful, solid, muscular music from Procol Harum at their darkest and most moving.”
11. The Emperor’s New Clothes (The Well’s on Fire, 2003)
“The ballads are quite bland (and the theme of the attack on the twin towers is too opportunistic for Procol Harum) but I rescue “The Emperor’s New Clothes” which at least has that darkness / melancholy characteristic of the band.”
10. A Salty Dog (A Salty Dog, 1969)
“A very descriptive song that evokes images of a pirate ships last voyage to ‘where ships come home to die’, as epic as a ‘Whiter shade of Pale’, with moving orchestration and melancholic vocal from Gary Brooker, it should have been a huge hit but alas reached only #44 in 1969.”
9. Simple Sister (Broken Barricades: Remastered & Expanded, 1971)
“Procol Harum rocking out, and the result is an A grade song. “Simple Sister” simply owns, what an awesome guitar riff, plus the piano riff is quite nice. The guitar soloing is excellent (Trower is a great guitarist) as well. This song kicks ass.”
See more: Procol Harum Albums Ranked
8. Quite Rightly So (Shine On Brightly, 1968)
“Quite Rightly So” is a bouncy Classical Pop-Rock number Fischer bathes with his sometimes silly sometimes melting organ tone, but things do improve with the symphonic , undulating title track, pierced by a sonic 1 note guitar motif “
7. Grand Hotel (Grand Hotel, 1973)
“‘Grand Hotel’ is an intriguing and sophisticated work of pop-rock art that quite a few bands and artists may have borrowed from in one way or other, whether they were called Queen or David Bowie.”
6. Homburg (A Whiter Shade of Pale, 1967)
“A paler shade of “Whiter”…well, perhaps. The similarity to the group’s earlier smash hit is palpable and probably deliberate but I find it more subtle and pervasive as Johann Sebastian takes more of a Bach seat this time (sorry!), while the lyric, daft as it could only be in 1967, is a touch edgier and even sinister, too. Yes, I’ll doff my hat to this.”
See more: The Robin Trower Band Albums Ranked
5. Conquistador (Procol Harum, 1967)
“This song has influences with classic music, with prog rock, with blues rock, garage rock, but above all else it is classic rock and prog rock. The vocals are all good, the music is very novel and interesting, and the guitar riff is just bad as heavy rock.”
4. Song for a Dreamer (Broken Barricades, 1971)
“Song for a Dreamer” is considered a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, and it has that psychedelic, trippy feel to it that Hendrix’s songs had. Trower’s guitar again is incredible, and drives the recording.”
3. In the Wee Small Hours of Sixpence (Broken Barricades, 1971)
“A classic line-up produces a classic studio album. Then they disintegrate. This package documents a tremendous album. Then on the included bonus CDs provide an aural history of the passing of the original group through a metamorphosis into a new entity.”
2. Pandora’s Box (Procol Harum, 1967)
“This is actually a small sensation, since the first album (A Whiter Shade of Pale) was recorded in Mono and later only electronically trimmed to stereo (see old Cube LPs). Here is now true stereo of alternative 4-track bands, which have experienced a stereo mix especially for this CD. The sound is immensely fresh for the age of the bands. The ideal CD for fans and beginners, even if you already have the “30th Anniversary Box” from Westside.”
1. A Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum, 1967)
“Procol Harum were so much more than this legendary tune, but you can’t dispute this haunting melody is one of the most memorable singles ever”