The British Psychedelic Trip

From Record Collector - September 1999

Part 11: THE PRETTY THINGS to THE ROKES included: PROCOL HARUM (by Nigel Lees: additional information by David Wells)

Though not really a psychedelic group, Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pale is as strong an evocation of the era as records like All You Need Is Love and San Francisco, and should be an integral part of any collection of the sounds of the period. Formed by ex-Paramount Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid, the original line-up included Bobby Harrison and Ray Royer, who left soon after to form Freedom.

The new Procol Harum followed the Move from Deram to EMI's Regal Zonophone, and frequently appeared on Radio One, guesting on such programmes as Top Gear and Saturday Club, releasing their début album in early 1968. Procol Harum and its follow-up, Shine On Brightly are becoming quite scarce in their original form, and both these excellent LPs may interest psychedelic enthusiasts.

From "Discography Pt.11 PRET - ROKE" - PROCOL HARUM:

Thanks to Tormod Ringvold