Keep an eye on the final hours of the sale of the AWSoP robe (at eBay, here) ... the one Gary Brooker wore to sing A Whiter Shade of Pale on the BBC's 'Top of the Pops' in July 1967 (thanks, Gary)

(Reminder to musicians): if you would like to play with The Palers' Band on stage in Wuppertal in April 2013, you need to fill in your details promptly on this page (big thanks, Piers)

Added a surprising AWSoP reference, of special interest to prosopographers (thanks, Peter)

Added an unusual Procol tee-shirt – please send in others from your collection, if they're not already on this page (thanks, Kroy)

Added a Procol Croydon ticket here (thanks, Anvil)

Added an obituary for the famous engineer of 1967's A Whiter Shade of Pale session (thanks, Joan)

Added a second, illustrated and listenable review of Reflections in My Tea

Added a free CD-giveaway competition here !

Have a listen to this curiosity  ... specially the cheeky Hammond counterpoints. I Dik Dik and Camaleonti are contextualised at this BtP page ... and there's peculiar Procol / Dik Dik hybrid here to boot (grazie, Antonio!)

Added a fourth page of pictures from Gary Brooker's final Band du Lac gig at Wintershall in Surrey (thanks, Heidi)

Added a page advertising a very fine robe for sale by auction (link here) ... the one Gary Brooker wore to sing A Whiter Shade of Pale on the BBC's 'Top of the Pops' in July 1967 (thanks, Gary)

Added the ticket for a historic live recording here and here and here (thanks, Anvil)

Added a link to new music by Mick Grabham ... see here ... this will be of particular interest to guitar players (thanks, Charlie)

Added a ticket to the foot of this page ... now you can compare prices in two areas of the same London gig (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added an Amazon link to our page for the new Reflections in  My Tea album, and a review (thanks, Rob)

Added a link where you may see and hear the vocalist with whom Procol will collaborate in November/December, singing A Whiter Shade of Pale

Added an antique ticket to this page ... but does anybody know the venue for this June 1964 gig? (thanks, Bradshaw)

Modestly-priced on eBay ... time-traveller's authentic Procol tee-shirt from 1969 with artwork from 1971 on the back (thanks, Henry)

Added more good news about Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary)

Added a page about the programme from the magnificent concert hall where Procol Harum will play in April 2013 in Germany. It's advance publicity like this that explains why these high-prestige gigs are selling so fast (thanks, Michael)

Added an excerpt from a German rock magazine which, again, accounts for the high public interest in the Wuppertal concerts in 2103 (thanks, Michael)

Musicians! If you'd like to play and/or sing with the Palers' Band in 2013, please read this page

As excitement mounts about the next Palers' Band outing (Wuppertal, April 2013), added links here in memory of three great Palers – Gothic Harris, Palle Bas Christensen, and Martin Clare – whom we'd love to play with one more time

Setlists for the Procol Harum summer tour – we'd really like to have the complete set of setlists. Please, if you go to a show, share the list of what the band played by sending an e-mail to webmaster@procolharum.com

'There are only two types of people that ought to buy MMX, the new Live Procol Harum album ...'
Added a first review of MMX (thanks, Bert)

Revised! Can you think of 42 Procol Harum songs that have never appeared on any authorised live recording? Or 44 that have appeared on only one? Or the 17 that have appeared twice? No prizes for guessing which song has appeared on the most live albums (bet you get it wrong, though!). All this and more, on this thrilling page (thanks, Henbane; thanks, Ian)

BtP shop news: the online store will remain open all summer, but there will be no more despatches from now until 22 August, for staff holiday reasons. By all means continue to place your orders, and they'll remain safely on the system until we're in a position to send the merchandise out to you.

Follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ProcolHarum1)

Added a further bulletin about the recuperation of Gary Brooker (thanks, Franky and Gary)

Added a page about the new Procol Harum album (thanks, Chris)

Added the liner note for the above album, where readers may find out what it contains (including the new Brooker/Reid songs)

Some early customers may not have realised that two different versions of the new live album, MMX, are available. You can choose 14 individual tracks, or you can choose the whole programme in one long track which includes the spoken introductions. See here for more details. If you chose the latter, you may have accidentally been supplied with a Wave file ... too large to burn on to a single CD. The record company has rectified that error, so the long track is now available in mp3 format, as was originally intended by the band. Customers who bought the Wave file, by accident, should now have received an apologetic message including a special code that will permit them to make a fresh purchase at the Procol download shop, at no additional charge. (Note: 'Beyond the Pale' isn't involved in either supplying the music or rectifying the problem ... just taking turns in trying to pass on the news)

Our 2013 Procol Harum convention page ... though it's early days still ... has caused a lot of excitement. We have to emphasise that the Symphonic Procol tickets are selling fast (Wuppertal's is an 'A' rated orchestra): click here and find the links that take you to English-language versions of the online booking page

BtP shop news: thanks to all our customers, specially the recent tee-shirt buyers. The online store will remain open all summer, but please be aware that there will be no despatches from now until 22 August, for staff holiday reasons. By all means place your orders, and they'll remain safely on the system until we're in a position to send the merchandise out to you.

Well done to the lucky winners of these six treasured Procol Harum items in recent auctions: Gary Brooker's 1974 leather jacket, his silk shirt from 1973, Procol's charming George W Bush toy, Procol Harum's 'Fat Old Buddha', a yellow homunculus, and a fine galleon ... click and see the prices they reached. All proceeds are divided between the BJ Wilson fund, and 'Beyond the Pale' (thanks, Gary). More items of this nature in a couple of months' time.

Should you want Procol Harum handbills and posters, click here (thanks, Debi)

Added another strong example of the words 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' in common parlance (thank you, Peter)

21 June:  The thirty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Victor Spinetti (brother of Procol's Henry)

'Already 1,000 tickets sold!' Such is the buzz about the German symphonic shows that yesterday's Wuppertaler Rundschau published an article about them, and the rapid sale of tickets, with a nicely-faked photograph showing Procol Harum on stage in the fantastic Historic Town Hall where they will play in about 290 days' time (thanks, Michael)

Added a mixed page about trains – and an elephant falling out of one into the river below – all closely related to the Wuppertal Procol Convention in April 2013

Added a page offering – to the highest bidder – a famous Procol Harum garment and two photographs from the Exotic Birds and Fruit years (thanks, Gary)

Updated this interesting index (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added a useful link to this page (part of an excellent series starting here)

Should you want tickets for Procol Harum at the Fillmore East, click here (thanks, Debi) or see here

15 and 18 June

14 June:  The thirty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Bob Welch

Added much material to the 2013 Procol Harum convention page ... a splendid time is guaranteed for all, and still there'll be more.

Added a page about the Procol Harum weekend patron

Added a page offering – to the highest bidder – a famous Procol Harum garment and a good photograph from the Grand Hotel years (thanks, Gary)

Added Atlanta ticket-stubs here and here (and here) (thanks, Ernie)

Click here to enjoy Gary Brooker in Evita singing what can surely not be the finest Lloyd-Webber song ever ... 'reign in Spain' notwithstanding

Added the fourth picture (with comments, and note of verbal variants), from the Carole M Hassan illustrated In Held series (thanks, Gary)

Added a new gig to the Dave Ball live page (thanks, Dave)

Added more news to our page concerning Gary Brooker's accident in Cape Town (thanks, Franky)

7 June:  The thirty-third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Many thanks to the great numbers of well-wishers who have left messages for Gary Brooker, who is recuperating in hospital at Cape Town. You may read these, and of course contribute, by clicking here

Added a South African news article (thanks, Chris M)

Added a page offering – to the highest bidder – a charming politician in effigy that adorned the drum-baffle during Procol Harum's the Union Chapel DVD concert in 2003 (thanks, Gary)

Added an mp3 link here to a really good British radio interview with Procol's Dave Ball, now embarked on a vigorous solo career: overseas listeners may need to tune their cultural antennae to the Midlands banter. Note how the Procol tunes played (which we've edited down, to spare your download time) didn't feature Dave, and feature barely a note of guitar! Still – great to have such Procol coverage, and Ball coverage too (thanks, Dave/Denny). If you fancy the whole thing in stereo too, with Alan Price to boot, you've got a few days to catch up with it here

Added the third picture (with comments, and note of verbal variants), from the Carole M Hassan illustrated In Held series (thanks, Gary)

31 May:  The thirty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale' RIP Doc Watson

Added a page containing the official news about Gary Brooker's accident in Cape Town (which has meant that Procol Harum's South African gigs will not take place).

Many thanks to everybody who has written to us in concern, and of course to everybody who has shared their thoughts, sympathy and concern for Gary, Franky, and the rest of the band and team.

Added a recently taken photograph of Gary Brooker in London, wearing his MBE

Added a page offering – to the highest bidder – a stately galleon that adorned the Hammond organ rig during Procol Harum's the Union Chapel DVD concert in 2003 (thanks, Gary)

Readers may be interested to see the winning bids for other Procol items recently offered at eBay – here and here. The sums raised will be divided between Gary Brooker's BJ Wilson fund, and 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a correction at the foot of this page, which we now know contains a picture of Chris Copping at sixteen years old  (thanks, Mick)

Added the second picture (with comments, and note of verbal variants) from the Carole M Hassan illustrated In Held series (thanks, Gary)

Added an informative page about last week's Sormorock concert in Italy (thanks, Carlo)

To create space in the Procol download store, the One More Time download album will be disappearing on 31 May 2012. If you haven't already got this fine live album, from the Brooker / Bronze / Brzezicki / Fisher / Whitehorn line-up, then you've got moments to download it before it vanishes forever.

Get yourself kitted out with Procol tee-shirts for all the forthcoming gigs, from the very busy online Procol Harum shop (thanks, all customers!)

Follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ProcolHarum1)

Coming up this week: 29 May, Happy Birthday Gary Brooker (1945).  30 May / 1 June: first Procol Harum gigs in South Africa

Added a page offering – to the highest bidder – a Fat Old Buddha that has sat on Gary Brooker's piano during numerous concerts (thanks, Gary)

(See a much smaller gold Buddha on this page)

Another unique Procol item for auction (thanks, Gary)

Added some Paramounts information culled from the excellent Thames Delta exhibition that celebrates the amazing music to have emanated from Southend-on-Sea

Added the first picture (with comments, and note of verbal variants) from the Carole M Hassan illustrated In Held series (thanks, Gary)

Added an AWSoP promo scan here (thanks, Lars)

Added a graphic here (thanks, Jens H)

Added news of another biography of Procol Harum, due for publication in November 2012

'I enjoy any artistic manifestations of morbidity that I can find....'
Added a note received this morning from Gary Brooker, and a 1971 fan letter to Procol Harum that he enclosed (thanks, Gary)

Added a new page where information will appear about the end-of-tour party that 'Beyond the Pale' and 'Whaling Stories' are starting to plan. Although there is not much information there at present, please bookmark the page and save the date ... week ending 6 April 2013.

This information has already been made public in our 'Fresh Fruit' newsletter. Become a subscriber here

Added some great Harry Brooker information as a taster for the excellent Thames Delta exhibition that celebrates the amazing music to have emanated from Southend-on-Sea

Added a page offering – to the highest bidder – a singing homunculus that has performed in many countries with Procol Harum (thanks, Gary)

' ... it lacks the sort of freedom that may come when Procol Harum has gained more experience in the field ...'
Added another contemporary review of Procol Harum's first orchestral show (thanks, Franky)

Added the latest setlist from Denmark's excellent Procol Harum Project (thanks, Søren)

Added newly-announced Procol Harum gigs to a handful of pages here, here, here and here (thanks, Chris)

Added some pictures as a taster for the excellent Thames Delta exhibition that celebrates the amazing music to have emanated from Southend-on-Sea

Maybe it's time to revisit the private Procol Harum museum in the Netherlands

Added a 'Christmas Rock' poster here to clarify the origins of a band-name

Added a picture here, and another here

Added a reminder of a concert of Procol music this coming Friday

Added useful music-buying links here and here

Added (here) a compilation soundclip representing the diverse music on Dave Ball's new solo-album

'An impressive if somewhat eclectic solo effort': added a review of the above album here

'A charming, fascinating and totally endearing missive from the genuine master': added another review of the above album here

'Let’s face it, only the Shadows can get away with playing Shadows' music all night ...'
Added an unusual feature: a former member of Procol Harum interviews a former member of Procol Harum (thanks, Dave)

26 April:  The twenty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added Procol Harum gigs to a couple of pages (here and here) – so fans may now plan to see and hear the band at the following 33 shows (chronological order): Cape Town, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; Skagen, Denmark; Atlantic City, USA; Westbury, USA; Englewood, USA; Lewiston, USA; Bethlehem, USA; Upper Darby PA, USA; Boston, USA; Morristown NJ, USA; Raleigh NC, USA; Boca Raton, USA; St Augustine, USA; Clearwater Fl, USA; Alpharetta, GA, USA; Portsmouth, VA, USA; Washington DC, USA; Rosemont IL, USA; Denver CO, USA; Snoqualmie, USA; San Jose, USA; Universal City, USA; Scottsdale AZ, USA; San Diego, USA; Las Vegas, USA; Copenhagen,
Denmark; Copenhagen, Denmark again; Vejle, Denmark; Aalborg, Denmark; Aarhus, Denmark; Wuppertal, Germany; Wuppertal, Germany again. Seven of these shows will see the band accompanied by chorus and orchestra.

Added a review of the excellent first solo album from Procol Harum's former guitarist, Dave Ball – including links so you can buy or order it direct

Updated our page about Dave Ball's autobiography ... which is also released this week in downloadable form

Added the tenth and last in a series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

RIP Levon Helm and Bert Weedon and Chris Etheridge

Readers may notice that some of the dates that disappeared from the 2012 gigs list have now been restored, as promised. PH management had withdrawn the notification (by US request) from the website until they were officially announced. This was purely a clerical matter so there was no need to panic ... the remaining gigs will go ahead of course, and will be announced (again!) when the moment is right.

Added the ninth and penultimate in a great series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

'Beyond the Pale' paid a visit to the wonderful Thames Delta Exhibition in Southend-on-Sea. A report will follow ... it's strongly recommended.

'Polish television has set up a deal to produce a one-hour TV special, including Brooker's backing group': see here  (thanks, Franky) (Have a fresh look at the excellent Polish Procol Harum pictures here)

Corrected and expanded a tour-schedule entry for 1975 for Indiana PA (thanks, Rebecca)

Added a particularly comprehensive contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, One-Eye)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions ... click here for an easy way to get started

Readers may notice that some dates have disappeared from the 2012 gigs list. PH management has withdrawn the notification (by US request) from the website until they are officially announced. This is purely a clerical matter so don't panic ... the gigs will go ahead of course, and will be announced (again!) when the moment is right.

Added a new gig in the USA (thanks, Chris)

Added the eighth in a series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

' ... a sensational performance, joining the Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison as one of the concert highlights of 1972 ...'
Added a terrific review of Procol Harum from forty years ago, which is notable also for its prediction about the career of support band, The Eagles (thanks, Franky)

Added another fascinating contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Linda)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions ... click here for an easy way to get started

Added a backstage pass (thanks, Vince) for a show in 1972 we didn't know ... were you in Las Vegas at the start of July?

Procol Harum announce new concert dates, all taking place in the next twelve months in the USA or Denmark: details here, here, here, and here; and here, here and here (thanks, Chris)

There were more dates on the above list, but PH management has withdrawn them (by US request) from the website until they are officially announced.
This is just a clerical matter so don't panic ... the gigs will go ahead of course, and will be announced (again!) when the moment is right.

If you follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ProcolHarum1) or on Facebook, or if you subscribe to our Fresh Fruit newsletter or The Beanstalk, you will have known about the American shows for some time now, of course

Routinely updated this useful page

Added the seventh in a great series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

Added an authoritative and insightful page about Robin Trower's guitar work with Procol Harum (thanks, Bob)

Kicked off the 2012 tickets-page (thanks, One-Eye)

Added a poster advertising three exciting St George's Day releases from a former member of Procol Harum who has worked as soldier, seaman, policeman, actor, computer programmer, postal worker, printer, estate agent, hospital worker, bodyguard, university lecturer, artist, writer, and banker… as well as finding time to be a musician, author, and artist (thanks, Dave)

Added a link to ninety-five very recent live reviews of Procol Harum gigs in the USA ... they make good reading unless you're stuck in the past.

Added a fourteenth Procol Harum Project show (thanks, Søren)

Added the sixth in a series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

Added another fascinating contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Peter J)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions ... click here for an easy way to get started

' ... this piece is, in reality, an embarrassingly inept attempt ... to create a rock cantata ... kitsch ...'
Not everybody liked Procol Harum's first orchestral show – added another 'of-its-time' contemporary review by a self-confessed snob (thanks, Franky)

'Keith especially, spectacles and all, looks almost straight ... having a grand old time dancing along with his band, safely hidden ...'
Added a weighty-enough piece of Procol journalism from the USA, 1972 (thanks, Franky)

Added the fifth in a series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

Added another fascinating contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Peter C)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions ... click here for an easy way to get started

Added a reminiscence from the musician knocked down by The Commander onstage in front of 40,000 fans

Added a ticket scan here (thanks, Peter)

Added the setlist from Gary Brooker's performance in London at the weekend ... much related material here

Added the fourth in a series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

Added another fascinating contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Ian)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions ... click here for an easy way to get started

'...the Procol Harum ... have no conception of rhythm and its immense possibilities. There was nothing but an incessant pounding of drums and cymbals ... '
Not everybody liked Procol Harum's first orchestral show – added another contemporary review in which some of the inaccurate and patronising statements once again beggar belief (thanks, Franky)

We are not in a position to bring you any more contracted Procol Harum dates at the moment – but we'd like to advise US Procol fans not to plan any foreign holidays ('vacations') during the four or five weeks starting 13 July.

'No one buys virility or vanity when buying Procol Harum ...'
Added a 1970 assessment of the band's prowess and promise from Denver, in America (thanks, Franky)

Added the third in a great series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

Added another fascinating contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Marvin)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions ... click here for an easy way to get started

You can find clips on YouTube of Procol's Geoff Dunn playing at the weekend

Procol Harum at Skagen, here; AWSoP in Salem, here; new Blur song 'shares similarites with Procol Harum', here (thanks, Charlie)

Which Procol Harum songs have been stuck in your head? Here's the place to register them

Good to be getting messages from Procol fans who have been enjoying Bristol band Phantom Limb – recent live review here

RIP Davy Jones

Added a message from Gary Brooker regarding the London show in eleven days' time.

' ... a tear-duct-bending operation, whether the listener was 14, 40, or 74 ...'
Added most of another contemporary review of Procol Harum's first orchestral show (thanks, Franky)

Added a review of the Procol Harum Union Chapel Blu-Ray disc, including direct links to purchase it (thanks, all)

Added the second in a great series of festival shots from Kløften in 2011

Added another fascinating contribution to the Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Charlie)  ... we welcome more readers' contributions

Added a brief 1970 Atlanta Festival memoir (thanks, John)

23 February:  The eighteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale'

As we look forward to summer festival music from Procol Harum, here's the start of a great series of shots from Kløften in 2011

Considerably upgraded our 1971 Procol tour schedule with information sent in by a reader (thanks, David)

This may well jog the memories of American fans who haven't yet sent in their Concert Diaries ... we welcome your contributions

Added another contribution to the above-mentioned Fans' Concert Diary feature (thanks, Lars)

Journalism in 1970: what on earth was meant by writing like this ' ... the Harum sound: sullen bass chords dropping on piano runs like a guillotine falling on marching feet, lyrics from Keith Reid that stand out like an effigy for 18th-century poets, and doses of volume dominated by the organ and followed by breaks of light Mozartian runs speeded to resemble rock 'n' roll ...'?  (thanks, Franky)

Where did Procol Harum play on 3 August 1973 – was it Aylesbury or Dunstable? (thanks, Laurence). Can anybody clarify?

The above contributor also seeks ' ... info on a spectacular and stellar night I had in Bilzen at the Jazz festival in I think 1974 – 'twas a far out occasion for sure –  I remember that I also saw Argent performing, followed by Procol Harum, the perfect ending to a brilliantly-lit night out.' Again, can anybody clarify?

'Keith probably wished I'd go away … he certainly gave me a funny smile when we met again a week later ... artists should be judged by their own highest standards, not against prevailing mediocrity'
Added a long and fascinating Keith Reid interview from 1977, in which the validity of The Worm and the Tree is the principle subject. (thanks, Franky)

Time to re-read the 'History of Harum' by the same author: part one, part two

Listen to Gary Brooker address the audience on the origins of The Worm and the Tree after The Palers' Band performed it in 2006 – and promise to play it again!

New readers might be unaware of the comprehensive 'Taking Notes and Stealing Quotes' entry on The Worm and the Tree

Added the first item in a new feature: fans' own Concert Diaries. First up is Webmaster Jens: see what Procol Harum shows he's been to, down the years, and then go to this page and send us your own!

Added a Randy Newman excerpt to clarify the mondegreen origins of The Devil Came from Kansas

RIP Diane Stevens (cf AWSoP)

Added a 2012 festival date for Procol Harum (thanks, Chris)

'What’s this filth? That Keith Reid is getting more perverted every album’ ... 'It must be love that keeps us together ...’
Added a terrific 2,800-word interview by Ritchie Yorke from the Broken Barricades era, in which Brooker, Reid and Wilson express candid opinions on numerous artists of the day (Medicine Head / Pentangle / Black Sabbath / Curved Air / Mylon / Dr John / James Taylor / The Band / Janis Joplin / Neil Diamond / The Moody Blues / The Stones / Ry Cooder / Joe Cocker / Dave Edmunds / Led Zeppelin / Elton John / Randy Newman / Cat Stevens / Crosby Stills Nash and Young / Neil Young / Bobby Sherman / Deep Purple) – some are 'rubbish', some are 'terrific', one elicits ‘I've never heard of him' and one is 'a big wet sponge’ ('... my favourite group,’ said Brooker, ‘As long as I don't have to hear them ...'). The band – on sibylline and provoking form – also offer a track-by-track commentary on the Barricades album, and all-in-all this is a must-read article for any Procol fan! (thanks, Franky)

Added this link to a true AWSoP curiosity (thanks, Pat) – why not follow that with another (involving Helium!) (thanks, Charlie)

'There seemed to be close to a dozen mics all over the stage ...'
Added another contemporary review of Procol Harum's first orchestral show (thanks, Franky)

Added a Procol Harum date in Colorado (thanks, Evan)

Added an article about Procol Harum on the verge of a San Bernardino gig (thanks, Franky)

' ... soap-operatic religiosity and funeral-parlor solemnity ...'
Not everybody liked Procol Harum's first ever foray with orchestra and chorus! (thanks, Franky)

26 January:  The fourteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #15 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Etta James and Johnny Otis

'The lyrics are weighted. They hang in the air'
Added a Procol album review from The Miami News ... draw your own conclusions, indeed (thanks, Franky)

Added a page catching up with Geoff Whitehorn and his new signature guitar (thanks, Geoff)

Added an interesting and copiously-illustrated collectors' page about Procol Harum broadcast shows (thanks, Keith)

Added a couple of photographs here

Added twelve 2012 tour-dates here that no fan of great music can afford to miss

Added news of a Gary Brooker appearance celebrating the posthumous sixtieth birthday party of a famous fan of Procol Harum (thanks, Thomas)

So you think you can spell the name of the lyricist responsible for A Whiter Shade of Pale and Homburg? Have a look at this 'beautiful rarity' page and see if you are right! (thanks, Tormod)

' ... the Procol Harum sound is the kind of music you want to dance to ...'

Added three pages relating to a Procol Harum performance in 1970 at the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra: one here, another here, and some background here (thanks, Franky)

Routinely updated this page and this page and this page

Added the solution to this year's Christmas Conundrums

Added the schedule of Triumphant Victors, with the now-traditional 'glamorous assistant' as well ... if your name is listed, do tell us where to send your prize.

Added a link to this page, which shows other work by the co-creator of Procol Harum's famous 'mediaeval spacemen' outfits (thanks, Bradshaw)

'New CD': added a link to this article about 'a letter to Gary Brooker', and the infidels of Procol Harum (thanks, several people)

Added this link to a page which, as our contributor remarks, gives us Procol Harum, Denny Cordell and Big Pink all at once (thanks, Charlie)

Added a good poster and brief concert note to this page (search for 'Buffalo') (thanks, Bob)

'No More Fear of Jazz' ... added documentation concerning an unusual Gary Brooker recording (thanks, Gary)

Added an intriguing note from Procol's erstwhile organist to this page (thanks, Chris; thanks, Sebastian)

Added a link to '... the weirdest [TV] context in which a Procol Harum song has been aired' ... click here and search for 2 Point 4 Children (thanks, Alan). Mind you, was this version ever played on Top of the Pops? Should the characters not be listening to the orchestral version?

Added a link to a cover version (search for 15 Pop Greats ) of A Whiter Shade of Pale 'The AWSoP singer might be Justin Hayward – from his previous recording with Mike Batt, probably?' wonders our correspondent. (thanks, Niels-Erik).

Added a brief gig-note to this page (thanks, Gil)

Added a link to Procol Harum's Cornerstone album, to this page (thanks, Per)

Christmas shopping ... attention Beatles fans! The Martin Scorsese film – Living in the Material World – about George Harrison is now available from Amazon.co.uk (DVD or BluRay) and Amazon.com (DVD or BluRay). The Commander attended the première screening in London, and informs us that Procol Harum gets a mention.

Added scans from the concert-programme from Gary Brooker's performance last weekend in Malcolm Arnold's A Grand, Grand Overture, Op 57 (Arnold was, incidentally, the original conductor of Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra). The Overture, originally commissioned for a Gerard Hoffnung concert, is dedicated to US President Herbert Hoover and its score includes sundry vacuum cleaners.

Playing lead Hoover is a second Hoffnung connection for GB, following his comment 'It's a Hoffnung' at the start of the Edmonton LP, in allusion to the fact that the opening number seemed unable to start, band waiting for orchestra, orchestra waiting for band, and so on.

[Think of the opening choral shout preceding Whaling Stories on the Edmonton album, then click on Sir William Walton's oratorio Belshazzar's Feast and listen at about 1.53. Similar? This is probably a third Procol / Hoffnung echo, since Walton himself presented that single choral shout (of 'Slain!') during another of Hoffnung's musical extravaganzas in the 1950s]

Added a ticket here (thanks, Kjell) and updated this tour-dates page

Charlie Allison draws our attention to this imperfect archive recording of Homburg ... the perils of a live vocal! 'A technician tries to give him a new [mic],' says Charlie, 'Which doesn't work either! The host tries to make it look swinging!'

Here's an antidote – same country, different microphone. Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison in the band, of course. This probably dates from the era when the Brooker moustache was dyed by his hairdresser ('a bit too much salt and pepper in it' as he explained to BtP). Gary's wearing the iconic garment he has also sported at various 21st-centruy gigs. What are the chances of any of his distinctive stage-outfits ever coming up for sale? BtP sold one at auction, a while back

Birthdays yesterday: Keith Reid and Peter Solley 

Added two Procol Harum ticket-scans, here and here and here (thanks, Per)

In case anyone missed it, added a sick kiwi bulletin here (thanks, Dave)

Added a good, illustrated review of Procol Harum on Blu-ray disc

' ... [Procol] may play something awful at the start of the set and by the end they’ll have forgotten it. I can remind them of their mistakes.'

Added a hitherto-unknown Keith Reid interview from (probably) 1973 (thanks, Per) : intriguing to compare it with this article

Added an all-night 'Procul' graphic from the London School of Economics to this page and to this one (thanks, Dave)

Added prize-winners' names and solution from our recent Esoteric / Cherry Red Prog CD competition ... please send your addresses ...

Recommended Hallowe'en reading ... Black Shuck ... a new all-English horror novel written by a man ('the new MR James' according to one reviewer) with close Paler links (look inside all the Palers' Project CDs, for instance)