July 3: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in two weeks' time

' ... have they run out of ideas, these people? They've just become their own tribute bands, relying on fans' good nature and bottomless pockets to support their degenerate old age ...'

Added another great review of Procol Harum's new CD, Live at Ledreborg (thanks, Chris)

July 2: Procol Harum play Äänekoski in three weeks' time

'Gary Brooker was never young ... the bastard can still hit every note of the demanding Dog in the original key ...'

Added one more great review of Procol Harum's new DVD, Live at Ledreborg (thanks, Chris)

July 1:

' ... Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful stuff here ... '

Added a great review of Procol Harum's new DVD, Live at Ledreborg (thanks, Chris)

June 30:

Added an exiguous memoir to this page (thanks, Dave)

Added an informative codicil to this recent page (thanks, Fred)

Added a link – this link in fact – enabling Procol Harum fans to buy the Harry Dean Stanton Whiter Shade of Pale on DVD (thanks, Charlie)

Procol summer bargain: still going strong ... get yourself a free Procol CD on Gary Brooker's own label

June 29:

Remind yourself of this fine setlist and then read an elegy for the venue, which has closed (thanks, Thomas / Robert)

This week in rock'n'roll history--Procol Harum released their classic album, A Salty Dog, forty years ago in June 1969.  It will be featured on this week's show.  Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones died forty years ago on 3 July 1969.  Lowell George of Little Feat died thirty years ago on 29 june 1979.  The music of both will be featured this week. Listen to "Hidden Treasures of Rock 'N'Roll", some of the best music you've never heard, every Monday from 12-4pm CST on the net at http://uicradio.org/ ! More show info at http://www.myspace.com/rose60612

June 28: Happy Birthday, David Knights (1945)

Hear Robin Trower today when radio host Bob Rice interviews the guitar legend via telephone during Crossroads on KYRS-LP in Spokane. The Trower interview will take place shortly after 2pm Pacific time. The 1–3 pm show can be heard live over www.kyrs.org (and also at 92.3 FM , for those in Spokane). The interview will cover everything from his days with The Paramounts to cuts from his forthcoming CD (thanks, Lloyd)

Added a 'Spoken Spokane' interview with Robin Trower ... namechecks also for Brooker, Copping and Fisher (thanks, Lloyd)

June 27:

 ' ...telling Procol Harum that there wouldn’t be a follow up studio album seemed like telling Mozart not to give up his day job ...'

 Added another review of Procol Harum's new CD (thanks, Geoff)

And here's a Procol interview by the same author

June 26: RIP Michael Jackson 

Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in three weeks' time

Added an archival scan to this concert review ('Here's one for the Believe It Or Not Department')

Tidied up two complementary pages – with a unique line-up photograph – here and here

June 25: Procol Harum play Äänekoski in four weeks' time

Amended the transmission times of the Resonance FM documentary associated with the imminent London screening of the long-lost Separation movie (thanks, Henry)

Added a link for fans of Robin Trower & Jack Bruce (thanks, BfP)

Added an archival scan to this uncompromising review page

Remember Procol Harum's new DVD ... order it now from Amazon UK or from Amazon USA ... it's available from both

June 24:

Added English text to the Whitehorn article from Gitaar Plus, January 2008 (thanks, Hans)

June 23:

Added some pictures from Gitaar Plus, January 2008 (thanks, Geoff)

June 22:

 ' ... the music you make is the gift you're born with ...'

Added a brief Robin Trower interview touching on his compositions (thanks, Anvil)

June 21:

'... intensity and intrigue ... still compels fans four decades later ...'

Added a review of Procol Harum Live at Ledreborg, the stunning new Procol Harum DVD (thanks, Anvil)

June 20:

Added a page about Procol Harum's first album in a CD version with stereo bonus track, not recommended (thanks, Fred)

Free Procol CD on Gary Brooker's own label • all orders are now in the post, but there are still more tee-shirts left, so the offer remains open

Lost in the Looking-Glass ... last week's delayed orders are on their way at last (sorry, Stuart, Rod, Edo)

June 19: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in four weeks' time

Added scans of the Procol triple box-set (thanks, Per) 

June 18: Procol Harum play Äänekoski in five weeks' time

Added a quaint and ill-subbed article about Robin Trower's career on the eve of his return to the venue where he recorded his live Detroit album last year (thanks, Thomas)

Henry Scott-Irvine has retrospectively updated his 'upcoming' page ... you can listen again to his recent Whiter Shade of Pale special there

Several CD orders this week for Lost in the Looking-Glass ... these are slightly held up while we wait for some printing (sorry, Stuart, Rod, Edo). No such delay with From Shadow to Shadow and Trace of a Feeling however

June 17:

'... always rated Gary Brooker and he was sorry that he didn't make big hits with him ...'

Added a page about the late Ron Richards (thanks, Peter)

June 16:

Added some ale-shots to this dedicated page (thanks, Dave)

June 15:

Added some Separation news re. Matthew Fisher on air (thanks, Henry)

June 14:

Added two scans showing the Mobile Fidelity re-issue of A Salty Dog (thanks, Per)

Procol Harum go into the studio today to record a couple of songs they've been routining earlier in the week ... shall we hear these at this summer's gigs?

Procol summer bargain: still going strong ... get yourself a free Procol CD on Gary Brooker's own label

June 13:

Added advance notice of a Procol-related church fundraising gig in the summer

June 12: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in five weeks' time

'... a slight change in a line-up makes the outcome so drastically different ...'

Added a review of the 2009 Home reissue album (thanks, Dmitry)

June 11:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in six weeks' time

Added an excellent review of the Ledreborg DVD (thanks, Thomas)

June 10:

'... a sharp comment on the situation in the ranks where too many forces emerged to keep it all together ...'

Added a telling review of the 2009 A Salty Dog reissue album (thanks, Dmitry)

Since Paler illusionist Derren 'Glimpses of Nirvana' Brown has just published his long-awaited album of caricatures, may we draw your
attention to his various DVDs and (heavily-discounted) books currently available at Amazon UK and at the American branch of Amazon ?

June 9:

Public booking for Separation in London opens today. You can pre-order your Separation DVD, which has Matthew Fisher and Procol Harum music on the soundtrack, here and here.

Added a brief but appetising soundclip to this page – BJ Wilson is fantastic on this recently-released festival recording of Power Failure from 1974

Added a genealogical note to our guitar-picking entry for 5 June, below (thanks, Jimmy)

Procol summer bargain: still going strong.

June 8:

Added a couple of limited edition box-sets (thanks, Per) 

June 7:

Added an interesting memorabilium from Procol Harum's organist (thanks, Josh)

June 6:

'Why not a Darker Shade of Tan?'

Added a new, brief Keith Reid interview (thanks Robert and others)

June 5: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in six weeks' time

' ... even 'progressive' musicians have a heart of solid rock ...'

Added an article about Procol Harum's Scottish début (thanks, Jim)

Click here for some great guitar playing by Jack Briggs, who contributed a notable Trower cover to the most recent Palers' Project 2CD album. No surprises that this young player has genes in common with another noted North-Eastern player  (thanks, Jimmy, who explains that 'Mick Grabham's dad and my dad were cousins. I remember going to his house when I was very young as we lived on the same estate. I also saw him playing with Cochise; he was my favourite guitar player! I remember he played with his teeth after I sent him a message on a handkerchief during the interval!)

Procol summer bargain: please forgive us if we can't get all your orders into the mail until the weekend, but keep them coming!  

June 4:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in seven weeks' time

'Just a line is all I need ...'

But what sort of line? Added a quintessentially English, steam-powered page entitled Tornado Torment  (thanks, Jeff)

June 3:

Free Procol Harum CD with tee-shirt Added an extreme summer bargain, to our online store, that will help clear some shelf-space at BtP, while giving much delight and pleasure to Procol Harum fans

June 2:

'... it's incense and earth, dying through birth, light to come from dark moon to sun ...'

Added a review of another of the recent Salvo re-masters (thanks, Captain Claptrap)

Added some statistics to the foot of this Procol Harum music download page

June 1:

  ' ... For my money the best DVD of the year so far ...'

Added a review of Procol Harum's fantastic Ledreborg DVD (thanks, Thomas)

May 31:

' ... their work shows an atmosphere of resignation and sadness ...'

Added a translation (into English) to this page (thanks, Fred)

Request Brooker/Procol favourites for tomorrow's broadcast!
"HIDDEN TREASURES OF ROCK 'N ROLL" (some of the best music you've never heard) will be celebrating Gary's Brooker's 64th birthday (29 May, 1945) by playing lots of his music (including live Ledrevborg tracks). The show is broadcast tomorrow (and each Monday) from 12–4 PM CDT at http://uicradio.org/ . Send requests to rose60612@yahoo.com  (John Rose www.myspace.com/rose60612)

May 30:

Added a page previewing Procol Harum in Aberdeen, 1970 (thanks, Jim)

May 29: Happy Birthday Gary Brooker (1945) Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in seven weeks' time

"I'm quite a nice bloke, really ... I'd like to meet some good musicians from another planet ..."

Added a new interview with Gary Brooker (thanks, Michael) and an unfamiliar picture here and here (thanks, Ingot)

Gary is in superb voice on the new Procol Harum DVD ... see here ... and BtP is getting lots of mails along the following lines ...

May 28: Procol Harum play Äänekoski in eight weeks' time

Please send us a message if you're planning to be at the Finnish Procol show!

Added a page about the imminent London screening of the long-lost Separation movie (thanks, Peter)

Procol Harum's new DVD ... order it now from Amazon UK or from Amazon USA ... it's available from both

May 27:

' ... unique songs ... no expiration date ...'

Added another review (aimed at the general public) of the fantastic new Procol / orchestra / choir DVD/CD (thanks, Bert)

May 26:

Added a picture sleeve, in four different places – here, here, here and here – for reasons that will become obvious when you glance at its fifth manifestation (thanks, Lars)

Added a solution and the winner of a Salvo Procol re-mastered album here (thanks, Gus)

May 25:

Added a useful note about Procol Harum in Wichita in 1973 (thanks, Ricardo)

Added a great review of Secrets of the Hive (thanks, Dmitry)

May 24:

' ... the crowning glory of the entire album, the gently moving, previously unreleased, Understandably Blue ... a real find ... pips the evergreen Whiter Shade…'

Added an interesting review of the first Procol Harum album with its bonus-tracks (thanks, all)

Added two scans to this compilation page (thanks, Adrian)

May 23:

'... it is something grand sounding even grander ...'

Added a glowing BBC review of the 2009 Shine on Brightly reissue album (thanks, Jane)

Buy these extremely popular and justly-feted reissue albums – and much more – direct from 'Beyond the Pale' by clicking here

May 22: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in eight weeks' time

' ... Another one to add to the 'Gary-oke' collection ...'

Added a review of one of the recent Salvo re-masters (thanks, Captain Claptrap)

Added an Antipodean winner's name to the competition to win the above album ... at the foot of this page (thanks, Lola)

May 21:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in nine weeks' time ... will they play new material, that's the question!

' ... pop groups who sang in dialect ...'

No particular Procol content (though tangentially relevant to the case of the Beatles' refusal to sing in American accents) ... added a fascinating addendum to this page  (thanks, Jan)

No sooner has the competition to win the remastered A Salty Dog closed (thanks for the great numbers of entries, many of them correct!) than we announce a competition to win the remastered Home CD

Nice to see bloggers posting about Procol Harum, but people's spelling continues to baffle ...

May 20:

Added a gig on 10 November in Colorado (thanks, DotNot)

Added a fascinating note about Maastrichtian to this much-frequented page (thanks, Peter)

Added a codicil to this page (thanks, Phil)

The competition to win the remastered A Salty Dog closes at 23:59 GMT today, Wednesday 

May 19:

Added a review of the Ledreborg DVD, with two new picture collages (thanks, Charlie) 

May 18:

Added a competition, running until 20 May 2009, a simple bit of fun giving you the chance to win the third new Procol Harum reissue album (many thanks, Salvo Records)

May 17:

'... the future curse of art rock kicked in ...'

Added a somewhat iconoclastic review of the 2009 Shine on Brightly reissue album (thanks, Dmitry)

May 16:

Where were you thirty-two years ago last night? Added a picture here, here and here in commemoration of a notable – if regrettable – Procol occasion (thanks, Bert and TLC)

Added a compilation (probably dodgy) (thanks, Charlie)

May 15: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in nine weeks' time

Added an illuminating review of the 2009 Procol Harum reissue album (thanks, Dmitry)

The 'Beyond the Pale' online shop has shipped numerous copies of the third Salvo reissue, A Salty Dog, and the fourth Salvo reissue, Home to numerous countries in the past 24 hours.

May 14:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in ten weeks' time

' ... Princes of Denmark, certainly, but this was no tragedy ...'

Added a first review of Procol Harum's new DVD (thanks, Good Captain Claptrap)

Today: a re-run of Henry Scott-Irvine's 60-minute show about A Whiter Shade of Pale, at 8 pm GMT on London's Resonance FM (listen online): Psychedelia, Toilet Paper, Marriage, Death and Litigation. Since the live broadcast, the glitches have been cut out, leaving room for more Gary Brooker, Ray Connolly and Alan Parker. 

May 13:

Added a graphic to this page (Barcelona, 4 April 1974) (thanks, Martin) 

Added a brief note about Procol Harum in Los Angeles to the foot of this page (thanks, Henrik)

Added some Limburgs to this indispensible document (thanks, Jan)

May 12:

On this 42nd anniversary of the release of A Whiter Shade of Pale, added a commentary – including links to online ordering sites – by a noted Caledonian Procoholic about various stereo recreations of the record (thanks, Charlie)

Also added an e-flyer link to this page about the imminently-forthcoming Ledreborg orchestral DVD (thanks, Robert)

Early fan reaction: 'The Procol Live in Denmark DVD arrived yesterday!! Extraordinary quality!' (thanks, Richard)

Ready to ship from the 'Beyond the Pale' online shop: the third Salvo reissue, A Salty Dog, and the fourth Salvo reissue, Home (thanks, Chas)

May 11:

Added an apparently authoritative assessment of the first Salvo Procol re-issue (thanks, Evan)  

May 10:

Salivation time ... King Jimi, two unheard symphonic offerings from 1971, and Dave Ball Bringing Home the Bacon ...

Added links to preliminary pages for the next three Salvo Procol re-releases – Broken Barricades, Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and Grand Hotel (thanks, Chas)

In due course of time these will be available from The 'Beyond the Pale' shop in the usual way

May 9:

'Having an Anorak Day today ...'

Added a page examining the running-speed of various versions of Shine on Brightly, with specific reference to the recent Salvo re-issue series, and containing three new mp3 files for your listening enjoyment.

May 8: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in ten weeks' time

'... 'when we found out that what we were doing – which seemed perfectly normal to us – seemed quite adventurous to other people, we realized we’d have to form our own band ...'

Added an excellent Keith Reid interview – initially about The Keith Reid Project CD – from the current edition of the USA's excellent Goldmine (thanks, lots of people)

This upload is page number 5,555 at 'Beyond the Pale'.

May 7:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in eleven weeks' time

While we wait about ten weeks for the live return of Procol Harum, enjoy four clips of audio-visual Whitehorn in action (thanks, Charlie)

Added some Gaelic Manx to this indispensible document (thanks, Clive)

A Procol Harum fan is looking for a Complete Gary Brooker (solo) discography ... can anyone help?

May 6:

Added something unusual ... a preview, not a review, of Procol Harum's forthcoming choral/orchestral DVD from Ledreborg (thanks, Charlie)

May 5:

Ever wondered who came up with the idea of putting guitar-picks on sticky tape at the microphone ... and what band he was working for at the time?

Added a page about a racy book concerning a Liverpudlian roadie's career, including his time with Procol Harum, Harry Nilsson and sundry Beatles (thanks, Lily)

May 4:

"Some Santa Claus like ... knows – And treats my ears to ..."

Added a Procol Harum compilation of which we were previously unaware (thanks, Per)

Good to see so many orders coming in for the new Salvo re-issues, as well as for the first two. One customer writes, 'Did you notice that I've ordered my second copies of  the First Procol and Shine on Brightly? To me the sound quality and packaging are far superior to any of the other reissues. I'll keep one set still sealed for my collection!' Your pre-ordered reissues of A Salty Dog and of Home will be sent out as soon as they reach 'Beyond the Pale'

May 3:

In the UK we have a new Poet Laureate; meanwhile, have your say here about 'rating Keith Reid as Poet Emeritus for the Beat Generation'

Added a page from The Times about Procol Harum and Procul Harum (thanks, Peter)

Upgraded an image here (thanks, Anvil)

May 2:

Added more shots from Matt Pegg's German tour (where he's playing with the drummer from Robin Trower's band, Jude) (thanks, Kristina)

Added Japanese tour data here, and a graphic here (thanks, Evan)

Brooker/Reid tee-shirts ... now three sizes remaining

MayDay: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in eleven weeks' time

Added ordering links to two pages – here and here – about Separation, which has Matthew Fisher and Procol Harum on the soundtrack. The film, unseen in forty years, is about to come out on DVD (thanks, John)

April 30:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in twelve weeks' time

Added the result of some head-scratching to the page about some films and a Procol cupboard (thanks, Ben)

Added a link to the page about Procol Harum's upcoming DVD, by which you can sample the new material and the 1974 bonus tracks (thanks, Gary)

April 29:

Added pictures from Matt Pegg's German tour (thanks, Big Mike; thanks, Kristina)
 

April 28:

Added a first glimpse of the third Salvo reissue, of A Salty Dog, with some great live items, and two non-studio cuts, among its bonus-tracks (thanks, Chas)

Added a first glimpse of the fourth Salvo reissue, of Home, with a couple of bonus-tracks (thanks, Chas)

April 27:

Added a page about Henry Scott-Irvine's live broadcast from last night, Psychedelia, Toilet Paper, Marriage, Death and Litigation, about A Whiter Shade of Pale

April 26:

Added a useful response to this Salvo reissue review (thanks, Fred)

In which connection, added two comments to this page about lyrical variants

You might like to re-read this old, yet relevant page.

Tonight: Henry Scott-Irvine entertains for 60 minutes about A Whiter Shade of Pale, from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm GMT, live on London's excellent Resonance FM (listen online): Psychedelia, Toilet Paper, Marriage, Death and Litigation. As well as lots of related music, interview-clips from the song's writers, and comments by celebs from politics and the Arts, he will be re-broadcasting the 1967 Radio London clip by which the world first heard Procol Harum.

April 25:

Added something a bit dreamlike about some films and a Procol cupboard (thanks, Ben)

Removed from this page some Procol merchandise items that have recently sold out.

April 24: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in twelve weeks' time

Added a nice letter published lately in a Scottish newspaper (thanks, Charlie)

Added a note of answers (both correct and 'differently correct') and winners in the Salvo freebies competition (press 'refresh' on your browser when you get there)

April 23:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in thirteen weeks' time

' ... I can see myself armed with a bottle of Rioja hiding in the back room singing my heart out to the "Gary-oke" backing tracks ...'

Added a review of the first two Salvo Procol re-issues (thanks, Richard)

Corrected a track-list blunder here (thanks, Chris)

The BtP competition, to win Salvo reissue albums, closes at Midnight GMT at the end of 23 April

April 22:

Added a flawed history of Procol Harum and Robin Trower 

The BtP competition, to win the  Salvo reissue albums, closes at Midnight GMT at the end of 23 April
 

April 21:

Added a page about The Boat that Rocked (thanks, Charlie)

Added a sound-clip to our page about the great Salvo reissue of Shine on Brightly ... hear Gary, Matthew, Robin, BJ and Dave tackling A Robe of Silk ... order the CD here

April 20:

BtP's Salvo Procol reissues all sold out, but we have a fresh batch to send out now: find the recordings here and here and order online for immediate despatch.

Added recording and touring news for Procol Harum's fine bass-player (thanks, Matt)

'For One Night Illegally': here's a link to an excellent, revelatory and intriguing Radio 4 documentary about the history of bootlegs ... available online to 'listen again', and well worth it (thank you, Linda)

BtP e-mail problems: our internet hosting provider is having major problems with their spam-blocking software. The result is that all mails to any @procolharum.com mail address has been deleted (and an error-message returned to the sender). As a temporary solution, we have asked our provider to disable the spam filtering. While this will most likely open a tidal wave of spam mails for us, it will also enable incoming mails.  If you have mailed Jens or Roland anytime over the last two or three days, and not received a reply, please re-send, as your mails have most certainly been lost. Sorry for any inconvenience, but there was nothing the BtP webmasters could have done to prevent this.

Re. the Salvo reissue freebies competition, no mails have been lost: we had taken precautions, and your many entries have been received at other addresses ... keep them coming!

April 19:

Added a competition, running until 23 April 2009, a simple bit of fun giving you the chance to win one or other of the two new Procol Harum reissue albums (many thanks, Salvo Records)

The liner notes on these albums were written by Henry Scott-Irvine, the maker of the as-yet unseen feature-film about A Whiter Shade of Pale, who tells us that he will be 'broadcasting positive energy' about the famous record next Sunday, 26 April 2009, from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm GMT, live on London's excellent Resonance FM (listen online): the programme is called Psychedelia, Toilet Paper, Marriage, Death and Litigation ... sounds unmissable! 'A Whiter Shade of Pale: Pyschedelia, Toilet Paper, Marriage, Death and Litigation', 19:30 – 20:30 GMT on London's Resonance FM (listen online); writer/presenter/producer: Henry Scott-Irvine (thanks, Henry)

April 18:

'Rarely has a song proven so troublesome'

Added a British newspaper's response to the most-played record in the UK since 1934 story (thanks, Charlie)

Heard on NPR ('National Public Radio' in America) on Wednesday afternoon, 15 April:
Q: What is the most frequently played music in public places in Britain of the last seventy-five years?
A: A Whiter Shade of Pale
To quote the programme loosely,  "Not The White Cliffs of Dover, not White Christmas" (thanks, Janet)

April 17: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in thirteen weeks' time

Added a very good Procol feature from the UK's Daily Express newspaper (thanks, Jeff, Pia, and all in the 'Procol Radar Fraternity')

Added an American response to the same story (thanks, Sam)

April 16:  Procol Harum play Äänekoski in fourteen weeks' time

Added the words of a hitherto unknown Brooker / Reid song from 1967, now available on the great Salvo reissue of Procol Harum ('hitherto unknown' unless you heard Gary Brooker perform it at BtP's Procol Rarum concert in London, July 2007, of course). There's a brief sound-clip – Procol Harum with orchestra, 1967 – here and here ... imagine if this had been the direction taken by 'The Black Album' ...

Resolved an error on the printed Ragnarock box set (thanks, Thor-Rune)

April 15:

More excellent news ... added a summer 2009 festival gig for Procol Harum (thanks, Chris)

All the pre-ordered Salvo Procol reissues have now been sent out to from BtP UK to Procol Harum fans all over the world. Find the recordings here and here and order online for immediate despatch.

First impressions from BtP: the sound on these recordings really is exceptionally good. The numerous bonus tracks include hitherto-unheard material: fascinating to hear Wilson and Trower's contributions to A Robe of Silk (complete with key-changes), the acoustic guitar on In the Wee Small Hours of Sixpence, and Gary Brooker singing with strings and woodwinds (orchestration and conducting by Tony Visconti) in July 1967.

April 14:

"... great and unsought honour ..."

Added an excellent piece of news ... guess what has been the most-played record in the UK since 1934? (thanks, all)

Interesting to compare this with a page from five years ago

GB did an afternoon interview BBC Radio 2 and was on Radio 4's PM programme at 17.55. BtP missed both, thanks to the Bank Holiday sunshine.
Keith Reid was in the BBC News Channel studio (brokered by BtP) for their 20:50 spot but the guilty verdict in the Phil Spector trial meant there was 'rolling news and all the other stories were dropped' (thanks, Angie)

April 13:

Added a page of Rock memorabilia, including some Procol Harum material (thanks, Anon)

Arriving soon at BtP ... the first two Salvo Procol reissues ... pre-order now (here and here) for despatch to you the day they reach us

April 12:

Added a page containing reviews of the four Regal Zonophone albums ... containing many interesting comments about the musical and lyrical influences

April 11:

Added another very revealing early piece (illustrated) about Procol Harum from Record Mirror (thanks, Anvil)

April 10: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in fourteen weeks' time 

  Added a note about the Boat that Rocked (the new Richard Curtis comedy) (thanks, Charlie)

Added a Ragnarock note (thanks, Per)

April 9:

 Added two illustrations to the foot of this page (thanks, Per)

Added some good Japanese work here (thanks, Per)

April 8:

Added a 1967 Keith Reid interview from Record Mirror ... as promised on 25 March below (thanks, Anvil)

Arriving soon at BtP ... the first two Salvo Procol reissues ... pre-order now (here and here) for despatch to you the day they reach us

Over 800 members of the Procol Harum group on Facebook
 

April 7:

Added scans to two pages about Procol Harum compilation albums, here and here, the latter being particularly notable (thanks, Per)

April 6:

Continuing this year's unprecedented run of new items for the Procol Harum fan – added news of a forthcoming triple-disc Norwegian release featuring most of the 1974 line-up 

Added two missing names to this page (thanks, Stefano)

April 5:

 Added a page of pictures of Robin Trower and Jack Bruce on stage in February 2009 (thanks, Peter)

April 4: RIP Michael Cox / Matthew Ellis / Obie Clayton ... interesting obituary here, BtP pages start here

Added scans to two pages about Procol Harum compilation albums, here and here (thanks, Per)

April 3: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in fifteen weeks' time

Added an update to this page about a Brooker charity-auction item

Click here to see Nicholas Clare (Palers' Band 2001) on Sky News making a stand in London yesterday (in a tent, in a brown hat)

April 2:

Added an index page for Salvo Records' eagerly-anticipated Procol remasterings/reissues

Added an entry here for Procol reissues from Friday / Repertoire / Salvo / Westside

Added more Home re-issues to this page (thanks, Per)
 

April Fools' Day: Happy Birthday Belberg Quevorkian (19711)

Procol Harum in Concert download: click here for a third download option that will be of interest to completists or those on a tight budget

Procol Harum studio-visits ...an interesting proposal here

March 31: Happy Birthday Henry Spinetti (1951)

Procol Harum in Concert download: click here: a brief connectivity problem has been corrected by the company that hosts the soundfiles. To our knowledge the concert is also available from play.com, amazon UK, itunes and cdon.com, but in most cases in lower bitrate resolution. The version including all of Gary's introductions etc will, to our knowledge, not be available elsewhere.

It confirms the brilliant research by Marcus Gray about the identity and history of the Procol Harum cat (see here) and also shows how very early in the band's career Gary and Keith were apparently regarded as 'first among equals' by other band members. Intriguing to read Mathew Fisher's reported drug-opinions too, and to hear Ray Royer speaking from inside his trousers (his own trousers, that is).

March 30: Happy Birthday Dave Ball (1950)

 Added an illustration and publication dates for a Procol Harum compilation album (thanks, Per)

Added extra information here (thanks, Per)

March 29:

Added an editorial response and a fan's letter about the omission of BJ Wilson from a recent poll of drummers (thanks, Dan)
 

March 28: RIP Reg Isidore

Added tracklisting and illustrations for a hitherto-unlogged Procol Harum compilation from 1989 (thanks, Per)

March 27: Happy Birthday Matt Pegg (1971)  Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in sixteen weeks' time

Added a page about the arrangements Matt and Procol Harum have to make for the current recordings (thanks, Matt and Josh)

March 26: Procol Harum studio news: 'The recording of the first song is progressing well, and there are plans to continue the process with two more. 2009 may be the year of the revisited album – except for the Ledreborg DVD –
but 2010 should bring a new album if plans go to thing (spoonerism intended)'. (thanks, Chris)

Added a page about Line Records' Gary Brooker triple-CD box set (thanks, Per)

March 25:

Added illustrations to two reviews of A Salty Dog (thanks, Anvil)

Treat yourself to a nice Hammond demo (thanks, Kjell Tore)

March 24:

In five days' time Procol Harum's second Ledreborg orchestral concert – currently available on audio CD, and scheduled for release on DVD – will be available as an audio download (two different versions) from 'Beyond the Pale': details here and here (thanks, Chris)

This means that currently-available Procol downloads are the two Ledreborg versions, and the Italian One Eye to the Future album. We understand that One Eye ... will remain available only until the next Procol download (no details available yet) comes online ... so get it while you can.

March 23:

Added a 2009 song (Brooker/Reid) to this index page  

March 22:

Added an illustrated page giving food for thought about the running order of the Exotic Birds and Fruit album (thanks Per)

The 1962 Brooker / Trower / Copping / Brownlee acetate eBay auction closes today

March 21:

Added more shots of Procol Harum in Norway, 1974 (thanks, Ragnar)

Don't forget the Paramounts Poison Ivy 1962 acetate eBay auction closes tomorrow

Pre-orders are rolling in to the BtP store for the two re-mastered Procol re-issues including Understandably Blue (1967) and A Robe of Silk (1968): we'll be sending these out to you as soon as stocks reach us from Salvo Records (hoping to beat Amazon!)

March 20: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in seventeen weeks' time

'Kaleidoscope, Salad Days, and Good Captain Clack ... none of these songs are terrible'

Added a review of a now-deleted Procol Harum re-issue

... and here's a link to the brand new reissue which contains one Procol Harum recording from 1967 that has never surfaced before. 

March 19:

Don't forget the Paramounts Poison Ivy 1962 acetate eBay auction

Added two gig snippets ... one here (thanks, Serge)  and one here (thanks, Chris Copping)

Added a reel-to-reel snippet here (thanks, Bill)

Paler Sev Lewkowicz writes to BtP: 'I have joined a club where you get to remix Peter Gabriel-associated songs, and have done a remix of Games Without Frontiers. If you have a moment please follow the link and give it a listen. I'm not sure whether you can vote on it if you aren't a member, but if you can, please do!'

March 18: Birth of Barrie James Wilson (1947)

The Paramounts Poison Ivy 1962 acetate eBay auction is going strong (good luck, all bidders)

Alternatively, would you like to help the 'Children with Leukaemia' charity by acquiring a guitar signed by Brooker, Clapton and Rutherford? Added some Norfolk news, sent in by several correspondents (thanks, all)

Amended this page about Procol Harum's 10.5th album

Corrected a Portuguese infelicity here (thanks, Teresa) 

March 17:

Added another page to the AWSuit index  (thanks, Thomas)

A Procol-fan/drummer writes from Germany (having driven, twice, to the Netherlands to find an early copy of the Live at Ledreborg CD): 'I totally agree with Rob Barnes's critique (below, 4 March); there's only one thing I would like to mention: I never was a fan of Mark Brzezicki, but to my great surprise on this record his drumming fits perfectly to every song! BJ wouldn't have done a better job!

March 16: Procol Harum were in the studio yesterday, and 'it went very well' according to manager Chris Cooke, addressing fans via the Procol e-mail list (join here). Procol 'expect to be back there very soon'.

The Paramounts Poison Ivy 1962 acetate eBay auction is now under way: first-ever recording by Brooker, Trower, Copping and Brownlee (good luck, all bidders)

Updated BtP's 'For Sale' page to include the two new Salvo remaster/reissue CDs, Procol Harum and Shine on Brightly – pre-order now for April delivery

Added a first glimpse of the first Salvo reissue, of Procol Harum 1967, with its surprising cover, and a highly-coveted rarity among its eleven bonus-tracks (thanks, Chas)

Added a first glimpse of the second Salvo reissue, of Shine on Brightly, with a highly-intriguing rarity among its eleven bonus-tracks (thanks, Chas)

Ides of March:

Added a page containing pictures of Gary, Josh and Mark from Procol Harum, contributing to the writing and recording of a song on Friday 13 March, for charity. The page includes links to allow you to hear the piece, and download it ... and of course to make your contribution to the Red Nose Day charitable appeal.

March 14:

Added another Procol Harum setlist  (thanks, Evan)

Read some comments about the youthful Fisher at this show 

March 13: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in eighteen weeks' time

Added a page of good photographs from Procol Harum's first-ever visit to Norway, with the Dave Ball line-up (thanks, Ragnar)

Three members of Procol Harum will be on the BBC raising money for the UK's Comic Relief today for Red Nose Day ... link here ... Gary and co plan to write and record a new song. Josh Phillips writes to BtP: 'We are going in cold (no song will exist before we start jamming) and expecting to have a song recorded and on air by 4 PM' Click the logo (right) to find out how to support GB's charitable endeavours

March 12:

March 11:

Added a final page of photographs from a recent Robin Trower gig (thanks, Hans)

A Procol-fan/organist writes from Norway: I just downloaded One Eye to the Future, and that is amazing! Can't remember hearing them this tight ever, with beautiful details, twists, fill-ins and humour. No offence to Matthew's past playing (and certainly not his composing!), but Josh is truly amazing here.'

March 10:

Added a second full fan-review of Procol Harum in Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir (thanks, Charlie) 

March 9: Happy Birthday Robin Trower

Added a page about the imminent eBay sale of a rare Procol-related item (thanks, Mick)
You could soon be the owner of the first-ever studio recording made by Robin Trower, Gary Brooker, Chris Copping and Mick Brownlee

Added another (disturbing) instance to the AWSoP common-parlance page ... search for 'Women's Murder' (thanks, Barbara)

March 8:

Added a picture and a link to the Ledreborg DVD Page ... Amazon is claiming that 11 May will see its release, and you can pre-order.

Added a soundclip here, evidence of a second song to share words with Into the Flood and Gone Too Far (thanks, Antònio)

March 7: Happy Birthday Matthew Fisher

Added a page recording a 2009 chart triumph for A Whiter Shade of Pale

Added news of two new Procol Harum CDs in the offing (thanks, Chris)

March 6: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in nineteen weeks' time

'... the swirling maelstrom of guts and gore ...'

Added a first fan-review of Procol Harum in Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir (thanks, Richard)

Enjoy some concert-reviews by the same correspondent

Drumming and click-tracks ... interesting stuff here (thanks, Peter)

March 5:

Greatly improved the two newest illustrations on this page (thanks, George)

Added a note about the Night of the Proms CD (thanks, Fred)

March 4:

Added an interesting illustration to this page (thanks, Koji)

Procol Harum's manager wrote as follows on 'The Beanstalk', the Procol Harum message-line (click here to join the chat):
'The band's on good form. Two days routining with a producer has been better than good. The studio is (in my opinion) totally Procol ... everyone's up for it ... we're not just working on the original albums and the best box set you're ever likely to hear (and see) ... in a week with a new audio CD available ... and with a new DVD (which I think you'll be very pleased with) due out within a couple of months ... I thought it pertinent to let people know that we're not resting ... ' [excerpted]

Rob Barnes writes to BtP:
' The Live at Ledreborg CD recording is simply superb in every respect. I have all the other 'live' recordings with which to compare, but this takes the band to another level. It's oft been said in the recent past that 'Gary's voice has never sounded better'. This time Gary's voice really has never sounded better. Everything about the album is sharp, tuneful and fresh. All those concerned with the performance and production deserve a hearty 'hurrah'. Bring on the DVD – and I think I'll have to find a way to wire my TV into the hi-fi.'

March 3:

Today's the sixth anniversary of the release of Procol Harum's last studio album, The Well's on Fire: so it's good to be able to reveal that the band are strongly rumoured to be going into the studio to record again, this month.

Meanwhile, added booklet-illustrations from the live Ledreborg CD, released yesterday – see if your own picture is there ...

March 2:

Today: release of the new Procol Harum CD! Click here to get it

Added a setlist/review of Trower, Bruce and Husband in Nijmegen (thanks, Frans)

March 1:

Added another Procol Harum setlist (thanks, Evan) 

More from Annie Lennox about Procol Harum here

Who will be the 700th member of the Procol Harum group on Facebook ?

February 28:

Added a first page of photographs from a recent Robin Trower gig (thanks, Hans)

Webmaster Jens models the new Procol Harum Live CD which he bought in Nijmegen in the Netherlands today – he's there for the Trower gig of course – prior to its official release!

February 27: Procol Harum play Brønnøysund in twenty weeks' time

Apparently accommodation is running out rapidly where Procol Harum play in Brønnøysund this summer; added some hotel and camping imformation

Added links to seven fresh pages for great song-words: here, here, here, here, here, here and here

February 26: Happy birthday Geoff Dunn

Added ordering information about the new Mickey Jupp CD, which features plenty of musicians who will be familiar from gigs in Southend that Procoholics attend (thanks, John) 

February 25:

Added some interesting running-order information about Shine on Brightly (thanks, Keef)
 

February 24:

Classic Rock offers a cursory AWSuit bulletin (thanks, Scobie)

Added a question here: did Procol play Australia in 1971? (thanks, Pat)

February 23:

Added a nice Procol poster from 1968, Boston (thanks, Lisper)

Scroll to foot of page to scrutinise the first entry in our name-that-clown series (thanks, Mysterious Donor)

Added some useful travelling information for those planning to see Procol Harum play in Brønnøysund this summer  (thanks, Torstein)

February 22: RIP Kelly Groucutt

Added a link to the Wikipedia entry about Brønnøysund where Procol Harum will play this summer (thanks, Thomas)

February 21:

We are happy to announce the first information about a Procol Harum concert in 2009  (thanks, Chris)

February 20:

Added a little 'imagine my surprise' story that might incidentally jog the minds of people who need to buy a very nice birthday-present for a music-lover (thanks, George)

February 19:

Added the setlist from the Procol Harum Project's most recent show (thanks, Poul)

Dave Bronze invited UK Palers to sign the petition to the UK government not to make it a legal requirement for noise-control devices to be fitted to venues with an entertainment licence. These 86,493 people signed. The government has just issued its response
 

February 18:

 Added a rallying-call for admirers of BJ Wilson's drumming (thanks, Dan)

Added an impressionistic photograph of Geoff Dunn in action with Procol Harum (thanks, Hans)

February 17:

Added a page about 'the single most neglected writer of rock lyrics': Keith Reid and A Salty Dog (thanks, Carol)

Added two further pictures to this rarity page (thanks, Mick)

February 16:

Added two more pictures – our contributor has been busy going through his 'untidy files' – from this 1974 Procol Harum concert (thanks, Ragnar)

Also added details of a  cover-version of A Whiter Shade of Pale by R Stevie Moore (thanks, William)

Are there any other cover versions that use all four verses of the song?

February 15:

Visit BBC Radio 6 from the UK in the wee small hours of Sunday morning (GMT) to see what they're broadcasting by way of 'Procol Harum, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles 1974'. BtP wrote to the BBC to ask what this broadcast consisted of but they haven't replied yet: use 'listen again' to hear for yourself. Chances are it's the well-known Hollywood Bowl concert: certainly worth a listen, whether you know it or not.

Added a 1962 soundclip to this page about a record featuring Brooker, Trower et al so rare that only six copies ever existed (thanks again, Little Mick)

February 14:

Today: your chance to hear a live set of Procol music (thanks, Poul)

Added another cover of A Whiter Shade of Pale with an ordering link (search for 'Little Yellow House) (thanks, Per)

February 13: RIP Estelle Bennett

If about 15% of the people going to a public concert know each other through a website, does that gig become 'a fan-club convention'?

Added a witty review of Procol Harum at Bloomsbury in 2005 (thanks, John)

Added late news of a chance to hear a live set of Procol music tomorrow (thanks, Poul)

February 12:

Added a ticket for a good Oslo Procol gig from 1974 (thanks, Ragnar)

A fair bit of comment – we're not vouching for the accuracy of any of it – amassing on this forum about the upcoming Fly/Salvo re-issues.

February 11:

Added two more good photographs from 1974, showing Gary Brooker's unorthodox piano-technique as well as his guitar-playing with Procol Harum (thanks, Ragnar)

Coming next Sunday ... Procol Harum at the Hollywood Bowl (supposedly from 1974!) on BBC Radio 6 from the UK in the wee small hours: click the link for details  (thanks, Charlie)

February 10:

Added covers of A Salty Dog, Beyond the Pale, Shine on Brightly and Grand Finale to this page (search for 'Mikkelsen') (thanks, Per)

Added a cover of A Whiter Shade of Pale to this page (search for 'Brusch') (thanks, Per)

Do you know of any Procol cover versions not listed on the two pages above? If so, please let us know.

February 9:

Added part two of the excellent article written for BtP to commemorate the thirteenth anniversary of Procol Harum's landmark Barbican Orchestral concert, while looking forward to the imminent release of the live Ledreborg orchestral CD (thanks, Ian)

February 8:

Added part one of an excellent article written for BtP to commemorate the thirteenth anniversary of Procol Harum's landmark Barbican Orchestral concert, while looking forward to the imminent release of the live Ledreborg orchestral CD (thanks, Ian)

February 7:

Added three covers of A Salty Dog to this page (thanks, Jonas; thanks, Spotify)

Do you know of any Procol cover versions not listed on this page (or this)? If so, please let us know.

Nine years ago today, Gary Brooker wrote to BtP with his very revealing Edmonton 1971 diary ... in case you didn't read it, here's the link again

February 6:

Added a page about a record featuring Brooker, Trower et al so rare that only six copies ever existed (thanks, Little Mick)

February 5:

Added a good picture of Procol Harum in Oslo playing Monsieur R Monde (here too) with an unusual twist (thanks, Ragnar)

February 4:

Added a fantastic setlist ... almost all of the Home album and an extremely rare 1969 song (thanks, Rick)

February 3:

Added a final page (with commentary) about some Whiter Shade of Pale cover versions (thanks, Henrik)

February 2:

Overhauled this much-visited page (thanks, Enrico)

Added an item to the 'Whiter Shade' parlance page (search for '30 January 2009') (thanks, Charlie)

Added a snippet to the AWSoP interpretations page (search for 'nuns came to an untimely death') (thanks, Simon)

Added interesting news for fans of Robin Trower and Jack Bruce (thanks, Charlie)

February 1:

Very exciting to announce the new live orchestral CD from Procol Harum: first details and artwork here (thanks, Chris)

Added an illustration to this page.

January 31:

Added a third page (with further commentary) about some Whiter Shade of Pale cover versions (thanks, Henrik)

BtP (Bristol) recommends Richard Thompson's '1,000 Years of Popular Music' show ... a fantastic evening's entertainment and highly informative too. A fragment of aftershow conversation ...
RC: You haven't thought of including a Procol Harum tune?
RT: It would be a tall order to cover anything by Procol: such a great singer, Gary ... you just can't touch him.

January 30: RIP John Martyn, OBE

' ... the old ticker starts racing when these fish start chasing ...'

Added a transcript from the Brooker/fisher film (thanks, Charlie)

January 29:

Added a second page (with further commentary) about some Whiter Shade of Pale cover versions (thanks, Henrik)

In the past four days 32 nationalities have visited this 'What's New' page (the haunt of real Procol fans, not casual enquirers). The countries are listed in descending order of Procoholics-per-head of population: Denmark, Norway, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Ireland, Oman, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, America, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, Puerto Rico, Lebanon, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Portugal, Greece, Argentina, Peru, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, and Thailand

January 28:

Added a page (with frank commentary) about some Whiter Shade of Pale cover versions (thanks, Henrik)

The next fan to join this Procol online group will be the six-hundredth (at the time of writing)

January 27:

Streetlife was a very rare Procol Harum magazine from 1976 ... get it here (thanks, John) and read the very illuminating article itself

Added links to this page, so that ancient and contemporary live versions of Homburg may be compared ... and the effects of time on the average rock voice be observed (thanks, Charlie)

January 26:

Added a link (here) to a YouTube clip of the original 1967 line-up of Procol Harum playing A Whiter Shade of Pale (thanks, Charlie)

Added a page about the places Procoholics visit BtP from (compare with the situation ten years ago) 

Don't forget: Gary Brooker commenting on July 1967's UK pop charts: 'Listen again' online here ... after the news and London weather, at about 3.46 for AWSoP; Gary is introduced at about 7.45. (thanks, Mike)

January 25:  

Today: Capital Gold (London Radio show 1546 MW or DAB) hosted by Mike Sweeney with guest Gary Brooker, 2000–2200 hrs GMT, introducing the chart from 1 July 1967. Details here, 'Listen again' online here ... after the news and London weather, at about 3.46 for AWSoP; Gary is introduced at about 7.45. (thanks, Mike)

Added another page about the AWSoP lawsuit

Gary Brooker and the East-End bruiser ... get your signed artefact here (thanks, John)

A nationality-counter placed on this page yesterday registered the following visitors in its first six hours: UK (35), USA (20), Germany (9), Denmark (7), Switzerland and Italy (4 each), Norway (3), Sweden and Finland (2 each), and one from each of Poland, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, France, Australia, Ireland, Brazil, Japan. After twelve hours the figures were UK (46), USA (38), Germany (13), Denmark (11), Norway,  Switzerland and Italy (5 each), Sweden (4), Netherlands (3), Belgium, France, Australia, Canada and Finland (2 each), and one from each of Turkey, Poland, Ireland, Brazil and Japan. By the twenty-four hour mark, however, the picture was: UK (71), USA (63), Germany (23), Denmark (16), Sweden (8), Italy and Switzerland (7), Canada and Norway (5), Netherlands (4), Japan, Spain, France, Belgium and Australia (3 each), Finland (2), and Austria, New Zealand, Oman, Venezuela, Turkey, Poland, Brazil and Ireland (1apiece). Welcome, all.
 

January 24:

'How is it that one of the most haunting songs of the classic rock genre has nothing written about it?'

Added another page of personal response to A Whiter Shade of Pale

'Salty Dog' Procol Harum tour teeshirts at the BtP store: one size remaining, two colours: here and here

January 23:

Now added CD artwork scans for this formerly elusive Procol-related CD (thanks, Michael and Pat)

January 22:

'Help me disinformation ... '

Subtracted eleven spurious Procol dates from our page that reproduces the alleged schedule of shows in the USA that is published at Wolfgang's Vault

YouTube fans / Procoholics have no doubt discovered this attempt on Repent Walpurgis ... (to what base uses we may return, Horatio!)

January 21:

Once again we're indebted to correspondents who have kindly answered questions on these pages, helping us with information from their own Procol archives. This is what keeps 'Beyond the Pale' going ... thanks, everyone, and please keep it coming.

Added further notes and a tracklisting for this hitherto elusive Procol-related CD (thanks, Pat and Jan)

Added a link here to a 1967 video-clip that shews some sinuous posing, then Brooker, Trower, Wilson, Knights and Fisher all singing and playing along to Mabel (thanks, Charlie) – have a careful look at Mr Trower's guitaring ...

January 20:

Added a note and a couple of links to video clips here (thanks, Giorgio)

Redesigned this page and added some concert notes (thanks, Buddy)

Added a little to this new list of Procol dates (thanks, Joan) – we're pretty sure there are some bogus ones on this list ... please write in and let us know ...

And about the 'Easter Island' bootleg. Some was recorded on Easter Sunday (6 April 1969) at the Fillmore West ... the rest at The Troubador in LA. Can anyone help us with an exact date for that April 1969 gig? 

January 19:

Added a page of stills from the 1987 Brooker-directed fly-fishing film (thanks, Charlie)

January 18:

Added a new list of Procol Harum dates – but how many of them are right? Please write in and let us know ...

And how about the 'Easter Island' bootleg. If that was really recorded on Easter Sunday (6 April 1969) at the Fillmore West ... why is that not on the list?

Dave Bronze invites UK citizens to have a look at this petition, and sign if you would like to deter the government from making it a legal requirement for a noise-control device to be fitted to venues with an entertainment licence. This could be the final nail in the coffin for all live entertainment in the UK as the level at which these devices cut you off tends to be very low and will, as a result, severely inhibit live performances. The petition is on the Number 10 Downing Street website so you know it is safe. Please take two minutes to sign it and join in the fight to preserve live music. See all signatories' names here ... several are familiar to BtP readers.  If you are a non-UK reader, you can still contribute by joining this Facebook group (UK citizens may also join)

January 17:

Added two good new 1975 portraits to this page (thanks, Jim)

Added another example of a famous Reidism in common parlance ... should we paint the world white? (thanks, Joan)

January 16:

'The whole band do themselves proud on this set, but invidiously I will single out ...'

Added a very interesting article about live music, and the new Procol album in particular (thanks, Ian)

The Christmas prizes are mostly in transit now ... let us know when you receive them ...

January 15:

Added scans from some Procol-related pages from the Wintershall 1998 programme (thanks, Mark)

Updated this irritating page too

January 14:

'My aim is to have something new for you in the next twelve months ...'

Added some interesting feedback to yesterday's review, from Procol Harum's manager (thanks, Chris)

Apologies for six Palers' Project album-orders held back slightly while we await some printing

January 13:

Added another fan review of the recent Procol Harum download-only album, One Eye to the Future (thanks, Pat)

Lucid Culture ... Procol Harum back in the charts at No 562 with a surprising but worthy entry (thanks, S)

January 12:

Added a report from Gary Brooker's New Year's Eve concert with many other great stars (thanks, Ian)

January 11:

A Salty Dog explained ... at last!

Greetings to the following members of the Procol Harum group on Facebook : Aleksanteri Jyrkkä, Aaron Ochs, Abdullah Arif, Actarus UfoRobot, Adam Garrie, Åge Andre Storeide, Agus Pambagio, Alain Antoine, Alamiro Ricardo Muñoz Casanova, Alan D'Aiello, Alan Novia, Alba Orero, Alberto Fiori, Alberto Fiorini, Aldo La Rosa, Alessandro Boni, Alessandro Traversa, Alessio Storari, Alex Ball, Alex Skerratt, Alex Yeung, Alexandra Moore, Alice Helft, Allan Holger Laursen, Allen Edelist, Allison Angie Sitruk, Alvaro Montiel Grez, Alyce Fougere, Amed Haha, Anatoly Babanov, Andrea Deidda, Andrea Grasso, Andrea Zoppa, Andreas Ljung, Andrej Milanov, Andrew Enloe, Andrew Fisher, Andrew Hochberg, Angel Yañez Selame, Anish Kumar, Anne Sandfaer, Anthony Antoniozas, Antonio Costa Barbé', Antonio Della Monica, Antonio Muro, Antonio Nozzi, Antonio Setti, Antonio Specchiulli, Arnaud Champagne Ardenne), Arne Grue Jensen, Astrid Gade Frandsen, Atlepatle Engelstad, Atli Þór Matthíasson, Atmo Prawiro Yahya Hutauruk, Bat Roberto, Baya Ouchene, Benchemoun Paul, Bengar Gurning, Benn Laidlow, Benoit Clarenc, Bernard Henri Lavail, Bert Saraco, Bill Hammell, Bill Pettrey, Bjørn Ansnes, Bjorn Jensen, Bo Lund-Hansen, Bo Østlund, Bob Moldenhauer, Bram Crevits, Brandon Wolf, Branislav Erdeljanovic, Brigitte Depraetere, Brittany 'Bella Belle' Wollman, Bruno Altiero, Buddy Zech, Camilo Agüero Sepúlveda, Cancoydu Cancan, Canturk Sabaner, Carl Swanson, Carlos Alberto Cifuentes, Carlos de Landa, Carlos Sergio Ruminot Núñez, Carsten Heindorff Hansen, Carsten Refslund, Carsten Wiedemann, Céleste Durante, Chara-Lee Cassinelli, Chardes Bourdon, Charles Allison, Charlie Kirelawich, Chiara Pollice, Chip Cooley, Chris Cooke, Chris Lindstrom, Chris Sotomayor Šerka, Christina Hermansson, Christophe Canvat, Claudio Bonvecchio, Claudio Cárdenas, Claudio Gagliardini, Claudio Leonard, Colleen Shanks, Conner Ross Buerosse, Costanza Di Muro, Crtomir Kolic, Cyril Lefebvre, Dag Loit, Dam Piglia Metrovideo, Dan Fegan, Dan McLean, Dan Sevush, Daniel Bernard Cramer, Daniele Bortoluzzi, Daniele Pellegrini, Dany Antoine, Dave Ball, Dave Kitteridge, David Everton, David 'Leo', David Penny, David Telson, Davide Bariggi, Davide Brondo, Deden Fitriadi, Demet Gonenc, Deniz Beyaz, Denny Turner, Desha Putra, Dewa Gede Suwandra, Diane Rolph, Didie Margo, Diego Vieyra Attué, Dima Panchenko, Domingo Rojas Ubeda, Dominic Klenke, Dominiek Schrijvers, Donna Roberds, Doreen D'Agostino, Dries Watté, Duilio Garzolino-Banshee, Ebru Orga, Eddie Carstensen, Edgar Arduz Valverde, Egon Igor, Egon Mouridsen, Elisabet Andersson, Eliza Viandrayani Aziz, Elizabeth De La Peña, Ellen Buur Mosekjær, Emanuele Mandolfo, Emil Arenholt Mosekjær, Emilio Garrido, Emir Senocak, Emre Sezgin, Eralp Erdogan, Eric Slomski, Erik Koch, Erik Ebert, Erkka Laakkonen, Erling Jørgensen, Ermawan Wangsaatmaja, Ester Sirito, Eugenio Tanteri, Evan Edelist, Fabian Schmid, Fabio Angelino, Farnoosh Farmer, Federico Abril, Federico Bazzani, Ferna Briz, Fernando Simoni, Florent Marquaire, Floyd Duncan, Francesco Barbato, Francesco Ferrua, Francesco Ravasio, Francis Albert Sinatra, François Courvoisier, François Patoux, François-Xavier Morseau, Frank Brau, Freddy Jones, Garrett Dunnington, Gary Jackson, Gary Shepard, Geir Jenssen, Geoffrey Whitehorn, Gerald Moss, Gianluca Merlin, Gianluigi Stella, Gianmaria Framarin, Giovanni Natoli, Giulia Zambetti, Giuliano Zeta, Giulio Galeotti, Giuseppe Palazzolo, Gökhan Güngörmüs, Gracco Vittorio Mattioli, Graeme Paylor, Graham Ewins, Greg Panfile, Greta Pichetti, Guillermo Luis Miyares Echeveste, Gunnar Sperre, Gurpreet Sra, Guy De Pauw, Halgrim Øistad, Hanane Hanguir, Hanna Göransson, Hans Sverre Woll, Hans Teutiger, Harold Neighbors, Heather Wise, Héctor Arturo Azuz Sánchez, Heidi Tengstedt Hansen, Heidi Widmer, Helene Hansen, Helge Kristian Kopland, Helle Margrethe Gade Frandsen, Henri Strömberg, Henrik Goettrup, Hervé Delafontaine, Hessel Herder, Hilal Generall, Høgni Rasmussen, Howard Spirit Talker, Ian Hockley, Ibrahim Dik, Ibrahim Özden, Ida Holm, Imran Vakil, Indro Hendi Santosa, Inger Hansen, Irene Romkes Horgen, Ismo Kotoaro, Ivan Perez Guerrero, Jacopo Palasciano, Jake Wallenius, Jakob Gram, James Morgan, Jan Juul Klett, Jan Pedersen, Jane McKenzie, Janet Epiphany Salem, Janne Rönkkö, Jari Sainio, Jarppa Aaltonen, Jasmine Sharif, Jason Dunmire, Jason Garfield Bardy, Jason Jones, Javier Ontiveros, Jeff Hausel, Jeff Levine, Jeffrey Melton, Jeffry Manuhutu, Jeremy Gilien, Jerome Oriol, Jerry Djajasaputra, Jessie Morris, Jesus Contreras, Jill Andrews, Jim Morris, Jimmi Hayes, Joanna Marczewska, Joe Krzyzewski, Johan Jönsson, John Fletcher, John Harrison Bailey, Jon Brule, Jonas Söderström, Jorge Postigo, Jorge Wurth Manley, Jorma Härkönen, Joseph A. DePinto, Josh Phillips, Jovan Stepic, Juan Hernandez, Juan Pablo Farrú, Juha Pertti Järvinen, Julie Green, Kadir Köz, Kami Oczkowska-L, Kamil Turgut Dalgic, Kara Markley, Kari Warhuus Romkes, Karima Billed'Art, Kate Parker, Kate Zoe, Kathy Pomeroy, Katrien Vandewalle, Keith Datz, Kenneth Vermeirsch, Kerem Güman, Keren Gladstein, Kevin Hogg, Kevin Jongsma, Kévin Mercier, Kim Arenholt Jeppesen, Kirsten Faber, Kirsten Grue Sjørslev, Kjell Tore Sandersen, Klaus Nielsen, Knud-Erik Andersen, Kostas Paltoglou, Krisna Bonaraja Pulungan, Kristian Jamtøy, Kristian Nefer, Kyle Allbright, Laeticia Gyssens, Larie Prushanksy, Larry Eskridge, Larry Pennisi, Larry Zinn, Lars Bruhn, Lars Hyldmo, Lars Steinar Ansnes, Laura Esther Goettrup Frandsen, Laura Vuorinen, Laust Laustsen, Lawrence Himelfield, Leif Eriksen, Lene Stampe, Lennart Kjeldgaard Fischer, Leo Herranen, Lidia Farinella, Lillian Uran Todnem, Linda Clare, Lisa Giannini, Lizzi Varencke, Loredana Tatti, Lou Riccio, Loukas Georgiou, Lu Ada, Lubka Alexieva, Luca Passarella, Lucia Bandini, Luigi Michelazzi, Luis Castillo Cornejo, Luisa Vardiero, Lukasz Adam Piaszczyk, Lynn Luca-Dragan, Maciej Zborek, Maged Ghoraba, Maja Hviid, Marcel Birnfeld Zaions, Marco Cian, Marco Colombo, Marco Lazzari, Marco Leodori, Marco Santella, Margit Rønsholt, Mari Karenersen, Maria Rosaria Puglia, Marianne Andersen, Marianne Skov, Mario Cele Matic, Marisol Contreras, Marita Kärkkäinen, Marja Aarnipuro, Mark Chagdes, Mark Crain, Mark Fendt, Mark Lundquist, Mark O'Connor, Martin Berg Jensen, Martin Jose Perez Barbero, Martin Sutton, Marvin Chassman, Marvin Pomeroy, Massimiliano Sabatini, Massimo Possenti, Massimo Stefani, Mathieu Fiset, Matilde Arenholt Mosekjær, Matjaž Horvat, Matt Pegg, Matt Woolston, Matteo Vigilante, Matthew Lamont, Max Ricard, Mellu Melvitz, Mette-Marie Hasle, Michael Buur Trærup, Michael Embry, Michal Gima, Michel Hakim Moldenhauer, Mihalis Lampropoulos, Mikael Hasle, Mike Vincent Me-not, Mirek Plodzik, Monica Valent, Murat Basimoglu, Nana Cheshire Darcy, Nancy van Nunen, Natalia Lenskaia, Nathalie Mayer, Naz Ciloglu, Nick Burton, Nick Rigato, Niels Berg, Ochie Bagihani, Octavio Isaác Barreto, Ole Kvaal, Ole Magne Ansnes, Ole Quist Hansen, Olivier Poucet, Olivier Putz, Özge Can, Özgür Nemutlu, Pablo Cajales, Pamela Quinn, Pantelis Avgerinos, Paolo Ligozzi, Paolo Madussi, Paolo Zucchi, Pasi Kallio, Pasi Mäkinen, Patricio Cantos, Patrizia Arduini, Paul Ewing, Paul Holland, Paul Toms, Paulino Correa, Pekka Sarkkinen, Pekka Veistola, Per Arne Olaussen, Peter Astorp, Peter Christian, Peter David Cohen, Philip Hayes, Philippe Escautier, Pia Harild, Pierandrea Rosso, Piero Masia, Pierre Graffin Yveline, R Supawira Prasetya, Red Lloyd, Renato Tersigni, Renaud Henrard, Renee Slappey-Bates, Ricardo Villela Cadiz, Riccardo Cendron, Richard Beck, Richard Katzwer, Richard Liniere, Roar Arne Granlund, Robert Adams, Robert Galetic, Robert Hoshowsky, Robert McConnell, Robert Moselle, Robert Ridderling, Robert Ward, Roberto Cevaro, Rod Moore, Roger Knight, Roland Grossenbacher, Roman Volikov, Ronny A Pieters, Ruaraidh Wishart, Sabrina Marquez, Sami Fernand Younis, Sanni Kotamäki, Santo Gambuzza, Sarah Godwin, Scott Siminofsky, Semih Bayrak, Serge Kim, Serge Mahy, Serge Yared, Sergio Dapello, Sergio Geninatti, Sergio Gorla, Sergio Meroni, Sergio Migliore, Sigfred Nielsen, Silvia Dalla Costa, Silvia Frenda, Silvio Scaramucci, Simo Kotoaro, Simon James Kelly, Simona Vettraino, Simone Pierobon, Sinikka Kataja, Sonja Turtschi, Sonny Martanegara, Sophie Hasle, Søren Bæk, Søren Mølgaard, Stefano Girola, Stefano Raiso, Stefano Zanolla, Stein Erik Hagen, Steph Wallace, Steve Fagg, Steve Helsdown, Steve Mulcahy, Stig Fjord Juhl, Stylorouge London, Sylvestre Taburet, Sylvie Van Baden, Tania Loba, Tanja Hentschel, Tapani Korpi, Tara Wood, The Professor Mark, Thomas Vindberg, Thor-Rune Haugen, Tim Schneider, Tiziano Cortelezzi, Tomas Botas, Tomppa Virmajoki, Toni Jaakkola, Topi Rintamäki, Tore Johan Lund, Torjus Ravnaas, Torstein Dahl, Tristan Dahl, Trond Indrebø Hovland, Unsteady Freddie, Ursula Manrique, Valerie Opyd, Valerio Giovannini, Valerio Ronchi, Van Elslande Gilles, Vasco del Papa, Verna D'Alto, Vesa Mäkinen, Violetta Berna, Virginia Santoro, Vittoriano Bove, Vittorio Reccia, Volkan Güney, William Sinclair, Xavier Eyl, Yan Friis, Yana Ninepu, Yann Courbiere, Yann Dufresne, Yazin Günay, Youssef El Beji, Zack Sasnow, Zbigniew Marczewski, Zöe Gabriellé Glyphis and Zoka Cymb.

January 10: RIP Dave Dee

Added a note to two pages about Memorial Drive, here and here

January 9:

Added an unusual poem about Procol Harum (thanks, Edo)

Corrected an incorrectly-spelt surname on various pages: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here

January 8:

Added an impressive setlist from just before Christmas 2008 (thanks, Søren)

Just one copy remains of the 1992 live Procol album, One More Time, on Gary Brooker's own 'Gazza' label: yours if you want it 
 

January 7: RIP Ron Asheton

Added a schedule of prize-winners in this year's Christmas Conundrums. Congratulations to the ten winners ... now send your addresses, please!

January 6:

The BtP Christmas Puzzle is now over.

Thanks to everyone who has sent in answers, right or wrong ... a draw will take place during the day, and then we'll be asking for 'real'-world addresses from ten lucky people to whom Fab Prizes will be despatched (when available, in some cases).

Even if we've had this information from you in the past, please send it again: that will be a lot neater than relying on a fruitful rummage in musty annals.

Meanwhile, here is a note of the solution, and how to arrive at it, and the oh-so-subtle visual clue on every page.

January 5:

Here's the final question in this year's excellent Christmas Conundrums; this page also explains the simple procedure for determining this year's one-word answer and claiming your share of the fab Procol booty!

Here is the final clue of the day. They may have come in a slightly perplexing order, but now at least you've got all the clues and all the questions.

January 4:

Here's the penultimate question in this year's excellent Christmas Conundrums

And here is the eleventh clue of the day. It's not necessarily the right clue for today's question, but it will be useful in the end.

Tomorrow's update (this may be of interest to people competing against the clock for the top-three placings in the Conundrums): while BtP is usually updated around midnight Norwegian time (often referred to as Central European Time or CET), we plan as usual to post the final clue in the Christmas puzzles an hour later, as close to midnight GMT (Greenwich Mean Time, in other words, London time) as possible.

But don't be too quick to send in an answer just after UK midnight – it might be as well to read the final instructions carefully, as ever. Be ready with your puzzle prize-order ('ACGIHFEBDJ', or whatever).

Facebook: the Procol Harum group on Facebook is about to reach 500 members: nice to see so many new faces on there, from such a variety of countries.
 

January 3:

Here's the tenth question in this year's excellent Christmas Conundrums

Here is the tenth clue of the day. It's not necessarily the right clue for today's question, but it will be useful eventually.  

Prog Rock Britannia on BBC4 is worth watching (catch-up details here) though a lot of the music featured is of the fussy-twiddly variety. Some nice King Crimson footage, though! Gary Brooker makes several remarks to camera and is the only Procoler featured, but there are several screenshots of the band, well-known AWSoP promo footage, and – yes! – the opening of The Worm and the Tree. If anyone recorded it and would be kind enough to transcribe the Procol bits for the BtP readership, that would be very welcome.

January 2:

Here's the ninth question in this year's excellent Christmas Conundrums

Here is the ninth clue of the day. It's not necessarily the right clue for today's question, but it will be useful eventually.

V-bulletin alerts us to tonight's Prog Rock Britannia, a 'non-sneering, typically thorough BBC4 retrospective' about 'the classical cornerstones of the prog edifice'. With any luck we will see Procol's 'Hammond progenitor' in the show: details here, and you can watch online.

New Year's Day 2009: The BtP team (that is Roland and Jens in case you don't know) wishes everybody a VERY Happy New Year. And we keep fingers crossed for many gatherings with Procol Harum music in 2009

Added notice of the first Procoler's gig of the New Year (thanks, Dave)

Here's the eighth question in this year's excellent Christmas Conundrums

Here is the eighth clue of the day. It's not necessarily the right clue for today's question, but it will be useful eventually.  

What was new on this website in past months