Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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Procol on air from Germany, 30 April 2003

Text from NDR about the broadcast


Ulrich Rautenberg writes to BtP (April 2003) with this translation of the webpage relating to the Procol concert broadcast in the very early morning (1.00 am to 2.00 am) of 30 April. "I try to catch the spirit of the German original," he explains. "Please excuse my bad English."


This is the page that was originally shown at NDR (thanks, Richard Solly)

Die englische Band mit dem falsch geschriebenen lateinischen Namen war in den sechziger und siebziger Jahren für einige der schönsten Perlen der Popmusik verantwortlich: "A whiter shade of pale", "Homburg" oder "A salty dog" - epische Songs angefüllt von dramatischen opulenten Melodien und geheimnisvollen poetischen Worten.

This English band with the wrongly-spelled Latin name [sic] was responsible in the 60s and 70s for some of the most beautiful pearls in pop-music.): A Whiter Shade of Pale, Homburg, or A Salty Dog - epic songs filled up with dramatic opulent melodies and mystic poetic words.

Getragen von Keith Reid's Texten und Gary Brooker's Kompositionen und Gesang blieben Procol Harum auch die achtziger und neunziger Jahre über aktiv - in diesem Jahr veröffentlichte die Band nach längerer Pause mit "The well's on fire" ein neues Album und ging zum erstenmal seit zehn Jahren in Deutschland auf Tournee.
Dabei präsentierten sich Procol Harum äußerst frisch, dynamisch und spielfreudig.

Guided by Mr Reid's lyrics and Mr Brooker's compositions and vocals, PH also stayed active in the 80s [sic] and 90s - and now this year, after a pause, the band performed a new album, The Well's on Fire, and started after ten years a tour through Germany. This presentation of PH was fresh, dynamic and full of fun in playing.

Gary Brooker, der nebenbei noch immer in Eric Clapton's Band das Piano spielt, als beeindruckender Sänger mit ungebrochener Präsenz, Matthew Fisher, dessen üppige Orgelklänge das andere Markenzeichen geblieben sind, und die "Neuen", die die musikalische Qualität von Procol Harum noch erhöht haben: der hocherfahrene Gitarrist Geoff Whitehorn (If, Maggie Bell, Roger Chapman, Paul Rodgers u.a.), der Top-Drummer Mark Brezicki (Big Country, Pete Townshend) und der Bassist Matt Pegg (Sohn von Fairport Covention-Legende Dave Pegg).

Gary Brooker still, by the way, plays piano in Eric Clapton's Band, as an impressive singer and with unbroken presence, Matthew Fisher, his opulent organ-sound the other trademark, and the new ones, who raised the quality of Procol Harum: the highly-experienced guitarman Geoff Whitehorn (If, Maggie Bell, Roger Chapman, Paul Rodgers among others), top drummer Mark Brzezicki (Big Country, Pete Townshend) and bassist Matt Pegg (son of Fairport Convention's legendary Dave Pegg).

Nachtclub in Concert sendet den Mitschnitt des Konzerts in der Hamburger Fabrik vom 24. März 2003.

Nightclub in concert transmits an edit of the concert from Fabrik in Hamburg, 24 March 2003

Songs (all Brooker/Reid)
Pandora's Box
A Robe of Silk
Wall Street Blues
Homburg
Robert's Box
As Strong as Samson
The Blink of an Eye
An Old English Dream
Conquistador
A Salty Dog
A Whiter Shade of Pale

Musicians
Gary Brooker - vocals, piano
Matthew Fisher - organ
Geoff Whitehorn - guitar, backing vocals
Matt Pegg - bass, backing vocals
Mark Brezicki - drums

Thanks, Ulrich


Procol Harum concerts in 2003: index page

 The pre-broadcast vagaries of this show


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