Procol HarumBeyond
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For the first time ever Procol Harum found themselves performing at sea. They were on 'The Mariner of the Seas', one of several groups participating in a 'Rock' Cruise. Many people might first of thought that this could be a cruise hosted by academics discussing the finer points of geology but that could not be further from the truth.
The Mariner of the Seas set sail from Miami on 10 February, bound for Nassau in the Bahamas and Labadee on the island of Haiti/Dominican Republic. On board were the likes of Justin Hayward from The Moody Blues, Al Stewart, Rick Derringer, Todd Rundgren, The Zombies, The Strawbs, Wishbone Ash, Alan Parsons, Poco and, of course, Procol Harum. Incidentally, Poco stated they had to learn A Whiter Shade of Pale as they were often asked to play it. I wonder why!
The cruise lasted five days and Procol had to wait until the evening of Day 4 for the first of their two sets. That day, everyone who had decided to disembark at Labadee had returned. Procol were allocated the Pool Stage, outside under the stars, for their eleven-song set beginning at 7.30pm with the boat having begun its return journey to Miami.
There was an air of expectancy as the band limbered up and we were not to know until later that Josh needed all his performance expertise and versatility due to the lower part of his keyboard having been inexplicably left off the boat at Miami Docks four days earlier.
The second set was also at sea, the following afternoon at 2.15pm, this time inside in Studio B. A most unusual time, I should hazard, for a Procol concert.
Both sets lasted approximately seventy minutes (Pool Stage eleven songs, Studio B ten songs) with only Conquistador, A Salty Dog and A Whiter Shade of Pale played both days. Every seat was filled for both concerts, the standing area in Studio B was packed and the atmosphere around the outdoor Pool Stage was electric as the band got into their stride.
On the Pool Stage, I Told on You started proceedings, followed by Shine on Brightly, Pandora's Box and You Can't Say That. Robert's Box was a welcome inclusion in the set and this was followed by The Devil Came from Kansas, Simple Sister and Neighbour. Gary said Rod Argent of The Zombies had specially requested A Salty Dog and, with Justin Hayward declining to play Go Now, Gary's mini version was the Moody fans' only opportunity to hear that hit. It began the lead in to a two-verse AWSoP with the more regular Percy Sledge and Bob Marley afterwards.
Studio B, the following day, began with Bringing Home the Bacon, included Businessman and a rousing version of The Only One from Novum, as well as the classics Outside The Gates Of Cerdes, Grand Hotel and Homburg. The popular Hey Bartender led into Whisky Train with a virtuoso drum solo from Geoff before, very unusually, a three-verse AWSoP with 'If music be the food of love' in the middle, rarely included since Redhill 1997 to my knowledge.
Gary said he had
never seen so
many people of
different shapes
and sizes on
board, perhaps
reflected by the
dazzling array
of Procol
tee-shirts being
worn. This rare
opportunity for
fans, not only
of Procol, but
of other bands
too, to hear the
unique
entertainment
provided by
Gary, Josh, Matt
and the two
Geoffs may never
be repeated, but
for those
present it was a
real privilege
to hear two very
different sets
within 24 hours,
showcasing to
the
largely-American
audience why
Procol Harum are
one of the
greatest rock
bands in the
world and should
be recognised as
such by being
included in the
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame.
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