Procol Harum

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the Pale

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The Palers' Band: Swan Street Session

Sunday 24 February, New York


Sunday 24 February saw an unusual gathering of The Palers’ Band, in Palisades, New York.

Eight members gathered for The Swan Street Session; we ate (twice), laughed (frequently) and played some 40 songs, many more than once. No setlist was agreed beforehand, no charts were used, and the repertoire arose largely spontaneously out of the hands and memories of those present.

One Eye on the Future was performed in affectionate memory of our late friend Al ‘One-Eye’ Edelist; Comfortably Numb was likewise played for the late Kenny White Sr. All Procol albums bar one were represented, though the spread was pretty well serendipitous. No idea why we played the Buddy Holly tune … it just appeared.

Repertoire (not played in this order)

A Whiter Shade of Pale, Homburg, Something Following Me (2), Cerdes (Outside the Gates of), A Christmas Camel, Kaleidoscope, Repent Walpurgis (2), Quite Rightly So, Shine On Brightly, Skip Softly (My Moonbeams), Rambling On, Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone), In the Autumn of My Madness, Grand Finale, Wreck of the Hesperus, Pilgrim's Progress, The Dead Man's Dream, Still There'll Be More (2), Nothing That I Didn't Know, Barnyard Story, Simple Sister, Power Failure, A Rum Tale, A Souvenir of London, Bringing Home the Bacon (2), Fires (Which Burnt Brightly), Nothing but the Truth, Butterfly Boys, Pandora's Box (2), The Final Thrust, The Worm & the Tree (tree theme only), An Old English Dream, Fellow Travellers, Weisselklenzenacht (2), The Only One, One Eye on the Future
and
Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd); Every Day (Buddy Holly); Lady Madonna (The Beatles); Old Black Joe (as by The Paramounts)

One of the Weisselklenzenachts included an improvised recital about the giant poodle Frunobulax (thanks, Bert)

Participants

Gary Celebre [USA], bass, percussion; Marvin Chassman [USA], drums, percussion; Roland Clare [UK], piano, bass, vocal; Tito Davila [USA], drums, percussion, vocal; Don Milione [USA], numerous keyboards; Bert Saraco [USA], vocal, drums; Carina Saraco [USA], flute, vocal; Kenny White [USA], lead guitar.

Special guests, Evan Wagshul and Jenice White
Get well soon, Ronnie D'Addario

Special thanks to Cindy and Don for the premises and the magnificent spread; and to Gary for the commemorative cake (illustrated!)

Photos on this page from the cameras of Carina Saraco (upper) and Bert Saraco (lower)

Palers' Band

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