[sic]

Rich Wilson in Record Mart & Buyer, February 1999

Procol Harum [sic] score [sic] found
Collectors of Procol Harum-related items can look forward to the release this month on the Angel Air label of a 'lost' soundtrack album, reports Rich Wilson.

The album was originally recorded in 1968 by Freedom, which included Procol Harum's Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison. Both Royer and Harrison left Procol Harum after [sic] the release of the band's first album, which included [sic] their number one hit single A Whiter Shade of Pale, in 1967.

The soundtrack master-tapes were recently unearthed by Freedom's keyboard player Mike Gleese [sic: should be 'Lease'], as Ray Royer explained.

'Apparently, the soundtrack was originally released as an album in Italy in the late 60s or early 70s, which I knew nothing about. I recently spoke to Mike Gleese [sic] for the first time in about 30 years and he mentioned the tapes. The film itself was called Black on White and was critically acclaimed in Cannes at the time, although it was never going to be a big box office draw. It was a bit too risqué and had virtually no dialogue.

'The director was Tinto Brass who has since made a name for himself in that field of film. We wrote the 14 songs and appeared in the film. The songs acted as a commentary explaining what was happening on the visual side. The plot was not unlike Barbarella which was released later in 1968 when Steppenwolf did the soundtrack. It was very psychedelic and we had to play in some strange places – up some trees in Woburn Abbey, in Trafalgar Square and a tunnel of love in Southend!'

Whilst there are no plans to release the film at this stage, Royer confirmed that both he and Mike Gleese [sic] have searched their tape collections and have discovered other previously unavailable material which may be released some time in the future. Other Procol Harum members [sic] have also been involved in the release of archive material.

Bobby Harrison has released a number of albums on Angel Air and a release is also imminent [sic] of a 1972 [sic] recording by Gary Brooker, Chris Copping, Robin Trower and Barrie Wilson. This was recorded under the guise of Liquorice John Death and the Rock and Roll All Stars and has only previously been available on bootlegs.

Procol's vocalist Gary Brooker is also set to make an appearance at the London Barbican Centre as part of the 1999 'Artist in Profile' interview season. Whilst Brooker is unlikely to play, it has been suggested that part of the 1967 film [sic] A Whiter Shade of Pale may be screened.