A little (if shy) gem . . .

By 1977 you had to scour the music press in the UK for any Procol articles. Fortunately a new album was on the way. The problem with Something Magic is that having one track occupying a whole side of the album (sorry I'm talking vinyl here) it was immediately compared to Shine On Brightly. People were disappointed.

I've been listening to Something Magic recently and it is a little (if shy) gem. {see also here} It's interesting to note that an all star cast were bringing out Peter and the Wolf with Gary as the bird. 'The Worm' was a similar composition. People should take the time to play it again . . . it's great fun.

Anyway it's 26 February 1977 and we're at the Hammersmith Odeon. My last Procol concert for 18 years! Something Magic / Conquistador / Beyond the Pale and a straight Grand Hotel . . . no frills. During Mark of the Claw various coloured police-type revolving lights were switched on. A great number. The Worm and the Tree was played, Pandora's Box / Unquiet Zone and Salty Dog.

The high spot of the evening was the encore. It was almost as if Procol were saying goodbye. There was Wizard Man and This Old Dog but nothing could have prepared us for a rousing finale of Heartbreak / Willy and the Hand Jive / Not Fade Away and Jambalaya before cruising in to A Whiter Shade of Pale.

A fun evening . . . but it would take until 1991 for the tree to grow back.