Two 70s snippets about Procol Harum on the road

Fans write to BtP

Jim Garner writes to BtP

Reminiscence of 18 April 1973 concert in Richmond, Virginia (tour list here)

Richmond, Virginia in 1973 was dominated by Top 40 radio format, so concert-goers went to hear the band they associated with Whiter Shade of Pale.

Procol Harum followed Blue Oyster Cult. This was a very unfortunate line-up.

Blue Oyster Cult was unheard of to Richmonders. BOC is why I remember this concert for one and only one reason, they played extremely loud for a very long time. It was unbearable. People were walking out of the show.

When Procol Harum finally appeared, my ears were still ringing. I could hardly hear them. The remaining audience was totally drained of energy and just sat quietly. Gary Brooker seemed bothered. The band played a short set and then Gary quickly said 'That's our show,' and they left. I always imagined that PH was pissed [off] at Blue Oyster Cult.  I know I was.

Peter Cohen writes to BtP

1974, over 30 years ago, brings back vivid memories of the first two Procol concerts I ever attended (tour list here)

The first was at Exeter on 28 February, the date also of the first General Election of that year. I will never forget that Gary's introduction to AWSoP was 'This is probably the colour of Harold Wilson's tongue tonight'!

A great concert: so much so that I drove from London to Oxford on 19 September to catch Procol again at the New Theatre. For that concert, I remember the place was heaving and there was not a spare seat anywhere (fortunately I had bought mine in advance!). The atmosphere was electric particularly when Procol were playing but, regrettably, it wasn't until 1977 that I saw them in concert again (see here).

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