Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale 

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I had anticipated a work of great authority and varied content from Roland’s advance information, but as soon as I opened this heavy volume I realised that I was about to read something very special indeed – a weighty masterwork, many years in its gestation.

I had known Frans Steensma was a fan with a fondness for the band, and one who had collected facts and artefacts from Gary’s long career, but I had no concept of the breadth of his material, no idea of the presumed depth of his further enquiries and no notion of his close access and help from those most intimately involved with Gary’s many years in music.

Right away I surveyed a beautiful introductory chapter from Franky Brooker, naturally the closest witness to nearly all of Gary’s life in music.

Her beautifully-written account tells of the band on tour enriching people’s lives but getting a lot of stimulation in return, particularly visiting historic sites – ‘one being in Huizen in 2007, where they spent happy hours exploring the most comprehensive collection of Procol Harum memorabilia in the world – an amazing archive which Frans Steensma has now distilled into printed form – a book which Gary would have richly enjoyed – he admired Frans’s fact-based scholarship as he diligently catalogued his rich musical life.’

In early days Franky travelled ‘as one of the gang’ and developed roles in ironing, sewing and making sandwiches as well as driving.

The Brookers often stayed on after tours in the US and made friends with other musicians. She also felt they enjoyed special relationships with the people in several European countries, particularly Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. She relates how Gary liked all musicians (a father-figure to younger children of the band) and also outlined Gary and Keith Reid’s relationship as being ‘a chemistry of opposites’.

Franky described his musical life as hectic and relentless, so Gary was fortunate to come back to a stable, happy private life (in rural Surrey for over forty years, including time owning The Parrot pub), ‘enjoying adventures which could make for a whole separate book’. Franky was also proud of all the charity work Gary would undertake for many good causes, which led to him receiving his MBE.

Franky outlined those challenging years during which Gary had one or two accidental injuries, then their cancer illnesses. But she also (very frankly) discussed those professional issues with Matthew and Keith, before paying tribute to Chris Cooke, speculating how things might have been better had he been managing the band during the early years.

She found the book ‘in some ways, bittersweet’ but admired Frans’s ‘courtesy and genuine interest’, and was happy to contribute as it provided her with ‘memories of some marvellous moments in my lucky life with a truly great and wonderful man’. She knows huge numbers of Gary’s fans will also treasure the book for the very same reason.

How right she is!

Franky’s words come with unique authority and just now I feel my review will be somewhat ‘catch-up, or even superfluous’ but I’ll now look at all these 280 pages for you, attempting to digest, and then appraise this wonderful volume as a possible ‘Procol purchase’.

There has been a great measure of reading and then editing on my part, but I hope to use the calendar framework it was built on and select year-best extracts carefully – a tiny fraction of what appears in Frans’s book. His entire text, in English of course, is hugely comprehensive, yet very easy to read. I’ll share many moments here, trying to flag up the themes which you might wish to find out more about when you read your own copy.

Next in the book is Frans Steensma’s own brief Foreword in which he tells us, as a rock journalist, why he was so impressed with Gary Brooker and his musical history.

To paraphrase his words: ‘A man who had seen it all, done it all. Someone who unhesitatingly answered all difficult questions about his influences, his songs, his albums, his tours, his love of music. His knowledge knew no boundaries’.

Frans explained the format of this ‘Day to Day History’ originated from Gary’s own notebook which he started aged fifteen, commencing with his time in The Coasters and Paramounts! Gary had brought this along to Frans, having learned of Frans’s interest at a previous meeting.

Frans thought the passing of Gary in 2022 (then Keith the following year) was a ‘sign from above’ that the moment had arrived to pay tribute to them and all the other members of Procol Harum – ‘one of the best English bands in history’ ‘Here it is ...Enjoy’

Our author Frans Steensma; and here with Gary

A Key page outlines the scope of this book from 1960 (pre PH), through the Procol years (1967–77 and 1990–2022), and also outlines Gary’s work in the band’s non-active years (1978–1990). I’ll try to construct this review within these historical headings.

Its Contents pages give a brief outline of day-to-day activities in any given year, before we enter those period chapters of the book, further subdivided by years, months and days of activities.

Gosh! This is like returning to look through Jens and Roland’s Beyond the Pale website (a daily pleasure for many of us over the years)! Frans’s volume is richly illustrated and beautifully assembled. His chosen photographs and his vast collections of memorabilia are extraordinarily varied and significantly interesting from every period of the band’s history.

By the way, ‘Beyond the Pale’ suggested I make a few photo collages along the way, as I have done for many concert reviews over the years (to make the text look somewhat more attractive? An illusion, really!) I’ll try to represent all eras but these pictures are a mere fraction of the massive number on show in Frans’s book (which are naturally of far higher quality than my quick copies) Please just consider them like the text – they’re a tiny taster for you to want for more!

1960–67: The Pre-Procol Years

Let’s go back to the start – the book begins in 1960 giving us a full account of that seven-year span before the creation of Procol Harum and the issue of A Whiter Shade of Pale (henceforth ‘AWSoP’).

Here we can see several Paramounts pictures (one in fancy dress!) plus a coloured promo copy of one of their records, a photo and a card from their backing of Sandie Shaw on tour. An in-concert shot of Gary shows an early capture of our soulful singer giving his all in a stripey Paramounts jacket.

In the book we are taken back years further, as Frans provides a scan of Gary’s birth certificate! 1960 lists gigs by Gary’s bands The Coasters and The Paramounts who then record music, notably Poison Ivy, which they even played live on television. The book has twenty pages looking at this period, with over eighty photos from Frans’s collection. We find gig dates, concert contracts, programmes and mention of very well-known artistes whom Gary and his band were associated with back in those days prior to Procol being even thought of – The Beatles and Rolling Stones being notable colleagues.

I was particularly interested reading about The Paramounts backing Sandie Shaw on a UK tour, as I saw her 1965 Elgin show, having been given free tickets by Sandie and her manager (staying in our hotel and with me fascinated by Sandie wearing shoes there!). I had no idea that I was watching Gary Brooker that night and would then be following him for some 55 years! The Paramounts also backed her for a three-week residency in Paris. We also hear of a 1966 gig supporting Cream and a future Procol player who was auditioned by Jimi Hendrix!

Then history – we read of the first meeting of Gary Brooker with Keith Reid in early 1966, from which Gary takes away an envelope full of lyrics! We learn further of their developing musical partnership during that year and the first half of 1967.

You will see how Frans’s precise daily diary format takes us through the historic process so we now share all those dramas fifty-plus years later! The whole book works thus – intrigue and interest from him, revelation (or sometimes recall) for us, all presented with copious contemporary illustrations from the media.

1967–77: Procol Harum – the first ten years

1967 It’s believed Gary Brooker set Keith Reid’s A Whiter Shade of Pale lyrics to music in January. They then advertise in Melody Maker for three musicians and audition the following month. Matthew Fisher advertised in the same paper as a Hammond organist seeking a professional group. March sees Gary going to Croydon to meet Matthew, who first plays with the band on his twenty-first birthday days later.

29 March brings the recording, with the studio engineer’s drummer friend Bill Eyden (who lived locally) brought in when a more famous one (named in the book) chosen by producer Denny Cordell was expected, but evidently didn’t show up! The pirate Radio London broadcasts AWSoP in April, then rehearsals, contract-signings and photo sessions precede the record’s release on 12 May.

15 May – Paul McCartney first meets Linda – they go to hear Procol at the Speakeasy and AWSoP becomes ‘their record’. There are album recording sessions and the band’s first appearance on the BBC’s Top of the Pops. Decca reckons AWSoP is their fastest-selling single ever. They shoot a promotional film and Gary goes on a trip to Paris for eight radio shows, five photo calls and twenty interviews! 10 June – AWSoP hits No.1 in Melody Maker. 17 June, it’s released in the USA. A month later sees significant changes – Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison replaced by Robin Trower and B.J. Wilson. Further recordings, release of Homburg, TV. October – fly to US for a five-week tour. Busy people!

1968 was filled with recording, more touring and a great deal of media interest – print, radio and TV. Matthew plays dressed in a monk’s habit. Keith Reid wins an Ivor Novello award. They support the Bee Gees, who appear with a string orchestra – which possibly plants future plans in Gary’s mind? 17 June is historic for BJ who ‘helps out’ Joe Cocker on With a Little Help from my Friends. Gary and Françoise Riedo marry on 13 July, having got engaged earlier in the year.

1969 Recording/releasing the A Salty Dog album. The band back in America, some festivals with over 100,000 attending. 3 August – last performance with David Knights ... and Robin Trower returned to the UK for the birth of his first child – thus the band declined an invitation to play Woodstock!

I just wanted to quote in detail from these three years in particular, for that’s where it all began. Relax (just like me!) – going forward I’ll quote from the book far more sparingly …

The 1970s was a decade where the band recorded seven further albums, each progressing with different styles in content and production, all much-loved by faithful fans everywhere. Time and space don’t permit me to outline each of these individually and I’ve just included a few key moments from this period. However Frans’s meticulous day-to-day detail continues in his great volume.

1970 ‘The Procol Harum’ documentary is filmed by Chris Copping’s brother. Gary Brooker plays piano on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. An overnight Abbey Road session puts down the Liquorice John Death Rock and Roll Allstars album. And at long last they go on their first UK tour – as ‘special guests’ of Jethro Tull (including Dundee on 1 October for me!)

1971 Robin Trower leaves the band for his solo career. Dave Ball joins after eighty guitarists audition, and plays at the concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (audio recorded)

1972 UK, US/Canada and European tours, but also the first tour of Japan (Honolulu en route to this!) Dave Ball leaves, replaced by Mick Grabham (who re-records the Grand Hotel guitar parts)

1973 Australia/NZ tour then Hollywood Bowl for an LA Philharmonic event. Midnite Special (US TV show), recorded in London and hosted by the band

1974 A Danish televised concert had to be re-recorded as the tape was accidentally wiped

1975 London’s Rainbow Theatre’s final show – Frankie Miller sings with Procol

1976 Alan Cartwright leaves, Chris Copping goes to play bass only, Pete Solley joins on organ

1977 Their last gig (for now) in May at New York’s Palladium but they then perform at the UK Britannia Awards, where AWSoP is awarded the best single 1952–77 (jointly with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody)

Choosing, above, from a vast range of images I just wanted to highlight Grand Hotel and Edmonton, various line-ups and their final flourish – the post-break-up Britannia awards show where they were awarded Joint Best Single (Tim Renwick guested on guitar)

1977–90: ‘Brooker’s Solo Path’ (as it was called in the NME)

1977–88: Gary recorded three solo albums, played/toured in various bands or on recordings with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Bill Wyman, Paul McCartney and many who joined him frequently for charity events like the Band du Lac at Wintershall. (Gary continued to do this forever!)

1989 Gary and Matthew write/demo songs; Gary goes to New York to work again with Keith Reid

1990 – Sadly, the death of BJ Wilson in Oregon. Gary’s Danish ballet-score ‘Delta’ premièred

1991 – 2022: The Return of Procol Harum

1991 Recording The Prodigal Stranger in New York. Later, Geoff Whitehorn joins Procol Harum

1992 European dates, then Matthew returns to study in UK. An American/Canadian tour follows (with Don Snow on organ) including two very well-received symphony concerts in Edmonton

1993 First outings for Matt Pegg on bass

1994 Recording The Long Goodbye: The Symphonic Music of Procol Harum (released 1995)

1995 Annie Lennox has a hit with AWSoP

1996 Barbican concert with the LSO. Gary acts and sings in the Evita film

1997 The Thirtieth Anniversary Party at Redhill in July – a marvellous reunion event!

1998 UK release of the Liquorice John Death CD – something to get excited about!

1999 Gary’s Barbican interview with Douglas Adams

2000 Millennium outdoor orchestral concert at Guildford, with the first BtP Palers’ convention

2001 European tour includes two dates in Russia. Halle orchestral concert (Manchester)

2002 DVD issued from a Danish concert. Recording The Well’s on Fire (released 2003)

2003 Gary awarded the MBE. Same day we see the Union Chapel concert (Matthew’s last show)

2004 Josh Phillips joins as organist for the band

2005 Band du Lac charity show, filmed for a DVD

2006 Ledreborg – two wonderful Danish orchestra concerts; great Lejre evening parties for the fans!

2007 fortieth-anniversary shows, London. George Lovell’s first book (from another very noted Procol writer)

2008 Keith Reid issues The Common Thread, his first solo album

2009 AWSoP – ‘UK’s most-heard record in public places’. Ledreborg DVD issued

2010 Procol tours US and Canada twice

2011 The band tours with the Danish National Concert Orchestra

2012 Gary’s birthday, and a serious head injury in South Africa. Japanese shows with Yumi Matsutoya

2013 Wuppertal choral/orchestral concerts (organised by Michael Ackermann)

2014 BBC Dominion Theatre orchestral concert – Dave Colquhoun deputising for Geoff Whitehorn

2015 Gary starts the year of his seventieth birthday with two important radio interviews

2016 Novum recorded. Gary participates in Paul Winter’s Consort Winter Solstice in New York

2017 Festival Hall concert – Gary falls – bravely comes out for the second half. Novum released

2018 Still There’ll Be More anthology. (Personal highlight week – London Palladium orchestral and then the Vienna band-only concerts … which turn out to be my final ones!)

2019 ‘On the Blue’ cruise, then their thirty-first North American tour

2020 Gary’s Music for the Marsden charity concert – his last stage appearance. Raises £1.5m

2021 All concerts cancelled owing to Gary’s ill-health. Sadly, the death of Chris Cooke

2022 Sad death of Gary Brooker (on 19 February)

2023. Sad death of Keith Reid. Remembering Gary Brooker concert in Guildford – he sang AWSoP

2024 The publication of Gary Brooker and Procol Harum, 1960–2022 Day by Day (Frans Steensma)

So I finish here with a short summing-up of Frans Steensma’s masterwork, which you may recall I’ve branded the Encyclopedia Procol Harum above. It is indeed a reference work of completeness in tracking the almost day-to-day progress of Gary Brooker through his sixty-year musical career, fully-indexed. It is certainly both a valued source of information but I feel also good value for money in what it offers.

There is much to learn, even for those who feel they have been immersed for a lifetime in the story of this great musician and his band. The reason is plain – Frans has had the best source (Gary) providing him, maybe at different times, with this basic diary structure and of course his inner thoughts regarding all the many triumphs, disasters, changes, reboots, mis-steps, even tragedies encountered along the way. A real-life story from a man of immense talent, great modest humanity, a caring steady person who moved into music, probably inspired by his late father, and then achieved many pinnacle moments (certainly one with that huge internationally-successful record). But more than that Gary did not go off the rails, but became a country-oriented person, a noted fly fisherman, a publican and someone who used his drive and connections to do so much good for worthy causes. You see Gary just got on with people – a lesson for us all.

These days of his career have now been set out in this stunningly comprehensive volume, liberally illustrated with many of those memorable moments.

And it can only work when the author has been diligent and hard-working in assembling/translating all of these rough diary notes, and many chats with Gary [see illustration!], into this glorious collection of his lifetime in music and indeed in living life. But more, it can only work when Frans has enjoyed the trust and friendship of Gary Brooker, who must have known what an excellent, accurate, sensitive legacy document Frans would assemble.

Any Procol Harum devotee should be proud to own this book, and will quickly ‘salute the author’ for his work, but also quietly nod ‘grateful thanks to Gary’ who has now indirectly added to the considerable music legacy he has left us all.

Thank you ‘Beyond the Pale’ for the privilege of being asked to write this review. It cannot come close to what Frans has done, especially when most of what is written here is just my summary (or theft!) from his text and photo-collections!

But most of my thanks certainly go to Frans Steensma. Very well done!

By a strange coincidence I shall be visiting the Netherlands next weekend to see one of the final shows by the Dutch band The Analogues, whom I’ve also followed in recent times. They’re evidently retiring soon, having performed and recorded the six albums the Beatles never played live. Would that some other group of musicians could similarly keep Procol Harum’s music alive for future generations to enjoy. Maybe Frans could inspire someone in his homeland to do this?