'Homburg' by Pekkinski Parka

This must be one of the least-known covers of Procol songs. It was formerly available as an mp3 from the now-defunct Napster back in its peak period. Currently, I can find not a single reference to the artists on the internet even when I try variant spellings. I can't be sure Pekkinski Parka is the correct spelling.

So what does it sound like, then? Not remotely like Procol Harum. This is a loose and robust guitar, bass, drums and shouty vocals version. I doubt that much of the original melody or arrangement is in here at all.

The lyrics are fairly faithfully adhered to although somewhat eccentrically delivered. The approach is not quite mainstream punk. Rather, it is like a cross between the Link Wray version of It's All Over Now Baby Blue (I still have the 45 rpm blue vinyl of this) and the comedic shuffly punk of Tenpole Tudor's Swords of A Thousand Men [a top ten UK hit in 1981]. The highlight of such incongruities is the massed chant of Hu-Hu-Hu- Homburg in the chorus.

If nothing else it maintains the stylistic diversities of Homburg covers following in the wake of country versions by Jon Langford and Sally Timms and the mild psychedelic attempt by Paul Jones.

More Procol Harum covers