February 1998: The Procol Harum e-mail List

Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

The Procol Harum e-mail list archive

February 1998 (thanks, Bill Hammell)

From: "Axel Leonhardt" <asl@post6.tele.dk
To: <procol@progrock.org
Subject: new member
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 20:36:18 +0100

Greetings from snowy, dark, and cold Copenhagen! My name is Axel and I am a new subscriber to this list. But I am not a new PH fan as I have seen, listened to, and appreciated the band since the beginning in 1967. I have enjoyed every single concert in Denmark, and as an annaversary I went to Redhill to celebrate AWSOP last year. However, I did become very disappointed when I learned that a new album is NOT on its way, not even planned. Let us all together demand one! Regards Axel
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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 16:06:16 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Readmission

Hi all, I lost all my data recently and just wanted to get re- established on this letter board. Thanks folks.............Larry
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Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 22:59:02 +0100
To: <procol@progrock.org
From: Christina <setters@bitsmart.com
Subject: Re: Readmission

Hi all, I lost all my data recently and just wanted to get re- established on this letter board. Thanks folks.............Larry

Hi Larry! Guess you're not blessed with a Macintosh, eh? :-) (sorry....couldn't resist) Anyway....Welcome back! /Christina

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Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 00:01:53 +0000
To: procol@progrock.org (Procol)
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Reid words for early songs

Yesterday 'Beyond the Pale' received a packet of words from Keith Reid which has enabled us to make authoritative corrections on two web-pages:

for 'AWSoP', 'Lime Street Blues', 'Homburg', and 'Seem to Have the Blues Most all the Time'.

Our revised pages don't always tally absolutely with what is sung on the records, but they do exactly present the words as the author wants them presented ... your witness my own hand.

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From: Bandura520@aol.com
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 20:48:32 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Other Zooms,Other Voices

Fellow Procoholics: This has nothing to do with anything. But I would be most interested to hear what other PH fans listen to subsequent to/as a result of their exposure to the PH opus. Especially you middle aged geriatric cases. What else have you been listening to and/or currently listening to. We may share the same DNA--Oleh (Bandura520@aol.com)

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 20:52:29 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: zooms and voices

<< What else have you been listening to and/or currently listening to. We may share the same DNA-

This week...a new CD copy of Genesis's Selling England By the Pound. Wonderful stuff with some Procol-esque moments. Highly reccomended.

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 20:54:44 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Genesis/PH

By the by, has anyone ever heard the lovely PH-like Genesis song called "Timetable" from the Foxtrot album? " A carved oak table..tells a tale Of days when kings and queens sipped wine from goblets gold."

Wonderful stuff. UnlikeThe Band, Genesis keyboard wizard
Tony Banks has often cited PH as a major influence. In this case it's true. And the fusion is wonderful. Have an earful!!! CERDES96
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Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 21:33:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: roland.clare@virgin.net, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Reid words for early songs

I admit I don't really know what "Peep the sot" means either - is "Peep" a common name in the UK? G&K sure seemed adamant about that one in the Guestbook, didn't they? <G

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From:   "Piotr Wlaz" <wlaz@ursus.ar.lublin.pl
To:     procol@progrock.org
Date:   Sat, 7 Feb 1998 20:09:53 +0100
Subject: Homburg

What would you say if I told you that Homburg could be found on one of first PH albums?

Piotr
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Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 19:35:54 +0000
To: "Piotr Wlaz" <wlaz@ursus.ar.lublin.pl, procol@progrock.org
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Re: Homburg

What would you say if I told you that Homburg could be found on one of first PH albums?

'The 'A' side had Quite Rightly So, Kaleidoscope, Good Captain Clack, Conquistador, Repent Walpurgis and A Christmas Camel. On the other side, *Homburg*, She Wanders [sic] Through The Garden Fence, In The Woe [sic] Small Hours of Sixpence, Something Following Me, Mabel and Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of).'

If that's not the answer, perhaps you've just been listening to the end of 'In The Autumn of My Madness', backwards :-)

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Date: Sat, 7 Feb 1998 19:33:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: roland.clare@virgin.net, wlaz@ursus.ar.lublin.pl, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Re: Homburg

What would you say if I told you that Homburg could be found on one of first PH albums? << I'd say you bought it in Uruguay! Read Marcelo Pereira's feature at http://www.procolharum.com/marcelo1.htm <<<<

One of the "Procol's First" LP's I bought (in the US) also included Homburg, in First Position - and No AWSoP. It's strange how many variations of PH material there have been.

I HIGHLY recommend Marcelo's essay to ALL PH Fans -- a Very interesting and insightful piece. And it didn't hurt that he began by mentioning my favorite science fiction author - the late great Philip K. Dick..

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From: Phast@aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 14:03:31 EST
To: procol@progrock.org (Procol) (Newsgroup)
Subject: Favorite Keith Reid Words

Question: What are some of your favorite Keith Reid words? That is, any song words, phrases, verses, etc., that particularly strike you. Words that are particularly whimsical, lyrical, or, to paraphrase Gary Brooker, otherwise interesting in their rhyming or tongue-twisting facilities.

I know that this may not be the greatest of questions, since a list of such words could be virtually endless, but it should certainly keep the discussions going -- which is the point of these forums, right?

(from "Long Gone Geek"): "....He's got a pet black tabby cat That carries a gun and wears a Stetson hat...." and "....When on the Geek's back jumps the Stetson-hatted cat Which breaks Geek's neck like he was a rat...."

(from "Mabel"): "....Put the peas in the pot, put the pot on the hot In the cellar lies my wife, in my wife there's a knife so tote that hammer, lift that pick and banish inhibition with a pogo stick...."

(from "Holding On"): "....The men who play the gods of war They stand behind a guarded door And hostages who seek release They're crying out to keep the peace...." and "....Religious leaders teaching hate Praise the war and call it fate...."

(from "The Pursuit of Happiness"): "....Time and tide in man's affairs Trouble always comes in pairs...." and "....No use counting down your prayers All God's children running scared...." and "....Starving children stand on line Living now on borrowed time...."

(from "As Strong As Samson"): "....Famine and hardship in true living colour Constant reminders the plight of our brother Daily starvation our diet of news Fed to the teeth with a barrage of views...." and "....Fighting for freedom the truth and the word Fighting the war for the end of the world...."

(from "Rambling On"): "....I considered for a minute Thought 'He only speaks the truth' For the barbells on my eyelids Only emphasized my youth...." and "....In the anger of the moment I had diced with death and lost...."

(Note to Roland and/or Jens, since I know you're reading this: I'm sure Keith will get to this, but the word "blimsoles(?)" in "Rambling On" is actually "plimsolls" or "plimsoles".)
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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 14:30:43 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: KR Faves

Fave One: All this and More: "In darkness through my being here) away from you, The bright light of your star confronts me.....shining through."

So very beautiful and filled with love. C96
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Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 00:47:39 +0000
To: Phast@aol.com, procol@progrock.org (Procol) (Newsgroup)
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Re: Favourite Keith Reid Words

I decided to answer off the cuff rather than take 23 hours coming to a researched and reasoned conclusion!

Yearning: 'Trace of a feeling, trace of regret / hard to remember, hard to forget'

Observation: 'Daily starvation our diet of news / fed to the teeth with a barrage of views'

Whimsy: 'Though some might not agree' 'Piggy pig pig piggy wig piggy wiggy ...' 'You know you're going nowhere, if your shoes don't fit your hat'

Dreamishness: 'I'm running round in my underpants / trying to find some kinda romance' 'With one foot on the seashore and the other in the sand'

"Underhanded smut" (GB) 'Almonds eyes, my Turkish pearl / burn me up, sweet oyster-girl'

But for densely-coupled wit and angst I think it's hard to better 'The eye of the needle / the loss of the thread'

(Note to Roland and/or Jens, since I know you're reading this: I'm sure Keith will get to this, but the word "blimsoles(?)" in "Rambling On" is actually "plimsolls" or "plimsoles".)

Sure! But it would spoil everybody's fun if we corrected things *before* we sent them to him :)

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From: LeoBome@aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 21:28:38 EST
To: roland.clare@virgin.net, Phast@aol.com, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Favourite Keith Reid Words

Just for general grins off the top "I could change my plea to guilty, but don't think it would stink." Leonard
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To: procol@progrock.org
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 23:46:47 -0500
Subject: New member intro
From: saltyscott1@juno.com (Scott E Siminofsky)

Ahem, hello all, its wonderful to find a Procol Harum group like this. I discovered the Harum just prior to the "Home" tour during the summer of 1970. After that first concert at the Filmore East in NYC, I was hooked and have been ever since. I was a big fan and turned on many of my friends to the magical music of Gary, Matthew, & Keith. They were a major part of my teen-age years and I always have a tape or 2 of theirs in the car wherever I go. I look forward to hearing from some of you and hope I can add something to this group. If anybody wants to e-mail me, send here:

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Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 10:53:10 +0300 (GMT)
To: procol@progrock.org
From: marpe@brecha.com.uy (Marcelo Pereira)
Subject: Zooms and voices

I'm listening to Faiport Convention (Liege & Lief), Jimi Hendrix (First Rays
From The New Rising Sun), Jan Garbarek & Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Ragas And Sagas), Dylan (Time Out Of Mind), and Paul Simon (Songs
From The Capeman), all of them wonderful IMHO. Really geriatric, isn't it? Marcelo

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Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 06:20:24 +0100
From: Frank Matheus <matheus@uni-muenster.de
To: Marcelo Pereira <marpe@brecha.com.uy CC: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Zooms and voices

Due to the fact, that there is no music that can be compared to that of Procol Harum, the other music I am listening to must be different. I like this music, too, but there are lying worlds between them (can you understand this german idiom in English?). So, other bands I have a couple CDs of in my collection, are Camel and Caravan, two British bands I listen to for more than 20 years. Caravan has recently published a live-CD from a concert in autumn '97; I think it was a anniversary concert like Procol's. Second to that I like American Singer/Songwriter-stuff. My favourite here ist Loudon Wainwright III. Does anyone know him? The only thing he has in common with PH is the frequently misspelling of his name. And probably the brilliance of the words he shares with Keith.

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From: Bandura520@aol.com
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 18:47:38 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Reading Reid

Re: Fave Reid Writs. He penned alot of good and gem like things. This has got to be top of the head stuff, though--(I agree with Roland). I can't resist attempting a balanced (re)view, however. Don't get upset. I'm a fan, I'm a fan. Uh, No cymbals where none intended.... The apocalytic, the metaphysic , and shades of the Weimar Republic( With a hint of De Chirico) : "When the hands they both turn backwards/ and on meeting will devour..." "....Streets awash with blood and pus /The new moon's in the sky. "Inside every cancered spectre/inside outside-find your own." Thrust and Parry and the Pataphysic: "The water faucet drips in scenes...." "Red Cross ambulence outside/Can only mean that I must hide" "...early morning pinch and bite/these french girls always love to fight." "....and even Christian Scientists can but display marble plaques..." Simply constipated, and in need of a physic.....Um, any line from "Wizard Man."
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Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 01:14:58 +0100
To: procol@progrock.org
From: Christina <setters@bitsmart.com
Subject: Re: Favorite Keith Reid Words

Maybe not my #1 Favo...but it's a real pearl! :) (and the first I came to think of.....when thinking of it...) It's from: Taking The Time
--- My time has been taken With taking my time I'm making my mind up
To make up my mind
----

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Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 01:15:53 +0100
From: Jens Anders Ravnaas <jensan@online.no
To: Procol Newsgroup <procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re. Keith Reid Words

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From: "the pellerito's" <pellt@algorithms.com
To: "procol harum forum" <procol@progrock.org
Subject: FAVORITE WORDS/ OTHER MUSIC
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 20:34:22 -0000

HELLO , I DON'T GET A CHANCE TO REPLY MUCH BUT I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT LYRICS I HAD TO. MY EXPERIENCE WITH PH GOES BACK TO 1971. WHEN MY FRIEND WHO WAS A MUSICIAN KEPT RAVING ABOUT THEM. IN NO. 1 PLACE IS

FOR THE LESSON LIES IN LEARNING AND BY TEACHING I'LL BE TAUGHT, FOR THERE'S NOTHING HIDDEN ANYWHERE IT'S ALL THERE TO BE SOUGHT THIS IS ON MY WALL IT'S MY MOTTO, IT'S BRILLIANT AND WISE. SOME OF MY OTHER FAVORITES ARE MOODY BLUES, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, EARLY GENESIS PETER GABRIEL, PINK FLOYD, ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, CARAVAN, STEELEYE SPAN . ETC. ETC.

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From: "Ray and Sharon Billedeau" <raymieb@gowebway.com
To: <Procol@progrock.org
Subject: y'all
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 21:46:53 -0500

... to be listened to in the spirit inwhich it is intended. . .
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Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 22:49:05 -0500
To: <procol@progrock.org
From: Alan Semok <asemok@IDT.NET
Subject: Re: KR faves

Like John Lennon, or Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, KR has a great talent for grouping the right words together to good aesthetic effect. Although they may sometimes defy literal meaning or reason, they catch the ear and above all, complement the music. Of course, this is the very essence of art...you can't always specifically define what it is that strikes your fancy about a piece of art, but there is _something_ there--perhaps on some primal level or in the para-soul(s)--that makes you relate to it. Then again, there's also the sort of drivel I'm writing here, usually fueled by one too many glasses of Barleywine...a befuddled brain indeed....

On the top of my list....SHINE ON BRIGHTLY (the song holds a special place in my heart, and I always find it most uplifting when I'm burdened by day to day crap)

FIRES WHICH BURNT BRIGHTLY (which may be the best of Procol in both words and music...a real jewel. And I love the line: "..Once proud and truthful, now humbled and bent Fires whiuch burnt brightly, Now energy's spent..."

"...I'll blacken your Christmas, and piss on your door. You'll cry out for mercy. Still, there'll be more..."

And of course, though KR is only indirectly reponsible, there's the legendary "crapping clouds" :-) And all this time I thought it was the seagulls....

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 00:42:08 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: FWBB

Another line which impacts me with the force of a hurricane on the deepest, gut level.......

The tortured lover in the bowels of the black pit . Guess we've all visited that place once or twice. Brightly...into the dark night of the soul. C96
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To: procol@progrock.org
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 02:31:25 -0500
Subject: KW words
From: saltyscott1@juno.com (Scott E Siminofsky)

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Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 14:00:52 +0100
To: <procol@progrock.org
From: jonas@procolharum.com (Jonas =?iso-8859-1?Q?S=F6derstr=F6m?= )
Subject: Re: What else have you been listening to

<< What else have you been listening to and/or currently listening to - Especially you middle aged geriatric cases.

One of the younger brats in our office made me aware of Paul Wellers 1993 record "Wild wood", which I have enjoyed very much, recently.
Too me, it certainly has a procolesque taste. It has a solid base in R&B, mr Weller has a strong, good voice, and although he's mainly a guitarplayer, there is some good piano + organ sounds on this record, too. And an intelligent drummmer, with an occasional bang on the drums that reminds me of BJ.

------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonas S=F6derstr=F6m Tel: 08-566 30 921 X Kommunikation AB Fax: 08-33 73 67 G=E4vleg 22, 3 tr=F6g e-post: jonas@procolharum.com 113 82 Sthlm

Hem: Selmedalsringen 16 Tel: 08-744 24 91 S-129 36 H=E4gersten e-post: jonas@comedia.se
-------------------------------------------------------------------

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 09:09:25 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Losing It

Very :weird goings on" here: While not relevant to Procol, I did dream that I was watching a talk show last night. In the dream Robert Fripp of King Crimson was playing with one of the Red Hot Chile Peppers (Good Grief!) AND Patrick McNee of the Avengers was on bass!!!!! Anyone care to sort this one out???? "I dreamed a dream, strange as could be...." Turning on the lights: Larry (cerdes96)
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Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 11:55:10 +0300 (GMT)
To: procol@progrock.org
From: marpe@brecha.com.uy (Marcelo Pereira)
Subject: Re: Losing It

Larry, Patrick McNee of the Avengers was on bass!!!!! Did Diana Rigg appear in your dream? (that wouldn't reveal much, but could be nice...)

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Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 17:29:35 +0100
To: procol@progrock.org
From: Wilfried Van Damme <Wilfried.VanDamme@rug.ac.be
Subject: words

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To: procol@progrock.org
From: "Hidroelectrica Alicura SA" <alicura@neuquen.com.ar
Subject: KR words and more...
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 98 08:57:35 PST

"There's too many women and not enough wine
Too many poets and not enough rhyme
Too many glasses and not enough time Draw your own conclusions..."

The Beach Boys (I sorry miss Carl Wilson) The Mama's And The Papa's Dire Straits Matthew's and Gary's solo albums.

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Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 11:41:24 +0300 (GMT)
To: procol@progrock.org
From: marpe@brecha.com.uy (Marcelo Pereira)
Subject: Favourites

Some of my favorites: 'Like a fool I believed myself/ and thought I was somebody else'; 'There's a river running through me, on its tide I tried to hide'; 'She grew thin and I grew fat/ she left me and that was that';/ 'Got the wrong side of the bed'; 'I was living for the moment but the moment never came'; 'It was black, it was white, we had so much to say/ right or wrong=8A'

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To: <procol@progrock.org
From: greg.panfile1@verizon.net (Greg Panfile)
Subject: Re:KR words

There are millions of brilliant snippets but I "vote" for the lyric to In Held Twas In I. It summarizes the entire human condition brilliantly. Aside from Lennon or Morrison at times, no one was even in Keith's league. And while he may have dipped a bit with Grand Hotel the later material is still quite strong. And it has been fun to reid other people's selections!

GP ========================================================== NEW! My latest CD, Resolution, is available online along with essays on the Beatles and the Beach Boys, at:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzex6mhq/index.htm ========================================================

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 20:19:10 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: BJ picture

--part0_887246350_boundary Content-ID: <0_887246350@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

As I listened to "Into the Flood" today, I could not but sorely miss the otherworldly offtimings that I was hearing in my mind's ear. Here's Barrie in 1969 at the Fillmore East from Crawdaddy Magazine.

--part0_887246350_boundary--
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From: "Steven R. Seyster" <seys@email.msn.com
To: <procol@progrock.org
Subject: Favorite Words
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 08:14:21 -0500

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From: WRES2345@aol.com
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 15:08:31 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: KR faves

"And the crowds crapped furiously" or was it "And the clouds clapped furiously". In all seriousness, "Life is like a beanstalk" conjures up so much imagery for me, but Jens already claimed that one. On a side bar, I never liked the phrase "Simple Sister, got whooping cough", even though I like the song a lot.

"Tulip's lips o' Luskus Delph, you're baking breath breeds body x...with silken measures try to gauge the inside sweetness of your cave...help me find the widow's crack, make me split like chicken fat".

"There's too many women and not enough wine...too many poets and not enough rhyme".

"Your multilingualled business friend has packed her bags and fled...leaving only ash-filled ashtrays and the lipsticked unmade bed".

"And for once I stood quite naked, unashamed I wept the tears which I tried to hide inside myself from me, I mean from you, but the shame I found too painful and the pain it only grew."

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Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 16:41:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: WRES2345@aol.com, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Re: KR faves

"Psychiatrists and lawyers Destroying Mankind Driving them Crazy And Stealing them Blind"

One of my faves of the "glorious non-sense" variety - other than the entire Cerdes that is - had always been:

until I found out that it wasn't a KR lyric at all -- but rather a KR/JM lyric. Damn! Hey, Keith...... <G

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From: "Michelle DeLaRocha" <cheguevara77@hotmail.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Cc: cheguevara77@hotmail.com
Subject: New mailing List Member
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 15:15:06 PST

hullo there everybody, You have asked me to send a few lines describing myself to you...I am Michelle A. DeLaRocha...I am an eighteen-year-old Procol Harum fan...I have loved this band and their incredible psychedelic sound since I was 12yrs. old and still living in the same apt. building as acouple of hippies, who got me into it...I saw them in concert when I was 16-never loved any concert more. Other than that, I listen to all different kinds of stuff...RATM, Ramones, Damned, Clapton, Rachmaninoff...it all depends on what I am in the mood for. I am a musician myself--bass player 3yrs. and pianist 9yrs. Any other questions? Anything to say? Mail me back, I always answer.

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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 09:32:47 +0100
To: <procol@progrock.org
From: jonas@procolharum.com (Jonas =?iso-8859-1?Q?S=F6derstr=F6m?= )
Subject: KR faves

"Psychiatrists and lawyers Destroying Mankind Driving them Crazy And Stealing them Blind"

Quite rightly so, Joan - I agree. I don't have anything personal against lawyers, but there is a black desperation, a holy rage, a cry for reason in a mad world that moves me to tears in this whole song, well captured in these first words. By the way, it is also the PH song I hold most highly in terms of music (but the competition is, of course, deadly).

------------------------------------------------------------------ Jonas S=F6derstr=F6m Phone: +46-8-566 30 921 X kommunikation Fax: +46-8-33 73 67 G=E4vleg 22 e-mail: jonas@procolharum.com S-113 82 Stockholm Sweden

Home: Phone and fax: +46-8-744 24 91 Selmedalsringen 16 e-mail: jonas@comedia.se S-129 36 H=E4gersten Sweden
------------------------------------------------------------------

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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 23:05:07 +1100
To: procol@progrock.org
From: greg smith <gsmith@connexus.apana.org.au
Subject: New List Member

Despite coming from a stage/musical family my interest in music was minor until I heard A Whiter Shade Of Pale. It was the first record I bought and I blame it and Procol Harum for my love of music, a large music collection and an ever challenged wallet.

I have never seen PH live. The one time they toured Australia their concert was the night before an important exam. Everyone makes mistakes in their younger days. I studied for the exam.

My music tastes are broad but are mainly centred on - popular music from 60's, 70's & 80's eg PH, Genesis (incl. Gabriel, Collins, Hackett etc solo), Van Morrison, Dire Straits, Roy Wood/Move/ELO, Yes, Renaissance, Winwood/Traffic - Celtic music eg Runrig, Oysterband, Steeleye Span, Capercaillie, Horslips, Mary Black

I look forward to talking to you further as I settle into to list participation,

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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 12:29:34 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: gsmith@connexus.apana.org.au, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: New List Member

I just wanted to mention that all the emails on this List from 8/97, I believe, are now posted at the Beyond the Pale WebSite. New members especially might want to check them out. Thanks to Bill Hammel for posting them! Even though I've kept most of them it was fun to read them on The Web!

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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 21:18:56 -0500
From: burnside <burnside@acc-net.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: New List Member

My name is Paul, and I live in central Ohio, USA. I am a part-time organist, as well as a banker, and have a great love of music in the styles that I'm sure will be discussed here.

My favorites include Procol, Strawbs, Richard Thompson (am active member of his list, also), Fairport Convention, indeed most folk-rock (British and American), early Genesis, Dylan (actually, most folk), and just about anything else that is interesting, melodic (love the early and current BeeGees), and of high quality. It can be punk/thrash/noise, but if it is good quality punk/thrash/noise, I'll be inclined to like it, or at least respect it.

I spent some very dark years of my life being comforted by Thompson, Strawbs, & Procol Harum. Imagine "Home" being comforting! I only recently "re-discovered" PH's music, after being away from it for so long, and many of their songs bring back so many wonderful memories, ("Pilgrim's Progress" is on currently, one of my faves).

So much of their music has stood the test of time, and I believe will endure as long as R&R music endures. It's a shame that they have been so neglected in the States. How many times can you play "Whiter" on the radio, and neglect everything else, incl. Conquistador? The public doesn't know what they are missing.

I would enjoy hearing from other Strawbs fans, too. In fact if there is a Strawbs list, let me know. They have a great website.

I noticed the recent discussion is fave KR lyrics. Unfortunately, if I were to join this discussion, I would list too many. Again, his lyrics saw me through many dark hours. Even albums like "Home" that deal with death have a sense of hope.

I'm sure I'll enjoy this list, and I hope I will become a major contributor. By the way, how many subscribers are there? I've gotten very few posts.

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From: CozmcCabg@aol.com
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 22:07:16 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Favorite Keith Reid Words

Most of my favorites have been cited already. Though it's sort of a commnplace, I always thought that "All hands on deck; we've run afloat" was a very nice turn of phrase.

I'm glad to see so many people citing "Homburg" lines. I'll go ahead and say that "Homburg" is my favorite "whole" KR lyric. A little gem (not to be confused with Jem33). That second verse is just wonderful. The alienation and disconnection of twentieth-century life. Sorta T. S. Eliot.

But I'm prejudiced. I may be the only person in the world who, on first hearing the follow-up "Homburg" on the radio back in 60-whatever, thought that it was a better song than AWSOP. I'm not sure I still think that, though the H lyric is better, and the piano is really nice; but Matt does his thing a lot better in AWSOP (and his best stuff in H is buried under the vocals in he chorus).

Snake
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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 22:16:05 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Re: Favorite Keith Reid Words

<< but Matt does his thing a lot better in AWSOP (and his best stuff in H is buried under the vocals in he chorus). But I still love "Homburg." Listen to the alternate Homburg on the Westside 30th box set. Matthew is way way up front and plays things of even greater complexity than on the released single. ENJOY!!!! Cerdes96
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From: CozmcCabg@aol.com
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 22:49:17 EST
To: Bandura520@aol.com, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Other Zooms,Other Voices

It's always sorta weird answering these things. I'll confine it to what is generally understood as "rock" and divide it into two sections, stuff I always love and come back to (like PH), and stuff I've enjoyed a lot lately.

The perennials: Neil Young (I think Neil and Keith come from very much the same place lyrically) Van Morrison (about half bullshit, but the other half is great) The Kinks Richard Thompson Bob Dylan (Davies, Thompson and Dylan, three great songwriters) Jimi Hendrix Alex Chilton / Big Star

Currently (but not necessarily new): Webb Wilder (forget the records; if this guy ever plays near you, go to see him live) "power pop" stuff - from Badfinger to Shoes to Redd Kross Ben Folds Five Ween (again, forget the records, see them live, it's a lot of fun) old Mott the Hoople (the Island/Atlanic records, esp. "Brain Capers") Flat Duo Jets (90s rockabilly from North Carolina) classic Roxy Music (Manzanera!!!!)

I can't say there is anything I have been led to because of PH, except the solo work of Trower, Fisher and Brooker. Maybe the Move, way back here, but they were as distinctly "sui generis" as PH.

Snake
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From: k.maddocks@norcol.ac.uk (Kevin Maddocks) Reply-
To: k.maddocks@norcol.ac.uk
To: CozmcCabg@aol.com
Cc: procol@progrock.org, Bandura520@aol.com
Subject: Arrangements.
Date: 17 Feb 1998 10:05:58 GMT

I've just came back from holiday to find a whole load of E-mails about KR's lyrics. I haven't read them all yet and most of my favourite lines have probably already been used. So to put another stance to it what is everybodies favourite musical arrangement of all PH compositions.

Another of my favourites is Grand Hotel but I've ran out of numbers in the top 3.

Kev Mad
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From: WRES2345@aol.com
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 09:09:52 EST
To: CozmcCabg@aol.com, Bandura520@aol.com, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Other Zooms,Other Voices

What is with the fascination of more than one person in here for Richard Thompson? I happened to see him live two years ago with Roger McQuinn, and I have to say that I don't get it. I know he's amassed a cult following similar to PH, but his music isn't similar at all, but then I wouldn't generally see anybody on stage by themselves -- that doesn't cut it for me. Anyway, I'm curious to know what his appeal is for those that follow him. Maybe I can be converted, too.

If you want to try something new and different on the music scene, try Tindersticks. Their music is unique, melodic, raw, and sensitive. It's one CD I've wanted to hear again and again, which doesn't happen very often anymore.
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Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 11:13:56 +0300 (GMT)
To: procol@progrock.org
From: marpe@brecha.com.uy (Marcelo Pereira)
Subject: Re: Arrangements.

Kev asked for
Top 3 arrangements, very few! Leaving aside the 'normal' interaction of instruments (that should be Walpurgis) I choose Salty Dog and Hesperus for band & orchestra; Skip Softly for collage; Whisky Train for raw power;
Too Much Between Us for delicacy; Unquiet Zone for drum-based and Thin Edge for drums off.

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From: WRES2345@aol.com
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 09:19:17 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Arrangements.

1. Grand Hotel (powerful stuff, PH's defining moment) 2. In Held 'Twas In I (esp. The Grand Finale and including Magdalene, mrz) 3. Holding On (very underrated, IMO)
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Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 15:44:20 +0100
From: Jonas Söderström <jonas@procolharum.com Reply-
To: jonas@procolharum.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: PH on swedish TV Feb 17th

Tonight, feb 17th, swedish national television will broadcast some kind of older PH "video" or promotion film, or maybe concert footage. It will be a part of a program called "Pick-Up-Plock" - half an hour with older and nostalgia items. Two parts of this series have already been sent, and they feature older material, with some unique films, recorded by swedish television during the sixties.
Tonight's program will feature, besides PH, footage of Nancy Sinatra, Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, Animals, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Manfred Mann and The Supremes.

Jonas/jonas@procolharum.com
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From: Bandura520@aol.com
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 12:15:36 EST
To: Procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re Other Zooms...

Hi, Was reluctant to respond to my own question, initially. Am a Procol fan who was not and is not much into prog. rock. Yipes! I'll give it a whirl.... Some stuff I was/am listening to: The Fall (MES and band are brilliant, but the earlier stuff was super fine); Buffalo Bop series( obscure and wild 50's rockabilly and rnr);Desperate R'nR series(obscure,greasy, and mighty primo 50's r'nr); MSR series( a collection of the "we'll set your poem or lyric to music for $75" results from the 60's and 70's. Rife with Haldol inspired hooting--and this was way before Prozac!!); Slim Gaillard; Spirit; Soft Boys; Roxy Music/Eno; John Cale; Leonard Cohen; Wynnonie Harris; Yo Lo Tengo; Velvet Underground; Magazine; Magma; Can; Residents/Snakefinger;
Tom Waitts; Syd Barrett;Wipers; Wire; Michael Hurley( think of underground comix set to music, and performed by the hobo equivalent of Randy Newman); JB Lenoir; Howling Wolf;XTC; Gabrieli;Marais;Biber(and tons of more obscure baroque period noodlers); etc.etc.etc. Geriatric? ...Certainly. Senile Dementia?...now you're cooking with gas!

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From: "Samuel Cameron" <samcameron@lineone.net
To: <WRES2345@aol.com, <CozmcCabg@aol.com, <Bandura520@aol.com, <procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Other Zooms,Other Voices
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 1980 19:15:09 -0000

----------
From: WRES2345@aol.com
To: CozmcCabg@aol.com; Bandura520@aol.com; procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Other Zooms,Other Voices
Date: 17 February 1998 14:09 cozmcCabg writtes.. What is with the fascination of more than one person in here for Richard Thompson? I happened to see him live two years ago with Roger McQuinn, and I etc. i quite agree rt does some quite good stuff but is treated as a demigod in the middle class uk media when the truth is he is a great guitarist (a sailor's life by fairport is a must for all you brinyholic procolers) but a terribly over strained singer most of the time and his lyrics are a bit of a hollow stab of portentuosness which always bring to mind the same feeling i get when i see how popular REM is which is ph do this thing much better now there is one realy good album called Daring Adventures from 1986 which is full of twisted love songs which is his forte rather than that cod olde english nonsense and it doesnt have the useless constipated drums and bass sound on his other records there is a great lyric on nearly in love on this album. you're closer to my heart bar none except for my wallet and my gun/you look alright in the pale moonlight but let me turn the headlights on.. excuse me if it seems like i'm on the wrong page Sam

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From: Bandura520@aol.com
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 14:15:50 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Shameless Imitators

Now how about this: Has anyone heard a band that was/is obviously imitating Procol Harum, and what did you think of the results? I know of two from the 60's, early 70's--but unfortunately I don't have immediate access to some establishing info: Sunday Funnies--US group, circa 1970(?); one song, something about morning; reminiscent of "
Too Much Sea Between Us" The Thyme(??)--British group;circa 67 or 68; very reminiscent of Homberg/ASWoP Procol;this appears on a compilation of Brit Psych called The Perfumed Garden; had it on vinyl, but understood it came out on CD years ago; I'm sure it's now hard to obtain Both are very lovely and flattering imitations. The latter, as I remember, packed a terrific wallop in the Fisheresque pyrotechnics. --oleh
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From: Bandura520@aol.com
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 14:35:47 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re Arrangements

Kevin and y'all, Can't tidy it up with merely three. But when in a dilemma--use slash markings! Ehh, I'm gonna kick myself later for forgetting to include something, I'm sure. 1)Whaling Stories/Piggy Pig/Nothing But The Truth 2)Homberg/Devil Came
From Kansas/The Idol (the beginning and the scorching refrain towards the end) 3)Christmas Camel/Cerdes/
Too Much Sea Between Us --Oleh
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Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 21:24:47 -0500
From: burnside <burnside@acc-net.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Arrangements

In my mind, there' not a weak spot or arrangement on their first 6 albums, so it's hard to pick three, but how about:

I could go on. Samson would be nice if cleaned up on CD. It's such a great song, and the arrangement is there, could be uncluttered a bit with electronic doodads and geegaws (techie terms).

By the way, being new to the list, I would like to know if there is ever much discussion re: The Paramounts. I have a collection on vinyl that is wonderful, but haven't seen any on CD (as least in US). Also didn't spot them on the Beyond the Pale site discography.

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From: IChippett@aol.com
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 16:03:51 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Arrangements

I have always thought that Grand Hotel was their finest moment in this respect but I still adore the arrangement of Barnyard Story too, just voice, piano and barely audible organ. I wouldn't mind hearing GB do the songs alone at the piano. It's a great way of deciding which are the best songs as songs.

Regarding Richard Thompson, he's a more than interesting songwriter and a great guitarist (try "Night comes in" on his album "guitar, vocal") and heavily influenced (at least at the beginning) by the Band who have also aroused comment here recently.

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Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 17:50:09 -0500
From: "Diane H. Wells" <greatsociety@worldnet.att.net Reply-
To: greatsociety@worldnet.att.net
To: burnside <burnside@acc-net.com CC: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Arrangements

Check out CDNOW at www.cdnow.com. They sell "Whiter Shades of R'N'B" by the Paramounts. I've got it...sounds early '60s Merseyish.

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Date: Wed, 18 Feb 98 18:26:10
From: drj_saro <drj_saro@neo.lrun.com
Subject: RE: procol V1 #122
To: procol@progrock.org

------------------------------------- Name: Julius J. SAROKA E-mail: drj_saro <drj_saro@neo.lrun.com
Date: 2/18/1998 Time: 6:26:10 PM

This message was sent by Chameleon (in the Shadow of the Night)
-------------------------------------

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Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 00:14:38 +0000
To: procol@progrock.org
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Thompson

At 09:09 17/02/98 EST, WRES2345@aol.com wrote: What is with the fascination of more than one person in here for Richard Thompson?

I suppose that I've seen RT more than any other artist apart from PH ... but only once on his own: he runs a belting band which has featured some marvellous players over the years. Like PH his songs are often far more telling onstage than on record; like PH he inhabits a lyrically dark world and writes very solidly-constructed music that has absorbed numerous influences (though in his case, not really the blues). On stage he is almost as dry and self-deprecating as GB. The huge difference of course is that he is amazingly prolific.

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Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 00:14:40 +0000
To: procol@progrock.org
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Re: Arrangements.

Three favourite sound-worlds: Wreck of the Hesperus The Thin End of the Wedge Strangers in Space or Holding On

Three favourite performances Shine on Brightly (first by miles!) Still There'll be More A Christmas Camel

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Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 23:33:16 +0300 (GMT)
To: procol@progrock.org
From: marpe@brecha.com.uy (Marcelo Pereira)
Subject: Arrangements

Roland asked if we are taking "'arrangement' to mean 'sound-world' or 'performance'?". I think we should take it (like musicians do) as the part(s) played (or sang) in addition to the basic melody, harmony & rhythm, when that (those) part(s) are not improvisation, but conceived before playing. Technically yours Marcelo

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 00:16:20 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: One hump or 2?

The organ alone on that is worth the price of admission...let alone the surreal landsacpe of desperation that unfolds. Cerdes96
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To: procol@progrock.org
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 00:50:29 -0500
Subject: Arrangements
From: saltyscott1@juno.com (Scott E Siminofsky)

One can go a bit daffy deciding which Harum songs are arranged best. But nobody ever accused me of being sane anyway.

- Repent Walpurgis - I've been listening to this one for 28 years. Its still fresh.

- Pilgrims Progress - I've always believed that this told the story of Procol Harum, including Matthew's farewell at end.

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From: WRES2345@aol.com
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 13:04:20 EST
To: Procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: RT

In my book Roland, RT stands for Robin Trower. I had to read your post twice to realize you were speaking of rt (jr).

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From: "Preferred Customer" <ehavelte@tip.nl
To: <Procol@progrock.org
Subject: Rhythm Kings
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 18:29:31 +0100

On the Dutch tv GB will appear live 27/2 with The Rhythm Kings ( with = our Stone Alone )!

Bye the way, Can anybody help me in obtaining the bootleg CD Old Lamps = For New? ( ehavelte@tip.nl )

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Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:26:11 +0000
To: <Procol@progrock.org
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Brooker on radio tonight

The Canadian Broadcasting Company will telephone Gary tonight at 9pm UK time to ask him what the words of 'AWSoP' mean (I think we can imagine what sort of answer they'll get!).

I understand that the interview (which CBC hope to broaden to other PH-related topics, including the 'Beyond the Pale' website) will go out at 1845 Canada time ... no other details

Let's hope somebody over there can tape it? And perhaps ring the station beforehand with questions? (Release 'Niagara'!)

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Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 02:17:30 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: A PH Newsgroup?

Does anyone know how to start a Newsgroup for PH? I've read that the alt. Newsgroups don't require any kind of "voting" to be established, but that you have to know how to post just the right kind of message to the newsgroup alt.config, or something.

I really think PH DESERVES its own Newsgroup, but I really don't know how to go about starting one. Can Anyone HELP?

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Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 21:49:44 -0500
From: burnside <burnside@acc-net.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Arrangements

Okay, I must have had a spasm or something earlier when I listed my fave arrangements. How could I forget? I'm so ashamed. My true fave, and perhaps one of the finest moments in pop history -- "Simple Sister". Such a wonderful, powerful instrumental build-up, full of "Sturm und Drang", then the release. Wonderful!

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 23:16:14 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Tick
Tock

What else can I recall? YES! When I first heard Shine on Brightly as a kid, I could have sworn that the first line went.."Life rushing through electric clocks, no longer rings, it will not stop." The contradiction seemed to make sense back then. The clock, while no longer ringing... still will not stop. Very LSD eh wot? All the fun of the CiiiiiiRKUS! SurDees96
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From: "Samuel Cameron" <samcameron@lineone.net
To: <cerdes@procolharum.com, <Procol@progrock.org
Subject: misheard lyrics
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 17:16:40 -0000

on the subject of misheard lyrics..some of you may have missed my faloperies (not fat old buddhas) carved in gold escapade a month or so ago and some of you didn't like it.. some more Simple Sister.. intercede (a word which links to child abuse) instead of into the sea AWSOP..i've never actually thought it but it does sound vaguely like a 'Wyatt Earp' shade of pale (maybe for the c'n'w versions) SOB..like many 'no longer rings it will not stop' well i thought the clock keeps going but the alarm won't .. All this and more...matelots (ie bawdy sailors) instead of the 'Maddox' we are lead to believe it is well it still makes more sense to me As strong as samson ..when you're bedding down to write a song.. instead of being held to ransom... the spoken bit at the end of dead man's dream..precisely still i don't know instead of 'as i slithered under' finally i don't know why this is and its not a mishearing but every so often when i play 'King of Hearts' i think its going to be a woman dressed in red even though i know its not but still in closing let me say i had a very cheap nasty record player when i first got these records 1973-1977 and of course you didn't get the words on the early albums so is there anybody there who persistently mishears even when they saw the written down words at first listen?

-
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Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 20:03:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Goldmine Review Addendum

The review first appeared in Goldmine #455, 1/2/98, with the portions below omitted, probably due to an oversight. The review, in its Entirety, was (re)printed in Goldmine, #459, 2/27/98, pp. 182-3: I've just transcribed the "missing parts" here:

---------------------------------- On Home the band turned a few corners. Knoghts and Fisher departed (the latter after a failed attempt to continue on as producer). Chris Copping replaced them both on bass and keyboards. The pre-Procol R&B band, the Paramounts, was now reunited. But this was a rock band, now more than ever. Trower wrote the music to two tunes once again (the opener, "Whiskey Train," being their rockingest tune to date). Reid's lyrical mood was darker than ever. Just some of the titles, "The Dead Man's Dream" and "About
To Die," are fuel for the argument that this fourth album was lyrically an allegory on death. Even the seemingly "up" tunes were often betrayed by their content ("I'll blacken your Christmas and piss on your door/You'll cry out for mercy but still they'll by more" from "Still They'll Be More" [sic?] ). There was definitely a dark cloud hanging over the majority of Home. [see my comments below -- jm] But song per song it worked magically. Was it a concept album (as suggested by the boardgame depicted on the cover) or just a collection of songs? No matter. These nine tracks, burgeoning with sex, death, nightmares and life's struggles, stuck together like glue. The seven-minute "Whaling Stories," a sea shanty, was a mini- "In Held Twas In I" in that it had movements within its basic verse structure (no chorus), but waxed as an early progressive rocker until the glorious finale. Though thoughtfully sequenced, Home should have ended with this tune (instead of the up--tempo "Your Own Choice"). Perhaps the last few lines sum up the album's intentions the best: Those alive will meet the prophets/those of peace shall see their wake." [SIC]

Disc three, labeled "Singles A&B Sides/Outtakes/Alternative Takes," is a collector's dream. The first ten of these 17 tracks save one (the U.K. single version of "Quite Rightly So" with a different arrangement and lyrics) can readily be found, they're just four singles and a pair of already available outtakes from Whiter Shade. But the last seven include stereo versions of "Whiter Shade," "Homburg," "Conquistador" and "She Wandered Through the Garden Fence." They even came up with a dub version (no vocals) of "Whiter Shade" and a rare acetate version of "Magdalene(My Regal Zonophone)" In some cases, these stereo takes are radically different, "Whiter Shade" is a few minutes longer, with a different vocal take and cleaner sound as well as a different ending.
Too bad, however, that this slightly shorter disc (about ten minutes shorter than the first two) didn't include the aforementioned "Il Tuo Diamante," an Italian single available on the Shine On Brightly reissue.

But there's no real cause for complaint as it probably came down to licensing rights. One should realize, however, that the band kept on sailing for six more albums (only the last two were weak in any sense of the word) before hitting ground (they reunited briefly for The Prodigal Stranger in 1991). So this box sums up the majority of their recorded work over less than the first half of their career. Translated from the Latin, Procol Harum means "beyond these things." They were a truly different band, breaking a handful of musical molds through the years. As Gary Brooker sings, "Shine on Brightly."
--- Brad Bradberry It occurred to me recently that KR may have written so much about Death for this album because he knew that a Huge part of PH's musical identity had just Died - i.e. the Celestial/Bach/Baroque element that MF had contributed so brilliantly. Of course, once Gary had been influenced by Matthew in the Classical direction, he went on to compose some Wonderful classically oriented songs but they were more in the styles of the Romantic composers, rather than Bach/Baroque.. As far as instrumental excitement was concerned, the organ provided NONE and became a background instrument, though still an important part of the band's Sound. BJW - and to a lesser extent RT or MG - took up the slack instrumentally, and so PH continued to be a Fantastic Exciting Band....but it was a Different band. And Keith may have been mourning that fact when he wrote his lyrics. Best, Joan :-) cc: AOL, BtP
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Date: Mon, 23 Feb 98 12:01:03
From: drj_saro <drj_saro@neo.lrun.com
Subject: RE: procol V1 #127
To: procol@progrock.org

Simple Sister.. intercede (a word which links to child abuse) instead of into the sea

it means to mediate between two disputing parties. (usually on behalf of one of the parties, rather than as an impartial third party.)

------------------------------------- Name: Julius J. SAROKA E-mail: drj_saro <drj_saro@neo.lrun.com
Date: 2/23/1998 Time: 12:01:04 PM

This message was sent by Chameleon (in the Shadow of the Night)
-------------------------------------

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From: "MIKAEL WERKELIN" <mikael.werkelin@mbox301.swipnet.se
To: <procol@progrock.org
Subject: New from Sweden
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 23:05:17 +0100

Hi My name is Mikael Werkelin. I'm from Sweden and lives on an island = called Gotland in the Baltic Sea. I've got almost everything officialy = released by Procol Harum and Gary Brooker on Vinyl and CD. I've got my = own Hammond, a T522, and my own 16-channel old fashioned studio. Procol = is one of my favourite groups and I saw them live in Stockholm about 5 = years ago. A great concert. /Mikael

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 17:08:11 EST
To: mikael.werkelin@mbox301.swipnet.se, Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Re: New from Sweden

Hi Mikael and welcome aboard. Hammond B3 here in America, but just a 4 track analog multitracker and sequencer technology. 16 tracks. Thats sounds like great fun to me................again, welcome Larry /Cerdes96
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From: IChippett@aol.com
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 17:41:15 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Arrangements

A little while back I wrote about "Barnyard Tale" saying how I liked the simple piano, with just an organ in the background. As always, when I listened again, someone has completely changed the song on my copy. Now I hear a bass guitar and (or am I wrong?) a harmonium.

Two trivial questions: who's singing the bass line in the chorus on "Nothing but the truth" (it's barely audible if indeed I'm not dreaming) and has someone miscounted the beats on the intro to "Bringing home the bacon" as there seems to be a beat too many somewhere?

Ian C
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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 18:17:01 EST
To: IChippett@aol.com, Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Answers

<< A little while back I wrote about "Barnyard Tale" saying how I liked the simple piano, with just an organ in the background. As always, when I listened again, someone has completely changed the song on my copy. Now I hear a bass guitar and (or am I wrong?) a harmonium.

The 6 string-fretless- stand up bass was played by Brooker with "chalk marks on the frets where the notes would be." There is no harmonium. There are Hammond settings that are similar in tone and texture. Two trivial questions: who's singing the bass line in the chorus on "Nothing but the truth" (it's barely audible if indeed I'm not dreaming) and has someone miscounted the beats on the intro to "Bringing home the bacon" as there seems to be a beat too many somewhere?

Brooker is singing the bassline on NBTT. The beats on Bacon are part of B.J,'s odd time keeping . If you count it out, even though it sounds off..it's on time. I played it in a band where we discussed the same issue and just counted our way into it with a slur or Cesura to glide us in. Hope that helped.
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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 18:22:15 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Correction

It was not a 6 sting but a standard fretless stand up bass. Sorry about that. Musta had Jack Bruce and his Alembic 5 string on my mind. Cerdes96
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Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 23:27:54 +0000
To: procol@progrock.org
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: (22 Mandolins!!)

Perhaps it's the same person who's singing the bass-line in 'Skip Softly' and (more obviously) in 'Robert's Box'?

Has someone miscounted the beats on the intro to "Bringing home the bacon" as there seems to be a beat too many somewhere?

A great trick, to wrong-foot the listener: same sort of thing happens in the introduction of 'No More Fear of Flying'.

But ... staying with the 'Grand Hotel' album, is it clear whereabouts BJ actually contributes those 22 Mandolins? (And why are they in brackets on the sleeve?).

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Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 04:40:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Jem33@aol.com
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Bacon Beats

I don't think there's anything wrong with the timing on Bacon - it's just unusual in that the drum part that begins the song starts on the "upbeat" -- i.e. instead of starting at the beginning of a measure, it starts on the final eighth note in the preceding measure.. I think this is also true in the middle of the song, if memory serves.

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From: "Samuel Cameron" <samcameron@lineone.net
To: <samcameron@lineone.net, <cerdes@procolharum.com, <Procol@progrock.org
Subject: NEW AMPS FOR OLD?
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 12:27:03 -0000

good day to you all.. before i came on here i read about netiquette and believed that discussion groups were supposed to avoid 'me too' posts and flaming as i'm just about to sign off for a while i'ld like to start a new thread that wont't spark hostility (well ok i would like to come back to a barrage of abuse really ..look i know its a barrage of views don't get irate) which is this... what hi fi equipment is best for listening to Procol Harum records on ..is there any tweak or device that helps..the production is a constant source of annoyance on these records especially that murky splodge on EBF (probably due to Chris T not liking the music).. a lot more people would like them if the records sounded better.. you constantly feel as if there's something inside trying to get out of a shroud.. so what equipment has given you the nearest to the 'real' thing? is it different for different albums? media? is the raggedy 'Home' actually better on vinyl than CD if you had the right deck etc.? which song has the most apt production? i have seen some people rave about remastered cd releases but i've not found a drastic improvement myself not compared to the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo' which improved a helluva lot mind you i've not great equipment.. bye Sam

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From: IChippett@aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 16:23:51 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re :Mandolins

On the subject of "Grand Hotel" does anyone else think, like me, that this is Procol's finest hour? I love all the other albums but I only shiver with pleasure when I hear the title track of this one.

Ian C
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Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 00:07:34 +0000
To: procol@progrock.org (Procol)
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: More Reid words for early songs

Reckon you know the words of 'Rambling On'? Unconvinced by King Jimi? Still in two minds about those faloperies ?!

Today 'Beyond the Pale' received another consignment of words from Keith Reid, enabling us to make authoritative corrections to the words we previously published: incidentally, it seems that Procol Harum recorded non-Reid words as early as 1968.

Again our revised pages don't always correspond with what we've got used to on the records, but they do exactly present the words as their author wants them presented ...

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Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 19:43:17 -0500 (EST)
From: dave pettit <dhpett0@sac.uky.edu
To: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net cc: Procol <procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: More Reid words for early songs

My last departing BIRDS? What? I loved this line when it said 'verse' :) Now I have absolutely no idea what it means. I do, however, think it's great that Keith would do this - even if I never have a clue as to what the songs might be about, to know the actual words is strangely fascinating.

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From: hani@pacific.net.sg
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 11:08:16 +0800
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Procol's Best

IMO, it's definitely one of Procol's best; Superb composition, arrangement, instrumentation etc....

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Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 21:38:46 -0800
To: procol@progrock.org
From: Bernie Borenstein <bernieb@deltanet.com
Subject: New
To The group

Hello all. I've been a fan of Procol Harum for a very long time. My first purchased album by them was the greatest hits album. I just bought the 30th anniversary collection and am overwhelmed by the remastered sound. The sound on the first album tracks is just incredible and the price very reasonable. I would recommend anyone who does not have the 30th anniversary collection should run out and buy it. Now we need an official release of the BBC tracks.

Bernie Borenstein
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From: Wes Jay <wesjay@rie.net.au
To: "'Procol'" <procol@progrock.org
Subject: RE: procol V1 #129
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 18:29:17 +1100

Hi there, I am a freelance radio producer in Australia and would like to get some = audio grabs with Gary Brooker talking about A Whiter Shade of Pale, = Conquistador and Homburg. Is anything available on interview disc? Can anyone help

Thanks Wes Jay The Rock Australia
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From: ProcolHrum@aol.com
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 02:51:11 EST
To: IChippett@aol.com, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Re :Mandolins and Grand Hotel

If memory serves me correctly (huh?) arent the 22 mandolins heard behind the sappy solo violin transition theme in The song Grand Hotel ? I agree with Ian. For me, GH , the album, was Procol at its finest. At the time I found KR's lyrics less cryptic and in a more Romantic vein, and perfectly complimented by GB's music. Pompous? Perhaps, but sweetly offset with characteristic PH humor. What drummer could not listen in awe to BJW's accomplishment on the drums?. Who else could make a listenable tune out of lyrics the likes of "Bringing Home the Bacon"? This albums can still stir up a shiver for me. Richard
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To: dave pettit <dhpett0@sac.uky.edu CC: Procol <procol@progrock.org
From: pcmcia@geocities.com
Subject: RE: Re: More Reid words for early songs

pettit _______ I fully agree. Is it possible that it's just a typo? Thanx to Keith anyway for the assistance.

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From: Dave Lee <d.lee@kudos.co.uk
To: "'procol@progrock.org'" <procol@progrock.org
Subject: RE: Re :Mandolins
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 10:17:43 -0000

Got to agree there. Grand Hotel is their most complete album with an overall feel of grandness. Salty Dog is brilliant for its variety of styles, Shine On for its originality, and Exotic for its downright heaviness, but Grand Hotel has it all.

davelee
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Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 08:48:11 +0100
From: Frank Matheus <matheus@uni.muenster.de
To: "procol@progrock.org" <procol@progrock.org
Subject: The beat of "Bringing home the bacon"

"Bringing home the bacon" always fascinates me. It's not only the drum intro; there is a small drum interlude in the middle of the piece, right before Gary starts singing again. This interlude is brilliant, it has a great retarding moment that builds a strong tension and makes the song unique. No other drummer has been able to reproduce that special tension of the original album, not even Graham Broad, who did a great job in Red Hill.

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Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 18:12:51 +0000
To: Procol <procol@progrock.org
From: Roland Clare <roland.clare@virgin.net
Subject: Departing 'birds' ... no typo

I'd never believed in 'save my last departing birds' ... even though those are the words that PH published in their RPO Rainbow concert programme.

For 26 years I've been hoping that it was a mistake. Consequently the word-sheet I sent to KR had a hopeful 'verse' instead of 'birds'.

But Keith crossed out 'verse' and substituted 'birds' unequivocally, therefore, no typo, I'm afraid.

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From: cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 13:18:07 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Crazy Birds

<< But Keith crossed out 'verse' and substituted 'birds' unequivocally, therefore, no typo, I'm afraid. Call me odd.....but "birds" really makes sense to me. The "departing Birds" seem to indicate the last vestiges of sanity that he has left before the deep eternal sleep. As they leave him.....well...just a thought folks.

Cerdes96
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From: IChippett <IChippett@aol.com
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 16:51:31 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Birds or verse

Another silly question for Cerdes96 : if GB did all the singing after the departure of Robin Trower, can we assume he does the backing vocals too on "Robert's Box", "The Idol", "
Toujours l'amour" etc which is what I was getting at in my last message to him (Cerdes)? I knew about the singer on "Fires" (I live in Paris, after all! 8-)) ) I only ask because when I saw them live, the occasional backing vocals were handled by MG, AD and/or CC.

Ian C
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From: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 17:55:38 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Re: Birds or verse

<< Another silly question for Cerdes96 : if GB did all the singing after the departure of Robin Trower, can we assume he does the backing vocals too on "Robert's Box", "The Idol", "
Toujours l'amour"

Right again Messr Ian........:+)
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From: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:16:18 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: BJ

With the mercurial Hendrix disciple Robin Trower on guitar, organist (occasional singer-songwriter ) Matthew Fisher on Hammond organ, Brooker on grand piano, and arguably the best finesse drummer in rock, B.J.Wilson, on drums (bassist David Knights was the weak link and was replaced on Home, their fourth album), ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The best finesse drummer in rock..........." I just love that!!!! Had to send it out again to be savored by all. CERDES96
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From: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 23:14:37 EST
To: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: metal blocks ARE frequent!

Fellow followers of taste and discernment: I find it fascinating that KR, who was in the studio for everything recorded, does not recall the alternate verse to Quite Rightly So. That verse is surely not made up on the spot by GB. It also appears on the Beat Club video of them performing the song. Same thing as the Westside package. So, that being said, I cannot account for such a loss of memory by KR. When a line appears like that in several fomats, there must be something tangible to it....am I nutz or am I nutz????? Cerdes96
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From: Patprutrac <Patprutrac@aol.com
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 23:01:57 EST
To: IChippett@aol.com, procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: Re :Mandolins

Yes, Grand Hotel is also one of my favorites. Incidentally, at the time the album was released, I was working for a small tv station and I persuaded the program director, who was a PH freak like me, to use the musical bridge from Grand Hotel in a commercial. It worked great, although I don't recall the tv commercial.
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From: IChippett <IChippett@aol.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 02:26:15 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Grand Hotel

When I said I shiver with pleasure when I hear Grand Hotel, I should specify that the shivering starts when GB sings "danced till dawn" and stops after "slip and slide." I admit I'm married to a French girl and am not at liberty to divulge further details. I'm fond of profiteroles, too.

Ian C
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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 08:31:15 +0100
From: Frank Matheus <matheus@uni.muenster.de
To: "procol@progrock.org" <procol@progrock.org
Subject: (Kein Betreff)

I want to share a site with you I just found: Go to www.gemm.com and type "procol" or "fisher, matthew" and see what happens: They have a database with nearly 2 million cds and LPs, new and second hand and a lot of gems. Check it out.

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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 10:37:08 -0500
From: "Diane H. Wells" <greatsociety@worldnet.att.net
To: Frank Matheus <matheus@uni.muenster.de CC: "procol@progrock.org" <procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: (Kein Betreff)

Frank Matheus wrote: Hi, I want to share a site with you I just found: Go to www.gemm.com and type "procol" or "fisher, matthew" and see what happens: They have a database with nearly 2 million cds and LPs, new and second hand and a lot of gems. Check it out. Frank

OK, I went into gemm.com and searched on MF...anyone out there have "A Salty Dog Returns"? Is it worth getting?

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From: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 11:57:00 EST
To: greatsociety@worldnet.att.net, Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: The Return of the Dog

<< OK, I went into gemm.com and searched on MF...anyone out there have "A Salty Dog Returns"? Is it worth getting?

I would say so. It is an instrumental collection that he did at home over several years time. It is NOT like Procol Harum but as a collectors piece it is a must have. The pieces are inventive and melodic with a wide ange of musical ground covered. He used predominently synths, though he also adds bass guitars, acoustics, pianos etc. There is a live track of Green Onions where he plays some fairly Fisheresque lines but he doesn't really let loose. Then again, it seems he almost never does. Such restraint that boy. Go for it I say............cerdes96
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From: WRES2345 <WRES2345@aol.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 12:48:23 EST
To: cerdes@procolharum.com, greatsociety@worldnet.att.net, Procol@progrock.org
Subject: Re: gemm

This is the best music site I've encountered on the net. What a selection!!! One suggestion I offer is that the song list or summary of the CD (even albums) be made available. Thanks for the referral, comrades.

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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 14:22:24 -0500
From: "Diane H. Wells" <greatsociety@worldnet.att.net
To: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com CC: Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Re: The Return of the Dog

Thanks for the info! I'm going on vacation soon for a couple of weeks... I'll get it when I get back.

So, I'll finally get to hear the famous "Green Onions." (Joan May, you always talked up this song, if I remember right!) I've never heard it before, so I'm looking forward to it!

CERDES96 wrote: In a message dated 98-02-28 10:41:35 EST, you write: << OK, I went into gemm.com and searched on MF...anyone out there have "A Salty Dog Returns"? Is it worth getting? I would say so. It is an instrumental collection that he did at home over several years time. It is NOT like Procol Harum but as a collectors piece it is a must have. The pieces are inventive and melodic with a wide ange of musical ground covered. He used predominently synths, though he also adds bass guitars, acoustics, pianos etc. There is a live track of Green Onions where he plays some fairly Fisheresque lines but he doesn't really let loose. Then again, it seems he almost never does. Such restraint that boy. Go for it I say............cerdes96
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From: IChippett <IChippett@aol.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 16:04:25 EST
To: procol@progrock.org
Subject: Separation

Has anybody actually seen this film? How did PH and MF get mixed up in it? After all, at the time they were still relatively unknown, I would have thought.

Ian C
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From: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 16:38:54 EST
To: IChippett@aol.com, Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Re: Re : PH talk

<< Of course, a marimba! Why didn't I think? And as for Larry Adler.... I always thought it was GB himself. Thanks again. I'm working on some more questions so be forewarned!! I always thought that too till the news started leakin out...........That guys plays sooooooo sweetly. Ask away Ian... cerdes96
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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 21:42:00 +0300 (GMT)
To: procol@progrock.org
From: marpe@brecha.com.uy (Marcelo Pereira)
Subject: Marimba

A message about marimbas, Larry Adler and other questions obviously leaked out to this list, but since it did (and seems interesting), could we all know what are you talking about?

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From: CERDES96 <cerdes@procolharum.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 20:16:25 EST
To: marpe@brecha.com.uy, Procol@Progrock.org
Subject: Re: Marimba

<< A message about marimbas, Larry Adler and other questions obviously leaked out to this list, but since it did (and seems interesting), could we all know what are you talking about? Someone was curious as to what instrument opened Pandora's Box-Marimba starts it off. And Larry Adler played the harmonica solo on Your Own Choice. And there it is in a nutshell. cerdes96