Procol Harum : 'Live at the Union
Chapel'
Procol Harum: preserving integrity
Most music listeners equate Procol Harum with one song recorded
at the height of the musical regeneration of the 60s. Whiter Shade of Pale
has been covered by 260 artists to date, little wonder, as it lies at the
pedestal of euphony and speaks to a culture and its beginings.
Procol Harum belongs to the ages, as do Led Zeppelin, the Beatles,The Kinks,
Free, Cream, Traffic and many other inovators of the genre. The difference is
Procol Harum is still a living aeonian spirit whom roams the earth changing,
reinventing the past to fit the present and plan the future.
For the average music fan, Procol's history begins and ends with Whiter Shade
of Pale a pity really, as this is a band who over the past 35 plus years of
its unceasing quest for the holy grail of communication have managed to climb
peaks few have reached.
From 1968's follow up Shine on Brightly containing the masterful 20
minute plus one sided vinyl take of In Held 'Twas In I through 2003's
The Emperor’s New Clothes from their 13th [sic]
studio offering, Procol Harum have repatriated time and time again those lost
ideals that make music so eternally exhilarating.
The
Procol followers are a devoted lot, keeping the spirit alive in whatever manner
needed. Fiercely devoted to spreading the word and anointing seekers with Procol
mythology and idealogy that solidify's their legend.
Procol Harum - Live at the Union Chapel is a rare oppertunity to witness
what the band does best on their home turf at the end of their recently released
The Well's on Fire a burning testimonial on the current state of affairs.
Replacing legendary drummer B J Wilson would be a monumental task, he who
created those voluptuous drum fills throughout A Salty Dog, About to
Die, Piggy Pig Pig, As Strong as Samson and many others during
his ten year tenure. Mark Brzezicki of Big Country notoriously and reverently
fits inside the current configuration since joining in 1991 for The Prodigal
Stranger.
Robin Trower, whom many consider rivaled Hendrix with his guitar pyrotechnics,
contributing the meat on Whisky Train (Home 1971), and coming into
his own on 1971's Broken Barricades would put to task anyone whom [sic]
stepped up to the challange and I must say, Geoff Whitehorn has filled the bill
with Tower's style and spirit while remaining his own unique talent.
Filmed at the Union Chapel, a wonderful and animated hall as
described by Brooker as "almost performing inside some sort of kaleidoscope" and
brings a very special vibe to the procedings. Opening with a blindingly forceful
version of Shine on Brightly the band move through the core movments of
contemporary offerings from The Well's on Fire and throw in some
brimmingly incandescent memories of times past.
Strong As Samson hold a special place in my fondness for Procol as it
began on 1974's Exotic Brids and Fruit one of my favorite and most
cherished Procol offerings and in their 2003 version burns bright touching the
original and transcending any expectations.
For those folks who only remember Procol for Whiter Shade
... I emplore you to take some time and traverse the spectrum of Procol's past
recorded vinginetes of glorification put to tape. For those of you who know what
I'm talking about already have this in hand, and those who are just finding out,
come and witness a band for all ages as Live at the Union Chapel
destifies with an acurate eye.
This is a band who embraces the dignity of the creative artistic process while
touching the heart and soul of what it truly means to be alive and well through
35 years of legendary showmanship and integrity.
NB all spelling / wording above
is faithfully reproduced from
the original document