Procol's Ninth, 1975

The Polish issue

Oktay Gürbüz kindly sends BtP the liner note to Procol's Ninth as it was published in Poland

Procol Harum's ninth record is their first LP ever issued in Poland. It is worth noting that this record is a continuation of the style which has developed over the last ten years.

It was ten years ago when two young, talented Britishers - pianist and composer Gary Brooker, poet and lyricist Keith Reid met for the first time.

The idea of forming a group arose from their meeting and discussions. The group was to perform music based on the style, characteristics and instruments of modern rock and rhythm and blues, at the same time, searching for inspiration from classical music, in particular baroque music.

Jan Sebastian Bach was Gary Brooker's favourite composer and in virtually all of their recordings traces of his beautiful music can be found.

Their first hits, A Whiter Shade of Pale, Homburg - 1967 - continued under a similar influence, as did their following LPs, of which the most interesting and well-known are: Shine on Brightly - 1968, A Salty Dog - 1969, Home - 1970, Concert with a Symphony Orchestra in Edmonton - 1972 and Grand Hotel - 1973.

Membership of the group has often changed but it has not altered the group's style, as Gary Brooker has stayed on and continued to introduce baroque into rock music.

Many of us experienced the group's excellent concert - listening breathlessly to Gary Brooker's magnificent piano solos, characteristic voice, to light, melodious songs in a country and western style, to a fascinating pastiche of a Strauss' waltz and to typical rock and roll numbers.

Unfortunately, there were not enough tickets to meet the demand and so we hope that those who listen to his record will experience the same feelings as those who were at the concert.

Transl. Jerzy Marks

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