Christmas Conundrums 2008

25 December

Have a look at all the letters in the song-title Dishwater Flop. Obviously, this was not a hit record for Procol Harum, but can you use all the letters of Dishwater Flop (some of them, more than once) to create the title of a real mega-hit?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what was the surname of the drummer on the original recording?

A Whiter Shade
of
Pale

(Bill) Eyden

E

His forename suggests that he needs to be paid

Pay the 'Bill'

26 December

What Procol Harum song contains only four different letters of the alphabet?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what was the surname of the organist who played on the record, and whom we see playing Hammond in the Copping Brothers' film?

Piggy Pig Pig

(Keith) Reid

R

Have a look here

KR: 'Gary wrote a part for me to play on Piggy Pig Pig.'

27 December

The vowels in English are A, E, I, O and U. At least ten Several Procol Harum song-titles (eg Perpetual Motion) use all five of these letters ...

Figure out which songs, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what's the first word of the shortest Procol song-title that uses all five vowels?

About to Die

About

A

Think of the first Colosseum album

Those Who are About to Die Salute You

28 December

At least one Procol Harum song-title doesn't use any of the first ten letters of the alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J)

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: What's the first word of the title?

Look to Your Soul

Look

L

It's mentioned here

29 December

Mabel, Homburg, Grand Hotel ... Procol Harum song titles in each of which no letter occurs more than once.

Find the others, then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what is the first word of the title of the longest one?

So
Far
Behind

So

S

It's on this record

By The Bluegrass Geeks

30
December

Have a look at all the letters in the song-title Opium Rental. Obviously, this was never an album-track for Procol Harum, but can you use all the letters of Opium Rental (some of them, more than once) to create the title of one that was?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what is the surname of the co-writer of this song, alongside Brooker and Reid?
 

Perpetual Motion

(Matt) Noble

N

Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon, Ununoctium

The 'noble' gases, naturally

31
December

Have a look at all the letters in the song-title Fishy Toad Menu. Clearly , this was never an album-track for Procol Harum, but can you use all the letters of Fishy Toad Menu (some of them, more than once) to create the title of one that was?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what is the first word of the song that we hear when it is performed on the original album?
 

In the Autumn of My Madness

In

I

The singer is now a graduate of Cambridge University in England

Here he is

1 January

Mabel, Homburg, Grand Hotel ... Procol Harum song titles in each of which no letter occurs more than once. Find the shortest one of these which is not a single word.

Then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what is the first word we hear on the original record?
 

The Idol

Oh

O

The crucial feature is shared with with this seasonal song

'Oh'!

2 January

Have a look at all the letters in the song-title Fun-Dose Avril. Clearly , this was never an album-track for Procol Harum, but can you use all the letters of Fun-Dose Avril (some of them, more than once) to create the title of one that was?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what's the first name of one of the speciality percussionists on the original recording of this song?

A Souvenir of London

Denny (Brown) / Dave (Ball)

D

Iris Jordan, at the BtP search-engine, may be able to help you.

Iris's Grand Hotel pictures were sent to BtP by Dave Ball

3 January

Have a look at all the letters in the song-title Danker Cloths. Clearly , this was never an album-track for Procol Harum, but can you use all the letters of Danker Cloths (some of them, more than once) to create the title of one that was?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what is the forename of the drummer who plays on the original recording of this track?

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

Mark (Brzezicki)

M

Caleb Freundlich's mother being Craven

Caleb's mother is Julianne Moore, who played Gemma Craven in The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

4 January

Have a look at all Procol Harum's studio albums, and make a note of those whose titles contain no repeated letters.

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: what is the forename of the musician, not a member of Procol Harum, who plays the melodic instrumental solo in the fade-out of the final track of the album?.

Harry (Paich)

H

Not Larry

Not Larry Adler

5 January

Have a look at all the letters in the song-title Hot Embracing. Clearly , this was never an album-track for Procol Harum, but can you use all the letters of Hot Embracing (some of them, more than once) to create the title of one that was?

Figure that out, and then write down the one-word answer for tonight's question: in what town was the recent live version of the song recorded?

Bringing Home the Bacon

Turin

T

To answer this, pierce the shroud

The Shroud of Turin, naturally