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3 August 2020 :

Added new Procol dates for October and November 2021 (thanks, Barry)

Added links to Gary Brooker's short series of filmed song-introductions (thanks, Cherry Red Records)

28 July 2020 :

RIP Peter Green, Denise Johnson, and CP Lee (of Vocal Harum)

Just one main item in this update, but it's a big one: added a detailed interview with Procol organist Josh Phillips about the background to, and recording of, his new venture with Arthur Brown's Crazy World of Lockdown(thanks, Josh). He and his musical accomplices are supporting Help Musicians, a very worthwhile charity.

Also: read the list of Procol tracks Gary Brooker chose for a Spotify feature commemorating the band's tenure as 'Artists of the Month' at Cherry Red Records.

18 July 2020 :

RIP Jamie Oldaker; RIP Emitt Rhodes

There's been a much-noted hiatus at BtP, but we've not been idle. It's entirely been caused by the heartening avalanche of orders – exceeding expectation by at least a couple of hundred – for the 2020 tour tee-shirt, a genuine rarity available nowhere else. Obviously this wasn't a perfect substitute for a much-anticipated international convention and two Procol concerts, but it will be an emphatic indication to the band that they weren't forgotten during this very peculiar and unsettling time.

There followed days of creating labels, filling in customs forms, corresponding with at least 100 customers who didn't realise they had to pay postage; or who sent UK postage 'because BtP is in the UK', even though they were overseas; or who ordered Medium by mistake for XXL; or whose stated addresses didn't look believable; or who sent merely postage and no actual order; or who were trying to read the instructions from a phone (!) and consequently 'couldn't see the drop-down menus' (even though they'd evidently used them, before writing to protest, in choosing the sizes they wanted); or who were treating themselves to a shirt because they'd landed a cat-sitting gig ... etc, etc. 

Thanks to all for the very good-natured and friendly correspondence that ensued, and for the (generally!) speedy responses. 

The tee-shirts themselves arrived from Procol HQ on Tuesday 14 July; they looked, indeed look, great. Thanks, Barry, for counting them out, and thanks, Howard, for couriering them down to Bristol. It took three heavy days (in a terraced house not designed for such an enterprise) to get everything spatchcocked and ready for the Royal Mail ... but we were able to keep our promise of despatching them during the week starting 13 July. Local Postmaster Andrew ('Any friend of Gary Brooker's is a friend of mine') cancelled his day-off to get the mail out, and much donkey-work was stylishly done by his co-conspirator Elaine: kudos and thanks to those two exemplary public servants.

The first orders were delivered on Saturday morning: 'I received my excellent t-shirt from you today. It really is a super design, and I absolutely love it' (thanks, David) was an early reaction. International mail obviously takes longer, but typically leaves the UK within 24 hours; how long it takes after that depends on conditions and habits in the receiving nations, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Recipients are welcome to send in photos of themselves wearing their new purchases (but if you're one of the people who bought three or four, just send one picture) ... it's always fun to see who the clients are !

And that's why there was a lacuna in the What's New updates here. Interesting to note that a missed bulletin elicits more reaction from readers than any published one normally does. But thanks, all, for your kind concern. We are doing fine: no need for alarm.

Added a Q&A about Gary Brooker's travel experiences ... in which we learn for the first time about his earliest recording experience (thanks, Paul, and others)

Cast your mind back almost exactly ten years, when the people of Bergamo turned out in such enormous numbers to hear Procol's free open-air concert at the Palazzo della Provincia. Things are terribly different there now, Covid-wise, and many fine British rockers have combined forces (in lockdown) to record this fine charity fundraiser (donation details after the music). Can you spot two Procolers? Clue: one is fast approaching his thirtieth year in the band, the other has yet to notch up his second performance (thanks, Geoff)

Added a couple of tickets, here and here

'There is this ship that we're all sailing on ...'
Spend a happy hour listening to Gary Brooker's 'Cherry Red Podcast' ... Gary talking with Mark Powell from Esoteric Records

Updated this crucial and informative page

Updated this extensive log of Procol articles

The special Procol merchandise offer is now closed; thanks to all subscribers.

29 June 2020 :

RIP Vera Lynn

Added four new Procol dates for 2021 (thanks, Barry)

Procol's 2020 tour was 'badly shattered' by the corona-crisis, and with it the Procol fans' weekend in London. Musicians would have been gathering today (thanks, Covid 19)

As promised, there's a treat to compensate for the lack of activity ... read this special Procol merchandise offer, and act quickly to avoid disappointment!  (thanks, Procol Harum)

Added a very interesting eleventh page of scanned stage passes ~ at least one of which will be coveted by every fan ~ from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added a good picture of a worthy Procoler here, and a graphic here (thanks, Anvil)

17 June 2020 :

RIP Keith ('Catfood') Tippett (concert here)

Added a very interesting tenth page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

'Beyond the Pale', in collaboration with the sequestered Procol Harum, is hoping to bring readers something special during the week leading up to our postponed 'Beyond the Deep'. Watch this space!

' ... excessively fluffy at times ... not at all exciting ... generally interesting and well done ...'
Added a contemporary review of one of Procol's most successful albums in terms of sales (thanks, Mary)

Added 'Beyond the Deep 2' to our schedule of Procol's 2021 shows, but there won't be a booking page for a while. Your previously-bought tickets will still be valid.

Have a listen to the genial Pete Pardo ranking twelve Procol studio albums at Sea of Tranquility ... plenty of insight, and some quite odd remarks too ('Reid on vocals'?)

Scroll down this page to 5 January 2020, and read Gary Brooker's statement which includes 'I’m sure something will give it a character before long'. What was he referring to? Has the prediction come true?

7 June 2020 :

Added a clarification to the 2020 tour dates page, and another concert to the 2021 list (thanks, Barry)

Added a very interesting ninth page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added an excellent clipping to the foot of this page, which reveals what Mssrs Brooker, Trower and Wilson were doing for a week in June one year (thanks, Dave)

Added a correction to this setlist (thanks, Len)

29 May 2020 :

Happy significant birthday to Gary Brooker MBE! And many happy returns!

Have a look at some classic Procol pictures from 1976 (thanks again, Ueli)

Added a very interesting eighth of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Deleted the dormant page that was formerly here (thanks, Pat) and removed the link to it from this informative page ... time to re-read it, and enjoy imagining the Brooker trumpet jamming.

24 May 2020 :

Added a very interesting seventh page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

' ... I really actually like the Edmonton album and the Grand Hotel album ...'
Added a Brooker interview from 2010: no great surprises, but worth a read (thanks, Bradshaw)

Updated this comprehensive page

We highly recommend this short musical film, especially if you admire the first Procol album, or if you were not present at BtP's Long Island party in 2014, when it was performed, solo, by the artist himself (thanks, Jack)

14 May 2020 :

Sorry to have to announce the postponement of more Procol gigs from later this year (thanks, Barry)

Added a very interesting sixth page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added a concert-review snippet here (thanks, Roy). Search for 'explosive masterpiece'

Added a note from a celebrated Procol organist, to this ongoing research page about Procol Harum at Cologne (thanks, Chris)

11 May 2020 :

RIP Little Richard, Florian Schneider, Millie Small and Dave Greenfield

Very regrettably, and after detailed consultation all round, we have to announce the cancellation of July's projected 'Beyond the Deep' gathering. Today's publication of the UK Government's new policies anent the virus problem make it inevitable that Procol Harum's 4 July concert at Hampton Pool, and intimate 5 July concert in Chelsea, will not take place. In Gary Brooker's words last week, '... things are so fluid that it would be very brave of Palers to commit to travel ... nevertheless, if BtP can do it, so can PH! I would want however any BtP event to be a pleasure, a success, and memorable – that is the priority.' Many apologies to all fans who were looking forward to this weekend; despite everyone's willingness, common sense says the uncertainties are stacked against us. Replacement dates in July 2021 are being considered, so please watch 'Beyond the Pale' for further details.

2 May 2020 :

Added a message to fans from the Brookers in France where, Franky tells us, they are still 'self isolating ... and now I have made some masks for Gary and myself' (click image to see it in full).
 
GB adds, 'I am smiling here, because the weather's OK – nice to have a unique mask with nowhere to go. I'm getting together a tunneling committee – Geoff Dunn is in charge. Which direction shall we go?'

Added a very interesting fifth page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added a link to Robin Trower's recent appearance on The Blues Podcast (thanks Wilbo)

Added more about Procol Harum at Cologne in 1970 (thanks, Claudio)

Added a link again, since it has been expanded and upgraded since last week, to the Revised Version of an excellent resource, namely the Procol Harum Lyrics Search engine at The Spoonbill Generator (thank you, Peter Christian)

20 April 2020 :

Added a very interesting fourth page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added a link to the Revised Version of an excellent resource, namely the Procol Harum Lyrics Search engine at The Spoonbill Generator (thank you, Peter Christian)

Which lyricist uses 'ever' heavily? Which uses 'never'? How many songs use the word 'mermaid'? Which songs have the word 'goose' in them?

Try searching for 'doubt', or 'beyond', or 'sand', and score three lyricists ... let us know if you find a word that scores four! (Of course 'no' bring up five).

And find the words for all Procol songs, by following links from here.

And a related page, here, contains plenty of mondegreens.

14 April 2020

Sad to report the recent death of a very notable Procol Harum fan, the respected writer and audiophile Art Dudley ... known to fans for his insightful reviews of Procol albums, his company at the Long Island Convention, and years of civilised and witty correspondence (thanks, Gary, for the sad news)

Excellent tribute page here

Time to re-read this excellent Dudley/Procol article from 2003.

10 April 2020 :

Following a flurry of cross-Channel phone-calls, we're delighted to be able to present a special Covid lockdown performance from Gary Brooker, concise, of necessity lo-fi, but lyrically a propos for this terrible day in world health terms. His message to all Palers, received by e-mail, reads 'Good luck to BtP, stay safe, and à bientôt. Gary B'

In the event that you can't hear all the words, or can't quite believe what you've heard, you'll find some assistance here.

Another Brooker adaptation, reflecting a UK crisis

Also added a graphic and a transcription to this page about Procol Harum's unchallenged masterpiece album (thanks, Bradshaw)

8 April 2020 :

RIP John Prine, who 'seemed as much in his element spinning lengthy yarns between songs as singing them'

Added to Procol's gigs for 2021 and gigs for 2020 (thanks, Barry)

3 April 2020 :

RIP Bill Withers

Added a good swathe of fourteen gigs for 2021 in four countries (many thanks, Barry)

1 April 2020 :

Just added the revamped and revised schedule of concerts for Procol Harum in 2020 (many thanks, Barry)

Also added Part 1 of a 'Musicians' Life on the Road' pictorial feature, with a tiny competition to raise your spirits (thanks, illustrious contributors!)

29 March 2020 :

RIP Manu Dibango
Sorry for the uncharacteristically long interval between updates, lately. The BtP team is in good health but we've been waiting for news impinging on the July celebrations. Sadly, in a nutshell, there isn't any: it's still a case of 'wait and see' ('hope for the best, expect the worst'). Along with our friends at Hampton Pool, we're awaiting any definitive announcement from the UK Government, regarding the length of the present lockdown, and whether it will continue close to the date of our gathering ... in which case postponement or cancellation of the 4 July show, the 5 July show and party, or both, would appear to be inevitable.

Meanwhile, here's a message from The Commander, lately received at BtP

Dear All

It is very unfortunate that we have so far lost various concerts. Hopefully they will be rescheduled for later in the year, or 2021. We hope the July concerts in London will go ahead: stay tuned to BtP.

We were lucky that the 02 concert for the Royal Marsden went ahead. It was very successful, and we raised on the night over one million pounds profit for the Oak Cancer Centre. My thanks to everybody, especially Geoff Whitehorn who played a great solo on Comfortably Numb, and Matt Pegg who held us all together. A unique night to remember.

But now, we’re all on the set of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Stay indoors, stay safe, and see you all soon.

Gary Brooker

Photo: Bert Saraco

Added a very interesting third page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added the setlist from Music for the Marsden

And here is Chris Copping's assessment of the recent crossword conundrum he sent in (see 17 March: as everyone surmised, the answer was 'bleach'):
'Not a difficult clue but an excellent one -- and could even attract newcomers to the addiction of cryptic puzzles] -- at least you get the answer twice (and BLEACH is of course Nirvana's first album)' (thanks, Chris)

17 March 2020 :

RIP Genesis P Orridge

Thanks for all the enquiries or inquiries about April's scheduled Choral/Orchestral Concert. Procol Harum regretfully confirmed to BtP at 12:40 today that this is now cancelled. Please see here (thanks, Barry)

Looks as though The Common Thread CD is getting to be a collectors' item ... see here

Added a good review of Procol Harum's Central Park 1971 concert (thanks, Bradshaw)

Updated an NSS link here

It's time to re-read this page, and savour the delicious arrogance of the first submission.

And it's always nice to get a note from Prof Copping, in the Southern Hemisphere, who writes ...
Cryptic Crossword #10425 by Serpent, The Independent, 12 March 2020: 'Even bits of blues appropriated by composer to make Whiter Shade of Pale (6)' (thanks, Chris)

 Though simple enough, this strikes us as a brilliantly-insightful clue, from an obvious cognoscento.

12 March 2020 :

Please read the news from the Trondheim Festival in Norway, where Procol Harum will now, regrettably, not be playing on 24 April (thanks, Barry)

7 March 2020 :

RIP McCoy Tyner

Added a page about the second wave of tickets for 'Beyond the Deep' (including Procol concert) which went on sale at 10:00 (London time) on Saturday 7 March

Act fast, because the first wave sold out, and we know a lot of people who missed out will be competing for this second wave.

(When the second wave is sold, we shall have reached the seating capacity for Convention, meal and Procol concert)

Added a very interesting second page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Updated our popular page of Procol ales (thanks, Anvil)

Added two beery items to our comprehensive page instantiating the many uses and abuses of the phrase A Whiter Shade of Pale in common parlance (thanks, Anvil)

1 March 2020 :

On 3 March in London Gary Brooker (MD, with House Band Andy Fairweather Low, Geoff Whitehorn, Ian Paice, Robbie McIntosh, Wix Wickens, Matt Pegg, Dave Bronze and Graham Broad) will be playing with Bonnie Tyler, Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton, John Illsley, Mike Rutherford, Mick Hucknall, Nick Mason, Paul Carrack, Paul Jones, Paul Young, Rick Wakeman, Tom Jones, Van Morrison and Zucchero: details here.

Adding yet another country to 2020's touring roster, Procol Harum have announced another gig in their celebrated series of Castle appearances (Lulworth, Ledreborg etc): details here (thanks, Barry)

Eighteen weeks until the Procol two-concert Big Convention weekend in London: full details here ... now booking!

When you've got your ticket(s) for Procol Harum etc on 5 July, add your names to a special 'Beyond the Deep' mailing-list (which will exist until 6 July only). This will help us with numerical planning (so, don't send names of anyone who hasn't got a ticket) but more importantly it will help you, because you'll get immediate news of any updates to timings, menu choices, event content, etc (to clarify, we don't get feedback of bookers' names etc from SeeTickets).

There won't be many mailings on this list, but they will be crucial if you have tickets for the Convention. Click here now.

With Procol concerts so much in our minds at the moment, enjoy this brief time-lapse film of their industrious crew setting up all the Harum gear before a recent concert.

Likewise, valued Paler Bert Saraco is exhibiting a gallery of his excellent rock photography here (Recommended!)

Post your questions for Robin Trower here ... he's about to record The Blues Podcast ... and enjoy the picture of him we've just added here (thanks, Bradshaw)

'Procol Harum has undergone numerous changes in its lineup, but the current lineup consists of ...'
Hilariously erroneous tour-dates, photo and especially line-up for Procol 2020 may be read here (thanks, Dumpy!)

Coming soon ... call-up for potential Palers' Band players for 29 June to 5 July

28 February 2020 :

At last – thanks for your patience! – we are able to release the details of 'Beyond the Deep', the grand Procol Harum fans' convention in London on 4 and 5 July 2020

Added a link to Gary Brooker's inimitable spoken introduction to 'Beyond the Deep' ... watch it on YouTube (with the sound turned on, of course)

You are invited to book your 'Beyond the Deep' tickets as soon as you've checked all the details and figured out your travel plans. Best not to delay too long, to avoid disappointment

Please note: be sure to book your flights and hotels by credit-card, in case your plans change.
Ensure your travel insurance covers cancellation of these events for whatever reasons,
environmental, political, medical and so on. If for any reason the expected show cannot go ahead,
the promoters will accept no responsibility except in the matter of ticket refunds.

Accommodation for 'Beyond the Deep'-goers: explanation here. Accommodation for Procol Harum, and for The Palers' Band, is already chosen by 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a page with early information for those who would like to play in the Palers' Band.

Time to read the words of the Procol song that contains the words 'beyond the deep' ...

26 February 2020 :

Procol Harum have announced new Italian gigs in the towns affected by the Government lockdown in Northern Italy: see here (thanks, Barry)

23 February 2020 :

Josh Phillips plays again with the Starlite Campbell Band on 27 February at Putney's famous Half Moon! Only a tenner to see a fabulous band, justly celebrated in (mainland) Europe.

In 1998, at the end of a memorable Gary Brooker and Friends concert, the 'Beyond the Pale' team delivered a dossier of messages from our readers to the Commander, requesting further Procol Harum activity (read it here).

It's a varied document, to say the least, but Richard Beck, from Memphis, seemed to speak for everyone in his beautifully-crafted paragraphs:

'Your music touched and captivated us all in a profound way ... we sat in awe of the incredible power of your live performances ... your songs have stood the test of time and remain as compelling and as engaging as any we shall ever hear ... it is no wonder to us that your music retains its firm grip upon our very souls ... please give a thought now and then to the fact that we miss you ... for every individual PH fan who posts such internet messages as these, there are a hundred who do not ... we wish you well. We wish for more. You owe us nothing beyond what you have already given us. But we wonder if Still There'll Be More?'

The last regular Procol show of the 20th century had been in February 1996, and the the next was in September 2000, the occasion of the first 'Beyond the Pale' Fans' Convention. Since the start of the 21st century, however, the band has played, on average, one show every three weeks – so the fans who contributed to that petition must surely feel some sense of reward for their efforts.

Also in the petition, webmaster Jens Anders Ravnaas mentioned 1997's marvellous Redhill get-together (of the nine-man Harum), when 'many of us had several late-night talks about how great it would be to arrange a similar party ... maybe the next time in USA? Or Scandinavia? Is there anybody capable and willing to arrange such a wonderful meeting?'

Since then 'Beyond the Pale' has succeeded in mounting many major parties – September 2000 (Guildford, UK) | May 2001 (Kristiansand, Norway) | June 2001 (Manchester, UK) | July 2003 (Hollywood, USA) | August 2006 (Lejre, Denmark) | July 2007 (Smith Square, London) | April 2013 (Wuppertal, Germany) | July 2014 (Westbury, Long Island, USA) | May 2016 (Zoetermeer, Netherlands) – and many others, perhaps less ambitious, but no less enjoyable.

It's been a pretty good couple of decades.

To cap all this, Procol Harum have very kindly agreed to play specifically for BtP fans of all nations, at a gathering in London, on 5 July, as part of the biggest of all these celebrations: and we're looking forward to bringing you more news of all that will be involved, as soon as we're able. For now, two small but crucial details are here.

Added a very interesting first page of scanned stage passes from the collection of Gary Brooker (thanks, Gary and Franky)

Added a page of photos of the Fender Bass Keyboard, the sort that was used by Chris Copping for live work in the days when Procol were performing as a four-piece.

See also this page, where you can glimpse the above-mentioned apparatus in action

Updated this concert page and this one also

Added a cautious, authorised foretaste of a Procol outing in 2021, about which further news is expected (thanks, Barry)

Copious thanks to (chronological order!) Peter, Mark, Carl, Victoria, Samantha, Chris, Pete, James, Franky, Gary and Becky for help and hospitality over the past couple of days while the BtP Webpersons were reconnoitring and making arrangements in Southern England.

A Procol fan in Detroit, America, has two good seats for April's Procol Palladium show for sale
 
They're Royal Circle Row H, seats 20-21.
Face value is 124 GBP, and he's looking for 100 GBP ... in other words, it's a bargain.
If you'd like these tickets, send a message to webmaster@procolharum.com and we'll put you in touch with the vendor to make arrangements (thanks, Keith)

17 February 2020 :

RIP Andrew Weatherall

On 3 March in London Gary Brooker (MD, with House Band Andy Fairweather Low, Ian Paice, Robbie McIntosh, Wix Wickens, Dave Bronze and Graham Broad) will be playing with Bonnie Tyler, Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton, John Illsley, Mike Rutherford, Mick Hucknall, Nick Mason, Paul Carrack, Paul Jones, Paul Young, Rick Wakeman, Tom Jones, Van Morrison and Zucchero: details here. And we have just learnt that Matt Pegg and Geoff Whitehorn will also be playing!

'Procol Harum’s asking price for a one-night concert now is ...'
If you've ever wondered about booking Procol to play for your party, you'll want to read this price-guide.

Added a link to a page where you may read that '$1 in 1969 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $7.03 in 2020'

'There’s that weird song sung by that Negro with the silly name ...'
Non-PC writing from Tampa about the early impact of Procol Harum in the USA ... read it here (thanks, Mary)

Updated this marvellous page ... are there any articles linked here that you have not read?

Upgraded our page about Procol playing the Fillmore East

Created an anticipatory page here

The BtP team is hard at work with various valued collaborators, in hopes of being ready with some news before too long, for our patient readers, about the big Procol Harum weekend in London in July

10 February 2020 :

' ... since there’s no apostrophe in the first word, the second must be a verb, making the statement a positive one ...'
(Guess which track-title is referred to, before clicking to read the article?)
Added an illustrated album review, from 1969 (thanks, Mary)

Added a graphic to this page of Homburg reviews (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added a Procol Palladium ticket to our 2020 collection here ... but we notice nobody's sent in any tickets from the 2019 tour ... please scan your souvenirs and send them to webmaster@procolharum.com (thanks, Romilly)

02022020 :

RIP Andy Gill

E-mail from Gary Brooker to BtP (3 February): 'Please pass on to the website that I’m recovering well and will be at full power for 3 March at the O2 Arena.'

' ... the England-is-crumbling saga ...'
Added an illustrated album review, with brief snippets of interview, from 2003 (thanks, Mary)

Time to re-read some significant speculations that preceded the release of the above album (thanks, Richard)

Please note that the BtP Fans' Gathering on 2 April is entirely sold out, and has a long waiting-list. Luckily there's a much bigger Fans' Gathering, also in London, on the horizon now

Chance to hear Josh Phillips on Hammond in London at the end of this month!

Added an Albert Hall Procol Harum ticket to our 1976 collection here ... missing only Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford from that January British tour (thanks, Anvil)

Added a curiosity here (thanks, Bradshaw)

Corrected a blunder, here (thanks, Pat)

30 January 2020 :

For those who aren't free to come to London on 4+5 July for the big Procol Harum event, the band has announced another summer gig, this time in August: preliminary details here (thanks, Barry; thanks, Mark)

29 January 2020 :

You are invited to 'save the days' ... mark 4 and 5 July 2020 in your diary ... and plan your visit to London, England for two Procol Harum concerts and a grand Fans' Convention.

Skeleton details are here.

Please note that 'Beyond the Pale' doesn't normally give advance notice of concerts until the full details are available. Usually this is to avoid disappointing fans later on, if a projected gig falls through for contractual reasons.

In this case there is no such problem, but a voluntary, gentlepersons' agreement is in place, meaning there's an embargo on further revelations for the moment.

Hence this skeleton announcement. We didn't want to disappoint our fellow fans by keeping this excellent weekend under our Homburgs for another few weeks, by which time people might have committed to other holidays that clashed with this unprecedented and exciting double (or, really, triple) event.

So we're happy to be able to announce the dates and the city now (thanks, Barry; thanks, Mark) and know we can count on Palers to be patient until fuller particulars are released on these pages.
 

28 January 2020 :

You are invited to a sit-down meal in a restaurant (with bar) very close to Procol Harum's London Palladium gig on 2 April.

Booking will be essential, but all we need is the name of everyone in your party, in order to reserve your seat. Don't send money ... all that will be handled by the restaurant on the night.

Event starts at 4.30 pm on 2 April. Showtime is quoted as 6.30 pm. Read all about it by clicking here (thanks, Raul)

But note that, as of 30 January, we're booked to capacity

Order your copies of the 2017 album, Novum, by clicking these special links (which incidentally send a few cents to keep this website afloat): Amazon UK / Amazon USA

Follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ProcolHarum1) and at the somewhat new 'Beyond the Pale' Facebook page, where we hope gigs / events can be more easily spotted than they are amid the busy newsfeed on our former Procol Facebook group.

20 January 2020 :

' ... quite the strange number with the music line with a pressure that increases and increases. It is well done with a jazz rock flair ...'
Guess which album is being reviewed, before you click here (thanks, Mary)

'That song has the best chord progressions in any pop song ...'
Guess which song is being praised, before you click here (thanks, Anvil)

Added a first page of Aftershow party pictures from Winterbach, 2018 (thanks, Uta)

Competitors' comments on the BtP puzzles are held over until everything's in, but thanks to all who have responded, especially those who did so in rhyme.
 

19 January 2020 :

Procol Harum regret they are unable to play at 'Giants of Rock' on 24 January: please read this page for details

12 January 2020 :

RIP Neil Peart

Added a schedule of Triumphant Victors who have won puzzles in our Christmas Competition

Added a solution to the Christmas Puzzles. It works like this ... click here for the first puzzle, then click successive links ('tomorrow's puzzle) on the full sequence of pages until you reach the finale.

6 January 2020 :

The BtP Christmas Puzzle has closed, and prize-winners should expect to receive e-mail notification during Tuesday 7 January.

Thanks to all who played, in such a wide spread of countries; and commiserations to those whose answer was 'differently correct'.

In due course of time we'll publish a solution, with workings, in hopes of putting you out of your misery.

The popularity of prizes (derived from the rankings sent in by all competitors, irrespective of their answers, was A, M, D, O, L, N, I, R, E, P (key here))

Of the 'beat-the-clock' players this year it was pleasing to note that one participant returned a correct answer at 00:01, one minute after the final two questions were published.

That's quite quick work.

5 January 2020 :

Dear PH, Paler & muso fans,

At the end of the ‘Teenies’ we welcome and look forward to the next decade, which can only be the ‘Twenties’ – I can't see it roaring, but I’m sure something will give it a character before long.

For Procol Harum, we look forward to some special concerts in Europe this year including two in the UK. After ‘Giants of Rock’ in January, we really look forward to A Souvenir of London with full accompaniment! 2 April at the London Palladium.

In 2019, the Cruise on the Blue was a surprise 'cos it was total music and we battled against the elements and superb competition ... to hopefully win some new Palers to the fold.

The ‘City Winery’ dates were well-organised and the bosses and staff most welcoming, in major East Coast cities: Chicago was lost to a and Boston nearly undone by snow – but Procol sailed on in its sturdy ship and lived to fight in Europe in 2019.

GB

Photo: Bert Saraco

Added our twelfth, and final, beguilingly-approachable page of Christmas clues

Click on the link at the bottom of the above page, and you'll find your way to the simple Final Procedure ... then you'll soon be sending in your answer!

You'll be sending us the answer AND your choice of prizes (all ten alphabetical letters, please)

Note to puzzle-personnel ... thanks for playing, hope you enjoyed it ... but please be aware that almost half the answers received are not correct.

That may be because participants have guessed the answer – which is fair enough! – but it looks as though a lot of folk may have ignored, or skip-read, the very explicit and helpful blue text with the coloured bullet-points on this page.

Anyone who wants to review their working, in light of this bulletin, is welcome to send a revised answer, so long as it arrives before 23:59 GMT on the night of 6 January, which is when the puzzle closes.

Those who have solved the puzzle correctly will absolutely know they're right, having noticed something obvious, clearly planned, and objectively incontestable. So don't go changing your answer if you've already felt that mental 'click' of certainty and realisation.

4 January 2020 :

Added our eleventh, painless page of Christmas clues (that note of your findings ... got it ready? Sorry to nag ... )

And once again, the schedule of fabulous prizes

A taste of tomorrow's richly-significant 'geocode' clues ... brightly ... fuzzy ... jukebox ...

3 January 2020 :

Added our tenth, pellucid page of Christmas clues (that note of your findings ... you'll need it soon!)

A taste of tomorrow's mysterious 'geocode' clues ... plucked ... strings ... truth ...

2 January 2020 :

Added our ninth, unproblematic page of Christmas clues

And once again, the schedule of fabulous prizes which are suddenly so much more easily attainable

A taste of tomorrow's pregnant 'geocode' clues ... fell ... stage ... hurt ...

01 January 2020 : Happy New Year to all!

Added our eighth, briefly-despatched page of Christmas clues (you're still keeping a note of your findings?)

A taste of tomorrow's pertinent 'geocode' clues ... music ... payphone ... guitars ...

31 December 2019 :

Added our seventh, speedily-solved page of Christmas clues

A taste of tomorrow's satirical 'geocode' clues ... organ ... pram ... rival ...

30 December 2019 :

RIP The great Neil Innes

Procol Harum has announced five more concerts for 2020 (thanks, Barry)

Added our sixth, easy page of Christmas clues (don't forget to keep a note of your findings)

A taste of tomorrow's pointed 'geocode' clues ... studio ... stallion ... stands ...

We hope everyone's enjoying the What Three Words system. It's been really interesting pinpointing exactly where the gigs in question took place ... not just the area, but usually the very building, or a building associated with the show ... we're rarely more than a few metres from the stage. Nobody needs to over-use the zoom-out function ... it's only a question of locating a few map-words in the frame close to the 'geocode' square, then checking if/how they feature at BtP.

29 December 2019 :

Added our fifth, undemanding page of Christmas clues

A taste of tomorrow's suggestive 'geocode' clues ... media ... waxing ... voices ...

28 December 2019 :

Added our fourth, transparent page of Christmas clues (don't forget to keep a note of your findings)

A taste of tomorrow's enticing 'geocode' clues ... vanished ... bandstand ... hero ...

27 December 2019 :

Added our third, uncomplicated page of Christmas clues.

A taste of tomorrow's significant 'geocode' clues ... infinite ... composer ... melodic ...

26 December 2019 :

Added our second, straightforward page of Christmas puzzles (don't forget to keep a note of your findings)

A taste of tomorrow's telling 'geocode' clues ... tonsils ... piano ... tunes ...

25 December 2019 : Happy Christmas!

Added our first, simple page of Christmas puzzles ... good luck to all! Here's the schedule of fabulous prizes

Make sure you've read the page introducing this year's Puzzles before you put pen to paper

A taste of tomorrow's hotly-anticipated 'geocode' clues ... surviving ... ensemble ... persons ...

23 December: the eleventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Paul Whitrow, record producer

Added the crucial 'How to play' page for this year's BtP Christmas Conundrum. This is your chance to figure it all out in advance!

Where in the world is Long Gone Geek? We reveal all.

'... A Whiter Shade of Pale is only one of the numbers we could have recorded. It just happened that it was the best number Gary and Keith had written at the time ...'
Added a revealing and provocative article from June 1967 (thanks, Anvil)

Look back at some 'Celestial Smith' photos (thanks again, Eilish)

Amended two deficient composition credits here (thanks Josh)

16 December: the tenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

More about the release of Gary Brooker's new live tracks, recorded in New York, here

Added a first glimpse of the excellent prizes in this year's BtP Christmas Conundrums (thanks, Gary). The questions will start, as ever, on 24 December; not a syllable has yet been devised, so they're likely to be rather straightforward this year.

Added a glowing, but far from far-sighted, review of Procol's first album, from Christmas 1967 (thanks, Bradshaw)

Maybe it's time to re-read this hugely-influential article on the same album?

Added a link to KT Tunstall's remarks about her Josh-Phillips-inspired Christmas single

Added a review – as percipient as it is perspicuous – of Procol's seventh album, re-released in the Esoteric series (thanks, Romilly)

8 December: the ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

 • Added a new BtP interview with Gary Brooker about his all-star benefit concert for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday 3 March 2020.

• Added a new BtP interview with Josh Phillips about his charity record for War Child, which is released 8 December 2019, the sad anniversary of its composer John Lennon's death. The interview explores the genesis and recording of this new Gimme Some Truth version in interesting detail. It's not all what you'd expect.

It would be really marvellous if all 'Beyond the Pale' readers would help Josh, Mark Brzezicki, Dave Bronze and the rest of the band by (a) viewing, (b) buying online, and (c) sharing this record on social media. 'Gimme Some Truth' has never been more relevant, and it's excellent listening as well. It would be brilliant if we could somehow get a Hammond-heavy single, played live, into the Christmas charts!

2 December: the eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

 RIP Iain Sutherland (lyricist to Gary Brooker ... see here)

Added the first news of Gary Brooker's all-star benefit concert for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday 3 March 2020.

Added a second batch of photographs of Procol Harum on stage in October 2018 (thanks, Uta)

' ...hearing how songs like The Unquiet Zone and Pandora’s Box were performed live is more rewarding than the outtakes.'
Added a perceptive review of the Esoteric 3CD Procol's Ninth (thanks, Jim)

Readers dismayed by the cacographic opening of the above review are invited to read this article and then the marvellous books to which it alludes

'pseudo symphonic ... a bit disappointing ... suffers from lack of a single, unifying thread ... winds up nowhere'
Added a historic contemporary put-down of Procol's 1968 masterpiece In Held by a reviewer who prefers the two 'somewhat country' cuts on Shine on Brightly (thanks, Mary)

Take advantage of the ubiquitous 'Black Friday' to equip yourself with some of the organ films by Procol fan Will Fraser. His company is offering some huge discounts on exquisite boxed sets, until 10 December. What Will doesn't know about organs isn't worth knowing, and he has a shelf-full of awards to prove it. The English Organ is his latest release ... 'the definitive documentary about the story of the English organ and its music'. For the avoidance of doubt, he's the same Will who used to run Conquistador Films ... re-read BtP's bulletin from twenty years ago and discover which former Procoler turned the pages when Will played in London's Westminster Abbey, in 1998.

25 November: the seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a first batch of photographs of Procol Harum on stage in October 2018 (thanks, Uta)

Added a Paramounts 45 rpm record review graphic to this ongoing catalogue of the band's gigs (thanks, Bradshaw)

A link here to a brief explanatory film-clip about Somewhen (thanks, Charlie)

'Barricades is almost as striking but somewhat simpler and fades out so very very slowly. As does the rest of the album.'
Added a perceptive review of the Esoteric 3CD Broken Barricades (thanks, Jim)

'They might have just well been closed'
Added a link to this egregious cover of A Whiter Shade of Pale (thanks, Lars)
Lots of Hammond but no sign of the original introductory theme. Nifty bit of vibraslap (cf For Liquorice John) at 2m 41s (Tito!)

18 November: the sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a good review of Gary Brooker's perfomance in Limerick, Ireland, a couple of days ago (thanks, Pat)

Updated this index-page, which newcomers may not have stumbled upon

Added a historic article about the success of the Edmonton album, recorded pretty well exactly four dozen years ago (thanks, Mary)

Remind yourself about that wonderful concert by clicking links from this page

Updated this page for an esteemed musician who's no longer with us

Zbrodnia Prawie Doskonała and Emotionally Weird ... have you read these two additional novels with Procol Harum references in them? (thank you, Peter; thanks, Mirek)

Added two more graphics, and a part (or 'partial', as some people now say!) setlist from The Ritz, Staten Island, NY on 8 August 1971, to this page (thanks, Bob H)

11 November: the fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'... Brooker and the other five members of Procol Harum are busily working on a Broadway musical ...'
Read all about it in another excellent archival article from 1969 (thanks, Mary)

Added a final page of concert shots from a new, recent contributor (thanks, Bob)

Added a note about Procol in a novel to this literary index (thanks, Jim)

Always nice to get a question, long-posed on these pages, answered by an authoritative contributor! Added an account of two SRO Procol concerts in Staten Island, June 1972 (thanks, Bob Herman)

Added a hitherto unlogged Staten Island gig to the 1971 tour schedule ... more contributions always welcome (thanks, Bob H)

'... a bit all over the shop ...'
Added links here and here to two tiresomely amateurish video reviews, of re-issued Procol Harum albums, that you won't like or want to watch (thanks, all)

6 November:

Procol Harum announce a sixth choral/orchestral gig in one of the world's greatest capital cities: details here (thanks Barry, thanks Marina)

Pre-sale for tickets was 7 November at 10 am BST (first two hours exclusive to 'Beyond the Pale' readers): all details and ticket link here

Read an illustrated review of Procol's most recent show in the same august venue.

Updated this compendium, and this news page

3 November: the fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'It was about November 1966 that Keith Reid and Gary Brooker started writing songs together ...'
Added an article which leads with the foundation of a significant partnership, 53 years ago this month (thanks, Mary)

Added, to this excellent page, a photograph of a famous musician with a famous album (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added a graphic, here (thanks, Anvil)

Refreshed a page you may have missed showing pictures from 2012 (thanks, Bob)

Procol Harum fans are particularly advised to sign up today for our (infrequent) newsletter. We're not necessarily implying that an interesting announcement is imminent; what we are saying is that you'd surely be sorry to miss it if such a thing did come along.

Added a 1968 date (Ottawa) to this page ... but did it happen? Write in if you know: webmaster@procolharum.com

Updated this useful index by the creation of this valuable page

28 October: the third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

‘I think we write love songs as opposed to social protest songs ...I’m against social protest or any kind of protest.’
Added a fascinating and revealing interview, published half a century ago, which concedes that Procol's 'future plans are vague'. It apparently dates from a time before they found their bassist/organist, Chris Copping (many thanks, Mary)

Find the index to our copious and ever-growing trove of historic Procol press by clicking here

Added a hitherto-overlooked Canadian festival appearance for Procol Harum, 22 June 1969, to this page (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added some pictures of the above Toronto gig (thanks, Bradshaw)

Time to enjoy some British performance shots from the same era (thanks, Wilfried)

Added a link here to a book about the Southend music scene that had eluded our notice until now (thanks, Anvil)

Added some illustrations and a bit of audience insight to this Atlantic City Pop Festival page

Added a couple of photos showing the last public performance of Procol Harum's two original keyboard players together

Here's a great Hammond player

20 October: the second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a review and three graphics to this page (thanks, Rick)

Added pictures from a 2014 gig (thanks, Bob)

Added some illustrated news about Procol manager Chris Cooke (thanks Gary)

Added three photographs relating to The Blink of an Eye at Pompano Beach in the USA (thanks, Franky)

Add some detail to our data about the forthcoming Gary Brooker showing in Ireland (thanks, Gary)

16 October:

Added three more concerts to the roster of Procol shows for 2020 (thanks, Barry)

13 October: the first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #23 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Josh Phillips to play in Bury in November ... click here to read about a very promising and exciting gig (thanks, Simon)

Added a couple of illustrations to the foot of this oft-visited page (thanks, Bradshaw)

'... distinguished chiefly by an inane violin repeating a tune suitable for leading a pig to market ...'
Added a peculiar review of a Procol album ... read the quotation above, and guess which album, before you click on the link. One wonders what strange mix or pressing this particular reviewer had got hold of (thanks, Mary)

Let's go back a year to an expansive page documenting the immediate preparations for a fine concert in London.

Added a screenshot here – from the occasion when Keith Reid's My Own Choice book was born – that will be of likely interest to amateur organists (thanks, Anvil)

In which (tenuous) connection, here's a fascinating article from almost twenty years ago to re-read (thanks, Wilfried)

Tweaked this crucial and informative page a bit

Modified this page (thanks, Pia)

8 October : the final hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Ginger Baker, RIP Molly Duncan

Today's the twenty-second birthday of 'Beyond the Pale', and as always we remember an equally celebrated drummer, the great BJ Wilson, on this date

'BJ day inspired me to explore a few things on the internet.' writes long-time BtP reader Wilfried van Damme. 'This led to some information that aficionados might find interesting and which seems not to have been reported at BtP so far. The info concerns a one-time ensemble of musicians called the ‘Freddie Mac Band’, which at some point in 1966 apparently featured both BJ and Alan Cartwright. See this interview with one Ged Peck, guitarist. Both BJ and his bassist friend are referred to in positive terms; they are mentioned in two different sections of the interview. There’s even a picture (bottom of the page) showing BJ and someone who might indeed be Mr Cartwright (is that a suede jacket?), said to be taken while they were on tour in Dublin in 1966. (The opening sections of the interview might also be of some interest, providing a few Procoloid references, broadly conceived, including mention of Marc Bolan.)'

The illustration, right, is interesting in that it shows BJ in the period between The Paramounts and Procol Harum ... it's taken from the interview cited above (thanks, Wilfried!)

Added a link to a great, brand-new clip of Richard Williams from the Palers' Band, playing Repent Walpurgis on BJ Wilson's restored drum kit ... (thanks, Rich!)

Added a thirty-first array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added further information about the upcoming Brooker performance in Ireland on Saturday 16 November

29 September: the forty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Gary Brooker contributed recently to a live broadcast from Abbey Road (on SiriusXM's The Beatles Channel) commemorating fifty years of the Beatles' album of the same name. Here's what Gary said in interview with Beatle historian Kevin Howlett, cut down by BtP from three hours to fourteen minutes. You'll hear the glitches (thanks, Gary S)

You might also like to re-read kindred interviews here and here

' ... ‘But if I couldn’t write when I got older, what would I do?'
Added a good Brooker and Reid interview from 1973 (thanks, Mary)

'It’s not just a bad record, it’s laughably bad in spots, a postcard of poor taste from the heights of pretension.'
We know of BtP readers who like to be reminded of occasional jewels from the early BtP archives. How about this anti-jewel to get your hackles rising? (thanks, Wilfried)

Added a contentious snippet about a well-known musician who didn't join Procol Harum or Squeeze (thanks, Satch). Admittedly there are several such musicians, so don't bother trying to guess this one's identity ... just click the link

Rectified a blunder here (thanks, Hans)

27 September: (HBMC)

Added a MayDay Procol gig for next year (thanks, Barry)
 

22 September: the forty-sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Frank Key, occasionally cited at BtP for his Procol references. Get the anthology here

Added a tribute to our fellow Paler Evgeny Makeev (many thanks, Hans)

'Of the many performers I have interviewed in the past, Brooker is one of the few who actually enjoys going on the road to perform with Procol Harum' [sic!]
Added a page of Procol panegyric from Cashbox, 1974 (thanks, Paul)

Added a thirtieth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added an eighth and final magnificent page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added some superstar esteem for A Salty Dog (thanks, Paul)

15 September: the forty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

' ... their combination of gothic instrumental work and ominous lyrics have been either wildly embraced or violently abhorred ...'
Added a Keith Reid interview by a writer considerably better attuned to the Procol wavelength than last week's offering (thanks, Mary)

Added a link to some interesting news from Southend-on-Sea (thanks, Bim)

' ... a bone-chilling piece straight out of Poe. It makes death-metal seem pitifully insincere ...'
Added a terrific piece of writing from a scholar who really gets what Procol's finest album is about. Forgive a few false notes in the exposition ... this is a majestic article well worth your attention (many thanks, Wilfried)

And for an antidote to the above, how about '... another relatively forgettable piano/organ vocal piece ...' in this re-read

Added a graphic to this review (thanks, Paul)

9 September: the forty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a seventh glorious page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

' ... the listener is forced to get into the heads of the musicians to distinguish what the band is saying or trying to play within the written structure of the music ...'
Added a brilliantly incompetent Keith Reid interview from a writer who, it's fair to say, failed to find a soulmate in the distinguished lyricist (thanks, Mary)

Added a twenty-ninth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Evidently many Procol fans have enjoyed this young vocal coach enjoying Gary Brooker's AWSoP from Ledreborg

2 September: the forty-third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a festival date – close to home! – for Procol Harum in 2020 (thanks, Barry)

'... the only reminder of the band’s early style of fragile, but compelling songs ...'
Added a pre-concert account of the band's career, from 1977 ... what song does the above quotation allude to? (thanks, Mary)

Added a snippet about Gary Brooker's lead vocal on the recent release, Long Live Rock & Roll (thanks, Tom)

Added a sixth exemplary page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added a most intriguing graphic to the page about the mysterious Brooker rarity, Verse 1 (thanks, Michael)

We notice that four books by Southend musician and author John Bobin are on special offer at Amazon UK ... click here ... including Kindle editions of In the Autumn of My Madness and Bark Staving Ronkers

24 August:

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's twenty-second gig of 2019, played tonight at Spiez, Switzerland (thanks, Barry)

23 August: the forty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in, or at, Arbon, Switzerland (thanks, Heidi)

Added a good photo-page from tonight's Arbon festival gig (thanks again, Heidi)

Added a substantial article about Edmonton ... readers will find plenty of hitherto unbrowsed 1971 info (thanks, Bradshaw)

18 August : the forty-first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a good Keith Reid article from Record Collector (thanks, Lin)

In which connection, re-read this Keith Reid interview from the end of 2018 ... and buy his new record!

Added a fifth memorable page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added fourteen photos taken at the London Palladium last October (thanks, Nancy)

Added a morsel of superstar esteem here (thanks, Romilly)

10 August : the fortieth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a listening link and the tale of an intriguing early demo in the possession of a British collector, and Gary Brooker's reaction thereto (thanks Mick, thanks Gary)

We understand that the city of Pompano Beach (Florida, USA) intends to use Procol Harum’s In the Blink of an Eye – accompanied by the well-known video presentation realised by the musician Ronnie D’Addario from Hicksville, Long Island – as part of Cherie Saleeby’s 9/11 Sculpture unveiling of Unbroken Spine, a book of American Heroism. Read more about it here and see photographs here. This will be shown inside the historical society on 11 September, next to the #1 Pompano Beach Firehouse Museum. 'In attendance will be the mayor, city councilman, Fire Rescue honour guard, antique firetrucks and the boy scouts hoisting the flag at half-mast. In addition, a bagpipe will play.'

Added a tiresome contemporary 'Buyer's Guide' to Procol Harum records ... a provocative but pointless article ... not unlike this one from 1995 (thanks, all)

Added a link to the pictures, which we've had for some time, of fans and band at the London Palladium aftershow party (thanks, Charlie)

Fixed a blunder here (sorry, Mark)

3 August : the thirty-ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the text of an excellent BJ Wilson article from next month's Modern Drummer (thanks, all)

Added a link to the pictures, which we've had for some time, of fans and band and the London Palladium aftershow party (thanks, Charlie)

Added a fourth stylish page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added pictures to our Michel Polnareff pages here, here and here (merci, Romilly).

28 July : the thirty-eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a third awesome page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added a handful of hitherto unarchived photographs of the first 1967 line-up of Procol Harum (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added the line-up of the Saugatuck Festival, 1969

Added (grey panel below) a note from a correspondent, with this question: When did this performance take place?

Years ago I commented about an attempt to have a festival in Saugerties, close to actual Woodstock. We got there after dark and were directed in pitch black to a field where we were told to camp. Well the sun came up and we were in a flat portion of the town trash dump and on the ground on a couple of 2 x 4s were about eight pieces of plywood to keep the band dry and there were the original boys – Robin included – playing their heart out in the dump. I don’t remember any of the other bands going through with it but Procol did not let us down in the worst possible place to play. 

 I was watching Levon Helm’s Rockumentary I Ain’t in it for the Money and he in one scene at his kitchen table suddenly brings out of nowhere a giggle and a story of when Procol Harum came to town and the fun they had.

 I was there and it happened and it was a pretty strange situation. I’m sure [Gary] remembers it... I know it surprised me to hear Levon Helm tell that story in his film. I really don't remember anyone else on that bill actually completing the gig: the town seemed to have revoked permits and were simply trying to deal with the people who showed up. I was at The Winery this year and also in Westbury. Procol has been my favorite group since I saw them with the Byrds at the Fillmore East in ’67.

21 July : the thirty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a second groovy page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added a page of pictures from the rehearsals for Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth which was played last weekend at the Royal Festival Hall in London (thanks, Anvil)

Added pictures to this recent setlist (merci, Michel)

Added Roine Stolt's recent published praise for Gary Brooker and Procol Harum (thanks, Adey)

14 July : the thirty-sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added news about the health and progress of Chris Cooke, in his own words and those of his partner Eliza (thanks, Chris)

Added a very interesting, highly complimentary, recently-discovered review of Procol Harum playing the whole of the Something Magic album at a British University in February 1977 (many thanks, Jim).

In which connection, we have archived reviews from many concerts from that tour ... see how many of these praise The Worm and the Tree: Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Bern, London, London again, London again again, Anaheim, Anaheim again, and Burbank

Added a first classy page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent engagement at Collingswood, NJ (thanks, Bert)

Added details of a free concert at St George's Hanover Square, in London, on 23 July: a good opportunity for a gathering of organ fans ! (thanks, Ian)

7 July : the thirty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist with commentary and illustrations from Procol Harum's recent gig in historic Albi, France.
Interesting to see how many, and which, Novum songs make it on to the cut-down festival playlist (thanks, Éric, Dominique, Barry)

Added a fifth and final page of splendid Procol Westbury pictures (thanks, Bert)

Stratford! It's fifty years on from Procol Harum's first concert with choir and orchestra ... a world first in rock music. Read all about it, starting here ... a good slew of links to click and read.

'... a master of the morbidly mystical, his images dark, grey clouds of perplexity ...'
Added a review of Procol Harum at Santa Monica in 1972 (thanks all). In which connection, see this review as well ('its members’ songwriting limitations will probably keep the group in the middle echelon of rock') and an associated setlist

30 June: the thirty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

' ... tripping the light fandango ... echoes of classics like Bach fugues ...'
Added a tongue-in-cheek, rather lazy piece of US journalism from November 1967. There are several ways of interpreting its final two words (thanks, Paul)

Six Procol dates cancelled at the last minute in Ireland ... see graphic here (thanks, Jim)

Added a fourth page of splendid Procol Westbury pictures (thanks, Bert)

24 June: the thirty-third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the first new gigs announced by Procol Harum for 2020 (thanks, Barry)

'If it goes on like this I’ll be nipping out to calm down my pacemaker'
Added a thoroughly excellent review of Procol plus guest in action back in May (thanks, Kim)

Added a new song here, with a note from the composer and lyricist (thanks, Kurt)

Added a third page of splendid Procol Westbury pictures (thanks, Bert)

No doubt we all remember Wuppertal 2013 with Procol Harum ... but what has happened in that fine town since? Those marvellous choral/orchestral concerts spawned a series of illustrious successors, involving the music of Jethro Tull and of Albert Hammond. And to know what our favourite sandwich-board-persons, Michael Ackermann and Marcus Grebe, are offering next ... click the thumbnail adjoining.

17 June: the thirty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

It's always delightful to add items to our invaluable Tickets Scrapbook (click here) and also to re-read associated pages.

Accordingly ... added a 1973 ticket scan here (thanks, Marvin) ... a good chance to revisit a classic setlist here, and read a review of Procol's 'paramilitary waltz' here (guess the song title before you read the review)

And added a 1972 ticket scan here (thanks, Marvin) ... in which connection, enjoy some tour notes. and a vivid personal memoir here

And added a 1977 ticket scan here (thanks, Marvin) ... in which connection, enjoy some fab pix here

'I don't really understand the lyrics, but they speak to me ...'
Hear a writer from Westbury-on-Trym, talking on BBC Radio 4 in a lovely Bristol accent about the amber glow of A Whiter Shade of Pale by clicking here. British tour dates here

Added a fourth and final page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent Copenhagen engagement (thanks, Henrik)

Modified this personal concert page (thanks, Marvin)

11 June: the thirty-first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'Fisher’s spitefully tortured cathedral Hammond organ madly churns away ...'
Added a compact and occasionally incomprehensible assessment of The Prodigal Stranger (thanks, Paul)

Kevin Ayers, Wizzard, Argent and Procol Harum ... all on the same day!
Added a graphic to this page (thanks, Fritz)

Added a third page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent Copenhagen engagement (thanks, Henrik)

4 June: the thirtieth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Leon Redbone (aged 127)

'I remember Barrie playing me a Leon Redbone album in fact'
BtP's earliest interview states that Procol were friends with the lately-departed Mr Gobalian

Added a tenth and final set of memorable – and very widely admired – pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (many thanks, Bert)

Added to our gallery of pictures of Gary Brooker, guitarist with Procol Harum (thanks, all)

Added a second page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent Copenhagen engagement (thanks, Henrik)

29 May: the twenty-ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

A very happy birthday to Gary Brooker, born this day in 1945

'I don't think this is going to be a hit ... '
Added a non-prescient graphic to this much-visited page

Added a first page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent Copenhagen engagement (thanks, Henrik)

Added two graphics, here (thanks, Arleen and Martin)

Added a ninth and penultimate set of striking pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

21 May: the twenty-eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added somewhat overdue song notes to this recent setlist

Added a eighth and antepenultimate set of tremendous pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

"If one of us wrote good words AND good music there wouldn't be any problem. It's not a question of me wanting to write everything."
Added a link from this page to this very interesting Gary Brooker interview, at the suggestion of a valued contributor (thanks, Per)

In which connection, newer readers may well be interested in doing some browsing from this admirable jumping-off point (thanks once more, Yan)

13 May: the twenty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Doris Day

Added a great page of pictures from Procol Harum's recent Knebel engagement (thanks, Mike)

Added a seventh set of superb pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added an American article about the PH First Album, released on mono vinyl (thanks, all)

Something (somewhat) familiar at about 12m 17s, here, in this short film about a musically-talentless inventor

Updated fascinating pages here, here, here and here

5 May: 

Added the illustrated setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in Copenhagen, Denmark (thanks, Thomas)

4 May: the twenty-sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the illustrated setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig (with special guest!) in Knebel, Denmark (thanks, Thomas)

Added a sixth set of first-rate pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added a twenty-eighth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

28 April: the twenty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in Porto, Portugal

Added a fifth set of exceptional pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added a twenty-seventh array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added some star approval (from Roger Glover) to this valuable page. Shocking spelling, mind: it's 'Vaughan' of course (thanks, Billy from Philly)

26 April:

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in Lisbon, Portugal

20 April 2019 : the twenty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Procol management have asked us to alert fans that the next two Procol gigs will be selling merchandise on a cash-only basis. Please don't expect to pay by plastic

Added a fourth set of brilliant pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added a twenty-sixth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Booker T plays something (somewhat) familiar at about 5.45, here, before showing us how to crawl

Sorted out some rum links here (thanks, Zachary)

13 April 2019 : the twenty-third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Procol management have asked us to alert fans that the next two Procol gigs will be selling merchandise on a cash-only basis. Please don't expect to pay by plastic

Added a third set of outstanding pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added a twenty-fifth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Just to dispel any residual confusion among our correspondents, about the status of The Albert Hall gig mentioned in last week's update: yes, it is certainly real and not an April Fool. Clicking the link will demonstrate this.

And also, at risk of labouring the point, this article is entirely specious ... as stated at the foot of the page. Clicking the link will demonstrate this.

8 April 2019 : the twenty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Thanks to all who wrote in having enjoyed our April Foolery this year, and commiserations to the single sap who sent in the right answers ... at which point ticket-demand exceeded supply.

For animal lovers who care about such trivia, the solution is here ... in alphabetical order, of course

Presale tickets for the RT + lifetime musical collaborators gig at The Albert Hall sold out in five minutes, and the public sale, started the following day, was equally rapid. Hope everyone got the tickets they wanted! (thanks, Flora Lipo)

Added a second set of excellent pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added a twenty-fourth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Don't forget 13 April's Record-Store Day re-issues from Bucks Music etc ... see here for the single and here for the double album (which – as well as the strange 1967 US running order – includes Absolutamente Correcto / En Lo Que Duran Seis Peniques) (thanks, John and others)

April Fool's Day 2019 : the twenty-first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the first glimpses of an exciting musical event in London (thanks, Flora)

Added an archival article (thanks, Lipo) that we've temporarily modified to make a simple competition relating to the above entry

Added a first set of fine pictures from the February's NYC Winery gigs (thanks, Bert)

Added a twenty-third array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

23 March 2019 : the twentieth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a twenty-second array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added a page about the long-awaited re-issue of Broken Barricades with 36 bonus tracks

Added to our page about the mythical Procol Rainbow film (thanks, Anvil)

Added a graphic to this Beat Instrumental page (thanks, Jim)

Why not re-read a couple more good articles from the same organ ... here and here?

18 March 2019

Added a summer date for Procol Harum in a country not thus far included in the 2019 schedule (thanks, Barry)

16 March 2019 : the nineteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Hal Blaine, Dick Dale

'The band manages to be both organic and technically impressive at the same time ...'
Added an aggregated review (illustrated) of Procol's six North-Eastern US dates (thanks, Bert)

Added some performance pictures from Boston (thanks, Gregg)

'I for one sure hope to get another chance to see them perform'
Added a nice review of Procol in Nashville (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added a twenty-first array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

10 March 2019 : the eighteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a page of excellent photographs from Procol Harum's recent Westbury concert (thanks, Bert)

Have a look at this ... GW in 1999 ... solo starts at 2.50

Added a twentieth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Here's a link to an excellent, extended interview with Procol organist Josh Phillips (thanks, Anvil)

6 March: 
RIP Jacques Loussier

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's second gig in Boston, USA (thanks, Keith, Nancy)

5 March:

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's first gig in Boston, USA (thanks, Nancy)

4 March:

RIP Keith Flint

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in Collingswood, USA (thanks, Harold)

Updated crucial pages here and here

3 March 2019 : the seventeenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a page of excellent photographs from Procol Harum's recent Westbury concert (thanks, Bert)

Added copious song-notes about the third NYC Winery concert

Added a review of the Ridgefield concert, and a curious premonition (thanks, Chris)

Added a nineteenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

2 March:

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's excellent, recent gig in Ridgefield, USA (thanks, Bob / Kerry)

1 March:

RIP Andre Previn

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's excellent, recent gig in Westbury, USA

28 February:

RIP Ross Lowell

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's third, recent gig in New York, USA

27 February:

RIP Mark Hollis

Added the setlist and some excellent photographs from Procol Harum's second, recent gig in New York, USA (thanks, Bert)

Thanks to all the people who have written in about 'GE' in this report. Just to clarify, 'GE' is not a typo, any more than 'BJ' is. BJ was not 'BW'

26 February 2019 :

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in New York, USA

25 February 2019 :

Added an illustrated page about Sunday's session in New York with the Palers' Band

24 February 2019 : the sixteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist (illustrated!) from Procol Harum's recent gig in Washington, USA (thanks, Matthew)

' ... a captive crowd, who appeared open to basically anything ...'
Added an illustrated review of Procol Harum's only Chicago show this year (thanks, Anvil)

'... stated they had to learn A Whiter Shade of Pale as they were often asked to play it ...'
Added a review of the 'On the Blue' cruise (thanks, Peter)

Added an eighteenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)
 

21 February:

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in Chicago, USA (thanks, William)

Regarding the concert that was due to take place on 22 February, Procol Management asks us to say how much PH enjoyed their first night in Chicago and how sorry they were not to be able to play to fans who'd booked the second night ... the show was cancelled because of fiery forces -- see here -- entirely outside their control.

19 February:

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent gig in Nashville, USA (thanks, Savage Rose)

18 February:

Added the setlist (illustrated) from Procol Harum's recent gig – not without surprises! – in Atlanta, USA (thanks, Steven / Markku)

17 February 2019 : the eighteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added an insider's page of 'On the Blue' pictures (thanks, Franky)

Added a page of nice 'On the Blue' pictures (thanks, Erich and Sielaff)

Added a varied page of 'On the Blue' pictures (thanks, Nancy)

'Unfortunately, their best material, which features a degree of 'imitation jam session' sounds, was the unnamed stuff.'
Added a 1968 review of Procul [sic] at the Fillmore East (thanks, Bradshaw)

Procol for Europe: added a clipping regarding three UK, four German, and five Scandinavian dates to this page (thanks, Martin)

14 February 2019 :

Added setlist and photographs from Procol Harum's second Caribbean concert (thanks, Sam)

13 February 2019 :

Added setlist and photographs from Procol Harum's first Caribbean concert (thanks, Sam)

7 February 2019 : the seventeenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added two Procol Harum dates for August (thanks, Barry)

NB the festival date in July (though already selling tickets) is not yet contractually confirmed. Check this page before booking

Added historic Procol dates, or graphics associated therewith, in various places here, here, here, here, here and here (many thanks, Martin)

'Procol Harum is a group whose music is easiest described as a combination of the bizarre and haunting ... should prove to be fascinating on or off stage'
Added a good-length 1968 Zeitgeist article in which Procol mischief hilariously subverts the publicity for a high-minded US university festival investigating the origins of rock, 'Why Are the Beatles?', etc (thanks, Martin)

Added a Paramounts ticket here (thanks, Anvil)

31 January 2019 : the sixteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added two Procol Harum dates for April (thanks, Barry)

Procol cruise news (already taken ... that was quick!)
Stan Berman writes to BtP: 'Ok here goes for someone who was wanting to go on the cruise from 10 to 15 February. I bought cabin 2,350 from someone else who needed to sell it. She paid $3,074. I paid her $2,000 but now I can’t go. So if you ever wanted to go for a bargain, contact me and make an offer. The firm deadline from the cruise company is Friday 1 February so you have to act fast.

Added a seventeenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

  Jens and Roland are very sorry to be the bringers of sad news about Henrik Gøttrup … whom readers will remember from the magnificent Procol Convention in Lejre, Denmark in 2006, where he was our excellent host, and made so many great friends.

His wife Helle Frandsen tells us that Henrik suffered a severe and wholly unexpected brain-stem embolism before Christmas; his future still seems very uncertain. Despite his bodily paralysis, however, therapists are beginning to be aware of small movements in his legs, and a little in the arms. He will begin intensive therapy soon at a nearby hospital that specialises in the training of limbs and language.

‘We play a lot of Henrik’s beloved music, when we are with him,’ says Helle, who wants the Procol community to know what has happened. He is aware, and ‘can laugh and cry when emotions take over’. BtP will bring further news when we have it. Meanwhile we extend our love and best wishes to Henrik and Helle, children Jakob and Laura, and their wider family.

27 January 2019 : the fifteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Jean Guillou, RIP Michel Legrand ... two great French musicians

Added a digested mp3 which removes the music, but preserves all the chat, from Gary Brooker's appearance this evening on local DAB radio with Brea Gosling. GB is present for the first hour, talking about his influences and some favourite songs, and Brea makes plenty of references to Procol in the second hour also. Overall, she played lots of PH songs, a Brooker Ensemble piece, and a Harry Brooker composition (of which you'll hear only token snippetry ...). Don't head immediately for the 26m 58s mark, but enjoy the whole show. We've left in some call-signs and a hint of some adverts for the enlightenment of non-British listeners.

Added a sixteenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

January 2019:

‘Beyond the Pale’ was glad to learn, in a call from the Brooker household on 23 January 2019, that Procol’s manager Chris Cooke is responding encouragingly to the treatment he’s been receiving since suffering a serious stroke before Christmas. Visiting him in hospital, Gary was heartened to find Chris propped up in a chair, already able to speak a few words, and beginning to recover a little control over the limbs affected by paralysis. 'He's still very ill, but we were happy to see him doing so well,' was the verdict.

20 January 2019 : the fourteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the liner note from Salvo's re-issue of Broken Barricades ... already ten years ago!

Added an intelligent Paramounts article from 1964 (thanks, Anvil)

Added a fifteenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

13 January 2019 : the thirteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a sequence of solution-pages for this year's puzzles here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Even if you didn't play, these will be interesting!

'You sneaky bastard(s)!' ... '... it took a diabolical mind ... '
Added an entertaining page of competitors' comments ... many of them frank and revealing!

Added an intriguing personal concert diary (thanks, Frans)

Added a scan to this page (thanks, Bob)

Added a graphic to this review ... and why not re-read this historic, associated page? (thanks, Anvil)

8 January 2019 :

Added a schedule of Triumphant Victors in this year's Christmas Conundrums ... and some preliminary comments about solving the puzzles

5 January 2019 :

Added our twelfth, and final, beguilingly approachable page of Christmas clues

Click on the link at the bottom of the above page, and you'll find your way to the simple Final Procedure ... then you'll soon be sending in your answer!

You'll be sending us the answer AND your choice of prizes (twelve alphabetical letters, please)

4 January 2019 :

RIP Daryl Dragon

Added our eleventh, painless page of Christmas clues

And here's the second instalment of the Final Procedure, which in the past we haven't released until 5 January

And once again, the schedule of fabulous prizes ...

3 January 2019 :

RIP Dean Ford

Please read this very sad announcement relating to a key member of the Procol Harum team

Added our tenth, pellucid page of Christmas clues

2 January 2019 :

Added our ninth, unproblematic page of Christmas clues

And here's the first instalment of the Final Procedure, which in the past we haven't released until 5 January, but which we're drip-feeding this year, to make life easier on the final night

And once again, the schedule of fabulous prizes ... which are suddenly so much more easily attainable

01 January 2019 : Happy New Year to all!

Added our eighth, briefly-despatched page of Christmas clues

31 December 2018 :

Added our seventh, speedily-solved page of Christmas clues

30 December 2018 :

Added our sixth, easy page of Christmas clues

29 December 2018 :

Added our fifth, undemanding page of Christmas clues

28 December 2018 :

Added our fourth, transparent page of Christmas clues

27 December 2018 :

Added our third, uncomplicated page of Christmas clues. And a teeny hint: the info you're looking for, when you follow a link, may not be at the top of the article in question ... do read the whole page.

26 December 2018 :

Added our second, straightforward page of Christmas puzzles

25 December 2018 : Happy Christmas!

Added a Christmas message from two key representatives of Procol Harum (thanks, Gary, thanks Josh)

Added our first, simple page of Christmas puzzles ... good luck to all! Here's the schedule of fabulous prizes ...

Make sure you've read the page introducing this year's Puzzles before you put pen to paper

24 December 2018 : the eleventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Galt MacDermot

Added a page introducing this year's Christmas Puzzles (a simpler affair than usual ... just a question of collecting some song-titles)

Added a very good Resources Page to help you coast through the Christmas Puzzles and win your choice of prizes

Added a page of twenty photos showing Gary Brooker in action, with Eric Clapton and Albert Lee and many others, at the Concert for Chas last week (thanks, Gudrun)

Added a fourteenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

17 December 2018 : the tenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the schedule of fabulous prizes that you stand to win in this year's excellent Christmas Puzzles (thanks, everyone)

Added links ... here and here ... to Gary Brooker's contributions (and Albert Lee's, Eric Clapton's, etc) to the Chas Hodges memorial night in London (thanks, Heidi)

'Gary Barlow was a guest on last week's Desert Island Discs – link here – and he chose A Whiter Shade of Pale as one of his tracks. I think he mentioned that it was one of the songs he learned to play on the keyboard.' (thanks, Claire)

Added a thirteenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

10 December 2018 :

Ian Hockley (of The Royal Opera House Muscat, and of The Palers' Band) presents a free, festive organ recital in London Thursday 13 December, under the auspices of the Anglo-Omani Society. He will take the audience on a journey through Denmark, Germany, Austria, France and on to Oman with a wide variety of music by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Widor, concluding with a new work, Sindbad, by Naji Hakim. England will be represented by composers with significant London connections, Purcell, Handel and John Stanley. The organ at St Andrew is a 1989 Mander

The details: Thursday 13 December 2018, 18:30 – 21:00 GMT, at St Andrew Holborn, 5 Saint Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AF; music at 7.00pm, but arrive at 6.30pm for a mince pie. The recital is free, as are the refreshments: register here

7 December 2018 : the ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a BtP exclusive, Keith Reid's first interview about his new album – In My Head – which is released today. A review of the ten songs is interleaved with Keith's revealing commentary (thanks, Keith)

Added the words of a new Keith Reid song, The Trial of the Century, in which the author looks back on a fairly recent lawsuit (thanks, Keith)

Incidentally, a signed copy of the above new album is among the fab prizes in the annual BtP Christmas Puzzle recreation ... more about that soon. For all those who can't wait, links to buy the album are here

Added a third page of fine photographs from one of Procol Harum's most memorable recent shows

Added a twelfth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Updated this crucial page, and this one

2 December 2018 : the eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a second page of excellent photographs from one of Procol Harum's most distinguished recent shows

Added an eleventh array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Check in again on 7 December to read the weighty new BtP Keith Reid interview, which is also a review of his new album.

24 November 2018 :

AWSoP was sung live (vocal and piano) on BBC Radio 4's ISIHAC again this evening (thanks, Jeff) ... well worth a listen ... the link is on this page

24 November 2018 : the seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP the excellent Roy Bailey [MBE] ... another Southend connection

 Added an illustrated review of Procol Harum's most recent concert (thanks, Mirek, and Mac)

Added a very strong set of Polish photographs here (thanks, Anvil)

'... another playground for the veteran ...'
Added a review of the new KRP album (thanks, Todd)

Added a tenth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

19 November 2018 :

Quite by chance – 'continuum!' – BtP today (birthday of the late Allen 'One-Eye' Edelist) received a distinctive tribute to OE from a fellow fan who's only just found out the sad news ... click here ... (thanks, John)

18 November 2018 :

Updated two Polish pages, here and here (thanks, Howard)

17 November 2018 : the sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a first page of great photos from a recent Procol show

Added a ninth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

'I wouldn’t assume to know what the song is about in its entirety ... I’ve written many myself ...'
Added another fan's brief page of notes about the 'meaning' of A Whiter Shade of Pale' (thanks, Nigel)

Added a link here which, should you choose to follow it, will yield access to a mixable online multitrack of A Whiter Shade of Pale ... albeit not the original!

'...an organ melody not a million miles away from you-know-what ...'
Again, can you judge from the above which album is being reviewed in this archival review (thanks, Royston)

14 November 2018 :

Added another Procol Harum show for May 2019 ... sure to please a hard core of fans! (thanks, Chris)
 

10 November 2018 : the fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a page of great photographs from one of Procol Harum's finest recent shows

Updated this interesting schedule of songs (thanks, Todd)

Overhauled this hastily-typed review of last month's Procol Palladium concert

The Procol road-crew accomplish a speedy set-up in this instructive lo-fi collage from Zoetermeer, November 2018. With help from local hands, John Magner fettles the piano and lead guitar; Thomas Wyler the drums; and Howard Colinese the bass and other keyboards.

Added an eighth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Updated this crucial page

3 November 2018 : the fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Alkmaar, Netherlands

' ... there is no epic this time, shorter songs are the order of the day ...'
Again, can you judge from the above which album is being reviewed in this archival review (thanks, Royston)

Added a seventh array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added some more venues to this end-of-show photographs page (thanks Pia and Peter)

Added a Procol Harum concert for 2019, across the water (thanks, Julia)

Corrected an error here (sorry, Gary Brooker)


2 November 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's triumphant show at Zoetermeer, Netherlands

1 November 2018 :

Added some audience photographs (of the musicians, onstage) from the Esbjerg concert (thanks, Peter H)

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Zwolle, Netherlands

Hallowe'en 2018 :

Added some audience photographs from Procol's recent show at Sønderborg, Denmark

Added some end-of-show photographs, which you can help us identify! (many thanks, Thomas)

30 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Sønderborg, Denmark

Corrected an error here (thanks, Kim) and added some choice pictures here (thanks, Erik)

Expanded the setlist from Aalborg with comments about the songs, banter-notes, and so forth

Also added a Management Statement for the avoidance of doubt: 'There no longer exists a valid contract for PH to play concerts in Russia. The promoter has been instructed to cease advertising and to advise ticket holders of the situation.'

28 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's cracking show at Aalborg, Denmark

27 October 2018 : the third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Odense, Denmark

'If you consider yourself a fan of progressive rock, and you do not yet own a copy of this album, you owe it to yourself to invest in a record that pointed the way ...'
Again, can you judge from the above which album is being reviewed in this archival review (thanks, Royston)

Added a sixth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added a nice find to our 'whiter shade of pale' common-parlance feature (thanks, George)

26 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Esbjerg, Denmark


25 October 2018 :

Added the setlist, with illustrations and comments, from Procol's recent, definitive show at Greve, Denmark

24 October 2018 :

Added another Procol Harum concert, overseas (thanks, Julia)


23 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Magdeburg, Germany (thanks, Chris)

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Hannover, Germany

22 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Bonn, Germany

21 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Heilbronn, Germany (thanks, Howard and Uta)

Added a comprehensive and well-illustrated review of Procol Harum in Vienna (thanks, Charlie)

20 October 2018 : the second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added an excellent review of one of the recent Esoteric re-mastered albums. Why didn't critics respond this way at the time? (thanks, Paul)

A British politician offers a controversial opinion of a Whiter Shade of Pale (thanks, Charlie)

Added early news of a forthcoming album from a former member of Procol Harum (thanks, Anvil)

Added a fifth array of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

18 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Chemnitz, Germany (thanks Mario, Matthias)

17 October 2018 :

Added photos from Procol's recent show at Berlin, Germany (thank you, Peter)


16 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Berlin, Germany (thank you, Peter)

Added another illustrated BtP review of the Procol Palladium concert (thanks, Charlie)

Updated crucial pages here, here, here, here, here, here and here

15 October 2018 : the first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #22 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added an illustrated BtP review of the Procol Palladium concert (thanks, Howard)

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Zürich, Switzerland (thanks, Heidi)

' ... like influences from traditional French music ...'
Can you judge from the above which album is being reviewed in this archival review (thanks, Royston)

Added a fourth set of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Added a link here about David Knights's time with Jimi Hendrix (thanks, Charlie)

14 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Vienna, Austria (thanks, Charlie)

Added an illustration here (thanks, F)

12 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol's recent show at Winterbach, Germany

11 October 2018 :

Added a high-angle page of London Palladium concert photographs (thank you, Linda)

10 October 2018 :

Added a comprehensive page of London Palladium rehearsal photographs (thank you, Linda)

9 October 2018 :

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's epic concert at The London Palladium, their fortieth with choir and orchestra ... more concert notes will follow, but sleep is a more pressing priority

8 October 2018 : the final hebdomadal bulletin for Year #21 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Montserrat Caballé, RIP Kim Larsen

Today's the twenty-first birthday of 'Beyond the Pale', which we duly celebrated with a fine crew of Procoholics in a London restaurant (thank you, Linda)

Added a few snaps of Procol Harum in rehearsal (thank you, Linda)

Added an interesting page of ancient lo-fi photos of the great BJ Wilson – whom we always remember on this date – in action in the late 60s and early 70s (thanks, Mystery Donor)

Added a link to a great clip of Richard Williams from the Palers' Band, playing Bringing Home the Bacon on BJ Wilson's restored drum kit ... full story here (thanks, Rich!)

Added a third selection of personally-selected and captioned Procol pictures (thanks, Mary)

Please read the autumn gigs page for news about two gigs in doubt (thanks, Chris)

Alumnae corner: from The Palers' Band, Jeremy Gilien was featured composer here (interview / performances); the Lemon Twigs are en route to the UK to record Later With Jools Holland; and from The Palers' Project, Jack Briggs (Mick Grabham's kinsman) has a couple of tracks on YouTube and an album deal

What was new on this website in past times

 

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