Procol Harum
"Whiter Shade of Pale" was an organ drenched ballad based on a Bach cantata (since Beethoven had been done, it was time to roll over Bach). Keith Reid's "I'm trying to be a poet" lyrics were image laden and effective. Gary Brooker's vocals had a soulful quality, which is not surprising, since the band evolved out of an R&B unit called the Parliaments. Procol Harum's second contribution was the up-tempo "Conquistador." Again, Reid's lyrics stood out. Using the conquistador as an allegory for modern life, the song was filled with Spanish orchestral touches and thunderous crashes for maximum dramatic effect. Overall, pretty good. Clearly, it was the best song the Moody Blues never did.
"Whiter Shade of Pale" is what Procol Harum is remembered for. "Best of Procol Harum" has it and a lot more. Albums "Salty Dog," "A Whiter Shade of Pale" "Shine On Brightly" and "Grand Hotel" are strong and surprisingly consistent Art Rock ventures with "Grand Hotel" being the most accomplished.
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