I began listening to Procol Harum in July 2024. I decided to listen to this group's first three albums because of their general critical acclaim but was pretty unimpressed with the work.
Procol Harum (1967): B-
Shine On Brightly (1968): C
A Salty Dog (1969): C
Procol Harum (1967):
Bolstered by the massive success of their debut single "A White Shade of Pale" in March, Procol Harum released this self-titled debut in September in the US and in December in the UK. With a talented band that features an excellent organist, a tasteful guitarist, and great drummer, Procol Harum's unique take on baroque psychedelia frequently impresses. The problems start with Gary Brooker, who sounds like Steve Winwood if Winwood took hefty influence from Bob Dylan. But while Brooker certainly holds back Procol Harum from competing with the other excellent bands in Britain right now, the lazy vocal melodies might pan out better if they didn't highlight the mystical and overwrought lyrics of Keith Reid. Fortunately, fun isn't beyond this band and both "Mabel" and "Good Captain Clack" help this album feel less like the self-serious release it would otherwise be. B-
Shine On Brightly (1968):
Just like about every other average band in Britain at this time, 1968 sees Procol Harum releasing a disaster of showmanship and ambition, with most of side two devoted to a ridiculous suite of circus nonsense. Frequently interrupted by spoken word passages which make it all the more unbearable, it poorly combines a number of over-the-top movements before collapsing under its own weight. Side one fortunately shows that this band's brains are not fried for good, but even the first twenty minutes don't size up to the work on their debut. C
A Salty Dog (1969):
This group might get nods of approval from prog rock denialists because they can soullessly imitate roots rock with the same skill that they jam on congas and furnish a mini rock opera with Chopin-inspired string arrangements, but the multitude of genres excursions on their third studio affair makes for a wildly incoherent LP that makes no conceptual sense. And don't forget that their try-hard lyricist and fumbling lead singer can't pull off a catchy tune to save their lives. C
