Issue #20 Extra!: Books
Claes Johansen - "Procol Harum - Beyond the Pale"
Claes Johansen - "Procol Harum - Beyond the Pale"
(SAF, ISBN 0-946719-28-4, 2000, BOOK)
Chronicling any of the core British bands activities has always been
somewhat problematic for writers. No one ever seems to want to cough up
the dirt or even remember with a clear head about events that had
happened over twenty-five plus years ago. Procol Harum is no newcomer
to this type of recall disease, but Scandinavian writer and fan, Johansen
has persevered through several years of uncertainty to get this short
(less than 200 page) overview of the band written and uncover enough of
the influential group's milestones to make it noteworthy. One important
musical trait which is ingrained into the reader is that the band was
really a core blues unit (The Paramounts) whom after seeing the British
blues boom die off, actually started over from scratch and unceremoniously
wound up with the 1967 summer of love single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale".
Lifting a Bach cantata or two turned out to be both the blessing and the
bane of the band led by vocalist, pianist and songwriter, Gary Brooker and
Lyricist, Keith Reid. The book goes into much detail about the early
period of the band where they were known exclusively for their blues and
later soul covers in England. Personnel changes dogged every period in the
band which explains some of the consistency problems and turmoil that
dogged the band until their quiet demise in 1977 (with the semi-prog
release, Something Magic). Unfortunately, much of the progressive
influences on such people as Spocks Beard's Neal Morse is skirted over
by the author with classic tracks such as "Whaling Stories" only relegated
to a minor mention. "In Held 'Twas in I" is however bestowed a level of
respect since it was and still is a heady arrangement of several songs
and musical ideas from Brooker, Reid and organist, Mathew Fisher. And
meets the progressive test of time. "Beyond the Pale" gives a bit of
insight into the charm of the five piece which carried over into one
of the best 60's band reunions of 1991. The book is a quick and uncluttered
read and worth your $18.95 (US) to track down a copy to nail down a bit
of the puzzle behind this much overlooked and cherished ensemble.
- Jeff Melton