Procol Harum - The Sunday Concert (2024)

Formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1967, Procol Harum remain best-known for the 1967 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few records to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for their baroque and classical influence, Procol Harum's music is best-described as psych-rock and proto-prog with hints of the blues, R&B, and soul. In April 1967 the group entered Olympic Studios in London to record their debut single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale". An enthusiastic response from listeners of the pirate radio station Radio London prompted Deram Records to rush-release the single for 12 May 1967. It was an instant worldwide success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for six weeks and the same spot in eleven countries. In three weeks, it became the fastest selling record by a new group. Procol Harum played their first live gig at London's Speakeasy club. They performed a set of mostly self-written numbers, mixed with covers of Bob Dylan, The Rascals and Tim Rose tunes. Jimi Hendrix was an early vocal supporter of the band. The group's follow-up single, "Homburg", was released in September 1967. The song reached No. 6 in the UK and No. 34 in the US. In the same month their debut album, Procol Harum, recorded between the two hit singles, was released in the US. By this time Procol Harum were regulars at the newly formed Radio One, performing sessions for a variety of shows at the station. As was so often the case with alternative bands at the time - even, it would seem, those who’d had number one singles - John Peel picked up on Procol Harum, who recorded several sessions for Peel’s Top Gear program during 1968 and 1969. Then, on 4th June 1970, the band played Peel’s ‘Sunday Concert’, an occasional full concert broadcast, live from broadcasting house. Peel would later comment that he was a far-bigger fan of ‘Homburg’ than he was of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale.’ A superb live show performed in front of an audience (unlike radio sessions which took place with only a producer in attendance) the concert remains previously unreleased but is now available in its entirety on this new CD. Bonus cuts here come from further rare radio sessions recorded 1967 – 1969.