Procol Harum

This month Simon Barnard revisits 1967 to look at the original baroque and roll masters and meets the early playing of Robin Trower.

- Simon Barnard

Procol Harum formed in 1967 and within months had released one of the best known songs of all time. Selling over 10 million copies A Whiter Shade Of Pale took direct influence from Bach, to produce a composition based on a descending bassline and haunting melody, with lyrics that would have tickled even Lewis Carroll. Although it was original guitarist Ray Royer that played on A Whiter Shade Of Pale, the now legendary Robin Trower replaced Ray for the follow-up single Homburg, and the rest of their self-titled debut. Trower appeared on Procol’s first five albums before forming the Robin Trower Band in 1973.