|
|
02-23-2022, 08:41 AM
|
#1
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,974
|
RIP Gary Brooker
The singular voice and leader of Procol Harum, a trail blazer of '60s rock, died last week at age 76. One of my favorite bands of the era.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainmen...oker-1.6361144
__________________
Tick tick tick tock goes the clock on the wall as we're dancing the evening away -- Tick Tock Polka
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
02-23-2022, 09:09 AM
|
#2
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
Wow, I had not heard this. A Whiter Shade of Pale (or AWSOP as it's known among the Hammond Organ forums) is just etched in my memory. I've played (a poor version of it) on my keyboard set up (a B3 'clone') and my older console organ set up, probably hundreds of times over the past decades.
Here's an interesting version of WSOP with analysis, and a link to the full performance. And while this is very interesting, of course the original is "it". The commentator notes how the voice is as great in 2006 as it was when this came out, ~ 40 years earlier.
RIP
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 10:04 AM
|
#3
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 3,258
|
RIP, thank you for sharing. For me the band epitomized the hammond B3 organ sound of the era. I see those organs for free and wish I had room for one, the nostalgia is strong.
__________________
Class of 2023
OMY to 2024
Started pension April 1 2024
Operating Engineer for a commercial plumbing contractor
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 10:09 AM
|
#4
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: chicago burbs
Posts: 806
|
RIP. PH was a great band. Brooker and Robin Trower were in early version of PH.
Whiter Shade of Pale was supposedly one of John Lennon's favs.
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 10:14 AM
|
#5
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 3,258
|
Conquistador was probably mine.
https://youtu.be/GPlf09nVgWk
__________________
Class of 2023
OMY to 2024
Started pension April 1 2024
Operating Engineer for a commercial plumbing contractor
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 10:38 AM
|
#6
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,829
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyking1
|
Yes. A great song!
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 10:54 AM
|
#7
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyking1
|
Yes, Conquistador was another with that special sound.
And while that version with the orchestra is fantastic, I also like (not better/worse, just different), the stripped down band version. :
Man, I'm going to have to go back through that album, and some of the other old Procol Harum stuff. Robin Trower added some great guitar sounds as well, Outside the Gate of Cerdes comes to mind, and wow, how the Hammond organ(Matthew Fisher) and Gary Brooker's voice just punches through!.
-ERD50
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 02:57 PM
|
#8
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,915
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyking1
|
Yeah, Conquistador caught my attention instantly back in the day. I knew something within music had changed and PH was one of the main influences. RIP Gary Brooker.
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 03:09 PM
|
#9
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,047
|
Sad to learn about his death. He was a shining star in the band. Whiter Shade of Pale and Conquistador are etched in my musical memory. And, 76 is way too young.
-BB
__________________
FIREd, April 1, 2015. My Retirement Benefits Package includes: 6 months vacation, twice a year.
|
|
|
02-23-2022, 04:18 PM
|
#10
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County
Posts: 1,433
|
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 10:06 AM
|
#11
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,720
|
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 10:15 AM
|
#12
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,720
|
A Salty Dog holds up as an album many years later. This track was one of my favorites.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3W0ze...f734b5c21d4964
Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano, celeste, three-stringed guitar, bells, harmonica, wood recorder, orchestral arrangements
Robin Trower – lead and acoustic guitars, lead vocals, sleigh tambourine
Matthew Fisher – organ, lead vocals, marimba, rhythm and acoustic guitars, piano, recorder, orchestral arrangements, production
Dave Knights – bass
B. J. Wilson – drums, conga drums, tabla
John "Kellogs" Kalinowski – bosun's whistle, refreshments
Keith Reid – lyrics
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 10:36 AM
|
#13
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
Side note: I bet this thread would have got more attention if it included "Procol Harum band member" in the title. Us fans know immediately, but I'd bet many don't make the connection.
Last night, I logged into my Qobuz streaming service, started listening to the Procol Harum's albums in chronological order. And looking up the lyrics (AWSOP almost sounds logical compared to some others!). The UK version (which I selected, unaware of it) of the LP does not include AWSOP!
Then on a lark, I searched for AWSOP, to hear other versions of it. I already had Joe Cocker's (just so-so) and Herbie Mann's (flute - pretty interesting) in my collection. Most were blah, even some I expected to be good. Willie Nelson's is good, he brings something fresh to it w/o being different just to be different. Percy Sledge was worth listening to, Blues Evolution, King Curtis, Wayne Sharp pretty good. Santana had a version - surprisingly, I really didn't like it. In the oddball side, Blue Mountain Pan Pipe Ensemble was worth a listen. I thought I'd like the Paul Winter Consort doing it, but blah. Temptations a disappointment.
I've listened to AWSOP so many times, and one thing that always disappointed me was it fades out. I generally consider a fade-out as "cheating" - bring the song to a real ending! Well, imagine my surprise (' ...thought I'd left it at home"! ), I think it is the UK release, has an actual ending (it's over a minute longer, I think they also throw in one more of the organ Bach-like lines)! What's kind of funny is, their ending is almost exactly the way I end it when I play it for myself, he does add in a measure or two of Bach-like improvisation that I'll do from now on. I feel at peace!
And there is also the interesting story that Matthew Fisher, the organist who came up with the iconic Bach-like intro line, wanted, but was denied songwriting credits at the time. For some reason, he didn't get around to suing until 2005. He won, but that judge denied him any royalties/damages because of waiting so long. That was overturned, and he got 40% going forward from 2005 on (a justifiable compromise, IMO).
-ERD50
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 11:08 AM
|
#14
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,974
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50
Side note: I bet this thread would have got more attention if it included "Procol Harum band member" in the title. Us fans know immediately, but I'd bet many don't make the connection.
Last night, I logged into my Qobuz streaming service, started listening to the Procol Harum's albums in chronological order. And looking up the lyrics (AWSOP almost sounds logical compared to some others!). The UK version (which I selected, unaware of it) of the LP does not include AWSOP!
Then on a lark, I searched for AWSOP, to hear other versions of it. I already had Joe Cocker's (just so-so) and Herbie Mann's (flute - pretty interesting) in my collection. Most were blah, even some I expected to be good. Willie Nelson's is good, he brings something fresh to it w/o being different just to be different. Percy Sledge was worth listening to, Blues Evolution, King Curtis, Wayne Sharp pretty good. Santana had a version - surprisingly, I really didn't like it. In the oddball side, Blue Mountain Pan Pipe Ensemble was worth a listen. I thought I'd like the Paul Winter Consort doing it, but blah. Temptations a disappointment.
I've listened to AWSOP so many times, and one thing that always disappointed me was it fades out. I generally consider a fade-out as "cheating" - bring the song to a real ending! Well, imagine my surprise (' ...thought I'd left it at home"! ), I think it is the UK release, has an actual ending (it's over a minute longer, I think they also throw in one more of the organ Bach-like lines)! What's kind of funny is, their ending is almost exactly the way I end it when I play it for myself, he does add in a measure or two of Bach-like improvisation that I'll do from now on. I feel at peace!
And there is also the interesting story that Matthew Fisher, the organist who came up with the iconic Bach-like intro line, wanted, but was denied songwriting credits at the time. For some reason, he didn't get around to suing until 2005. He won, but that judge denied him any royalties/damages because of waiting so long. That was overturned, and he got 40% going forward from 2005 on (a justifiable compromise, IMO).
-ERD50
|
ERD, the song's appeal was all about the voice to me.
Here's one where the band rocks out a little more. Gary had some stellar bandmates, Robin Trower and drummer BJ Wilson at the top of the list (although I don't think Wilson was in on AWSOP).
__________________
Tick tick tick tock goes the clock on the wall as we're dancing the evening away -- Tick Tock Polka
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 11:29 AM
|
#15
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,974
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by target2019
A Salty Dog holds up as an album many years later. This track was one of my favorites.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3W0ze...f734b5c21d4964
Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano, celeste, three-stringed guitar, bells, harmonica, wood recorder, orchestral arrangements
Robin Trower – lead and acoustic guitars, lead vocals, sleigh tambourine
Matthew Fisher – organ, lead vocals, marimba, rhythm and acoustic guitars, piano, recorder, orchestral arrangements, production
Dave Knights – bass
B. J. Wilson – drums, conga drums, tabla
John "Kellogs" Kalinowski – bosun's whistle, refreshments
Keith Reid – lyrics
|
That was a great one. But what an album: "The Devil Came from Kansas" may be my favorite, but it's hard to pick. This may be my runner-up.
__________________
Tick tick tick tock goes the clock on the wall as we're dancing the evening away -- Tick Tock Polka
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 12:59 PM
|
#16
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,720
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr._Graybeard
That was a great one. But what an album: "The Devil Came from Kansas" may be my favorite, but it's hard to pick. This may be my runner-up.
|
Yeah. When they went full rock and soared with the guitar of Robin Trower, they got my attention.
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 09:01 PM
|
#17
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
|
This tribute just popped up in my email, from an Aussie organist with mad skills (and a clavinet with a whammy bar).
-ERD50
|
|
|
02-25-2022, 10:38 PM
|
#18
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,795
|
Exotic Birds and Fruit my fav. album. Nothing but the Truth, and the Idol.
The mic test at the beginning of Nothing is worth the price of admission.
|
|
|
02-26-2022, 09:42 AM
|
#19
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,720
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by brucethebroker
Exotic Birds and Fruit my fav. album. Nothing but the Truth, and the Idol.
The mic test at the beginning of Nothing is worth the price of admission.
|
Expanded version at https://open.spotify.com/album/30jiK...R3qYCJeFeaTiRA
I had forgotten about that gem. I wore out the vinyl!
|
|
|
02-27-2022, 03:59 PM
|
#20
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,974
|
The band gets a little bluesy on its underrated Ninth album. Leiber & Stoller (of Coasters and Presley fame) produced.
__________________
Tick tick tick tock goes the clock on the wall as we're dancing the evening away -- Tick Tock Polka
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|