Timeline 1 In The Beginning: The Procol Harum Years
'Procol' enjoyed a fair amount of success. Partnered with lyricist Keith Reid, the band had a few memorable chart and album hits. Initially, Trower did not contribute much to the songwriting duties, but his input grew until ultimately he was writing about three songs per album.
Trower stayed until 1971, but during the last couple of years, his trademark style and sound began to emerge in earnest. His song, Whisky Train from 1970s 'Home' stands as one of Procol Harum's best tunes. It was obvious that Trower was destined for bigger and better things.
The Paramounts
The Paramounts were formed in 1962 by Trower and Brooker, and included an assortment of young musicians from a town called Southend in England. The CD shown here, 'Whiter Shades of R'N'B' is a 1983 re-issue of their material. They were mainly known as a cover band that played R&B songs by Ray Charles, James Brown, Bobby Bland and The Coasters. The band lasted until 1966, at which time Procol Harum was born.
Procol Harum
Like many bands of the era, Procol Harum produced a major hit with their first attempt. A Whiter Shade of Pale, released in North America on 1967's self-titled LP, epitomized Procol's keyboard-heavy, almost classical sound. There's not much guitar to be heard, but what there is gives a hint of things to come. Trower's fuzz-box solo in Something Following Me shows his unique warbling and bending style in early development.
Shine On Brightly
1968's 'Shine on Brightly' continued Procol's British sound, but this time with a heavier bent and better production. Trower's playing is more up-front in the mix, and his wailing solos (still largely fuzz-toned) are woven tightly into the overall sound. Quite Rightly So is a stand out, as is Skip Softly. At times a moody work, 'Shine On Brightly' nonetheless brings Procol into the big leagues.
A Salty Dog
'A Salty Dog' takes over in 1969 almost precisely where 'Shine On Brightly' left off: subtle and introspective with classical overtones. Organ and piano still dominate the album, with Trower's plaintiff distortion surfacing periodically. His vibrato technique is much more developed and effective. As well, Trower garners his first wrting credits with Procol Harum, co-penning three songs, Too Much Between Us, Juicy John Pink and Crucifiction Lane.
Home
'Home', released in 1970, marks Trower's emergence as a truly great guitarist in his own right. The lead-off track, Whisky Train, written by him, is ballsy, bluesy riff-rock at its best. On this album, Trower finally starts playing up to his potential, with his sound much more mature and his soloing much cleaner. The divisions between Trower's influence and Brooker's writing becomes more apparent, with the band displaying an almost dual personality: Trower flamboyant, and Brooker contemplative.
Broken Barricades
This 1971 album marks Trower's final major work with Procol Harum and is widely acknowledged as their most popular release. The band had finally developed a powerful chemistry combining Trower's heavy blues with Brooker's artistic keyboard style. Simple Sister ranks as one of Procol's best, with Trower's dreamlike phrasings adding a mystrical texture. It's too bad Trower had to leave just as the band was coming into their own, but the best from him was yet to come.
The Prodigal Stranger
The Long Goodbye
These two albums, released in 1991 and 1994 respectively, represent more of a sidebar to the Trower/Procol Harum saga than an integral part of the chronology. 'Prodigal Stranger' is an original work, while 'The Long Goodbye' is more of a reunion piece, featuring the Procol alumni (including RT) doing remakes of the band's classics. Although both have their moments, they don't match the spark and power of the late-60s and early-70s albums.
