PROCOL HARUM Pilgrims Progress

[stevo5498]

R they the masters, or fuckin wot. ?

[procol33]

Nooone could match Procol's majesty.....Even today they sound as good as ever....

And the ending on Pilgram's Progress is the most incredible feeling of true beauty, it hurts to listen...

Lg

[NisPeter56]

@procol33 Just the way I feel - A masterpiece!

[ffchatter]

a whiter shade of pale sold 8 million,homburg sold i million,their albums sold about 250,000 each,live with the edmonton symphony sold i million.these days to get a number one all you have to do is sell 100,000 copies.

[postdrop]

Anyone else try "Navy Cuts" because of this? Love this song.

[DrMarianus]

The whole song, especially the vocal harmony and ship's bell always gets to me right in my heart. It has a lot of meaning for me as it came out about a year before I entered the US Navy in 1970 as a Diver. This song, and the whole album, is a tribute to all those, no matter whom, that have sailed the seas over the years and know both its beauty and its awesomeness. If you like poetry, check out Walt Whitman poems on the Sea. I'm sure Procol Harum read them.

[Tedisntakidanymore]

Magical! Perfect! Procol showed the world you could play intelligent rock music and make it work. 

[hermitcrabbot]

Do you recongnize who the 'Hero' is in the sailor suit on the album cover?

Wait for it.......it's none other than..........Keith Reid!

( I'm taking turns in trying to pass it on )

[DrMarianus]

@hermitcrabbot

It was actually the cover on a box of English 'Player's' cigarettes back then.

[hermitcrabbot]

@DrMarianus

Correct. It was based on a pack of Players 'Navy Cut' cagarettes.

They just changed the sailor's face to that of Keith.

[marynightshade]

Oooops-I posted that Bebop Deluxe song cuz I thought Matthew Fisher sounds like Bill Nelson. I thought ny comment would be there-that comment being "Thanks for posting this-it's a perfect song."

[Sach1831]

This song ( hymn) is my life's anthem. A tale of searching, hubris, vanity, pain and redemption. What we forsake to seek "pirates gold" has a terribly high price attached. The shame is...we see it only in hind-sight ....after the damage has been inflicted both tou ourselves and to those we love. One of the world's greatest hymns. 

[oneliferocks]

@Sach1831

We got to walk the miles anyway, but precaution and inner-sight can make a difference.

[Sach1831]

@oneliferocks Amen to that brother.....I had what I might refer to as "malignant narsisism" when I climbed life's peaks by stepping on the hearts and dreams of people to get a foot-hold towards the next thrilling view of life's pleasures. Forgiving myself is tough. Regret is bad companion for the rest of the journey...

[pitberry]

mY REMARKS BELOW ARE DIRECTED TO a salty dog. (my MISTAKE.. i THINK mATHEW SINGS THIS ONE.

[pitberry]

i AGREE WITH BOTH OF THE ABOVE, BUT DO RESPECTFULLT SUBMIT, THE REAL STAR IS THE LYRICS, AND TTHE REAL JOY IS THE FACT THEY FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE SOULFUL VOICE OF GARY BROOKER. tHE ONLY THING YOU CAN COMPARE IT WITH IS THE UNITY OF rOBERTSON'S LYRIC ON THE WEIGHT, WITH lEVON hELM

[funfunfuntheautobahn]

this is from a time that will never come again so listen and enjoy......

[ciottox]

l'hammond ha un canale di accesso diretto al cuore ... almeno per alcune persone ..trasferisce equilibrio ed un piacere unico ... ma loro sono un gruppo inossidabile ... Procol harum amici degli anni 70 !!

[TheGiobby93]

@ciottox è vero ciottox , il suono bdell'hammond arriva al cuore , ma solo per slcune persone ; purtroppo ci sono anche altre persone che disprezzano l'organo perchè " sembra di essere a messa " e perciò appena sentono queste canzoni cambiano traccia o stazione radio

[ciottox]

@TheGiobby93 . caro amico ci troviamo in un periodo storico in cui si comunicava statoi d'animo di una generazione contratta ..musica ed i testi descrivevano anche con un po di difficoltà la voglia di scambiare sensazioni e sentimenti tra persone di sesso diverso con una musica riflessiva e pacata certamente anche ritmica . prova ad ascoltare il tuo diamante!!! ciao buona serata

[TheGiobby93]

@ciottox conosco quella canzone è la cover italiana di shine in brightly pubblicata nell'ottobre del 68 paroliere mogol. mi piace molto questo gruppo . a rrivederci

[archangelo10]

Finally ordered the CD to replace my vinyl

[jlsndssntsl]

this music made me remind something about beach boys....

[SchnelleHeinz]

perfect music and perfect words... like mozart of a new century. magic.

[peachmelba16]

Love this!

[verbaud]

Sad that Corporate radio has only deemed one song by PH to be worth playing. I play Salty Dog CD for people who are continually amazed by PH's brilliance. This song goes on my "Play it at my wake" List!

[arturoewallis]

@verbaud , Yes, i agree with you. They still call PH a "one hit wonder". Funny, i can name a least 10 song from them better than "Whiter Shade Of Pale"...Don't get me wrong , i love that song, but is not the best.

[littledavearrival]

@verbaud I had the same idea! Great minds, huh?

[vinstyles]

these guys are amazing and this song is very very touching. I've loved it for so long. Thank you Guys..

[singinjohnny]

An incredibly beautiful recording and song. The entire experience is nothing short of pure magic! From beginning to end, it's an absoloute masterpiece.

[briandelion49]

A band that helped shape my musical life. Had the honor of opening for them in '68 at the "rennaisance club" in NJ. Got to meet bassist David Knights whilst taking a whizz in the Men's Room. He joked about how the place was in the middle of nowhere and there was hardly an audience.

[pylgrym]

Bought the LP brand new upon my return from Vietnam and it really helped me re-adjust. Have since read John Bunyan's immortal classic; "Pilgrim's Progress' and consider myself SAVED by the irresistible sovereign grace of Almighty God through the faith of Jesus Christ my living Lord and Savior!

[MrPhiltunes]

Wonderful to hear some people have taste. This song is beautiful. The lyrics are about a journey through life and with Fisher's Bach like Harmony the setting works to perfection. Fabulous! Phil Tunes

[chriskar5]

Sometimes I think if it's not the best of Procol Harum songs. It is just PERFECT. I love that band and have all of their recordings that I could ever put my hands on.Matthew Fisher is an awesome singer - so differet and so smooth ,very different from Brooker.I love his singing and a great composer/musician/producer talent.

[280553vs]

These guys are fucking amazing and this album kicks ass. I soooooooooooooo love these guys.  This song is very very special...

[procol33]

This song is an incredible masterpiece.... A true work of art that has been in my head for my whole life.

Lg

[oldbump]

Maybe PH's best song. Amazing lyrics and I miss B.J. Wilson.

[SuperNevile]

Glad to see Matthew finally got the credit, (but not the royalties), for putting the class(ical), into Whiter Shade which basically set them off in that successful style.

This song, sung by Matthew, and co-written with Keith, is complementary to WSOP and is a favourite of mine, and is the other standout track (along with the title track) on this album.

[schreipe]

i heard that song when i was fourteeen, fifhtteen first. still have all my teeth.

never thought it was somehow religious? never mentioned it was too long, compared to the handclapping happyness end about part two.

[z3driv3r]

excellent band, excellent album, excellent song...

PH- one of the best bands ever if not the best...

[rj2046]

A question of quality versus quantity.

The band decided to press what they had rather than add an inferior extra track. Album Second Winter by Johnny Winter has 3 sides with the 4th empty.

[soco13466]

Es vat? Keena ennehbud esplen vat des otres pipples sayin? Meesa eeegirante Omrikan. Meesa know nada bout ennehthin. Allsa ah knowest, meesa subitten du der Obamissaar, oh poh mee.

[jto1916]

To soco13466,

Nice try my friend - can you please try to be a little more specific? I don't get what you are saying.

jto1916

[lekezenman]

Always a good point OF REST in a man's perfectly useless "killed for nothing then theur ow njobs in place" kut-lives besides his more than enough REALproblems ja!

[lekezenman]

Staat dat op uw lijst van niet op te fucken dingen? mister hell and heisamaker? of gaat ge overstag voor niks?

Leer zeilen of verga in de zee !

[westpalmscott]

Great tune from an incredible album. Matthew Fisher had a pretty big role here singing as well as writing and producing

[lewigr]

This is my favorite PH song from my favorite PH album (although the title song is right up there as well). Somewhere on YouTube is a live performance of Pilgrim's Progress with Gary Brooker singing lead (and Chris Copping on organ), but I can't find it because I think it's the second song in the video but isn't mentioned in the info. Can someone help me on this?

[violetjm]

@lewigr - Also my favorite PH song and album. I can't stop listening to it. About the version with Gary Brooker singing lead: Someone in an earlier comment said it was removed.

[violetjm]

@lewigr - The live version of Pilgrim's Progress has now been reposted. I searched "Pilgrim's Progress Procol Harum" and there it was. I can't successfully post a link but if you search, you'll find it. Hope it remains this time. It's great!

[vangelisideras]

una de mis canciones favoritas de esta institución del rock, por cierto aqui canta fisher???, GRACIAS

[stoneyfoot]

A great track from a classic album...I still have the LP I bought in 1969...the music still sounds fresh 40 years on!

[bklynstallion69]

these are the most amazement arrangements..over five years and I still can't figure them out on the bass...Procol is the best band that I have had the pleasure of listening to. Too bad the world lost talent..we need more bands like this

[jesserotten]

caly604 PH was the first band I ever saw in concert(June 1969, Fillmore East)...loved them then,still love them now...this song is,quite simply, a masterpiece...

[archangelo10]

@jesserotten I saw them at the Fillmore E also, need to check ticket stub to see if it was 69 or 70

[ZIPPTPH77]

Very melancholic, but awesome!

[Sauron51it]

I was a boy, now I'm a bit older, but still this is my music!

[AdamsApple1963]

Nowadays, the classic rock/oldies stations play "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and nothing else! This song should be played more often. Ty for adding this song on here, SIRIO2222!

[ciottox]

questa è musica .. di altri tempi  .. è bella!! ha un senso come tutte le melodie degli anni 60-70 !! bravi

[jbhsgossip]

Matthew Fisher - Absolutely the most under rated musician of the 60's!

And he could sing, write and produce.

[Nacho66]

The coda in this is like a universal burst of pure happiness.

I know how that sounds and I don't care - It's true!

[fiutare1]

between 2:11 and 2:14 is the genius part of this song. Listen, how the organ meets the vocal. Perfect.

[quark51]

It's not just the chord pattern. It's the great handclapping on reverb, the great drum intro, the choral background singing just the right notes, the bell strike at just the right time, the Hammond B-3 percussion setting... the whole package. True, they could have milked it for 10 minutes more and it would still sound good. It's a frickin' masterpiece.......

[Nacho66]

What is it about that coda where , I swear, I could listen to it on an endless loop for hours?

I'm a professional musician and bore very easily...

I wonder why I love it so much. It's only a 5, 4, 1, 4 with the 1 played as a major 3rd.

Simple!

[decesq]

A great song from a great album...I must have listened to this album a thousand times in 1970 alone...

[blkmanbat]

GREAT SONG!!!!

[Nacho66]

Back in the '80's the last bit-o'-melody was the theme for this

sat.-morning last ghost of hippy FM radio on WMMR in Philly. Always liked it. Never knew who it was. 'Till now...

[music4acting]

Yeh Philly and Procol. Saw them 3 times. Yeh WMMR. Peace and Love to Keith Reid, Gary brooker, Robin Trower, and Matthew Fisher, and you Philly Bro, and what the hey, all of you. We're the same!

[Rawego]

pensive with a nice melody. Bach of course is no longer turning but is now spinning in his grave. he demands a royalty check his way at least once a month... come on!!! :)

[jduff59]

It is too bad that Gary Brooker didn't allow Mathew Fisher a little more artistic freedom in the band, Procul would have benefitted by this. I absolutely adore Procul, but have to admit that there is only so much of Gary Brooker's voice I really want to take in at a time, and Mathew Fisher's thinner, more ethereal voice is a perfect break in the action, not to mention his songwriting, anyone agree?

[Rawego]

sorry, can you repeat that? i wasn't paying attention. :))

i think it's lofty of you to assume what who where when how gave who how where when artistic freedom. are you one of the band members or just a groupie, like me? :))

[tl1095]

Thanks...dude

[squidface333]

Their best record.

[Hulloder]

Beautiful song.

[colophos]

Matthew Fisher was and is great talented musician.

He used to be THE asset to the band.

God bless you, Matthew.

[alcoholichealer]

makes a bloke wanna go ahead and sing it out his own self, they are such encouragers and enheartening

[tlm315]

the late bj wilson is the best godamm drummer in the world.....thats my story and im stickin to it

[rurbert]

B.J.Wilson was good but had trouble with speeding up and slowing down especially in concert. May he rest in peace.

[blkmanbat]

hey i heard that B.J was in line to be the drummer of led zeppelin. (is that true? ) and john beat him out.

[Adominae]

B.J. Wilson in fact turned down Led Zeppelin out of love for Procol. Everybody wanted B.J back then as he was generally accepted and known as the best drummer in rock.

[fiutare1]

Hmmm, I really don't think so. B.J. was a genius. Saw him 5 times in concerts. He never had any problems keeping the beat, never. I don't know, what you mean.

[mj99a]

yes i saw them twice and bj was one of the most phenomenal drummers that i have ever seen. his time was spot on!! every beat every fill!!

[jbhsgossip]

Amen!

[rsiegel1050]

what a perfect song. so beautiful. mathew fisher. omg!!!

[19wally48]

My favourite band of all time and Salty Dog is my favourite album of all time. They had it all - great lead singer, wonderful melodies, fascinating lyrics and masterful musicianship.

[Bobbytoo]

So glad to hear all the praise of this masterpeice. My husband gets so frustrated that people don't agknowlege this work. It's a thrill to read these comments.

Standing with my shoes laced wrong.

Cath

Bobby's Girl

[mimacri1234567]

perfect

[hardtail1965]

Love the conclusion...

[rin2tky]

Matthew Fisher!!!!!!!

[mellymanfamily]

one of my all time favorites, gary's live version was great too, too bad it was pulled.

[PhukIT1865]

what is with the last 3 minutes of silence?

[1voyher1]

Thanks, had this in my head for years - now it's here  - i'm free at last free i tells ya .... i sat me down DOH!!

[rdevicsaint]

One of my all time favorite Procol Harum songs. Thanks for putting this up.

[italiabklyn83]

I am 25 years old and I was brought up on Procol Harum, The Beatles, Moody Blues and so on..It mades me sad that the world lost talent...I will pass the experiences my father had told me about onto my children. People these days, especially my age would not be able to comprehend this type of music at all...I would love to see Jay Z or a DJ to try and figure out these arrangements. I saw Procol Harum back in 2004 and it was by far the best muscial experiene I had ever had

[poszolwon]

You have to had really nice father. My doughter is your age and im furious sometimes when she ' staels ' my music.

well...good deal.

[soco13466]

@italiabklyn83 : You should see Greyson Chance. Search at top. Maybe, just maybe this one will be the renewal of real music. He wrote two songs, "Stars," and "broken hearts.'d like him.

[KrystofDreamJourney]

@italiabklyn83 I am 45 years old, and I completely agree with you. I am profesional musician/recording artist. The world didn't lose talent- talent is still there. The only difference is that these days it's up to corporate greedy idiots who gets popular. In our days- just a generation ago it was up to somebody's talent and creativity. The best got popular naturally. These days "artists" are made up in the studio, and than the radio stations are bribed to play their music 24/7.

[italiabklyn83]

@italiabklyn83

I am now 28 years of age and have my own son who listens to procol every nite. He has learned to appreciate Procol's fine art and I will continue to pass it on to him

[NOYOURNOTHARDC0RE]

@italiabklyn83 i appreciate your point about the general degeneration of skill in pop music. However, you obviously know little about electronic music. I could give you a list of Djs whose arrangements are, in my opinion, far more accomplished.

[italiabklyn83]

@NOYOURNOTHARDC0RE You do not need to have a skill in electronic music. To know that if you are a musician at first the electronics come last. A trained musician does not need electornic skills to prove his point in musicianship. Only his talents and his needs. Although, electronic musicianship is a skill aside from being a musician( to me) it is more of an engineering type task. And I guess the best way to explain it a musicianship or audio engineering is to each is own.

[LaughingWater2]

@italiabklyn83 your right dude but all electronic music needs is treatment like what, King Crimson and Procul Harum did to rock ya know make it more soulful i think that you really dont need talent to be a electronic musician but it does take determanation which is something that rappers dont have i mean how lazy they cant even learn that but yeah as a whole electronic music needs to be Reformed but tbh electronic music is still kinda new so its gonna take a while before it becomes art

[italiabklyn83]

Just as In Held twas in I...Life is so simple people dont realize it, its all a process of learning and in that process there is happiness, sadness, redemption and than the answer that was there the whole time, whatever it may be. Simplicity is genious.

[SephynnXx]

THE BEATLES???? lol

Good band, just started searching their music and getting to know them....

[neoldironwhfc1]

god bes u........an  mennt seeee daugs,,bro

[ecritoire89]

Thanks for the post.  I always have loved this one.

[maltlooter]

Not that it matters, but I was born in 1970, and this is my favorite album of all time. Fighting the tears right now...

[busylizzie2009]

I think it was 1969 when I decided that I wanted this song played at my funeral. Nearly 40 years on, I haven't changed my mind. Hows that for a compliment Mr Fisher?

[lekezenman]

If you keep that idea for all these years...you might be right ,or you did not have the chance tot evolve in an evolving world...

Mine will have to be religuous not from a band I love but music but from a spiritual inspiration.

[ecritoire89]

This is one that I want played at my funeral, too. I'm a 40-year "veteran" rock musician (we're all little pirates, anyway!), and I quit college when I was 20 to play full time. My parents flipped, and I don't blame them. Finally, I went back in 1992 and ended up teaching college (and having 3 college degrees).

Mr. Fisher's singing the story of my life, here, I do believe.

[HURLEYP]

Anyone know of any footage of Gary doing "Old Manhattan Melodies" live from his solo "No More Fear of Flying" album? I'd give my next door neighbors dog for it! No, seriously, I'd love to get a hold of it if such footage exists.

[sumpin9]

I'm not that old(25) and I love metal, used to love hip hop..I like a lot of stuff, but this album's gotta rank in my top 10 albums of all time..wow! I just love this!

[avrillo]

You've got taste that's why! A Salty Dog is probably the best Harum album of all. Classic Procol Harum. Matthew Fisher is indeed a very fine song writer. I also like some metal and hip hop ;)

[starless1969]

bella bella bella!!!

[beatlebonzo]

Fine song - I can't believe I had forgotten

about this tune - along with Quite Rightly So,

and who can ever forget Repent Walpurgis?

I saw the PBS fundraiser "British Invasion"

last year and PH was one of the bands they

got together for their concert. They still

sounded great and the Hammond Organ Shines

On Brightly.

[wgoco]

weren't these guys a Monkees cover Group

[pcollenYT]

LMAO....you would think so, from the way they dressed initially. Much like the audience at the Stones Rock n'Roll Circus..like a bunch of Tele-tubby's. But their songs were MUCH better, with some killer tunes (Whiskey Train, for one); they had Trower...

[ecritoire89]

You're kidding, aren't you?

[jem3333]

The live AWSoP on that PBS fundraiser was taken from the DVD "Procol Harum Live at the Union Chapel" recorded 12/03when Matthew Fisher was still in the band.

Pilgrim's Progress is one of their best sounding studio recordings, as are the original AWSoP and Repent Walpurgis, but on most of their tunes, IMHO, their Live sound was infinitely superior, and  never captured adequately on disc until the Union Chapel.

[chriskar5]

One of the most beautiful songs of Procol Harum. Fisher has a great voice, but Brooker kept him from singing except on a few songs and it is a shame.For all that love this song I recommend Fisher solo albums - they are awesome.After listening to them you will see , how much style Matthew Fisher put into Procol Harum.

[06301954]

This is an unbelievable song. To think that just few aficionados really know of i it's quite sad.

This was such a great band!

Inimitable sound and lyrics.

How many memories....

ringlese

[quark51]

I saw them live a thousand years ago in Montreal (Place des Nations on the fairground, now an empty shell). For some reason I remember this song, especially the part from 3:13 on. They jammed it up and everyone in the crowd was moving to it. What a great concert, what a great band.

[jdal1950]

BHB is from Kansas

James David

[simskennethjv]

Bought a Music For Pleasure issue of album "Salty Dog" at a cash and carry store back in 1973 when I was in early teens. MFP 5277 STEREO.

Pilgrims Progress - a great track to finish a great album.

Best 50p I ever spent!

[verbaud]

This is a brilliant majestic album. Radio idiots would have us think they only recorded one song, Whiter Shade, oh but there was more...Pilgrim's Progress: imagine every singer who's passed on...this is his/her song!

[bartonone2005]

Thanks SIRIO222 for posting this wonderful but often overlooked song. It contains, perhaps, Keith Reid's most accessible lyrics. The coda is among the finest ever written for a pop song. Right up there with Mick Ronson's coda for Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love."

[ZIPPTPH77]

Is this album cover a take off on the Zig Zag rolling papers?

[verbaud]

Player's Navy Cut, a brand of English cigarettes....word play for A Salty Dog (sailor), clever boys, eh?

[CaptainPrivate]

One of my favorite bands of all time. Just look at that album cover! The "hero" sailor and the style, color etc.....(loosely based on the Players cigarettes packaging)....unique in so many ways...every song is a masterpiece!. We shouted "devil came from Kansas" at Massey Hall in Toronto at a PH Concert...hitch-hiked from Kansas....Gary Brooker replied, "and he's here tonight!" to which the crowd lauged...but PH didn't play Devil Came from Kansas that night!....

[calmclam123]

god this was one astoudning ablum

merci beaucoup

[avery7001]

Words; Where He came from ,I can`t say ,If You really are My Brother ,Then You`d better start to pray.

[neloandrade]

nos dias de hoje nao se criam grupos deste genero, (bravissimos PROCOL HARUM).

[Midnightman3741]

This is the one album I'd take with me on a deserted island. Can somebody put up "The Devil Came From Kansas"?

[61dodgelancer]

I bought A Salty Dog in '69. Love this song. Thanks!

[ZIPPTPH77]

I like when Gary sings it live, it used to be on you tube.

[npe56]

Was/still is a great fan of Procol Harum - saw them several times in the seventies, in

Denmark, and still have all their records. And I must say, that Pilgrims Progress is one of the best records that i´ve ever heard. Just fantastic!

[gordiebell]

listened again..........atmospheric.

[gordiebell]

Forgot how good PH were.

I loved them in 60's.

Wish I'd kept up with them.

[mandok48]

how was it possible tu buy that dvd?

[Midnightman3741]

Yes, I loved that video. I just ordered a copy of the dvd that it was on.

[HURLEYP]

What DVD was that on - wouldn't mind getting a copy of it.

Thanks!

[mandok48]

These is the wonderful original singed by matthew Fisher.

There was, here on youtube, a fantastic live version by Gary Brooker, probably bettre than the studio version with a B.j. Wilson great performance.

[Midnightman3741]

beautiful song