Procol Harum - "Conquistador" Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1972)

Please excuse the typo error year released date in the video. It's 1972

Procol Harum's lyricist Keith Reid told us the story behind this song: "Gary Brooker and I, before we formed Procol Harum, when we were just working together as songwriters and getting into it, we had this regular deal where he lived about 40 miles from London near the ocean, and I'd jump on a train once a week and go visit him. He'd have a bunch of my lyrics and he'd play me whatever he had been working on. This particular time, though, I'd got down there and he'd been working on a tune. He said, 'What does this sound like to you?' And I said, 'Oh, conquistador.' It had a little bit of a Spanish flavor to it. I went into another room and started writing the words there and then. 99 out of 100 of those Procol Harum songs were written the words first, and then were set to music. But that particular one, the words hadn't existed before he had the musical idea."

Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers who set out to conquer the Americas after their discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

This became a hit when Procol Harum recorded it live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on November 18, 1971. It was released in 1972 on the aptly titled album Procol Harum Live with the Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in the 1960s, who contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale." Although noted for its classical influence, Procol Harum's music also embraces the blues and pop.

Based in Southend, Essex, The Paramounts, led by Gary Brooker and Robin Trower and including Chris Copping, scored a moderate British success in 1964 with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Poison Ivy," which reached number 35 in the UK singles chart. Unable to generate any follow-up success, the group disbanded in 1966.

In April 1967, Brooker began working as a singer/songwriter and formed Procol Harum with non-Paramounts Keith Reid (poet), Hammond organist Matthew Fisher, guitarist Ray Royer and bassist David Knights. Guy Stevens, their original manager, named the band after a friend's Burmese cat. The name has been said to be Latin for "beyond these things", but the correct Latin translation of "beyond these things" is Procul His. Alternatively, the name has been translated as "of these far off things" (harum is in the feminine, genitive, plural). However, procul would not be followed by a genitive in Latin. The name of the band is frequently misspelled; often with Procul, Harem, both, or other variations.

At Olympic Studios, with session drummer (and non-Paramount) Bill Eyden, producer Denny Cordell, and sound engineer Keith Grant, the group recorded "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and officially released on . With the sudden success of this single and The Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin", their label Deram Records became known as a premier progressive rock label .

After "A Whiter Shade of Pale" became a hit, the band set out to consolidate their studio success by touring; their live debut was opening for Jimi Hendrix in 1967.
The group's follow-up single, "Homburg", with a lineup change of former Paramounts B.J. Wilson on drums and Robin Trower on guitar, was almost as successful in the UK as it reached #6, but the LP Procol Harum, was less successful (it was recorded soon between the two hit singles, but was held back until early 1968 and in mono and phony stereo, which was unusual by that time). A series of singles charted lowly in the US and UK, though rarely both at the same time. A Salty Dog (1969; see 1969 in music) was popular among fans, and was their first album to sell well in the UK; it is still regarded as one of their finest albums. The title track in particular gained a good deal of US FM radio airplay, with Reid's ominous lyrics in the forefront. However, Fisher, who produced this album, departed the band soon after its release.

Procol returned to success on the music charts in the following years with a distinctly symphonic rock sound, often backed by symphony orchestras. At this they were one of the first groups to achieve success; Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was a #5 gold album in the U.S. in 1972, as well as reaching #48 in Britain. "Conquistador" (a track from their first album, recharted for accompaniment by the Edmonton Symphony in 1971) was a hit single in 1972, getting to #16 in the U.S. with considerable additional FM radio airplay, while reaching #22 in the UK. Their follow-up album, Grand Hotel, did fairly well, reaching #21 on the U.S. Billboard Chart in 1973.

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• Procol
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• Conquistador
• 1972
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[ant240]

this is definately not 1967. this is the version from the live album with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. plus that is Dave Ball on guitar not Robin Trower

[TheBacmaster]

@ant240 That has already been mentioned and corrected.

Thanks ant240

[fabrikk60]

This recording was made in late 1971, not 1967 as the title says. There was a version of this song on the debut Procol Harum album from '67, but that one has no orchestra on it like this one does.

[TheBacmaster]

@fabrikk60 Thank you for pointing out that correction. My information I get is not always accurate.

Respect from Joe

[COBALT6ixty]

This music makes my spanish blood boil and my indian heart bleed

[Boopertew]

Thank you so much for this video...it is amazing and awesme...and it has touched my heart and soul in so many ways...excellent work...Thank You again...

[AndyHandy2010]

@angryhippo2910 Fuck you asshole

[Mod60s]

Still worshipping this classic after all these years!

[myklj999]

@frank02111 The line is "And like some angel's Halo bright, you reek of purity"

[volkswobin]

Thank You, for taking me back to one of the greatest times in my life !

[skontch1]

everyone knows a whiter shade of pale, but this is their best song..just spectacular..

[angryhippo2910]

@frank02111, how stariotypical, americans think they have a right to every thing. Why should it be in america? Just because it says "america" on it.

So self centered.

[rad802]

Great lyrics, great song.

[frank02111]

the first map with the word AMERICA VESPUCI resideds in a vault in Berlin. Pres W Bush offered the Germams 2.5 billion for the map. They turned him down. Thats too bad . I am sure most of mu country servicemen and citizens would agree that., The map dated 1503 should be in the librabry of congress.!!

[CatManDEW]

@nelsonbridge, the part that give me goosebumps is during the last instrumental break when the Hammond B-3 lets out its full-throated scream. It take the entire brass section to compete with that Leslie-enhanced wail. This is my favorite Procol Harum piece which, IMHO, is far and away better than WSOP.

[nelsonbridge]

Great job on the video! I've always loved this song since it came out when I was 16 but now with the vid I get goosebumps.