The First Four
Procol Harum's early work remains a fascinating crossroads where classical ambition meets blues-rock grit, and this retrospective gathers their first essential recordings in one place. The group emerged in the late sixties with "A Whiter Shade of Pale," a baroque pop landmark that announced their refusal to stay in any one lane, and these tracks showcase the restless intelligence that defined their approach—symphonic arrangements colliding with earthier blues sensibilities, lyrics that ranged from introspective to surreal. Whether you're hearing the orchestral sweep of "Shine On Brightly" or the leaner, grittier moments, there's a sense of a band constantly questioning what rock music could be. For anyone interested in the era when prog and psychedelia first started reaching toward classical forms, or simply in how a group could balance accessibility with genuine adventurousness, these four sides chart the territory they staked out before settling into their longer explorations.
Item Details+
| Genre | Rock, Blues |
| Style | Blues Rock, Pop Rock, Symphonic Rock |
| Media | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Sleeve | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Label | Metro Doubles |
| Year | 2003 |
| Country | UK |
| Format | CD |
Tracklist+
Procol Harum
1-1. Conquistador 2:40
1-2. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence 3:24
1-3. Something Following Me 3:38
1-4. Mabel 1:53
1-5. Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of) 5:02
1-6. A Christmas Camel 4:49
1-7. Kaleidoscope 2:54
1-8. Salad Days (Are Here Again) 3:39
1-9. Good Captain Clack 1:31
1-10. Repent Walpurgis 5:02
Shine On Brightly
1-11. Quite Rightly So 3:37
1-12. Shine On Brightly 3:31
1-13. Skip Softly (My Moonbeams) 3:45
1.14. Wish Me Well 3:16
1.15. Rambling On 4:28
1-16. Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone) 2:50
In Held Twas In I
A Salty Dog
2-1. A Salty Dog 4:38
2-2. The Milk Of Human Kindness 3:43
2-3. Too Much Between Us 3:41
2-4. The Devil Came From Kansas 4:38
2-5. Boredom 4:31
2-6. Juicy John Pink 2:05
2-7. Wreck Of The Hesperus 3:45
2-8. All This And More 3:45
2-9. Crucifiction Lane 4:55
2-10. Pilgrim's Progress 4:32
Home
2-11. Whisky Train 4:30
2-12. Dead Man's Dream 4:44
2-13. Still There'll Be More 4:57
2-14. Nothing That I Don't Know 3:37
2-15. About To Die 3:36
2-16. Barnyard Story 2:44
2-17. Piggy Pig Pig 4:47
2-18. Whaling Stories 7:08
2-19. Your Own Choice 3:09
Data provided by Discogs.