Disco de Procol Harum: “Halcyon Daze: The Best of Procol Harum”

Here we go again, another Procol Harum Greatest Hits package, and the album that really works is completely unrecognized. Much maligned in many rock books, "Broken Barricades" is always represented by one tune, "Simple Sister". Of course even a cursory listen proves it to be the best Procol Harum album after "A Salty Dog". Really. "Home" is short on melody, and although I love "Shine on Brightly", I have to admit it's got it's self-indulgent moments. For those who love "A Whiter Shade of Pale", there is no argument. But since that album is firmly in the public consciousness, why worry about it. "Broken Barricades", on the other hand, seems to have fallen off the map. No CD re-release, cursory mention in rock guides, and almost no representation on the greatest hits collections. It's a shame, because it's a great album. Not just "Simple Sister", but the whole first side builds up to amazing crescendos that benefit from Robin Trower's guitar. The second side starts with an admittedly conventional Procol Harum number, "Power Failure", but just when you thought you heard it before there's a great drum break that sounds like something from a kraut-rock album. Then the album enters Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" territory with a spacey guitar jam. The horn section on the penultimate track is as gripping as anything they've done. The Stones would be proud. Finally "Poor Muhammed" wraps things up with another good rock tune. This album spends more time on my turntable than it does in the sleeve. It should be re-released on CD.

Henry Scott-Irvine is to be commended for his hand-picked selection of some of Procol Harum's greatest songs, including Cerdes (Outside the Gates of), Fantastic shots of the band from the early years with excellent liner notes. A great value at this price!