LP, PROCOL HARUM 1st LP, DERAM DES 18008, Stereo, 1972? "A Whiter Shade of Pale"

$

26

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1 LP

PROCOL HARUM

DERAM DES 18008

Reprocessed Stereo

Originally 1967

This 1972?

I bought this LP new in December1972.

Cover - Shrink on.  Cut corner bottom left.  Price tag on shrink.  No writing.  Aside from the cutoff corner there is vey little shelving/handling evidence.

Vinyl - Some rubs, very clean.  Plays like new.

Sleeve - London, Deram, Parrott paper with album pix.

Deadwax:

Side 1:    T        SAHS 1511 - 1G       l      B

Side 2:    T        SAHS 1512 - 1G       l      B      l 8

Pressing Rings 69mm

Vinyl weight- 4 oz. 114-115g

No poster was included when I bought this, none now.

bsnpubs indicates this has later than 1967 labels.  Informative write-up about DERAM.

cvinyl pictures a similar label design, dated 1970’s.

wikipedia credits some additional band members on Whiter Shade Of Pale

Several of the albums pictured on the sleeve were released in 1971, so the sleeve is not earlier than 1971.

The T is upside down, relative to the rest of the etchings.  Indicates a Columbia Terre Haute pressing.

The cover looks just like those on line for original pressings.  The labels and sleeve suggest a 1971 or 1972 release.

The 1G in the runout are Columbia’s information that (G) a second set of masters was made and sent to their pressing plants, and (1) the original tape used for the 1st set was used again (says analogplanet).  If so, this pressing may have better sound quality than an original pressing from a stamper that that may have stamped a thousand or more copies.

Side 1’s “She Wandered … Fence” has a fade-out ending.  

Very cool band.  “Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Conquistador” continue to rank up there for me.  One of the neater covers from the era.

I don’t know very much about this band.  When I listen to some of it again, I’m intrigued by the organ doing some serious leading, the guitar not always on top, but always making me wish for more.  Gary Brooker’s vocals are the perfect fit for the various rhythms this band produces.  Lyrics for the songs are accessible on line, I think the Procol Harum site sponsors them.

Reading the lyrics of Whiter Shade of Pale has me figuring this song is a retelling of one of those magical nights when the music, dance, liquor, drugs, and love-hope peaked and the later days memory mixed reality and fantasy.  The music has a kind of sentimental, raw edge to it.  

We’re getting the singer’s version of what happened, his girlfriend passing out and speaking from some delirium-vortex.

But what if it was his face that turned a Whiter Shade of Pale and he slipped into Neverland, and the confused memory is what he dreamed?

Aah, fun with poetry.

High quality cover and vinyl.  Almost yours.

US shipping only

Shipped in LP mailer