The Alpha Days, Part 6

David Evans, for BtP

This is the author's own, fascinating research ... it's not been endorsed or validated by the band ... so read, mark, inwardly digest, and draw your own conclusions! To get the most out of it, read the previous instalments first

Therefore, a compilation Procol Harum 1 Album perhaps entitled Alpha Days (Are Here Again) might look as follows:

    1. Alpha

    Recorded at Olympic Studios, London on 29 March 1967

1999 Westside Shine On Brightly Plus - mix retains Royer’s guitar, Eyden (or Harrison?) on drums.

  2. Salad Days (Are Here Again)

    Recorded at Olympic Studios, London on 29 March 1967

    1999 Westside Procol Harum Plus - mix retains Royer’s guitar, Eyden (or Harrison?) on drums.

  3. A Whiter Shade of Pale

    Recorded at Advision Sound Studios, London on 19 April 1967

2003 Classic Records Single 'A' side - which ‘lets us really hear, for the first time, what original guitarist Ray Royer .. was doing in this song’

  4. Lime Street Blues

    Recorded at Advision Sound Studios, London on 19 April 1967

2017 ‘AWSoP ‘Record Store Day’ Fiftieth Anniversary EP’ - in which ‘largely underappreciated guitarist Ray Royer,.... acquits himself very well ‘.

  5. Homburg (extended stereo version)

     Recorded at Lansdowne Studios early summer 1967 -

     1997 Thirtieth Anniversary Anthology Tom Moulton mix - Royer’s guitar not in mix.

  6. In The Wee Small Hours Of Sixpence - backing track

     Recorded at Lansdowne Studios Early summer 1967

     2009 Salvo Shine on Brightly

  7. Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone)

     Recorded early 1967

     2007, Salvo, Fortieth Anniversary series

  8. Easter Egg Track

  Bonus studio mixes

  9. Alpha

    Recorded at Olympic Studios, London on 29 March 1967

    2007 Fortieth Anniversary Edition SALVO (with Royer’s guitar missing from the mix)

  10. Salad Days (Are Here Again)

    Recorded at Olympic Studios, London on 29 March 1967

    2015 Procol Harum : 2CD Deluxe Expanded (with Royer’s guitar missing from the mix)

  11. A Whiter Shade of Pale

    Recorded at Advision Sound Studios, London on 19 April 1967

    1997 Thirtieth Anniversary Anthology Tom Moulton mix - Royer’s guitar not in mix.

  12. Lime Street Blues

    Recorded at Advision Sound Studios, London on 19 April 1967

    2003 Classic Records Single 'B' side

  13. Homburg (1971 stereo mix)

     Royer/Harrison mix overdubbed with BJ Wilson drumming (extent of which debateable).

 Bonus BBC radio performances (Esoteric 2015 Procol Harum : 2CD Deluxe Expanded)

 BBC Light Programme Easybeat session 14 June 1967
  14. Morning Dew
  15. A Whiter Shade of Pale
  16. Mabel

                 To be read in the spirit it was written!!

If anyone knows why any of these takes should not be there (or any others that should be included) please inform me via webmaster@procolharum.com

Likewise are there answers to any of the following questions:-

Re. A Whiter Shade of Pale

    1. Why the stereo version of the original single has not appeared on any official Procol Harum release?

    2. Is the 2003 Classic 7” single variant as different as they claim?

    Salad Days (Are Here Again)

    3. Who was playing the drums on the early version of Salad Days (and possibly Alpha)?

    Lime Street Blues

    4. Why the variant takes have not appeared as bonus tracks on any CD compilations?

    Easter Egg Track

    5. Is there any further information out there?

    Homburg / In The Wee Small Hours of Sixpence

    6. When and what did Procol Harum 1 record at the Lansdowne Studios?

    Magdalene (My Regal Zonophone)

    7. When and where was it first recorded?

Many thanks, Dave, for this wonderful extended feature

More Procol Features at this website | More of this fascinating feature