Tony Hall

And his relationship to Procol Harum

• Tony Hall managed the label the single was on
  We don't know where the article was printed: the clipping gives no indication. But readers of the music press might have spotted a piece at the end of May in the New Musical Express, which that 'Deram manager Tony Hall forecasts label's first No 1 with Procol Harum's big hit';
• He had personal connections with the band
  The NME claimed (3 June 1967) that 'Deram's Tony Hall has a cat with Procol Harum pedigree' and the following week asserted that 'Tony Hall's wife is secretary to Procol Harum's personal manager Jonathan Weston ... '
• He had worked on the record before it came out
  Hall declared in the 10 June edition of Disc and Music Echo 'I was working on it for about two weeks before release, but even I was a little shattered it broke so quickly.'
• He was involved in Essex Music
  In a BBC interview Matthew states that 'Essex Music, who were basically the production company, had working for them a guy called Tony Hall ...'

Brooker and Reid's responses and reminiscences about Hall are positive:

• Keith Reid in 1967
  By the start of July, though, NME vouchedsafe that Procol had terminated their association with Weston, and that, '... with the departure from Decca of Tony Hall - who played such a large part in promoting the group's No 1 hit - there is widespread speculation regarding the rôle he will play in the Harum's future. Reid told the NME: "We should be very happy if Tony were to be involved with us."'
• Gary Brooker in 1995
  Gary told Mojo that 'Tony Hall arranged to get it played on the pirate Radio London'

So it is no particular surprise that by 2 September 1967 NME confirmed that 'Tony Hall has been signed to handle all radio and TV promotion for Procol Harum'