Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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In Held 'Twas in I

In live performance


We know of many concerts, principally with the 'Dave Ball' line-up, when Procol Harum played about sixty percent of this remarkable suite of songs from the Shine on Brightly album. The table below, however, seeks to collect instances when the entire suite – including the two opening monologues – has been played on stage. Please let us know of omissions.

690707 Stratford, Ontario
Brooker, Fisher, Knights,
Trower, Wilson
According to this review the suite had never been played live before. Choir and orchestra were involved, but the review speaks of the 'five man' group, so Keith Reid's participation is not established
711118 Edmonton, Alberta
Ball, Brooker, Cartwright,
Copping,  Wilson + Reid
The performance, with choir and orchestra, constituted the whole of the second side of Procol's celebrated sixth album
720922 The Rainbow
Brooker, Cartwright, Copping,
Grabham, Wilson + Reid
This was the first Procol gig played by Mick Grabham ... what a baptism! This review mentions the performance of the suite: Keith Reid read his own words, though the review doesn't mention him.
720930 Winterthur
Brooker, Cartwright, Copping,
Grabham, Wilson + Reid

'The group did then perform the suite In Held 'Twas In I in its full length with the participation of Keith Reid. I tend to think that the orchestra with musical director Eberhard Schöner and the choir were involved ... '

BtP asked Chris Copping if the suite had been played on more of these Schöner dates.
His reply was 'Can't remember how many times we did all In Held. Not very often will have to suffice.'

721005 Frankfurt
Brooker, Cartwright, Copping,
Grabham, Wilson + Reid
Peter Krott writes from Düsseldorf, 'I'm sure to hear In Held Twas In I in Frankfurt at 5th October 1972. The words were spoken by Keith Reid, with Orchestra and Choir of course under the leadership of Eberhard Schöner.'
730921 Hollywood Bowl
Brooker, Cartwright, Copping
 Grabham, Wilson + Reid
Earwitness reports confirm that the band played the suite, with choir and orchestra, and with Keith Reid, of whose participation photographic evidence survives
760727 Sandefjord (almost full!)
Brooker, Copping, Grabham,
Solley, Wilson
The suite was not quite complete on this band-only occasion; 'Held Close' was omitted, and consequently we assume that Keith Reid did not take part.
(801112) Munich, Circus Krone
Brooker, Giblin, Vincent,
Weindorfer, Wilson
Conducted by Eberhard Schöner, this performance (with choir and orchestra) featured Gary and Barrie with non-Procoloid guitar, bass, and organ. Both monologues were given by the pianist, the second being partly-sung
970719 Redhill
Broad, Bronze, Brooker,
Copping, Fisher, Grabham,
Pegg, Solley + Douglas
Adams
An amazingly-moving band-only version in which a shifting cast of musicians came and went from number to number. Keith Reid was in the USA; Douglas Adams read his lines.
050306 Bloomsbury
Brooker, Brzezicki, Pegg,
Phillips, Whitehorn + Reid
After a number of false alarms when Procol might have played the suite, band-only, in the twenty-first century, all our dreams were redeemed in this magnificent surprise ... including, once again, the poet for 'Held Close ...'
050318 Amager Bio, Copenhagen
Brooker, Brzezicki, Pegg,
Phillips, Whitehorn + Pegg!
Matt Pegg makes his solo vocal début with the band, on the Keith Reid lines, in this full performance of the suite for the massed faithful in the Baltic capital of Procoldom.
050319 Birkerod, Denmark
Brooker, Brzezicki, Pegg,
Phillips, Whitehorn + Pegg again
Another full performance of the suite, our first positive instance of its having been played on two consecutive evenings.
050320 Aarhus, Denmark
Brooker, Brzezicki, Pegg,
Phillips, Whitehorn + Pegg again
Another full performance of the suite, our first positive instance of its having been played on three consecutive evenings.
050331 Trondheim, Norway
Brooker, Brzezicki, Pegg,
Phillips, Whitehorn + Pegg again
Played towards the end (barring three encores) of a monster gig
050401 Tromso, Norway
Brooker, Brzezicki, Pegg,
Phillips, Whitehorn + Pegg again
Our second positive instance of its having been played on two consecutive evenings.Yet another treat for the loyal Scandinavian audiences of Procol Harum!

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