Procol Harum were among the founding fathers of symphonic and progressive rock. They arrived in 1967 with “A Whiter Shade of Pale” — a Bach-infused organ-and-piano setting of Keith Reid’s surreal poetry, and one of the best-selling singles ever made — and spent the next decade building richly orchestral, sophisticated, often melancholy music. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their classic era.

The short version

For the heart of Procol Harum, start with A Salty Dog, Shine On Brightly, Grand Hotel, the self-titled debut Procol Harum and Broken Barricades. Between them they hold the band’s masterpiece, its early prog epics and its lush orchestral peak. The full ranking is below.

Pioneers of symphonic rock

Procol Harum fused rock with classical music — Gary Brooker’s Bach-inspired organ and piano — with the blues, and with the literary, surreal lyrics of Keith Reid, a rare non-performing wordsmith. From early prog epics to lush orchestral albums and a landmark live collaboration with a full symphony orchestra, they helped open the door for the symphonic prog that followed. Alongside contemporaries like The Moody Blues and The Nice, they were true proto-prog pioneers. A note on the catalogue: the nine albums here are their classic 1967–1977 run, with later reunion albums — and their famous orchestral live album — beyond.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing songwriting, atmosphere and ambition across their golden decade. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate — and across the classic run, the standard rarely dips.

The essential five

At the summit sits A Salty Dog (1969), their masterpiece — diverse, rich and beautifully produced, the album where everything came together. Shine On Brightly (1968) is home to “In Held ’Twas in I”, one of rock’s first true prog epics; Grand Hotel (1973) is their lush orchestral high point. The self-titled debut Procol Harum (1967) carries “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and announced a fully-formed band, and Broken Barricades (1971) is the heavier, guitar-led set that closed Robin Trower’s years in the group in fine style.

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Reliably great

The next tier is strong too. Home (1970) is a darker, more dramatic album with some of B.J. Wilson’s finest drumming, and Exotic Birds and Fruit (1974) is a punchy, well-crafted set that followed the orchestral splendour of Grand Hotel with something earthier.

For completists

Two albums sit lower. Procol’s Ninth (1975), produced by the legendary Leiber and Stoller, leans toward pop and R&B to divisive effect, and Something Magic (1977), their final album of the classic era, is an uneven farewell despite an ambitious orchestral centrepiece. Both are for the devoted rather than the newcomer.

Every classic-era album, in order

Their classic era, 1967–1977, in chronological order — with later reunion albums and the celebrated live orchestral record beyond it. Click through to the full write-up on any record.

Where to start

Begin with A Salty Dog — their finest hour, and a perfect showcase of everything Procol Harum did well. From there, Shine On Brightly offers their early progressive ambition, while the debut delivers the immortal “A Whiter Shade of Pale”.

The players

Procol Harum were led throughout by Gary Brooker, whose soulful voice and piano were the band’s anchor, working from the words of Keith Reid, the non-performing lyricist whose literary, surreal verse set them apart. Their early sound was shaped by Matthew Fisher’s Bach-inflected Hammond organ — the heart of “A Whiter Shade of Pale” — and the blues-rock guitar of Robin Trower, later a celebrated solo artist, with the inventive B.J. Wilson on drums. Brooker, the band’s heart and voice, passed away in 2022, and Keith Reid followed in 2023; B.J. Wilson had died years before, in 1990. Their music endures.

Why they still matter

Procol Harum proved that progressive rock could marry rock to the grandeur of the classical tradition — a path that King Crimson and the symphonic giants would soon follow. With “A Whiter Shade of Pale” they made one of the most enduring records of the century, and across their catalogue they left a body of literate, beautiful, deeply English music that still rewards a close listen.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: read about the best Procol Harum songs, find your way in with our where-to-start-with-Procol Harum guide, or dig up the most underrated Procol Harum albums. You can also place them in the bigger picture with our list of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

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