PROCOL HARUM/BROKEN BARRICADES ILPS 9158 (-71) UK

Continuing my pushing for one of the greatest bands ever. At the time for recording a lot was happening in and around the gang. Matthew Fisher had left after the "Salty Dog" album and they just broke up from EMI and signed a new contract with Island/Chrysalis. Guitarist Robin Trower was also about to quit and this became his last as a group member. With all that going on you should expect it to show on the album - one or two bad ideas or at least one inferior cut, but there's nothing of the kind here. This is a tophole LP and all eight tracks are ready for love. Riff rockers, psych and ballads - well written songs with catchy melodies and poetic lyrics. Fisher's organ had been one of their main characteristics in the sixties, but you don't miss that at all here. It's simply a new sound with more varied arrangements and prominent guitars. Favorite tracks at the moment - "Broken Barricades", "Power Failure" and "Playmate Of The Mouth. IMO it should have been a list topper, but only managed #41 in UK and #32 on Billboard. First US on A&M (SP-4294). Premiere UK had label as shown here with "i" logo on top and fold/out cover with die-cut front. (PRÖX*)