It's hard to separate the name of Procol Harum from the song that made them popular worldwide back in 1967, namely "A Whiter Shade of Pale"... that Hammond organ riff by Gary Brooker, inspired by Bach, was one of the sound symbols of the 60s, and not only that, given that the single of the track made several notable comebacks in the world charts over the years, eventually breaking the barrier of 10 million copies sold.
In Italy, the band caught particular attention from local artists, since both Dik Dik ("Senza luce") and Camaleonti ("L'ora dell'amore," or "Homburg") became successful with remakes of their songs. But Procol Harum, although inevitably associated with that classic, were able to produce other great music, and in 1969 they released their third work, namely this "A Salty Dog," which in our country still had a particular resonance, and those with my age or older might remember in what context.
For those who aren't around the "forties" like myself, let me clarify that in the mid-70s, there was a hugely popular program on Rai among the youth of the time, called "Avventura," which was a show dedicated to documentaries about nature or specific exploration endeavors in remote or unknown places. The opening theme was sung by Joe Cocker, a cover of "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" by the Beatles, and the closing theme was precisely "A Salty Dog" by Procol Harum. Anyone who remembers all this perhaps, like me, still associates the first notes of strings and piano of the track (with the sounds of the sea and seagulls) to the sunset over the sea (in black and white, unfortunately, but all it took was to dream the colors...) of the show's theme, and perhaps, like me, gets emotional just like back then...
"A Salty Dog" is one of the most extraordinary melodies in rock history, undoubtedly on the level of the greatest Beatles classics, where everything sounds wonderfully... from Gary Brooker's voice, delicate and powerful at the same time, to the orchestral strings in the background, to the choice of pauses and crescendos. The lyrics tell the story of tragedy and hope of a group of shipwreck survivors, a recurring theme in the band's discography, if you think of "The Wreck of the Hesperus" present on this same album, and in "Whaling Stories" from the previous "Shine on Brightly." In front of such a classic, at what level does the rest of the album stand? In my opinion, it's more than good; the remaining tracks should be listened to and evaluated on their own, otherwise, the comparison could unjustly undervalue them. In particular, I find the final triad of side B excellent (I still have the vinyl record...), composed of the piano ballad "All This and More," the warm and intense blues of "Crucifixion Lane," and "Pilgrims Progress," the latter with some similarities to "A Whiter Shade of Pale," especially in the use of the organ in the background, yet absolutely not repetitive compared to the aforementioned classic. Two episodes based on acoustic guitar are also worth noting with pleasure: the delicate and highly refined "Too Much Between Us," which might interest Nick Drake fans, and "Boredom," which, despite the title, is not boring at all, on the contrary, the flute and percussion give it a lively hippie party atmosphere....
Procol Harum then show their claws (in their own way, of course...) in "The Devil Came From Kansas," the track most akin to hard rock, and they reimmerse in the tragic atmosphere of marine (mis)adventures in "The Wreck of the Hesperus," while "Juicy John Pink" is a very "standard" blues, with Robin Trower in the spotlight. "The Milk of Human Kindness" is instead the least memorable track on the album.
A last note on Procol Harum's style; in my opinion, beyond the obvious influences, mainly traceable to classical music and blues, this group had a very original sound (notice I said original, not revolutionary), and not easily labelable. Another point in their favor. However, it's a pity that in their (few) subsequent works, there was a premature decline. For the record, the band reunited in the early 90s, but it failed to generate significant buzz around them.
Nonetheless, even if it's not a masterpiece (except for the title track, which is, indeed!), "A Salty Dog" deserves to be listened to again or discovered, because it's worth it.
Ratings: "A Salty Dog" - song: 6; rest of the album: 4
I also include the lyrics of the song "A Salty Dog"
"All hands on deck, we've run afloat! I heard the captain cry
Explore the ship, replace the cook: let no one leave alive!
Across the straits, around
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 A Salty Dog (04:44)
'All hands on deck, we've run afloat!' I heard the captain cry
'Explore the ship, replace the cook: let no one leave alive!'
Across the straits, around the Horn: how far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course, and no one left alive
We sailed for parts unknown to man, where ships come home to die
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold, could match our captain's eye
Upon the seventh seasick day we made our port of call
A sand so white, and sea so blue, no mortal place at all
We fired the gun, and burnt the mast, and rowed from ship to shore
The captain cried, we sailors wept: our tears were tears of joy
Now many moons and many Junes have passed since we made land
A salty dog, this seaman's log: your witness my own hand
02 The Milk of Human Kindness (03:48)
(Brooker / Reid)
When you knew that I had given all the kindness that I had
did you think that it might be time to stop?
When you knew that I was through
that I'd done all I could do
did you really have to milk the final drop?
Not content with my mistake
you behaved just like a snake
and you left me for a wasp without a sting
Tell all my friends back home
that I did it on my own
and that to their well-worn cares they should cling
When you knew that I had given all the kindness that I had
did you feel you had to break that lonely vow?
When you knew that I was through
that I'd done all I could do
did you really have to sow that final plough?
Not content with my mistake, you behaved just like a snake
and you left me for a wasp without a sting
Tell all the folks back home that he did it on his own
and that to their well-worn cares they should cling
03 Too Much Between Us (03:45)
There's you, you're sleeping over there
whilst me I'm sitting here
with so much sea between us
I can't make it much more clear
There'll be no time for crying
We won't make it more than six
I could change my plea to guilty
but I don't think it would stick
Still those other ratings far too easy to despise
You've said so much in silence now I truly am disguised
Let him who fears his heart alone
stand up and make a speech
For him perhaps an emperor's throne
if he could only speak
Far too few and far to follow
For shame I'll heed the cry
Be with me when I need a drink
be with me when I die
Still those other ratings far too easy to despise
You've said so much in silence now indeed I am disguised
04 The Devil Came From Kansas (04:39)
(Brooker / Reid)
The Devil came from Kansas. Where he went to I can't say
Though I teach I'm not a preacher, and I aim to stay that way
There's a monkey riding on my back, been there for some time
He says he knows me very well but he's no friend of mine
I am not a humble pilgrim
there's no need to scrape and squeeze
and don't beg for silver paper
when I'm trying to sell you cheese
The Devil came from Kansas. Where he went to I can't say
If you really are my brother then you'd better start to pray
for the sins of those departed and the ones about to go
There's a dark cloud just above us, don't tell me 'cos I know
I am not a humble pilgrim
there's no need to scrape and squeeze
and don't beg for silver paper
when I'm trying to sell you cheese
No I never came from Kansas, don't forget to thank the cook
Which reminds me of my duty: I was lost and now I look
for the turning and the signpost and the road which takes you down
to that pool inside the forest in whose waters I shall drown
I am not a humble pilgrim
there's no need to scrape and squeeze
and don't beg for silver paper
when I'm trying to sell you cheese
05 Boredom (04:35)
Some say they will and some say they won't
Some say they do and some say they don't
Some say they shall and some say they shan't
and some say they can and some say they can't
All in all it's all the same
but call me if there's any change
Some say there's nothing and some say there's lots
Some say they've started while some say they've stopped
Some say they're going and some say they've been
Yes, some say they're looking and some say they've seen
All in all it's all the same
but call me if there's any change
06 Juicy John Pink (02:07)
Well I opened my eyes this morning
I wasn't at home in bed
There were four angels standing round me
I thought I must be dead
Yeah I opened my eyes this morning
Thought I must be dead
There were four angels standing round me
and the room was painted red
Won't you have mercy on your wicked son
Take me up to heaven not hell where I belong
Yeah!
Well the sky began to tremble
and the rain began to fall
Four angels standing round me
and it weren't no social call
Yeah, the sky began to tremble
the rain began to fall
I fell down on my knees praying, Lord!
but it didn't do no good at all
Won't you have mercy on your wicked son
Take me up to heaven not hell where I belong
Yeah!
07 Wreck of the Hesperus (05:51)
(Fisher / Reid)
We'll hoist a hand, becalmed upon a troubled sea
'make haste to your funeral,' cries the valkyrie
We'll hoist a hand or drown amidst this stormy sea
'here lies a coffin,' cries the cemetery, it calls to me
And all for nothing quite in vain was hope forever tossed
No thoughts explained, no moments gained, all hope forever lost
One moment's space, one moment's final fall from grace
Burnt by fire, blind in sight, lost in ire
We'll hoist a hand, becalmed upon a troubled sea
I fear a mighty wave is threatening me
We'll hoist a hand, or drown amidst this stormy sea
'come follow after,' cry the humble, 'you will surely see ...'
But still for nothing quite in vain was hope forever tossed
No moments gained, no thoughts explained, all hope forever lost
One moment's space, one moment's final fall from grace
Burnt by fire, blind in sight, lost in ire
10 Pilgrims Progress (04:32)
(Fisher / Reid)
I sat me down to write a simple story
which maybe in the end became a song
In trying to find the words which might begin it
I found these were the thoughts I brought along
At first I took my weight to be an anchor
and gathered up my fears to guide me round
but then I clearly saw my own delusion
and found my struggles further bogged me down
In starting out I thought to go exploring
and set my foot upon the nearest road
In vain I looked to find the promised turning
but only saw how far I was from home
In searching I forsook the paths of learning
and sought instead to find some pirate's gold
In fighting I did hurt those dearest to me
and still no hidden truths could I unfold
I sat me down to write a simple story
which maybe in the end became a song
The words have all been writ by one before me
We're taking turns in trying to pass them on
Oh, we're taking turns in trying to pass them on
11 Homburg (03:43)
Your multilingual business friend
has packed her bags and fled
Leaving only ash-filled ashtrays
and the lipsticked unmade bed
The mirror on reflection
has climbed back upon the wall
for the floor she found descended
and the ceiling was too tall
Your trouser cuffs are dirty
and your shoes are laced up wrong
you'd better take off your homburg
'cos your overcoat is too long
The town clock in the market square
stands waiting for the hour
when its hands they both turn backwards
and on meeting will devour
both themselves and also any fool
who dares to tell the time
And the sun and moon will shatter
and the signposts cease to sign
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