Gary Brooker is a much missed musician noted for original, distinctive and quintessentially British music is respectfully commemorated in this star studded line up performing a compilation of his famous songs and their own classic hits.

Release Date: 29th August 2025

Label: Cherry Red Records

Format: CD/Blu-ray/DVD Set

GARY BROOKER

A glut of top quality artists turned out in December 2023 to remember the music of Procul Harum front man Gary Brooker. They assembled a set list of favourites including Whiter Shade Of Pale, Conquistador, Homburg, Salty Dog and Pandora’s Box.

The Royal Marsden and Cure Parkinson’s were the worthy recipients of funds for this sold out charity event in Guildford.

Those in attendance bore witness to a stellar event featuring so many great songs that this compilation could acquire Best of British status. The package has not only a 2CD recording of the concert but blue ray and DVD video versions too.

AMEN CORNER

Andy Fairweather-Low performs Amen Corner hit Paradise (Half As Nice) as well as solo hit Wide Eyed & Legless. He also contributes with 60’s pop standard Poison Ivy and blues standard Gin House, which was part of Amen Corner’s live repertoire. He also collaborates with Olivia Keast and Sam Tanner to perform Two Fools In Love and Lead Me To The Water respectively. His acoustic style version of Paradise and funkier Wide Eyed add a freshness to the originals but displaying also like all the familiar tunes performed during the evening that they have a timeless quality. Paul Carrack and Mike Rutherford renew their acquaintance with two Mike and The Mechanic hits. Solo he gives a rendition of his Ace hit How Long?

Mike Sanchez might not be as big a household name but his wonderful contribution, and performing with same energy he had with Bill Wyman and The Rhythm Kings is replicated here with 3 songs, including blues standard Blueberry Hill.

BROOKER’S FAVOURITES

A favourite band of Gary Brooker was Dire Straits , bassist John IlIsley represents the band with two of their huge hits Sultans Of Swing and Money for Nothing.. They are different without Mark Knopfler’s vocals, but are interesting in their Dylan-esque delivery. Queen’s Roger Taylor weighs in with Procul Harum song Salty Dog and like all the other versions of Procul Harum during the evening music, retains its majesty and beauty, but on this occasion minus the gulls!

For those who attended the event, this a a tremendous memento of the evening and for those who didn’t, a rare opportunity to see and hear Procul Harum’s songs performed by accomplished artists which are all respectfully as close to the originals you can get. Appropriately, members of Procul Harum also pay their respects to their much missed colleague.

POLISHED PERFORMANCES

Tribute concerts can sometimes be a mish mash of what sounds like under rehearsed songs with even celebrated artists not really knowing what the others are doing in a chaotic jam session. Not this one; the performances are polished all round. Gary Brooker always played with heart and soul, and his contemporaries similarly show the same quality here.

A feature of this album is that when most of these songs were first released, and indeed a glaring element of Gary Brooker’s music, is that we could say we’ve never heard anything like this before.

Each tune stands the test of time.

Procul Harum: Website

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