242.3m all-time streams (11 Jan '26)

British rock group Procol Harum began life as a psychedelic band and evolved into one of the leading acts in art rock and prog rock, all without changing much about their essential approach.

Lead singer and pianist Gary Brooker gave the group their trademark sound with his downbeat vocals and lush melodies, while primary lyricist Keith Reid added words that often pondered the unpredictability of fate in songs like "A Whiter Shade of Pale," "A Salty Dog," and "Conquistador." Their music was executed with keen skill and passion, and the band was also one of the first to experiment with large-scale orchestration, as well as performing on-stage with a full symphony ensemble. 1967's Procol Harum featured their first and most enduring hit, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and 1969's A Salty Dog is widely regarded as their masterpiece, while 1972's Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was a successful orchestral experiment. 2004's The Well's on Fire and 2017's Novum were studio highlights from the years after Brooker reunited the band in the '90s.