A SALTY DOG

Given the disagreement between Brooker and Fisher on the authorship of "Whiter Shade of Pale" (Fisher won, paving the way for more equitable sharing of the wealth with the musicians who play on hit records), I'd say that Fisher proves the more elegant musician on "Salty Dog." I have always thought this was their masterpiece by a long shot, and the great "Pilgrim's Progress" is so obviously a rewrite of "Whiter" but to my ears an even better piece of music that it seems pretty clear to me that Fisher's departure from the group after this one spelled the end of Procol in many ways. The stuff after this is more mannered, and Brooker proves a bit hard to take over the long haul. So he needed Fisher--whose organ sound is, after all, the thing people remember about Procol.

So this is their best--a grade-B-movie semi-schlock work that doesn't say all that much about the sea but says a lot about how pop art can be fun. Great "blues," fine melodies and a lotta variety here to boot. Quite elegant.