A SALTY DOG

A stunning artwork using a cigarette logo, slightly changed by Keith Reid's wife (also responsible for the debut's artwork and the following Home album) to resemble her husband, this album also came with different track listing depending on which side of the Atlantic you were on. The title track you will find starting the album was previously released as a single and in some country was left off the album to which it gave its name. You will easily understand that the ideal version of the album includes that great track (and most likely with the much weaker B-side Long Gone Geek). One of the few differences is that Matthew Fisher's organ is much absent throughout the album, as he is busy producing the album, writing tracks and playing more instruments than just his Hammond.

This album is however quite deceiving in many ways as it is very unfocused and completely uneven, although it has some brilliant tracks on it also. After the title track (we will assume that it is an integral part of the album and the track is a sailor's expression for a sexual delicacy) is followed by a bunch of rather strange and non-Procol tracks such as the Trower-blues-penned Juicy John Pink or the Fisher-penned (and sung) Boredom and the weird Devil Came From Kansas, all of which have most members playing instruments that they are not used to. A rather weak first side, if you ask me. One has to wait for the second side of the album with Wreck Of Hesperus, Crucifiction Lane, All This And More, to get to the central moment of the album. Once you are in that stretch, then this album is almost the equal of its two predecessor. Unfortunately, this is much too short to even come higher than the waist level of the previous SOB.

After this album, with the never-ending tours of US and Europe, Fisher will leave the group and Dave Knights (never really inventive, but a solid executor of written bass lines) will also find himself out the door, but A Salty Dog is maybe best linked with Home even if there is a big line-up change. Ideally, Procol's third album should be acquired with the fourth album Home, for both albums have ups and downs but in a single package, both albums will become essential listening for the proghead.

Share this PROCOL HARUM review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Sean Trane
• Report this review (#30761)
• Buy PROCOL HARUM music online with PA partners
• Show all PROCOL HARUM MP3/Stream
• Go to PROCOL HARUM page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to A Salty Dog page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PROCOL HARUM related discussions