All Our Dreams Are Sold

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the soulful track "All Our Dreams Are Sold" by Procol Harum from their 1991 album The Prodigal Stranger for all the Zoo Freaks tuning in. This song, one of the standout tracks from the album, was co-written by Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, and Robin Trower, marking a significant reunion of key band members after a 14-year hiatus. According to reviews on ProgArchives, the track is noted for its bluesy guitar riffs and gritty Hammond organ, with Trower’s distinctive guitar work adding a sharp edge that fans have described as a highlight of the album. The song’s lyrics, rich with social commentary, take a swipe at consumer culture, a theme that resonated with listeners and helped the single climb to number 29 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts in 1991.

Diving into the trivia, Cherry Red Records released a remastered and expanded edition of The Prodigal Stranger in 2018, which included previously unreleased bonus tracks like demos from 1990 and a live version of "Holding On" from 2003. An essay by Procol Harum authority Roland Clare, featured in the album’s booklet, quotes Gary Brooker reflecting on the reunion, saying it felt like “picking up where we left off,” despite the absence of their original drummer B.J. Wilson, to whom the album was dedicated after his passing in 1990. Fans on Amazon reviews have shared that the song’s production, while polished for the ‘90s, still carries the band’s signature melancholic vibe, with one reviewer calling it “Trower at his best, showcasing his original style.” The track’s five-and-a-half-minute runtime makes it the longest on the album, giving it room to build with layered instrumentation that some fans on Classic Rock Forums compare to the band’s earlier, more progressive work.

Procol Harum began in 1966 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, rising from the ashes of The Paramounts, a band led by Gary Brooker that had a UK Top 40 hit with “Poison Ivy” but fizzled out. Brooker, a pianist and vocalist, teamed up with lyricist Keith Reid to write original songs, initially hoping other artists would perform them. When that didn’t pan out, they formed their own band in 1967, naming it Procol Harum—a Latin phrase meaning “beyond these things,” reportedly inspired by a misheard cat’s name. Their debut single, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” became a global phenomenon, selling over 10 million copies and blending baroque, classical, and blues influences. The band, with key members like organist Matthew Fisher and guitarist Robin Trower, pioneered a psychedelic rock and proto-prog sound, as noted on their Wikipedia page. Despite lineup changes and a breakup in 1977, Brooker and Reid revived the band for The Prodigal Stranger, bringing back Fisher and Trower for a nostalgic yet fresh chapter.

Fans can connect with Procol Harum through their official website, www.procolharum.com, which offers discography details, tour history, and news. Their official Facebook page shares updates and throwback photos, while their Instagram account posts rare archival content and fan tributes. On X, the band engages with followers, sharing memories and occasional updates. For fan communities, Beyond the Pale is a dedicated fan website run by enthusiasts, packed with detailed archives, interviews, and fan-contributed content. The Procol Harum Fan Group on Facebook is another vibrant space where Zoo Freaks and other devotees discuss the band’s legacy, share rare recordings, and celebrate tracks like “All Our Dreams Are Sold.”