Conquistador (Live 1974 @ January Sound Dallas)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the vibrant "Conquistador (Live 1974 @ January Sound Dallas)" by Procol Harum, a track from the "ZOO Broadcast" album, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving to its dynamic energy. This live rendition, captured during a KZEW-FM broadcast at January Sound Studios in Dallas on July 4, 1974, showcases the band's symphonic rock prowess. An intriguing story behind the song comes from lyricist Keith Reid, who shared in a Songfacts interview that the music was written before the lyrics, a rarity for Procol Harum, as 99 out of 100 of their songs started with lyrics. Reid recalled visiting Gary Brooker, who played a tune with a Spanish flavor, prompting Reid to immediately pen the word "conquistador" and craft lyrics about a fallen warrior, blending irony and pity.

The song’s live performance in Dallas, part of a setlist including tracks like "Bringing Home the Bacon" and "Homburg," as noted on Guitars101, highlights the band’s ability to fuse rock with classical elements, a hallmark of their style. On social media, fans on Reddit praise the live version’s intensity, with one user noting the guitar solo’s aggression and the lyrics’ depiction of a grandiose conquistador reduced to a tarnished corpse, possibly symbolizing an aging hedonist’s futile conquests. The 1974 Dallas performance, with Gary Brooker on vocals and piano, Mick Grabham on guitar, Chris Copping on organ, Alan Cartwright on bass, and B.J. Wilson on drums, remains a fan favorite for its raw power and orchestral depth.

Procol Harum formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1967, evolving from the ashes of The Paramounts, a band led by Gary Brooker that had a UK Top 40 hit with "Poison Ivy" but disbanded in 1966. Brooker, shifting to songwriting, connected with lyricist Keith Reid through mutual friend Guy Stevens. Reid’s poetic lyrics paired with Brooker’s compositions laid the foundation for Procol Harum. The band assembled with organist Matthew Fisher, bassist David Knights, guitarist Ray Royer, and drummer Bobby Harrison, chosen for their musical fit and personality, as Reid noted in a Wikipedia bio. Their debut single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," released in 1967, became a global hit, selling over 10 million copies and cementing their baroque and psychedelic rock legacy.

The band’s early days were marked by rapid success and challenges. Their first live gig at London’s Speakeasy club coincided with the release of "A Whiter Shade of Pale," attended by Jimi Hendrix, who briefly joined them on stage, as recounted in Wikipedia. However, lineup changes soon followed, with Royer and Harrison departing, reflecting the band’s dynamic evolution. Procol Harum’s music, blending classical influences with blues, R&B, and soul, earned them a 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor for "A Whiter Shade of Pale." Fans can explore their legacy on the official website ProcolHarum.com, connect via Facebook, Instagram, and X, or join discussions on fan sites like Beyond the Pale and the Procol Harum Appreciation Society on Facebook.