Procol Harum on Beat club circa 1974.
How good were this band, without this really strong gifted line-up I think the band would have folded. Post Robin Trower who won many Procoholic hearts and minds. But then so did BJ Wilson.
http://youtu.be/877s7_5ML4w
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Bringing home the bacon Rockpalast 1976
Sadly this is out of sync, which is annoying but still it is always great to see clear shots of Barrie and the band.
Another rare gig of procol Harum live and the last great line-up imho anyway. ( I missed the return of Matthew Fisher to the past decades later).
The line-up here is Gary Brooker, piano; Barrie J Wilson, drums; Mick Grabham, guitar; Alan Cartwright, bass; Chris Copping, organ. KeithReid, possibly lurking in the background, words.
http://youtu.be/PW6ZfF6swJc
Another rare gig of procol Harum live and the last great line-up imho anyway. ( I missed the return of Matthew Fisher to the past decades later).
The line-up here is Gary Brooker, piano; Barrie J Wilson, drums; Mick Grabham, guitar; Alan Cartwright, bass; Chris Copping, organ. KeithReid, possibly lurking in the background, words.
http://youtu.be/PW6ZfF6swJc
For Liquorice John 1973
Our hero at work on one of their (Procol Harum) best songs .
An ode to a true friend from the older days, who lost his life by his own actions. A magically beautifully well crafted song written by Brooker and Reid but one wonders what it'd sound like without this most gifted and sensitive drummer.
Barrie J Wilson the expression on his face is a a sign he's giving his all to this song.
For Liquorice John.
http://youtu.be/S3HY9G77Y5A
An ode to a true friend from the older days, who lost his life by his own actions. A magically beautifully well crafted song written by Brooker and Reid but one wonders what it'd sound like without this most gifted and sensitive drummer.
Barrie J Wilson the expression on his face is a a sign he's giving his all to this song.
For Liquorice John.
http://youtu.be/S3HY9G77Y5A
Friday, 26 July 2013
A fine tribute to BJ Wilson
Just found this great review of Procol Harum's remastered A Salty Dog (Salvo) CD
By Stephen Reid (probably not a relative tho' you never know). Copy and Paste of write up,
By Mr. Stephen Reid - 30 Dec 2011
By Stephen Reid (probably not a relative tho' you never know). Copy and Paste of write up,
By Mr. Stephen Reid - 30 Dec 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great album, made better by the bonus tracks. The production (and orchestration) by Matthew Fisher is flawless. The title track is a haunting and atmospheric song of the sea. The keyboards (both Brooker's piano & Fisher's Hammond) are sublime, Keith Reid's lyrics are simultaneously witty, scholary and raunchy. Robin Trower shows why he was regarded by many as a natural heir to Jimi, and Gary Brooker's vocals make you wonder how the hell he was overlooked while the likes of Rod Stewart were held in such critical awe for so long. The album cover (a brilliant spoof of the old Player's Navy Cut cigarette pack) is one of the most iconic of the sixties. But thats not what this review is about. No, this review is about Barrie Wilson's drumming.
The late Barrie (BJ) Wilson was in my opinion the best of the five best drummers of the rock era - you don't want to know the other four (oh okay then, its John Bonham, John Densmore, Topper Headon and Dave Mattacks). Good drummers keep the beat almsost unobtrusively - they drive the rhythm, and that's it, but when BJ plays you find yourself listening to the drums like they were a lead instrument, with no detriment to the rest of the track. His drumming quite literally punctuates Procol's melodic and lyrical masterpieces. Listen for example to "The Milk Of Human Kindness" (and the bonus "raw" track) - I defy you not to anticipate every across the beat hit he makes. Apparently he used to sit side on to the drum-kit, leading one reviewer of a Procol gig to comment that BJ looked like an "octopus in the bath" while drumming - what a great image!
Hail to the drummer; Barrie Wilson - powerhouse behind the kit.
Hail to the drummer; Barrie Wilson - powerhouse behind the kit.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Joe Cocker A Whiter Shade of Pale
Joe Cocker A Whiter Shade Of Pale at the Loreley Amphitheatre (St. Goarshausen, Germany) Aug 20, 1983BJ Wilson on drums is instantly recognisable to those that know his unique inimitable style. Concert is up on Wolfgangs Vault. http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/joe-cocker/video/a-whiter-shade-of-pale_1005646.html
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Apologies for not keeping up my BJ page. It's sad to say there is scant information about this great musician.
He remains one of the very best rock drummers of all time but also quite obscure and not well known.
His time was mostly spent working for the band Procol Harum, having followed them from sixties RnB band The Paramounts.
The man himself seems to have had a slight lack of confidence, despite accolades from fans and the band, it's great that he chose to stay with Procol Harum to the bitter end.
I'd like to know more about the metal bands he worked with while in America. But the AllMusic can't seemingly be bothered to find out. I know he auditioned for Tom Petty's Heartbreakers but 'didn't fit', whether that was his or their feeling, I don't know!
DRUM magazine feature on BJ Wilson and a YouTube BJ Wilson page ....
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Barrie Wilson with Procol Harum (Home)
Nothing that I didn't know
A promo from the Home album, where both Robin Trower and BJ Wilson both honed their skills, which were made more obvious due to the departure of Matthew Fisher.
Below a video from the same director, the brother of the new organist/bassist the now postgraduate Chris Copping, ex Paramounts bassist.
The Dead Man's Dream
Director - Robin Copping
A promo from the Home album, where both Robin Trower and BJ Wilson both honed their skills, which were made more obvious due to the departure of Matthew Fisher.
Below a video from the same director, the brother of the new organist/bassist the now postgraduate Chris Copping, ex Paramounts bassist.
The Dead Man's Dream
Director - Robin Copping
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