Broken Barricades

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Broken Barricades
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1971 (US)
RecordedFebruary–March 1971
StudioAIR, London
GenreProgressive rock
Length35:06
LabelChrysalis
ProducerChris Thomas
Procol Harum chronology
Home
(1970)
Broken Barricades
(1971)
Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
(1972)
Singles from Broken Barricades
  1. "Broken Barricades" / "Power Failure"
    Released: July 1971 (US)
  2. "Simple Sister"
    Released: September 1971 (US)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[2]

Broken Barricades is the fifth studio album by English rock band Procol Harum, released the same week they began their U.S. tour, on 3 April 1971.[3] The UK release was on 11 June 1971. It was guitarist Robin Trower's last recording with the group until The Prodigal Stranger (1991).

"Song for a Dreamer" is a tribute to late Jimi Hendrix from Trower, who was stunned by Hendrix's death in September 1970 at the age of 27.[4]

Cover[edit]

The cut-out cover was designed by C.C.S. Associates (a leading creative design team in London producing promotional ideas and album cover artwork for A&M, Chrysalis, Charisma, Island and Trojan Records. The primary CCS designers were Harry Isles, John Bonis, and William Neal). Photography was by Peter Sanders.

Images from left to right are: Gary Brooker, Chris Copping, Robin Trower, and B. J. Wilson.

Track listing[edit]

All lyrics are written by Keith Reid

Side one
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Simple Sister"Gary Brooker5:52
2."Broken Barricades"Brooker3:13
3."Memorial Drive"Robin Trower3:47
4."Luskus Delph"Brooker3:48
Side two
No.TitleMusicLength
5."Power Failure"Brooker4:33
6."Song for a Dreamer"Trower5:40
7."Playmate of the Mouth"Brooker5:06
8."Poor Mohammed"Trower3:07
Total length:35:06
2002 Repertoire Records remastered edition bonus tracks
No.TitleMusicLength
9."Broken Barricades" (single edit)Brooker2:35
10."Power Failure" (single edit)Brooker3:12
11."Simple Sister" (mono version)Brooker5:48
Total length:46:32
2009 Salvo remastered edition bonus tracks
No.TitleMusicLength
9."Broken Barricades" (long fade – raw track)Brooker3:57
10."Simple Sister" (raw track)Brooker5:49
11."Poor Mohammed" (backing track)Trower2:43
12."Song for a Dreamer (King Jimi)" (backing track)Trower4:56
Total length:52:50

Personnel[edit]

Procol Harum[edit]

Technical personnel[edit]

  • Chris Thomas – producer
  • John Punter – engineer
  • C.C.S. Associates – artwork, design
  • Pete Sanders – photography

Charts[edit]

Chart (1971) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] 27
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[6] 5
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 46
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 42
US Billboard 200[9] 32

References[edit]

  1. ^ Greenwald, Matthew. Procol Harum: Broken Barricades > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 10 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Cash Box magazine, April 10, 1971, page 36.
  4. ^ Welch, Chris (June 2002). Broken Barricades (booklet). Procol Harum. Hamburg: Repertoire Records. p. 9.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5350". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Danskehitlister.dk – Procol Harum – Broken Barricades". Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Procol Harum – Broken Barricades" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Procol Harum | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Procol Harum Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2018.