Conquistador (1972) 9/29/20

In 1967, Procol Harum released their self-titled first album, and gave the world “A Whiter Shade of Pale:” a #1 song in 12 countries, and certainly a “Great Song of the '60s.”

But the album also included a song that was to become a “Great Song of the '70s,” but not in its original form.

In 1971, the group was invited to perform and record with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (In Alberta, Canada). As they were scrambling against a deadline to find material to play, they decided to open the concert with “Conquistador.” With no time to rehearse, they gave the orchestra the sheet music and told them wing it.

Like most symphony orchestras, the Edmonton group was up for a sight-reading challenge, and performed magnificently. It turned out so well, “Conquistador” was released as a single, and music critics fell in love with it, praising its “sheer, bracing excitement” and accessibility.

It was certainly different than what you normally heard of the radio in 1971, but radio listeners and fans (including me) embraced it, sending to #16 on Billboard's Hot 100, and #7 on Canada's Top 40.

All in all, it was a “Great Song of the '70s,” even if Procol Harum couldn't pronounce the title correctly. Throughout the song, they sang it as con-QUIST-a-dor, as opposed to con-KEE-stah-dor.

But hey, they wrote it, so what do I know? ;-)

“Conquistador:”

For your listening pleasure: “A Whiter Shade of Pale:”