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1967 single by Procol Harum

"Homburg" is a song by the English rock band Procol Harum, released as the follow-up single to their initial 1967 hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale". Written by pianist Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid, "Homburg" reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] number 15 in Canada, and number 34 in the United States. It went to number one in several countries, including the Netherlands. An Italian cover ("L`ora dell`amore" by I Camaleonti) reached number one in the Italian Hit Parade Singles Chart on December 16, 1967, and remained there for 10 weeks.

Reid`s "Homburg" lyrics contains the same surreal, dream-like imagery and feelings of resignation and futility as in the debut single. The music also features Matthew Fisher`s rich and deep Hammond organ, but the piano and guitar have bigger places in the overall sound.[citation needed] The theme is not as clearly Bach-like as in "A Whiter Shade of Pale"; nevertheless, the single was, on its release, criticised for being too similar to its predecessor.[2] Cash Box said that it is "a solid, slow-paced ballad with the same haunting quality in the melody and lyrics which made `A Whiter Shade Of Pale` such a big hit."[3]

The title refers to the famous Homburg hat, manufactured in Bad Homburg in Germany.[4]

The B-side of the single is "Good Captain Clack", which is from the album Procol Harum.

Charts