Shine On Brightly

Shine On Brightly
Studio album by Procol Harum
Released	September 1968
Recorded	1967–68
Studio	Advision Studios, De Lane Lea Studios and Olympic Studios, London, England
Genre	Progressive rock, art rock, psychedelic rock
Length	39:09
Label	Regal Zonophone, A&M
Producer	Denny Cordell
Procol Harum chronology
Procol Harum (1967) Shine On Brightly (1968) A Salty Dog (1969)
Alternative cover
US and European cover

Shine On Brightly is the second studio album by English rock band Procol Harum, released in 1968 by record labels Regal Zonophone and A&M.

It is considered an early example of progressive rock.^{[citation needed]}

Content[]

The title of the nearly side-long suite "In Held 'Twas in I" is an acrostic. It is formed by taking the first word of the lyrics in each of the first four movements as well as the first word of the sixth verse in the first movement:

"In the darkness of the night..."	From movement 1, "Glimpses of Nirvana"
"Held close by that which some despise..."	From the sixth verse of movement 1
"′Twas tea-time at the circus..."	From movement 2, "′Twas Teatime at the Circus"
"In the autumn of my madness..."	From movement 3, "In the Autumn of My Madness"
"I know if I'd been wiser..."	From movement 4, "Look to Your Soul"

Release[]

Shine On Brightly was released in September 1968 by record labels Regal Zonophone and A&M. The original British and North American versions of the opening two tracks ("Quite Rightly So" and "Shine On Brightly") are different versions.^{[citation needed]}

The album was reissued several times, including a 2009 remaster using the original 2-track stereo masters and featuring bonus B-sides and alternate takes. However, many of the tracks are played at a higher speed.^[1] Subsequent reissues have been at the correct speed.^{[citation needed]}

Reception[]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Classic Rock	8/10[3]
MusicHound	3/5[4]
Rolling Stone	(unfavourable)[5]

Upon its release, Jim Miller, writing for Rolling Stone, was unfavourable: "Procol Harum's first release was generally more satisfying, especially since this new album displays little in the way of startling growth – the group has apparently chosen to refine their old approach and the musical result, while usually listenable, is not consistently interesting."^[5]

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, except as noted.

Personnel[]

• Gary Brooker – lead vocals (1-7b, 7d), piano (all but 7e)
• Robin Trower – guitar, co-lead vocals (4)
• Matthew Fisher – organ, lead vocals (7c), piano (7e)
• Dave Knights – bass guitar
• B. J. Wilson – drums
• Keith Reid – lyrics

Technical

• Tony Visconti - assistant producer
• Tom Wilkes - art direction
• George Underwood – front cover art design

References[]