Conquistador (Procol Harum song)

Background and composition

The song's lyrics were written by Keith Reid, and its music was composed by Gary Brooker, who also sang. It was featured on the band's 1967 album, Procol Harum. The song is unusual in that the music was written before the lyrics; according to Reid, "99 out of 100 of those Procol Harum songs were written the words first, and then were set to music." He explained that Brooker had written a piece of Spanish-flavored music before the band had officially formed, and Reid decided to write lyrics about a conquistador.

In August 1971, Procol Harum was invited to perform with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Edmonton, Alberta. Procol Harum's equipment was hung up at the border; as a result the band and the orchestra only rehearsed "Conquistador" once ("All songs now played at least once.") before the show. Nonetheless, they began the concert with the song, and the concert was captured on the album Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, of which "Conquistador" was the lead single.

Lyrics

The narrator of "Conquistador" addresses the body of a dead conquistador lying on a beach, no doubt partially embedded in the sand and obviously not long after death or the corpse would not attract a vulture, nor would the "stallion" still be nearby. He at first jeers at the irony of the failure of the Conquistador's imagined mission, and the desolation of the scene and his corpse, but on reflection regrets his mockery and offers pity for the lonely and futile fate of the conquistador, "You did not conquer, only die." The refrain consists of the morose couplet: I could see no maze to unwind}} with which the selection closes just before its instrumental trumpet coda, which gives it a mariachi-esque but mournful sound. The trumpet solo is played by principal trumpet Ed Nixon.

Release and reception

Besides "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "Conquistador" was the band's highest charting single. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 29 July 1972, exactly five years to the date after "A Whiter Shade of Pale" ascended to its #5 peak, and helped catapult the album into the top five. The song was generally well received by music critics. Cash Box said it was "at long last, the equal of their 'Whiter Shade Of Pale.'" Bruce Eder of AllMusic praised it as "the most accessible song" on Procol Harum Live In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, adding that "nothing else [on the album] matches it for sheer, bracing excitement."

Personnel

1967 version

• Gary Brookerpiano, vocals
• Robin Trowerguitar
• Matthew FisherHammond organ
• Dave Knightsbass guitar
• B.J. Wilsondrums
• Keith Reidlyrics

1972 version

• Gary Brookerpiano and vocals
• Dave Ballguitar
• Chris CoppingHammond organ
• Alan Cartwrightbass guitar
• B.J. Wilsondrums
• Keith Reidlyrics

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Notes

References

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References

1. Eder, Bruce. "Procol Harum review". [[Macrovision Corporation]].
2. "Conquistador by Procol Harum". Songfacts.
3. "Gary Brooker's Edmonton Diary, November 1971".
4. Eder, Bruce. "Live In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra review". [[Macrovision Corporation]].
5. "Conquistador" peaked at #22 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].Roberts 2006, p. 440
6. (April 22, 1972). "CashBox Record Reviews". Cash Box.
7. [http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1968/19680131.html Go-Set National Top 40, January 31, 1968]
8. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W.
9. "RPM Top 100 Singles - August 5, 1972".
10. (December 2023)
11. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210505185953/https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720729.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 29, 1972]
12. (12 November 2010). "Best of 1972 songs and music, on".
13. Whitburn, Joel. (1999). "Pop Annual". Record Research Inc..