PROCOL HARUM may have started their journey with a more famous guitarist, but it was Mick Grabham who stayed with them through most of the ’70s, until the band fizzled out. He didn’t contribute to the ensemble’s much, writing-wise, Grabham’s only composer credit attached to 1977’s “The Mark Of The Claw” that he co-penned with Keith Reid, although Mick stood behind quite a few melodies on the records by his previous group, COCHISE, which he led together with B.J. Cole, and a couple of cuts by PLASTIC PENNY, his early collective. Apparently not too prolific, the six-stringer issued only one solo album, “Mick The Lad” – laid down in 1972, around the time he joined Gary Brooker’s team – and left his imprint on 1997’s “Guitar Orchestra” where many a luminary played, and there were sessions in the interim, for the likes of Matthew Fisher and Yvonne Elliman. And then, the veteran virtually vanished from public view, focusing on custom-building and refurbishing amplifiers – until now, reappearing on January 14th with a new release. Titled “Original Paint” and comprised of 14 tracks, it spans several decades and is genuinely interesting.
