One of the greatest songs ever!
The greatest according to John Lennon.
Single ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ is released by brand-new baroque rock band Procol Harum. (It’s heard on their Sep. 1967 eponymous debut album (UK#26, US#47).
It shortly climbs to UK#1, US#5. Written by Gary Brooker (1945-2022) and Keith Reid (before the band formed, after the breakup of The Paramounts), it’s one of the most beautiful creations in pop music history.
The essential organ part is played by Matthew Fisher. The organ: Hammond M102.
In 2004 PPL report that it is the most-played song in England for the last 70 years. Interestingly, it was -not- included on the UK release of the band’s first album! ¤
The most played track at the Beatles’ Pepper press bash was Procul Harum’s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, issued the week before Pepper. Lennon played the song non-stop on his Rolls Royce’s portable record player all the way to the party. It has been covered more than 1000 times.
1977’s first Brit Awards names ‘Whiter Shade’, along with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, the Best British Pop Single 1952-1977.
The band’s following albums produce more well-received singles (e.g. ‘Homburg’(1967), the incredible ‘A Salty Dog’(1969) ) while breaking respectably into the top-40s. The band breaks up in 1977, reforms in 1991. Singer-songwriter Gary Brooker is awarded an OBE in 2003. Twelfth & last album Novum is released in 2017.
Brooker interview: https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/gary-brooker-of-procol-harum Reid interview: https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/keith-reid-of-procol-harum)
