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A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Procol Harum
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John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix were both fascinated by it. It was the song of the Summer of Love. It has been covered by, among others, James Last, Willie Nelson and the Everly Brothers. It went on to sell untold millions - yet it was recorded while the producer was in the toilet! It is 鈥楢 Whiter Shade Of Pale鈥 - and to this day, no one is entirely clear what it鈥檚 actually about.
Steeped in mystery and ambiguity, 鈥楢 Whiter Shade Of Pale鈥 was perfectly in keeping with the kaleidoscopic year of 1967. Lyricist Keith Reid overheard the title at a party in 1966 and decided to write a song based around it. He sent the finished lyrics to Gary Brooker in Southend. Brooker, formerly pianist with R&B band The Paramounts, half remembered Jacques Loussier鈥檚 television ad for Hamlet cigars and, within 鈥渁 few minutes鈥, had fashioned the melody that would haunt the world.
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"We took the demo round to quite a few people..George Martin, Ron Richards, Andrew Loog Oldham and for whatever reason none of them saw any light in it whatsoever.."
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Like some extravagant Ben & Jerry recipe, this classic combines three very different tastes. First take oodles of Bach-inspired organ. Then stir in a great dollop of haunting Dylanesque imagery. Third key ingredient is the R&B styling of the lead vocal - 鈥淎nd so it wa-as a bit later鈥 (peaking on a high soulful sixth), echoing Percy Sledge鈥檚 鈥淲hen a ma-an loves a woman鈥, released six months earlier. Irresistible flava.
Dominic King
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Brooker and Reid now had the song, but no band. Within weeks Procol Harum had been formed - and, for the remainder of their lives, they would be overshadowed by that song. Like Orson Welles and Citizen Kane, it seemed to many that Procol Harum had started at the top, and worked their way down.
In truth, the band went on to record a dozen more albums, boasting songs every bit as good as their debut (鈥楤roken Barricades鈥, 鈥楢 Salty Dog鈥, 鈥楪rand Hotel鈥欌) But despite their best efforts, it is 鈥楢 Whiter Shade Of Pale鈥 for which Procol will forever be remembered, as once again, we skip the light fandango鈥
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