PROCOL HARUM
A Whiter Shade of Pale
Fifty-five years ago, in May of 1967, a revolution began in Rock and Roll. With a structure reminiscent of Baroque music, the song features a countermelody based on J. S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major played by Matthew Fisher's Hammond organ. The song, written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid and sung by Brooker, starts with a 30-second instrumental which keeps showing up during the tune. The chorus, (the hook,) does not show up until 1:15, an INTERMIDABLE amount of time in pop music, when Motown tunes made sure the hook took place in the first 5 seconds. The band with an obscure name (PROCOL HARUM) and equally obscure lyrics seemed to rise out of the psychedelic ether. This song came out one month before the Beatles released Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.
An enthusiastic response from listeners of the pirate radio station Radio London prompted Deram Records to rush-release the single for 12 May 1967.It was an instant worldwide success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for six weeks and the same spot in eleven countries. In three weeks, it became the fastest selling record by a new group. In the US, it peaked No. 5. For a young 15-year old pianist at New Rochelle High School, this song opened up a new world where rock n roll and classical music were allowed to collide, and song lyrics could be vague and mystical. The song has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
.Gary Brooker, the only constant member of the band and the main songwriter, died on 19 February 2022.
Here is a performance from 2006, shortly before the 40th anniversary of the song, performed by the band with the Danish National Concert Orchestra and choir at Ledreborg Castle, Denmark.
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