Monday, July 18, 2011

Procol Harum - A whiter shade of pale


"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967.

The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart[1] on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well. It is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.[citation needed]

With its haunting Bach-flavoured instrumental melody, soulful vocals, and unusual lyrics—by the song's co-authors Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, and Matthew Fisher-- "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached #1 in several countries when released in 1967. In the years since, it has become an enduring classic.

It was the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009), and the United Kingdom performing rights group Phonographic Performance Limited in 2004 recognised it as the most-played record by British broadcasting of the past 70 years




British rock legends Procol Harum are captured here at their finest, in concert at London's Union Chapel. It was the last night of a tour that had taken them from London through Europe, Japan and North America and back again to London and the band celebrated with a truly magical performance of the rarely heard full version of the immortal A Whiter Shade Of Pale.
This performance is taken from the full length concert DVD "Live at the Union Chapel", available from Eagle Vision now.











Procol Harum A Whiter Shade Of Pale Lyrics



We skipped the light fandango 
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor 
I was feeling kinda seasick 
But the crowd called out for more 
The room was humming harder 
As the ceiling flew away 
When we called out for another drink 
And the waiter brought a tray 

And so it was that later 
As the miller told his tale 
That her face, at first just ghostly, 
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, "There is no reason 
And the truth is plain to see." 
But I wandered through my playing cards 
And they would not let her be 
One of sixteen vestal virgins 
Who were leaving for the coast 
And although my eyes were open wide
They might have just as well been closed 

And so it was that later 
As the miller told his tale 
That her face, at first just ghostly, 
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, "I'm here on a shore leave,"
Though we were miles at sea.
I pointed out this detail
And forced her to agree, 
Saying, "You must be the mermaid
Who took King Neptune for a ride."
And she smiled at me so sweetly
That my anger straightway died.

And so it was that later 
As the miller told his tale 
That her face, at first just ghostly, 
Turned a whiter shade of pale

If music be the food of love
Then laughter is it's queen
And likewise if behind is in front
Then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
Seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
And attacked the ocean bed 

And so it was that later 
As the miller told his tale 
That her face, at first just ghostly, 
Turned a whiter shade of pale


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