Song of the Day – Day2- Procol Harum – Whiter Shade of Pale

Whiter Shade of Pale is a song that probably everyone has heard, but most probably wouldn’t think they knew it if you asked them, and fewer still would know who sang it. The band that did sing it were Procol Harum, which I am quite embarrassed to admit I don’t know any of their other songs, but I am sure I’m not alone in that. The band formed in 1967 they were active from 1967 to 1977 and then from 1991 until now so it’s not a huge surprise that they are not that well known. The current line up only includes one of the original members and the band itself has had a total of 27 members which does effect memorability of a band.

The band have released 12 studio albums beginning with ‘Procol Harum’ in 1967 and most recently ‘Novum’ in 2017. Their debut single was ‘Whiter shade of Pale’ which was released in May 1967. It is one of only 40 songs to sell more that 10 million physical copies worldwide. It hit the top spot of the UK chart and number 5 in the US.

It is number 57 on the Rolling Stones top 500 songs of all time and was inducted into the Grammy’s hall of fame in 1998. Although it has had over 1000 recorded cover versions, none have ever come close to the massive success of Procol Harum, the closest rival was Annie Lennox who released a cover version in 1995 as a follow up to ‘No more I love you’s’. This reached number 16 in the UK and number 2 on the US Billboard singles Dance Chart.

Here are the lyrics to Whiter Shade of Pale.

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
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 would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might have just as well’ve 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

And so it was that later