One thing that makes this song so interesting is that during the verse, the chord progression repeats every 6 bars, while in the melody, each rhyming couplet is 8 bars long. As a result, the melody and harmony drift out of sync. This makes the chord progression seem fresh every time, and keeps it from feeling repetitive.
The thing that blows my mind is that it took 42 years for Matthew Fisher to get the co-writing credit. That organ part is such an integral feature. To the music obsessed toddler (me) hearing it back in the day, it was everything.
Brooker says he had heard a performance of Bach's "Air On the G String" and liked it, and Whiter Shade was Brooker trying to play it on the keys but remembering it wrong :-). So "influenced" but yeah, it makes an amazing pop melody.
My favorite memory of this song was when my wife was warming up at a church to play at a friend's wedding. The place was empty except for us, so she played this song on the organ to test things. :) I carefully set up the echo, volume etc and she went for it. Amazing to hear this in such a cavernous space. I wish I'd filmed it!
"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" Fantastic lyrics. Really dug into the literature vault with this one.
I have to throw in that the real star of that song is Gary Brookers voice and phrasing. Look, there's countless cover versions of the song, some done by extremely gifted singers (e.g. Annie Lennox) - but none of those captures the essence of the song, this somewhat longing, slightly melancholic, yet intense mood. It's really Gary Brooker, even though his voice seems somewhat - dare I say: pale at first, it is fitting this song like no other. He totally owns that song and nobody can ever take it from him.
Yes. Well, he wrote it (as in, conjured the melody into being, I'm not taking away from Keith and Matthew's contributions), Gary sings his own song perfectly!
My mum loves this song! She was around the same age your dad was when it came out and to this day, she gets misty eyed and nostalgic whenever she hears it. 😊
I was in high school when it came out, and our foreign exchange student from the U.K. was promoting it to all of my aspiring rock singer friends. :) This song is an absolute classic. It is also remarkable how mature Gary Brooker's voice sounded when this was released and how good (and similar) he sounded a forty years later.
I first heard “Whiter Shade of Pale” when it came out. I was not even 4 years old. I referred to it as “spinning church music”. And to this day (I’m 58 now) this song sounds like “spinning church music” to me. It was timeless the moment it was released. Thank you for adding this song to your series. And like others have said… This series is so fantastic. ✌🏽❤️🍄
this tune hits me in the heart and mind in a powerful special way like no other. it came out when i was 6 years old and every time i hear that harmony i get chills and i stop what i am doing and listen and reminisce about magical time in space . i just love it. it can never be confused with any other.
Another notable influence was Percy Sledge’s 1966 hit “When a Man Loves a Woman”. The chord progression, instrumentation, themes, and performance are all evocative of Sledge’s timeless recording. Particularly, the slight crescendo at the start of the chorus was meant as a nod to it, as a similar flourish is used as a recurring hook. Not only is Whiter Shade of Pale a synthesis of Bach with Rock &Roll, but also (if not more so than Rock) Gospel RnB. Yet another layer of depth to this song
Yes, Percy’s song has a climb down which is beautiful. Of course it’s a totally different groove, being in 6/8 not 4/4 so it feels very different. I would still use Bach as the main reference for the main musical theme. However, all of us in the UK are obsessed with R&B, Motown, The Blues and all artists those amazing artists so I don’t doubt that classic soul music is a huge influence on Procol Harum
@@Producelikeapro Very true, the star of the song is that Bach-like organ. And no doubt Percy’s song owes it’s harmonic progression to Bach as well. Thanks for the reply and for the great video! I recently discovered your channel and am going through the videos in this series. Lots of good stuff here, so thank you very much!
I absolutely loved this song my whole life. I have no idea what it is about but it reaches down into my soul, my pain, my past abuse, my cptsd, and all the love I have ever felt snd rubs a salve on my heart. It’s both uplifting and cathartic to hear it and brings me to tears other times. I also love how it was used in the movie New York stories where Nick Nolte plays a painter. He blasts it super loud in his artist loft and with the high ceilings the sound seems to soar like a river carrying us away watching him paint.
This series is amazing. I know there are others that try to do this, but I love your approach more. I always come away knowing more about the artist/band and the stories behind the music. Thank you
Bryan said it so nicely that i barely have what else to add. Just discovered this and subscribed. Great!.... Are you British or Canadian? Asking because i am a learner of English (so these videos are of exclusive value to me : you pronounce so nicely. and the words you use /marvellously well ;-) ) I'm listening to you ,typing it and loving all this :-) Thank you for the video and also this piece of enjoyment starting at 6:26 . V
I have always seen "Whiter Shade of Pale" as a great soul song. Melancholy that evokes such feeling. Triggers each listener's memory and, in that way, "White Shade of Pale is universal. The comedown after a great elation. Just gorgeous. "Whiter Shade of Pale" is a song that is pretty good. It's the ultimate grower. I doubt that anyone thought that "White Shade of Pale" would become the classic that it is.
Thanks Warren. The reason I recall this song so fondly, is that as a young boy, the very first time I ever heard an actual live electric band was of all places on the top floor of a popular department store restaurant/recreational space in Auckland New Zealand.My mother took my brother and I shopping for clothes, and afterwards, as usual, we went upstairs to the rooftop cafeteria for lunch. In the play area, used often for a roller-skating rink for kids to play as their mums rested, their happened to be a catwalk style fashion show(doubtless showing brands for sale downstairs), and a four piece band locally known as the "Dallas four" , were backing the catwalk models and announcer with an instrumental version of "whiter shade of pale". I had heard the song on the radio(we had no TV in the late 60's) but was intrigued to hear the instrumental ringing clear and clean-as if(and it didn't) not requiring vocals. To hear a live electric band with real drums was something that stayed in my heart for forty years or so afterwards, and it imprinted the melody and harmony into my dna forever, also sparking my interest in learning more on my guitar which I'd just got a few years earlier in1963( at the age of ten. I immediately wanted to feel that excitment of playing in a bouncing off the feels of the other musicians.I'll never forget that song or that moment in time, though I can't recall exactly which year it was, and I always loved(and still do) the classic sound of the hammond organ(although the keyboard the band member used on that occasion was a simple electronic organ rather than a Hammond.) Many songs come to mind as suggestions, but many of my favourites are not big hits, but include unique sounding thins like J/tull's "the inside" and "to cry you a song", Joni Mitchell's "both sides now" , and Gordon lightfoot's "if you could read my mind", Peter Paul and Mary's "Norman normal", and Alman brothers with "sail away"(enlightened rouges album) As I say sometimes the overlooked, rather than the well knon classic hits are the more influential to musicians who are purely music nerds, and don't care about popularity.
The year 1967 my parents took me to the Expo 67 eve in Montreal Canada and every where I've went to I would 👂 that song on the radio pleasant memories. Thank you.
Also, major point of contact between the Baroque and Pop is that both musics were known in the 1960s by way of recordings. Both musics were stuff you could buy at the store. It's impossible to overstate the importance of phonography as having changed our rapport to music. Music has always thrived through direct transmission from musician to musician, and written scores helped that process. But decent quality, affordable records have changed our historical understanding of music. Anachronism has become the default mode. One appeal of going to the record store was to shop for past eras at the same time as you culled the week's latest hits. Hence Jacques Loussier's jazzy "Play Bach" or Wendy Carlos electronic "Switched-on Bach", etc. Records stripped the rarity of music itself, and streaming has now stripped off the rarity of records themselves, so we can finally enjoy the enveloping feeling of a library with all the knowledge of the world as applied to the context of sound.
Best band ever in my opinion,so sad we have lost Gary and Keith but the music will live on and there's many more great songs in there repertoire believe me.
Such an amazing song!! It’s So nice that you went through the song in depth, this song deserves respect!! When they play it in Alan Parker’s “The Commitments” is so beautiful.
"Evocative" is exactly the word. When I listen to it, I feel like I'm sat in a hall after a party. Nearly everyone's gone, the lights are up and people are clearing up. Although it was fun, it feels a bit sad that it's over... Amazing song
I always perceive many artists' songs copy this one because ive yet to find a song before it as polarizing w/ its style(though i can hear its inspirations such as its vocals). The covers of it are almost just as interesting. I feel John Lennon leveled up from taking attributes of it to upgrade his own style. The song Un Amico by Ennio Morricone is a good example of what i perceive to be a child of it.
I don't know anything about music theory. I just know this song sounds great, even today! And that Hammond sound is just fantastic. Interestingly, I listened to an interview with Sting yesterday on Rick Beato's channel, and he mentioned that he still listens to Bach for inspiration. Sting said he looks for surprise in music; "if there's no surprise in the first 8 bars, he stops listening." I would say Whiter Shade of Pale is surprising.
I remember when I was a kid my dad had a red cassette in our old Opel Kadett with random 60's and 70's songs and that song was in it. Since then it's one of my fav songs ever!
Just saw Sting being interviewed by Rick Beato and they mentioned that song as one of the greatest ballads of all time, couldn't agree more. Thank you Warren for another awesome video on an amazing song! (Btw I had a great time mixing your version of it.)
Purely Iconic !! Hammond makes it. Procol Harum had some other great songs on later albums. One of my favorites is the "A Salty Dog" record.. Much thanks for covering this song !!
23:40: Actually, it shared that award with another song, also mentioned in your video-Queen's "Bohemian Raphsody". The two songs, oddly enough, also have a more obscure thing in common: they both mention the Spanish dance fandango in their lyrics.
Procol Harum are great. I particularly like their song Conquistador (but the Live 1971 recording, not the studio version) more than this one to be honest ! The lesser known "Repent Walpurgis" is also a fine instrumental for fans of classical prog rock music to check out. Always nice to see this largely underrated band, who were a key component of the British invasion era, receive your/the full recognition and appreciation that they deserve! Smooth rendition, too :)
what a great song, big part of my childhood. I love the soulful vocal. I bought the seven single when it came out, still got it somewhere . . . great video, thanks Warren!
I was intrigued by Caitlin's musicological interlude. Can we please have a video on uses of the harpsicord in the 60s, particularly by The Kinks and the Bonzos? (I can't see Rick putting that on his 'to do' list!) Around 1970 my mother was housekeeper to a Catholic priest in Coventry, UK, and there was a mini scandal when a couple getting married wanted A Whiter Shade of Pale played at their wedding. They left a copy of the sheet music folio with the priest. The issue wasn't the choice of music. The cover of the folio featured a close-up of a blonde in a white, see-through crocheted dress... how could the priest possibly give that to the lady organist!
Marvellous idea of song breakdowns! Thanks! Yes, we pride ourselves on doing songs that shaped music more than ones that get very high views! Luckily sometimes those are the same thing!
Bleeding on the vocal track? Haemorrhaging more like 😃😃. May 1967 was a good month for releases. First "Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks, then this one the following week, a week later "Paper Sun" by Traffic and a week after that Sgt. Pepper ... to name but four. Well done for not concentrating on the precise meaning of the lyrics, Warren. It was the sound which was all important. All the words needed to do was add mystery. They could mean whatever you wanted them to - much like the summer of love 😍
Bach is so prominent, productive and creative it's impossible to avoid some kind of resemblance to his work in a pop music composition. So let's relax and be thankful that Bach had, not paved, but literally 5-lane-wide-smooth-asphalted the way for today's pop music as a whole. 🙏
I never heard a Yamaha acoustic that sounded as iight and airy but still with lower harmonics as yours. Made fo this song. A fan of high capoing myself! Thanks Warren!
Classy is the best/only word to describe "Whiter Shade of Pale". It was first song that demonstrated to me the melodic power of a bass. Thanks for the video, Warren.
Thank you Warren. For me, you and your fellow contributors professional insight is compelling and always leaves me wanting more. I love music and its history, though I've only ever dabbled with production. Therefore as a non professional, diving deeper guided by your knowledge and experience is so enriching. Your channel has grown from strength to strength, love your work. Cheers mate
I agree the bass line is the thing that gives this song its structure. As I teach a pop music class to non-musicians, I talk about this song as having a perfect mix of classical (well, really Baroque- ground bass) compositional structure, psychedelic aesthetic and the all important timing, as Warren points out. I contend that had the song been released a year prior or later than it was, it would have been dismissed. I was astounded to learn that the "Miller's Tale" reference wasn't as intellectually conceived as I was prone to posit. Although the lyricist admits to having never read Chaucer, by invoking his work he sets it in a place that we can conjure a meaning from it, never intended by the writer. That is the beauty of songs; that they can have meaning beyond what is written and surely what was originally intended.
Another great episode with a really comprehensive view of the song- the historical and cultural aspects, and the musical and recording aspects. Brilliant. And a song which certainly does not run short of material to talk about.
Beyond cool for explaining how you grew up and I mean it. I remember when different Queen albums came out and we would debate their quality, especially the guitar. Brian May was our hero.
MY FIRST TIME HERE, YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION, BEGINNING AT 10, MY GIFT KEEPS GIVING STILL AT 67, PROCOL HARUM, JUST DID MUSIC ; TIME AND SPACE HAVE NO RELATION TO IT.
Much to glean from this episode. Enjoyed all of your playing and insight. Particularly intrigued by how the chord progression is a six bar phrase in the verse yet the melody is four or eight. That bass with the F# to F - don’t see that often. Classic. Was Robin Trower on this? Now to listen to Limelight from Stereotomy. RIP Gary Brooker.
Songs we should all know? Roberta Flack's 'First time ever I saw your face'... the song that defines 'restrained production' to me, and an intergenerational masterpiece IMHO.
Such a gorgeous song that it seems like I've loved it my entire life (though I'm actually unclear about when and where I first heard it). "Evocative" is the right word. Tremendously evocative. You put it on and it carries you away to a surreal and melancholy place. There's a slight sibilance or echo to the vocals that you can just barely hear which I really love.
Bach has never sounded better. This is one of the rare instances where they improved on the original. For me it's the Hammond that makes it exceptional, but the vocals capture a vibe, a feeling, and the whole thing melts together into something really remarkable.
I was 12 and had no idea why I loved it so much. The song has always stayed with me as a classic. Music was fabulous with headphones but you had to buy the record because all Australian radio was AM. LOL
Incredible Act, Incredible song! When HSAS covered it in ‘83, it struck me, right out of piano lessons > rock electric guitar! Neal Schon’s numerous inverted chords, really opened up the fretboard for me, quickly. Excellent vid, Warren! 👏
The day this song was released, it sounded timeless -- and I think everyone knew it. This video mentions some specific aspects of that, but really, "Whiter Shade of Pale" is just song magic -- beyond all words and explanation. As a 12 year old in Greenwich Village (NYC), I walked amid the strange world of early hippie culture -- the place and time when I first heard this transcendent piece. Worth noting also, is that some place the beginning of prog rock exactly with this song's arrival. I just know it's pretty important. Great analysis and commentary.
Well, for me this was and still is a great song too. I‘ve always been and still am a big fan of Procol Harum since I was a boy of 12 years. I‘ve got respectively I had almost all their records and all solo records and CDs of Gary Brooker. But I knew little of what I know now about „A Whiter Shade of Pale“. Therefore thanks for this excellently made information about this hit. And while listening to this presentation I found out - and now hold your breath - that I own the in this here mentioned album „The Baroque Beatles Book“. Strange, isn‘t it. My favourite PH-lineup was Gary Brooker, B. J. Wilson, Mick Grabham, Chris Copping and Allan Cartwright with their albums „Grand Hotel“ and „Exotic Birds and Fruit“. I saw them live in Villach, Carinthia, Austria!Incredibly good music which I still listen to very very often. One of my favourite songs is „For Liquorice John“ from „Grand Hotel“, especially the part from 1:43 to 2:14. This is music from heaven. Strangely enough I never liked the Queen which you also mentioned, and I‘ve not got any albums of them (or theirs?). You are a very good musician and know incredibly much about music. 👍🏻👏🏻👍🏻.
Imagine debuting with such a masterpiece. Well, on the other hand, you can't go wrong with Bach ;) One of the most beautiful songs ever. It always manages to move me after so many years. In its Italian cover version ("Senza luce" - without light) by Dik Dik, it's my parents' song. 54 years later still rocking. Have a marvellous weekend.
Another example of "classical feel + contemporary feel" are the works of Pink Floyd. I remeber my grand-father* , in his 60s in these times, loved Pink Floyd's albums (Meddle, Atom Earth Mother, DSOTM and Wish You Were Here, for instance) but was deeply into classical music. * I've now his own hi-fi set in my living room: a Marantz 4270 and a pair of Ditton 66 (the additional pair of Celestion 15 for the quadraphonic stuff are in my bassement, sorry 😉)
Whiter Shade Of Pale is on a lot of top 10/top 5 lists of greatest songs written in the 20th Century along side the likes of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Rhapsody In Blue. High praise indeed and well deserved in my opinion. To me, it's almost like an incredible magic trick - A budding lyricist and a guy who had never written songs before together, came up with this masterpiece. I can't help but wonder if they knew what a rare and special creature they had at some point during the recording. If they did, I'm trying to imagine the satisfaction. Thank you for helping to somewhat pull the curtain back on the process.
R.I.P Gary Brooker. I’ve always loved this song, it’s such a masterpiece. What other songs do YOU think everyone needs to know? Let me know below!
How about: 'Yes - And You and I'?
nights in white satin
Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones
Band-Maid - Daydreaming
Only the greatest rock and roll song of all time: Gimme Shelter
One thing that makes this song so interesting is that during the verse, the chord progression repeats every 6 bars, while in the melody, each rhyming couplet is 8 bars long. As a result, the melody and harmony drift out of sync. This makes the chord progression seem fresh every time, and keeps it from feeling repetitive.
Exactly! I LOVE that about it! Well spotted!
The thing that blows my mind is that it took 42 years for Matthew Fisher to get the co-writing credit. That organ part is such an integral feature. To the music obsessed toddler (me) hearing it back in the day, it was everything.
My point exactly: why he didn't get credit since the beginning totally puzzles me to this day.
Thanks for sharing Michael!
@@lorenzogattaldo3764 I'm not sure, I imagine it was his decision not to pursue until recently
I was in high school when I first heard it and we all thought it was extraordinary. '67 was one of the best years for music.
exactly! The song just doesn't sound right without it
I groan when I hear "classically influenced/trained", but Whiter Shade of Pale stands on it's own as one of the greatest pop singles
Haha I hear you and agree this is one of those exceptions!
You two.. 😂
@@harkityon5879 Haha
Brooker says he had heard a performance of Bach's "Air On the G String" and liked it, and Whiter Shade was Brooker trying to play it on the keys but remembering it wrong :-). So "influenced" but yeah, it makes an amazing pop melody.
@@miket.220 absolutely!
My favorite memory of this song was when my wife was warming up at a church to play at a friend's wedding. The place was empty except for us, so she played this song on the organ to test things. :)
I carefully set up the echo, volume etc and she went for it. Amazing to hear this in such a cavernous space. I wish I'd filmed it!
That sounds amazing! Yes, would have been great to capture it, however, you have a wonderful memory of it!
Some beauty are best kept as memory..
"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"
Fantastic lyrics. Really dug into the literature vault with this one.
It’s an amazing song
I’m shocked that you missed one of the biggest reasons for its popularity, it was the slow dance song we all waited for at high school dances.
Haha indeed!
Effectivement et nos premières Boum
I have to throw in that the real star of that song is Gary Brookers voice and phrasing. Look, there's countless cover versions of the song, some done by extremely gifted singers (e.g. Annie Lennox) - but none of those captures the essence of the song, this somewhat longing, slightly melancholic, yet intense mood. It's really Gary Brooker, even though his voice seems somewhat - dare I say: pale at first, it is fitting this song like no other. He totally owns that song and nobody can ever take it from him.
HUGE fan of Gary Brooker!!
Yes. Well, he wrote it (as in, conjured the melody into being, I'm not taking away from Keith and Matthew's contributions), Gary sings his own song perfectly!
@@johnarthurgrant8029 Yes, he certainly does!
My mum loves this song! She was around the same age your dad was when it came out and to this day, she gets misty eyed and nostalgic whenever she hears it. 😊
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
I was in high school when it came out, and our foreign exchange student from the U.K. was promoting it to all of my aspiring rock singer friends. :) This song is an absolute classic. It is also remarkable how mature Gary Brooker's voice sounded when this was released and how good (and similar) he sounded a forty years later.
I loved this song as a young man, it was so touching to me and still is. Absolutely timeless💯👏
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
All the guests are rocking these epsiodes, learned so much! Thank you Warren Steve and Caitlin!
Thanks ever so much Ady!
I first heard “Whiter Shade of Pale” when it came out. I was not even 4 years old. I referred to it as “spinning church music”. And to this day (I’m 58 now) this song sounds like “spinning church music” to me. It was timeless the moment it was released. Thank you for adding this song to your series. And like others have said… This series is so fantastic. ✌🏽❤️🍄
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! Love 'spinning Church Music' analogy!
Thanks all. This is one of my all time favorite songs.
You’re welcome! Yes, it’s a masterpiece
The organ sounds create that atmosphere that is the signature sound of what is expected of a Hammond organ forever
Nicely said!
this tune hits me in the heart and mind in a powerful special way like no other. it came out when i was 6 years old and every time i hear that harmony i get chills and i stop what i am doing and listen and reminisce about magical time in space . i just love it. it can never be confused with any other.
The 1967 video looks terrific, even in 2021. Brilliant lyrics and music.
Agreed 100%!
There is a much better video with Harry Dean Stanton starring in it. It is on you tube
Another notable influence was Percy Sledge’s 1966 hit “When a Man Loves a Woman”. The chord progression, instrumentation, themes, and performance are all evocative of Sledge’s timeless recording. Particularly, the slight crescendo at the start of the chorus was meant as a nod to it, as a similar flourish is used as a recurring hook. Not only is Whiter Shade of Pale a synthesis of Bach with Rock &Roll, but also (if not more so than Rock) Gospel RnB. Yet another layer of depth to this song
Yes, Percy’s song has a climb down which is beautiful. Of course it’s a totally different groove, being in 6/8 not 4/4 so it feels very different. I would still use Bach as the main reference for the main musical theme. However, all of us in the UK are obsessed with R&B, Motown, The Blues and all artists those amazing artists so I don’t doubt that classic soul music is a huge influence on Procol Harum
@@Producelikeapro Very true, the star of the song is that Bach-like organ. And no doubt Percy’s song owes it’s harmonic progression to Bach as well. Thanks for the reply and for the great video! I recently discovered your channel and am going through the videos in this series. Lots of good stuff here, so thank you very much!
@@mileskurtz-clark8905 thanks ever so much for the kind words
I absolutely loved this song my whole life. I have no idea what it is about but it reaches down into my soul, my pain, my past abuse, my cptsd, and all the love I have ever felt snd rubs a salve on my heart. It’s both uplifting and cathartic to hear it and brings me to tears other times. I also love how it was used in the movie New York stories where Nick Nolte plays a painter. He blasts it super loud in his artist loft and with the high ceilings the sound seems to soar like a river carrying us away watching him paint.
This series is amazing. I know there are others that try to do this, but I love your approach more. I always come away knowing more about the artist/band and the stories behind the music. Thank you
Wow! Thanks ever so much, that really means a lot
Bryan said it so nicely that i barely have what else to add. Just discovered this and subscribed. Great!.... Are you British or Canadian? Asking because i am a learner of English (so these videos are of exclusive value to me : you pronounce so nicely. and the words you use /marvellously well ;-) ) I'm listening to you ,typing it and loving all this :-) Thank you for the video and also this piece of enjoyment starting at 6:26 . V
@@vano758 I am British! Born and raised in England!
@@Producelikeapro Surprised he can't tell lol! IF an Englishman CAN'T speak English, what HOPE is there for NESB people to learn to speak it?
@@DMSProduktions it;'s quite alright, sometimes the subtleties get lost if you're not a native speaker
I have always seen "Whiter Shade of Pale" as a great soul song. Melancholy that evokes such feeling. Triggers each listener's memory and, in that way, "White Shade of Pale is universal. The comedown after a great elation. Just gorgeous.
"Whiter Shade of Pale" is a song that is pretty good. It's the ultimate grower. I doubt that anyone thought that "White Shade of Pale" would become the classic that it is.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
A Whiter Shade of Pale - is a classic!!! Very interesting background on the song. Thanks for sharing Warren!!!
Thanks Tom!!
Thanks Warren. The reason I recall this song so fondly, is that as a young boy, the very first time I ever heard an actual live electric band was of all places on the top floor of a popular department store restaurant/recreational space in Auckland New Zealand.My mother took my brother and I shopping for clothes, and afterwards, as usual, we went upstairs to the rooftop cafeteria for lunch. In the play area, used often for a roller-skating rink for kids to play as their mums rested, their happened to be a catwalk style fashion show(doubtless showing brands for sale downstairs), and a four piece band locally known as the "Dallas four" , were backing the catwalk models and announcer with an instrumental version of "whiter shade of pale". I had heard the song on the radio(we had no TV in the late 60's) but was intrigued to hear the instrumental ringing clear and clean-as if(and it didn't) not requiring vocals. To hear a live electric band with real drums was something that stayed in my heart for forty years or so afterwards, and it imprinted the melody and harmony into my dna forever, also sparking my interest in learning more on my guitar which I'd just got a few years earlier in1963( at the age of ten. I immediately wanted to feel that excitment of playing in a bouncing off the feels of the other musicians.I'll never forget that song or that moment in time, though I can't recall exactly which year it was, and I always loved(and still do) the classic sound of the hammond organ(although the keyboard the band member used on that occasion was a simple electronic organ rather than a Hammond.) Many songs come to mind as suggestions, but many of my favourites are not big hits, but include unique sounding thins like J/tull's "the inside" and "to cry you a song", Joni Mitchell's "both sides now" , and Gordon lightfoot's "if you could read my mind", Peter Paul and Mary's "Norman normal", and Alman brothers with "sail away"(enlightened rouges album) As I say sometimes the overlooked, rather than the well knon classic hits are the more influential to musicians who are purely music nerds, and don't care about popularity.
This is one of my favorite songs to sing, I got good memories of the whole family singing along. :-)
Thanks ever so much for the great comment
The year 1967 my parents took me to the Expo 67 eve in Montreal Canada and every where I've went to I would 👂 that song on the radio pleasant memories. Thank you.
Thanks for the great comment
Also, major point of contact between the Baroque and Pop is that both musics were known in the 1960s by way of recordings. Both musics were stuff you could buy at the store. It's impossible to overstate the importance of phonography as having changed our rapport to music. Music has always thrived through direct transmission from musician to musician, and written scores helped that process. But decent quality, affordable records have changed our historical understanding of music. Anachronism has become the default mode. One appeal of going to the record store was to shop for past eras at the same time as you culled the week's latest hits. Hence Jacques Loussier's jazzy "Play Bach" or Wendy Carlos electronic "Switched-on Bach", etc. Records stripped the rarity of music itself, and streaming has now stripped off the rarity of records themselves, so we can finally enjoy the enveloping feeling of a library with all the knowledge of the world as applied to the context of sound.
What a fantastic and beautiful vocal timbre! It fits perfectly into the song.
Absolutely
I love this song, it is actually Bach inspired but still beautiful and timeless.
Absolutely Bach inspired!
Best band ever in my opinion,so sad we have lost Gary and Keith but the music will live on and there's many more great songs in there repertoire believe me.
Yes, very sad. Thanks ever so much for sharing!
My favourite song ever.
It’s amazing
An amazing song. Thank you for describing it so well as how was it done. And please play the acoustic version that you teased us with. Great job
Thanks ever so much Roger
Such an amazing song!! It’s So nice that you went through the song in depth, this song deserves respect!! When they play it in Alan Parker’s “The Commitments” is so beautiful.
Fantastic!!
He could've been singing about washing his stained drawers in the washer and it still would have been terrific!!!!!
Haha indeed! Beautiful song and melody
"Evocative" is exactly the word. When I listen to it, I feel like I'm sat in a hall after a party. Nearly everyone's gone, the lights are up and people are clearing up. Although it was fun, it feels a bit sad that it's over...
Amazing song
Thanks ever so much!
Yes, we've lost many talents
You know what they say, if it ain't Baroque, don't fix it! 😁🎶🤟
Haha indeed!
Brilliant!
I always perceive many artists' songs copy this one because ive yet to find a song before it as polarizing w/ its style(though i can hear its inspirations such as its vocals). The covers of it are almost just as interesting. I feel John Lennon leveled up from taking attributes of it to upgrade his own style. The song Un Amico by Ennio Morricone is a good example of what i perceive to be a child of it.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
Watching these trips down memory lane with fascinating insight into the song making always leaves me feeling.....marvellously well.
Haha Marvellous
Wonderful analysis of a timeless classic!
Thanks ever so much
I was a senior in college when this song was released. This and Hello Goodbye where my two favorites. Great tutorial.
Thanks ever so much Bob for sharing!
Excellent. Loved the acoustic version Warren.
Thanks Tim!
I don't know anything about music theory. I just know this song sounds great, even today! And that Hammond sound is just fantastic. Interestingly, I listened to an interview with Sting yesterday on Rick Beato's channel, and he mentioned that he still listens to Bach for inspiration. Sting said he looks for surprise in music; "if there's no surprise in the first 8 bars, he stops listening." I would say Whiter Shade of Pale is surprising.
Thanks ever so much Tom for that great comment!
The "Whiter Shade of Pale" was my wedding March 48 years ago. It reminds me of how wonderful love can be!
That's amazing Rhonda!
I remember when I was a kid my dad had a red cassette in our old Opel Kadett with random 60's and 70's songs and that song was in it. Since then it's one of my fav songs ever!
That’s great! Yes, my Dad has this song on a 60s compilation album!
Just saw Sting being interviewed by Rick Beato and they mentioned that song as one of the greatest ballads of all time, couldn't agree more. Thank you Warren for another awesome video on an amazing song! (Btw I had a great time mixing your version of it.)
Yes, a complete masterpiece!
I can’t thank you more for what you do! You have brought so much joy and instruction to us hungry musicians!
@@mcguffinsoundstudios1524 thanks ever so much! That really means a lot!
As always a pleasure Warren,this was the soundtrack of my childhood!
Thanks ever so much David! Yes, my father loved this song so much! It was one of the few pop songs allowed in my house and my childhood
An excellent insight into this timeless song. Thanks Warren...can't tell you how much I enjoy your reviews...you hit the nail on the head...
Thanks ever so much Peter! That means a lot
Purely Iconic !! Hammond makes it.
Procol Harum had some other great songs on later albums.
One of my favorites is the "A Salty Dog" record..
Much thanks for covering this song !!
I love 'A Salty Dog'! Masterpiece!
That song is still of one of the most player songs on the radio world wide.
Absolutely!
I think the drums are nuts on this track. Just fills, fills, fills! Love it. Pity there's not a stereo mix of the original recording.
YES! Insane drums!
Yes, I hate how there is a misleadingly named "50th Anniversary Stereo Mix" of it but it's a completely different take, much less powerful
@@KariKauree yes, new recording with a much louder bassline
23:40: Actually, it shared that award with another song, also mentioned in your video-Queen's "Bohemian Raphsody". The two songs, oddly enough, also have a more obscure thing in common: they both mention the Spanish dance fandango in their lyrics.
"An EDM version of it"
Giorgio Moroder did that in 1978 under his Munich Machine project and it's actually really great.
I love Warrens acoustic version, it does have that classical feel.
Thanks ever so much William!
The acoustic version you do is awesome Warren👍
Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much!
1967 changed my life for ever, I was eleven old.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing
I came to this channel and get explained why the songs are great which I feel are great. Thank you for this insides..
You’re very welcome
Procol Harum are great. I particularly like their song Conquistador (but the Live 1971 recording, not the studio version) more than this one to be honest ! The lesser known "Repent Walpurgis" is also a fine instrumental for fans of classical prog rock music to check out. Always nice to see this largely underrated band, who were a key component of the British invasion era, receive your/the full recognition and appreciation that they deserve! Smooth rendition, too :)
I love that song too!
Repent Walpurgis is a fantastic track ❤️
@@stevebengel1346 yes, it certainly is!
You good mention a host of Procol Harum songs, they have been such an important part of my life I couldn't imagine life without them
My first concert in 1973!
Fantastic!
Haha, This song has been my ringtone for a long time because I never get sick of the intro. Another brilliant video, Thanks Warren.
Thanks ever so much!
what a great song, big part of my childhood. I love the soulful vocal. I bought the seven single when it came out, still got it somewhere . . . great video, thanks Warren!
I was intrigued by Caitlin's musicological interlude. Can we please have a video on uses of the harpsicord in the 60s, particularly by The Kinks and the Bonzos? (I can't see Rick putting that on his 'to do' list!)
Around 1970 my mother was housekeeper to a Catholic priest in Coventry, UK, and there was a mini scandal when a couple getting married wanted A Whiter Shade of Pale played at their wedding. They left a copy of the sheet music folio with the priest. The issue wasn't the choice of music. The cover of the folio featured a close-up of a blonde in a white, see-through crocheted dress... how could the priest possibly give that to the lady organist!
Marvellous idea of song breakdowns! Thanks! Yes, we pride ourselves on doing songs that shaped music more than ones that get very high views! Luckily sometimes those are the same thing!
Haha the oranges story is priceless!
This is absolutely one of my favorite tunes ever! I can’t stop covering it either 😁. It’s easy to get “lost” in the melody.
Absolutely!
Bleeding on the vocal track? Haemorrhaging more like 😃😃.
May 1967 was a good month for releases. First "Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks, then this one the following week, a week later "Paper Sun" by Traffic and a week after that Sgt. Pepper ... to name but four.
Well done for not concentrating on the precise meaning of the lyrics, Warren. It was the sound which was all important. All the words needed to do was add mystery. They could mean whatever you wanted them to - much like the summer of love 😍
Amazing year for music!
Bach is so prominent, productive and creative it's impossible to avoid some kind of resemblance to his work in a pop music composition. So let's relax and be thankful that Bach had, not paved, but literally 5-lane-wide-smooth-asphalted the way for today's pop music as a whole. 🙏
Great video, Warren! Really just loving it ❤❤
Thanks ever so much
Amazing breakdown on this song, ty Warren and friends!
Thanks William!
Superb! I've loved this song since its release, and this is a very well done history and analysis. Thank you for all the excellent insight.
This song is mesmerizing.
It certainly is!
I never heard a Yamaha acoustic that sounded as iight and airy but still with lower harmonics as yours. Made fo this song. A fan of high capoing myself! Thanks Warren!
Thanks Fred! It’s a Yamaha LL16, it sounds wonderful
Classy is the best/only word to describe "Whiter Shade of Pale". It was first song that demonstrated to me the melodic power of a bass. Thanks for the video, Warren.
Hi David! Well said!
This is the best short documentary video I've ever seen on TH-cam.
Wow! Thanks Wayne!
Thank you Warren. For me, you and your fellow contributors professional insight is compelling and always leaves me wanting more. I love music and its history, though I've only ever dabbled with production. Therefore as a non professional, diving deeper guided by your knowledge and experience is so enriching. Your channel has grown from strength to strength, love your work. Cheers mate
You are very welcome! I really appreciate it!
One of my favorite songs of all time
Mine too!!
I agree the bass line is the thing that gives this song its structure. As I teach a pop music class to non-musicians, I talk about this song as having a perfect mix of classical (well, really Baroque- ground bass) compositional structure, psychedelic aesthetic and the all important timing, as Warren points out. I contend that had the song been released a year prior or later than it was, it would have been dismissed. I was astounded to learn that the "Miller's Tale" reference wasn't as intellectually conceived as I was prone to posit. Although the lyricist admits to having never read Chaucer, by invoking his work he sets it in a place that we can conjure a meaning from it, never intended by the writer. That is the beauty of songs; that they can have meaning beyond what is written and surely what was originally intended.
Wonderful dissection -- I learned a lot about one of my absolute favorite popular songs of all time.
Marvellous!
Another great episode with a really comprehensive view of the song- the historical and cultural aspects, and the musical and recording aspects. Brilliant. And a song which certainly does not run short of material to talk about.
Thanks ever so much Dean!
Another gem, Warren! Looking forward to the next one (not to put any pressure on you!)
Haha thanks ever so much
I've heard this song time and time again but never knew how deep this song does in fact go!
Thanks Lee! Yes, amazing song!
Beyond cool for explaining how you grew up and I mean it. I remember when different Queen albums came out and we would debate their quality, especially the guitar. Brian May was our hero.
Thanks ever so much Patrick!
Hi Warren, amazing song and review, thank you, all the best.
Thanks ever so much Darren!
MY FIRST TIME HERE, YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION, BEGINNING AT 10, MY GIFT KEEPS GIVING STILL AT 67, PROCOL HARUM, JUST DID MUSIC ; TIME AND SPACE HAVE NO RELATION TO IT.
Thanks ever so much for your great comment!
Love this series and this song. And, boy, is Caitlyn ever lovely.
Thanks ever so much!
Much to glean from this episode. Enjoyed all of your playing and insight. Particularly intrigued by how the chord progression is a six bar phrase in the verse yet the melody is four or eight. That bass with the F# to F - don’t see that often. Classic. Was Robin Trower on this? Now to listen to Limelight from Stereotomy. RIP Gary Brooker.
Thanks ever so much John! I really appreciate it
Songs we should all know? Roberta Flack's 'First time ever I saw your face'... the song that defines 'restrained production' to me, and an intergenerational masterpiece IMHO.
Thanks an amazing artist and amazing song!!
Such a gorgeous song that it seems like I've loved it my entire life (though I'm actually unclear about when and where I first heard it). "Evocative" is the right word. Tremendously evocative. You put it on and it carries you away to a surreal and melancholy place. There's a slight sibilance or echo to the vocals that you can just barely hear which I really love.
PS When you isolate the tracks I hear a lot of bleed everywhere & I think that must have added to the mood.
Agreed Norman! It's a masterpiece!
@@normanleroy1874 yes, all recorded in the same room!
Their was a time when bands played together in the same room. It seems todays recording are put together one piece at a time…boring
Bach has never sounded better. This is one of the rare instances where they improved on the original. For me it's the Hammond that makes it exceptional, but the vocals capture a vibe, a feeling, and the whole thing melts together into something really remarkable.
Such a great song and exemplifies that era. Nice one once again Warren.
Thanks ever so much!
The word Classic or Legendary dont do this justice.. timeless
Agreed 100%!
I was 12 and had no idea why I loved it so much. The song has always stayed with me as a classic. Music was fabulous with headphones but you had to buy the record because all Australian radio was AM. LOL
Incredible Act, Incredible song!
When HSAS covered it in ‘83, it struck me, right out of piano lessons > rock electric guitar!
Neal Schon’s numerous inverted chords, really opened up the fretboard for me, quickly.
Excellent vid, Warren! 👏
The day this song was released, it sounded timeless -- and I think everyone knew it. This video mentions some specific aspects of that, but really, "Whiter Shade of Pale" is just song magic -- beyond all words and explanation. As a 12 year old in Greenwich Village (NYC), I walked amid the strange world of early hippie culture -- the place and time when I first heard this transcendent piece.
Worth noting also, is that some place the beginning of prog rock exactly with this song's arrival. I just know it's pretty important. Great analysis and commentary.
Love that song, is so timeless. Thanks
Agreed 100%!
One of my favorite keyboard parts in a song... so very soulfully played! Great video... must be heard by everyone! 🤘😎🎸🎹
Well, for me this was and still is a great song too. I‘ve always been and still am a big fan of Procol Harum since I was a boy of 12 years. I‘ve got respectively I had almost all their records and all solo records and CDs of Gary Brooker. But I knew little of what I know now about „A Whiter Shade of Pale“. Therefore thanks for this excellently made information about this hit. And while listening to this presentation I found out - and now hold your breath - that I own the in this here mentioned album „The Baroque Beatles Book“. Strange, isn‘t it. My favourite PH-lineup was Gary Brooker, B. J. Wilson, Mick Grabham, Chris Copping and Allan Cartwright with their albums „Grand Hotel“ and „Exotic Birds and Fruit“. I saw them live in Villach, Carinthia, Austria!Incredibly good music which I still listen to very very often. One of my favourite songs is „For Liquorice John“ from „Grand Hotel“, especially the part from 1:43 to 2:14. This is music from heaven.
Strangely enough I never liked the Queen which you also mentioned, and I‘ve not got any albums of them (or theirs?).
You are a very good musician and know incredibly much about music. 👍🏻👏🏻👍🏻.
Imagine debuting with such a masterpiece. Well, on the other hand, you can't go wrong with Bach ;) One of the most beautiful songs ever. It always manages to move me after so many years. In its Italian cover version ("Senza luce" - without light) by Dik Dik, it's my parents' song. 54 years later still rocking.
Have a marvellous weekend.
King Curtis' instrumental live version that appears as the intro to the film Withnail & I is incredible.
Yes, huge fan of that version and of course the movie!
Iconic song! Always a good watch with this video series!
Thanks Sean!
Another example of "classical feel + contemporary feel" are the works of Pink Floyd. I remeber my grand-father* , in his 60s in these times, loved Pink Floyd's albums (Meddle, Atom Earth Mother, DSOTM and Wish You Were Here, for instance) but was deeply into classical music.
* I've now his own hi-fi set in my living room: a Marantz 4270 and a pair of Ditton 66 (the additional pair of Celestion 15 for the quadraphonic stuff are in my bassement, sorry 😉)
As always, such a high quality insight into great music! Thank you! ☺️
Thanks ever so much
Fantastic eulogy of this great song
Thanks ever so much Michael!
Great acoustic version!
Thanks ever so much
I listen to Procol Harum performance live in Denmark with an orchestra backing up… no words to describe it..
Absolutely amazing
Whiter Shade Of Pale is on a lot of top 10/top 5 lists of greatest songs written in the 20th Century along side the likes of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Rhapsody In Blue. High praise indeed and well deserved in my opinion. To me, it's almost like an incredible magic trick - A budding lyricist and a guy who had never written songs before together, came up with this masterpiece. I can't help but wonder if they knew what a rare and special creature they had at some point during the recording. If they did, I'm trying to imagine the satisfaction. Thank you for helping to somewhat pull the curtain back on the process.