In addition to receiving numerous other awards, the song has been covered over 1000 times, and has appeared on the soundtrack of some major films (including The Big Chill). In the UK in 2004, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” was recognized as the song most played by British broadcasters for the 70 years prior. To this day, it is one of less than 30 singles to have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. It went on to reach #1 in many other countries as well. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that the song received very little promotion. Less than a month after its release, the song reached #1 on the UK chart and remained there for six weeks. It didn’t take long for “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” to gain traction. Still, five decades later, the band has endured, having just released their 12 th studio album, Novum. #Procol harum a whiter shade of pale fullTo say that an artist peaked before even releasing their first full album is a bit unfair, but this song is inarguably the most memorable moment of Procol Harum’s career. On (50 years ago today), Procol Harum was introduced to the world with their first single, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.” However, there is one that comes to mind. It’s hard to think of a debut song that has done the same. It still sounds different.Throughout the course of rock and roll history, there have been numerous debut albums that have left their mark on the world. And if I hear it myself on the radio, it always sounds different to all else that is going on in 2017, just like it sounded so different to everything else in 1967. And new people pick it up as well. It’s not everybody that met their first girlfriend in 1967, you know? There’s people that have picked up the song along the way. It is still a great mystery to me why, how it’s come to be still so strong in so many people’s brains and lives and feelings. With the benefit of hindsight, what do you think accounts for the song’s enduring appeal? I never thought that far in front at all. But I never even thought 10 years ahead, let alone 50. And of course it was a smash hit around the world straightaway, which is even more fantastic. When it was written and I was singing it, just the piano and vocal, I thought, ‘This is different.’ It was a good song and the recording came out very well, so that was job done. When you were recording “A Whiter Shade of Pale” could you tell it was one for the ages? The group released a new album, Novum, earlier this year and will be announcing 50th anniversary concerts soon, but Brooker took a few minutes away from 2017 to remember when he turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor…. Procol Harum, meanwhile, is still an active concern, led by co-founder, singer and keyboardist Gary Brooker. It’s been echoed (try Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”) but never equaled, and is the rare song of psychedelia that sounds as fresh now as when it was released. A perennial selection on Greatest Songs list and a frequent soundtrack choice for movies ( The Big Chill, The Commitments, New York Stories), the Bach-flavored track was, and remains, original and ethereal, melodic and mysterious. Released 50 years ago today (on May 12, 1967), the four-minute first single from Procol Harum skipped the light fandango - whatever the hell that meant - and became a Summer of Love anthem that spent six weeks atop the U.K. Debut singles don’t come much more auspicious than Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.”
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