Whiter Shade of Pale : Rolling Stone

Written by: Keith Reid, Gary Brooker
Produced by: Denny Cordell
Released: June '67 on A&M
Charts: 12 weeks
Top spot: No. 5

A somber hymn supported by an organ theme straight out of Bach ("Air on the G String," from the "Suite No. 3 in D Major"), Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" was unlike anything on the radio in 1967. It was also the only track recorded by the initial lineup of Procol Harum, which started as an R&B band, the Paramounts, in 1963. A worldwide smash that sold more than 6 million copies and quickly found its way into wedding ceremonies (and, later, the Big Chill soundtrack), "Pale" helped kick-start the classical-rock boomlet that gave the world the Moody Blues.

Appears on: Greatest Hits (A&M)

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