WHITER SHADE OF PALE: PROCOL HARUM SONGWRITER HAS DIED

Slipped Disc ^ | March 30, 2023 | Norman Lebrecht

[nwrep]

The death has been announced today of Keith Reid, the lyricist of every original song recorded by Procol Harum.

Keith was 76.

[nwrep]

Airs.

[Pelham]

Air on a G String?

[Wilum]

My daughter was delivered while this played in the operating room.

[nwrep]

Among others.

[gloryblaze]

My favorite song for forever. I have worn out a few 45’s, but always have one at the ready.

[Irenic]

Beautiful song, I’ll need to listen now.

That’ll surely lead me into some Cohen.

It’s a rainy day to boot.

Rest in peace, Keith Reid and thanks for the songs.

[Larry Lucido]

Great band. RIP

[Larry Lucido]

I’d listen to it, then listed to A Salty Dog to cheer myself up.

[Larry Lucido]

[Rinnwald]

I saw that psychadelic Bentley at the Vancouver BC world’s fair, Expo 86. The stereo was actually a turntable, rubber mounted to keep it from skipping. Ole Johnny L. probably wore out the LP.

[SamAdams76]

OK, be honest everybody. How many people thought Procol Harum was the name of the singer, not the name of the band?

[SamAdams76]

I didn’t hate the song but for me, it lost its luster when it was featured on “The Big Chill” soundtrack, a really dreadful movie from 1983 about a group of self-absorbed Baby Boomers reuniting for a funeral of a friend.

[nwrep]

How many people thought Procol Harum was the name of the singer, not the name of the band?

Almost no one.

[dfwgator]

Not as many that thought “Hootie” was the lead singer for the “Blowfish”.

[SamAdams76]

I'll never forget the NYT article where they referred to Meat Loaf as "Mr. Loaf."

Then the record executive who asked Pink Floyd "Which one's Pink?"

There are also some who thought Led Zeppelin was a dude. My mother was one of them. She was always telling me to turn Led down.

[mairdie]

One of my favorites

[mak5]

Gary Brooker died just over a year ago. He was still working with Ringo’s All-Starr Band and Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings at the time.

[daler]

I seem to recall reading not long ago that Ringo ranked it the best ever pop/rock song.

[Nakota]

“Great slow dance in College, RIP...” We used to call this one a “two hander”.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.