RIP Gary Brooker
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Discussion

dandarez

Original Poster:

13,674 posts

299 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
quotequote all
Gary Brooker, has died aged 76

Lead singer of PH
for the youngsters on here, no, not PistonHeads!
Procol Harum

1967 No. 1, Whiter Shade of Pale
apparently, and officially, the most played record on the BBC.

RIP

Deserves to have the lyrics here.

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.




55palfers

6,132 posts

180 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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Sad. Seems all the '60s bands are losing members too frequently now.

RIP Gary.


Matty3

1,238 posts

100 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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Big shame, love PH and Gary. RIP, skip the light fandango...

We are all getting older and nearer to meeting our maker frown

Will raise a glass tonight and put Grand Hotel on the turntable..

rjfp1962

8,802 posts

89 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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R.I.P. Gary.. Everyone knows "Whiter..." is a classic, but my knowledge of other Procul Harum needs work and examination...!

Trev and Jules

61 posts

167 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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Another legend gone RIP

jet_noise

5,918 posts

198 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2022
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This (YT clinky) was a recent discovery.

Into the Flood with a whole (Danish Concert) orchestra & choir.
Usually that sounds big plodding stodgy warning bells but this rocks.
Anders Preview the conductor is loving it too smile

Skyedriver

20,676 posts

298 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2022
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rjfp1962 said:
R.I.P. Gary.. Everyone knows "Whiter..." is a classic, but my knowledge of other Procul Harum needs work and examination...!
WS of P and the follow up, Homburg I have in my collection from back in the day.
Have seen Gary countless times on TV in various "bands", collections of top class musicians each and every one. He was well thought of in the music world.
Can anyone recommend a "best of" collection?

Whats on Second

732 posts

49 months

Thursday 7th April 2022
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it's a pattern that other classic bands follow, their best stuff is on the first 4 albums, then for the next 40 years they play
the same live set list .

I thought he had a distinctive, plaintiff, melancholy voice, ideal for their baroque musical style.

RIP Gary.

Roofless Toothless

6,627 posts

148 months

Thursday 7th April 2022
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GB was a big part of the Concert For George, as well. There were lots of decent guys on that stage.

Oilchange

9,293 posts

276 months

Thursday 7th April 2022
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I was lucky to see him perform WSofP several times when he performed with Clapton. Talented guy.

MrOnTheRopes

1,518 posts

262 months

Thursday 7th April 2022
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Oilchange said:
I was lucky to see him perform WSofP several times when he performed with Clapton. Talented guy.
Same 'ere, including Brands Hatch 2002 (there were many others but that one stands out).