Procol Harum’s debut single released on May 12, 1967 and was the #1 single in the UK for six weeks. It reached #5 in the US and sold over 10 million copies world wide. John Lennon loved this song. During the time the single came out John thought that most pop music was crap but he couldn’t get enough of A Whiter Shade Of Pale- playing it over and over and over. Author Ray Coleman wrote after a party at Brian Epstein’s-” Next day John phoned me. ‘I remembered after I’d gone what record it is that I can’t stop playing,’ he said. ‘It’s that dope song, Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade Of Pale. It’s the best song I’ve heard for a while. You play it when you take some acid and … whoooooooo.
Lennon was known to play it repeatedly on his record player fitted in his psychedelic Rolls Royce. It is a great single. It would be the biggest hit of Procol Harum’s career and the song they are remembered for. In 2009 it was named the most played song in public places in the UK. Rolling Stone magazine listed it as the 57th greatest song on their 500 Greatest Songs Ever list.
slicethelife 
I’ve heard that anecdote about John playing it in is Rolls (Anthology?), but I’ve always wondered how you play a record in a vehicle without it skipping.
That is an interesting question. I can’t see how it is done.
I’m surprised by the stat re it being most played song in public places in UK. Not sure what I thought it would be (maybe God Save The Queen?) but surprised it’s this.
I would never have guessed that either even given 100 guesses at it.
I’ve always loved “A Whiter Shade of Pale” too.
It’s definitely a trippy song, so it makes sense that “trippers” would be drawn into it. I think there are several George Harrison songs that fit into this category as well. Good stuff, even for a non-tripper!
I absolutely love this song. This organ sound is sheer magic, and Gary Brooker’s vocals are just fantastic. So I guess I’m with Lennon on this one, though I don’t need acid to enjoy it!😀
Yep that organ is the key to song incredible!
Great song… remember the time well… was the music taken from Bach?? some fugue or other…? Lyrics strange and inconsequential, but it didn’t seem to matter at the time…. still doesn’t… some of the Beatles’ song lyrics during that period were pretty surreal… Moody Blues’ Knights in White Satin…. yes, many bands playing with meaningless language…. Naked Lunch…. definitely LSD… interesting times!
Yes taken from Bach- and yes it doesn’t really matter what they are singing- it sounds so good.