A Whiter Shade of Pale

[astrotoy]

I have a 15ips 2 track tape of the US release of their first album, which has WSOP as the first cut of the album. The UK version of the album doesn't include WSOP. I just checked and WSOP is mono on the album, so is the next song. The version of WSOP is a little over 4 minutes long and only has two verses. I got the tape in a recent trade. The origin is an A&M master tape and I have a second generation copy. Quite nice. Don't have any other copy of the album

Larry

 

[Ron Resnick]

Interesting, Larry. Thank you!

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ever since I learned that there are two rarely heard verses in A White Share of Pale I have been nearly obsessed with finding recordings containing three of the verses or four of the verses.

I found on Spotify the Live at the Union Chapel rendition of the song (in the video posted above) containing three verses (making the song about 7 minutes long), but I found only on youtube.com a live rendition (un-noted as to venue or date) of the song by Procol Harum containing four verses (making the song about 9 minutes long).

Who has on vinyl or digital a rendition by Procol Harum containing all four verses?

PS: The meaning of the lyrics is no longer a mystery to me at all.

 

[Ron Resnick]

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

She said, "I'm home on shore leave"
though in truth we were at sea
so I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree

Saying, "You must be the mermaid
who took Neptune for a ride"
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died

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

If music be the food of love
then laughter is its queen
and likewise if behind is in front
then dirt in truth is clean

My mouth by then like cardboard
seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
and attacked the ocean bed

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

 

[Steve williams]

Hi Ron

Just wanted to say that we are in New Zealand and heard the song on a local radio station yesterday in Queenstown

 

[Ron Resnick]

It is a golden-oldie!

 

[Steve williams]

It is a golden-oldie!

It was a golden oldie station.