Peter Sinfield on PROCOL HARUM

Peter Sinfield

Peter Sinfield

It’s always interesting to read one creative mind’s opinion of the other. Today, Peter Sinfield, one of the rock’s greatest wordsmiths, posted a note on his Facebook page regarding PROCOL HARUM‘s immortal classic, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”. Peter, most famous for his work with KING CRIMSON, wrote some songs with PROCOL’s Gary Brooker, but now commented on the aforementioned classic’s lyrics by Keith Reid.

Here’s what Sinfield writes:

Keith Reid

Keith Reid

“This is more than a little classical;and even better it is sung by my dear, old friend Mr G. Brooker, who was my next door neighbour when we shared a Surrey river valley, near the village of Dunsfold, in the mid=’70s: during which time we collaborated on half a dozen songs for his first solo album “No More Fear Of Flying”. Gary, with his good natured, directness and wry wit, is one of the few real gentlemen I have met in the music business. I am very fond of him and his wife Frankie who have always been very kind to me. It is way beyond time that I shared a glass or two with them again. Talking of which…

There are those who think Keith Reid’s lyrics to this song are just a bunch of abstract nonsense. Not true. it Is mainly and simply about a group of guys getting very drunk in a pub. Vestal virgins? There were a group of girls present from the famous Public school, Roedean, which is situated on the Sussex coast near Brighton. Waiter, tray? Just so”.

May 6, 2013

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