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Procol Harum, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1 Viewer)

cafink

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Carl Fink
I've always loved Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale," but never been able to understand the lyrics. I finally got around to looking for them on the 'net tonight, and now I finally know what's being said.
But the lyrics I found had two entire verses that aren't in the song as I know it. Is there a longer version of the song? Was a longer version written and simply never recorded?
Anyone know?
Thanks.
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2001
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The additional two stanzas were usually included in versions that Procol Harum performed live. There is an alternate version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" in stereo recorded around the same time as the released version. It was noticeably longer and I think it also contained the additonal stanzas. Hope this was of help.
DADA for now....
------------------
"I... am not a racialist!"
-Mr. Hilter (from Monty Python)
 

cafink

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Carl Fink
Yes, thanks, that was very helpful!
Does anyone know if the longer version of the song is available on CD? Anywhere? I really like the lyrics, and I'd love to hear an extended version.
 

James RD

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There is a boxed set available (3 CD's) with the first four albums on two discs and singles and other stuff on the third. "A Whiter Shade..." (which was released only as a single at the time) is included in its original form. There is also a stereo version and an instrumental track.
There probably are some longer, live versions available somewhere. This is a great collection - Procol Harum, 30th Anniversary Anthology. Got mine at Amazon.
 

Marvin

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Just noticed this thread...
They sometimes do the song with 3 or 4 verses in concert (most recently last June at Manchester - 3 verses - and last September at Guildford - 4 verses) but only the 2 verse version is available on non-bootleg CD.
 

Grant B

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I have a Best of 1967 Laserdisc with the original video they did for the song.
All the images in the background are anti-Vietnam protest images.
I never got that from the lyrics.
Quite surprising
The series is a Japanese import series (great liner notes in Japanese!) that does year by year from mid 60s to the 70s
Most of the stuff I have never seen anywhere...no idea where they got it.
Grant
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"My, my, so many guns much anthrax-esque white powder around town these days, and so few brains." Humphrey Bogart
 

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