In 1967, a British group that started out as a cover band, The Paramounts (with a minor hit “Poison Ivy”), evolved their sound into Progressive Rock (Prog Rock) or Art Rock that emphasized compositions, experimentation, and concept-driven lyrics. Procol Harum released their first single in 1967 called “A Whiter Shade Of Pale,” which was based on a Bach piece. The song quickly shot up the charts on both sides of the Atlantic to reach #1. Musically split between hard rock and classical rock, the band never managed to land another hit of that magnitude but maintained a large cult audience until lead singer/songwriter Gary Brooker’s death in 2022.
Songs 1967/1968
- “Whiter Shade Of Pale”
- “Shine On Brightly”
- “Homburg”
If anyone wants to hear the Bach piece that this song is inspired by “Air On The G String” by Johann Sebastian Bach:
BoG CF and Jim Pantas at HPER (Moffett), Spring Weekend Concert