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Topic: Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) - A Whiter Shade of Pale |
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 8:24 am |
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Here's a photo of Gary Brooker, of Procol Harum, receiving his copy of my CD, "Home, James" last week in Copenhagen, thanks to my old high school pal, Unsteady Freddie (don't ask). Gary co-wrote "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which is on the CD, and it's his voice singing it that is indelibly seared into the brains of so many people like myself who grew up on that song. It also turns out that Gary's father was a steel guitarist! Who knew?? Some footage of his Dad recently surfaced on YouTube, playing in a movie in the 1940's, I believe. I hope Gary enjoys my treatment of his song.
p.s. In case you're wondering, the CD case broke while he was skipping a light fandango. 
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Peter Freiberger
From:
California, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 9:39 am
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| I saw them in Boston when "Whiter Shade Was A Hit". The opening act was a tall skinny guy with a full head of hair, a guitar and some great songs. James Taylor. I wonder what ever happened to him. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 9:43 am
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At least some of us have known for decades that Harry Brooker was a fine steeler and played/recorded a few years with the WW2 era great Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders touring group. Here's Harry with the lovely Louisa Moe singing one of my faves http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=47630 There's plenty more like it on the BP site, but few with Harry, most showcase the superb Roland Peachy.
Gary tragically lost his dad at an early age. |
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Mike Fereday
From:
Newbury, Berkshire, England
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 10:44 am
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Jim, I too have great memories of "A Whiter Shade of Pale".
Not wishing to hijack the post - and what a great event Gary receiving your CD was - but this morning I received my copy of "Aloha Dreams" (a Hawaiian "newsletter" produced by forumite Basil Henrick and his wife). There is a page devoted to "The Brooker Project" by Canadian Mike Scott. He has created a CD of Gary's father's music. It is titled "Harry Brooker - The Sweet Sounds of Britain's Greatest Hawaiian Steel Guitar Artist".
Mike |
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frank rogers
From:
usa
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Jeremy Steele
From:
Princeton, NJ USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 12:06 pm
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| Hey Jim, is your friend the same "Unsteady Freddie" who hosts Surf Music fests? If so, I attended a memorable bash of his at Otto's Shrunken Head in NYC a few years ago...he was indeed quite unsteady. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 12:09 pm
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Uh-oh. You know him? Yes, that's the same Unsteady Freddie. We were best of friends in high school (in Roslyn, Long Island). He's totally into surf-rock and is close pals with the Procol Harum guys. His picture is all over their website.
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 12:17 pm
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| Was he taking an exam at the eye doctor's that day? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 2:11 pm
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Doctor to Mr. Brooker: Mr. Brooker how white is this photo? Egg cream? Beige?
Mr. Brooker: Whiter!
Doctor: Whiter than what?
Brooker: It's a whiter shade of pale. Hey. Wait a minute. That's a great title for a hit song. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 6:20 pm
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Jim,Do you have the CD The Return Of The Prodigal Stranger? 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
Last edited by Stu Schulman on 19 Jan 2011 8:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jan 2011 7:04 pm
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You will very soon!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Paul Wade
From:
mundelein,ill
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 19 Jan 2011 8:53 am
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Jim, first Graham Nash, then Gary Brooker. Who's next?
Justin Hayward maybe?  |
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Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Posted 19 Jan 2011 11:10 am
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Jim, very cool! Procul Harum certainly had their moment with a unique sound that combined classical and rock in a non-weeny way. Kind of like what Queen did later. Great song for you to record.
Joe |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2011 1:18 pm
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When I was in High Skool,I worked in a plastic injection molding company making...you guessed it...WHITE 5 Gallon BUCKETS!
Needless to say this was our theme song back then.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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