Procol Harum / A Whiter Shade Of Pale

『青い影』。この曲のために存在するアルバム。そして、この曲を背負ってしまったプロコロ・ハルム。さらに、この曲の著作権を巡って裁判沙汰に。最終決着がついたのは2009年7月。40年間、『青い影』には黒い影が漂っていたのだ。だが、今でも漂い続けるのは次の歌詞。楽しそうにダンスを踊る二人。男は女に「粉屋の話」を持ち掛ける。とたんに女の顔は青ざめていき、「理由なんてないわ、見てのとおりよ」と開き直る。この「粉屋の話」がポイントで、『カンタベリー物語』からの引用という説が有力。

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."

1. A Whiter Shade Of Pale
2. Conquistador
3. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence
4. Something Following Me
5. Mabel
6. Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of)
7. A Christmas Camel
8. Kaleidoscope
9. Salad Days (Are Here Again)
10. Good Captain Clack
11. Repent Walpurgis
12. Lime Street Blues
13. Homburg
14. Monsieur Armand
15. Seem To Have The Blues All The Time

Matthew Fisher - organ
Dave Knights - bass guitar
B.J. Wilson - drums
Robin Trower - guitar
Gary Brooker - vocals, piano
Keith Reid - lyrics
Ray Royer - guitar on track 1 (in place of Trower)
Bill Eyden - drums on track 1 (in place of Wilson)

Recorded in June 1967 at Olympic Studios, London.