Chords for Matthew Fisher on Channel 4 (December 2006)

_ _ _ [G] _ _ _ [C] Its [N] haunting organ instrumentals are instantly recognisable.
A Whiter Shade of Pale was released in 1967,
went on to become a worldwide hit,
selling 10 million copies and earning huge royalties
for Procol Harum's singer.
The original _ organist, Matthew Fisher,
claimed he'd also played an important part in creating the song
and went to court to seek copyright recognition
and backdated royalties.
Today, he won his copyright claim against lead singer Gary Brooker,
who promptly dubbed the ruling a darker shade of black.
That will have serious repercussions for the music industry.
We'll talk to Matthew Fisher in a moment [C] and hear him at the keyboard,
but first, here's Lucy Manning. _ _
_ _ [B] _ _ [A] Even at the most [C] traditional of places, St Paul's [F] Cathedral,
the organ solo of Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade [Dm] of Pale
doesn't seem out of place.
[G] _
_ _ _ _ Pop [Em] music fused with Bach's classical music, [C] making a classic opening.
[F] The song was named the most played record [G] of the last 70 years,
[D] so the royalties are not insignificant, [C] running into millions.
[Em] _ _ _
[Am] _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ [F] _ _
_ _ [Am] _ _ _ [Dm] _ _ _
[F] There was once [G] harmony in the band as they [B] skipped the light fandango,
[C] but that's no more,
as the [Em] organist Matthew Fisher won his [Am] high court case
for a [C] share of the copyright.
[F] He'll get 40% of the copyright [Am] and a share of the [Dm] future royalties.
He'd argued that although his [G] colleagues Gary Brooker and Keith Reed
got the [B] songwriting credits, he [Em] wrote the song's distinctive [G] organ solo.
[C] The judge agreed, saying it was [F] significant and hugely [G] famous. _
_ [Am] _ After having [G] not been a co-writer of A [C] Whiter Shade of Pale for 39 years,
I think it's [N] going to take a week or two for the reality to sink in.
I think I can assume from now on I'm not going to be
on Gary and [C] Keith's Christmas card lists,
but [B] I think that's a small price to pay for finally securing
my [C#] rightful place [C] in rock and roll history. _ _
Gary Brooker, the lead singer, [Em] argued he'd written the tune
before [Am] Mr Fisher even joined the [C] band
and said the organist [F] had just tinkered with it.
It took [Am] nearly 40 years for [Dm] Matthew Fisher to finally claim [F] his cut.
He won't get [G] any of the past royalties,
[B] and even with today's success, [Em] he sounds bitter about it all.
[G] At the moment I still have the feeling that all [E] in all
I wish I'd never played on it, but I may [C] come round.
But if the [Em] record keeps being played [Am] and being bought
with the orchestra's mobile phone [C] ringtones,
he may finally get [F] some financial reward for [Am] his organ playing.
So when [Gm] anybody buys a copy of A Whiter Shade of Pale,
Matthew Fisher's going to get a cut of those royalties.
But Gary Brooker, the lead singer and co-writer,
said the judgement was a darker shade of black
for creativity in the music industry,
that [D] now bands would go into the studio and record,
[Gm] and at any point in [D] time one of those [Gm] musicians
could sue for a claim of the copyright.
He said that if Matthew Fisher's name goes on those credits,
he wants his removed.
[D#]
What's your reaction [C#] to Gary Brooker's [N] announcement today
that he wants to take his name off the credits if yours goes on?
I think that's just [G] one of Gary's little jokes.
I don't take that [A#] seriously at all.
[D] His win could have implications for other musicians
who've played [N] on successful hits.
Four years ago, the violinist Bobby Valentino won a share of the royalties
on the Bluebells song Young At Heart.
Perhaps people who have been asked to just knock up something
from the supposed songwriter's notes
_ _ might feel they could well get in on the act.
And [C] actually in many cases you would think justifiably. _ _ _
As for A Whiter Shade of Pale,
whether it's live from St Paul's [F] Cathedral or Top of the Pops,
it still [Am] perfectly [Dm] encapsulates the summer of love.
[G] Even after the bitter court case,
[Em] working out who wrote it seems far easier
than working out what the words of the song [C] actually mean.
_ [F] _ _ _ [C] _ _
_ [G] _ _ _ [C] _ Well, Matthew Fisher is here with me now.
And as a 60s throwback myself,
[G] it's quite good to see you sitting here in such good fettle
and in even better fettle having won this case today.
Yes.
Now, you only won 40% of the royalties.
I guess 50% then go to Gary and 10% to Bach.
I wouldn't mind that.
I wouldn't object to that.
What part did Bach play in it?
I think Bach just inspired.
I think he inspired Gary, obviously.
Gary's always said that.
It was obvious.
But it also inspired me.
The thing is that Gary was inspired by one particular piece of Bach
and I was actually inspired by another [E] piece.
Kenny, you can't play the different [G] pieces, can you?
_ _ Well, the_
I mean, obviously what Gary [C] was inspired with was the Aerol G String, which_
[Em] _ _
_ _ [C] Mm-hm.
[F] _ [D] That's pretty [G] recognisable.
Yeah.
_ And I was inspired by_
_ _ _ _ [Fm] ..the
Wachydow, sort of a choral prelude.
_ _ _ _ _ [G] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [F] _ _ [G]
But it's a very long way from any kind of a fandango, isn't it? _ _
I don't know what a fandango is.
It's some Latin American thing.
What does it all mean?
What, the words?
Yes.
Oh, I don't even ask Keith that.
[E] I mean, I don't think about the words.
You don't think about the words?
[F] No.
But your job is to make the words happen
and they do happen in A White Of Shade, don't they?
_ [G] I like the [N] words, don't get me wrong,
but to me it was the mood and the atmosphere.
I didn't worry about the meanings of it.
That's all I was doing, was kind [Gm] of amplifying that mood.
Why did it take you so long to work out your rights in this matter? _
[G] Well, because I kept getting bad advice.
And_
Well, partly that_
Lawyers again.
Well, partly that, and also, I mean,
I wasn't sitting there with half a million pounds in the bank
[C#] saying, gosh, shall I sue Gary today or_
No, I think I'll do it tomorrow.
No, I mean, you need [D] funding to bring a case like this.
And it wasn't until recently that I actually found
a firm of solicitors that could help you do that.
Now, I mean, I don't know how much the royalty is even
to have you play it here.
Can we afford it even?
I mean, dare I ask you to play it?
Well, I [G] haven't received a penny in [F] composing royalties,
so I don't think it will make any difference to me.
My big problem is I've got to get my calculator out
to work out how much it's going to be and what is 40%.
Are you going to walk out of here with a packet of fags
or are you going to walk out of here with half my earnings?
[G] _ Oh, [N] well, I've given up smoking, so_ _
Maybe a drink.
Are you worried anyone will appeal? _
Oh, I'm not worried because I [G] know they're going to appeal.
Oh, you do?
They've [Em] already said that.
Oh, we haven't heard the end of it?
Oh, no, no, no.
[C] Well, look, why don't you give us all a thrill
and play us off air with the real thing?
OK. _ _
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