Matthew Fisher on Channel 4 (December 2006)

[@Aranck-kcnarA]

Im here because of Rick Beato.. Thank you for contacting him Mr. Fisher

[@sabinabaxmann8023]

Agree :) So we found this piece beautifully played by the rightful composer

[@yafettuwanakotta8929]

Me too😂

[@jimyfernandez5435]

I'm here thanks to Rick

[@christanner6927]

Me too

[@lduranceau8046]

Matthew Fisher was ahead of his time. The work he did on 'A whiter shade of pale' was a truly outstanding piece of work. This song will go down as one of the greatest songs of the 20th century.

[@seniorlocalguide]

Already has!.. so was it Fischer or Brooker or both who wrote the score?

[@snoosri]

@@seniorlocalguide or was it Bach?

[@user-ft7tj9zz9x]

@@snoosri The original judge who was also a trained classical musician ruled that Fisher's solo was obviously original. The appeals court agreed as did the House Of Lords.

[@EmptyExline]

Absolute joke. This isn't even "a play" on the melody, it's exactly Air on the G string! Anyone wanna start a band? Pretty sure we can just raid the chopin catalog for all the sick, apparently unimpeachable keyboard solos we want!

[@colsomemiah6095]

The organ is the entire song and the thrill of it all....

[@carrie-annamc2803]

Matthew fisher, a great musician, songwriter, shade or pale wouldn't have sold that much without him🧡

[@jcdova29]

How could you not get credit for such a beautiful piece of this great song. The song is not the same without Mathew’s organ. I have heard the guitar and horns version of the song and it doesn’t have the same feel or effect. Happy for Mr. Fisher finally getting recognized and credited.

[@jamestreible4545]

The organ is what immediately jumps out and grabs the listener on this song. It MAKES the song so great. He deserves this, 100%.

[@calvinhobbes7504]

Matthew's stunning tonewheel organ performance combined with Gary's vocals made that song what it is: ANTHEM - for MILLIONS of us!! :) I don't think Gary could have sold it without Matthew - and Matthew couldn't have sold it without Gary. Mr. Fisher knew what he wanted out of that Hammond, and he knew exactly how to get it. He's a hero in my book!! Such a shame it had to come to this. I guess none of us can truly be "Beyond These Things" when a big part of these things is money. :(

[@M.Robespierre3691]

In my opinion, Matthew Fisher was the best composer in Procol Harum and one of my favourite musicians.
He certainly deserves the credits for ´A whiter shade of pale´.

[@tommytee8387]

An outstanding contribution to a magnificent song that defined my teens..Matthew fully deserves his recognition..

[@andrewlisenby9693]

Best wishes to you, Matthew. May you live as long as the Master allows, and enjoy the benefits of your contribution to music.

[@juanrosas1569]

Matthew Fisher is a genius. The Wreck of the Hesperus is also a wonderful song..

[@user-ft7tj9zz9x]

Pilgrim's Progress, In The Autumn Of My Madness

[@len-zeplin480]

I like How Matthew would wear a Shroud and Portray a Phantom while Playing the Organ on Stage.

[@longdark4ever]

Oh yes!! the singing and lyrics are some of the best, but the organ part IS the song.

[@d.od.3463]

I wholeheartedly agree; see my comment above!

[@jorgeguerrero467]

Larga vida a Matthew. genio

[@affema1]

Awesome organist!

[@aliasreco]

Matthew Fisher plays melody and harmony. When you focus on what he does you find out he often adds a second melody. Or even three different lines of music. It's getting close to what Bach was doing. And then the famous timing and extra notes just before the right note. Try to imitate that... Real hard. Other procol players could not play like Matthew did.

[@Greenz1100]

We are learning about this case in IP law. Well done Matthew Fisher.

[@dazauto1400]

Matthew Fisher was an early idol as kid. Still a fan now.

[@d.od.3463]

This is a personal note to Matthew Fisher.
Because I'd previously heard about the selfishness of the most arrogant Gary Brooker some time ago, I was always rooting for you to win at least one-half of the rights to this song for the simple reason that the real beauty of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was the ethereal, haunting melody of you playing the Hammond Organ in the tune. It is no wonder that this recording sold literally several millions of copies, and I must say because it was released just a week before my wedding in 1967, that I carry this melody in my heart to this day. Even though that marriage did last but four short years, that 'sound' will forever be an anthem for me to that time of my life. I hope it will bring you great wealth Matthew for, in memories alone, it has done that for me! I am now 77 years old.
God's Blessings to you,
D.O'D. B.A., Th.M.

[@David-ee1tq]

The most arrogant Gary Brooker? You know the man personally do you?
Matthew Fisher was credited on all of his records throughout the Procol Harum history. When a band member calls them out 40 years later all of a sudden the lead singer is considered to be arrogant though. Sure. You knew him well. Known and loved among the rock gods. Known and respected by his band members past and present. Someone challenging something something 35 years after it was released for a quick quid? Yeah all of a sudden the genius behind Procol Harum and the Paramounts is arrogant. I suppose you’ve met him? His friends and family? Or not. Just sitting behind your crusty keyboard judging?

[@robertmiller6467]

I never knew until recently what a fine vocalist M,F. is in addition to his organ playing. His solo work contains several fine songs that would have certainly chatted had they been released and promoted in the U.S. Procol itself is often thought of as a one hit wonder here, which is obviously absurd, but we are really deprived of many great British talent. Procol, Kate Bush, ELP, and King Crimson are examples of talent that, in my opinion, far exceed most of our top 40 'tallent', but are more or less unknown to the average American.

[@fredanchorman6637]

I agree. He had a couple of hits here in the Philippines. She Makes Me Feel and I Can't Stop Loving You Now. Great ballads.

[@user-ft7tj9zz9x]

Procol Harum was very well known in the USA in the late 60's-70s and King Crimson still is.

[@TheElissdeja]

Met him. Really nice fella.

[@brocklanders6172]

Good on him. In this case, that organ part IS the tune. 40% is about right to me.

[@aivazovski96]

+Brock Landers The last word on this: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8176352.stm

[@lduranceau8046]

I agree, the Hammond organ score in 'A whiter shade of pale' IS the song.
I give it more like 75%.

[@noelmajers6369]

@@lduranceau8046 agree to all the above - this was long overdue even 12 years ago. Next in line for me should be Ray Jackson who should get more for his Mandolin playing on Rod Stewart's Maggie May. Also Rick Wakeman only got a pittance (£15) for his piano playing on Cat Steven's (aka Yusuf Islam's) Morning Has Broken and I bet people on here can think of loads more....

[@chillmaster2222]

Matthew’s inspiration is Bach’s BWV 645. There is also a cantata version - the chorale of Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 140.

[@paperboxcutter]

We'd like to hear his complete solo performance of this song.

[@chazinko]

Hear, hear!

[@richalderson6069]

Selfish of them not to give him some credit in the first place, what would the song be without that organ solo? Just like Smoke On the Water or Whole Lotta Love or My Girl, the riff is a huge part of it's legacy.

[@joachimzegke9301]

Matthew and Gary...and of course Keith - they did a great pice in music-history,
and as I know, they become good again, forgot their disputes - God may bless them.

[@alaincelos476]

July 67 i did heard this music ,was a french kid playing with cars ....It was the organ 's theme which hit my ears ,not Gary 's voice ,nor complex Keith 's lyrics !!!!! One month later did try to learn the organ part by ear ,no i'm a pianist ....69 years old .i would confirm it was the organ part which knocked every one ,it was Matt who brought totally the hammond sound in popular music ,far more than Winwood ,Mc Lagan,or G.Bond!.i always called Matt's compositions " the other side of procol ",rather prefered " wreck" than "salty" ,everywhere Matt played the M103 ,he made it sound like a cinema'organ .One of my 3 fave Uk' s oganist ,with underrated unique sound of Rick Wright ,and unique player with bass pedals ,with huge imagination ,Hugh Banton.Matt deserved thèse royalties ,it ain't only justice ,it IS heardable for any musician .

[@therezinhagomes6297]

Matthew Fisher lutou pelos seus direitos parabéns pela conquista merecida 👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍💥🌅🌄🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@seres-de-luz]

I can’t even recall the vocal melody, but the organ anytime of the day

[@Mlasse954]

Actually the organist make this song more great

[@mariajosemj2758]

Ese órgano es el sello del tema, merecido!

[@musicplateau1]

Another case of note is that of Mick Weaver, the uncredited organist who played on the 'World in Action' theme recording - Granada Television.

[@brianrichardson2275]

matthew and gary are such a natural combination of talent--it's too bad they weren't able to reach an agreement amongst themselves and keith reid on this rock-bach masterpiece-i love gary but the right is all with matthew-the present organist with procol is very good technically but he doesn't come close to filling matthew's somber' beautiful role and sound

[@straycat7247]

And after all, he is just copying what Matthew did!

[@fadhilarief1537]

Awesome, great job.. hammond organ 🎉💦🌿💥💫🎆

[@seniorlocalguide]

3:55 Priceless... Fischer deserved the royalties and the copyright credit... If Booker got 100% of the singing credit, Fisher deserved, at least 40%, if not 60% of the music credit... as the most important part of the song is that mystical score... So, who wrote that score? based on the court ruling only, I'd say Fischer, not Booker...

[@straycat7247]

Being a musician, I can see Booker using the very familiar chord progression. Granted, he stitched together a great melody. No argument. Now, would this song be remotely as popular and ageless without the organ part? Come on, be serious. What made the song what it is IS the organ. If not legally right, make it morally and ethically right and give Matthew Fisher his due.

[@stevenweinstein7195]

@@straycat7247 BRooker!

[@Steff320i]

What a great piece.

[@sambarnett5048]

Credit well deserved

[@christofmoser]

Bravo!!!

[@lizavillavicencio3273]

is he also the composer of She Makes Me Feel?

[@klemklimek9]

For all you disparagers of these lyrics .. as a collection of verse and chorus couplets they attain poetic credibility. Coupled with the musical arrangement and disseminated globally via the 60s music machine, they attained stature infinitely greater than if they had remained on the printed page, forced to compete for eyeballs with the rest of the practitioners of the exalted yet arcane art form. Whether Keith Reid belongs in a discussion with Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Donne, Keats, etc, is a question for cultural academics attempting to map a timeline of the rise and fall of Western Civilization. But launched into the rock and roll stratosphere, Keith's "words" remain in the minds of millions and the tongues of all those who sing along on a daily basis. As with any successful collaboration, the whole IS greater than the sum of its parts, and to opine that A Whiter Shade's lyrics have no value is beyond silly.

[@user-ft7tj9zz9x]

Gary stated on a radio show, "It's a love song." There are two additional verses not included in the single because it would have made the song too long but Gary occasionally included one or both in concerts.

[@dorianfaust3399]

I want to know if there's a complete footage of that sequel of AWSoP on pipe organ in the beginning.

[@TheZ1A900]

Wow that sounds exactly like it.

[@dwdwmusic4876]

If Matthew Fisher was inspired by Bach and gets 40% and the other guys where inspired by Bach and get 60%...how much does Bach get?
Don't get me wrong, kudos to Matthew, the solo is outstanding and deserves a huge amount of the royalties. I'm a keyboard player myself, hats off. But if the whole band was inspired by various Bach pieces, it would be fair for all of them to donate one or another penny e,g, to the www.js-bach-stiftung.de/new-bach-society/?lang=en

[@rekatropics3038]

i think the drummer (Bobby Harrison) should get these credit as well..the drum beats are so iconic.

[@alaincelos476]

Sorry it wasn't Bobby who played the drums ,it was Bill Eyden on the record

[@theanalogkid6749]

What Gary Brooker said...

[@josefnagy3662]

Good rule.

[@Frip36]

Reporter: "And even with today's success, he sounds bitter about it all." Imagine hearing your major contribution to a classic song and not being credited for it, and getting kicked down the royalty stairs for 40 years. She thinks that he should be jumping around like an American cheerleader? She's clueless. Meanwhile Brooker says he wants his name taken off the credits if Fischer's name gets included. Yet she doesn't toss HIM a bitter. Sounds like she's tossed with him prior.

[@fadhilarief1537]

Good job 👍👍

[@cato451]

Transcendent music

[@Frip36]

If bands would just give credit honestly in the first place, they wouldn't have to be bothered by court trails years later. Strange angle this news piece took. Very Upper Crust vs. Mere Peasants tone.

[@theesbband]

Odd that he waited so long. All so sad now that Gary has died. 😢😢

[@michaelmakes4883]

A bad decision,he had no part in the composing...his contribution amounts to an arrangement,and arrangers fall into a different category...I love his arrangement,but the pandora's box is open somewhat by this judgement,and arrangers and contributors of well known hooks who had no part in the composing of songs will keep the courts busy

[@dontknocktherock1263]

In that case, shouldn't Scotty Moore get a writers credit for creating the guitar solo in "Jailhouse rock"?!?

[@oshawaxpress]

Don't knock the rock Scotty Moore's playing is great, but his solo was10 seconds long. Matthew Fisher's distinctive playing is woven throughout 'Pale' and formed such an integral, unforgettable part of the whole song.

[@jpirard]

THAT right there is the reason copyright laws are very different now. If you are in a band, your contract is either going to have to spell out the conditions of your renummeration as fr as your contribution regarding a composition, OR you are going to have to agree that you are participating in a 'work for hire' situation unless you are the originator off the piece from the start.

[@graemekornicki6810]

This news report is now years out of date.did mathew fisher win his case, ireally hope so, credit where its due, they say patience is a virtue, hes a very patient man 39 years waiting,i hope he got his money, i have the dvd live at the union chapel from2004 he plays on that.wish you all the best mathew!

[@straycat7247]

Well, he MADE the whole Elvis sound. Hadn't been for the greedy Col. Parker. Scotty should have gotten a lot more credit and money. Don't matter, every musician knows what he was and what he contributed to rock and roll in general and Elvis in particular.

[@johnmiller7453]

Just goes to show that it's not good to know too much about your hero's.

[@patricklemeur6360]

Matthew a gagne ou pas moi j ecoute tout simplement

[@user-oq4qq6jp4g]

What a snarky interviewer..

[@filipepereira2688]

Presented by Jon Snow lol

[@robbrown6934]

The words don't matter?

[@MrHifihifi]

No they don't

[@GoldStandardGames]

It matters second to the tune

[@colsomemiah6095]

They don't get it...the nonsense words are blasphemy to the glorious adaptation of Bach on a Whiter Shade....

[@straycat7247]

Not in this song. They could have been sung in Dutch, for what I care. This song IS the music, and primarily the organ.

[@CitizenBeep]

Fisher doesn't make a good case in this video. What he claims is his inspiration is not recognisable in the song itself.

[@fayee8986]

There's no sense in being greedy if it wasn't for the Oregon the song is nothing

[@ilikethisnamebetter]

".. but your job is to make the words happen.." Was your job to talk complete nonsense, Jon?

[@ledzepandhabs]

Rick Beato

[@arthurhunt642]

Gary had a swelled head. RIP

[@andrzejkomorowski6588]

I po co te barany tyle gadają