Tuesday, November 14, 2006
A greener shade of money
Former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher is in British court suing to be co-credited for composing "A Whiter Shade of Pale." This credit is worth two-million dollars in royalties, he claims. I've always loved the song; was a fan of Procol Harum through the first three albums Fisher did with the band.
The two most identifiable parts of the song are Keith Reid's surrealistic lyrics ("16 vestal virgins* who were leaving for the coast"), & Fisher's organ part which channels two melodies from Johann Bach without quite stealing them outright. Yes, you're allowed to rob directly from Bach & other classical composers & claim copyright; think "A Lover's Concerto." Provided no one else raided it previously.
But the problem in Fisher's suit is that although his music is integral to the arrangement - is, in fact, the song's hook - it isn't the song's melody, the one that fits the words. I'd like to ask "Whiter Shade" composer Gary Brooker if he at anytime during the years Matthew Fisher was not with the band performed the song without the organ part? I think Fisher deserves credit. But the court may not agree.
Whilst checking out this story I happened upon Fisher's wedding photos from 2003. He married an attractive Italian-American gal. Modest reception. Not a smiley couple.
*Historically, there were only six at any given time.
***
Rudy Giuliani doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would run for the vice presidential nomination, but that's the best he could possibly achieve. A McCain/Giuliani ticket could be formidable barring some third party challenge from the religious right. Rudy doesn't have much wiggle room on those "moral" issues of most concern to the repug's red state base. Also, until 9/11 he was leaving the mayor's office in New York with a rep as a divisive, angry politician carrying a lot of battered baggage, which will be opened up & examined closely over the next year. Remember Bernard Kerik? Donna Hanover? You will. By contrast, Mike Bloomberg is a paragon of togetherness.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
The two most identifiable parts of the song are Keith Reid's surrealistic lyrics ("16 vestal virgins* who were leaving for the coast"), & Fisher's organ part which channels two melodies from Johann Bach without quite stealing them outright. Yes, you're allowed to rob directly from Bach & other classical composers & claim copyright; think "A Lover's Concerto." Provided no one else raided it previously.
But the problem in Fisher's suit is that although his music is integral to the arrangement - is, in fact, the song's hook - it isn't the song's melody, the one that fits the words. I'd like to ask "Whiter Shade" composer Gary Brooker if he at anytime during the years Matthew Fisher was not with the band performed the song without the organ part? I think Fisher deserves credit. But the court may not agree.
Whilst checking out this story I happened upon Fisher's wedding photos from 2003. He married an attractive Italian-American gal. Modest reception. Not a smiley couple.
*Historically, there were only six at any given time.
***
Rudy Giuliani doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would run for the vice presidential nomination, but that's the best he could possibly achieve. A McCain/Giuliani ticket could be formidable barring some third party challenge from the religious right. Rudy doesn't have much wiggle room on those "moral" issues of most concern to the repug's red state base. Also, until 9/11 he was leaving the mayor's office in New York with a rep as a divisive, angry politician carrying a lot of battered baggage, which will be opened up & examined closely over the next year. Remember Bernard Kerik? Donna Hanover? You will. By contrast, Mike Bloomberg is a paragon of togetherness.
