Eric Clapton and The Promises perform Procol Harum’s iconic A Whiter Shade of Pale at their New Year’s Eve charity concert . This was the penultimate song they performed at around 00:45am on New Year’s Day 2023
Still a classic tune & covered with respect to Gary Brooker, who often appeared on stage with Eric. So many gone, so few remain to 'sing the songs'. Bless you all for the joy you delivered through the years!
No idea that Eric Clapton did this song years ago with its original vocalist . And when I discovered it back in 2018 or 2017, I didn't think someone could perform on it live with guitar.But Eric did and so will I one day.Rest in Peace to Gary Booker , whom I heard died within the last year .
Great song, great version of this song. Fortunate to have seen Gary Brooker sing this when he was part of Eric's touring band. What a treat it must have been to see this performed in such an intimate setting.
They played this song on the Ken Burns Vietnam documentary at the close of one of the episodes and it just made me view this song totally differently. It's a really haunting song. Clapton is my hero forever. He always does justice to everything he touches.
Why?! Why?! Whenever Eric Clapton covers any songs it just sound so so good! What a musician he is. I grew up listening to his songs and still he amazes me till today.
EC is like a 5 star chef who has decades of experience and creativity who can cook just about anything and make it taste like it's a gourmet dinner. Eric sees himself as a "journeyman" but he has earned the title "master craftsman" for his sublime and impeccable style.
It’s because he covering an amazingly great song, and I love Eric Clapton but go and watch a video of gary booker (I believe that’s original singer and composer) playing piano and singing this song with an orchestra…. It would probably blow you away. The lyrics are actually rubbish, they actually don’t mean anything, they were just bunch of random Unrelated phrases one of the band member had written down, and they put some of them together for this song. The songs piano melody, that Booker created while just noodling around one day, and it’s just one of those things in music, that universally is pleasing to most humans, and brings out a strong emotional connection…I mean, this one of the top funeral songs actually, and I can promise you it’s not because of the lyric, it’s because it’s the melody arrangement evokes strong emotions in people. Probably why you loved Claptons cover of it, enough to comment on it. Music is life ✌️
@@markgriffiths3262excuse me? The voice is gone? This song is gentle.. it’s not supposed to be sung loud my Gd .. Eric you played and sung it perfectly 💝
Amazing . I went to the gig on New Year’s Eve at a leisure Center with about 400 people . That moment in your life where you have no words . Truly amazing .
I don’t think anyone could ever cover this song and have it be as good as the original. However, does anyone else recognize the brilliance, the nuances that make this version so great? God bless you Eric Clapton. You never disappoint.
Saw him play this many years ago (around 1980-81 or so) with Gary Brooker playing keyboards in EC’s band, and Gary taking the lead vocal. Just as magical all these years later!
Eric you are simply unrivalled! How exceptionally played! My goodness you totally have it and always shall! Your voice is strong .. your playing is even stronger with so much passion in each fibre of your being ! Do you actually realise how versatile plus exceptional you really are Eric ? 💕
@Alain Dounont No shit Sherlock. Put down the pipe and try reading the post MORON! RE my favorite album. Try not to bother me with your idiotic replies.
It may be very difficult to sing and solo this song at the same time. We can notice that Clapton is a few bits behind when he sings. And sometimes he just blanks it out and goes directly to end and finishes smoothly. Great effort, hats off.
Intramontabile; e Gary Brooker sarà contento, dovunque sia , che la sua A WHITER SHADE OF PALE viene ricordata sempre in tante occasioni ! Un brano che ha più di 50 anni eppure non sente il peso degli anni ; anzi, le nuove versioni le danno un'emozione in più!! Grazie Gary, hai lasciato un ricordo che sarà la colonna sonora del futuro musicale !!
So glad to see him still performing....I know he has had some struggles with neuropathy that can surely interfere with playing the guitar etc. Love this song , it's one of my absolute favorites !!
I've never been sure why but when I hear this song I become more emotional than any other song I can recall I'm not sure I comprehend all the lyrics yet there is a vein that it touches.
Back in his drinking days Eric and Gary Brooker would spend afternoons at the pub down the road from Eric's house and drink Courvoisier and brandy by the quart. Their friendship grew even better when they both took the pledge. Gary started playing as a member of the core group with Eric at the alcohol free New Year's Eve jam at Woking beginning in 1991. Over the years many of the 60's rock era artists, including Ringo Starr and his brother-in-law Joe Walsh, would "sit in" or make a "guest appearance." Gary's spotlight number of course was "Whiter Shade of Pale." The all-star bands took their names from phrases found in the "blue book "Alcoholics' Anonymous" by Bill W. For example, the first band in 1991 was named "Complete Abandon." This year, probably to re-emphasize the pledge that Gary and Eric and others made to one another, they christened the band with the name "Promises." Rest in peace, Gary. Your song and voice will remain forever.
Great and well deserved honour in memory of the late Procol Harum s Gary Brooker, one of rock s best keyboardist and mate. Gary Brooker played with so many great fellow musicians. The list is a long one.
Thank you to the wonderful person who shot a video this beautiful rendition. It's unimaginable how lucky we are to have the technology that is accessible to everybody and we can pretty much shoot every music show of our favorite artists. They didn't have that privilege in the 60s or the 70s or the 80s or the 90s or the early 2000s. We could've had so much more recorded shows of guys like Eric, available.
This is my favorite piece to cover. We never finish our jam without playing this great masterpiece of PH. RIP Gary. Though your song WSOP will never ever fade, we are for sure gonna miss you. ***Oyen Gonzalvo (Manila, Philippines)
What a lovely surprise in my RU-vid feed today. A longtime fan of prog generally. Nice to see such a respectful version from Eric. And Doyle post Waters band. And Carrack post Mechanics. Nice!
Nice tribute to the late great Gary Brooker. No one does that vocal like Gary, but good job anyway by Eric. One of my all time favourite songs. I had the honour of playing it in Wellington New Zealand at a good friends wedding with the amazing organist in their church. Went off very well. Maybe our heavenly father was helping me along a bit. Great version of Gary doing it live with the Danis National Orchestra on You Tube. Terrific!!!!
So many musicians, people, organizations and even governments owe Eric Clapton an apology. What he has endured as an early whistleblower has been horrendous. If anyone deserves a medal for speaking out, it would be him. He is a true hero. Robert W. Malone
Let’s go back in time, February 1981 Another Ticket was published, where Gary Brooker, Chris Stainton and Henry Spinetti participate in this production... Gary and Eric had a great friendship for a long time...😢
Clapton vocal is a good match for this awesome tune that was originally sung by Gary Brooker who is unmatched, but Eric cover aint bad...tanks for sharing
