Gary Brooker Featured in Unique Version of “A Whiter Shade of Pale” on Charity Album Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s
A special version of Procol Harum’s iconic track “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” featuring the late Gary Brooker, is among the standout songs on the new charity album Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s. The album aims to raise funds for Cure Parkinson’s and features a variety of covers and rare tracks by legendary artists.
The album was assembled by renowned manager Ian Grant, who has worked with Big Country, The Cult, and The Stranglers, alongside music producer Paul Mitchell. It was created in response to Grant’s personal journey living with Parkinson’s disease for the past nine years. All proceeds from the album will benefit Cure Parkinson’s to support research into the neurodegenerative disease.
One of the most poignant tracks on the album is a unique rendition of “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which combines a live performance from Procol Harum’s 2023 memorial concert for Gary Brooker with a 2010 live recording of Brooker’s vocals. This heartfelt tribute to the late singer, who passed away in 2022, was made possible thanks to his widow, Frankie Brooker, who allowed the use of tracks from the memorial concert.
Paul Mitchell, who produced the track, explained: “The music is the band playing live in December 2023, but the vocal is Gary Brooker’s vocal from Boston in 2010. It’s all synchronized together. It is an absolute one-off.”
Procol Harum’s keyboard player Josh Phillips, who attended the album’s launch, shared his emotional reaction to hearing Brooker’s voice again. “When we did that show we knew that Gary’s vocal was going to come through the monitors. My god, it was like the heavens opened, like the skies cleared and we could see Gary again,” Phillips said. “Gary sang like an angel every night, right up until he was ill. He’s possibly one of the most brilliant singers in the world and possibly one of the most underrated British rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time.”
Other highlights from the Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s album include a cover of The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” by Arthur Brown, a new version of the 60s hit “Let There Be Drums” featuring Hank Marvin and Roger Taylor, and Leo Sayer’s R&B-inspired take on The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” set to the music of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
In addition to these musical tributes, the album has received support from several major artists. Ozzy Osbourne has chosen to donate part of the proceeds from Black Sabbath’s farewell show at Villa Park to Cure Parkinson’s, and Pete Townshend and The Who have made a £20,000 donation from the band’s Double O Charity.
The Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s album is out now, with all profits going to support Parkinson’s research and raise awareness for the condition.
Tracklist for Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s:
- Think Loud – Kindred Spirit, Leo Sayer, John Illsley
- All Right Now – Kindred Spirit, Arthur Brown, Sonia Kristina
- Angels – Kindred Spirit, Marcella Detroit, Tony Hadley
- Meet on the Ledge – Fairport’s Cropredy 20
- Tobacco Road – Richard Thompson, Hugh Cornwell
- Soul Mining – Leo Sayer, Marcella Detroit
- House of the Rising Sun – The Crazy World of Lockdown feat Arthur Brown
- Old Dingo – John Cooper Clarke
- I Can’t Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles, Deborah Bonham
- Over My Shoulder – Mike and The Mechanics
- Let There Be Drums – KODO drums, Hank Marvin, Roger Taylor
- Ford 44 – Bob Weston
- Lock and Key – The Dirty Strangers featuring John Sinclair
- No Tomorrow – Mark Butcher
- Soul City – The Waterboys
- Wardance (A Nice Cup of Tea?) – Dub Edit, Killing Joke remix by Youth
- Gin House Blues – Andy Fairweather Low
- How Long – Paul Carrack
- Eleanor Rigby – Leo Sayer (only available on vinyl)
- A Whiter Shade of Pale – Gary Brooker
